08/13/1984 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Councilor Wooten said she objected to a local voters' pamphlet, stating that she did not feel the City had the money, inclination, or the policy to do so at tha t 1 a te da te . In addition, she said it was up to the proponents and opponents of any referendum or initiative to inform the public of those measures. Councilor Schue agreed, stating that the City should not take a position for or against any measure. She felt that other groups existed in the City which were better organized to provide objective information on the proposed measures. Councilor Hansen stated that he had previously asked staff to report on the proposed referendum on trees and staff had just presented a report on the possible impact of Ballot Measure #2. While he said it was important for the council to be well-versed on these two measures, he felt any action on the measure addressing Federal legislation would have little effect. He sa i d he still wished to receive a report on the Historic Tree measure. Councilor Holmer said it was appropriate for the council to consider how local voters were informed on ballot measures. He felt that the City could approxi- mate the process established by the State in presenting additional information on the measures. Councilor Wooten stated that councilors were free as individ- als to work through their respective political action committees or through other measures to present views on specific measures. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS e A. Rental Rehabilitation Program (memo, background information di stributed) Assistant City Manager David Whitlow introduced the agenda item. Jesse Smi th of the Eugene Development Department presented the staff report, stating that the Rental Rehabilitation Program was a new source of Federal financing available to the City to complement the existing City housing programs. He explained that the program was designed to leverage private financing to rehabilitate privately-held rental property and to maintain the affordability of low-income housing. He said the key ingredients of the grant application were $139,000 set aside for the City, Section 8 Certificates received by the City to be administered through Lane County Housing Authority, and the target- ing of funds to the Central Planning District. He explained that the City would receive one certificate for each $5,000 of rehabilitation dispensed from the grant fund. As part of the leveraging feature of the program, he said the Federal government required the City to take an active role in leveraging private financing with public funds to create below-market rate interest loans to expand the available funds. He stated that John Van Landingham of the Interim Community Development Committee and Barbara Chin of Housing Authority of Lane County were available to answer any questions of the council. In response to a question by Councilor Wooten, Mr. Smith stated that the Central Planning District did not include the Bethel Triangle area. Mr. Smith said staff had looked at several areas for possible inclusion in the program but found that only the Central Planning District qualified. He said the e income data for that district was approximately $20,000--80 percent of the MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 13, 1984 Page 2