Travis County Commissioners Court
July 1, 2008
Item 2
Number 2 is a public hearing to receive comments regarding -- from residents of Travis County regarding the proposed usage of community development block grant cdbg funds for program year 2008 action plan and the substantial amendment to the program year 2006 action plan.
>> move to open the public hearing.
>> second.
>> all in favor? Carries unanimously.
>> good morning, christy moffat. We receive block grant funds from the u.s. Department of housing and urban development. Every five years we are required to do a consolidated plan which outlines the needs and strategic direction for funds used over a five year time period. Additionally, annually, we are required to do an annual action plan where we specifically indicate the proposed uses for funds and today we are here to have a public hearing regarding a proposed use of the funds for the program year 2008. As well as a substantial amendment to the program year 2006, action plan, reprogramming funds. The development of the action plans actually begins in February of the year. And so we've held public hearings to determine need. We have also evaluated project ideas as well as put the action plan up for public comment for 30 daytime period, which began on June 25th and will end on July 26th. We will also have an additional public hearing here at the Commissioners court on July 22nd to receive additional testimony. The purpose and intent of cdbg is improve affordable housing options, improve community facilities and services and also reviolate lies neighborhood. At least 70% must benefit low to moderate income citizens. Cdbg can carry out a wide range of activities included but not limited to economic development, public services, redevelopment or what we would consider improvements, planning and administration and also housing projects. Ineligible activities generally are acquisition construction or reconstruction of buildings for the general conduct of government, political activities, certain income payments and construction of new housing units by a general local government. During the 2006-2010 consolidated planning process, the Commissioners court approved 7 high priority categories. For -- for -- so that we can put funding into those things over a five year time period. Those seven high priorities are water, sewer improvements, street improvements, owner housing production of new units through acquisition and infrastructure support, owner housing rehabilitation of existing units, infrastructure to support affordable housing development, public services, youth services, other. Recommended projects for program year 2008 include infrastructure for new housing development for half a million dollars. This is to support the land acquisition that the court approved in years one and two and these dollars will go to Austin habitat for humanity. They will support the infrastructure to further increase the affordability of the houses built. We anticipate approximately 41 houses being built. Also the creation of a home rehabilitation project. This project will be done through a private non-profit and home repair and weatherization service in the amount of $106,136. Public services other, this is an internal program with the family support services division of Travis County health and human services to expand social work services to those in the unincorporated areas. This is funded at $64,788. Also the continuation of a water and wastewater and other project planning project for $108,704. This is looking at 16 different neighborhoods throughout the unincorporated areas of Travis County who have indicated a need or an interest in accessing public water or sewer facilities. And then finally the administration of the cdbg grant for operating expenses in the amount of $53,505 for things like travel, training, office supplies, advertising for the public comment -- for the public hearings, those kinds of things, also $25,000 for a consultant to do an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice and that is related to descries inventory practices in the housing market. Discriminatory practices in the housing market. Also we are recommending an amendment to the py '06 action plan, reprogramming $83,659 from an fss social work expansion project that we weren't able to implement due to hiring difficulties. The program is now implemented using '07 money, but with those six we weren't able to get the person hired in time. We are recommending that the design of a lava lane substandard road improvement project from the amount of $83,659, we are proposing that for the reprogramming of those dollars. And in terms of next steps, after the public comment period, public comments will be reviewed and considered in the final preparation of submissions to h.u.d. The Commissioners court will approve the final draft for the submission to h.u.d. Hopefully on August 5th. Final versions of the document available to the public by August 15th of 2008 and h.u.d. Will provide us a decision on any submission that's we provide no later than September 30th. So with that, we are requesting comments on the proposed use of funds for the program year $2,008 as well as the substantial amendment to the program year 2006 action plan.
>> I have a specific question because of the way this is listed today. I can't answer the question that I need to ask. But I definitely want to get with you to see if we can also expand maybe on some of the usage, some of these funds and -- and we may have a category that cover it. I'm not really sure. By I'm -- but I'm looking forward to talking to you, call my office if you will today.
>> okay.
>> I'll -- I'll discuss that with you at that time.
>> okay.
>> be sure to call my office.
>> thank you.
>> if you would like to give comments during this public hearing, please come forward.
>> this is gus pena. I think that I have spoken to the issue before. Habitat for humanity is outstanding initiative, they provide true blue affordable housing. Our program is green space to be able to build homes. In the course of the last six months we have been if contact with the secretary of h.u.d., visited with his office, the new one, also the san antonio's h.u.d. Department with the help of former mayor henry cisneros, former secretary of h.u.d., also my cousin frederico pena. The reason being that we need more affordable housing and let's make it real clear what affordable housing is. Some of this funding is appropriate, 41 homes is good, outstanding, a good start because there are a lot of people that can't afford a home and cannot afford a home but we should be able to place them, get them off the streets. One thing that I would, I don't know if this fits the criteria, but if I could ask you judge and economics Commissioners, there used to a program called rent to purchase, two years to rebuild your credit or clean up your credit, that was an outstanding true blue proven program, if we could have that, something like that, you could have more people qualify, they are working, of course, in order to pay the mortgage. This would help out people be placed into homes also, affordable homes. Keep up the good work. I asked the secretary's office in san antonio and washington give us more money. There's a big need over here. I know there's a need nation-wide, I'm from Austin, Texas, Travis County, we need more money for this program. I think that it's outstanding. We call it the rural area, now unincorporated cindy and I were talking about it, these are the things that are needful, very helpful thank you for your leadership.
>> gus, also in that same regard, if in any way possible, I know that you are doing it already, it would be good to remind the city of Austin just about the subject matter that you mentioned this morning. Two governmental entities trying to look at the same problem.
>> yes, sir.
>> issue, not problem but issue. You know, we are both -- we will both be trying to do the best we can.
>> yes, sir.
>> my priority is let loose I can't be literate in -- lucio be literate in algebra, graduate on time. God directed me to help the poor, needy, have nots, be right on target. You are one of our strong advocates, all of you are, we are strongly urging the next mayor, I know there's three candidates out there to ensure affordability. To work closely with Travis County in the past. They have not. I have urged them for the best interests of the taxpayers and needy, work together in a cohesive group environment. Thank you, sir, good point.
>> thank you all very much.
>> thank you.
>> good morning.
>> good morning, my name is joe, I'm a constituent of precinct 4. I would like to tell you all first of all thank you for -- for voting on may 27th to approve on the substantial amendment for the 2006 plan that she was talking about. The thing that I would like to add on to what she was saying, on behalf of the entire community because a bunch of them are taking care of kids and so forth, I would like to ask the Commissioners court to please take into consideration the funding for just the construction of this road of lava lane within the next two years in possible. Just for the major fact being that our community is growing a lot bigger. There's more kids attending school. And we really do need those public services such as the bus going up into that road. We took some of the -- we took misty -- christie out there and it's .8 miles just to the -- to the bus stop. So we got a little six-year-old, I believe seven-year-old now this year that has to walk .8 all the way to the bus stop because we don't have that road improvement. We did talk to ms. Gomez, thank you for taking that time, we would like to ask you all to take that into consideration because it is very necessary, as well as other improvements like you all have the production of new home unit like myself, you know, if you all can just from all of us and on lava lane, if you all can please take consideration for the construction of lava lane, thank you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> > anybody else? This is a public hearing on cdbg, community development block grant funds.
>> okay.
>> you are welcome to give comments.
>> no thank you.
>> move to close the public hearing.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 1:51 PM