Council committee suggests limiting flooded renters’ aid to $4,000

The city will provide up to $4,000 to renters who lost personal property to the June 2008 flood, a City Council committee decided this afternoon.

Budget Commitee members agreed renters shouldn't get as much as homowners, who may receive up to $10,000. Any federal aid already received by a renter would be deducted from the $4,000 limit.

The committee's proposal is subject to full council approval next week.

The commitee also decided to proceed with the demolition of about 75 garages left on residential lots that have been cleared as imminent threats with money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Councilmember Chuck Swore had suggested buyers might be interested in a few of the garages.

“The issue with that is, you can't do it,” said Greg Eyerly, the city's flood-recovery director.

Eyerly said the sale of any structures left on property cleared with federal funds would require a bidding process and environmental review, pushing their cost beyond a new building.

“It's unfortunate, but I accept the fact that there's no way in the world you're going to make it make sense,” Swore said.

The committee also set a Nov. 15 deadline for homeowners seeking aid through the city program. Drew Westberg, special assistant to the mayor, said applications have “slowed quite a bit” since mid-September.

With the renters' assistance, the city will distribute about $17 million in aid, about what the local-option tax raised in its first year, Mayor Ron Corbett noted.

“Which I think will not only meet the ballot language, but the will of the voters,” Corbett said.