City Council

7S Cou 01il* / I tem No. x. A 8/24/71 AU G 241971 z/,,{ COUNC I L MEMO N0.1235-71 \ August 18, 1 0v TO: Mayor and City Council \91t AuG ?l FROM: City Manager ^'*v COUI{CUI SU BJ ECT: John F. Kennedy Urban Relewal Authority *;p;;c{noLsr Project Area Committee Several weeks ago the Reverend l,J. L.UJilson appeared before the City Council on behalf of the John F. Kennedy Urban Renewal Authority Project Area Committee. Reverend Wilson passed out a formal statement of-protest about the URA and HUD in not funding what Rieverend lJilson felt was the official Project Area Committee for the JFK urban renewal district. Reverend Wilson felt that the City should "intervenert in behalf of the JFK Project Area Committee and help such committee secure funding for hiring of staff to further the committeers objectives. The Counci I asked the City Manager's office to review this matter and recdmmend appropriate action to the Council. Basically this is a conflict between HUD and the JFK Project Area Committee. HUD maintains that under the Iaw and their guidelines, funding of PACrs can only be granted when a proper'ly constituted and democratic election to determine membership on the committee has taken place. ln the case of the current committee, HUD does not feel I ike their requirement has been met and that funding will not be forthcoming unt i I such el ect ion takes pl ace. We feel that the Cityrs intervention in this matter is highly questionable. It woul d seem that if Reverend I,/i I sor rs committee feels as though they have been treated unjustly under the law, their recourse would be through the courts rather than through the City. It is recommended that we encourage Reverend Wilson to work with the Urban Renewal Authority in conducting an election to determine membership on the PAC. Beyond this, it is not our recgmmendation that the City intervene into this matter. I Respect f y submi tted, N. Ross C i ty Manager