February 12, 2009 Minutes (City Commission Room)
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Curtis Harris, Quinn Miller, Julie Mitchell, Vern Norwood, Aimee Polson, Patti Welty |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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Marci Francisco, Brenda Nunez |
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STAFF PRESENT: |
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Danelle Dresslar, Margene Swarts |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
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None |
Welty called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
1. Introductions
Members and staff introduced themselves.
2. Approval of January 22, 2009 Minutes
Polson moved to approve the January 22, 2009 minutes. Miller seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
3. Staff Response to January 22, 2009 CDBG/HOME Application Questions.
Swarts informed the Committee that the address they requested for the CLO Capital Improvement project were 3521 Monterey Way, 3016 Atchison Way, and 3912 Overland Drive. All these properties were constructed in 1991 and they all still have the original roofing from that time.
Swarts clarified for the Committee that the Capital Improvement request from Van Go Mobile Arts is for additional lights, not the same lights that they were awarded the grant for in the 2008 program year.
Lastly, Swarts stated that due to computer problems that the amount of funding requested for East Lawrence Neighborhood Association was $11,515.80. this was not an error on the application; it was a staff error in transferring the document to a PDF for website posting.
Norwood confirmed that 7, Community Residential Union, was asking for $6,700 and not $4,800.
With there being no further questions regarding the applications, Welty began deliberations.
4. Begin Deliberations – CDBG-Capital Improvements.
Staff handed out the updated table of contents and noted that the CDBG Administration amount had been moved to its own column, and that there was a slight change in the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority allocations for their TBRA program. The estimated CDBG funding for Capital Improvements is $868,908 for 2009.
Norwood moved to fund the following:
18a, CDD Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation - $400, 000.
18b, CDD First Time Homebuyer’s Rehab Program/Lawrence Land Trust - $100,000
18d, CDD Energy Savings Improvements, Exterior Weatherization - $40,000.
18e, CDD Furnace and Emergency Loans - $35,000.
Mitchell seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Harris began the discussion regarding the $4,752 difference between the requested Capital Improvement funds and the actual estimated allocations. He suggested reducing 13, City of Lawrence Public Works.
Swarts suggested reducing funding for 18a, CDD Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation by the $4,752 instead of 13, Public Works.
Norwood moved to reduce funding project 18a, CDD Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation in the amount of $4,752, to $395,248. Polson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Norwood asked to discuss the water meter on 4b, Oread Neighborhood Association. She questioned the application and the theory of “more bang for your buck” since the water meter application lists that it will serve 14 to 20 people. She has questions about the amount requested and the fact it will benefit a small amount of people.
Swarts said that from staff perspective, the Oread Neighborhood Association is willing to pay for the water that they use, there just is not a meter there yet to accommodate the Community Garden. They are only looking for the funds for the installation.
Norwood suggested that maybe the 14 to 20 people looking to benefit from the water meter can pitch in for the meter.
Polson said that it is only a one time charge and there is alternative maintenance that the neighborhood is taking responsibility for after installation.
Welty stated that she felt like after reviewing all the Capital Improvement requests that she was comfortable with funding the rest in full since the estimated cash allocation is available.
Polson had a question about 14, Independence, Inc. about the role of KAMP.
Swarts explained that KAMP is the Kansas Accessibility Modifications Program and it assists renters and homeowners with low-moderate incomes throughout Kansas. Independence, Inc. administers the KAMP grant program in Jefferson, Douglas, Osage, Franklin, and Miami counties.
Polson asked since the KAMP grant is administered in Douglas County, what happens if any of the 15-20 people served by the Capital Improvements request are outside of Lawrence.
Swarts said that Independence, Inc. understands that the CDBG funds can only be used in the City of Lawrence.
Harris moved to fund the remaining Capital Improvement requests, including:
4, Oread Neighborhood Association, Water Meter Installation - $1,260.
12, Community Living Opportunities, Group Home Roof Repair - $36,000
13, City Of Lawrence Public Works, Sidewalk Project - $220,000.
14, Independence, Inc., Accessible Housing Program (AHP) - $33,000.
15, Van Go Mobile Arts, Inc., Exterior Facility Lighting - $8,400.
Polson seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Swarts told the Committee that the stimulus bill was approved and contains additional CDBG and HOME funds. Staff has loosely predicted that there may be an additional $200,000 for CDBG utilizing the HUD formula that decides the yearly award amounts. There is also $250 Million available for the HOME program that could trickle down to the communities. It is possible that there may be about the same amount available as CDBG. It all depends on how the award is formulated, but all indications are that the original formula will be the one that is used.
She added that depending on the time frame of the additional funds, there is the option of folding the new allocated amounts and requests into the current requests, or if the Committee is too far into the process it will require additional Citizen Participation Process. The percentages will remain the same as with the yearly award amounts. For CDBG, based on an estimated $200,000 award 15% can go to public service, which would be $30,000, and 20%, or $40,000 could go to Administration, and the remaining balance would go to Capital Improvements.
Polson asked if it would be the same distribution requirements.
Swarts said that yes, it would be. The extra funding will be very helpful in that the economy is taking its toll on everyone, and the more money we can use to assist these agencies that take care of the public the better we are.
Harris asked about the HOME administration and suggested to the Committee that they could go ahead and look at funding the CDBG Administration for the CDD since it is one that is dictated by a cap. He offered an alternative of fully funding the Public Service requests and moving Administration allocations.
Swarts told the committee that they had, based on the estimated allocation, $119,748 for Public Service requests as dictated by the $15% cap.
Harris moved to fund the CDBG Administration aspect of 18g, CDD – Administration - $159,664. Norwood seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Harris asked about the HOME program and the Lawrence Community Land Trust and how it is affiliated to Tenants to Homeowners.
Swarts responded that Tenants to Homeowners administers the First Time Homebuyer/Lawrence Community Land Trust Program.
Harris asked for clarification that Tenants to Homeowners has asked for funding from 17a, CHDO Operations Funds, 17b, CHDO Project Funds, and 18c, CDD-First Time Homebuyers/Lawrence Community Land Trust Program.
Swarts explained that also included in the HOME funding is the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority TBRA as well as Administration. There is an operating fund for Tenants to Homeowners. The City is required to set aside a minimum of 15% for the CHDO. The minimum that is required would be $93,920. The project under 18c is through the City of Lawrence Community Development Division, but it is administered by Tenants to Homeowners.
Norwood asked if the Committee plans to reduce funds from 18c, CDD – First Time Homebuyers Program, Lawrence Community Land Trust, and 16a, LDCHA Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA). She asked if they could each take a hit of $70,000.
Miller suggested funding 17b, Tenants to Homeowners at the 15% figure of $93,920.
Harris moved to fund the following for a total of $187,839:
16b, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, Administration - $22,613.
17a, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc., CHDO Operating Funds - $31,306.
17b, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc., CHDO Project Funds - $93,920
18g, CDD, HOME Administration - $40,000.
Norwood seconded the motion.
The motion passed 5-0-1.
Harris calculated that there was a remaining balance of $438,294. This amount would need to be divided between 16a, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority and 18c, CDD – First Time Homebuyer/Lawrence Community Land Trust Program .
Polson asked that further review of the HOME applications not take place until the next meeting because she has not gotten a chance to review the applications in question thoroughly as of yet.
Harris suggested that everyone come prepared to the next meeting with the direction of allocation the final $438,294 for the HOME requests, then be ready to move on to the Public Service requests.
Norwood said that the Committee might look at making sure the neighborhoods are reviewed at the next meeting.
Welty commented that last year the neighborhoods were the last thing that the Committee looked at. They set 20% aside for neighborhoods and calculated it from there at the end of the deliberations.
Harris suggested that the Committee go back and review the priorities that they set forth for the 2009 program.
Swarts directed the Committee to the 2009 CDBG/HOME application memorandum and noted that the priorities are listed there, but they are in no particular order.
Harris said that it looks as though deliberations are done for this evening, however it is good to be prepared next time to begin looking at Public Service, since there will undoubtedly be time to begin the review process.
Norwood suggested prioritizing Public Service tonight so that they will all be prepared for the next meeting, since the timeframe will be an hour instead of the usual hour and a half.
Harris said that he has not read all the Public Service requests with the Committee priorities in mind. He wants to be able to review the applications keeping in mind the direction that the CDAC has taken in setting the priorities.
Welty suggested that they all come ready to tackle Public Service next meeting and not put limitations or priorities on the applications.
Harris commented on the importance of the neighborhoods in the deliberation process.
Polson suggested that neighborhoods be discussed on the front end.
Miller said that by looking at the guidelines and priorities set forth by the Committee, he agrees with Harris that you need keep those in mind when looking at the Public Service applications. There is a considerable amount of time that needs to be spent outside of the meetings to fully study and read the applications in regards to the funding priorities.
Miller then asked about the possibility of allocating Public Service dollars to agencies that will be affected by the City budget cuts, such as HCCI, The Salvation Army, Lawrence Community Shelter, and others.
Harris brought up the Study Session with the City Commission and the fact that Francisco suggested working together with the City Commission in helping to ease some of the budget crunch with those who receive funds from the Alcohol Tax and the General Fund. The CDAC was not given any real direction for that request from the City Commission.
Swarts agreed that there was no specific direction given by the City Commission.
5. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
6. Miscellaneous/Calendar
There were no additional comments.
Swarts reminded everyone that the next meeting will be February 26, 2009 and that it will be a shortened agenda, with the meeting only lasting an hour.
Adjourn
Harris moved to adjourn the February 12, 2009 meeting. Polson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Attendance Record
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01/22 |
02/10 Study Session |
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04/23 |
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Marci Francisco |
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Curtis Harris |
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Quinn Miller |
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Julie Mitchell |
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Vern Norwood |
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Brenda Nunez |
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Aimee Polson |
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Patti Welty |
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