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Commissioners press staff to speed home-repair payouts as 57 applications await work
Summary
Staff told the commission the home-improvement program has 57 screened applicants and a $35,000 per-household cap; building-services staff said processing currently averages about a year and offered contracting options to accelerate work.
City staff reported the home-improvement program has 57 applicants ready to move into inspections and construction once ARPA reallocations are approved. Tonja, identified in the meeting as the building services director, said the program workflow typically takes about a year: three months of intake, three months for inspections and six to eight months for buildout.
"With our current programs, we've seen that it takes about a year to process an application from beginning to end in completion," Tonja said, describing the intake and buildout phases. She also said staffing shortages and procurement for contractors have contributed to delays.
Commissioners debated whether to hire temporary staff, use CareerSource for short-term help, or contract firms experienced with CDBG programs. Tonja said contracting could run about $3,000 per applicant; several commissioners objected that fee rates would reduce direct assistance to residents and asked staff to negotiate lower costs or consider alternative temporary hires.
