Rats was the first item of discussion at the Dec. 9 Neighborhoods, Community Development and Health Toledo City Council committee meeting. The budgets for the Health Department and Dept. of Neighborhoods was also presented.
CDBG funding is used as part of the funding for rat elimination and they are agressively pursuing it.
Health Department Budget:
The Toledo Lucas County Health Department does not receive funding from the general fund. The funding comes from tax sources, the City’s contribution has been reduced.
Herwat said this summer with the 1475 construction – we made our sewer crews available to work with the sanitarians to assist in baiting, made certain that they had up to date maps so they could plan attack on the rat population more efficiently. That was something that was handled with a simple phone call, we have resources, they have resources, we combined those resources. Literally with one evening’s phone call, we had people out there the next morning to deal with the problem. That’s just one example of how well we work together.
Neighborhoods Budget:
Kattie Bond presented the budgets for Housing, Code Enforcement, Building Inspection and new Department
The split of the inspection will create a new director and a new commissioner, but Herwat and Bond stated that the costs would not increase initially.
Currently there are over a dozen positions that are vacant within the overall department of neighborhoods with 46 employees. Inspection has 25 employees with three vacant positions. Current structure of Code Enforcement, that encompasses call city hall. The new structure for Inspection would have 53 employees with 8 vacancies. Steel said it’s all the same except for Brenner moves up to director, Bond said there is a commissioner position. Two vacant clerk positions are vacant but will be filled. Bond said all of the vacancies are funded.
Herwat said when questioned by Collins that the Mayor had not yet made the decision on the salaries for the two employees that would be “promoted” Bill Brenner and Chris Zervos but the salaries would be in line with the budget presented.
The position control was separated out by funding. General fund there are .85 positions funded, Building Inspection 22.17, Code Enforcement, she stated the dollar amount of over $300,000 but did not give a position number. She went through some of the additional funds, the regular CDBG – administration has 16.94 positions funded that’s about a million dollars. One is funded through the lead based paint program. HUD recognizes CDBG and NSP as the same, Neighborhood stabilization administration 1.8 positions funded, total for Housing between CDBG & NSP is over one million dollars.
Martinez asked if this was enough staff. Herwat said, “this department like others in the City is understaffed.”
19.78 positions from CDBG & NSP funding in Housing Division. Building Inspection, 1.5 positions for Call City Hall, the new structure is 1.15 position. (I know this is hard to follow with the way it’s being presented.) Under the new org, 20.36 or 59.34 positions for over 4 million that includes housing and administration. Homeless prevention and rapid rehousing is 1.6 positions funded. A supplemental CDBG is .2 positions. HOME funds 2.77 positions funded. (I’ve requested the documents for this aspect since the positions are broken up into so many different funds so it’s clearer, and conflicting numbers have been given — I’ll update this report with that – I also have the audio from these two sections for anyone who would like them – just e-mail me.)
They shifted some positions from the General fund to use stimulus funds, so it shows a reduction of $98,000 from the General Fund.
A $300,000 increase in demolition due to emergency demolitions from fires. Craig asked how much revenue was raised from Building Inspections. Bond said that comes later in the presentation.
Next the Program section of the budget.
Administration section of Dept. of Neighborhoods. Consolidated annual performance report to HUD, this reports use of funding to HUD. Con Plan is the 5 year plan starting July 2010 to 2015, a five year analysis of impediments was also done. Poggemeyer Design Group was selected to do the Con Plan and the Fair Housing Center did the analysis of impediments. Others were involved on the task force, there was no direct CDC involvement but they used a report from LISC and other information. They also did the one year action plan which has different funding cycles. The application process for funding was also highlighted, CDC, ESC and public service. Homeless Prevention and rapid rehousing funding in $3 million was received, the City is partnering with 7 agencies on this, some have brought in additional funding, 815 appointments were made, 442 were referred in the others did not meet elgibility requirements or had other sources of assistance, 24% of the grant has been spent, 83% was used for direct assistance, rent, utilities, deposits at the end of November. They anticipate they will use the entire grant amount by August of 2012, based on the average of 98 households a month receiving assistance. Continuum of Care the city and county were given almost $4 million dollars for transitional housing and support services. The Homelessness Board recently submitted their application for funding for the next year, there are also medical services involved in the funding. The 13th annual homeless lunch was also held this year. They served over 550 meals, a traditional Thanksgiving meal. They also provided referrals.
Mike Badik – Housing – 100 units have had lead abatement, 27 down payment assistances, they have three packages pending for the regular down payment assistance and 9 for NSPC. Funded 152 single family rehabs, 24 new single family new construction, rehab or construction of 169 rental units. 472 total units. Under tenant based rental assistance they’ve worked with the Y to provide rent subsidies to help women to maintain residence. The Renaissance Apartments they provided additional funding to rehab and modernize the building. They required 133 units under NSP. They have sold 5 units, it’s a third of what was sold in the United States in this third quarter. Nine houses are under sales contracts, four lease purchase units, 10 occupied under a rental program that’s been completed. Bonded said she received a phone call so their number of sales contracts will be 10.
Bob Mossing – Code Enforcement. Compared to the other major cities we have the fewest number of inspectors, but he said they have the best code enforcement by the number of orders and inspections they complete. He said the Cleveland Plain Dealer highlighted this last year. Number of complaints has gone up 45%, number one reason is there is more dumping that they have to deal with, another is the high foreclosure. There are 10 inspectors doing the same amount of work as last year. Neighborhood Beautification, they have been very busy this year removing graffiti and cleaning up after the Dept. has to come in. Steel asked about the Vacant Home registry. Mossing said they could do a better job in addressing the non-registration from an enforcement standpoint. If someone sees a vacant home is not listed on the registry they can contact the department. 343 units have been demolished, they have 500 on the list, they could add another 500, it costs $4,500 average to tear down and take away the debris. One recently cost $20,000 because asbestos had to be remediated. Part of the funding for these came from NSP and HUD.
It was stated the city could do a better job in collecting fines owed to improve their collection rate. It was stated that two of the vacant positions could increase this. Collins said it seems to him that they could have a better coordinated effort if the records were under one agency, that it would eliminate duplicity for debt collection. Martinez said that the County landbank could eliminate some of that pressure. Collins said we are leaving money out there, where the honest people pay and the dishonest ones walk away. McLean said they have a position in the law department were they are going to oversee this type of collection through out the city of Toledo. He believes some coordination is in order.
Collins made a referral to find out from Housing Court, how much money has been executed for fines and what the delinquent balance is at Housing Court. They have diverted CDBG funds to the LCIC, to Doehler Jarvis for Urban Gardens, and the Downtown economic development engine, his question is whether the $150,00 passes or doesn’t, what projects were zeroed out to generate $400,000 or $550,000. Herwat said they were program income funds, no projects were zeroed out. Collins said could this money have been used in neighborhoods for demolition, Herwat stated yes, it could have been used for demolition. Collins asked if it could have been used for homeowner assistance, it was stated that would be more difficult, yes but only for three months of assistance, in a limited number of cases, the average is six to nine months. Collins sees the vision of throwing starfish back into the ocean, they can’t save everyone but they can some.
Martinez said he agrees which is more important blight or economic development is the conundrum.
Chris Zervos – Building Inspection ensures the safety and health of structures the public occupies. The staff of 22 will process 16 and a half thousand permits, 12,000 inspections and generate $1.9 million in revenue.
Bond said they have been meeting with the County regarding their land bank, the county land bank will not help with the collection issue. Mike Badik sits on the board, he said there are two items, one is the every day activities, he participates in the weekly meetings on how to mechanically make it work. Then there is the policy aspect on how the selection and division of properties is going to take place. They brought in a consultant a few weeks ago, they have drafted some specific recommendations. The policy is expected to take place in the first quarter which is when the Treasurer will collect the additional delinquent fee anticipated to raise about one million dollars for this program. Martinez asked if Toledo is protecting it’s assets, since this cleans the titles, Badik said liens get wiped out, even ours unless it’s a negotiated agreement with the property owner. He said this is a concern they’ve raised.
