HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - December 10, 2019 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL
SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019
A. Roll Call by City Clerk
An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, commencing at 7:05 a.m.
Present: Council Member Mounce, Mayor Pro Tempore Nakanishi, and Mayor Kuehne
Absent: Council Member Chandler, and Council Member Johnson
Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Ferraiolo
NOTE: Council Member Mounce participated in the meeting via teleconference.
B. Topic(s)
B-1 Presentation on Preliminary Draft Amendment to 2019-23 Consolidated Plan for the
Community Development Block Grant Program (CD)
City Manager Schwabauer reminded Council that last year there was discussion about revising
the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan because the consultant
was displeased with the general goals for affordable housing and wanted more specificity listed in
the Plan, such as projects like Crane's Landing. The CDBG Program Coordinator conducted a
public process to come up with goals, and the Council is also invited to present its goals.
CDBG Program Administrator Patrice Clemons provided a presentation regarding the preliminary
draft amendment to the 2019-23 CDBG Consolidated Plan. Specific topics of discussion included
meetings with subrecipients; feedback; current and proposed amendments to the priority
populations, priority needs, projects, and goals; City Council scoring sheet; and upcoming public
meetings.
Council Member Mounce stated that, when it comes to homelessness, the primary issue is lack of
housing and affordable housing, which effects 20 percent of homeless. The other 80 percent
have substance abuse and mental health issues. She stated that providing housing for those 80
percent, without services, does no good and she hopes that the homeless are part of the
extremely-low income category.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Nakanishi, Ms. Clemons stated that all CDBG applicants will
be asked to prioritize requests as either low or extremely low income in order to properly score
the applications. Those who focus programs or projects on serving low and/or extremely low
income individuals will be more competitive in the scoring process, and staff will follow-up to
ensure applicants meet the goals included in the application.
City Attorney Magdich pointed out that the revised priority population does not include homeless;
rather it lists the population as very-low income and extremely-low income children, youth, single-
parent families, individuals, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Ms. Clemons stated the
definition could be modified to add homeless, but it is assumed these groups are homeless or at-
risk of being homeless.
Council Member Mounce stated the challenge is this is such a small amount of money for the
east side and large-scale projects for the homeless, such as Crane's Landing, are unattainable.
Further, she is opposed to committing future CDBG funds for projects, especially when there is
no way to know how much money the City will receive in future years or even whether the CDBG
program will still be in existence. Council Member Mounce stated she feels CDBG funds are
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better spent on rehabilitating homes through grants to homeowners who do not have the financial
means to make repairs to their homes. Mr. Schwabauer clarified that that CDBG funds would not
be used to build large-scale projects, like Crane's Landing; rather, this exercise is to provide
some specificity to the Consolidated Plan by listing goals, and the priorities will depend on the
applications received. He added the odds of receiving an application to assist on a housing
project is not great, unless it is a project the City proposes, and in that case, CDBG funds would
only fund a portion of the project along with other funding sources, such as HOME or HEAP
funds. In further response to Council Member Mounce, Mr. Schwabauer confirmed that the ratio
of 60 percent for City projects and 40 percent for non-profit projects will still be followed.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Nakanishi, Mr. Schwabauer stated the City is required to go
through this process as a requirement to receive Federal money.
Mayor Kuehne agreed that large-scale housing projects may not be viable due to the small
amount of funding and that he would prefer to see programs that prevent homelessness. He
suggested more directed programs such as home repairs for damaged roofs or leaking toilets;
assisting single parents living in cars with children; or utilizing Code Enforcement to help
homeowners ensure homes are habitable.
Council Member Mounce supported the concept of using Code Enforcement to connect
homeowners with funding to fix violations and putting pressure on landlords, which is a significant
part of the problem on the east side.
Ms. Clemons stated that some of the proposed goals could be combined in order to condense the
list and make fewer needs.
Council Member Mounce disagreed that the goals of safe neighborhoods, parks, and the Asset
Based Community Development (ABCD) program are related, stating the ABCD program focuses
more on programs that help individuals 10 to 20 years down the line when instead it should focus
immediate attention on fighting crime, drugs, and blight. She stressed the importance of
Neighborhood Watch programs and that each block should have its own captain, which is
something the Lodi Improvement Committee previously encouraged but lately has done a poor
job promoting. Further, she suggested putting all homeless-related needs into one goal to shrink
some of the categories.
Mayor Kuehne stated he believes there is a correlation in combining those goals because part of
the ABCD program is finding leaders in the area, which could be part of the goal of ensuring there
are Neighborhood Watch captains on each block.
Council Member Mounce countered that the ABCD programs all have direct costs to Lodi, but if
the Lodi Improvement Committee were doing what it was initially tasked with, there would be no
cost to citizens or the programs. She stated the ABCD program is not a quantifiable program at
this time. She reiterated that she is not in favor of combining goals 1 and 2. Council Member
Mounce also cautioned that some of the tasks that the Lodi Improvement Committee are taking
on, such as immigration, are services already being provided by other agencies and it is
unnecessary for the Committee to incorporate those under its purview.
Mayor Kuehne suggested a category to fund a winter shelter next year, but on a larger scale, as
well as adding programs to address mental health issues for youth.
Council Member Mounce cautioned there is not enough CDBG funding to address every social
issue and many of these suggestions are City-wide and not focused on the east side. Many of the
homeless are in locations outside of the target area, and she stated there is money through the
Continuum of Care to address those issues. Lodi's goal should be writing the best grant to fund
projects that focus on crime, drugs, blight, and housing in the target area.
Myrna Wetzel, member of the public, suggested an assistance program to help low-income
renters with home repair skills to fix up their homes in exchange for a reduction in rent.
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C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items
None.
D. Adjournment
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 a.m.
ATTEST:
Jennifer M. Ferraiolo
City Clerk
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