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Home My WebLink AboutORDINANCES-1980-011-O-80a 2127/b0 3/5/80 • 11-0-80 AN ORDINANCE Establishing the Evanston Housing Commission BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: i SECTION 1: That the Code of the City of Evanston, 1979 as iC i amended, be further amended by adding to Title 5, f Chapter 6, Sections 5-6-1 through 5-6-10 to read as follows: �I i "Section 5-6-1. RATIONALE. It is hereby found and declared by ii th;e City Council of the City of Evanston that in order to protect and promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Evanston, it is necessary to provide for the planning, expansion, maintenance, conservation, and rehabilitation of Evanston's housing stock and to be responsive to needs ;i for change in housing -related matters to the end of maintaining a diverse `; residential environment and to conserve property values within the community. i. It is further found that to achieve these goals, there should be an advisory commission so that citizens and housing groups can bring housing -related i, concerns before a single group knowledgeable in the housing interests of the citizens of Evanston. Ei "Section 5-6-2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARDS: APPOINTMENTS. i There is hereby created the Evanston Housing Commission ("Commission"), said Commission to consist of ten members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. The Mayor shall initially designate one member as Chairman, for the first term. The members shall be appointed Ifor 3-year terms provided, however, that three of these appointments shall be for an initial term of one year, four appointments for an initial term • ii of two years, and three appointments.. -for an initial term of three years. �i �i it 11-0-80 i� I i In making such appointments, the Mayor shall consider knowledge and familiarity with local housing needs and problems, practical experience in Evanston and elsewhere in the area of housing, and practical experience �1 f • ;� in dealing with the sources of assistance for housing -related matters. Members of the Commission shall be residents of the City of Evanston and may i serve for not more than two full terms. There shall bea member each from Planning and Development Committee and Human Services Committee of City jl Council. If a vacancy occurs it shall be filled for the remaining portion of the vacant term by appointment by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. II "Section 5-6-3. ORGANIZATION. Immediately upon its organization 1; the Commission shall select from its membership a Vice Chairman and II Secretary, and in subsequent years a Chairman. Persons so selected shall. serve for terms of one year and may be re-elected. The Commission shall adopt rules for the conduct of its meetings and keep written minutes. All meetings, minutes, and other procedures shall be open to the public as . required by the State of Illinois. The Commission shall meet at the call I of the Chairman and at other such times as may be provided by its rules. Six members shall constitute a quorum. No meetings shall be conducted and no actions shall be taken without a quorum present, except as provided in Section 5-6-4. The Commission shall have the right to establish sub- ;; committees and provide for their operation. The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, except that their reasonable and necessary expenses in the performance of their duties as Commission members may be reimbursed to them. Ij �i ,I "Section 5-6-4. SUB -COMMITTEE. The Commission may establish such �( sub -committees as are necessary for effective operation, to meet in accordance with the adopted rules and regulations. Immediately upon its organization, the Housing Commission shall establish a 3-person sub -committee • specifically to deal with housing r0iabilitation policies. • • • ;i 11-0-80 "Section 5-6-5. POWERS AND DUTIES. In carrying out its responsibilities and in meeting the purposes of this ordinance the Commission 'shall set the following priorities: Rehabilitation and property maintenance, 'Rental housing issues, Codes related to housing and the Inspection Programs i and Policies, People problems related to natural and legislated housing changes. The Commission shall have the following specific powers and �j duties: (A) To be concerned with all housing -related matters in the City of Evanston. (6) To monitor and recommend coordination of existing City programs and services concerning housing, to recommend changes in these programs and to recommend new programs, as appropriate. (C) To comment through the Planning and Development Committee on housing related matters before the City Council. (D) To act as the City's liaison to County, State and . Federal Housing Programs. (E) To act as a resource to other communities or agencies in housing matters. (F) To review all pertinent private and public data with housing implications, and to work with the Plan Commission on an assessment of Evanston's present needs and future plans in the mousing area. (G) To receive citizen input on housing comments, complaints, and suggestions. (H) To iilake appropriate recommendations to advance the housing policies of the City of Evanston. (I) To receive periodically information on City services in housing and to make recommendations or suggestions for changes in direction. (J) To comment on alt mousing related expenditures of Community Development funds, revenue sharing funds and . all other special and general funds relating to housing. -3 11-0-80 (K) To act as the official rehabilitation agency for the City of Evanston. As rehabilitation agency, the Commission shall provide the overall coordination and direction to the Rehabilitation administrative • staff in the performance of the accomplishment of this I' ordinance, as specifically set forth in Section 5-6-6. I' "Section 5-6-6. REHABILITATION AUTHORITY/STAFF DELEGATION. ;i Under the general guidance of and by delegation of the Housing Commission, ` the following rehabilitation activities shall be carried out by City staff: (' (A) Provision of assistance to qualified homeowners to obtain i i the means to maintain and improve their residences, '! including technical assistance to obtain private or federal financing and, in cases of extreme financial difficulties, assistance in securing direct financial i ;i aid through interest subsidies, deferral of payments, ;i and otherwise. • (B) Provision of assistance to owners and managers of multi- family dwellings to obtain the means to conserve and maintain those dwellings without significantly increasing I; the rent; including the provision of technical assistance in financing, re —financing, management, and maintenance. (C) Locating of funds and other housing program aids, and identifying sources of financial assistance, whether private or governmental, toward the goals of maintaining the supply of housing for low and moderate -income families and individuals. (D) Relocation of any person or family displaced by operation of the Commission providing a choice, if possible, of . suitable standard housing within the City of Evanston within their means. Relocation within Evanston shall be a significant okijective. Persons so displaced shall have preference in leasing rehabilitated units. -4- 11-0-80 • • (E) Negotiation with all private and public sources, for the establishment and implementation of assistance programs consistent withr this ordinance and adopted City policies. (F) Management of any rental dwelling units. (G) Negotiation of agreements for purchasing, conserving and rehabilitating dwellings provided, however, that any agreement which requires the expenditure of funds by or creates a present or contingent financial obligation of the City of Evanston must be approved by the City j Council. II, j I In implementing the purposes of this section, the Housing { Commission shall provide policy direction, set guidelines, rules, and regulations, and the staff shall be responsible for implementation. "Section 5-6-7. STAFF. The Commission shall on a regular basis advise the City Manager of its needs for staff assistance, and it shall be the responsibility of the City Manager to provide such assistance to the Commission in accordance with budget approval. The commission I; shall annually review the performance of staff personnel. The performance shall be forwarded to the City Manager. Staff personnel shall receive copies of all performance evaluations. �i I "Section 5-6-8. PERIODIC REVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS. The Commission shall prepare a bi-annual action report and present said report to the City Council through the Planning and Development Committee. These action reports shall contain: (A) Accomplishments of the Commission; (B) Future goals of the Commission including any change in functions or goals of the Commission; (C) Proposed programs of the Commission for the following 6 month period; -5- 11-0-80 (D) Reports of expenditures for the past 6 month period; (E) Staff needs. 'f • :� "Section 5-6-9. BUDGET PREPARATION. The Chairman or a ! designated officer of the Commission shall assemble budget estimates of the ifinancial needs and resources of the Commission for the ensuing year's budget and shall submit said estimates at the direction of the City Manager to the i' Commission. This budget estimate shall be based on the past year's monthly financial accountability statement, the last bi-annual report and the �k proposed program ofactivities for the coming year. The Commission shall have the right to amend said budget in whole or in part. Upon approval of the Commission said budget shall be forwarded to the Planning and Development �Committee for its approval or alteration. !' "Section 5-6-10. COMMISSION FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY. i The Chairman or a designated officer of the Commission shall submit to the City Council bi-annual statements of appropriations, expenditures revenues, ! ! and any other financial data requested by the City Council for their con- sideration and review. i "Section 5-6-11. POWERS OF CITY COUNCIL. Upon receipt of j ( written housing recommendations from the Commission or the staff, the , 1; City Council may: (A) Guarantee up to 25% of a loan made to a property I' owner upon such terms conditions, and security, as . �j the City Council may require. (B) Receive money, credits, and other valuable consideration 11 from whatever source, private or governmental. (C) Enter into financial and technical resource pooling arrangements, deposit and interest subsidy agreements, and other cooperative arrangements with financial institutions. a is 11-0-80 �i (D) Purchase residential buildings for rehabilitation. I� (E) Enter into contract purchases. ! (F) Sell acquired properties upon rehabilitation. II • (G) Borrow and lend money secured by mortgages. (H) Participate in public and private rent supplement �! programs designed to assist low and moderate -income ii families. I� (I) Initiate eminent domain proceedings upon termination �I of good faith negotiations to acquire by purchase. I; (J) Issue junior debt obligations for the purpose of Ii i conserving and rehabilitating properties. 1� M Seek tax assessment classifications for housing. rehabilitation consistent with the purposes of l± this ordinance. i' i (L) Exercise such other power and take such other actions as may be needed to effectuate the purposes of this �i ordinance. it I; "Section 5-6-12. REHABILITATION AIDS STANDARDS. For. purposes of recommendations that financial assistance, whether by grant or i; i loan, be made to any applicant, staff shall make the foglowing specific I findings in its report to the Planning and Development Committee: i. (A) That the property is in need of maintenance, conserva- tion, or rehabilitation, or is dilapidated as defined in the United States Census of Housing, current edition, i li or is in danger of demolition or abandonment. i; ij (B) That the applicant is in need of financial or technical I I assistance to conserve the property. 'i (C) That the project substantially conforms to City and i neighborhood planning goals and helps stimulate further property improvements. I, "Section 5-6-13. SUNSET PROVISION. The Commission shall !I ii �i -7- 11-0-80 I terminate automatically three years from the effective date of this ordinance. However, the City Council may extend this Commission for an additional period. Such extension shall be for one (1) year and i �! may be renewed annually by a vote of the City Council. There shall be no �i limit to the number of such extensions allowed. Six (6) months prior to i; its automatic termination the Commission shall report to the City Clerk the jj date of such termination. At the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting the City Clerk shall report this termination date. i i� it SECTION 2: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict I� herewith are hereby repealed and, specifically, ii Sections 5-6-1 through 5-6-8 of the Code of the City of Evanston, 1979, I are repealed. SECTION 3: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in the manner 1 it provided by law. �j Introduced +� Adopted 3 I) �1 �1 ATTEST: City Clerk j; Approved as to for Corpo`yati 0n Counsel , 1980 , 1980 Approved 1980 10