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MINUTES
Citizen’s District Council Meeting
City of Muskegon CDBG
Conference Room 203
Muskegon, Michigan
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Tom Pastoor at 5:35 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken by Laura Hichue
Present: Tom Pastoor, Addie Sanders-Randall, Billie Quinn,
Emma Torresen, Chris Carter, Kim Burr, Commission Johnson
Absent: Rosalind Ford
Staff Present: Oneata Bailey, Laura Hichue
Mr. Pastoor asked about the Youth Program that Mrs. Randall had asked about
October. Oneata stated that it was in the Action Plan and is a City-wide goal that
some of the CDBG money would be steered towards youth opportunities.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mrs. Burr to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2014
meeting. Mrs. Sanders-Randall seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Oneata gave a brief update on the status of the property at 1500 Leahy that it had finally
closed on Christmas Eve. She stated that the buyer waited since February, 2014 to get
the property because of the problems finding a lender that would take the risk because
of the type of house and there were no comps available.
Discussion took place regarding the long process of selling the home.
NEW BUSINESS
CHDO Applications – Oneata explained the process of activity reporting by the CHDOs.
She stated that it was procedure that if monies allocated were not spent by June 30, we
would take the money back and use it for our own programs that were underfunded. A
question was asked at the last End-of-the-Year Report why were we closing out
activities and opening them back up the following year and adding more money.
Oneata then explained the previous problems with carrying over monies and activities
from prior years and that HUD had said to stop that procedure and wait until they are
completed. She decided that if we were to keep the activities open, it didn’t make sense
to keep issuing money every year when there were still activities open, so instead of
having deadlines, they would be open-ended and when a project is ready, they could
apply then. Oneata reviewed Habitat for Humanity’s project and said that they haven’t
started their 2014 money yet and will not be ready until June, so they wouldn’t need any
money now.
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Mr. Johnson asked if all the CHDO’s were in the same situation.
Oneata explained that they were and reviewed Trinity’s project
Oneata stated that in order to stop this practice, it will just remain open, and once their
project is completed, they can come to apply. The money will be there for them, and
when they apply they will be ready with a project.
Mr. Carter asked if HUD was OK with the City holding the money.
Oneata stated as long as grant money is committed and used within 4 years.
Discussion took place regarding the timelines that money had to be used and Oneata
clarified how it would work.
Mr. Johnson asked if the money can be allocated to any CHDO.
Oneata stated if any organization came to the City and was a qualified CHDO with a
project, the grant could go forward.
Oneata explained that the City cannot use allocated CHDO funds and there is a
requirement by HUD that 15% has to go to an agency or CHDO.
Mr. Pastoor asked for clarification of the process; previously certain CHDO’s would
come before the CDC and would be approved for certain amount but not ready to start a
project.
Oneata said that would still be the way it works but the CHDO would have to have a
project ready to go. It gives the CHDO an incentive to get prepared and be ready to
come in and apply before the CDC.
Mr. Carter said his concern is to not have the money go back; if no CHDO comes to
apply in 4 years he wanted something to be in place so the money would not have to be
returned.
Oneata said that should not be a problem; with the monthly meetings every year, the
CDC would know what is happening with the CHDO allocations.
Mrs. Torresen asked if money from a previous year could be used with the new year’s
allocation on the same project if a CHDO applied.
Oneata stated it could and would be tracked on IDIS.
Mrs. Torresen asked if CHDOs could be solicited.
Oneata stated that is allowable and the City would be advertising for soliciting CHDO’s.
Oneata stated that an audit needs to be done before applying and the City monitors
them annually.
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Mr. Johnson asked if there are any stipulations on where a CHDO could build, i.e.
houses next door to each other.
Oneata said there were none.
Mr. Pastoor asked that the CDC be informed monthly on the status of the CHDO
allocations.
Oneata explained different examples of why projects are delayed.
Oneata stated that the application for CHDO’s would go out in April.
Mr. Pastoor asked if there were any more CHDO’s around the area.
Oneata stated that Family Promise had shown interest but didn’t apply. Discussion took
place about their organization.
STAFF REPORT
Target Market Analysis (TMA) – Oneata explained the process of the analysis and they
would be targeting Muskegon County. The County wants them to look at Montague,
Roosevelt Park and Fruitport Township. The City of Norton Shores wants them to look
at the K Mart Plaza area for a possible development there. The purpose of this study is
to produce an affordable housing situation that would benefit the area. The City of
Muskegon Heights will be tearing down several homes with a new grant and they will
have a lot of open space; with this analysis, it will tell them what the best type of
housing for those areas is. They will look at trends that have taken place recently in
communities similar to ours and they are going to look at what businesses are here that
are hiring and what type of housing would people want to live in if they were to move
here. They will also be looking at new developments downtown and the Sappi
property,
Discussion took place about other areas in the City for possible developing.
Oneata explained that each community is going to have a tour of their areas and if
anyone on the CDC wants to go on the tour, it will be April 15 around 1:00 p.m.
She further explained that on the 14th, there would be a tutorial of what the TMA is and
that is also open to the CDC. An invitation will be sent to the Board.
Oneata explained the process of the study and that it will be completed at the end of
May, but there will be monthly information provided by the company.
The Planning Department and the Downtown Development Authority will have copies of
the study so if a business approaches, either place will know if a business will qualify or
meet the qualities of what the study shows would be best for this area. If a business
wants to go elsewhere, such as Whitehall, that would be the County’s area.
Mrs. Torresen asked what becomes of the analysis.
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Oneata says that the intent is to say that if there is a viable project that works in any of
the areas studied, that we have done our work and have looked at the markets and the
study will support the proposed project or business. She is not certain what the shelf
life of the study is.
Mr. Carter stated that it is an important tool in encouraging development, especially
downtown, and attract the young market and senior citizens to live downtown.
Analysis of Impediment Study – Oneata explained that the last study was done in 2009.
CDBG requires that it periodically looks at housing trends, discrimination, bank
practices and housing choice issues. Contact is made with Fair Housing agencies to do
studies, look at bank data with lending issues. The City partners with Norton Shores,
Muskegon Heights, and new this year the County of Muskegon has joined in the study.
This allows the partners to share the cost and be able to compare their communities
against the entire state. The intent is to see if there is anything that can be done
collectively to stop the practice of housing discrimination.
Oneata is hopeful that the study will be complete before the April meeting so the Board
can receive a copy. Oneata said there were some comments about each community
and some collective things that could be done as a whole.
The 2015 allocations were passed out and discussed. The amount was less than last
year.
Home Buyer’s Assistance Program – Oneata stated that there have been 5 closings
that assisted homebuyers since the program started. Discussion took place about the
program.
DISCUSSION
Mr. Carter moved to adjourn the meeting; Mrs. Randall seconded the motion. The
meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Next meeting will be April 7, 2015.
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