HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN MAR 10 1981 (2) WORKSHOP SESSION
CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT
HELD MARCH 10, 1981
Councilman Turner absent .
Staff present : Messrs . Riley , Platt. , Wall , Lee ,
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Discussion .of Beaumont Housing Authority request for waiver of payments
in lieu of taxes in consideration of agreement for the money to be used
for housing maintenance held.
City Manager. told Council that the Housing Authority ' s 1981 payment
would be approximately $35 , 000.
Council questioned funds control and accountability .
City Manager and Chris Mayo (of the Housing Authority ) agreed that a
contractural agreement could be drawn for a, specific project that could
be easily tracked.
Mr . Mayo told Council that HUD would fund major improvement projects
such as roofing or electrical work but no monies are available for rou-
tine maintenance such as painting occupied apartments , lawn care - sea-
sonal. type activities. As another example of things HUD will not fund ,
Mr . Mayo mentioned the possible need to purchase 75- to 100 refrigerators
next year.
Councilman Williams questioned the existence of Resident Councils , Mr .
Mayo told him there are three (3 ) functional Resident Councils -- Neches
Park and Raintree Towers are two mentioned . He answered. that Cottonwood ' s
Resident Council is not consistent because of a higher turnover rate at
this project .
Councilman. Williams requested input from residents to determine priority
list for the possible uses of these fends .
Mayor Meyers questioned diverting funds for maintenance to such programs
as the new public housing for low income pilot program proposed for the
City. Mrs. Lord questioned the need to track funds in the first place .
Mr. Mayo responded "HUD is totally willing to recognize waivers in lieu
of payment but they do require those funds go back into the traditional.
$650 , 000 projects they funded in the first place , " (Those named - Mag
noli.a, Neches , Concord, Lucas and Grand Pine. )
Councilman Williams questioned whether MUD would cut funding by $35 ,000
if the waiver is granted. Mr . Mayo said they could not . "One of the
advantages of our annual contributions contract with HUD is that it does
require them to do certain things and one is to approve in lieu of tax
payments . If it is waived , the only thing they look to during the audit
is once it is waived and goes back into our account. that it. was in fact
spent on the project . The only place they can cut us in funding is in
direct operating subsidy , which is an altogether different cup of worms
from our budget process
In answer to additional questions , Mr . Mayo said a separate and distinct
budget could be developed so that reports ,would tract not only the number
of units and dollars spent but. quarterly reports could reflect progress ,
number of persons involved rather than just units .
In answer to a question by Councilman Williams concerning monies built
into the rate structure to allow for routine maintenance items , Mr . Mayo
said that about 40% of the total income is eaten up in .utility costs a,nd
is anticipating that amount will reach 50% this year .
It was generally decided that the waiver or forgiving of the payment in
lieu of taxes be an annual consideration .
Mr. Mayo to present a specific program next week.
WORKSHOP SESSION continued :
2. Review of recommendation concerning refuse collection rates deferred
by Manager.
3 . Executive Session called to discuss appointments to the Board of
Equalization .
End.