Disaster funds up for discussion

A public hearing concerning the use of disaster relief funds to reimburse homeowners after the floods of 2015 will be part of tonight’s San Marcos City Council meeting. 

Council will hold a public hearing on Substantial Amendment No. 8 to the city’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) action plan, which includes the addition of an owner-occupied housing reimbursement program and the reallocation of funds among other activities. 

The city received nearly $33.8 million in CDBG-DR funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for damages incurred in the floods of 2015. The amendment includes setting aside $1 million from the city’s rental rehabilitation program for a reimbursement fund to help homeowners who used their own money to repair their homes after the floods. The $1 million would be enough to provide up to $50,000 for 20 homes if applicants qualify. 

The qualifications the city is considering include:

• The applicant must have been the owner of record prior to May 23, 2015 and/or October 30, 2015 and continue to be the owner of record throughout the grant compliance period. Standard proof of ownership is a valid deed of trust or warranty deed which sites the applicant’s name and that is recorded in the county records. 
• A unit must have sustained direct damage from the May 23, 2015 flood and/or the October 30, 2015 flood. 
• The unit must be located in the City of San Marcos’ updated 100-year floodplain in Blanco Gardens. 
• The applicant’s annual household income must be less than 80% of Area Median Income for the appropriate household size according to the MSA Austin-Roundrock Income Chart published March 2018 to meet HUD LMI standards. The annual household income will be calculated using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 Adjusted Gross Income definition of income. 
• The amount of eligible receipts for eligible repairs up to $50,000 or the amount of eligible receipts for eligible repairs up to 51% of the 2015 value of the home as shown on the Hays Central Appraisal District website.

In other business, council will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the city’s 2019 CDBG Action Plan (not related to disaster relief). The city received $680,998 for CDBG Program Year 2019. City staff is recommending that the city award funds to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Habitat for Humanity-Housing Counseling, Southside Community Center Housing Rehab, City Parks and Recreation Department-Paul Pena Park, city Neighborhood Enhancement-Unsafe Structures, and city initiatives for down payment assistance and emergency home repair. Some of the CDBG funds will go toward administrative costs.

Council is also slated to discuss a resolution from the Neighborhood Commission recommending that council advise the city manager to look into the city’s sidewalk plan. The resolution calls for assurances of clear communication among all city departments and all affected citizens involved in the project. 

“In particular, we ask that council be sensitive to sidewalks affecting our irreplaceable historic areas,” the item reads in part. 

Belvin Street resident Lisa Mari Coppoletta has repeatedly expressed concerns about sidewalks planned for her stretch of the street and the effects they could have on heritage trees and stormwater drainage patterns. The Neighborhood Commission discussed a possible resolution regarding the Belvin Street sidewalk project in April and held a special meeting May 8 to consider approval of the resolution making its recommendations to the city council. 

Before its regular meeting at 6 p.m., council will hold a work session during which it will hear a staff presentation and hold a discussion on the city event sponsorship and donations policy. Council is also slated to go into executive session to discuss an economic development issue and the extraterritorial jurisdiction dispute between San Marcos and Martindale. 

Council will meet in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins St., at 3 p.m. and again for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. City council meetings are televised live on Spectrum Ch. 10 and Grande Ch. 16 or 123-16 and streamed online.