Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



November 19, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, on the Plaza Level of the Government Center,

Columbus, Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers, presiding.



PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Mayor Bobby G. Peters,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Nathan Suber, Evelyn Turner Pugh

and Evelyn Woodson (arrived at 8:30 a.m.) Also present were City Manager Carmen

Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton Fay; Director of Finance Kay Love and Director

of Human Resources, Tom Barron.



ABSENT: Councilor Richard Smith



ALSO PRESENT: Mr. J. Len William, Executive Director of the Housing

Authority.

Ms. Vicki Wilbon, Vice President of Integral Properties,

Inc. Mr. James Brooks, President of The Boulevard Group

Mr. Ken Chestnut, COO( Chief Operating Officer )of Integral Building Group





This meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m.



ANNOUNCEMENTS:



? The Muscogee School Board is hosting a luncheon today @ 12 p.m. in the

Performing Arts C enter.



? The Council Meetings scheduled to be held on December 24 (Christmas Eve)

and December 31( New Year?s Eve) would be canceled.



? A Callaway Gardens Retreat will be on February 13 ? 14, 2003.







HOPE VI GRANT:



City Manager Cavezza pointed out that Councilors Allen and Davis previously

met with the Consultants to get their questions answered; however, he realized

that Council members had question as well. He then acknowledged the presence

of Mr. Len Williams, Executive Director of the Housing Authority and the

consultants in the meeting who would address some of these questions because

this item is listed on today?s agenda for approval.



At this time, Mr. Williams came forward and passed copies of a handout around

the table to the Council regarding the relocation program. ( A copy is on file

in the Clerk?s Office) He then introduced the consultants as follows: James

Brooks, Carolyn McDoughty, Vickie Wilbon and Ken Chestnut. Mr. Williams said

the developers indicated that most of the local sub ? contractors would have

the opportunity to bid on this project. As outlined in the handout, Mr.

Williams explained that in terms of relocation of the 423 families, there would

be three (3) phases as follows:



? Phase 1 ? July though December 2003

? Phase 2 ? January through June 2004

? Phase 3 ? July through December 2004



He continued to report that a survey of 287 families has been completed and a

return rate of 67% and based on the statistics, the following relocation

choices have been determined.





No. of Families Percent Relocation Housing Choice



241 57% Permanently move into Sec. 8

85 20% Permanently transfer to other public Housing

63 15% Return to Peabody and mixed income

21 5% Purchase a home

13 3% Move to other housing



He continued to report that based on the results, the Housing Authority , he

will ask for an appropriate number of Section 8 vouchers to accommodate the

residents? request . He advised the Council that currently new landlords are

being sought; however, he said that over the past two years, 251 new property

owners have been added. He then outlined the payment standard for Section 8

would be as follows:





PAYMENT STANDARD



Efficiency Apartments $414.00 monthly

One - bedroom 460.00 monthly

Two - bedroom 551.00 monthly

Three - bedroom 719.00 monthly

Four - bedroom 781.00 monthly

Five - bedroom 898.00 monthly



Mr. Williams said in terms of moving arrangements, each resident has three

options:



(1) Each resident has a choice of in terms of moving arrangements. The Housing

Authority will provide the service of a moving company which includes packing

of all resident?s belongings and household goods and pay them a nominal moving

and relocation allowance of $50.00.



(2) Resident can select a fixed fee outlined as follows:



One bedroom unit $ 650.00

Two Bedroom Unit 850.00

Three Bedroom Unit 1000.00

Four Bedroom Unit 1,200.00

Five Bedroom Unit 1,300.00



(3) The third option is the Housing Authority reimburses the resident for

reasonable moving expenses.



At this time, Mr. Williams opened the discussion for questions. Councilor

McDaniel asked if the residents currently own their own conditioning unit,

which Mr.. Williams replied the residents are purchasing their own air

conditioning unit, at this time, but he added that over the next four to five

years, the Housing Authority would be modernizing the other properties

without air conditioning.



Responding to a question of Councilor Henderson regarding other future

developments, he replied there would be approximately 33 single-family units

developed in the East Wynnton Area. Councilor Henderson then asked if the

money would go back to the developer or does it go to the Housing Authority

once these units are sold? Responding to Councilor?s Henderson? question, Mr.

Jim Russell (who identified himself as the one putting the applications

together) explained the way it works is that by following the rules of HUD,

using the money from Title VI to write down the cost of those units, they

would be affordable for people making under 80% of local median income. He

said typically the Housing Authority is contributing land at cost; $40 ? 50,000

as soft second mortgage to the buyer and then the buyer gets their first

mortgage at a reduced price. For example, he said if it costs $100,00 to

build the unit, the buyer gets the mortgage well below the cost, which he

pointed out there is not a profit.



As Councilors continued to ask questions regarding the qualification for these

units, Councilor Davis voiced his concern about the necessity of using fiber

optics to receive the HUD Grant, which he replied at this time there is no

additional information; but the City Manager would check to see if this would

be provided by the utility company ; however, this matter would be

re-examined.



At this time, Ms. Vickie Wilbon from Integral Properties came forward to

explain the background of the company as being based in Atlanta, Georgia. She

advised that by working with the Atlanta Housing Authority, the first Hope VI

in the Country was developed and since the first closing in 1996, in Atlanta

alone, the company has been involved in over a dozen closings of mixed income

home communities. She pointed out to the Council that when developing the

Hope VI outside of Atlanta, whether in the State of Georgia, or our other

locations, i.e., Denver, Baltimore and Washington, we would still administer

the work by supplying , the project manager, the administration of the work,

the field superintendent, etc. Concluding with her report, she said we would

go into the local market to get knowledge about the sub-contractor?s base in

the City.



City Manager Cavezza thanked everyone for his / her presentations as he called

attention to other issues.



INFORMATION.



? ABB Equity Ventures was planning to build a electric generator plant in the

Northern part of the County; but now they have sold to Peace Generator Company,

LLC.



? Resolution for the Water Works ? (Billy Turner of the Water is offering to

comply with the Council?s request)



Councilor Henderson commented that his impression of this matter was not to

ask the permission of the Water Board, he then pointed out that Councilor

Suber brought up another piece on this (in the event a resolution is not

included), this would be an opportunity to set standards and at the same

time flex criticism by setting in motion various guidelines for future

increases.



City Manager Cavezza pointed out their intent is to come back each year for

five years, but rather than go for a lump sum bond up front , they will look

at options such as: State Grants, etc. to get funding for the project.



City Manager Cavezza commented that since the Hope VI Grant discussion was

shorter than anticipated, he concludes the briefing at this time.



There being no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:40

a.m.









Gloria A. Carey, Recording Secretary