04/26/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Ms. Hofmann said that the Jefferson/Far West Neighborhood was recelvlng the first of three years' NIP funds. She said that most of this year's funds would be devoted to open space development, concentrating on the area near Ida Patterson School and the Grant Street Park in the Far West area. She said the funds would also provide a mobile unit to house a preschool at Ida Patterson, some bike path lighting along the Amazon Bike Path, and housing rehabilitation in the form of an exterior paint program and a minor home maintenance program for senior citizens. Ms. Hofmann briefly referred to the goals and criteria that had been developed for use of the economic development funds and said she would explain these in greater detail under agenda item I-A-2. She said that the Community Development Committee (CDC) had held a public hearing on the neighborhood improvement proposals and that a subcommittee of the CDC and the Economic Diversification Task Team (EDTT) had held a public hearing on the economic development program. She said staff recommended that the council hold a publiC hearing and approve the proposed objectives and use of the CDBG funds for the coming year. Councilor Wooten asked for clarification of the urban renewal fund request. Ms. Hofmann responded that these funds remained from the City.s urban renewal project and were being reauested for completion of that project. e Ms. Wooten questioned the 20 percent level of administrative costs for the CDBG proqram and asked how HUD had responded to this cost level. Ms. Hofmann said that HUD had recently monitored the City.s program and would submit forffial comment on the program in May 1982. She said that the type of CDBG program offered by the City of Eugene involves a great deal of citizen participation and therefore a great deal of staff time and coordination. Ms. Wooten asked whether the reduction in social and community service programs included in NIP funding and the move toward more physical improvements would decrease the amount of staff time involved in the program. Ms. Hofmann responded that the physical improvement programs would take considerable staff time, since citizens would be heavily involved in the design of the improvements. Councilor Wooten asked in what manner and in what proportion contingency funds are spent. Ms. Hofmann responded that $20,000 remains from last year's contin- gency appropriation and that there has traditionally been a carry-over of contingency funds from one year to the next. Councilor Obie asked for more information on the proposal for installing a mobile classroom at Ida Patterson School. He asked whether School District 4-J had been approached and whether the district had agreed to the proposal. Ms. Hofmann said that the proposal was to move an existing preschool, currently housed in the armory, into the mobile unit. She said that the costs of running the preschool were paid by parents of participants. She said that the school district had been contacted and that this concern would be addressed in public testimony. Mr. Obie suggested that the use of existing and potential vacant buildings be considered as alternative sites for the preschool. Public hearing was opened. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 26, 1982 Page 2