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Home My WebLink AboutO-2003-2665 . e ORDINANCE NO. 2003-d.(,!tJ) AN ORDINANCE WAIVING CONSTRUCTION PEES :IKPOSED BY THE CITY OP LA PORTE, ON IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY CONVEYED TO CERTAIN NON- PROPIT CORPORATIONS AND/OR CITY INITLATED PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE HOUSING POR LOW INCOME PAMILIES, PINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, AND PROVIDING AN EPPECTIVE DATE HEREOP. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: Section 1. The City of La Porte has heretofore, and contemplates that it will in the future, convey real property owned by the City of La Porte to non-profit corporation~, organized for the purpose of providing housing for low income families. Section 2. The City Council of the City of La Porte authorizes the waiver of water and sewer nfront foot" fees, and building permit and inspection fees, in the case of construction of housing for low income families, by non-profit corporations and/or programs initiated by the City. Section 3. Nothing in this ordinance shall require the city of La Porte to construct water and sewer line extensions, or improve streets, in connection with such construction. Section 4. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites, and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting thereof. . . Section 5. This Ordinance shall be effective from and after its passage and approval, and it is so ordered. PASSED AND APPROVED, this By: ATTEST: ~a-~ Mart a . Gil -e t City Secretary I!JI- day of C1!oa-ef , 2003. CITY OF LA PORTE ~~/L Mayor 2 eAudit Committee Items . DRAFT Habitat for Humanity Letter: Informational Only Item 1) Lots 17-18 Block 88 Lots 22-23 Block 88 HCAD Account # 023-208-088-0017 023-208-088-0022 Burns Burns Suit filed, trying to locate owner or Heirs Action Item Item 2) Lots 28-32 Block 104 HCAD Account # 023-216-004-0027 Taxes + Costs $18,084.17 Adjudged Value $12,500 Offer Name: Habitat for Humanity Bid Amount: $12,500.00 Resale P170 Reject Reason: t X I Once the offer is made by Habitat for Humanity In the amount of $12,500 then It will be sufficient to cover the Adjudged Value. I I Recommendation: Approve Reason: Informational Only Item 3) Lots 23-25 Block 104 HCAD Account # 023-216-004-0023 Matthews Property was redeemed by Matthews Not available Action Item Item 4) Waive permit fees and provide other assistance for any 501 @ 3 organization A Typical Habitat House if located on 2 lots (50' X 125') Water & Sewer Taps, Meters & Front Foot Fees = $1,108.50 Building Permit Fees Value of $80,000 = $567.50 Value of $90,000 = $627.50 Value of $100,000 = $687.50 (Per Debbie Wilmore's email) Examples of properties that the City waived the fees on 418 North Fourth Street & 414 North Fourth Street for Habitat for Humanity. Recommendation: Reviewed By: .,f .. . e ~ LA 1.1.lpORTE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY P.O BOX 2087 LA PORTE, TX 77572-2087 City of La Porte 604 W. Fairmont Pkwy. La Porte, Texas 77571 August 13, 2003 roo ~ rn UJl,@ I t::r:::JJJ! r.'::'~l~:: I ~ " 'Il~... _..._---1 Attention: John Joerns, Asst. City Mgr. CC: Debra Feazella, City Mgr. Subject: Request for Additional Land by La Porte HFH The La Porte Chapter of Habitat for Humanity site selection committee is presently evaluating locations in La Porte for target areas that meet our criteria. For those of the Council that may not be familiar with HFH, the purpose is to improve the quality of lives and the community by assisting low income families in building and owning decent and affordable housing. This is done with volunteer labor, management expertise, and tax-deductible donations of money, land, and materials and with the help of the family that will receive the home. A no interest mortgage is executed with payments recycled back into the program to finance the next house(s} . The program was organized in La Porte in late 1993. We have just dried in the twelfth house in La Porte and are going to need our next building sites later this year to keep the momentum. (HFH International built or renovated more than 150,000 houses since 1976. ) Following meetings with you, councilman Warren, and the site committee in late 2001 it was agreed by the Chapter board of directors that we would start our program in Block 88, if we could obtain at least two sites in close proximity. The City owned five lots (two sites) in this block (8-12). One house has been completed on 8-9 and the second on 10-11 will be dedicated in late September. Lot 12 was sold to the neighbor. There were four other Building houses in partnership with God's people in need e e potential building sites, privately owned, in this block. The site committee attempted to contact the owners for possible purchase of these properties. One was successful (lot 15-16) and construction has been started. Owner of the other properties cannot be found. The City has offered property (lots 28-32) in Block 104 as a new site. Search of tax records show lots 26-27 owned by a lady in California and the City owns lots 23-25. Contact has been made on lots 26-27 and they are available. If 23-25 can be made available by the City, this would give us five contiguous sites. It should be noted that to date, our program has added over half million dollars to the local tax rolls. The City has waived permit fees and provided other assistance. It is requested that Council continue this joint venture with the La Porte HFH group in developing this area by making the property available as reasonable as possible. The property would return to the tax rolls as construction is completed on each site. HFH is tax exempt for three years. Should you need additional information or if we should have a member present at council meeting, please advise. lards, ~d~ Jim Counts, Site Selection ASKINS & ARMSTRONG. ATTORNEYS AT LAW I-Kk ~ y t : ~t l\ "f\\f j)('Ad-lb~ P. C. "li.l -i e 702 W, FAIRMONT PARKWAY P.O. BOX 121B LA PORTE, TEXAS 77572-1218 KNOX W. ASKINS JOHN O. ARMSTRONG CLARK T. ASKINS TELEPHONE 281 471-'886 TELECOPIER 281 471-2047 KWASKINsIiIAOL.cOM ..I0HN-A@SWBEU.NET CTASKINSCllsWBELL.NET September 18, 2003 '-,. "j' it' 1:-:, . :'; '; '. r "-. _..: .. . .. _... ~ .. Mr. John Joerns Assistant City Manager City of La Porte City Hall La Porte, Texas , , , , -, 5EP I 8 2003 ''''10.,'. : Dear John: Our office has previously furnished the City of La Porte with a formal opinion letter, advising that the City of La Porte may convey real property to non-profit corporations which are organized to provide housing for low income families. You have posed the further question of whether the City of La Porte could waive various building code fees, and front foot fees, related to the construction of improvements by such non-profit corporations, on real property conveyed to them by the City of La Porte. In my opinion, the City, with prior approval of its City Council, may waive such fees. I enclose a proposed form of ordinance. Yours very truly, Ii;~ ~~""W. Askins City Attorney City of La Porte KWA: sw Enclosure e e REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Agenda Date Req:.. (7 Requested By. _.' F:il'~ -=-- Department: 8R-4Rg--- Appropriation Source of Funds: ... - .. . y Account Number: Exhibits: La Porte Habitat for Humanity Letter Amount Budgeted~ Exhibits: Audit Committee Information Amount Requestld~ Budgeted Item: YES NO Exhibits: Ooinion Letter bv Lel!al Deoartment Exhibits: Ordinance SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION The City's past practice has been to work with Non-Profit Corporations that are providing housing for low-income families. One corporation we have worked with is the La Porte Chapter of the Habitat for Humanity. This group is currently working on the construction of their twelfth home. For Council's convenience, the packet includes a copy of the Habitat's letter in which they ask City Council to consider continuing the joint working relationship_ For clarification purposes, an opinion letter from the city's legal department as well as an ordinance is also attached as backup. The ordinance has been prepared to include any and all organizations and/or city initiated programs that provide low-income housing. Staff recommends approval of the ordinance. Action Reauired bv Council: Consider approval of ordinance authorizing waiving of construction fees. Aooroved for City Council Al!enda ~ !Ju 7.,J.1of,pt- Debra B. FeazeUe, City Man ger Date