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233 <br /> <br />the property adjacent to the location for the proposed group <br />home, expressed concern that the neighborhood had been given <br />little notice of the proposed action. <br /> <br /> Ms. Nancy Long, architect for the group home, noted that <br />the Planning Co~mission would likely be holding an additional <br />public hearing on the special use permit in January. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: <br /> <br />FY 93-94 <br /> <br />COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM - <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix explained that this was the initial <br />opportunity for public comment on the use of Community <br />Development Block Grant funds for fiscal year 93-94 and that <br />Council could also give the CDBG Task Force and Social <br />Development Commission specific or broad direction on the use <br />of the funds at this time. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Forrest Kerns, Executive Director of the <br />Charlottesville Housing Foundation, supported continued <br />funding for the Housing Opportunities Program. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers the public hearing was <br />closed. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Slaughter, Mr. <br />Satyendra Huja, Director of Community Development, stated <br />that 15% of the total CDBG funds is the maximum allowable by <br />HUD for social programs and noted that in the last few years <br />12% has been used for social programs. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty stated that she would favor directing the <br />CDBG Task Force and Social Development Commission to <br />emphasize minority business loans and training programs and <br />would favor increasing the percentage for social programs to <br />15%. Ms. Daugherty added that she felt the Social <br />Development Commission should work on developing job training <br />programs. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter expressed agreement with Ms. Daugherty and <br />recommended that contractors who work on CDBG projects be <br />encouraged to hire youth, perhaps in conjunction with a youth <br />conservation corp. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that he was not sure he wanted to <br />increase the percentage for social programs to 15% and would <br />prefer to look at the programs presented and if they merit <br />it, increase the funding to 15%. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that up to 15% could be allocated by <br />the CDBG Task Force and Social Development ~Commission and <br />then later reduced by Council. <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Slaughter, seconded by Ms. Daugherty, <br />Council unanimously agreed that direction would be given that <br />recommendations for funding for social programs could be <br />increased up to 15%. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stressed that programs should be looked at <br />in depth and if they do not merit it then the entire 15% <br />should not be used. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano asked about the status of the community <br />survey and Mr. Gary O'Connell, Deputy City Manager, stated <br />that half of the survey would be directed toward community. <br />wide neighborhoods and half toward CDBG neighborhoods, the <br />survey would take three weeks to complete and would be done <br />both by phone and door-to-door, and would be completed in <br />late February. <br /> <br />Mr. Huja noted that the deadline for submission of <br /> <br /> <br />