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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDec 29, 1980 (2)OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS PUBLIC HEARING COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COUNCIL CHAMBERS DECEMBER 29, 1980 The public hearing was called to order by Council President Heintz at 7:15 pm. 1. Roll Call: Heintz, Norberg, Hentges--present Nawrocki, Logacz--absent The Council was advised that Councilman Logacz was out of town and the Mayor would be coming late to the meeting. 2. Purpose of the Hearing This public hearing was called for the purpose of considering activities to be undertaken in 1981 under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The City Manager referred the Council to the packet they had received which contained materials dealing with the Block Grant Program. This program is made possible through the Anoka County Urban Development Grant Program. The packet contained a list of possible activities that could be considered for block grants in the City of Columbia Heights. Roger Jensen, Director of HRA, explained the selection criteria which will be used to determine which projects will be funded as well as which projects may possibly be eligible for funding. Mayor Nawrocki arrived at 7:20 pm. The Anoka County Board on CDBG Urban County Funds had divided the County into five groups. The City of Columbia Heights is in a group with two other cities, Hilltop and Anoka. A steering committee for each group will consist of two citizens from each city appointed by the Mayors. After activities and project plans have been selected and an application is prepared it will be submitted to the steering committee. January 15, 1981 is the deadline for submitting preliminary project plans to the steering committee. There will be a public hearing in February 1981 where final plans and activities will be defined and determined. These findings will be presented to the steering committee. It will be their duty to review and rank the applications from the cities in their group and submit them to the County Board with their recommendations. The County will make the final determination regarding funding. ~ Members of the HRA staff presented information on various activities being consid- ered. The first proposal dealt with handicapped housing. The staff felt the City of Columbia Heights would be an ideal location for handicapped housing as it is in such close proximity to basic services; shopping centers, bank, transpor- tation, etc. Past experience of other municipalities has shown ownership of homes by the handicapped to be unsuccessful as income is limited. A second staff member explored uses for school sites in the City where the schools are no longer going to be used. This entire plan was developed on assumptions: the first being that the School District will convey the property to the City at no cost; the second being demolition of the school structures would be done using CDBG funds; the third being that the property will be made available to developers; and,the last assumption is that the property will be developed as housing. Various figures were cited by staff as to how much profit would be realized from the sale of these properties to developers and how these profits would be apportioned. The Council was reminded these activities were but suggestions for uses and not firm proposals for any one or all three school sites. Councilman Hentges felt proposals to use these sites for housing had merit as they would afford the City a source for new tax income. The Mayor wanted to go on record that he felt any suggestions being made at this Public Hearing December 29, 1980 page 2 meeting for the use of Columbia Junior High school does not reflect a change in the City's attitude that this school could be used as a community/recreation center and that efforts should be continued to pursue this plan. He also felt before any more activity continues by the HRA on the other two school sites, the School District should be contacted. The Mayor wondered if part of Columbia ,could be considered for handicapped housing and as to whether this would be compatible use if it were primarily used for a recreation center. Councilman Hentges inquired if block grant monies could be used for construction of a new facility that could accommodate the handicapped and senior citizen needs and was told that they could. The Mayor was also told these monies could be used .to rehabilitate Columbia for a recreation center. Councilman Norberg felt the Council should determine how the monies can best be utilized to benefit the City and not dwell on ways to qualify for a grant. It was his opinion that efforts were misdirected because the emphasis was being put on qualifying when rightfully it should be targeted on what would be most beneficial for the City. He made three suggestions for activities: construction of streets to open landlocked land; buying of some single-family homes on Central Avenue; and, restoring right-of-way on 5th Street from 40th to 43rd avenues, particul- arly curbs and roadway. Councilman Hentges thinks the City should not be in the rental property business, but suggested buying homes and rehabilitating them for resale as a possible activity. The Mayor directed the HRA staff to take the policy direction given by the Council at this hearing, refine it, and develop projects for Council consideration to be used in the grant application. Motion by Heintz, second by Norberg to adjourn the hearing. Adjournment: Roll Call: All ayes 8:55 pm. ~ Bruc~ G. Nawrocki, Mayor An6e Stu'dent, [~Io-unci 1 Secretary