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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 02/13/2014COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING 215 N. MASON STREET, FORT COLLINS FEBRUARY 13, 2014, 6:30 P.M. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Browning, Chair Holly Carroll Catherine Costlow Jamaal Curry Gordon Coombes Margaret Long Kristin Stephens COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Anita Basham, Kay Rios STAFF PRESENT: Heidi Phelps; Sharon Thomas OTHERS PRESENT: Sue Beck‐Ferkiss; Kate Jeracki, Note Taker The meeting was called to order by Chair Bob Browning at 6:30 p.m., with a quorum present. PUBLIC COMMENT None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Catherine Costlow asked that the minutes of Jan. 9, 2014, be amended to show that she did not arrive late. Margaret Long moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Gordon Coombes seconded. Motion passed unanimously. COMMUNITY GAPS ANALYSIS PRESENTATION Sue Beck‐Ferkiss, Social Sustainability Specialist with the City, provided an overview of the findings of the Community Gaps Analysis, recently completed by consultants Denver‐based BBC Research & Consulting and Clarion Associates in Fort Collins. The full 133‐page draft report is available for comment online at fcgov.com/socialsustainability. Beck‐Ferkiss explained that the purpose of the Gaps Analysis is to see what the City does to further the needs of the people in the community. It compares those needs to the services available; closing those gaps will form the basis of the Strategic Plan for the Social Sustainability Department for the next five years to help create a healthy social system with equal opportunities for all in Fort Collins. 2 Seven major target areas are addressed: Housing, Homelessness, Poverty, Health and Wellness, Education and At‐Risk Youth, Diversity and Equity, and Targeted Populations (including Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, Veterans, Victims of Domestic Violence). The top need revealed in the results is affordable housing, according to Beck‐Ferkiss, as the Commission has long known. Other significant gaps exist in services to the long‐term homeless; child care to allow families to earn a living; jobs that pay self‐sufficient wages; and timely access to mental health and substance abuse services. She said that underemployment is a bigger problem than unemployment in Fort Collins. While the average media income has gone down for the past two years, rents continue to go up, and the gap makes it harder to pay for housing. And while good mental health services exist, access to those services is not so good. Beck‐Ferkiss urged Commissioners to access the report online; the City is taking comments on the draft through the end of the month. Comments will be incorporated in the final consultants’ report which should be available in March, followed by the Strategic Planning phase. A City Council work session on the draft that was canceled on Feb. 11 has not yet been rescheduled. Kristin Stephens said it was good to have data to back up what the Commission hears from the community and sees in the requests in every competitive cycle, but the analysis was no surprise. Fort Collins rents are higher than Aspen rents, but available jobs are low‐wage service jobs. Beck‐Ferkiss said a new housing sustainability study is planned to start by the end of the year, to look at what the community needs and how the City can help by setting priorities, developing strategies and forming partnerships. Gordon Coombes asked if the City was planning a different kind of outreach to homeless people who are actively trying to find some place to live and those who have chosen to be homeless. Beck‐Ferkiss said that the report on the number of homeless in the City will be released soon. The numbers are up, she said, but that may be because we are getting better at counting and added unsheltered persons to the number staying in shelters this winter. There will also be a summer count this year to determine how many homeless are locals as opposed to travelers who have just stopped in Fort Collins for a while. Bob Browning urged the Commissioners to read the report and make comments online. 3 COMPETITIVE PROCESS UPDATES AND PRESENTATION MEETING DECISIONS Sharon Thomas said staff have almost reached the end of the technical assistance phase of this funding cycle. There will be 37 Human Services requests totaling $1.4 million and 5 Housing applications for about $2 million. She said staff still does not know the exact amount that will be available from HUD, but the estimate is there will be about $1 million for housing and maybe $800,000 for Human Services. She added that since the City’s budget cycle is beginning, she plans to make a request to increase Human Services funding. Staff will have the applications to Commissioners by the first Thursday in March. Given the number of applications, hearings will take about 11 hours. The Commission felt it would take four evenings to complete them all; the dates were set for March 26, April 1‐ 3. The Affordable Housing Board would also like to view the videotaped presentations from the applicants before presenting its rankings of the Housing requests. It was decided that the Board could be the first thing on the CDBG agenda on April 3, to coincide with the regular AHB meeting, to present the rankings ahead of the Commission’s deliberations on April 10. STAFF REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES Sharon Thomas reminded the Commission about the Boards and Commissions meeting at the Lincoln Center on Feb. 24, and the State of the City address on Feb. 26, also at the Lincoln Center. She added that the Competitive Process is under review, and as part of that review, consultants The Novak Group will be conducting focus group interviews with members of various boards and commissions. It is vital for CDBG Commission voices to be part of this input. Catherine Costlow asked if staff had any information about the Women’s Resource Center closing. Thomas said the center’s board had been struggling for some time, and City staff had had limited contact with the organization for a while. After the remaining board members elected to close the center, another group began exploring avenues to save it, but has a limited time to act. CDBG did not fund the center this year, so no funds are in jeopardy. Heidi Phelps pointed out that several local nonprofits are in staff transition. Gordon Coombes announced that he has applied to become the executive director of Crossroads Safehouse. Bob Browning said that was Commissioners review the applications for this funding cycle, they should be prepared to bring motions to the deliberations. He would like everyone to keep in mind that the Commission buys things, it doesn’t give money out. Since applicants are required to submit their top three priorities, the Commission should fund by the numbers – if we can’t afford all three, we should fund as many as we can, and make motions that reflect that. 4 Kristin Stephens pointed out that the Commission will still have to cut, but Jamaal Curry suggested bringing the motions first, then cutting back. Browning added that motions should not round off amounts, but specify exactly how much would be needed to find the priorities. Although some requests, such as scholarships, maybe harder to quantify, Heidi Phelps said applicants have been asked to clearly prioritize their needs if full funding is not available. Bob Browning asked staff for clarification on conflict of interest requirements for both the City and HUD. The question is that if a Commissioner has a conflict with one applicant, does that require the Commissioner to recuse him or herself from just that application or the entire category of request? Heidi Phelps said she would research the specifics for both. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2014, 6:30 p.m., 215 N. Mason Street, Community Room, depending in pressing agenda items or informational topics. The Commission will hear presentations from applicants March 26 and April 1‐3, then hold public deliberations on April 10, 6 p.m., 215 N. Mason St., Community Room. The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.