----------------------------------------*** *** ***-------------------------------------INVOCATION: Led by Reverend Dr. E. Jones Doughton, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church. ----------------------------------------*** *** ***------------------------------------- PLEDGE: Led by the Puddle Jumpers Childcare Center. ----------------------------------------*** *** ***-------------------------------------
COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR EXPENDITURES EXCEEDING BUDGETED APPROPRIATIONS:____________________________________ Mayor Tomlinson said we have several items that were made referrals where the Council has requested additional information on various subjects of importance to the City. She said we have proposed this ordinance which has been on the agenda several times, but said we wanted to make sure that we got the input that the Council feels that they need to move forward. She then asked if there was any of the department heads who was present today and wanted to be heard on this matter, but there were none. Mayor Tomlinson said we have received a furry of emails from various department heads and then opened up the floor for discussion from members of the Council. Several members of the Council expressed their views regarding this proposed ordinance. After the members of Council expressed their views and comments, City Manager Hugley then responded to questions of members of the Council regarding this proposed ordinance, pointing out that department heads would still be able to go through a process to make line item adjustments and can move from one line item to another, but they just cannot exceed their total bottom line budget. Mayor Tomlinson then asked if there was anyone else who wanted to speak to this subject, but there were none. *** *** *** COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCL GRANT AND HOME REHAB PROGRAM:_______________________________________________________ Mayor Tomlinson said at our last meeting, we had an informative discussion on this matter and said that the Council has asked for additional information. Director of Community Reinvestment Amy Carbajal came forward and pointed out that at the last Council meeting there was a request made for her to go back and determine whether or not if there was a way for us to maintain the Homeowner Rehab Program, which due to budget constraints she had recommended that we eliminate. She said she have spoken with our sub-recipient, Neighbor Works about whether or not they would be interested in taking over that program for us, and said they are not interested in doing that program for us. She said she don’t believe that Wynnton Neighborhood Housing has the capacity to take on the project either; which leaves us just with an internal program. She said she just wanted to go through her budget with the Council and said that she has a few examples that hopefully will illustrate why she is making the recommendation that she is. She said she has done a comparison from last year’s budget to this year’s budget. Councilor Huff then asked Ms. Carbajal if she has spoken with Wynnton Neighborhood Housing about the possibility of them taking over the program, to which she said she has not. Ms. Carbajal said the current year that we are working in with them; they are already on a limited expenditure basis with us. She said she has concerns about their capacity to fulfill existing obligations and she also has concerns about their capacity to take on the funding that has been allocated to them for this year. She said she has had discussions with them, whereby they will not release all the funds for this year until they can complete some of the projects that they have left over from last year. She said what has happened is they have inventory that they have had a really difficult time moving and said that HUD has a time frame on that. She said if they don’t get some money in those homes HUD is going to request repayment on all of that. She said she don’t believe they have the capacity for that and she can’t put them in a position to put more houses out there. Councilor Huff said he didn’t want her to put them in that position; he simply wanted to know if she has spoken with them about the same offer she afforded to Neighbor Works to take over that program for us. He said he and Councilor Barnes has worked with Wynnton Neighborhood Housing and said he just wondered if that discussion has taken place, and they had an opportunity to say they are having a problem putting bodies in houses and we can’t take on anymore. Councilor Barnes then asked Ms. Carbajal if she has spoken with the individuals at Wynnton Neighborhood Housing about her concerns; and said he would like for her to engage in a dialogue with them with regards to giving then an opportunity as far as the Homeowner Rehab Program because they have done a lot in the community. City Manager Hugley said as Ms. Carbajal has indicated, she can have that discussion with them, but said as Director, he want to make sure it’s clear that if she goes beyond what she feels comfortable with, with an organization and that organization is not able to meet the requirements of HUD; then HUD will demand repayment. He said if HUD demands repayment because they have not be able to do and she saw warnings sign; then, it is not Neighbor Works or any other organization’s responsibility to repay, but it would be the City of Columbus that would have to make the repayment. He said there are some organizations that might apply for dollars and indicated that they can do this, and we see that they can’t do it; then, we won’t take the risk on the backs of the City or the taxpayers. He said even if they say yes, based on what she needs, she may still say, I don’t think so. He said that will be our recommendation to you, but said we will always be guided by your directions. Discussion continued on this matter with several members of the Council expressing further concerns regarding this matter, and Ms. Carbajal responding to questions of members of the Council. After more than twenty-five minutes of discussion on this matter, Ms. Carbajal then went into some details in outlining the following information, as outlined below. CDBG Allocation 2012/2013 CDBG