pages: CityCouncil/2005-12-20.pdf, 12
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CityCouncil | 2005-12-20 | 12 | precipitated the need for the requested funding and what type of cuts have been made to deal with the current situation. Mr. Allen stated that the $10 fee has not increased since 1992; operating costs have increased; the fee was new and did not include cost escalation; $19 million has been leveraged from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding into the four County Service Area (CSA) cities; last year was the first year that the program did not have a full year of HUD funding six out of thirteen rounds of grants have been received from the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control; program income has been generated from of no-interest loans to property owners. payment is made when the property is transferred; the loans need to be recycled for the same type of activity services were carried for three years on program income; six people were laid off last year because all program income was used; efforts are being made to identify whether there is a mechanism to correct the fact that there has not been an increase in base funding since 1992; the budget has been reduced from $5 million to $2.5 million over three years; audits are preformed every year; the program has won National awards. Councilmember Daysog stated that the loss of HUD funding has dropped the annual budget by $3 million; the policy question is whether the residents should pick up the loss of the HUD funding. Mr. Allen stated that the policy question is whether or not property owners should have a say in whether they value the service enough to increase the fee; questioned how the level of service can be maintained when the service has exceeded $10 per year. Mayor Johnson inquired whether programs that have been funded through HUD could not be funded because of funding source limitations. Mr. Allen responded yes and no; the program cuts from HUD took place in one year; a $3 million HUD grant was received the next year; the CSA fee is restricted to property owner services HUD dollars are used for project remediation and tenant education; State funding is received from the Department of Health Services for case management of lead poisoned children; one fund does not fund other categories. Mayor Johnson inquired whether the increase in the CSA fee would pay for more assessments, not remediation and health treatment; whether there would be a problem in bringing the matter back in January, to which Mr. Allen responded in the affirmative to both questions. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 12 December 20, 2005 | CityCouncil/2005-12-20.pdf |