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Show COMMUtlITY :CEVELOPMENT - A new level of citizen participation In August 197l+ President Ford signed the Housing and Comrm;mi ty Development Act providing block 6rra.nts to cities and urban countit"?S. Funds are allocated by a formula which considers previous levels of federal funding, population and poverty . In the first yea:e Salt Lake City is elgible for $4.5 million and Salt Lake County about $1 mill.ion. The funds must aid low and moderate income people with emphasis on elimination of blight and deterioration in urban_ areas. Several new concepts of the bill are important for both officials and citizens. 1. Although the funds replace certain categorical grants such as Model Cities, Water and Sewer and Open Space, local officials have wide discretion in spending the funds to best suit the needs of their • own community, i.e. they can continue existing programs and/ or initiate new ones. 2. To obtain funds a 3-year Community Development Plan must be formulated .• Thus efforts can be coordinated toward community r;oals rather than achieving results by the piecemeal approach implicit in categorical grants. J. For the first time citizen particip<;1tion is ;reguired in the planning process rather than later in the implementation phase as in the past. The City and County Commissioners, however, have the final say. Salt Lake City has organized a Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) consisting of representatives fx•om about 80 citi~en groups to advise city officials on the allocation of Community Development funds. Sue Pratt is the League representative. On January 7 the CDAC was formalized and elected a steering committee. On Janua:r-y 11 the CDAC met with City Commissioners and planning staff to review data and listen to the Commissioner's priorities. Now the CDAC will stm--t to formulate its own plan to be presented to the C:i ty Commission on Februax-y 5. One suggested approach is to concentrate on t::tl""'get areas (Central City and Westside Communities) so that the maximum results may be seen in the first year. This is controversial, however, and upcomine; meet-ings uill be lively! The public is encouraged to participate in CDAC meetings so if you are interested call Sue Pratt (582-1116) for time and place. ************************************************************************************* NATIVE AMERICAN COMMIT'l"'EE Ladies, the Native American Committee is suffering from too many chiefs and too few Indians. If you are interested in the current status of th~ Iqdian Cultural Center, Leag1.1e activities concerning Indians, etc. call me. I have made a tentative appointment to bring my "committee" to talk to the new director of the Indian Cultural Center for Tuesday morning, February h.-th. Remember, the local League supported the request for funds from the State Legislature for this Center. A study has already been wr·i tten; we have no particular direction to take. Come and find out what is happening among local urban Indians. the salt lake voter - 2/75 Ann O'Connell 277-90lJ6 P• 5 |
