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HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 1999-08-04 - CDBG~. ~~~ ~ ~ ~I~ ~i° o~~ _~ ~ ~ RECEIVED CITY OF IYNWOpV - CITY CLERKS OFFICE AGENDA JUl 2 8 195ry 7~ ~ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT Q ADVISORY BOARD COMMISSION ; REGULAR MEETING, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4,1999 6:00 P.M. LYNWOOD CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11330 BULLIS ROAD, LYNWOOD, CA 90262 CONSTANCE FRA1vKI,IN CHAIRPERSON JAMES GREEN VICE CHAIR DONALD PRIMMER COMIvIISSIONER VETA BANKS .^ <~ ° CONIIvIISSIONER JUAN BRIGHT COMMISSIONER OPENING CEREMONIES: A. CALL TO ORDER: B. FLAG SALUTE C. ROLL'CALL D. CERTIFICATION OF AGENDA POSTING E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MINITTES OF JULY 7, 1999 F. PUBLIC ORALS: G. NEW BUSINESS: (ITEMS ON AGENDA ONLY) JOANETTE GUTIERREZ COMMISSIONER 1. STATUS REPORT ON CDBG FUNDED STREET PROJECTS (PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT) H. STAFF ORALS I. BOARD ORALS J. ADJOti~FS1MENT Adjourn to the next regularly scheduled meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Lynwood City Hall, 11330 Bullis Road, Lynwood, CA. YOLANDA LEWIS CONIlvIISSIONER Kw-~sRVic-uwc~amw ;, ; • • c~t~~ of YN~OOD ~. a ~,~~ ,:~~ ~~ ~ City ~tdeeting CkaQQenges 11330 BULLIS ROAD LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262 (310) 603-0220 MEMORANDUM DATE: June 24, 1999 TO: Alfretta Earnest, Finance Directo .ATTN.: Annette Potts, Project Manager FROM: Joseph Y. Wang., P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engin SUBJECT: STATUS_REPORT FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC WORKS CDBG FUNDED PROJECTS •u-~/af alC• Cli•~ i~I~~l Per your request, following is status of various .Public Works CDBG funded projects: 1. Natatorium tmorovement FY 1998-99~ The project design is 30% complete. Plans and specifications .are scheduled to be completed by October 1999. The . construction is to be completed by June 2000. The. current project fund .balance is $890,000. 2. Sidewalk Reconstruction fY 1997-98~ The project construction is 80% completed. The project is expected. to be 100% finalized by October 1999. The project fund balance is $100,000. 3. Street Improvements FY 1997-98: Staff has completed the construction for Flower Street from Bellinger St. to State St., Los Flores BI. from State St. toy Peach St. and Virginia Av. from Elmwood Av. to Sanborn Av. Staff has completed 30% of the design of the remaining 13 streets of this program. The-construction of these 13 streets is scheduled to be completed by June 2000.. The project current fund balance is $1,050,000. 4. Alley Reconstruction FY 1997-98: The design for the ten (10) alleys in this program is 50% complete. The construction is scheduled to be done by Jure 2000., The current project fund balance is $ 190,000. •- ~~ • e 5. Wheelchair Ramp Installation FY 1997-98: The construction has been 70~%. The project will be completed by September 1999. The project. current fund C balance is $30,000. ~ ~ i 6. Street Improvements FY 1996-97: The construction of Norton Av. from Long Beach BI. to California Av. and Califomia Av. to Martin L. King. BI. has been completed. The construction of the remaining 4 streets in the program will be completed by December 1999. The project current fund balance is $150,000. 7. Pavement Reconstruction FY 1995-96: This program has been 100% completed. 8. Pavement Reconstruction FY 1994-95: The construction of the remaining 3 streets in this program is scheduled to be completed by January 2000. The project current fund balance is $280,000. 9. ADA Improvements FY 1994-95: The project is 30% completed and the construction is scheduled to be done by June 2000. The project current fund balance is $140,000. Should you have any questions please give me a call on extension 287. Thank you for your cooperation. mem99089.doc • MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ADVISORY BOARD COMMfSSION WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1999 A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Franklin called the CDBGAB Commission meeting to order at 6:14 p. m. on the above captioned date. _ B. FLAG SALUTE: All those present participated. C. ROLL CALL Present Commissioner Primmer Commissioner Franklin Commissioner Lewis Commissioner Green Commissioner Gutierrez Absent Commissioner Banks D. CERTIFICATION OF AGENDA POSTING: Staff informed the Commission that the Agenda was posted per the Brawn Act.' E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Primmer made a motion to approve the .Minutes of April 14, 1999. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Green, and. carried unanimously. F. PUBLIC ORALS: NONE G. NEW BUSINESS: 1. LNDUCTION OF NEW CDBGAB COMMISSIONER (Juan Bright) Lynwood City Clerk, Andrea Hooper, was in attendance to swear in newly appointed Commissioner Juan Bright. The Commission thanked Ms. Hooper and Commissioner Bright took a seat on the Panel. 2. INFORC.IATION ITEM: HOUSING REHAB STATUS REPORT Donyea Adams, Rehabilitation Specialist, gave an overview of the housing program., He informed the Commission that the Community Development Department had several new housing projects underway and referred to the submitted status report. Mr. Adams stated. that the C.D. Department is still running a housing rehabilitation program,. however some changes have been made. He stated that the program is now utilizing HOME funds instead of. CDBG funds and offers Loans up to $30,000, and' Grants up $5,000. In conclusion, Mr. Adams stated that the new programs are very aggressive.. Housing staff has been working: on the programs for the last 6-8 months. Public hearings and meetings were held to inform the public about the new programs and the amendment to the Consolidated Plan. 1 r Commissioner Franklin asked why the Commission had not been made aware of the changes, prior to this meeting and wanted to know. if housing loans and grants would continue to be submitted to the Commission for review and approval. Adams said No. Applications are reviewed and approved by the C.D. Department and the City Manager. The Commission would receive copies of status reports and the annual performance. Commissioner Franklin asked what had happened to the applications that were previously submitted to the Commission and returned to the housing division for additional information? Adams stated that most of the cases were transferred to the new program, if eligible: Commissioner Primmer asked why wasn't the Commission informed about the new programs. Primmer stated that the housing division stopped submitting cases as of May 1998, without explanation. Commissioner Primmer asked that all status reports for the housing program contain the submittal date of the application, repairs completed and a completion date. Mr. Adams informed the Commission that the housing status reports would contain the homeowners name, date, address, type and amount of assistance, date of application and the status of the application.. Commissioner Primmer asked who determines priorities for funding. Mr. Adams stated that the priority of the applications had -not changed. Applications are processed on a first come first serve basis. Mr. Primmer asked if the program is still backlogged? Mr. Adams stated that the program has received 53 applications. 10 are being "processed, 10 have been approved, 10 are in the inspection stage, 7 are out to bid, 2 are in construction and 5 are completed. Commissioner Franklin, asked if the Commission could have a list of the applications on file. She stated that she has received a complaint from a resident who submitted an application, but was later told that her application was lost. Commissioner Primmer stated that the Commission should be allowed to visit. the homeowners to see the end result of the projects. Mr. Adams stated that he would talk to the homeowners and try to arrange something. Commissioner Primmer .asked Mr. Adams if he was aware of the letter sent by Patricia Carr dated May 17, 1999, and requested a response. Mr. Adams stated that he was dismayed when he received the letters. He stated that he doesn't approve loans and grants, nor does he work with any particular Council person. That is notr~a part of his job description. He stated that working with the Council . is the responsibility of the Community Development Director. Mr. Adams said his understanding was that there was no communication between the housing division and the Commission, however the Commission had an idea that grants and. loans were being funded without a total understanding of how the new program worked. As a result of receiving the letters from Ms. Carr, the Community Development Director, Gary Chicots; Ralph Davis, Interim City Manager; and Mark Fullerton, met with Ms. Carr regarding the concerns in the letters. Commissioner Primmer stated. that the letter written by Ms. Carr was directed to Mr. Adams and asked why did he not attend the meeting? Commissioner Primmer said that Mark Fullerton is a new employee, who may not know. what- had transpired in the past, therefore, Mr. Adams should have attended the meeting. . 2 Mr. Adams stated that the meeting was rescheduled for a day that he was out sick. Adams stated that he is just a staff person, under the C.D. Director. Adams said that those who attended the meeting should have been able to answer any questions Ms. Carr had. Commissioner Primmer asked if Mr. Adams had received any feedback on how Ms. Carr felt about the meeting. Mr. Adams answered that his Director said that Ms. Carr was comfortable with the information she received and understood. He did not talk to Ms. Carr personally. Mr. Adams stated that he works very had and. he has a lot of stuff going on. The programs and projects he's working on take a lot of.time and concentration. That's where a lot of his attention goes. Commissioner Primmer said that his concern is that the Commission received status reports every month, than all of a sudden, housing decided to do ,there own thing, approve loans and grants and close the Commission out. Commissioner Primmer said the CDBGAB Commission was never informed of any new programs. In May of 1998, there were many cases pending, but since then no cases or status reports were submitted to the Commission and no explanation as to why not. It appears as if the housing staff is picking who they want to give assistance. to. People, like that woman whose application was lost, or people who really need it assistance, are not receiving it. ' Commissioner Primmer said that the Commission should receive information that will enable them to answer questions, when asked about the housing program. The housing division. has more staff now and should be able to keep them up, to date. Mr. Adams responded "that's a lot of emotion Mr. Primmer. The housing division did not bring the information to the Commission, as Mr. Primmer stated, they submitted the .information to the Redevelopment Agency, as the public body, to do the public notice, public meeting, etc. The housing division got bogged down in "how to", implement the program and all the rules and regulations, public hearings and meeting. Commissioner Primmer asked were any of the Commissioner invited to or informed of the meetings. Adams said it was announced in the newspapers. The_ Commissioners said they were not invited. Commissioner Primmer asked that the Commission- not be overlooked in the future. Commissioner Franklin asked what reports the housing division will submit regarding the housing. program. Adams answered a quarterly status report, on how many applications, grants, loans, housing project, etc. Adams said he wants the Commi.~sion to know everything that happening with the housing division. Former Commission Patricia Carr was in attendance at the meeting and asked to approach the Commission. Commission Franklin allowed Ms. Carr to address the Commission: Ms. Carr said that she was disappointed that Mr. Adams was not at the meeting. She was informed that he was at work at the time of the meeting but did not attend. During the meeting between Ms. Carr and the above named City representatives, City staff explained what the new programs were about, however never address the concerns. of Ms. Can's letters. Gary Chitcots, Community Development Director, informed Ms. Carr that they made .some mistakes regarding the public hearings. Ms. Carr said that as a result of the meeting, she feels that the actions taken on the housing programs are invalid. Ms. Carr was not satisfied with her response from the City. 3 +~ !- Ms. Carr informed the Commission that HUD would not allow the office that is .processing the applications to have authority to approve funding. Ms. Carr told that Commission that there is a resolution that gives the Commission authority to approve loans and grants. If the resolution is not amended by City Council; then it is still in effect. The Commission needs to obtain this information for themselves. Ms. Carr said she will be contacting the HUD office to request that they perform an audit of the housing program. Ms. Carr said she wanted to know who is approving loans and grants, how many have been processed, how much money , has .been spent? Ms. Carr informed the Commission that the housing staff is taking power away from them. Who gave the housing division the authority to increase loan and grant amounts? The Commission asked Mr. Adams for a response. Mr. Adams responded "I don't think I should, maybe we should refer this matter to the City Attorney for an adequate response". Commissioner Bright asked. if all the information discussed in Ms: Carr's letters and. at this meeting would be included in the status report. Mr. Adams said it can be included. Commissioner Primmer said that he agrees with Commissioner Bright and asked if the Commission could also have copies of the response letter from the City to Ms. Carr regarding her concerns. Mr. Adams said he was not sure that the information could be given out, he would check with his supervisor and get. back to the Commission. STAFF ORALS: Lynwood City staff welcomed the new Commissioner Bright. BOARD ORALS: AII. Commissioners welcomed Commissioner Bright to the CDBGAB Commission. The Commission expressed their gratitude towards Commissioner Bright's appointment. Commissioner Greene requested CDBG information from the last five years regarding funding allocations. Ms..Potts explained that this ..request .must be made through the City Clerk's office. This information is considered public information and a public information request must be made in order to allow staff to pull recd: ds from several City locations and compile for distribution. There being no other discussion, the CDBGAB Commission adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Chairperson Franklin Date Annette Potts, Project Manager 4