11/09/1981 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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~-- Mr. Lannom said that there has been over $700,000 in CD funds allocated in - previous years to projects which have not yet been started or completed. He felt that releasing those funds would also have a strong economic impact. Michael Connelly, 1350 Chambers Street, represented the Southwest Oregon Native American Consortium. He said that he had attended the meetings of the subcommit- tee to determine how the Native American community can best fit into the CD program. His group seeks funds to purchase a building for a Native American Cultural Center. He questioned whether there was any way to obtain such funds in any of the suggested CD allocation options. Mr. Connelly said that Indians have different ideas of community and neighborhood than those expressed in the current guidelines for use of City CD funds. He said that the average American Indian family of four has a yearly income of $1,500. The unemployment rate for Native Americans is 75 to 80 percent. He felt that CD funds should go to the low-income unemployed. Jay Rood, 1555 Jefferson Street, represented Jefferson Area Neighbors (JAN). He said that JAN recognizes the financial difficulties facing the City but still feels that any three-year plan for allocation of CD funds should respond to the interests and needs of neighborhoods, particularly those involved in Neighborhood Improvement Programs (NIPs). He said that neighborhoods should be supported in studying and promoting job creation. He felt that neighborhoods aid the entire city by using CD funds to improve and maintain public facilities. He fe It that CD funds were vital to the implementation of the Metropolitan Area General Plan and of neighborhood refinement plans. He said that neighborhoods promote citizen involvement. Mr. Rood said that JAN was not really happy with any of e the options offered but, if he had to, would choose Option 5. He suggested that the meanings of the terms "economic development" and "job creation" need to be clarified. He urged the council to retain the neighborhood focus of the CDBG program. Martha Filer, 235 East 3rd Avenue, stated that she spoke for herself, since there had not been time to refer this matter to the Whiteaker Community Council. She said that she appreciated having the various options as a point of focus for discussion of changes to the CDBG program. She opposed changing the funding policies which had been set in the past for NIPs. She felt that neighborhoods need more information about possible funding through General Fund dollars or other sources, as alternatives to CD moneys. She felt that the NIP program plays a strong role in educating citizens on city government processes. She urged that CD fund allocations retain their neighborhood focus. Scott Wylie, 310 East 14th Avenue, said that rehabilitation loans were extremely effective in creating jobs for a wide range of employees, from unskilled to skilled. He said that rehabilitation is more labor-intensive and uses a higher proportion of labor to materials than new housing construction. He urged that a large portion of the CD funds be allocated for housing rehabilitation. Jon Stafford, 1060 Madison, warned councilors that many of the words used in dlscussing CD funds have confusing definitions. He cited the word "administra- tion" and said that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has intricate and rigid definitions for this term. Mr. Stafford said that he agreed that some drastic changes are needed in the CD program, due to the decline in e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 9, 1981 Page 2