03/26/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e able to improve their applications for grant funding. More and more different groups are requesting funding. He felt the council could consider expanding community development funds by adding general fund monies. This program is good for citizen participation, neighborhoods, and the City. Mr. Obie asked, if Community Development Block Grant funding is reduced in the next two years, what would happen to the neighborhoods that have not been helped? Mr. Delay responded that it would be up to the council whether the program must terminate or be funded through another mechanism. He expressed regrets that some neighborhoods have been excluded from the process. He further stated this could be included in a supplemental budget. Mr. Obie asked if there was any consideration this year to try to spread those monies further. Mr. Delay responded that a large number of neighborhoods are ineligible and there are primary, secondary, and third priority levels. Those are determined on the basis of planning data, block group data, income levels, and level of deterioration in the neigh- borhood. The overall committee policy has been basically the same since the program began. Funds are so limited and spreading out the monies evenly would dilute the effect. The emphasis has been to focus primarily on one. specific neighborhood per year. First was Westside Neighborhood, then Whiteaker, West University was third, and Far West will be next. This has been done to produce observable changes so that private invest- ment will be stimulated. - Mr. Obie mentioned, in regard to Project 3B--Neighborhood Housing Resource Center for $18,000--that it is outlined that staff will be provided to look at methods to prevent low- and moderate-income displacement. He would like to know where this position will be. Ms. Hofmann responded it is now with the non-profit Willamette Community Design Center. One objective would be to research alternative design possibilities; another is to look at the problem of displacement. Mr. Obie then asked, in regard to outreach staffing for $33,000, what those staff members do. Ms. Hofmann responded that they are liaison workers between neighborhood residents and City staff to complete the funded projects. For example, the liaison could put together a committee and work with City staff to make sure that bills were paid. Mr. Obie then asked for clarification on Item III-P, Weatherization Loans for $7,000, with zero-percent interest. He asked if this was a new program and how one would qualify for the program. Ms. Hofmann stated this is being tried as an experiment in the West University Neighborhood with investor-owners. This gives them an additional incentive to use the State weatherization program. Mr. Obie then asked if qualifying standards have been estab- lished. Ms. Hofmann responded that there were none at this point. Ms. Smith stated she had a question regarding a project raised at the March 24 public hearing--that of lighting for the Fairmount Neighborhood. She asked why it was not funded. Ms. Hofmann stated the project was not included because Public Works is unable to undertake any more lighting e 3/26/80--3