HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-06-12 Community & Economic Development CommitteeCOMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JUNE 6, 2012
4:07 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Henry Davis, Karen White, Gain Ferlic, Dr. Fred Ferlic
Citizen Members Present: Patricia Crowley
Other Council Member's Present: Tim Scott; Valerie Schey, (4:50 p.m.)Dr. David
Varner, Oliver Davis, Derek Dieter
Other's Present: Pam Meyer, Chris Brown, Lory Timmer, Kathy Cekanski - Farrand,
Marti Wolfson, Murray Miller, Isaac Hunt, Glenn Williams
Agenda: Review & Discussion Sec. 3 Housing — Pam Meyer, Community & Economic
Development
Committee Chairperson Henry Davis, Jr. with full committee and citizen member Pat
Crowley in attendance opened the meeting by giving a brief outline of the meetings
purpose and intent.
Henry stated he has a growing concern that federal dollars coming to the City to benefit
low and moderate income people were not necessarily achieving their desired intent. He
recounted his recent vote against a housing consortium bill as one meant to draw
attention to the need for a larger conversation. Namely, a discussion as to whether
federal dollars by they HUD, CDBG, or other grants were could be more effectively
expended by the City for populations they were intended to benefit.
This meeting, while focusing on HUD Section 3 compliance, was just the first of
probable series of meetings aimed at measuring current practices. With that Henry called
upon Pam Meyer, South Bend's Director of Community Development to address HUD's
Sec. 3 Housing program. Providing the committee two handouts, Pam briefly outlined
the history the purpose the intent and the implementation of the federal program by her
department. In total over $2.5 million was received from the feds in 2011. All reporting
forms were filed with HUD in February 2012 and the City was deemed in compliance.
Pam explained the process required to use the funds including project proposals. RFP
development, the bidding, awarding and monitoring for HUD compliance performed by
her department. She noted all funds had to be funneled through not - for -profit
organizations such as South Bend Heritage and the Near Northwest Neighborhood
Organization.
Subsequent to her presentation Karen White asked about HUD established reporting
thresholds and Pat Crowley asked about the monitoring process. Pam noted only 2
contracts let me the $100,000 reporting threshold for Sec. 3 compliance. The monitoring
conducted was explained by Lory Timmer from Community & Economic Development
who serves as the primary contact with HUD.
Henry brought up the possibility of coordinating Community & Economic
Development's efforts with the newly formed MBEW /WBE group working to increase
minority participation in getting public dollar contracts. Dr. Fred Ferlic asked Pam if her
Department had a record of who bid on and to whom contract were awarded in the past.
Pam Meyer said that information was available; but cautioned meeting federal
compliance would not necessarily accomplish the larger question of minority contractor
access.
The following comments from Councilmember's as well as citizens in attendance touch
on these larger issues of overall minority access and participation.
Marti Wolfson wondered if the federal guidelines actually create impediments to
minority access, a "Catch 22" scenario.
Issac Hunt, a minority contractor, described the prohibitive costs imposed on a small
business trying to gain access, in effect sometimes making it unprofitable to bid on public
contracts.
Murray Miller claimed Davis -Bacon requirements were not being met. Contractors
should be required to provide pay stubs and date of hire records of employees working on
publicly funded projects.
Glenn Williams suggested the whole compliance monitoring process was inadequate and
ineffectual.
Karen White said it was the Council's intent to work through the diversity office created
by the MBE/WBE legislation.
To wrap -up the discussion, Henry thanked Pam Meyer for her HUD Section 3
presentation as well as fellow Councilmember's and citizens for their input.
In summary, he stated, the importance of supplemental compliance reporting criteria
being established, the bidding process be provided, and the MBE/WBE diversity office
get involved in the process. Henry also stated all involved parties, the Council, the BPW,
the Community & Economic Development, and potential contractors be brought to the
table to discuss ways to see tax dollars better benefit those for whom the programs
intended to benefit.
There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Chairperson
Henry Davis, Jr., adjourned the meeting at 5:23 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lot
Henry Davis, Jr., Chairperson
Community & Economic Development Committee