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MINUTES
Citizen’s District Council Meeting
City of Muskegon CDBG
Conference Room 203
Muskegon, Michigan
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Tom Pastoor, at 5:40 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken by Laura Hichue
Present: Tom Pastoor, Addie Sanders-Randall, Kim Burr, Chris Carter, Billie
Quinn, Commissioner Ken Johnson
Absent: Rosalind Ford
Staff Present: Oneata Bailey, Laura Hichue, Frank Peterson
Guest: Dave Alexander, M-Live Muskegon Chronicle
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Chris Carter to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2013
meeting. Billie Quinn seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
• Priority Home Repair Program
Oneata reviewed activity of the Priority Repair program that the Board had requested;
she provided a breakdown of neighborhoods and what work was performed.
Oneata stated that many of those receiving help with their roofs had received letters of
cancelation from their insurance companies if they did not replace their roof.
Mr. Pastoor asked if the program was through word of mouth or advertised; Oneata
referred to Mr. Alexander about being advertised. Mr. Alexander asked if there was
money still available.
Oneata stated the Housing Repair Program is the largest funded program for the City
through CDBG and the goal is to assist as many households as possible. She further
explained the policy change made by the CDC last year regarding the frequency and
amount of assistance. That change has slowed down the use of funds.
Mr. Pastoor expressed concern that McLaughlin and Sheldon Park had no households
served and was there a way to get the word out about the program more effectively.
Oneata stated that the neighborhood associations were a good way to get information
to citizens.
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Discussion took place regarding Sheldon Park and that the Evanston Avenue Church
would be a good place to send information to due to it being active in the neighborhood
activities.
Mr. Pastoor would like to see a way to get the word out on a hard copy, such as an
insert in neighborhood newsletters. He would like to investigate how to publicize the
programs available through CDBG and “toot our horn” about the work that has been
done.
Mr. Peterson expressed the pros and cons of educating contractors about the
programs.
Mr. Carter asked if it would be possible to put an informational spot on the government
access channel before or after Commission meetings on television. Oneata stated she
could check with the City Clerk about that possibility.
Mr. Carter further asked if there was a surplus of money. Oneata stated that the 13-14
program was still going on and there was approximately $60,000 still remaining.
Mrs. Burr asked if there were many applications coming in for 2014.
Oneata stated that 3 furnaces had been done and roofs were not being addressed at
this time due to snow. She stated that Safebuilt has been helpful in informing owners
that have tarps on their roofs, or the roofs look bad, about the City’s programs.
Mrs. Burr noted that no Hispanic household had been assisted.
Oneata stated that St. Jean’s had been sent flyers in the past of different programs for
them to share with their members and could continue to be a point of contact for that
community.
Mr. Pastoor stated that other gathering places in neighborhoods would be good places
to put information.
Mr. Carter said they, as CDC members, could also get informational flyers out to
different locations as they see where it could be helpful.
• Houses w/Lease Option
Mrs. Burr asked what was found out about selling the houses on a land contract that
were being rented.
Oneata said the City Attorney said it could be done but HUD said the City has to be the
owner and if someone were buying on a land contract, the city would not be in a
position to ask for income verification or go into the home units annually to verify they
are still up to code. HUD has certain requirements that the City needs to be able to do
as the owner of the property.
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NEW BUSINESS
• 2014 Grant Applications
Oneata stated that Sunday, February 16, a public notice will be in the paper for
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO’s) that are in the process of
making or proposing affordable housing units in the coming year to apply for funds. She
stated that the regular CHDO’s, such as Habitat for Humanity and Community
enCompass are moving ahead with projects according to their Quarterly Reports; and
Trinity Housing has recently been approved for funds but they do not have a house yet
to rehab and may be unable to get it done by June. She advised the Board to keep
those types of things in mind as the applications come in for more funding.
Mr. Johnson asked what happens if an organization does not use its money.
Oneata stated the City will take it back and use it on one of the City’s properties as long
as the CHDO requirement of 15% of the allocation has been met, which it has.
Mr. Carter asked if CDBG applications were going out also.
Oneata stated there was a meeting coming up the following week with the City Manager
and City staff, but there was not a lot of unspoken dollars to give. She stated she was
hopeful in March that there would be some idea, based on the public planning sessions
and the City meeting next week, of how much money might be available to make a
change, show the public that the City was listening and take one of the ideas and fund
it.
Mr. Pastoor stated that the funding is an investment in the City. CDBG funds are
necessary and used for infrastructure and benefit all. The HOME funds are also an
investment and the City will get a return through development at least double. He
asked if there is money left over from an organization, is it possible to redistribute that
money to the other CHDO’s. The City would get more return on investment by giving it
to an organization rather than the City doing the work.
Oneata stated there were several CHDO’s asking for monies this year and it could be
possible to give it all away so that every appliclant has or gets a grant to be able to
continue their work. She said she did not have a problem with that due to proceeds
from the sale of houses pending and would like to see other organizations get it. She
further stated that she wasn’t sure some of the current CHDO’s were ready for more at
this time due to their projects not being completed.
Mr. Pastoor stated that the meeting next week could identify the amount of money
available for new and different ideas from the ones in the last few years.
Mr. Carter stated he would like to see a focus on youth that is different, aside from the
Youth Grant.
Oneata stated that the Youth Grants are available, but if there is a need, it is possible
some funds could go there; nothing was off the table.
Mr. Pastoor asked about the parks and that different groups were looking for assistance
for the parks.
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Discussion took place about various existing youth programs such as the evening
program and Muskegon High School.
Mr. Pastoor asked when the grant applications would be going out.
Oneata stated the applications would not be returned before the next CDC meeting but
the notes from the 2 planning sessions would be sent to the Board before the next
meeting and the Board can discuss them at the March meeting.
• Staff Reports
Frank Peterson re-introduced himself to the Board and explained that he was there so
the members could put a face with the name. He also talked about some of the
upcoming plans as far as funding for the coming year.
Mr. Pastoor stated the Board was excited about the energy and possibilities that are
being felt.
Mr. Carter asked if the proposed development of the building on Third Street for a
grocery store would be eligible for CDBG money.
Oneata stated that it would have to have an affordable housing unit in it to qualify for
CDBG funding. She did state that the City was looking at getting an affordable housing
unit in the downtown area as well as other areas to make a presence. CNS recently
purchased a home through tax reversion on Austin Street and will be demolishing the
house. The neighbor wants to purchase the lot and will be able to use the extra yard
and garage. Oneata said she had hoped to be able to rehab the house and have a
home in East Muskegon, but it was too deteriorated to save.
Discussion took place further about the proposed downtown grocery store. Mr. Pastoor
mentioned the possibility of a food co-op but with the availability of food trucks and
neighborhood gardens, a co-op may be difficult to operate.
Oneata discussed M-Live’s Top 5 items from the public planning sessions that were
held in January. One of the items was a link from the downtown area to the beach;
another was focusing on seniors, specifically snow removal; the Nims collaboration with
the City in developing a park on the former Nims school site; and diversified residential
home options. Oneata stated that the City, along with Norton Shores and Muskegon
Heights, is trying to get a Target Market Analysis for the County to see what should be
done in the future as far as developing affordable housing areas and who to attract to
the Muskegon area. Mr. Carter stated the thought about the current farmer’s market
property that will be moving soon becoming a possible housing development. Mr.
Peterson said the City has committed for the first year not to do anything with the flea
market but it will be addressed after that and there will need to be soil testing. Mr.
Alexander gave some history of that site area.
Mrs. Quinn asked Mr. Peterson about the new farmer’s market buildings and what they
would be used for.
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Mr. Peterson explained there would be an indoor commercial kitchen to be used year-
round for various purposes and that someone will cook items purchased from the
market on a weekly basis highlighting certain menus. There will be electricity and water
for every stall. He also explained the parking and driving set up on Market Street.
Mrs. Burr moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m.; the motion carried unanimously.
The next scheduled meeting is March 4, 2014, at 5:30 p.m.
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