Travis County Commissioners Court
July 22, 2008
Item 2
Number 2 is a public hearing to receive comments from residents of Travis County regarding the proposed usage of community development block grant, cdbg, funds for the program year 2008 action plan and the substantial amendment to the program year 2006 action plan.
>> move the public hearing be open.
>> second.
>> all in favor say aye. That passes by unanimous vote. Good morning.
>> good morning. Cdbg planner with the health and human services department and veteran department. I'm here to provide an introduction to the 7th and final public hearing that was held in the last five months to give public input for the program year 2008 action plan and amendment of the ax plan for the program year 2006. Bless note that the information that I'll be providing is information that h.u.d. Requires that we present with each public hearing. For those interested, there are copies of the presentation in the table next to the door. First I'll be giving an introduction of the grant. Second I will be reviewing the projects that we're proposing for the program years 2008 and, lastly, I'll be presenting the project amendment to the action plan for the program year 2006. First an introduction of the grant. We received community development block grants from the u.s. Department of housing and urban development on an annual basis. The purpose of the grant is to improve affordable housing options, community facilities arrest services, a revitalized neighborhoods. At least 70% of cdbg funds must benefit low to moderate income residents residing in unincorporated areas of Travis County. He will I believe activities of the grant include economic development, public services, redevelopment, planning and housing. Other activities include political activities, acquisition, construction or reconstruction of buildings for the general conduct of government. For the program year 2008, we are estimated to receive $883,133. For the management of the grant, we have a consolidated plan that establishes priorities for a five-year period and an action plan that establishes annual projects that follow the priorities of the consolidated plan. The priorities that we -- the county established for the 2006-2010 period are water and sewer improvements, street improvements, production of new housing units, rehabilitation of existing units for owner-occupied houses, infrastructure to support affordable housing developments, youth services and public services other. Following those established priorities, the recommended projects for the 2008 are the following: the first, infrastructure for new housing development for half a million dollars to support the land acquisition the court approved in years 1 and 2 and dollars will go to Austin habitat for human if i. They will support infrastructure to further increase the affordability of the houses being built and we estimate 41 houses will be built with this of half a million dollars. Second a home revitalization project for $106,136. This project will be done through a private nonprofit that will provide home repair and weatherization services. Third, a public service project. This is an internal program within the family support divisions of the health and human services department to expand social work services for those in in the unincorporated areas founded at $64,788. Fourth, the continuation of a water and wastewater planning project for $180,704. 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 the fifth and final, the administration of the cdbg grant for operating expenses in the amount of $53,505 for expenses such as travel, training, office, supplies and advertisement for public comment. $25,000 of those 52,505 are plant for a consultant to do analysis of impediment to fair housing choice. This will be looking at the discriminatory practices of the housing market within Travis County. Those were the five areas of funding for the fy '08 and I will be talking about the amendment to the py 2006 action plan. We recommending reprogramming of dollars from
>> [inaudible] expansion project we were unable to implement. The program will now be implemented using 007 money, but for that '06 money we're proposing those dollars go to design of a substandard road called lava lane for the same amount of money. To conclude, we're requesting comments of the proposed usage for program year 2008 projects and for the amendment to the 2006 action plan. Commissioners court will approve the final draft for submission to h.u.d. In early August. Final versions of the document will be available to the public by August 15th. And h.u.d. Will provide a decision of the submissions no later than September 30th of this year.
>> this is a public hearing. Would anyone like to give testimony during the public hearing? If so, please come forward.
>> move the public hearing be closed.
>> second.
>> my question is if we have multiple projects under the water, wastewater improvements planning category, how do we decide in what order we do it?
>> we'll be coming back to the court sometime in the next few months to talk about different areas of priority and different questions that we'll be asking. And then what we'll do is take that information from y'all and prioritize those areas. We'll probably recommend to y'all that we look at things like the income --
>> that is yet to be determined.
>> that is yet to be determined.
>> but the Commissioners court will help set those priorities.
>> yes.
>> two good answers.
>> okay.
>> that was a motion to close the public hearing and a second. You got both of those. All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you all very much.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:51 PM