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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 12/14/20000 0 CITY OF FORT COLLINS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT Meeting Minutes December 14, 2000 Phil Majerus, Chair Alfred Flores, Vice Chair Bill Bertschy, City Council Liaison The meeting of the Community Development Block Grant Commission was called to order by Chairman Phil Majerus, beginning at 6:14 p.m., at Lindens, 214 Linden Street, Fort Collins, Colorado. Board members present included: Chairman Phil Majerus, Vice Chair Alfred Flores, Linda Coxen, Vi Guthrie, Brett Hill, Tia Molander, Jennifer Molock, Dennis Vandenheiden, and Cheryl Zimlich. Staff present: Ken Waido, Jackie Davis, Maurice Head, Julie Smith, and Stacey Kelly. Bill Bertschy, City Council liaison, was present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Mr. Flores, seconded by Ms. Guthrie: To approve the minutes of October 5, 2000. Motion approved unanimously. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY — REQUEST FOR EXTENSION Ms. Davis gave the background for this matter. The project is nearly completed and may fall within the required time in any event; the extension is requested out of an abundance of caution. Moved by Ms. Zimlich, seconded by Mr. Flores: To approve the requested extension to February 28, 2001. Motion approved unanimously. CSU HABITAT FOR HUMANITY The Commission asked for an in-depth analysis by the staff. The lot is constrained by two easements; one water, one power. The overhead power line travels over the subject house. The foundation is installed and the first floor framed. WAPA, the power authority, has stopped construction on the project due to the overhead line. The configuration of the property does not match the plans in terms of property lines and easements. The successful applicant for this house will receive a house in the Waterglen subdivision. The subject house will be disassembled and moved to Waterglen. The CSU group originally involved has graduated, moved on, and another group is inheriting this situation. Speculative discussion was held on whether the Community DevelopmeAck Grant Commission • Meeting of December 9, 1999 Page 2 problem could or should have been rectified before this point. The applicant is requesting transfer of the permit from the present lot to a Waterglen lot. The Commission reviewed the applicant's request for extension, noting that no specific time was applied for and the situation is fraught with uncertainty. The affiliated Habitat chapter that will inherit the project can apply for an extension. Moved by Ms. Coxen, seconded by Mr. Flores: To transfer the project funding and contract to Fort Collins Habitat; and to consider the requested extension at a later time. Motion approved unanimously. FOOD BANK OF LARIMER COUNTY Ms. Davis noted that the Food Bank should have had the project reviewed by the city's project manager. Due to the absence of this, costs were underestimated. The applicant is looking for contingency funds Moved by Ms. Coxen, seconded by Mr. Majerus: To deny the request. This applicant has been through the CDBG process numerous times and is familiar with program regulations and constraints. The applicant serves an important community function but needs to take fiscal responsibility for its plans and actions. The Commission questioned what other help has been requested and the fiscal responsibility the applicant can assume. Contingency funds do not exist within the CDBG program in the present funding cycle. The applicant has a successful record of use of funding. However, it has been a perennial applicant rather than leveraging CDBG funding for ongoing items. Discussion was held concerning the items that were chosen for approval in the last funding cycle. Motion failed 2-7. Moved by Ms. Coxen, seconded by Ms. Guthrie: To request the applicant to seek alternative funding for the balance requested for the two noted projects; further, to maintain fiscal responsibility in obtaining funds for the additional project. Motion withdrawn with consent of the second. The history of the application was reviewed. Commission members were not comfortable with the applicant's description of the scaling down of the approved project. The option of withholding funds from the project for reprogramming was Community DevelopmeAck Grant Commission • Meeting of December 9, 1999 Page 3 discussed in light of the Commission's discomfiture with the applicant's procedures. Moved by Ms. Coxen, seconded by Ms. Zimlich: To withdraw funding to the Larimer County Food Bank down to $12,660, with those funds to be used for replacement of the cooler floor. Discomfort was expressed with withdrawing already -approved funding. Distinction was made between health and efficiency issues. The Commission was generally unimpressed with the lack of foresight, taking responsibility, and absence of alternative funding. Mr. Majerus gave a detailed explanation of the dock leveler request. Motion approved 6-2, with one abstention. The Commission recessed the meeting for dinner. DEBRIEFING OF FALL COMPETITIVE CYCLE AND DISCUSSION ON SPRING COMPETITIVE CYCLE (CDBG) Mr. Waido reviewed the proceedings of the last year and solicited comments from the Commission about their perceptions of the process. Comments heard: More opportunity is presented for worthwhile projects that would normally not be heard mid -cycle on a yearly basis. The procedures makes the process more user-friendly in order to be able to finalize projects. Under the semiannual process, the program becomes more available for applicants. Concern was expressed that funding -hungry projects will apply more frequently, given the opportunity. The workload is theoretically doubled, but the meetings themselves are shorter. Staff has noted that the applicant presentations seem to be constrained under the 10-minute Q&A session and proposed a 15-minute session. An idea was presented of having an applicant conclusion following the Q&A session. The interview sessions for the cycle that includes public service, facilities, and housing will remain a two -night session. Mr. Waido reviewed the changes to the application form. The divisions regarding evaluation of AM[ levels have been made simpler. Public facilities will expressly require city project manager review. Applicants will be required to enter a minimum acceptable amount, and Staff would discourage recommending funding below that level. Community Developmenlock Grant Commission • Meeting of December 9, 1999 Page 4 Mr. Waido reported the results at the Affordable Housing Board session. Some differences in goals, philosophies, and mandates exist between the two entities; however, the information presented by the Board in the last funding cycle was instrumental in generating informed questions from the Commission. The Northern Hotel and land banking represented the two clear differences in final opinions. Mr. Waido requested Mr. Majerus and Mr. Flores to meet with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Affordable Housing Board. Discussion was held over a combative e-mail received by Commission members. Mr. Bertschy noted the formation of a wattage review team to address concerns that have been raised about the Northern. Mr. Waido has observed a certain level of frustration on the part of the Affordable Housing Board in its recommendations to the Council over the years. Mr. Bertschy noted the affordable housing policy that was primarily generated by the Board and was ultimately adopted by Council. The Commission affirmed the work done, information given, directions suggested, and recommendations advanced by the Board. That interaction has been an invaluable tool for the Commission. Mr. Bertschy recommended, with Commission approbation, that he and Mr. Wanner also attend the future meeting between the chairs and vice chairs of the two groups. It was finally noted the differences in the charges to the two boards. CDBG has a much broader mission that carries it outside of housing alone and applies as well to economic development and other issues. The Affordable Housing Board in the past has had narrowly focused advocates within certain affordable housing issues, and the Board will likely become more generalized with new appointments. New Board members will begin in January. Past liaison meetings were reviewed and the helpful interchange of viewpoints and goals. Mr. Majerus asked for a spreadsheet presentation of application scoring with room for evolving changes. Other requests were made concerning the score sheet; Mr. Waido noted that the requests fairly mirrored the actual sheet that was presented in the last application round. Difficulties were noted with the weighting of leverage points, particularly with the not -for -profits, and items such as overhead expenses and factoring in volunteer labor. Dissatisfaction was expressed with applicants that apply for full funding as opposed to using CDBG appropriations for seed money. Mr. Bertschy recommended, for future Council study sessions, to spread specializations out among various Commission members rather than using the Chair and Vice Chair as central spokespersons. This would also distribute the Community Developmenlock Grant Commission Meeting of December 9, 1999 Page 5 burden of research. It was emphasized that Commission members who volunteer to present should then actually attend the scheduled session. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Mr. Waido noted the new Code provisions on conflict of interest. Staff will need to have a form at every meeting for any questions or statements of conflict of interest by a Commission member. An Ethics Review Board can review the matter with the affected Commission member and issue guidance. The form is for Commission members' protection from potential liability. It is particularly applicable to boards and commissions that recommend funding. The form will be mailed to Commission members. OTHER BUSINESS City boards and commissions have changed terms to January through December. Officers will be elected in February and take office in March. Council has presented more specific guidance on staff roles with boards and commission. Staff members extended its sincere gratitude to Commission members for their hard work and devotion through the past year, particularly in light of the added workload of a double funding cycle. Commission members complimented and applauded staff for its excellent work. Mr. Head noted that the consultant's Land Bank report has been completed. A draft copy of conclusions can be sent to interested Commission members. Upon motion, second, and unanimous approval, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.