Minutes 11/24/1970 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Nove~er 24, 1970 engaged in working for changes in the neighborhood and in the community which will be for the welfare of the residents. It seeks to create an environment and leadership which will help to develop self-realization and opportunities for an individual sense of neighborhood, helping the neighborhood residents to take responsibility for their own destiny. The twenty-seven elected members of the Board of Directors compose a cross section of the citizenry of Portsmouth. One-third of the membership represents the neighborhood of Southside Portsmouth or Newtown. One- third represents the larger community, and one-third the United Methodist Church. The ratio of black and white citizens on the Board of Directors is almost one to one. As a board of directors and as a social service agency in the neighborhood, the Wesley Center seeks to build a concerned citizenry. We recognize that the presence of a Neighborhood Facilities Center, with a pro- gram set up under the guidelines of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 'can do much to help to build this concerned citizentry and to fulfill the aims of self-realizatlon and improvement of neighborhood life. !~e believe that this is taking place in the neighborhood of Ida Barbour Park where the 8owntown Neighborhood Facilities is operating in the old Armory Building on Elm Avenue. We believe that the program there could have been even more effective if the people of the neighborhodd and social agencies operating out of the center could have had more opportunity to ex~ress their needs and to give suggestions as to the con- struction of the building, facilities and services needed. The Wesley Eenter is in complete support of the need for an up-to-date and adequate U.S.O. facility. Wi.-th the presence of the Naval Shipyard in the neighborhood of Southside Portsmouth, the center sees the irmportance of the location of a U.S.O. facility within the neighborhood. The Wesley Center dan see that the dual sharing of a facility as a U.S.O. and as a center for full/anc complete services to a neighborhood {which is the primary purpose of a Neighborhood Facilities Center) is a challenging possibility. Without proper planning and con- sultation, h~vever, it could become predominantly one or predominantly the other. The Board of Directors of the Wesley Community and Child Service Center urges the city council as it votes on submitting a request for funds for the erection of a Neighborhood Facilities Center to keep faith with all groups concerned. Especially do we ask that the people of Southside have a voice in the plans, and that the needs of the neighborhood residents have equal priority ~i~h the needs of service personnel." On motion of Mr. Turner, the following resolution was adopted, and by the following vote: "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ;aoPLICATION FOR GP~T OF FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER NEIGHBOP. HOOD FACILITIES PROGRAM FOR NEW USO FACILITY WHEREAS, Section 703 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 authorizes the making of grants of Federal funds to any local public body or agency to assist in financing the development cost of neighborhood facilities necessary for carrying out programs of conm~nity service; and $CdEREAS, the City of Portsmouth (herein sometimes referred to as "Applicant") deems it to be necessary and in the public interest to provide certain facilities of the type contemplated in said Section 703 and to undertake a project {hereinafter called the "Neighborhood Facilities Project") with Federal grant assistance; described as USO Neighborhood Facility in Southside; and WHEREAS, i~ ~g ~66~i~M~l~4A~ ~b Federal contract for such financial assistance pursuant to said Section 703 will impose certain obligations and responsibilities upon the Applicant and will require among other things [1) the provision of the local share of the cost of the USO Neighborhood Facilities Project, [2) the provision for an obligation by the USO Governing Body which has been provided to finance necessary operating cost ~or said facility, (S) assurances that families or indivi&~als displaced as a result of the .development of the Neighborhood Facilities Project will b~ offered decent, safe, and sanitary housing within thei~ means, and the making of relocation payments in accordance with the regulations .of the Department of Housing and Urban Develop- 'ment; and WHEREAS, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the regulations of the Department of Housing and Urhan Development effectuating that Title provide that no person shall, on the ground of race, color, or nationa origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the b~nefits of, or be subject to discrimination in the undertaking and carrying out of projects receiving Federal financial assistance; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA: 1. That an application on behalf of the City of Portsmouth be made to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a g~ant under Section 705 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, in an 8~mount equal to two-thirds of the development cost of the USO Neighborhood Facilities Proj oct, such development cost now estimated to be $471,460.00. 2. That the USO Neighborhood Facilities Project (a) is necessary for carrying out a progress of health, recreational, social, or similar community service in the area, (b) is consistent with comprehensive planning for the development of the community and (c) will be available for use by a significant number of the area's Iow or moderate income residents. 5. That A. P. Johnson, Jr., City Manager, is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file such application, to execute such contract or contracts as may be necessary for ~he grant applied for, to provide such information and furnish such documents as may be required by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment, and to act as the authorized representative of the Applicant in the accomplishment of the USO Neighborhood Facilities Project. 4. That the United States of America and the Secretary of Housing and Urhan Development be, and they here- by are, assured of full, compliance by the Applicant with the regulations of the Department of Housing and Urban Development effectuating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. S. That the USO Neighborhood Facilities Project will be carried out in full compliance with applicable Federal statutes and regulations of the Secretary of Uabor pertaining to the employment of laborers and mechani~ on projects assisted with Federal funds, and with con~liance to Federal requirements reVEring to equal employ- ment opportunity."