06/23/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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hours, they would remain within the contract rate. And experience has been that where there is the chance of personal liability the city attorney has had that portion struck. He added that some 300 billable hours of the attorneys' time last year were spent on cases filed in zoning matters and treated in the normal course e of services. Vote was taken on the motion as stated. Motion carried unanimously. H. Housing Assistance Payments Program, Establishment' of Council as Housing Authority - "Copies of report from the planning department were previously distributed to Council members recommending that the Council apply to HUD for 105 units of housing under Section 8 - Existing Housing Program and that the City Council establish itself as a housing authority. Assistant Manager explained that under the present policy, Eugene could not be assured any number of housing units since payments would be made to the entire County. Establishing itself as a housing authority and making application would ensure Eugene's receiving the number of units approved. It was also recommended that contractual arrangement be made with the Lane County Housing Authority to administer the program to take advantage of its existing staff and avoid duplication in that respect. John Porter, planning director, explained that Eugene, working with the Housing Authority, had agreed on a division of the number of units, 105 to be developed in Eugene. However, under another section of the Act there is no way of guaranteeing all of those units would be rented in Eugene. Because rents in Eugene are sometimes $10 to $20 more than in smaller communities in the county, potential problems were foreseen in using the housing assistance programs and providing help for lower- income people here. He said a report would be brought to the Council at its June 23 meeting with regard to the Housing Authority's reaction- to the modified program. Staff recommended establishment of the Council as a housing authority not only to guarantee Eugene the number of units approved but also to enable e petition for higher subsidies to apply only in Eugene rather than throughout the county. Mr. Porter said there was no crisis, the housing assistance program could go forward under the Lane County Housing Authority, but staff felt the Council should be aware of the advantages of assuring the units for Eugene and to obtain a commitment from the Housing Authority to administer the program. Assistant Manager called attention to the June 30 cutoff date if Eugene was to take advantage of the 'modification, if no decision was made by that time then the program would have to be delayed for another year. Councilman Williams asked whether Betty Nivep,member of the Joint Housing Com- mittee, had expressed an opinion on the program. Also, for clarification of the Lane County Housing Authority's reabtion. Mr. Porter answered that Mrs. Niven was in favor of the proposal, and that the Housing Authority, because the invita- tion from HUD was just received June 1st, had not had opportunity to discuss the proposal. A report on their outlook would be brought to the June 23 Council meeting. Mayor Anderson asked what staff recommendation would be if the Housing Authority did not accept administration of the modified program. Mr. Porter answered that; staff would not want to go ahead because his department could not administer that number of units effectively. Councilwoman Beal asked who appointed the Lane 'County Housing Authority and who its members were. The response was that members were appointed by the County Commissioners and were people from various communities throughout the county, names of all were not known. Mr. _Williams moved seconded by Mr. Hamel that staff prepare a - resolution for the June 23 Council meeting authorizing application Comm under Section 8, Title II, for 105 units of housing and estab1ish- 6/18/75 ment of the City Council as a housing authority, but if the Lane County Housing Authority did not agree to administer the program Approve the authorization would be withdrawn. Motion ca~ried unanimOUSly. 6/23/75 - 24 'SS+