February 28, 2009

What has the city council been up to?

February 4: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading and Resolutions

Resolution 09-02: Waiving payments in lieu of taxation by the Bloomington Housing Authority. The city has an agreement with the Bloomington Housing Authority (BHA) which makes BHA exempt from property taxes, and instead of paying these taxes BHA pays a fee to the city based on a formula created by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The city has agreed to waive this fee because BHA provides many services which benefit our low-income population.

This resolution was adopted unanimously. 

February 11: Committee of the Whole

This meeting was cancelled due to lack of legislation

February 18: Regular Session

Legislation for First Reading

Appropriation Ordinance 09-01: To appropriate grant funds from PetSmart Charities for the Animal Care and Control Department. The animal shelter received grant funds, and it’s the city council’s job to appropriate the funds to specific budget lines within that department so the funds can be spent. Laurie Ringquist of the animal shelter said the $20,000 grant would be used for the resurfacing of the adoptable and stray dog kennels shelter.

February 25: Committee of the Whole

Appropriation Ordinance 09-01 was discussed 

Resolution 09-03: To approve recommendations for distribution of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for 2009. CDBG funds are allocated to local governments by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and in Bloomington the funds are administered through the city’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department. Lisa Abbott, director of HAND, presented the proposed awards to the Council. She does not know yet exactly how much HUD will award Bloomington this year, but she estimates $744,000. 

CDBG funds are used as follows: 65% for physical improvements, 15% for social services, and 20% for administrative costs. The funds must benefit low-income populations. Applications for CDBG funds are first reviewed by two Citizens Advisory Councils, one for social services funding and one for physical improvements funding. Then the CACs recommendations are sent to the city’s redevelopment commission (public hearing #1) and to the city council (public hearing #2 on Feb. 25 and public hearing 3# on Mar. 4). The recommendations are:

Physical Improvements funding ($483,600 = 65%)

• Abilities Unlimited and HAND Department – Home Modification for Accessible Living (HMAL) - $90,000

• Bloomington Housing Authority – Exterior Renovations - $91,610

• HAND – Emergency Home Repair Grants - $65,000

• HAND – Furnace and Insulation Program –.$28,500

• Monroe County United Ministries – Interior Renovations – $11,116

• City of Bloomington – Public Works – Country Club Sidepath - $167,374

• City of Bloomington – HAND – Curbs and Sidewalks – to replace existing or construct new curbs and sidewalks in Redevelopment Target Areas - $30,000

Social Services funding ($111,600 = 15%)

• Hoosier Hills Food Bank – $21,925

• Community Kitchen – $21,813

• Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard – $21,075

• Stepping Stones – $15,477

• Middle Way House, Inc. – $15,458

• Monroe County United Ministries –$15,852

Administrative Costs ($148,800 = 20%)

• This is used to pay staff salaries, office supplies, and other costs of administering the grant from HUD. The amount goes to HAND.

There was some concern among council members, including me, that Martha’s House did not receive any funding for the second year in a row. Ms. Abbott explained that the application from Martha’s House was not deficient in some way, but rather the amount of funds available was not enough to fund all worthy projects. She explained the rating system and said the scores came in very close, with no big gaps between applicants.