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06/17-18/1994 - Bus Tour . ~. \ .., . 1< ~1 -.. . ... ..... I ' . ~'~f ," ,I, . - : . , ,I ~.-tri....t:...". I'~ ....T : < ......" ~ . ., <..., NAC "," . , Miriutes Neighhorhood Advisory Committee l' ..' "; DATE ~~ //..-14".. ~J,I f~ /f'2 .'I ~'. , .. . ~ .. . . , . ' , .' ~f !'.~~:: ~l:," . '(.:",,;- .---....., T-..... \ I .......... \ ~ NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE BUS TOURS June 17"18, 1994 Tour Fridav. June 17. 1994 was atten~ed.-.!2Y.: N.A.C. Members Willie Brewton Darrell Collins Mary Heard Milly Joplin Rudy Miller Guests Art Deegan. City Commissioner and Lois Cormier, resident. ."1 City Staff Alan Ferri, Mike Holmes, Jim Lange, ,and Pat Fernandez. Visited the following applicants: 1) ReliQious Community Service - 1552 S. Mvrtle The tour was greeted by Don Jass and Ruth Greenslade who showed us the home they plan to transform into an office. Due to school board actions they are required to relocate and get rid of their mobile homes. They have an option on the house next door and plan to move their activity building so children will have an indoor activity site. They plan 16 units with the . relocation of four duplexes the City is acquiring. Substance abuse will not be tolerated and they will focus on assisting families. They plan to be operational by April with 8-9 udts and more by June. Moving the trailers will be costly but they are required to remove them from the current site. They have no resale value. Dixie Walker-Duncan has reviewed their cost estimates and they are reasonable. 2) Clearwater Police Deoartment - Ross Norton Park Chief Klein explained two grant applications submitted by the police department. Members of the South Clearwater Citizens for Progressive Action attended the presentation. a. South Greenwood NeiClhborhood Patrol ~ The patrol is to be created by further decentralization of police services. They plan to establish a police station in South Greenwood at Ross Norton Park. They have a federal grant for $112,221. but needs a match of $37,409. hence the application for funds. It will provide one Sergeant and two police officers. They would like to expand the computer center for children as an after-school activity. Community policing is effective and a documentary is planned to show other communities our successful efforts. b. Americoros p Project NUCOPS (Neighborhoods Uniting in a Coalition for Public Safety) - This is a program to hire young people over age 17 to work in paid community service jobs. Our application has four partners, St. Petersburg Junior College Criminal Justice Institute, Pinellas 1 \ Noinl1borhoo(j Advisory Committne 811S Tour Minutos Juno 17-18.1994 "..-...... COl/nty for Justice Coordination. St. Potersburg Polico Department and the Clearwater Pollce Departmont. SPJC will hire 50 voung poople, 25 will work in St. Peto PD and tho otl1or 25 in Clearwntor PD. Thoy will work ns Aidns rlnd go to school pmt timo in the Low Enforcement Apprentice Program. Upon groduation from the program, the youth will have a two-year degree. Our cash match is $21.439 to obtain over $400,000. At the ond of this three.year program tho participants will be hired as police officers, have a two-year degree and approximately $15,000 deposited in their names to pay for their college tuition. Participants in this program will have to be backgrounded, moet the physical requirements elc. that a police officer would have to meet in ardor to enter this program. 3. Red Ribbon Homestead - 1123 Pinellas Street Stove Krnkowor and Bill Neushafler greeted the group. Their application envisions Meals on Wheels (one or two meals a day) for Aids victims. They have independent 110using and A.e.l.F. units as well. The A.C.L.F. will be expanded to 20 units. Bill is a chef and can utilize his skills to prepare 100 meals per shift. This would enable afflicted persons to remain in their own living arrangement longer. We were taken on <l tour of the A.C.L.F. 4. Projoct Self Sufficiency - 210 S. EwinQ Sue King presented a video tape on one of their client.s success stories. They are currently working with 120 families who are striving to become self sllfficient. Schooling and further education being required is one of the reasons this program is successful. It gives the participants the needed skills to bocome employable in better paying lobs. \:.:) 5. Clearwater HousinQ Authority - 210 S. Ewino Deborah Vincent explained their current project is a thorough review of the feasibility of housing on the tract of land (25 acres) on Drew across L: It; :>UEiHl Hnm r.'0ndc" Gardens. They envision single-family housing in the $65,000-$75,000 range. With Clearwater near build out. it is essential that a full. complete study be made before anything can be considered for <lny remaining largo tracts. Linkago to the proposed bike trail is a possibility. Part of the acreage is wetlands which must be preserved. Julie Johnson of the Center for Design at the University of South Florida is helping to coordinate this stUdy. 6. Tamp(I Bav Community DevelQpmcnt Corporation. 1499 Gulf-ta-Bav Greg Schwartz proudly displayed the trophy won by his group for their efforts in providing downpayments for firsHime home buyers. This is the only award received in Florida. TBCDC refers applicants if they have a credit problem or need to learn how to have a manageable budget, They work with the applicants and send them where they need to go to learn about the barriers in their case and how obstacles can be removed. They consider anyone who wishes to locate outside of the territory served by Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Service. They presently have an inventory of 10~12 lots outside the Greenwood area. TBCDC has complelod 145 units this fiscal year to date. 7. Community Services Foundatil},/1 - 111 N. Garden Charles Mann explainod his group's role in providing education for first~time home buyers, haw to lake care of ..lIlY credit problems, how to deal with tho financial community. and how to manana money and property, otc. In omergent situations they may be able to pay a utility \~I 2 Neinhborhuod Advisory Commit I no Bus Tour Mlnutos Juno 17-18.1994 ~.l~'''. /--...\ bill onco n yom. They doal with many agencies to help resolvo problems. The Home Buyer's Club takes poople who have been rejocted in home buyers cmd gets them on the right track and offors ongoing counsoling. 0110 on ono. to work through any problems. They are in very tight QLHHters and hOpD to be nhla to move to the building where the Clearwater Sun was locatod. The grOllp then took a lunch bHmk at Station Park. Sandwiches were ordered at Lanni's. 8. Hornoless Emergency Proieet : 1120 N. Bettv lane Tho group gathered in tho courtyard of garages which the Homeless Emergency Project will purchase. Barhara Green said thoy would convert the existing garages into sleeping quarters for the 1101T,1eless. Separate bDthrooms and showers will be built. Forty persons can be housed at one time. They now have a beauty parlor, GED classes, computer classes. parenting classes, and a free dental clinic. This will open up space for their mental health and job counsellors. The increase is 15 more beds. They provide two meals a day at the gazebo across tile street. The garages are rather sterile 10'Jking and they eventually plan to add groenery to the garago area. The Salvation Army said they might be able to put some greenery in pots around tile area. 9. Salvation Army - 11 20 N. Bet ty Lane The Police Department will donate a double.wide trailer which is to be placed in the center of the Homeless Emergency Project new courtyard and will ac\, for a year, as a drop-in center to replace the facility that was on Cleveland Street last winter. Barbara Green said the trailer could then be used in one of HEP drop-in mobile home parks. f"l;., " , ) ...........' Paul Bridges said they would offer 12-15 beds in the trailer for emergency purposes and operate this for one year - get an nxperionce factor for their own homeless program - and seek to buy or lease space elsewhere on a permanent basis. Terry Hammond was also available for Questions. They wDnt to do a quality program to help address the homeless situation by supporting. educating and serving the homeless by solving their problems. They would like to accommodate 50~70 persons on a given evening. They would like to stop the revolving door which is what happens to many of the homeless in our community. Breaking the cycle is the positive effort that is needed. Finding a job suited to their ability rather than day labor helps to restore their sense of self worth. Restaurant and hotel work is the major source of opportunities for these individuals to interview and obtain employment. 10. Ervin's All American Youth. 1250 Holt The building was full of children attending Smart Summer. 1I18 center's eight week summer program. Youngsters ore being taught Swahili and learning the African value system to Ilve by. Community Pride is under construction and two classes meet in the back of Ervins. Story-telling time consists of children's stories that have a moral value and add to the behavoral skills they are learning. Homework;s givon during the eight-week session. Next wenk the older group will have classes at Curtis School which will help alleviate the overcrowding. Nutritional foods me cooked daily so no one goes home hungry. The number of computers in the computer lab continues to grow. It will be possible for attendees to learn computers skills as well as learn by playing educational gamos in math and other subjects. ,~ 3 ;'i\'. ' V" . -"', ......... \ ,~ '......,I Neiuhhorhood Advisory Comrnilloo Bus Tour Minute!'; Juno 17.18.1994 Respect for themselves <lnd othurs is also being taught. 11. Community Pride. 1235 HolL Avenue Martha Skelton greeted our group and took us on a tour to SOB the new construction that is undorwny. Our first stop was a classroom of five yoar olds with many children absent due to chicken pox. The government recently reviewed and ratod this facility 99%. They are teaching the children the three r's. respect, responsibility and reasoning. The new classrooms will enable them to take in 32 more children and free up space for three additional offices. Windows have been replaced and wallboard added which helps the rooms maintain a more even temperature. Playground equipment needs to be replaced with separate equipment for the infants, a hard surface play area for push toys, and a 3-4 year aids playground. Meals are cooked inhouse and are approved by the health department. Since we live in a fast food society. they are served family style and teaches the children to pass food as at a family function. 12. $gt. Allen Moore. 120 J N. Bettv Lane They wore advised that an application for funds to be used to assist in the prepayment of their mortgage was an ineligible activity and not to use that on their application. They persisted on their application and therefore are ineligible to receive funds. 13 North Greenwood As~ociation - 1002 N. Greenwood Bilal Habeeb-Ullah and Jonathan Wade informed members they were slow starting up as they had to wait until March, 1994 when CNHS vacated the building they now occupy. They provide space for other groups to meet. including the NAACP. They work with Juvenile Justice to do Community Service projects and work with a boot camp. Their goal is to teach basic employability skills. Story telling for Head Start youth is planned. They try to be a resource in the community and transmit referrals to the appropriate agency. 14. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Servic:,e - 608 N. Garden They have submitted seven (7) applications for projects planned this year. Isay Gulley welcomed us to their new offices. Their mission is foremost in their minds and they have geared lip their services to assist rirst time buyers obtain their mortgage. In March their Board approvod expanding into the South Greenwood area. Concerns have been expressed by residents and CNHS will review all lots and get neighborhood input before any actions are taken. A new program to reduce some of the blight in the area is a Paint Rebate program. This has been done in the past but will bo revived. A tenant conversion program is an idea recently submitted. The noighborhood is 66% investor owned property. It is sad how some owners have noglected these properties. They would like to provide the opportunity for the tenant to purchase that building and offer rehab rnoney 10 renew the building. Concerns wure exprcssnrJ about Rl1aring one Construction Rehab Specialist. They would like to got n 1;0llsLruction pnrson on swff to reduce tlleir backlog. This work would help preserve 4 '", ~. ""- Noighborhood Advisory Commiuno Bus Tour Minu\os JUIlO 17-18. 1994 the historical characlor of this soclion of tho City. Thoy also work to resolve credit discrepnncios and will 5pond up to $1.000 to assist a porson in this effort. They hnvo a commercial program started in 1983. As the business prospers the V were to add jobs 011 the payroll. Tho rules wore very unrealistic and now are easier to attain and still maintain a healthy business. Home businesses were discussed and the city's negative view of any such activity. Silk flower arrangements made in the home do not endanger the neighborhood or deflate property values. but the person involved may be afraid to risk capital with tho investment necessary to open at a commarciallocation. A micro-loan program has been suggested for home-based businesses. CNHS can teach computer skills to the new business ontrepreneur. They want to offer solutions in these cases to help people come back to the noighborhood and become more self-sufficient. Red Wgging a homo activity does not accomnlish anything. It is counternroductive. Education to protect one's investment is necessary. Tho partnorship structLlrO will through housing efforts addresg tile criminal activity that soems to move from North Groenwood to South Greenwood and back. Their goal is to help rid the area of crime. A property and vacant lot inventory needs to be compiled ill the Greenwood area for future infilll1ousing. Alan Ferri spoke of an agreement not yet signod with the University of South Florida to complete this inventory. Part of this task is to talk to the neighborhood and find out .M,\ what the needs and concerns aro. ....._.,.1 'J Morton Plant Hospital is concerned that some of their employee will have difficulty in becoming home owners and had offered to assist in the lot study. rvlr. Murphy of Morton Plant bolieves consideration should bo given to expand the infHl program. Morton Plant also offered their acquisition. the former Siples Garden Seat Restaurant. to be used for a Housing Fair. It would get the word out to let the community know what ;s there. Lt. Joff Krollschnabl of CDmmunily Rosponse spoke Dn effective code coordination. If there is an ellective code program. crime is lowered in tllat area. They plan to go house to house and conduct an educational compliance program and offer solutions. Advice will be given to residents of classes at Scottys or Home Depot that will teach the homeowner how to repair their particular problem. They will refer cases of continuing violation by the landlord of investor pronerty to Legal for foroclosure. It is possible the tenant could acquire the property and relHlb it. They would like to provide a job opportunity for two residents in the community to become code inspectors. one ror building and one for nuisance codes. It was montioned that some landlords leave U1eir property vacant because tenants have trashed an apartment. It is not always the landlord who is Dt fault. A stutlor in the utility bill was disGussed. Automobile tires and old paint cans are difficult to disposo of and SDlid waste does not pick them up. Residents are not aware of the location of oil waste depots. Changes take place and residents are not always aware of them. It was 5 N.A.C. Members Willie Brow ton Mary Hoard Milly Joplin Rudy Miller Neighborhood Advisorv Commitloo Bus TOllr Mlnutos June 17-18. 1994 ~..~ mentioned garbage recycling will start soon. Jim Lange who videotapod the tour spoke of the goals of the Community Outreach Division. He recently added the commission meeting date and item number which now appears on your television screen when you watch City Commission meetings. He spoke about an information program he plans in the future that will be available on television. Vision Cable in its franchise agreoment stated the City could have a TV channel. Its only drawback is that not all residents have cable. Clearwater does have a library and there are video rental houses where information tapes could be picked up or viewed. Tour Saturday. June 18, 1994 was attended by: Guestq Art Deouan. City Commissioner and residents Lois Cormier cll1d Varnell N. Brown. City Stall Alan Ferri and Mike Holmes. \ "-...,..,,,,,/" Visited the following: 15. Gulf Coast Jewi$h Familv & Mental Health Services ~ would like new facility at 407 Arcturas As the largest provider of AIDS services in the County, they wish to acquire property for a new Aids Service Facility. Their present site is severely overcrowded. They plan with improved office and counseling space to benefit more than 1 200 low-income clients in their Aids program. 16. YWCA of Tamoa Bav . 222 S. Lincoln Avenue Judy Wood.Ganisin covered the services provided by the YWCA. They include programs for pregnant and parenting adolescents as well as a subsidized infant and preschool program for low-income teen parents. Funds are to be used to replace the HJVAC in this 40 year-old structure. 17. PineJlas Opportunity Council There WDS a miscommunication and thoy were not there to give us information on their projoct. Their program assists elderly persons maintain their residences in a hazard~free environment. 18. Habitat - 1007 & 1009 Hart Street Habitat has been successful in that they have put 36 homes back on the tax rolls in the past 9 years. They build primarily in low-income areas, then sell tho homes at cost with no interest 20 year mortgages. They showed those on the tour the work done at one location on Hart '...J 6 \ I Street and the finishing up of work on the adjoining lot. ~J~~~i:;...~.~'c'~ ." .,'" ' /-, Neighborhood Advisory Committee Bus Tour Minutos Juno 17-18, 1994 1 9. Boys & Girls Club - Condon Gardens They provide after school and follow-up services to youngstors ages 6-17. A positive place for (roB leisure time keeps childron out of trouble. Drug education is an important focus of tl1eir program. Positive results can be attributed to this successful program. 20. Kinu's Kid~ Achieving personal development and building self-esteom in youth has long been the focus of this group. The tutoring/homowork assistance provided by the Plnellas County School System and King's Kids Program is an on-going effort to keep children in high school and encourage them to go on to further education. 21. Girls Inc. 777 The group made their selections at the Publlc deli and enjoyed lunch at the Annex. -"""\ , ....,.,) 22. Pinellas Private Industrv Council The;r program is Youthbuilders of Clearwater which provides dropout prevention services to Greenwood and Condon Gardens area youth. It also gives the opportunity to earn an income while received high school credit while remaining in school. Participants are required to sign a contractual agreement of commitment to the program. Assossment are made of participants and they learn of their strengths. Mentors are assigned and an individual strategy plan is made. The aim is to build productive and responsible citizens to continue their good works. The tour concluded with members looking forward to the presentation at the public hearing which will be held Tuesday, June 21, 1994, in which these and other applicants will be given the opportunity to speak about their proposed projects and their needs for funding. v 7 "