Travis County Commissioners Court
May 26, 2009,
Item 2
Number two is a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed uses for the $226,300 in community development block grant funds available through the american recovery and reinvestment act of 2009 from the u.s.
department of housing and urban development.
>> move that the public hearing be opened.
>> second.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> good morning, christie moffat, Travis County health and human services, we have a powerpoint presentation on the table if anyone would like to see all of the detail.
i'm going to go over very briefly some of the information.
this is a one-time allocation from the american recovery and reinvestment act for cdbg.
so -- so when looking at a project we were looking at a project that could be funded wholly and also meet cdbg criteria as well as the recovery act.
so after looking at five different projects, we selected the water connections in plainview estates.
that connects approximately 39 homes in the unincorporated area.
it addresses a need that's been on our project list since 2006.
it meets three of the six american recovery act objectives.
and we can also meet the expenditure deadline of sent 30th, 2012.
>> so what do we do with the balance, if we don't need all of this for the recommended project?
>> well, my assumption, we haven't been given any guidance, but my assumption is that we could substantially amend this amendment that's occurring to the action plan.
if we find that we need to -- to spend money, additional money.
we can go ahead and do an amendment like we would for regular cdbg allocation.
>> let me reask that question.
>> sorry, okay.
>> let's say that we have $226,000 as we do.
>> uh-huh.
>> and we spent all of it but let's say $70,000 on this project.
>> okay.
>> so what do we do with the 70,000?
>> you can -- you can -- the court can decide, we can come back to the court and the court can pick another project that we could move forward with.
>> okay.
>> okay.
we know the number one recommended project, what's the number two?
>> oh, I'm sorry.
home buyer assistance is the number two.
>> okay.
>> good morning, sherri flemming.
executive manager for health and human services.
and just because of the uncertainty that sort of is spiraling around our money, I just would add to that that I would imagine that we would have to get approval from h.u.d.
to reprogram this money and -- and it will probably be in our best interests to do so, even if we don't think that we should.
so I just wanted to make sure that I said that because I imagine that there will be a check in at some points during the three year period that we have to spend it to see how much we have spent, what we anticipate spending or not spending because in other areas we have heard that this money can be reprogramed and reallocated and so I -- I think that it's safe for us to -- to continue with that assumption, that -- that if we had an -- if where he didn't spend all of the money that we would have to request permission to reprogram it.
>> this process that we're going through, as far as making sure those folks have access to water out there, in plainview estates, what would be the time line, do you think, of these particular 39 families can say thank goodness, thank goodness, we have water in our home?
what would I tell them if -- if they were to call me and say, "Commissioner, we heard what you did, we listened to the public hearing, we know that we have been trying to get assistance as far as getting water to these homes.
what would I tell them at that point?
>> well, ms.
moffat just told me this morning that once we hired the temporary staff that we have made a part of the budget, that we will do the -- we will do the income certifications for the families and we have six months in order to get this done with that because if we go past the six months, we would have to check their income again.
so it will move fairly quickly.
>> we wouldn't actually do that income eligibility until the design work is complete.
>> right.
>> so -- so what we have said is -- what we have set is sent 30th, 2011 as an estimated completion date.
we still have to go through environmental clearance, we have to have the project designs, we have to do eligibility and then we have to do the construction.
so we have allowed approximately 24 months to complete that.
hopefully we will be able to complete that earlier, but that's just allowing for other contingencies.
>> all right.
so sent 2011 is what I can safely tell the folks.
>> yes.
>> if I happen to get a -- inquiry.
>> yes.
and we have actually sent letters, we sent letters on Friday of last week to everybody's address in plainview estates.
so let them know about the opportunity for these dollars.
and also to inform them that we would be holding a meeting in their community to discuss particulars and details with them sometime in the next three to four months.
>> three to four months, okay.
thank you for that response.
>> we are here for a public hearing on item no.
2, the community development block grant funds that have become available.
would anyone like to give testimony during this public hearing?
if so, please come forward.
>> move that the public hearing be closed.
>> second.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
and is there an action item for this one?
it will be back on next week.
okay.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:00 PM