Government : Vinton City Council Minutes June 30, 2020

A special meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 30th day of June, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, Vinton, Iowa. Due to the COVID-19 virus the meeting was also held electronically via ZOOM cloud hosted at 110 W 3rd Street. Mayor Maynard presided and the roll being called the following Council Members were present and absent: Present: Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Absent: None.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Stark, second by Hesson to approve the agenda. Question: Ayes - All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.

The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to a public hearing to discuss an application for CDBG housing funds. Tracey Achenbach, ECICOG, reviewed details of the program. How the need for the proposed activity or project was identified: The City of Vinton has determined that homebuyer assistance funding would be greatly beneficial in implementing its goal of assisting low-to-moderate income homebuyers in the community purchase a home. The City's investment in having a housing study done in 2016, the contribution made to the East Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund to expand a local down payment program, the commitment to providing Tax Increment Financing for residential projects, and the City's most recent Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment demonstrates that the City places a great deal of emphasis on the area's housing stock and its impact on the school, employers and community. How the proposed activity or project will be funded and the source of the funds: The homebuyer assistance program will be funded with $171,850 in federal funds. The date the Housing Fund application will be submitted: The application will be submitted online as soon as feasible after June 30, 2020. Amount of federal funds to be requested: The amount of federal funds to be requested is $171,850. Estimated portion of federal funds that will benefit persons of low and moderate income: One hundred percent of the funds will benefit households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area's median income level. Where the proposed activity or project will be: The proposed activity will be located within the city limits of Vinton and outside of the 100-year floodplain. Plans to minimize displacement of persons and businesses as a result of funded activities or projects: Due to the lead hazard reduction activities required as a part of this program, homebuyers may be temporarily relocated from their homes as part of the project. Because the project is a homebuyer assistance program, and the only work to be done will be lead hazard reduction activity, displacement is not anticipated to occur often. If it does, a portion of the grant has been dedicated to cover the costs associated with temporary displacement. The amount will be allocated as necessary for each home to be purchased. Plans to assist persons actually displaced: Those owner-occupants who are required to be temporarily relocated will be asked to find housing that is Lead Safe in which to be relocated until the rehabilitated home has passed clearance testing. The City will pay up to three days of relocation expenses in advance and reimburse the rest of the funds once the full amount of days out of the project home is known. If the homeowner is to enter the home during a period of relocation activity, funds will not be awarded or reimbursed. The nature of the proposed activity or project: This project will provide homebuyer assistance for the purchase of five homes by low-to-moderate income buyers. The down payment will not exceed 50 percent of the lender required down payment, the eligible closing costs cannot exceed $3,500, and a $300 home inspection fee reimbursement will also be provided. If relocation is required, due to reducing lead hazards, the
voluntary relocation of these participants will also be allowed. Any lead hazards identified in the interior of the home will be addressed, if necessary. Eligible households must meet the State of Iowa's Housing Fund income guidelines. The home to be purchased must remain the buyer's principal residence for five years and be located outside of the 100-year floodplain. Property insurance on the home is also required. Maximum federal dollars to be spent on homebuyer assistance per home is $24,999 plus an average of $3,600 per home for lead hazard reduction activities. The federal funds utilized will be secured by five-year forgivable lien that will be in a second position to the home mortgage. Achenbach also read the Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment that had been prepared, and the Mayor asked for public comment. None was received. The Mayor closed the hearing.

Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to pass a RESOLUTION AWARDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT TECHNICAL SERVICES CONTRACT UPON NOTIFICATION OF HOMEBUYER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT AWARD. Question: Ayes - Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays - None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 06-20-06 passed and approved.

Motion by Stark, second by Parr to approve the City of Vinton Administrative Plan for the Homebuyer Assistance Program. The plan will serve as the guidance for the program and include language that is required by the grant. Question: Ayes - Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays - None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and the Administrative Plan approved.

Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to pass a RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO SIGN, EXECUTE AND SUBMIT APPLICATION AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS FOR FUNDING VIA THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ("CDBG") HOUSING FUND. Question: Ayes - Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays - None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 06-20-07 passed and approved.

Motion by Hessenius, second by Elwick to adjourn the meeting. Question: Ayes - All. The motion carried. Time: 7:34 p.m.