Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 1





Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



July 15, 2008



Agenda Report # 295



TO: Mayor and Councilors



SUBJECT: Columbus Cottage Program



INITIATED BY: Department of Community Reinvestment

________________________________________________________________________________

____



Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU), between the Columbus Consolidated Government and

NeighborWorks Columbus, Inc., establishing a working relationship for the

Columbus Cottage Program.

Background: The City of Columbus and NeighborWorks Columbus, Inc., has formed

a strategic partnership to provide safe, sanitary, efficient housing for the

elderly and/or disabled residents at risk of becoming homeless. The City and

NeighborWorks have identified, through their various housing programs,

homeowners living in substandard conditions, which their existing programs are

unable to assist. The Columbus Cottage Program is designed to improve the

living conditions of the elderly and/or disabled residents living in

substandard (unsafe, unsanitary and unlivable) living conditions by providing a

new home (cottage) to live.



Analysis: The Columbus Cottage Program will be on a referral basis with the

highest priority going to the elderly (80+) and/or disabled and the very low

income (0% - 29% of median income). The program will provide the homeowner

with a new one-bedroom (750 sq. ft.) cottage. Through the partnership, the

City will demolish the existing substandard structure and NeighborWorks will

construct the cottage on the existing homeowner?s property. The property will

be set up as a life-estate with the property returning to the City and

NeighborWorks upon death or the person being unable to live in the residence,

if the estate does not wish to acquire the property. The cottage would then be

made available for another eligible elderly and/or disabled person.

Financial Considerations: The City will provide $150,000 and NeighborWorks

will provide a like amount through donations of private funds. The funds for

the City share of the program will come from UDAG fund balance. The City and

NeighborWorks will pay an equal share of the hard and soft cost of the program.



Legal Considerations: The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the proposed

MOU.



Recommendations: Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter

into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), between the Columbus Consolidated

Government and NeighborWorks Columbus, Inc., establishing a working

relationship for the Columbus Cottage Program.













A RESOLUTION



NO. _____



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF

UNDERSTANDING (MOU), BETWEEN THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT (CCG) AND

NEIGHBORWORKS COLUMBUS, INC. (NEIGHBORWORKS), ESTABLISHING A WORKING

RELATIONSHIP FOR THE COLUMBUS COTTAGE PROGRAM.



WHEREAS, the CCG AND NEIGHBORWORKS wish to provide funds for the purpose of

providing safe, sanitary and accessible rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes

of elderly and disabled citizens and citizens of low to very low income; and,



WHEREAS, the CCG will provide $150,000 and NEIGHBORWORKS will provide like

amount through donations of private funds; and,



WHEREAS, the CCG and NEIGHBORWORKS have developed a set of policies and

procedures to administer the Columbus Cottage Program; and,



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into a Memorandum

of Understanding, between the Columbus Consolidated Government and

NeighborWorks Columbus, Inc., establishing a working relationship for the

Columbus Cottage Program.

_________________________________________________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,

held the _________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of ____________members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Anthony voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.





_______________________________ ____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor

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