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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCDC Minutes 09/13/1976CALL TO ORDER PETALUMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION Minutes of Regular Meeting Monday, September 13, 1976 - 4:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Helen Putnam at the hour of 4:07 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Brunner, Cavanagh, Harberson*, Hilligoss, Mattei, Perry, and Chairman Putnam *Commissioner Harberson arrived at 5:07 p.m. APPROVAL OF The Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Petaluma Community MINUTES Development Commission and the Petaluma City Council of July 12, 1976, were approved. The Recording Secretary advised the Commissioners the minutes had previously been approved by the Petaluma City Council at the meeting of August 2, 1976, however, it was felt the minutes should also be approved by the Petaluma Community Development Commission. HOUSING: HOUSING ASSISTANCE Project Manager Janie Warman advised the Commission this was PAYMENTS PROGRAM the first time the Housing Program had been discussed before the Petaluma Community DevelopmentCommission. She explained that, although the Commission assumes the role of the Housing Authority, Sonoma County acts as the agent for Petaluma for Section 8, Housing Assistance Payments Program. The County was notified on July 16, 1976, that HUD funding had been granted. Sonoma County, per se, does not administer the Housing Program, but'it is handled through the Santa Rosa Housing Authority. Ms. Warman stated she had met with the members of the Santa Rosa Housing Authority to discuss the program. The only service the City of Petaluma will be providing to administer the program will be to make office space available on October 6 and 7 for families who are eligible under the program to meet in -the Community Development room. She further explained low-income families who are interested in the program could receive an application by contacting the Santa Rosa Housing Authority through a toll-free telephone number. Of the 280 units applied for throughout the County, approximately 35 of the units would be available to the citizens of Petaluma. Ms. Warman also stated there are 140 units to be allocated in the unincorporated areas. Ms. Warman explained the procedures applicants would have to take in order to file an application; and, i.e., they would call the toll-free number to receive an application and come to the City Hall on either October 6 or 7 to discuss the program to determine whether or not they are eligible, If eligible, applicants would be able to find their own housing. The City would not be responsible for finding housing for them. Both the applicant and the landlord would be given pamphlets explaining the program and the housing assistance payments available. There is a criteria established for eligibility, and one of the criteria is that a family should not have to pay over 25 percent of their income for housing. Ms. Warman stated the scale in Petaluma would be up to $177 per month for a one -bedroom home or apartment, including utilities but not telephone; two bedrooms, $209; three bedrooms $241; and four bedrooms, $263. The maximum income a single person could earn in order to be eligible would be $7,900; two people could make as much as $10,200; and, three people $11,300. The program also takes into account the elderly and the handicapped. Some discussion was held on giving the proper publicity to the program, and Ms. Warman stated this would be handled probably through the Santa Rosa Housing Authority, and she was hopeful the local newspaper would give ample coverage of the program. In answer to some questions raised by Commissioner Mattei, Ms. Warman stated the program could cover people who are already settled into homes; they would not have to look for new places but could apply for assistance under the program. Also, she stated those persons who are purchasing homes would not HOUSING ASSISTANCE be eligible;,it is strictly for rental units. In addition, PAYMENTS PROGRAM (Cont'd) there is a much to Petaluma. Ms. Warman stated the vacancy rate in Petaluma is very low and cited the fact the Park Lane Apartments, which rent under Section 23 of the Housing and Urban Development Program, have about 30 ,to 40 persons on their waiting list, indicating greater need for housing than the 35 units which will be allocated PROPOSED REGIONAL Ms. Warman stated. on September 1 she attended a seminar HOUSING SUBSIDY conducted by the Regional Planning Committee.of the Associ- DISTRIBUTION ation of Bay Area Governments. ABAG's staff has proposed a SYSTEM distribution system for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ms. Warman stated she attended the meeting in order to determine what could be available for the City of Petaluma in the future. The Housing and Urban Development Department's philosophy is to have more decisions made at the local level. The Department has found by allocating different kinds of grants and subsidies from Washington, they have run into some problems. To help solve these problems, they have requested the Association of Bay Area Governments to come up with an equitable distribution system. Ms. Warman advised 97 percent of these housing subsidies have already been allocated. ABAG would be concerned with only the remaining 3_percent. Of this 3 percent, the City of Petaluma has already made an application under the Community Development Act of 1974 for Senior Citizens Site for Housing and for Rehabilitation Funds. By means of charts on the wall, Ms. Warman explained how. the funds had been administered from Congress on down to the communities and how it is intended for the Association of Bay Area Governments to administer the pro- gram. Previously, the majority of the funds have gone to cities having a population of over 50,000. Because the City of Petaluma is under 5Q,000 population, it would be eligible for a portion of the 3 percent still remaining. The new proposal is to have the Association of Bay Area Governments, which is the clearinghouse for the nine Bay Area counties, review the plans from cities and counties, distribute the funds, monitor the system, and annually evaluate the program. Ms. Warman stated the proposed system is based on the number of low-income people in each area, the formula developed by Congress, the amount of subsidized housing in each area, and the location of lower-income jobs in each region. At the meeting September 1 held by the Regional Planning Committee of the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Committee indicated they wanted to have the program initiated, The Executive Board of ABAG will meet on September 16 to vote on the issue. Ms. Warman stated at the meeting of September 1, some of the areas which had a population of 50,000 and over objected to the proposal because they would not be eligible for remaining funds. However, after listening to all the facts, they did concur, and the vote was unanimous to ask the Executive Board of ABAG to approve the plan. In response to a question raised by Commissioner Perry whether there would be a market for this type of housing in Petaluma, Ms. Warman stated in reviewing the City's five-year projected Housing Assistance Plan, the Plan stated there were approximately 463 unemployed, lower-income workers. The current goal for this year for lower income housing is 279 households. The three,year goal would come up to 500 households which would receive some kind of housing assistance. The 1974 Housing Element states there are 1,450 households which need some type of housing assistance. Of these, about 600 are occupied by senior citizens. Commissioner Cavanagh, the voting delegate for the Sonoma County Mayor's and Councilmens' Association on the Executive Board of ABAG, stated this was the first presentation he had heard on the program, and he realized he had to vote for the eight cities in the County. He further stated there is sometimes a breakdown in communications in getting word to the Executive Board members from ABAG. Ms. Warman stated it was her understanding, according to the minutes of the Regional Planning Committee, the matter had been discussed and several memos had gone to the Regional Planning Committee. The Commission discussed the program briefly stating they would-be in favor of it if it was to benefit the people now residing within the corporate limits of the City of Petaluma. Commissioner Mattei felt he didn't think housing should be developed and then an invitation extended to persons living outside of the community to benefit. -2- PROPOSED REGIONAL Executive Director Robert Meyer stated along these lines one of HOUSING SUBSIDY the things that is being looked into at the present time and will DISTRIBUTION be brought back to theCommissionwould be the use of the present SYSTEM Hillcrest Hospital for senior citizens center. The possibility of obtaining a grant for a study is being considered. Mr. Meyer stated there are many things built into the hospital at the present time which would be conducive to transforming it into a senior center community. If a study would indicate this may be a proper use for the building, the actual use would be approximately two years away. Mr. Meyer did state, however; the cost of converting the building may be too great, and it may not be a practical use for the structure. Commissioner Mattei stated he would feel an investigation should be made to have private enterprise take over the project. Mr. Meyer stated it would probably be the intention to turn it into a nonprofit organization and perhaps the best people to administer such a program would be the people -who are going to be using it, namely, the elderly. The City's only involvement would be to determine whether or not it would be feasible. Ms. Warman stated she felt Petaluma could determine there was a need for such a facility for senior and handicapped persons. She was of the opinion there would be some kind of federal grants available to conduct a study. REDEVELOPMENT: PAC Project Manager Janie Warman advised the Commission the Project RECOMMENDATIONS Area Committee had met on August 11 and August ;12 to discuss the RE REDEVELOPMENT proposed changes to the Amended Rules for Owner Participants, PLAN AND OWNER Business Occupants and Property Owners Desiring to Participate PARTICIPATION in Redevelopment. Copies-of•the minutes of the!roject Area RULES Committee for August 11 and August 12, 1976, sub fitted and filed. Ms. Warman stated the Project Area Committee had a great deal of discussion regarding amending the rules in order to make the adoption of the Ordinance to approve and adopt the Redevelopment Plan for the Petaluma Central Business District Redevelopment Project acceptable to the City Council. She explained the changes in the Rules for Owner Participants on page 5. Pages 10 and 11 of the Redevelopment Plan would be changed also. Modifications recommended by the Project Area Committee would exclude the use of Eminent Domain as a power of the Petaluma Community Development Commission. Ms. *arm4n stated some of the Project Area Committee members wanted to retain the powers of Eminent Domain with the Petaluma Community Development Commission. However, because they felt it was important to have the Plan approved, they were willing to.go along with other members of the Project Area Committee and make the recommendation to the Commission. Ms. Warman stated a letter had been received from Special Counsel Joseph Coomes which advised the Montoya Acts, i.e., Assembly Bills 3672, 3673, and 3674, have been approved by the Legislature and are now awaiting the Governor's signature. If the Governor signs the Bills, the provisions would apply to the City's Redevelopment Plan, effective October 1, 1976. It would then be necessary to amend the -Plan as presented to the City Council. Mr. Coomes advised it would be necessary then to reopen the Public Hearing, changes would have to be made to limit the amount of taxes through tax allocation bonds, and the proposed bilis would also'llmit the time within which to acquire property. Ms. Warman stated if the Council acted before October 1, it would not be necessary to amend the Plan to include these changes. Commissioner Cavanagh questioned the effective date of the proposed legislation and wondered if October 1 was the deadline or if the Bills do not, in fact, become effective January 1, 1977. City Attorney Matthew Hudson stated if the City were to adopt the Plan prior to the October 1 date, as in many cases, the City's Plan would be "grandfathered" and would not be subject to the new rules. Executive Director Robert Meyer advised the Commission he had been in contact with the financial firm of Stone and Youngberg, and their comments to him were they had been -involved in approximately 45 projects concerned with redevelopment and less than 3 percent of these projects had ever had to use the powers of Eminent Domain, Chairman Putnam stated since Eminent Domain had been a matter of concern by members of the Commission and the City Council, if the powers were removed from the documents, it would appear the Commission has done something to gain support for the program. mcm PAC General Counsel Matthew Hudson explained the parliamentary procedures RECOMMENDATIONS ' to the members of the Commission for voting on the resolution to RE REDEVELOPMENT- change the rules and regulations for Owner Participants, Business PLAN AND OWNER Occupants, and Property Owners Desiring to Participate in Redevelop - PARTICIPATION went. He stated since there were six members present at the RULES meeting, three who would be able to vote on the issue and three (Cont'd) who would have to abstain, the motion would fail. 5:05 p.m. - At this time in the meeting, Commissioner Mattei asked to be excused, left the dias, and departed from the .Council Chambers. Chairman Putnam asked the General Counsel for his advice on how to handle the voting procedures on the changes for the rules and regulations. Mr. Hudson said one alter- native would be to adjourn themeetingto sometime prior to September 20, and Mr. Meyer also suggested the meeting might be adjourned to 7:00 p.m. on September 20. 5:07 p.m. - Commissioner-Harberson arrived at the meeting at this time and took his place on the dias. Commissioner Brunner asked to be excused and left the Council Chambers at the same time. With the arrival of Commissioner Harberson, a voting quorum was established and the following Resolution was adopted; Resolution #19 of the Petaluma Community Development Commission Amending and Revising Rules for Owner Participants, Business Occupants and Property Owners Desiring to Participate in Redevelopment was introduced by Commissioner Hilligoss, seconded by Commissioner Harberson, and adopted by 3 affirmative and 1 negative votes, and 1 abstention .(Commissioners Brunner and Mattei were absent from the Council Chambers at the time the vote was taken). 5:13 p.m. - Commissioners Brunner and Mattei returned to the Council Chambers at this time. ADJOURNMENT By consensus of members of the Commission, Agenda Item #4, the visual presentation, was postponed to an Adjourned Meeting called for September 20, 1976, at 7:00 p.m. Chairman Attest: Recorng Secretarg