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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 05/09/1991MINUTES CDBG COMMISSION QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION May 9. 1991 The CDBG Commission Question and Answer Session was called to order by Chair Tom Dougherty on Thursday, May 9, 1991, at 6:18 p.m. in the CIC Room of City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Avenue. Members Present: Mary Clark, Linda Coxen, Tom Dougherty, Bobbie Guye, Dan MacArthur, Josie Mata, Louise Stitzel, William Bertschy, Tom Byington, Carolyn Early Members Absent: Joseph Zimlich, Tina Marie Ribera Staff Members Present: Ken Waido, Jackie Davis, Carmen Jimenez Crossroads Safehouse: Ginney Riley, Director, Mike Manning, Boardmember - Underground Automatic SDrikler S 10,695 Bertschy: Are these the bids for the way of getting an estimated that bid to allow for the Davis Management costs. the sprinklers in the back? Yes, price was to make adjustments on Bacon Wages and the City Project Clark: What other alternatives have you looked at? Any way volunteers could be brought in? Our facilities committee has checked around with some of the sprinkler system companies to try to get equipment or expertise donated. We've had pretty limited success with that. The other problem is having volunteers trying to put the thing in with not a great deal of expertise. We are concerned that we will have to go back and fix it. We have also used our staff to mow and water and it did not work well in trying to schedule time with clients. stitael: Because of the money being requested and the funds we have available, this request seems like a luxury with things that are not related to people's emergencies. I can see how it would seem that way to you. But from our perspective we must make the most effective use of our counseling staff to operate our program and also try to conserve water. stitael: What about using your clients, there is a certain therapy with yard work. My concern is that when we would need to water, like in the evening, it is not conducive for our clients for security reasons. Bertschy: Would it be possible to do part of it now and the rest later? Yes, it could be done in multi -phases. Byington: on your balance shoot you have a real strong working capital. We have $30,0000 in deferred revenue. The largest part of the $22,500 is our fundraiser and that crosses over to our fiscal year. I have set aside about one month's operating fund for emergencies. Clark: since this is City property, would the City possibly maintain it? Jackie Davis: They pay $1 a year for rent and the leases stipulate they are responsible for maintenance of the property. If the city would put a sprinkler system in, it would have to be bid out. DMA Plaza. Inc. Exterior Rehab: Cathy Sanfort S 91,750 Clark: I gather from the letter from HUD that they are not intending to give you any money until the project is much worse. They would prefer to see many of these older projects go by the wayside. DMA is one that is of high standards which is very shocking to them. We don't want to see that happen. Clark: Did anybody at HUD say that the Flexible subsidy funds have become less available than a couple of years ago? Yes, I tried a year ago and there were no funds. When I met with our loan management officer this year to see if there was anything at all available, he told me that our project is in much better shape than some in Denver. We are way down the list of HUD's priorities. stitzei: How many more years do you have to pay off the mortgage? Since you started under the sponsorship of DMA is there any opportunity of getting input from the Downtown Merchants Association? We have 13 years left on the mortgage. The DMA is now the Downtown Business Association and their funding has always been next to nothing. We have never received any support financially from our nonprofit sponsor. Clark: If this work is completed, what will be the estimate for the longevity of the property? The main thing is air and water infiltration causing utility bills to go up. It also has curtain construction on the outside and when we have a painting job done and if the weather is bad, it bleeds through. The building was never intended to remain the way it was after it was built. The construction company went bankrupt and they left gaping holes in the floor. Bertschy: The estimate for the project is based on a bid? Yes, in my opinion it may a sole source bid. As I'm aware, Peak to Peak Painting is the only factory certified applier of this coating. I don't know if it presents a problem or not. The factory rep is in Denver and he has only certified Peak to Peak in this area. -2 - 0 Cozen: Do you get any utility subsidies? No, we don't get any breaks from the city. We are on the peak demand system. We have attached an energy management system to the hot water tanks. Larimer County Food Distribution Center - Rehab Sandy Bowden Director and Bill Sears Boardmember S 51,500 Bertschy: On some of the proposed uses of the funds, is there a priority? Yes, I tried to list them in the order which we would prioritize them. Painting is definitely of top importance to us because of the deterioration of building. Cozen: What is the status of this year's funds? It will be spent before September 30. We will be resurfacing the parking lot now that the weather is warm. Cozen: Have your tried other sources of funding? No. One of the things that we found during our solicitation in purchasing the warehouse is that some of those sources fund on a one-year time and we must wait three to five years to go back to them. At this present time, we have no other sources of funding. Dougherty: What will happen to your level of services if funding is not granted? It may drop some and part of the problem we are having right now is because the economy is poor. Some of our resources, like the grocery stores have cut back on the donations because they are repackaging and selling in grocery stores. We need to be more creative in our resources, and one of the things is by going directly to the farmer and purchasing products and prepackaging in our warehouse. We are hoping that with a larger cooler we can keep foods longer. City of Fort Collins Planning Dept./Forestry Division/Engineering Division - Installation of street trees Joe Frank Assistant Planning Director $ 16,520 Dougherty: I have a real problem with this. I have to wonder why this is not in the City budget. There are no funds for downtown improvements earmarked in the capital improvement program or in our Planning budget. It is an issue and we hope to deal with that in a couple of years and create some sort of funding mechanism, but there is no money right now. Dougherty: What particular human need are we addressing here? visual improvement in that block and improvement to the surrounding neighborhoods. This is an improvement that was identified in the Downtown Plan that was done in 1989. Cozen: Have you gone to the City Council? We have been to the DA and they have no funds for this project, although in the past we -3- have been able to rely on them for a project. City of Fort Collins Natural Resources Dept.- Interpretive Program for Gustav Swanson Nature Area: Tom Shoemaker S 11,970 Dougherty: What is the human need that is attempting to serve here? We are attempting to serve and are serving a need to provide open space and recreational opportunities within the downtown setting. This is a handicapped accessible open space area. The proposal submitted is to develop interpretive programs to provide history and education at that site for low-income and handicapped groups and for rest of the community. Dougherty: Is this not a goal of the city at large? Why are you coming to CDBG and soaking funds for something that is in fact a city at large goal and could probably be funded from general fund? There are alot of demands on the general funds for a wide variety of projects within the city. We go to a wide variety of sources for funding. This is very much a community based project. The city owns the land and Natural Resources has coordinated the efforts the Fort Collins Audubon Society, Poudre River Trust, Colorado Native Plants Society. Guys: Mould you have any braille signage? We have not determined that, but it would be something to look at. Stitael: What other sources have you touched? sometimes students in various classes at CSU are able to do projects such as produce brochures or compile photographs and documents. We have over the past five years accounted for nearly 4,000 volunteer hours including a variety of CSU volunteers. An internship is what we have in mind. City of Fort Collins Parks & Recreation Dept. - Purchase of Land Randy Balok S 70,000 Bertschy: Where is the balance of the funds coming from? From general fund reserve, lottery funds, and a small participation from parkland funds. Clark: Have there been any policy discussions with you and the City Council about adequate funding of parks and recreation? Not recently. Their capital improvement program as I understand is pretty much tapped out because of the amount of projects that were identified. We also put in a supplemental request for general funds for a skate board park. MacArthur: Is this all or part of the Burlington right of ways that they have offered to the city? Yes, they are within the -4- downtown area and they are separately identified. This request is for a 12-acre parcel. It is in the Holy Family target area. Stitzel: It is important for the city to acquire property, but I think there a number of avenues that probably still need to be ezplored that go beyond what we have available. Disabled Resource Services - Youth Employment Program: Nancy Jackson Director and Patricia Frisbie Employment Spec $6 000 Bertschy: You have a pretty good list of contributors for this project, why $60000? To continue to maintain a strong local funding base as we go out to other corporations and foundations outside of Larimer County to solicit funds. Johnson Foundation is one of our heavier contributors. In order for us to continue to receive funding outside of our local area, we need to show that we are being supported locally. Byington: What are your experience as far as providing services to Fort Collins vs. Loveland? We have applied to CDBG in Loveland. We serve Loveland, Berthoud, Estes Park, but most of our services are in Fort Collins. Northern Hotel Fire Sprinkler• Bill Starke $135 000 Cozen: It is my understanding that previous CDBG money was used for asbestos removal. Has that been completed? No. CDBG funds were not used nor has the asbestos been removed. Dougherty: What did you do with the CDBG money? I didn't get any. For various reasons it just didn't happen. We had spent $3,500 with the architect, but he did not get the bids in right nor was it done right. It would have created more problems than solved them. Clark: Are the units in the hotel that you propose to use for housing habitable now? They have been vandalized to some degree, there is some roof damage. There would be 28 units that would need to be painted. That is something I have funds for and for the asbestos removal. Clark: Did you have to close down because of the fire sprinkler? Yes and there were legal entanglements on the building which I lost on foreclosure. The insurance broker ran costs against the building. In my opinion he told the Fire Deptartment to close it. He set it up to demean the value of the building because I had a lawsuit going against him. The hotel has not been used since mid 1982. Cozen: Is the building handicapped accessible? There is an -5- elevator that is not functioning at this point, but the ground floor is handicapped accessible. The rental units are upstairs. Catholic Community Services/Northern: Jim Overman - Hostel of Hospitality/Job Bank $ 20,000 - Job Empowerment Program $ 5.000 cozen: Apparently you have come to CDBG since 1986 for funding. Do you come to this Commission for continued funding on an annual basis? I think we would like to see the City involved with the very pressing issue of homelessness and joblessness, so we don't see it as a conflict in coming to you. Clark: Are any of the resources you have new since last year? No. The Membership Drive is a fairly new part of our fundraising. We have a Vista volunteer through the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless working on the Job Empowerment Project, and we are finishing up with a 3-year program and we would like to finish it up. stitzel: What kind of success have you had with your program? During the first ten weeks of services, 17 individuals had attended three sessions of the required six, eight had attended two sessions, and three had completed the project and are now continuing their education. Clark: Are you usually full every night at the Mission? It depends. We have beds for 18 men, 6 women, 4 families. Usually the summers are the heaviest time. In the winters, the numbers normally drop, but this winter the numbers stayed the same. We saw more families and more children. Each year we see 25-28% increase in shelter youth. Senior Employment Services• Henry John Peck S 8.000 Clark: Have you been funded in the past with CDBG? Now long has the program been in operation? No we have not been funded with CDBG funds. Senior Employment services has been active in Fort Collins since the early 1970s. It got started under the Elizabeth Stone Center for Women. Clark: Is this an expansion of services? It is not an extension in the sense of doing something that has never been done before. In the past the program originally was funded by Elizabeth Stone Center. It was originally funded by contributions for women. About 8 or 9 years ago, it was picked up by the Larimer County Office on Aging. The main source of funding for several years came from the government program called JTPA that has a certain amount of funds set aside for older workers, over the age of 55. Six -6- years ago a grant was applied for and received to train people and the Office on Aging cut their funding back. Each year they have cut it back a little more. The main idea is that they serve frail elderly. And seniors who can work are not frail elderly. Our agency was cut out of that funding. Our grants are dependent on getting local support. Dougherty: What is your success rate? In the course of a year we get about 220 people from Fort Collins looking for jobs. We place probably about 100 or so in jobs. But much of what we do is help people become marketable. We help them in writing resumes, filling out applications, and how to themselves in an interview. Many end up getting jobs on their own. Dougherty: What happens if you get no funds? We will cease to exist. We will have to stop a service that has been here for 16 years. Project Self -Sufficiency - Case Management: Mary Cosgrove, Director and Suzanne Sullivan Case Manacer 9 in_nnr stitzel: Are you a member of United Way? Yes we are for both Fort Collins and Loveland. Cozen: Can you tell as how you do not duplicate any of the services being provided in Fort Collins? We operate on an interagency cooperative type of model. When the project first started, we didn't have our own case managers that worked directly for us. We relied solely upon donated case management time from many other agencies in the community like the Women's Center and Neighbor -to -Neighbor. They still continue to do that, but we found we couldn't rely on them alone to meet the goals that we had. We started because a number of agencies got together and said there is a gap in services that no one is coordinating all those services for single parents struggling through the maze of services to become self sufficient. Stitsel: Do you make use of interns from the CSU Social Work Dept? Yes, mostly for program evaluation. We have a doctoral student from the Sociology Dept. who has just completed a survey asking participants how they feel about the program. We haven't had interns working with clients because they are only available for 8- 9 months and then they leave. We need to have continuity of our services over a course of one year. Byington: Is this for Loveland and Fort Collins or a joint project? We know that your funds need to go to the Fort Collins position and that is appropriate right now because we feel we are lacking hours in Fort Collins. -7- Volunteer's Clearinghouse - Basic Education Skills: Elsa Lee Sarlo Director $ 13.888 Clark: is this a new program for the agency? This is an extension. We have always had a literacy program, but we have documented an increased need for more work in math, spelling, and english grammar. Dougherty: How are your volunteers used and what type of professional backgrounds do you use? We have retired teachers, and individuals with special education backgrounds, and peer groups. Cozen: In 1987-89 you received CDBQ funding? Yes, to remodel our building extensively. We added an office space, fixed the roof, added air conditioning, bathrooms are remodeled for handicapped accessibility, we have a better heating system, and the kitchen was remodeled. Cozen: Where have you received program funding from in the past? We have received funding from United Way, Larimer County Human Development, the Women's Education Equality Act which is part of the federal government, the Colorado Dept. of Health, the Gannett Foundation, the Coors Foundation, and individual groups. We do not have a client population that can afford to pay for their services even on a sliding scale. We only charge $3.00 a semester and that opens all of our classes, child care and materials to anyone who attends. Lutheran Family Services - Short-term Crisis Counseling to Prevent Child Abuse• Jean McBride Assistant Director $ 21,360 Cozen: It indicates here that you have not received CDBG funding in the past. Why are you coming before us tonight then? We are looking to expand our program and needing support. We are tapping as many avenues as we can. Clark: What are your major funding sources now? We are funded through Fort Collins and Loveland United Way. In 1989-90 we received a grant from the Colorado Children's Trust. Dougherty: Now does your budget relate to Fort Collins? This is all to be used in Fort Collins. We have a small program in Longmont, a small program in Windsor, and Greeley. Fort Collins CDBG funds would not impact Longmont or Greeley. Bertschy: Now are your clients arrived at? The are referred or are self referrals. We try to counsel with them when they call or come in then instead of having them wait. One of our greatest fears is that we will have people on our waiting list who need help immediately. Parents tend to call when they are desperate. -8- Sunshine School, Inc. - Sliding Scale Day Care & Audit Assistance: Leslie Wells. Executive Director S 15 000 Cowen: Have CDBG funds been used for sliding scale day care in the past? Yes, for that,•kitchen remodeling, renovation to the facility, and acquisition of the building. Bertschy: NOV do you differ from United Day care or do you differ? The clientele is the same. The parents are usually single and low and moderate income who are trying to maintain or reach self- sufficiency. The programs are two different philosophies of childcare. Stitsel: Have you had any success in getting corporate support from those corporations that hire your parents? At this point no we have not, the corporations offer a cafeteria benefit where parents are reimbursed for childcare expenses and the funds are not taxed. Cozen: If these funds weren't awarded what are the consequences? Probably we would have to close down our sliding scale program and find a new place to be because our contract says 51% of our clientele has to be sliding scale. Clark: What have you done in the last year to try to expand your funding base? We have made many attempts. We are doing more grant writing to various nonprofit organizations in the country. We had a garage sale that brought in $1,250. We have plans for WestFest and the 4th of July. Care -A -Van, Inc. & SAINT - Salary for Administrative Assistant Mari Walsh, Executive Director S 24.800 Bertschy: Could you briefly describe your new proposal? This person would do the types of things that could be delegated more easily. We had some reserves and we were going to hire a half-time person, but we waited and went into a deficit situation. Bertschy: One of our charges as a Commission is to improve some target neighborhoods, how do you tie that back into the charge of this Commission? Many of our trips go to minorities, elderly, disabled, and we remove barriers for handicapped. We are used by the entire population to go any place within the city. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. -9- • MINUTES CDBG COMMISSION RECOMMENDED FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR FY 1991-92 The CDBG Commission was called to order by Commission Chair Tom Dougherty on Wednesday and Thursday, May 15 and 16, 1991 to formulate a recommendation to the City Council of funding allocations for the FY 1991-92 CDBG Program. The Commission eliminated the following projects from consideration. They did not believe that these projects would make effective use of CDBG funds. 1. Senior Resorts of America $65,000 2. Northern Hotel Fire Sprinkler $135,000 3. Crossroads Safehouse Underground Sprinkler $10,695 4. New Bridges Acquisition of 316 Jefferson $175,000 5. City of Fort Collins Installation of Street Trees $16,520 yJ - DINX01a 4 4 "ZkVY 0• City of Fort Collins CDBG Administration $ 95,600 No discussion. N-N CHOICE Senior ORIGINAL SCORE REQUEST 33 $ 95,600 Housing Counseling 11,708 29 11,708 No discussion. N-N Fair Housing Cnslg. 42,770 25 42,770 Discussion: The Commission stipulates that all funds go to counseling for Fort Collins case management and not for Larimer County Rehab case management. City of Fort Collins Fair Housing Consultant 1,522 15 5,000 Discussion: The Commission felt this project was not well defined and it did not seem like it was meeting an urgent need. ARCHITECTURAL BARRIER REMOVAL N-N Architectural Barrier Removal 15,000 29 15,000 No discussion. riC J#w DMA Plaza, Inc. 91,750 27 91,750 Discussion: The Commission was concerned about who would take the profits when the building is paid off. Funds were granted with the stipulation that funds are to be paid back to the City if the building would become a for -profit business. Larimer County Food Distribution Rehab 51,500 26 51,500 Discussion: The Commission thinks this agency needed all of the improvements it proposed. They felt this was a worthy project. Housing Authority Payment of Nonfederal Share -0- 18 135,682 Discussion: The Commission believes that the Housing Authority could get funds from other sources like the HOPE or HOME programs. No funds were awarded. ACQUISITION Housing Authority Trans. Housing 75,000 26 115,000 Discussion: The Commission thinks this was a good project because it will be moving homeless people out of shelters and into transitional housing. Children's Clinic Acq. of 400 Remington 125,000 24 175,000 Discussion: The Commission believes Dr. Collopy was getting a good quality building for a low price. The location of the facility is ideal, especially for people who use public transportation. Plus the Children's Clinic is fulfilling a need that is not available elsewhere in the City. Housing Authority Acq. of Real Property 155,950 23 250,000 Discussion: The Commission feels that Mr. Herrera would make good use of any amount of funds he was allocated. They felt this was a good project that provides housing to low and moderate income families. United Day Care & Other Agencies - Acquisition 100,000 22 335,800 Discussion: The Commission thinks that one idea of additional fundraising is to go back to the original source. They felt that UDC had not looked at all the sources. Many of the agencies housed there are United Way agencies and they should get some sort of support from United Way. Funds were granted on the basis that funds be applied to the loan principal. Putnam-Fullana Play- ground Expansion 25,000 21 25,000 Discussion: The Commission felt that this project deserved funding because it is in a lower income neighborhood. Parkland fees are not being generated as for other parks in town. Other areas in Fort Collins have nice parks and the north end of town is lacking. The Commission was concerned about the maintenance of the park. They granted the funds with the stipulation that the playground be 0 maintained at the same level as other city parks. City of Fort Collins Purchase of Land -0- 15 70,000 Discussion: The Commission believes that the City had not fully investigated all sources. They wanted to convey to the City Council that they support the neighborhood and the concept, but that there are other resources that can be tapped. No funds were awarded. Putnam-Fullana Park Upgrades -0- 15 50,000 Discussion: The Commission believes that there was not enough information to warrant funding this project. They would like to have seen a bigger team effort. No funds were awarded. PUBLIC SERVICES Disabled Resource Services Youth Employment Program 6,000 28 6,000 Discussion: The Commission felt this was a worthy project because it is designed to provide employment services to disabled youth. Children's Clinic Healthy Start 30,000 28 50,000 Discussion: The Commission thinks the Children's Clinic has done a good job of fundraising. They felt this was a much needed service. Senior Employment Svcs. 8,000 28 8,000 Discussion: The Commission was impressed with the success rate of this project. Lutheran Family Social Services Short -Term Cnslg. 7,312 27 21,360 Discussion: The Commission understands that this agency receives funding from many other sources. They voted to award some funds because of the critical issue of child abuse in the county. Catholic Community Svc. Job Empowerment 3,500 25 5,000 Discussion: The Commission was pleased that CCSN is reaching the unemployed homeless. However, the Commission felt this project seemed a little optimistic about caseload projections. They will make a note of their performance throughout the year. Catholic Community Svc. Hostel/Hope Job Bank 20,000 25 20,000 Discussion: The Commission was concerned that this agency keeps -3- returning for CDBG funds, but they felt that they are providing a good service. Volunteers Clearinghouse Basic Education Skills 13,888 24 13,888 Discussion: The Commission thinks this was a worthwhile project because it reaches people that Adult Basic Education does not reach. United Day Care Sliding Scale 5,000 22 20,000 Discussion: The Commission feels this project should become more independent of CDBG funds. Sunshine School, Inc. Sliding Scale/Audit 5,000 21 15,000 Discussion: The Commission feels this project should become more independent of CDBG funds. Project Self -Sufficiency Case Management 10,000 21 10,000 Discussion: The Commission believes this was a unique approach to self-sufficiency efforts. New Bridges Operation 5,000 18 5,000 Discussion: The Commission felt this was a worthwhile project because it is providing a service that fills in the gap. It provides services like health education and employment counseling to homeless people during the daytime hours. This is also a new project. Care -A -Van Salary for Administrative Assistant -0- 19 24,800 Discussion: The Commission believes that Care -A -Van could use city funds for this position. No funds were awarded. • 1� City of Fort Collins Gustav Swanson 3,500 15 31,940 Discussions The Commission knows that the City had made good use of volunteers efforts on this project. They voted to fund only the handicapped component of this proposal. 10,000 TOTAL $918,000 THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDED FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR FY 1991-92 CDBG FUNDS, AND THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. -4-