HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/06/91CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
May 6, 1991
4:45 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor McKinley, Angel, Buck, Fox, Budak,
Brown and Wright.
Members absent: Dell.
The Agenda, as proposed, was approved.
Rich Earles, Associate Planner, presented the report issued
by the Operation Clean House Task Force. The report focuses
on five neighborhoods near the downtown area that could
utilize significant revitalization. Each of the five
neighborhoods were selected based on five criteria including
location to the downtown, visibility, need, suitability for
continuation as a residential area, and voluntary
participation. Each of the selection criteria were
identified for each of the five neighborhoods. The purpose
of developing the neighborhood concept is to apply all tools
that the City has to assist in the revitalization of the
areas. Possible tools that could lead to revitalization may
include housing rehabilitation, concentration of code
enforcement efforts, demolition, etc.
Jim Lindsey, Community Development Administrator, stated
that 70% of the block grant funds must directly benefit low
and moderate income areas. Housing rehabilitation money
could be concentrated in these neighborhoods. Discussion
was heard on whether CDBG funds should be concentrated in
this area at the possible expense of other areas. Mr.
Lindsey indicated that there is an 18 month waiting list for
housing rehabilitation. It was generally agreed that those
who have been on the list for a long time would not be
ignored at the expense of this targeted area.
The viability of a neighborhood association was emphasized.
Without such an organization, it would be difficult to
promote fix up and clean up of the area without a group that
would be responsible after the city had exercised its
revitalization tools.
Each of the Committee members of the Operation Clean House
Task Force were enumerated. It was the Task Force's
decision not to endorse one particular neighborhood since
all met the selection criteria.
Deb Collett, Executive Director of the Waterloo Housing
Authority, stated that she would be proposing at this
evening's Council meeting an application to the Department
of Housing and Urban Development for ten units of new
housing that would be targeted in the selected neighborhood.
This could assist in neighborhood development.
After discussion, it was agreed that 25% of the housing
rehabilitation money would be concentrated in a selected
target area with the remaining money spent in other areas of
the community eligible for block grant funding.
Specific examples of what could be done in a target area
include but are not limited to expenditure of block grant
funding for housing rehabilitation, low interest loans,
assistance on down payments for houses, street repairs, code
enforcement, assistance by community groups such as Habitat
for Humanity and Green Scene, and volunteer paint and labor
programs.
City Council Work Session
May 6, 1991
Page 2
After an informal poll, it was the determination of the
council that area one generally bounded by East Second
Street, Walnut Street, Argyle Street, Franklin Street, Utica
Street, and the Cedar River, be established as the number
one target area. The second neighborhood area to be
selected was target area number three generally bounded by
Franklin Street, the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad, and
Glenwood Street. The third neighborhood to be selected was
neighborhood area number five generally bounded by Washington
Street, West Mullan Avenue, Wellington Street, West Ninth
Street and South Street.
With no further business before the Work Session, the
meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
May 6, 1991
5:45 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor McKinley, Angel, Buck, Fox, Wright,
Budak and Brown.
Members absent: Dell.
The Agenda, as proposed, was approved.
The first item of discussion was the permit writing
procedures and policy for use within the Planning and
Development Division. Louis Cutwright, Jr., Building
Official, presented the proposed policy. The policy does
not in any way change current practices; it merely
formalizes and reduces it to writing. The written policy
will assure uniformity and consistency for all permit
writing. Contractors will be notified of the written policy.
During the last nine months, the Building Department has
required a written set of plans for commercial structures
including an architectural stamp or engineering stamp. The
Building Department has also increased its permit writing
hours to eight hours per day instead of the two hours which
had been the practice in the past. This has helped to
stream line the Building Department procedures and makes it
much more convenient for the public.
Activities of the Code Enforcement Officer were delineated.
Roy Dixon, Code Enforcement Officer, stated that complaints
and referrals have been categorized into five areas
including vacant properties, salvaged vehicles, sign
violations, junky yards and miscellaneous. After a
complaint is received, the owner of the property is notified
in writing of the complaint and is asked to take measures to
abate the problem. In all instances, the city assists in
whatever way possible and has in many cases avoided the
issuance of citations.
Mr. Dixon was thanked by council members for his assistance
in the code enforcement area since it is an area they
receive many constituent complaints.
No official action was taken by the Council at this meeting.
With no further business before the Work Session, the
meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor