HomeMy WebLinkAboutJPZ - 07/06/1966 - FEDERAL LEGISLATION AFFECTING MUNICIPALITIES TO: The President, The Board of Trustees , The Manager
FROM: The Judiciary Planning and Zoning.Committes
DATE: July 6, 1966
SUBJECT: Review of Recent Federal Legislation Affecting Municipalities
This assignment was given to the Judiciary Planning and Zoning Committee
quite some time ago. A review of the scope of the assignment indicated
that, perhaps, emphasis should be placed on a specific area of federal
legislation affecting municipalities . It was decided, by the Committee,
that this emphasis would be placed in the area of federal aid for projects
involving municipalities . In this review in excess of 120 programs were
investigated. Those which are discussed in some detail below are those
which the Committee felt warranted further consideration by the Village.
It should be emphasized, however, that there are many other programs,
and if an individual member of the Board desires to pursue this subject
individually there is material avgiie>ale in the Viil cje M4nager's office
which will enable him to do so.
The programs which we feel are worthy of further consideration follow.
1 . Grants for Neighborhood Facilities - Federal grants may be made to
assist in developing a facility to be used for neighborhood health, recrea-
tional, social or similar community service activities . Priority is to be
given projects which will benefit members of low income families or will
further the objectives of a community action program funded under the
Economic Opportunity Act. The amount of federal grants may be two-thirds
of eligible development costs . Facilities may be provided by new con-
struction or rehabilitation of existing structures , or both, and they may
be additions to or built in conjunction with schools and public housing
projects . Architectural and engineering services , land acquisition, de-
molition and site improvement may be included as eligible development
costs along with rehabilitation or construction costs .
A neighborhood facility developed with grant assistance may not be con-
verted to other uses for twenty years without the approval of the depart-
ment of housing and urban development.
Review - 2 -
2 . Open Space Land Program - 50% federal grants may be used to acquire
undeveloped and developed land suitable for permanent open space use.
"Open space use" is defined as use of land for parks , recreation, con-
servation, scenic or historic purposes . For land acquired with open space
grant assistance, 50% grants may also be made for appropriate improve-
ments .
The department of housing and urban development must determine there
exists adequate comprehensive planning for an urban area which includes
an adequate open space acquisition and development program. The open
space program plan should include standards and criteria as to desired.
locations and uses of land, general designation of land to be acquired
and developed over a five to ten year period, estimates of costs, sched-
ule of priorities , recommended or anticipated means of financing, and
description of arrangements for coordinating activities among public
agencies concerned.
A further 50% federal grant may be made for appropriate development of
land acquired, or being acquired, with an open space grant. Development
activities must be initiated within six months after approval of the appli-
cation or acquisition of the land, whichever is later. Types of improve-
ments costs which would be eligible in computing the federal grant include:
basic recreational facilities and equipment having long term usefulness ,
including swings and jungle gyms; tennis , handball, basketball courts;
baseball, soccer and football fields; and equipment for use by particular
age groups , such as the elderly; small buildings and structures , such as
lane shelters, lavatories and equipment sheds; fireplaces for picnic areas,
trash receptacles , benches , tables , and other facilities and equipment
having long term usefulness.
Improvements which would be ineligible in computing a federal grant in-
clude gymnasiums, field houses , stadiums, swimming pools , golf
courses , etc.
3 . Open Beautification and Improvement Program - Federal grants may
be made to assist increased activities to beautify publicly owned or
controlled land, such as streets, parks , sidewalks , squares and plazas.
The governing body must have prepared and officially adopted an overall
beautification program consistent with local comprehensive planning.
Beautification activities eligible for grant assistance must be capable of
providing long term benefits; however, construction of major buildings or
facilities would not be eligible. Priority consideration will be given to
applications covering a diversity of activities and representing a balance
between park development and other types of beautification activities .
Review - 3 -
A federal grant for urban beautification may not exceed 50% of the amount
the applicant increases expenditures for beautification activities above
the preceding two years average expenses .
4. Low Rent Public Housing - While the Committee does not feel this
program will ever have application in Elk Grove Village, it is available
for your consideration.
5. Open Planning Assistance Program - This is the so-called "701
Program" , of which the Village has already taken advantage.
6. Advances for Public Works Planning - Interest free advances may be
made to finance preliminary or final plans for all types of public works
except public housing. Examples include water and sewer systems ,
public buildings, health facilities , recreational projects and bridges,
among others . An advance could finance investigations and surveys
needed as a basis for decisions about type, size and scope of public
works, etc. An advance is repayable when construction is started -
when the first construction contract is awarded or the applicant begins
construction with its own work force. The construction of only part of
the planned work is undertaken, a proportionate amount of the advance
is repayable .
7. Grants for Public Water and Sewer Facilities - The Committee feels,
in view of the apparent necessity of acquiring Chicago water within the
forseeable future, that this particular plan should be of great interest
to us and should be investigated more thoroughly by the Administration.
Federal grant assistance to construct or enlarge basic public water and
sewer facilities is available. To be eligible for a grant, the facility
must be consistent with a program for a unified or officially coordinated
area wide system as part of the comprehensive replanned development
of the area.
Basic public water facilities which could receive grant assistance in-
clude facilities for the storage, supply, treatment, purification or dis-
tribution of water for domestic, commercial or industrial use. Basic
public sewer facilities which could receive grant assistance includes
systems for the collection, transmission, and discharge of liquid wastes,
and storm sewer systems for the collection, transmission, and discharge
of water caused by rainfall or ground water run off.
Generally, the federal grant will be 50% of the approved project.
Review - q
8. Public Facility Loans - Loans for terms up to forty years may be made
to construct a variety of public works , except schools . Loans have
typically been made for water, gas distribution and sewerage facilities,
street improvements, public buildings, recreation facilities and jails.
The loan may cover the full cost, including land and right-of-way, site
improvements , planning , construction and engineering, architectural and
legal fees . The interest rate is low and the term of the loan is governed
by the applicant's ability to pay and the estimated useful life of the pro-
posed facility.
9 . Grants for Advance Acquisition of Land - To assist communities in
acquiring land sites before prices rise for public works and facilities
needed in the near future . Grants may be made to cover the interest
cost of a loan incurred to finance the land acquisition. Construction
of the facility for which the land is to be used must be started within
five years after the grant is approved and the facility must be consist-
ent with the comprehensively planned development of the area and con-
sistent with the community wide or area wide system of such public
works or facilities .
The grant may cover the interest charges on a loan incurred to finance
the land acquisition only for the period between the date of issue and
the date on which construction of the facility is begun, or a period of
five years .
10. Air Pollution Control - This program is mentioned as available. It
is felt that a further review of this program by the Administration might
be rewarding in preventing future problems .
11 , Solid Waste Disposal - This is in essence a research program, and
is mentioned only to advise the Board of its existence.
12, Community Mental Health Program_ - While the Committee feels that
this particular program has no immediate effect on the Village of Elk Grove
Village, it is cited for its existence .
13 . Research and Demonstration Projects - Social Welfare and Social
Security - It is the feeling of this Committee that this program should be
immediately investigated by the Administration for its apparent applica-
tion to our current Community Services program. Grants to cover part of
costs of research and demonstration projects in the broad field of social
welfare and social security are available. Emphasized are programs such
as prevention and reduction of dependents , and coordination of planning
between public and private welfare agencies.
Review
14. Civil Defense - While the Committee is aware that the Board knows
of this program, it feels that it should emphasize that federal matching
fund programs are available to municipalities for personnel and adminis-
tration costs , the acquisition of communication, siren and warning sys-
tems, rescue and related disaster hardware; and for design, construction
and equipping emergency operations centers.
As the Committee indicated in its opening remarks , no review of federal
legislation can be absolute nor complete. These are the programs which
excited the Committee's interest, and as such are passed on to the re-
maining members of the Board. We would be remiss if we did not ac-
knowledge the assistance of Mr. Majoros and Mr. Pahl in obtaining some
of the material upon which this Report is based. If any members of the
Board desire to pursue any of these programs or perhaps to conduct an
independent investigation of any others , there are two excellent books
available in the Village Manager's office. They are entitled "Federal
Aids to Local Governments" and "Catalog of Federal Programs for Indi-
vidual and Community Improvement" .
JUDICIARY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE
G. Mullen, Chairman
T. Garrity
R. Lewis
7/6/66