08-G&H Agenda Info Sheet - Laserfiche WebLink

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AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET SUBJECT: Approval of resolutions authorizing Cooperative Agreements between the City of Paris and Paris Living, Inc. (a Community Development Corporation), and Paris Habitat for Humanity to implement the Homestead Program. BACKGROLTND: City Council will recall the extensive process the City has already followed in creating what has been referred to as the Homestead Program. As you will recall, the City has previously entered into an interlocal agreement with Lamar County, the Paris Independent School District, North Lamar Independent School District, and Paris Junior College to designate the City of Paris as Trustee for those lots eligible to participate in the Homestead Program. In addition, the Council has adopted accompanying resolutions authorizing and creating the programs to use such lots in a home rebuilding program. The Homestead Program is a program whereby lots which have been foreclosed for tax delinquent purposes and other purposes and which are eligible as defined in the interlocal agreement will be utilized both by non-profit corporations and the City of Paris itself as seed lots for construction of new housing. The documents which created the Homestead Program require a cooperative agreement between the City and Paris Living, Inc. (a Community Development Corporation) and Paris Habitat for Humanity. The purpose of these agreements is to authorize the City, on behalf of the other taxing entities, to offer lots which meet the criteria for the program to the non-profit entities for their use in constructing new homes. Once those lots are screened and selected by the non-profit entities, the remaining lots go into the City's program for offering to low and moderate income individuals desiring to build a home. DESCRIPTION: The City Council is being presented separate resolutions to approve the cooperative agreements with each non-profit entity. These contracts have already been presented to the respective boards of the non-profit entities and approved. Once these agreements are approved, all that remains is the creation of various procedural forms and the non-profits as well as the City can begin to create the necessary data base to identify eligible lots and the lots can begin to be marketed for construction of new housing. COST: There is no cost to the City of implementing this portion of the program. SCHEDiTLE: Consider approval of these two agreements at City Council's Monday, October 11, 2004 regular Council meeting. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: The agreements and resolutions are enclosed. In addition, the City Legal Department has researched and identified a rewards program sponsored by Harvard University whereby five groundbreaking local and federal government initiatives a year are recognized by Harvard University by receipt of the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award. That award, in addition to the formal recognition, is accompanied by a$100,000.00 grant to each recipient. While the City cannot propose the Homestead Program for consideration for the award this year (because the program must be in effect for a minimum of one year), assuming the program is fully implemented, it would be the Legal Department's intent to request the City Council in the future to authorize submission of the Homestead Program to Harvard University at the earliest opportunity the program would be qualified for consideration for receipt of the award. Basic information regarding the nature of the award is also included in the agenda packet. STAFF CONTACT: Larry W. Schenk, City Attorney.