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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Planning Commission - 03/20/1991 MINUTES SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL MARCH 20, 1991 - 6:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Shirley Mims, Chairman Lamont Taylor, Vice Chairman Ralph Hall Elizabeth C. Hoelscher Mike Karm Alma Meinrath Jake Sanchez William Sanderson Ro Wickham STAFF PRESENT: Ezequiel P. Elizondo, Senior Director of Housing and Community Development Cris Gorham, Director of Housing and Community Development Hector G. Vallejo, Assistant Director of Housing and Community Development Brandol Harvey, AIA, AICP Director of Planning Jo Ann Dominguez, Administrative Assistant II , Housing and Community Development Juan Hernandez, Rehabilitation Supervisor, Housing and Community Development L. David Ramos, Administrative Assistant I , Housing and Community Development Sandra Galvan, Senior Secretary II , Housing and Community Development Chairman Mims called the meeting to order at 6 : 10 p.m for the Fiscal Year 1991 ( 17th Year) Entitlement Application for Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) . She explained that no action would be taken until March 27, 1991 when the Commission would forward a recommendation to the City Council on the projects presented. At this time, Chairman Mims turned the hearing over to staff to listen to their presentation. Mr. Elizondo addressed the Commission and the public on the history of the CDBG program. Mr. Elizondo provided statistical data on the CDBG program for the past sixteen years . He stated that a total of approximately 70 million dollars have been spent. The approximate percentages of each category were 10o for utility improvements; 32% for housing; 35% for street improvements; 6% for park and recreation improvements; 6% for General Administration; and 7-1/2% for public facilities. Mr. Elizondo explained the local policy City Council has adopted for the purpose of organizations seeking funds, they are: that no Community Development Block Grant funds SCANNED Planning Commission Minutes March 20, 1991 Page 2 be authorized to applicant agencies for the support of operating expenses; that no capital grants be made without sufficient evidence of the financial capacity of the applying agency to operate the program; and that priority will be given to those applying agencies who make substantial capital contributions to the projects they are seeking. Mr. Elizondo then gave a brief description of the staff recommended projects: H.P. Garcia Park - $95,000 for park renovation; T. C. Ayers- $68, 000 for park renovation; Joe Garza Community Center - $2,000 for security lighting; Ethel Eyerly Center - $20, 000 for parking lot expansion; Laguna Park - $10, 000 for construction of basketball courts and picnic area; Special Assessment Grants - $112,500 for grants to homeowners to pay street assessments; Wynn Seale Phase I -$337 , 500 for street improvements; Wynn Seale Design Phase II and III - $25 , 000 Demolition/Relocation Program - $90, 000 for grants to low income homeowners to demolish substandard houses; Code Enforcement - $70,000 for Code Enforcement inspectors who work in the target area; Northside Senior Center/Central Kitchen -$575 , 000 for construction of a new center; HIV/AIDS Residential Housing Center, Inc. - $45 , 000 for renovation of an existing facility; Nueces County Community Action Agency - $210,000 for construction of a headstart facility; Habitat for Humanity-Corpus Christi $61, 000 for acquisition of substandard structures and vacant lots for rehabilitation or construction of new housing to be sold to low income individuals; Greenwood and Zavala Senior Centers - $79, 000 for renovation and improvements; Boys and Girls Club of Corpus Christi - $135 , 000 for improvements to the facility; HIALCO, Inc. - $37, 000 for renovation of existing facility; Ada Wilson Hospital - $82, 500 for replacement of roof; Nueces County MHMR Community Center - $155,500 for the purchase of a building; Single Family /Commercial Rehab Loans - $1,115 ,000 for loans and grants made to low income homeowners; Emergency Repair - $443 , 000 for grants to handicapped/elderly individuals for basic repair of homes; Paint Grant Program - $50,000 ; Rental Rehabilitation Match Program - $50, 000 for investor-owned properties for the creation of affordable housing; Rehabilitation Services - $574,000 for t administration of the Rehab Program; Paint Grant Program - $50 , 000 for grants to the elderly/handicapped for exterior painting of homes; CDBG General Administration - $285 , 000 for administration of the CDBG program; Planning Department - $50, 000 for completion of the Comprehensive Plan; and Grantee Performance Monitoring - $15, 000 for outside agency audits for compliance requirements. Mr. Elizondo stated that the FY91 allocation was $3 ,895,000 and that $417, 000 would be reprogrammed from completed or canceled projects; $480 , 000 would come from program income from loan Planning Commission Minutes March 20, 1991 Page 3 repayments for a total of $4,792 ,000 FY91 funds. At this moment, Chairman Mims requested a show of hands from the following organizations : Neighborhood Centers, Boys and Girls Club, and Nueces County Community Action Agency. Ruben Bonilla, Chairman of the Board of Directors addressed the Commission on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club. He announced the formation of a new group called the "Gangbusters" . He then focused on the project and enclosure of the swimming pool for multi-purpose use. Oscar O'Keefe, 934 Dolphin, architect for the Boys and Girls Club displayed plans of the pool and other improvements . Carrie Cheatum, Vice Chairman for the Club, expressed her support for the Boys and Girls Club project. Teresa Clark, 4562 Moonlake Ridge, Administrator for Ada Wilson Hospital provided statistical data on the Hospital' s budget and elaborated on services provided. She spoke in support of the Ada Wilson project. Phil Rosenstein, 949 Bobalo, spoke on behalf of the Washington, Greenwood and Zavala Centers . He specifically stressed the need for a new building at Washington Senior Center. Oveal Williams, 2218 Winnebago, requested consideration of a new building at Washington Center due to increased enrollment. Ray Garcia, of the Senior Advisory Board, presented a petition from the Advisory Commission for funding of the senior centers. Betty Hable, 1630 S. Brownlee, spoke in favor of MHMR funding and gave a description of the facility' s use. She said the Center was prepared to match the $250 , 000 funding with over $599 , 000 . She requested that MHMR staff and participants stand and be recognized. Greg Sanderson, 321 Carancahua and consumer of MHMR services, spoke in favor of funding of the Nueces County MHMR. Brenda Bowland, Ocean Dr. , read a letter of support from consumers of MHMR services. Sara Gonzalez, 530 Dixon, spoke in support of the MHMR project. Wilson Calhoun, 1329 7th Street, Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity-Corpus Christi spoke in support of the project and gave a description of what the project entails and the use of requested Planning Commission Minutes March 20, 1991 Page 4 funds. Earl Coleman, 1706 Amazon, President of the Board of Directors of Brooks Chapel requested funding for the project. He stated that • since Bethune Day Care was moving from the Hillcrest area, they would be the only day care center available in that area. He requested $160, 000 for the building. He stated that if there was a shortage of CDBG funds, they would then prefer to lease the Pondy building on Winnebago. Mr. Coleman distributed a letter as an addendum to their proposal requesting that CDBG funds be withheld pending the outcome of the proposal. He asserted that if Brooks Chapel acquired a lease for Pondy' s those funds would then be utilized for improvements to the building. He then entertained questions from the Commission. Chairman Mims asked why the funds were not spent. Mr. Coleman answered that there were technicalities they were unaware of. Jerry Spence, Board Member of Brooks Chapel, explained there were • several problems in the past that prevented them from using the $15, 000 . They hoped to secure adequate facilities so that the funds could be utilized. Mr. Elizondo informed the Commission that the building referred to by Brooks Chapel was property being used by the Police Department. Shirley Jordan, 2010 North Port, Executive Director of Brooks Chapel Day Care, informed the Commission that there were approximately 75 children in the center. Ms. Hoelscher inquired about the submitted proposal which read that the building and lots at the present location would be purchased. Mr. Coleman replied they preferred the building on Winnebago because of the ability to provide more child care. Arthur F. Barnes, 218 Skipper Lane, spoke in support of funding for Laguna Park. Vic Menard, 1510 Dove Street, stated that the submitted request of $35, 000 was needed for Laguna Park. Jim Whatley, President of the Board of the Coastal Bend Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center, spoke in favor of funding for the project. Mr. Whatley introduced Charles Acklen as Executive Director for the Center, and Pete Wheaton of the center. The Board of Directors and clients for the Center stood up and were recognized. • Joe West, 4502 Coventry, addressed the Commission on the Coastal Planning Commission Minutes March 20, 1991 Page 5 Bend Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center project. Mr. Whatley then introduced a client of the Center, Charlene Moonen, 3900 Santa Fe, who gave testimony on what the Center had done for her. Another client, Janet Rice, 118 Southern, then gave her testimony. Joe A. Martinez, 2590 Morgan, Executive Director for Nueces County Community Action Agency (NCCAA) spoke in support of the project. He then presented a sketch of the proposed headstart facility. Mr. Martinez requested an allocation of $250 , 000 and informed the Commission that the Headstart Policy Council would match the allocation with $20,000 which would be acquired through fund raisers. He gave a listing of the various services provided by NCCAA, they were: weatherization, utility assistance, and food vouchers . He explained that the proposal did not indicate a location for the facility, but were requesting to utilize an existing lot located on Morris and Harmon Streets. At this time staff, parents, and board members stood up and were recognized. Anne F. Dunn, 113 Lakeshore Drive, Administrator for HIV/AIDS Housing Center and Member of the Mayors ' Commission on AIDS explained that the services would provide care for terminal patients who had no other available sources of funds to be placed in a household environment for continuing care. The location of the home will be located on Second Street. She named the source of funds, Paul and Mary Haas Foundation, Doughty Foundation and the Kennedy Foundation. She also gave statistics on HIV cases . She stated that five patients could live and be cared for at the location. Nancy Somers, Chairman of the Mayors ' Commission on HIV/AIDS Community Response, distributed a roster of the Mayor ' s Commission and spoke in support of the project. Susan Nichols, member of the Public Health AIDS Advisory of the City County Health Department, expressed support for the project. David Evans gave testimony on his AIDS disease. Virginia Ayars, 141 Atlantic, President of the Jr. League of Corpus Christi, spoke in support of the project. The members stood up and were recognized. Janet Rice, Acting Chairman of the Corpus Christi Quincentenary Commission, spoke on behalf of the project. Carl Crull, Director of Engineering Services, explained that there were no federal funds available for landscaping for the Planning Commission Minutes March 20 , 1991 Page 6 Quincentenary project. He explained that the Street System Program was a joint venture between the federal government, the State Highway Department and local jurisdiction for improving the primary arterial system of the city. He continued to explain the criteria for qualification of projects. Noe Mendez, representing the Westside Business Association, asked for consideration of the Quincentenary project. Susan Tiller, Executive Director for the Council for the Deaf , spoke in support of the project and elaborated on the needs for the deaf. Ms. Tiller introduced Susie Grona, a teacher of the center, she spoke, in sign language, on behalf of the project. Billie McDaniel representing the Flour Bluff Business Association, requested a loan. He explained that they would provide $125 , 000 in matching funds for renovation and rehabilitation of exterior buildings in Flour Bluff. Wilma Howard, 2917 Moore, representing T.C. Ayers Center, requested lighting and improvements to the Center. Reverend Thomas, 1825 Airline, discussed the problems in the Molina area. He said they needed a community facility and requested $500, 000 to carry out the program. He explained the facility would provide a multipurpose use for the neighborhood. He introduced Florence Beasley who spoke in support of the facility. Sara Gonzales addressed the Commission for funding for South Bluff Park. There being no further citizen comments, the hearing closed and the meeting adjourned. .--Sjaito'LL) 6 Sandra L. Galvan Recording Secretary /slg pc32091.min