Homeowner Assistance

Awhile back I reported to the City Council my concern towards the community costs of mounting foreclosures within our City. Foreclosed homes become a burden on the remaining community and drain resources of several City agencies. As a result the Council asked West Valley City senior staff to draft a letter and statement to the various governing agencies explaining the housing situation that we are experiencing. The assembled letter was sent to various agencies with regulatory oversight. In a related response The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a loan program to assist families faced with foreclosure. While I am generally against 'bailout' type programs this attempt is well structured, as it offers another financing option to the already tight and suffering credit markets. The funds must be paid back in a relatively short amount of time, so they are only meant as a temporary assistance to those who qualify. ABC4 covered the announcement and the text of that report follows:


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4 News) - Struggling homeowners in Utah now have access to $16.5 million dollars in federal emergency loan funds that will help thousands of people who are facing foreclosure.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce the billion dollar Emergency Homeowner Loan on Wednesday in Washington D.C. but they announced the money will come here to Utah a day early.

The money will help people like Doug Delquardo, one of thousands of Utah homeowners who couldn’t keep up on his payments. "I feel really empty, jeez what matters now, where do I go,” Delquardo said.

After months of non payment foreclosure finally forced Delquadro out of his home. “I don't know where I am going, my credit is shot."

But on Tuesday the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a program that could have helped Delquadro and can help thousands of other Utah families in need. "These are people who are, that are on the edge and this is going to be a great resource for these families,” said H.U.D Regional Director Rick Garcia. Garcia announced the billion dollar emergency loan program at the Utah Housing Matters Conference in West Valley City.

Garcia said those who qualify can get up to $50,000 in emergency loans to pay their mortgages. "How quickly, because we have home owners in such urgent need right now,” said Utah Housing Coalition Director Kim Datwyler. Datwyler works with Utah families struggling to keep a step ahead of bank repossession and thinks the help can not come soon enough. She said the $16; 5-million in federal loans will help turn the tide of growing foreclosures in Utah, and prevent more situations like the exodus at the Delquadro home.” For most of them it is job loss or a partial loss of income and we do need to help them because it impacts the entire community,” Datwyler said.

To qualify for the loans the borrower must be at least 3 months behind in their payments and have suffered at least a 15 percent reduction in income but must have a reasonable likelihood of resuming their mortgage payments within the next two years.

Times a Changing

West Valley City's 30th anniversary has been well documented and well celebrated throughout the year. The relative adolencence of our City is reflected in many of our ordinances and plans as they were designed to forge a new independent city true to its identity and fix many of growth and planning problems that arose before incorporation. The maturation of our City shows when we adopt ordinaces that seek to harness the potential of the future as opposed to correcting things of the past. One such example took place last night as the City Council unanimously approved guidelines pertaining to alternative energy systems. Becoming a more sustainable community is a goal that we all share and now those who wish to dwelve into wind or solar energy systems for their home or business now have the blessing and community standards of West Valley City.

The City issued press release concerning this ordinance can be read below:

West Valley City Council Adopts Alternative Energy Ordinance
West Valley City – On Tuesday, October 5, 2010, the West Valley City Council unanimously adopted an Alternative Energy Systems Ordinance, drawn in part from a model ordinance provided by the Utah State Energy Program. The ordinance, which is the first of it’s kind to be adopted by a municipality along the Wasatch Front, establishes standards for small wind and solar energy collection systems in West Valley City and sets permit requirements for installation of such systems.
The full text of West Valley City Code Title 7 Chapter 31 (7-31) may be viewed online at www.wvc-ut.gov/code; highlights include:

 Definition of Alternative Energy Systems: Alternative Energy Systems include small
wind energy systems and solar energy collection systems. A small wind energy system is typically a wind turbine system, with a capacity of 100 kilowatts (kW) or less. Solar Energy Collection systems include, but are not limited to, solar collectors, solar panels, solar hot water heaters, storage batteries, transformers, heat exchangers, and distribution components.
 Establishment of Alternative Energy Systems Standards: This ordinance establishes
standards for small wind energy systems and solar collection systems for all zones in West Valley City. Previously, installations of small wind and solar systems have been unregulated in West Valley City. The purpose of this ordinance is to provide a regulatory framework to encourage quality, safety, and aesthetics in the installation of these systems.
 Standards for Small Wind Energy Systems: Small wind energy systems can be no taller
than 80 feet, or 120 feet in Agricultural or Manufacturing zones. In all zones, these systems must be set back from overhead utility lines, property lines, and public roads at a distance equal to or greater than their height. Wind systems can be attached to existing structures.
 Standards for Solar Collection Systems: The ordinance establishes parameters for solar collection systems as well. Roof mounted systems shall comply with the maximum height requirements in the applicable zoning district. Ground mounted systems shall not exceed 14 feet in height.
 Building Permit Requirements: The ordinance requires that a building permit be issued for the installation of alternative energy systems.
“Residents and businesses are currently eligible for federal, state, and utility tax credits and rebates of up to 30 percent of the installation cost for small wind and solar energy systems,” says Frank Lilly, West Valley City Long Range Planner. “Given the considerable uncertainty with the future cost of energy in America, we anticipate that more residents and businesses will consider installing alternative energy systems.”
West Valley City’s General Plan includes a goal to “encourage programs that reduce the energy needs of buildings, including incorporating sustainable building design where feasible.”
The Alternative Energy Systems Ordinance moves West Valley City toward that goal by
providing residents and businesses with a set of clearly-defined and achievable standards to ensure quality and safe construction.
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