03/10/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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F. Greenway:Acquisition - Council was requested to write Governor Straub as has Lane County urging LCDC to act quickly on the Greenway Plan and terminate the present moratorium on acquisition because Eugene and Lane County are held up on their purchase program. Corr.m . 2/26/75 Approve Mr. Keller moved seconded by Mr. Hamel that a letter be written as requested. Motion carried unanimously. G. Home Repair Program - Joint Housing Committee recommended allocation of $29,667 of general revenue sharing funds set aside for housing to continue the city's home re- pair program, that program to be expanded to include low-income homeowners under 62 (last 'year's program specified eligibility for only those over 62 or disabled). Projections indicated that $4,667 of the $29,667 would be spent to help pay Lane County Division of Social Services administrative costs of the program. Copies of the present program description were previously distributed to Council members. Co~nqilm~n Haws wondered why it would take almost $5,000 to administer a $25,000 program and whether the staff was recommending that expenditure. Robin CUphman, planning department, said the money allocated for last year's program was spent en- tirely for materials and labor. The County this year is extending the prograln to all of Lane County so the city was asked to participate in the administrative costs. And the staff was recommending that participation. Assistant Manager added that the nature of the program - many small projects - resulted in higher overhead costs. Councilman Keller asked if funds were contributed from other sources. It seemed to him that again Eugene was supplying revenues for other agencies to spend. He asked if it wasn't the original and primary intent of the program to help the elderly. Ms. Cushman said Springfield anticipated putting in about $22,000 in community de- velopment funds if those funds were forthcoming. There has been no decision yet by the County or smaller communities, she said, but there was a much larger potential than just the city of Eugene's share. The intent in recommending eligibility for ~ those younger than 62 was to further the city's housing dispersal pOlicy. In fur- ther response to Mr. Keller, Ms. Cushman said all of the funds allocated for last year's home repair program had been used. Councilman Murray remarked on the effectiveness of the home repair after having seen the really urgent need of people who may not otherwise have been able to maintain and stay in their homes. He said it was becoming increasingly apparent in his in- volvement with making recommendations for allocation of community development funds that there was a "subgroup" of low-income people usually left out, and he felt they would merit attention just as much as the elderly and handicapped. In response to his question whether the city's contributions were recognized, whether Eugene re- ceived its proportionate share of the service, Ms. Cushman answered that all of Eugene's contribution was spent within the city. Mr. Murray continued his opinion that expansion of the program to low-income homeowners of any age would be especially important given the community development process. He thought it would be wise to apprise the adminis- tratorof this home repair program of what the community development process was trying to accomplish so that the two programs could be co-ordinated. He saw the home repair program a~ a complement to the major effort of rehabilitating low--income housing through the community development process. He expressed the hope that some way could be found to extend the home repair services to other than just homeowners since it appeared a large percentage of those houses needing maintenance were not owner occupied. In discussion of eligibility requirements, Ms. Cushman explained that the description distributed was of the program now in effect. The proposal before the Council was for next year's program which was recommended to include also low-income homeowners under 62 with children. She said priorities would be assigned on a first-come, first-serve ~ basis so it was possible the money would continue to be used for the elderly who reques_, aid. If the program was expanded, it was assumed there would be negotiation between the county and city on eligibility and priority, the provisions decided upon to be spelled out in a new contract between the two. 3/10/75 - 12 /110