MINUTES
COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
COUNCIL WORKSESSION
JULY 16, 2013
A meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called to order at 9:00
A.M., Tuesday, July 16, 2013, in the new Citizen Service Center, located at
3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
presiding.
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PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Tomlinson and Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh were
Councilors Mike Baker, Berry H. Henderson, Bruce Huff, Judy W. Thomas and
Evelyn Woodson. City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of
Council Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk Sandra Davis were also present.
Councilor Jerry ?Pops? Barnes took his seat at the Council table at 9:05 a.m.
Councilor R. Gary Allen took his seat at the Council table at took his seat at
the Council table at 9:54 a.m.
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***-------------------------------------ABSENT: Councilors Glenn Davis and
Charles E. McDaniel, Jr. was absent.
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***-------------------------------------INVOCATION: Led by Reverend Dr. E.
Jones Doughton, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church.
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PLEDGE: Led by the Puddle Jumpers Childcare Center.
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COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR EXPENDITURES EXCEEDING BUDGETED
APPROPRIATIONS:____________________________________
Mayor Tomlinson said we have several items that were made referrals where
the Council has requested additional information on various subjects of
importance to the City.
She said we have proposed this ordinance which has been on the agenda
several times, but said we wanted to make sure that we got the input that the
Council feels that they need to move forward. She then asked if there was any
of the department heads who was present today and wanted to be heard on this
matter, but there were none.
Mayor Tomlinson said we have received a furry of emails from various
department heads and then opened up the floor for discussion from members of
the Council.
Several members of the Council expressed their views regarding this
proposed ordinance.
After the members of Council expressed their views and comments, City
Manager Hugley then responded to questions of members of the Council
regarding this proposed ordinance, pointing out that department heads would
still
be able to go through a process to make line item adjustments and can move from
one line item to another, but they just cannot exceed their total bottom line
budget.
Mayor Tomlinson then asked if there was anyone else who wanted to speak to
this subject, but there were none.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCL GRANT AND HOME REHAB
PROGRAM:_______________________________________________________
Mayor Tomlinson said at our last meeting, we had an informative discussion
on this matter and said that the Council has asked for additional information.
Director of Community Reinvestment Amy Carbajal came forward and pointed
out that at the last Council meeting there was a request made for her to go
back and determine whether or not if there was a way for us to maintain the
Homeowner Rehab Program, which due to budget constraints she had recommended
that we
eliminate. She said she have spoken with our sub-recipient, Neighbor Works
about whether or not they would be interested in taking over that program for
us, and said they are not interested in doing that program for us. She said she
don?t believe that Wynnton Neighborhood Housing has the capacity to take on the
project either; which leaves us just with an internal program. She said she
just wanted to go through her budget with the Council and said that she has a
few examples that hopefully will illustrate why she is making the
recommendation that she is. She said she has done a comparison from last year?s
budget to this year?s budget.
Councilor Huff then asked Ms. Carbajal if she has spoken with Wynnton
Neighborhood Housing about the possibility of them taking over the program, to
which she said she has not. Ms. Carbajal said the current year that we are
working in with them; they are already on a limited expenditure basis with us.
She said she has concerns about their capacity to fulfill existing obligations
and she also has concerns about their capacity to take on the funding that has
been allocated to them for this year. She said she has had discussions with
them, whereby they will not release all the funds for this year until they can
complete some of the projects that they have left over from last year.
She said what has happened is they have inventory that they have had a
really difficult time moving and said that HUD has a time frame on that. She
said if they don?t get some money in those homes HUD is going to request
repayment on all of that. She said she don?t believe they have the capacity for
that and she can?t put them in a position to put more houses out there.
Councilor Huff said he didn?t want her to put them in that position; he
simply wanted to know if she has spoken with them about the same offer she
afforded to Neighbor Works to take over that program for us. He said he and
Councilor Barnes has worked with Wynnton Neighborhood Housing and said he just
wondered if that discussion has taken place, and they had an opportunity to say
they are having a problem putting bodies in houses and we can?t take on
anymore.
Councilor Barnes then asked Ms. Carbajal if she has spoken with the
individuals at Wynnton Neighborhood Housing about her concerns; and said he
would like for her to engage in a dialogue with them with regards to giving
then an opportunity as far as the Homeowner Rehab Program because they have
done a lot in the community.
City Manager Hugley said as Ms. Carbajal has indicated, she can have that
discussion with them, but said as Director, he want to make sure it?s clear
that if she goes beyond what she feels comfortable with, with an organization
and that organization is not able to meet the requirements of HUD; then HUD
will demand repayment. He said if HUD demands repayment because they have not
be able to do and she saw warnings sign; then, it is not Neighbor Works or any
other organization?s responsibility to repay, but it would be the City of
Columbus that would have to make the repayment.
He said there are some organizations that might apply for dollars and
indicated that they can do this, and we see that they can?t do it; then, we
won?t take the risk on the backs of the City or the taxpayers. He said even if
they say yes, based on what she needs, she may still say, I don?t think so. He
said that will be our recommendation to you, but said we will always be guided
by your directions.
Discussion continued on this matter with several members of the Council
expressing further concerns regarding this matter, and Ms. Carbajal responding
to questions of members of the Council.
After more than twenty-five minutes of discussion on this matter, Ms.
Carbajal then went into some details in outlining the following information, as
outlined below.
CDBG Allocation
2012/2013 CDBG
Total $1,408,537
Admin: $281,707 (20% Cap)
Salary and Benefits: $260,913
Cost Allocation: $28,878
Balance: $8,084
**After eliminating 1 position in Jan, 2013
2013/2014 CDBG
Total $1,411,869
Admin: $282,373 (20% Cap)
Salary and Benefits: $247,942
Cost Allocation: $23,990
Balance: $10,441
**After eliminating a second position July 2, 2013
HOME ALLOCAITON
2012/2013 HOME
Total $748,496
Admin: $74,849 (10% Cap)
Salary and Benefits: $46,428
Cost Allocation: $19,501
Balance: $8,920
2013/2014 HOME
Total $656,416
Admin: $65,641 (10% Cap)
Salary and Benefits: $47,588
Cost Allocation: $26,695
Balance: $8,642
EXAMPLE PROJECTS:
Receive application for rehabilitation
Send inspector to develop cost estimate
Home #1: $58,960 estimated cost to repair
Home #2: $67,600 estimated cost to repair
Cost to the program for the inspection reports: $475 each, $950 total expensed
to admin account as applicant?s home is ineligible.
HOME Admin Balance: $8,642
Ms. Carbajal said due to the costs to repair these homes are no longer
eligible for the program because the cost to repair probably exceeds the
maximum, as well as they exceeded fifty percent of the value of the homes. She
said because we can?t do those two homes; therefore, they are not eligible
projects and any money you spend comes out of the Administrative Budget; and
said she doesn?t have any money in her administrative budget. She said a lot
of these homes comes back ineligible and said those costs have to come out of
the administrative budget, and said she doesn?t have those funds.
ADMINISTRATIAVE CONSTRAINTS:
Funding for CDBG over the last 5 years has been reduced by 21%.
Funding for HOME over the last 5 years has been reduced by 41%.
Staff has been reduced by 30%.
Ms. Carbajal said that the HOME Program took a hit nationwide and said the
reason why is because jurisidictions were not being prudent with their
investments. She said they were making investments with sub-recipients and the
sub-recipients were not following through and said HOME basically got their
hands slapped; it was a punishment from Congress. She said this happened about
three years ago; whereby the Washington Post did an article on this. She said
the City of Columbus were not involved in that, but said it was a nationwide
issue and Washington Post
brought it out to the public; and the response from Congress was swift and
harsh and that is why they lost a lot of their HOME funding. She said a lot of
rules have changed since that time; one which is developers? capacity.
She said if you are working with developers and sub-recipients, you have
to be prudent in determining whether or not they have the capacity to complete
the program. She said this is a hard and fast rule past by HUD a year and a
half ago and they have implemented that.
Much discussion continued on the Homeowner Rehab Program with members of
the Council, as well as Mayor Tomlinson expressing strong views regarding this
matter and what the intent of this particular program when it was first
implemented; after which Ms. Carbajal responded to questions and concerns of
the Mayor and Council.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING CUTS:
Ms. Carbajal said this information was brought to the Council during the
Budget Review Committee and she had said that if the program receives
additional cuts from HUD this year, the results will most likely be in the
following areas:
Elimination of the Homeowner Rehab Program
Albany, Fulton County ? Eliminated Program
Dekalb County ? Facing Similar Issues
Reduced number of Project Care Program recipients or possible elimination of
the program depending on level of HUD budget cuts.
RECOMMENDATION:
After more than an hour and a half of discussion on this presentation, with
the Mayor and members of the Council expressing many concerns and questions
regarding the Homeowner Rehab program, Ms. Carbajal then responded to questions
of members of the Council and then said her recommendation today is that we put
the Homeowner Rehab program on hold for a year; finish the projects that we are
in the process of finishing.
After the conclusion of her presentation, members of the Council continued
to expressed their further views and concerns, with Ms. Carbajal responding to
questions. She said
and then wait throughout that we then re-evaluate the viability of the program
when funding allocations are announced in 2014 for the next fiscal year.
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TRANSPORATION SPECIAL PURPOSE SALES TAX (TSPLOST):
David Arrington, Deputy City Manager came forward and gave a detailed
presentation regarding the Transportation Special Purpose Sales Tax, as it
relates to the Timing of Disbursement, as well as the Funding/Criteria, as
outlined below.
OVERVIEW
Recommended Allocation Process
Recommended Project Selection Criteria
Fiscal Year 2014 Recommendation
Process Timeline
RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION PROCESS
Projects submitted to Council during the first quarter of the calendar year for
review and approval based on allocation criteria. Funding allocations will be
included in the following fiscal year budget.
Project selection consistent with allocation criteria
Critical Infrastructure
Maintenance and Safety Improvements
Matching Funds and Future Operations
Alternative Transportation Projects
Projects funded on a ?Pay-As-You-Go? basis
Maximize leverage opportunities
TSPLOST DISCRETIONARY FUND PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA
ROARD IMPROVEMENTS
Supplemental funding for resurfacing, milling & resurfacing, rehabilitation of
streets based on the current Pavement Condition Index
See Attached List
Implement a program to begin paving approximately 6 miles of unpaved streets
maintained by the City
Implementing minor intersection improvements to improve traffic flow and reduce
accidents as identified in the Congestion Management Study and Annual Accident
Review process
Bridge/Culvert Repairs and Maintenance
Perform necessary improvements and repairs to bridges based on the GA DOT
Bridge Report which are under current weight restrictions and adversely
impact public safety and the delivery of public services
See Attached List
To perform specialized maintenance of bridge and culverts beyond the scope of
Public Services
MAINTENANCE /SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS:
Supplemental funding for maintenance and enhancements of existing and future
trails and gateway project areas
Installation of guardrails and other right of way safety improvements not
currently in compliance with recommended roadway safety standards
Supplemental funding for installation of traffic calming measures in accordance
with established City policies
Annual Allocation
FUTURE OPERATIONS & GRANT MATCHING FUNDS:
Leveraging local matching funds for state and federal transportation funding
Maximum Leveraging Capacity $500,000/yr for MPO funds
Establishing funding for operational expenses for transportation projects
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS:
Funding to expand the current network for walking/biking/jogging trails as
identified in the Alternative Transportation Plan
Installation of sidewalks in areas of high pedestrian traffic and incomplete
sidewalk networks. Installation of ADA ramps and other improvements to meet
ADA requirements
FISCAL YEAR 2014 RECOMMENDATION
Submit Resolution to Council for Approval of Process
Allocation Process
Project Selection Criteria
Recommended Fiscal Year TSPLOST 2014 Allocation
Projected budget - $2,500,000
Process will be Pay-As-You-Go
TSPLOST Discretionary Fund Balance
January to May receipts $1,002,025
Council to consider future allocation of TSPLOST Fund Balance in FY 2015 Budget
PROPOSED TIMELINE:
July 23, 2013 ? Resolution submitted for Council approval of Allocation Process
and Project Selection Criteria
February 2014 ? Recommended project list submitted to Council for discussion
May 2015 ? TSPLOST project list submitted in Fiscal Year 2015 recommended
budget
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With there being no other business to come before the Council, Mayor
Tomlinson then entertained a motion for adjournment. Councilor Barnes so moved.
Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those eight members of
Council present for this meeting, with Councilors Davis and McDaniel being
absent, with the time of adjournment being 11:33 a.m.
Tiny B. Washington, MMC
Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
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