Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, December 7, 2010,
Item 2
2 is receive comments regarding the proposed substantial amendments to the program years 2009 through -- 2007 through 2009 action plans related to the use of community development block grant funds available through h.u.d.
and if I may take one-half of a minute here, what's proposed is that we consolidate certain moneys from those three years in order to generate money for a special need that surfaced.
>> yes.
>> that we have to deal with.
it involved four lots.
we had already purchased another --
>> 27.
>> -- 27 lots as part of a program, and really to make the 27 work we needed four more to get up to 31.
so these substantial amendments are actions that we propose to take to generate the money necessary to purchase the additional four lots.
>> that is correct.
>> not to steal your thunder.
>> that was very accurate.
thank you for summarizing so nicely.
in the backup we have the summary.
>> move the public hearing be open.
>> sorry.
>> move the public hearing be open.
second.
there you go.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> now you can go.
>> christy moffett, Travis County health and human services.
we have found project savings in administration, planning, public service and then also from the apache shores substandard road project, so that's over 2007 to 2009.
and also to fund the $174,000 for land acquisition, we're also having to reduce the home buyer assistance program by about $18,000.
what this action will do will allow Austin habitat for humanity to purchase four lots on gilbert lane in eastern Travis County -- or sorry, in barneny cove in eastern Travis County.
it will provide affordable housing for people at 80% of median family income or below.
and it will be a forgivable loan to families is that if -- you know, that if over a ten-year period the loan will be fully forgiven for the cost of the land.
and so we have michael willard here, substitute I have director of Austin habitat for humanity and that concludes the presentation.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> I知 mike willard, president and c.e.o.
of Austin habitat for humanity.
we support the proposal being made to purchase these four lots because not only will it allow us to acquire the lots and provide affordable house, but also give us opportunity to control the design requirements on that street so we operate -- we would then own and be able to make sure that our design, house design and streetscape is appropriate for the houses that we're able to build and make it affordable for the homeowners to move in there.
we appreciate your support and your previous support and are looking for your support again for us to reach this goal.
>> I壇 like to thank you for what you are doing as far as bringing affordable homes in that community.
it's desperately needed, and plus we're able to get four additional lots on top of the 27 that we originally started with.
so again, the judge stated earlier, this is basically to consolidate those moneys where we were able to get those four additional lots to bring affordable housing in that area which is really a big plus as far as bringing homes to this community.
so I think it's something real great.
I really am thrilled and excited about it.
thank you.
>> and when you access federal grant funding, you have to comply with a whole lot of rules.
>> yes.
>> and what we're doing today is to comply with h.u.d.
rules in these two specific categories.
>> right.
>> now, that said, would anyone like to give comments during this public hearing?
item number 2.
>> yes, I would.
I知 still campaigning for my neighborhood.
>> okay.
>> I believe that habitat for humanity is a wonderful organization and is doing a wonderful thing; however, we already have 58 homeowners who are not able to travel in their neighborhood safely without tearing up their cars.
I壇 like to see the money spent where people are already living as opposed to making four new homeowners.
>> the only difference we've been working on this program two years.
>> having said that --
>> but in your case the problem is those are private roads and we're working with the neighborhood to try to make them public.
and make the improvement.
>> make my roads public, yes.
>> they are private roads today.
>> right.
>> we have a program, though, that we call the substandard roads program where we work with residents to make private roads public so public funds can be used to improve them.
>> that's exactly right.
>> but there are specific requirements that you have to meet by law and under county policy.
and we've had these policies in place probably 15 years or so, and so -- but we have been able to work with specific neighborhoods from time to time and so your neighborhood is on a list of things if the money were available today, we would still have to jump through hoops to get it done.
>> I understand that, but two points.
in the information that myself and my neighbors received about the -- the spending, we didn't have all this background information.
I didn't get it until I was in the hallway talking to christy.
so, you know, the viewpoint of my neighbors, and I知 here I guess speaking for my neighbors, hey, that's our tax money, we've been paying for years, we already live here.
so when the word "substantial" is used, hey wait a minute came up in the coffee conversations.
that's why I知 here.
I would like to continue to bring attention to our neighborhood and I don't know if you can see this as boling lane, it's a washed-out road that's difficult to traverse.
we have new homes that were built on it.
some of them I understand are section 508 -- rather section 8, yeah.
section 8 housing.
so h.u.d.
does have an interest in my neighborhood.
in fact, on cavalier canyon there was a recent foreclosure with a sign in the window saying it's owned by h.u.d.
so I think that we should -- even though we're talking about private roads becoming public, h.u.d.
has made an investment in our neighborhood.
>> and it is also nice to see the distribution of affordable housing throughout the county, which is also a big plus and a goal of ours.
>> oh, from my backyard you can see million dollar homes.
>> that's right.
>> we're in a unique situation here.
>> I think, though, from the cdbg perspective, christy may be able to speak to this, the substandard road projects are not so much in competition with affordable housing being built as they are with other substandard road projects throughout the county.
because we have substandard road issues in every single precinct.
>> sure.
sure.
and the way Travis County is growing after at different rates and when I first moved here in 2004, I was told this is the wild, wild west, welcome.
>> in the unincorporated areas.
>> mr. Reeferseed.
>> I would like to comment on what she was saying, my house is generally in that neighborhood and we for years in the crossland property development, we tried to get that kind of back up -- it was private roads that are now public.
and my single question about that is having been assaulted waving my signs one time by a passing motorist, jumped out of his truck and assaulted me, I知 wondering is there now sheriff protection or like I致e never seen them give tickets or anything even though it's a public road from what I understand, the one my house is on.
is that because there's low traffic and they just don't have a market for tickets out in the little, tiny roads, public -- public roads that were private or is that -- where would I find out about that if there is -- is that a policy?
>> I知 not sure I understand your question, but it would be a fascinating discussion at another time under the right topic.
>> oh, okay.
I was just relating since --
>> in terms of coverage by the sheriff's office, we can put knew touch with the right people once we understand your question.
>> okay.
thanks.
>> anybody to give public comment under item 2?
>> move the public hearing --
>> judge, I would like to make a couple of comments.
judge, gus pena, native east Austinite and I ran for city council 96 and 97 specifically about the issues of true affordable housing and I understand this is unincorporated, I understand that also, but my comments would be and questions actually is the qualification, how do you qualify to become a participant in the habitat for humanity?
for example we have individuals who have been incarcerated, released from jail, good people, working, need a house for the family.
are there restrictions regarding individuals that have been released from incarceration?
>> we first talk about the selection process we use.
we first look at where they are currently living and whether or not they are in a -- living in a situation that's unsafe.
so there could be holes in the floor, things of that nature.
we're also looking at whether or not they are paying more than 30% of their annual income for whatever they are currently living in and that tends to be the case in many situations here.
and also whether or not in terms of going back to the safety issues, there's gangs, drugs, other things going on in that community.
then the other qualification we look for is there ability to pay because they pay a note at the end of this.
we're looking at whether or not they have income between 30 and 50% of the median family in Travis County and whether or not their debt ratio is acceptable so they don't have previous debts, coming to us with a car loan, appliance loan and asking to put another house debt on top of that.
finally we look at their willingness to person partner with us, 400 hours of sweat equity.
that means we are going to work on their own home and other homes and attending classes that we provide on financial literacy, on home maintenance, home repair so they become homeowners.
in that process, we also do background check to see if they were previously incarcerated, whether or not they -- depending on the offense, would be good partners for our program.
that's part of just another step in that process of evaluating the folks that we serve.
>> do me a favor and define certain offenses.
>> if we -- sex offender would be one that we would not consider as a quality partner for us at this point in time.
and that would be the biggest issue there.
obviously there are other offenses, but that's one --
>> such as?
>> if you were previously had an offense of weapon and -- in a case of a murder or something of that nature, I certainly would think we would question that.
>> and I find it highly admirable what habitat for humanity is doing, but in this day and age, you are looking at background, you are looking at credit, you are looking at the income and everything, but we have a lot of people that are homeless, good people that are losing their homes right now.
and my comment has been for many years even when I was on the homeless task force with mayor frank cooksey and mayor bruce todd, we're losing a lot because of all these other requirements.
what I direct to the court and people listening to me and viewing my ugly face we need transitional housing for individuals who have been incarcerated.
everybody makes mistakes.
but the issue is let's not hold it against them.
they've paid a debt to society and I worked with homeless, habitat for humanity for many years before you came aboard and I知 well known in that community, but these are the things we need to look at.
and thank you for your time, for allowing me to speak, judge and Commissioners.
you've been a good advocate for people who have been incarcerated.
thank you very much for your time and I know federal requirements, the issue is a lot of requirements keep people from being housed.
thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> when does this public hearing close?
>> the public comment period closes on December 23rd, I believe.
yes.
>> okay.
anybody else?
>> move the public hearing be closed.
>> second.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 1:33 PM
