City of Lawrence, KS

Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee

September 11, 2008 Minutes (City Commission Room)

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Marci Francisco, Julie Mitchell, Aimee Polson, Kirsten Roussel, Patty Welty
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Curtis Harris, Quinn Miller, Vern Norwood, Brenda Nunez
STAFF PRESENT:	Alicia Ellingson, Margene Swarts
PUBLIC PRESENT:	None

Roussel called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

Introductions

Members and staff introduced themselves.

Approval of April 17, 2008 Minutes

Polson moved to approve the April 17, 2008 minutes.  Mitchell seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Citizen Participation Plan (CPP)

Swarts handed out and explained a map detailing low and moderate income areas in Lawrence and noting rehabilitation and housing projects completed through the department in the 2007 program year.  According to census data, nearly all of the east half of Lawrence is low/moderate in terms of area benefit.  The map shows the location of all the activities, which are throughout Lawrence.

Swarts noted that the Citizen Participation Plan has not been updated since May, 2001.  In the interim, there have been changes, particularly name changes since the Neighborhood Resources Department merged with Planning to become Planning and Development Services.  There are two major changes recommended to the organization chart.  First the Practitioner’s Panel is no longer a viable body and have ceased meeting.  As their role moved more toward homeless issues and not just housing, it became more of a body that handled Continuum of Care issues for the homeless Supportive Services programs.  In 2007, the Panel voted to go with the State Continuum of Care program because there would be more funding available through the State than just through the City.  As a result, the Practitioner’s Panel is currently defunct. 

Roussel asked if the board needs to sunset the group or if it is automatic by accepting the Citizen Participation Plan.

Swarts replied once the commission approves the new CPP, the Practitioner’s Panel would be eliminated.  The same thing is happening with the Grant Review Board.  At the time this board was created, there were numerous rehab staff and many applications for the rehab program.  Through the years, the number of staff has been reduced and applications have slowed down.  The program and process is established, and this body has become more of a rubber stamp.  The function they provide as a hearing body for appeals can be easily absorbed by the Advisory Committee because appeals are made infrequently. 

Another update to the CPP is to change the name of the Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee to Community Development Advisory Committee to reflect the department name change.  It is also recommended to increase the number of members from low and moderate income areas to six, from five.  The other five members would be at-large. 

Roussel stated she likes many parts of this.  We have wanted to get more people involved that live in low/moderate areas.  She also liked removing the designation of “target neighborhoods” since that is no longer accurate. 

Swarts said the final recommendation is to include in the guidelines for CDBG funded neighborhoods that they produce regular newsletters. 

Roussel asked about the intent of Objective 1 on page 3 with regard to providing and encouraging citizen participation.

Swarts replied this further defines the tasks of the advisory board.  In the previous Plan, the committee make up and purpose was defined in the organization chart.  Now, it is defined in the body of the Plan and because there is only one board, there is no need for an organization chart. 

Mitchell commented that more neighborhoods would be eligible for funding for a coordinator.

Roussel answered that it would become apparent that additional neighborhoods could participate, although they were already eligible.

Swarts noted that originally with CDBG funds, the City really focused on the five neighborhoods.  North Lawrence was actually classified as slum and blight instead of low/moderate income, which still allowed it to be eligible for area benefits.  The other four neighborhoods were the oldest neighborhoods in town, thus needing the most improvements of things such as infrastructure to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood.

Polson asked when the program opened to other neighborhoods.

Francisco replied the program was never really closed before.  But you had to show census data that you had a low/moderate income area.  Others may not have this information or know how to get it.

Swarts said sometime people would call and ask and staff could determine if it was a low/moderate area.  The five neighborhoods were the most significant at the time, so that is where most of the projects and activities were. 

Polson asked if this would eliminate neighborhood-wide applications.

Swarts responded that neighborhood-wide applications are seldom submitted now.  She hopes it encourages other areas to apply, to think what possibilities could be out there.  The City has a bigger need than just the original area.

Mitchell commented that reporting numbers helps, seeing who you’ve helped.

Francisco questioned why the airport is a low/moderate area.

Swarts was unsure, but stated it is in CT 1 and according to the census data, all of that area is below 51% low/moderate income. 

Francisco remarked that it is interesting in concept that we could get requests for funding from the airport.

Swarts replied the program always has to meet the national objective of helping low/moderate income people; that would be hard to do with the airport project.  Staff will finish the map with an overlay census track and block groups and see where in town is what percentage.

Mitchell stated it was surprising to see Old West Lawrence.

Swarts explained if the block is large enough, it may pull in pockets of other housing that fall in the block, which affects the percentage.  Some block groups were split a while back, so that may have an impact. 

Francisco asked from what census is the data.

Swarts replied 2000.

Francisco commented that the data was before the change in the Single Family zoning rule, so not sure if it made an impact.

Francisco inquired about naming a landlord to the committee as it is in the new wording.

Roussel added that it was in the organizational chart in the back.  It is another item that was added to the text because the chart will be deleted. 

Welty moved to approve the CPP as presented and forward to the City Commission for adoption.  Roussel seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)

Swarts stated the CAPER is nearly finished.  This is a draft and she is waiting for some last minute information.  The CAPER will be posted on our new division website.  The public hearing is two weeks from tonight.  The meeting will begin at 5:45 p.m., then the Committee will recess for the public hearing at 6 p.m.  The meeting will reconvene after the hearing for any business left to discuss.

Swarts continued that the City is trying to go paperless for meetings.  The City Commission has and the Planning Commission just changed over as well.  Staff is hoping this group will move to that as well. 

Roussel asked for any comments on the CAPER.

Swarts added if there were comments or questions, The report is very much the same as last year’s.

Roussel commented that Lesley Rigney did a lot to reorganize and tighten the report last year.  It looked really nice.

Swarts remarked that Rigney did this report before leaving the City.  Next year’s report will look different because as part of next year’s action plan, we have a new tool to create the report. 

Miscellaneous

Swarts added there will be elections at the next meeting.

Roussel stated that this is her last meeting.  She has been on the committee for eight years and it has been great, but she must resign due to personal reasons. 

Public Comment

No public was present.

Adjourn

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:09 p.m.

Attendance Record

Member	01/10	01/14 (Study Session)	01/24	02/07	02/28	03/13	04/10	04/17	9/11
Jeanette Collier	+		+	+	+	+	+	+	*
Julie Mitchell	+	+	+	+	+		+	+	+
Patti Welty	+		+	+	+	+			+
Brenda Nunez	+		+		+	+	+	+
Marci Francisco	+	+	+	+	+	+		+	+
Quinn Miller	E		+	E	+	+		+	E
Curtis Harris		+						+
Vern Norwood	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	E
Kirsten Roussel	+	+	+	+	E	+	+	+	+
Susan Mangan	+	+	E	E		E	*	*	*
Aimee Polson	+		+	+	+			+	+

* Resigned prior to meeting.