INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are a few of the items the council discussed Tuesday.

FAIRVIEW PARK PROPERTY

The council was set to receive an update from Public Services

Director Bill Morris on the research he has done so far on the

possible sale of land in Fairview Park that some homeowners have

encroached on.

In September, the City Council approved the research of what it

would take to sell the small parcels of land behind 17 homes on Swan Drive. These homeowners have exceeded their property limits from less

than a foot to more than 22 feet.

Morris said it could take about 2 1/2 years and cost an estimated

$93,000 just to get to the point where the council can make an

informed decision on whether to sell. Morris said he will suggest

that the homeowners who are encroaching pay that price.

The Mesa Verde Homeowners Assn., which includes property owners on

Swan Drive, opposes the sale.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council postponed the item based on the request of two Swan

Drive residents. It will come back to the council no later than July.

REQUEST FOR REHEARING

The council considered a request from Councilwoman Libby Cowan to

take a second look at changes made to how the city awards Community

Development Block Grants.

The council approved reducing the homeless prevention/assistance

category of the grants from 40% to 25% at its Jan. 5 meeting.

Cowan said she doesn’t believe that the Jan. 5 agenda gave an

adequate description of the action the council could take. She also

pointed out that the staff report for this item was not available on

the website.

She also argued that the council was misled into believing its

reduction was recommended by the Redevelopment and Residential

Rehabilitation Committee.

WHAT HAPPENED

The request failed, with Mayor Gary Monahan and Councilmen Allan

Mansoor and Chris Steel voting against a rehearing.

WHAT WAS SAID

“The less our hands are tied, the more ability we have to give to

the charities we choose,” Monahan said.

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman