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99 <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: FY 95-96 CONSOLIDATED PLAN (COMMUNITY <br />DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MADE EQUAL <br />FUNDS) <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja explained that this initial public hearing is being held to give Council direction <br />for use of CDBG and HOME funds. Mr. Huja stated that the Planning Commission, Social <br />Development Commission, and CDBG Task Force met and recommended the following <br />priorities for FY 95-96: continue funding 10th and Page as a priority neighborhood, while <br />looking ahead to designating North Belmont as the priority neighborhood the following year; <br />housing; economic development; access and safety; and drainage. Mr. Huja stated that <br />approximately $760,000 in CDBG funding is expected next year. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Msl Slaughter, Mr. Huja stated that Ridge Street is one <br />of the CDBG target neighborhoods and there are currently two projects being funded there. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Charlie Kimzey, from MACAA's Youth Build program, described the new Youth <br />Build program which trains low-income, high school dropoutss to produce low-income <br />housing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Wyant Johnson, 1005 Ridge Street Extended, requested that Council provide an <br />outlet for traffic on Ridge Street Extended. Mr. Johnson stated that when the road is blocked <br />there is no access into or out of the street. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bill Werner, staff with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, stated <br />that HOME funds are used for the rehabilitation of renter and owner occupied houses and <br />provides purchase assistance. Mr. Werner stated that it is important for there to be a <br />mechanism whereby the City and surrounding counties can discuss affordable housing issues, <br />and recommended that an advisory committee be set up, with two members from each <br />locality, to make recommendations regarding the Consolidated Plan. <br /> <br />As there were no other speakers the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty stated that she would like to follow the recommendation to continue the <br />priority designation for the 10th and Page neighborhood, but also expressed interest in the <br />revitalization of Ridge Street. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano noted that designating one neighborhood as a priority does not preclude <br />using CDBG funds in other target areas. <br /> <br /> It was the consensus of Council to designate 10th and Page as the priority <br />neighborhood and to allocate $200,000 to 10th and page. <br /> <br /> It was the consensus of Council to allocate 15% of the CDBG funds for social <br />programs. <br /> <br /> Regarding funding priorities, Ms. Slaughter stated that she would like to hear more <br />from neighborhoods about what they would like. Ms. Slaughter said she would like some <br />percentage of CDBG funds to be used for increased counseling for potential home owners. <br />Ms. Slaughter also recommended that some consideration be given to implementing a <br />"beautiful block program," where intensive improvements are made in one small area to serve <br />as a model to people for what can be done. <br /> <br />REPORT: CABLE TELEVISION - PUBLIC ACCESS <br /> <br /> 5,,Ir. Gary O'Connell, Deputy City Manager, presented a status report on Public Access <br />and stated that the Cable Advisory Committee recommended that the Public Access <br />coordinator position be continued for another six months and funded out of the cable <br />franchise fee paid by Adelphia Cable. <br /> <br /> <br />