AGENDA #3

 

MEMORANDUM

 

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Postponement of Public Hearing to Amend the 2001-2002 Community Development Program

 

DATE:             May 8, 2002

 

 

The attached resolution would postpone the public hearing previously scheduled for this evening and reschedule it for June 10, 2002.  The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board would have an opportunity to review a revised proposal from Youth Creating Change on May 28, 2002.  The purpose of the hearing is to receive citizen comments on a proposed amendment to the Community Development program to budget $9,000 of Community Development program income to Youth Creating Change to operate a job training program.

 

BACKGROUND

 

In March 2001, the Youth Creating Change Serteen Club requested Community Development funds from the Town to open a youth arcade in the Northside neighborhood.  At that time, we recommended that if the group’s business plan were more fully developed and other resources and funding were committed, the Council should consider using up to $9,000 of Community Development program income or reallocate residual Community Development funds to match the funds raised.   The group has since modified its original proposal and has instead opened a retail shop on North Graham Street. 

 

At a budget public hearing on March 26, 2002, Maxecine Mitchell representing Youth Creating Change requested that the Town provide funds for this activity.  At that time, the Manager reported that we would meet with representatives from Youth Creating Change and determine if an eligible job training program could be developed.  We have reviewed the federal Community Development regulations and determined that funds could not be used for general business expenses, but could be provided if a job training component was developed.

 

On April 22, 2002, the Council adopted a process to amend the 2001-2002 Community Development program to consider allocating Community Development program income and called a public hearing for this evening. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board reviewed Youth Creating Change’s proposal at its meeting on April 23, 2002 (please see Attachment 1).  At that time, the Board did not recommend this program for funding as presented.  Please see Attachment 2 for a summary of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board’s comments.

 

We recommend that we continue to work with Ms. Mitchell and the youths involved in the program to further develop the program and the budget.  We also recommend that we return to the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board and ask that the Board review the revised program and forward a recommendation to the Council. 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution rescheduling a public hearing to amend the 2001-2002 Community Development program for June 10, 2002. 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.  Request from Youth Creating Change (p. 4).

2.  Summary of Comments from the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board (p. 9).

A RESOLUTION RESCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE 2001-2002 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO JUNE 10, 2002 (2002-05-08/R-1)

 

WHEREAS, on April 22, 2002, the Council adopted a process to amend the 2001-2002 Community Development program and scheduled a public hearing for May 8, 2002; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill reschedules a public hearing to amend the 2001-2002 Community Development program to June 10, 2002. 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council adopts the following process to amend the 2001-2002 Community Development program:

 

·        Publish a notice in the Chapel Hill Herald on May 26, 2002 to announce the time and date of the public hearing and send a notice of the hearing to our Community Development mailing list (approximately 80 organizations and individuals);

 

·        Review by the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board on May 28, 2002;

 

·        Conduct a public hearing on June 10, 2002 to receive citizen comments;

 

·        Return to the Council on June 24, 2002 for consideration of the proposal; and

 

·        If the proposal is approved, submit a revised 2001-2002 Annual Update to the Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

This the 8th day of May, 2002.