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37 <br /> <br />administration and planning; and providing any other guidelines or directions Council <br />may wish. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the public hearing <br />was closed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked what the thinking was behind not recommending a priority <br />neighborhood. <br /> <br /> Ms. Creasy said that when Councilors last discussed the CDBG program, they <br />said that since all target neighborhoods have received funding perhaps there would be <br />another priority for the $200,000. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked what criteria is used to determine target neighborhoods, and <br />Ms. Creasy said funding has been provided to target neighborhoods on a rotating basis. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he favors the proposal since attention has been given to each <br />neighborhood. He said this will give flexibility to the Task Force to see what needs to be <br />addressed city wide. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch said he supports the current priorities, and Mr. Schilling concurred. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he would like to include "rehabilitate substandard renter- <br />occupied homes and multi-family units" in the priorities. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that funding for Friendship court is an example of the type of <br />rental rehabilitation he would support, and would support adding that as a priority as long <br />as the rehabilitation is done on that sort of scale. He said he is not interested in providing <br />funding for private landlords. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked if there are any HUD restrictions on rental rehabilitation, and <br />Ms. Creasy said no, it is an eligible program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he will not support doing away with funding for target <br />neighborhoods. He said funding is much needed in the Fifeville and Ridge Street <br />neighborhoods, and suggested that Ridge Street be designated as the target neighborhood <br />for the next three years, in part due to the housing proposed to be built there. He said this <br />will help retain and enhance the stability of the neighborhood. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said that based on her experience with funding for target <br />neighborhoods, she feels that three years is just enough time for a neighborhood to get <br />started. She said she agrees with Mr. Caravati. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati expressed concern about funding Weed and Seed salaries with <br />CDBG funding, and said he would like to think that through a little more. He said if we <br />want to continue Weed and Seed we need to look at how it might be structured. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, said that the <br />Justice Department requires that the City pick up the administrative costs of the Weed <br />and Seed program, but funds are not available in the general fund. He said a commitment <br />of this funding needs to be made now as it has to be included in the application for Weed <br />and Seed funding. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he retains his reservation and said he would like to try to find <br />money elsewhere to reduce the commitment of CDBG funds. Mr. Caravati made a <br />motion to: maintain the current priorities with the addition of rental rehabilitation; retain <br />a priority neighborhood and designate Ridge Street; provide 15% for social programs, <br />minus funding for Weed and Seed, subject to review in the budget cycle; and maintain <br />current funding for administration and planning. <br /> <br />Ms. Hamilton seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> <br />