HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-11/21/2003• •
November 21, 2003
The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Special Session at City Hall Council
Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa, at 9:00 a.m., on Friday, November 21, 2003. Mayor Pro Tem
Harold Getty in the Chair. Roll Call: Kincaid, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan,
Hurley, Getty.
119131 - Jordan/Clark
that the Agenda, as proposed, for the Special Session on Friday, November 21,
2003, at 9:00 a.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
119132 - Jordan/Hurley
that copies of the Call for the Special Session on Friday, November 21, 2003,
be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
RESOLUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED
119133 - Hurley/Kincaid
that "Resolution supporting new affordable housing development near the Martin
Luther King Jr. Drive and Idaho Street intersection and an application with the
Iowa Finance Authority for Low -Income Housing Tax Credit", be adopted.
Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard.
Councilperson Jordan stated he supports the resolution as the city is not
committing to do the project at this time. The Gandolf Group has promised to
meet with the neighbors, and they will have to go through the Planning,
Programming and Zoning Commission. Councilperson Jordan stated that if we say
no, we are again saying to developers that they really have to pull strings to
get anything done in Waterloo. Councilperson Jordan stated the council can
always say no later, but lets let the process work..
Councilperson Welper stated that according to INRCOG, Waterloo has the oldest
housing stock in the state. Three percent of the homes are in bad shape and
need to be repaired. The Neighborhood Associations have been encouraging
owner/occupied housing, and the city needs housing on the East Side.
Councilperson Clark stated he does not support the resolution. If it is the
council's intent is to stop this development later, then why go through the
whole process. Councilperson Clark stated he is in favor of development on the
East Side, but he does not want to have low-income housing on the East Side.
Councilperson Hurley stated he is going to support this resolution. The only
question is do we save the area for private ownership development.
Councilperson Hurley stated that as the development goes through the Planning,
Programming and Zoning Commission process, the council will get a lot more
information and answers to our questions, and he does not want to hold this up
now.
Councilperson Kincaid stated he supports the resolution, and the reason is
simply because it is something new for the Fourth Ward besides the Stokes
senior citizen development. Councilperson Kincaid stated that other low-income
properties, such as the Prairie Parks Apartments, have been mismanaged.
Councilperson Kincaid stated that this resolution just starts the process, and
the council will have an opportunity later to address the particulars of the
project.
Councilperson Greenwood stated that he endorses and supports this resolution.
This is not unbinding support, and the council will be watching as the project
proceeds. Councilperson Greenwood stated he feels the city definitely needs
owner, occupied homes, and there are a lot of lots that could be used for
owner, occupied homes.
Nikita Rainey Thomas, an employee of Stokes Development, stated that this is
just the process for the application to the Iowa Finance Authority for low-
income housing tax credit for the project. Ms Thomas stated the federal
guidelines on projects using low-income tax credits are very stringent, and
they are audited every year. Ms. Thomas stated that the properties using the
low-income tax credits have to stay low-income for a certain number of years
and must be maintained according to federal regulations. Tenants are screened
and must go through an application process, developers do credit checks and
work with the neighborhood associations. Ms Thomas stated that low-income does
not mean bad people; it just means their income is lower, and a lot of people
cannot afford $90,000 homes. Ms. Thomas stated that competition is hard for
Waterloo. There is a lot of money going into Des Moines and the Quad Cities,
and it is time for Waterloo to get its share.
November 21, 2003 Page 2
RESOLUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED CONTINUED
Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following
result. Ayes: Five. Nays: Clark, Getty.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor Pro Tem assigned No. 2003-775.
ADJOURNMENT
119134 - Jordan/Clark
that the Council adjourn at 9:11 a.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
L-4t/InliVckert
City Clerk