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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 01/09/2014COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING APPROVED MINUTES 215 N. MASON STREET, FORT COLLINS JANUARY 9, 2014, 6:30 P.M. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Kay Rios, Chair Gordon Coombes (arrived late) Anita Basham Catherine Costlow Robert Browning Margaret Long Holly Carroll (left early) COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Jamaal Curry, Kristin Stephens STAFF PRESENT: Heidi Phelps; Sharon Thomas OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Atchison; Tatiana Martin; Darcy McClure; Chadrick Martinez; Diane Cohn; Kate Jeracki, Note Taker The meeting was called to order by Chair Kay Rios at 6:32 p.m., with a quorum present. Rios introduced the Commission’s newest member, Holly Carroll, executive director of the Poudre River Library District. She also introduced the new director of the City’s Social Sustainability department, Mary Atchison, and praised her extensive background in nonprofits in the community and engagement with the City in various volunteer leadership capacities. PUBLIC COMMENT None. PUBLIC HEARING ON EXPENDITURES FOR FY2014 FEDERAL CDBG AND HOME MONIES Chair Kay Rios adjourned the regular Commission meeting and opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. Heidi Phelps told the Commission that the purpose of the hearing was to get feedback on the use of federal funds. She pointed to a number of positive things that bode well for future funding processes. A consultant hired by the City will be conducting an extensive analysis of the City’s current funding allocation process. The public process for that project will include key stakeholders, community members, the Commission and others. The goal is to be responsive to the needs of the citizens and stakeholders, as well as the wishes of City Council. 2 Phelps added that the Community Gaps Analysis project was entering its final phase. The findings will help shape the Social Sustainability Strategic Plan and prioritization of the needs in the community. It will also help define the municipal role in addressing those needs. Chair Rios opened the floor to public comment. Darcy McClure of the Fort Collins Housing Authority expressed gratitude to Commission members for their commitment to affordable housing in Fort Collins. She said she appreciated the Commission making housing a priority when allocating federal funds, especially when there is a less than 3 percent vacancy rate in the city and more than 2,000 families on the Housing Authority’s waiting list. In response to a question from Anita Basham, McClure said there is a constant demand for units, and the Housing Authority has an ongoing waiting list; Chadrick Martinez offered to provide exact numbers to the Commission. Basham made the point that even with a waiting list, families are still asking for help. Chair Rios adjourned the public hearing and reopened the regular Commission meeting at 6:38 p.m. COMPETITIVE PROCESS VIDEOTAPING OPTION: CONTINUED DISCUSSION AND UPDATES Kay Rios said the email correspondence on the issue has cleared up any confusion over the new system, which is planned for the Fall 2014 funding cycle. Gordon Coombes agreed, saying that the purpose for adding video presentations from applicants is to maximize the time applicants have to make their funding requests to the Commission, not to cut time out of the process. Prerecording the presentation will allow the Commission to ask good questions to better understand the requests. Tatiana Martin of the Affordable Housing Board said her board is strongly in favor of the videotaping option, because it will help them formulate their priority rankings of housing projects for the Commission. Kay Rios said she had conferred with Dan Byers, then chair of the Affordable Housing Board, about the issue, since the Board makes a first pass at ranking requests before the applicants have made their presentations to the CDBG Commission. If videos were available, the Board felt it could make better recommendations on priority rankings. Sharon Thomas said staff has reserved three days at the end of March and three days at the beginning of April for the Commission to hear presentations. Staff will not know how many applicants there are until after the closing date of January 23rd, but there is a possibility that all six dates will not be needed. She will let the Commission know and schedule accordingly at the end of the month. 3 ELECTION OF OFFICERS Kay Rios, who is term‐limited at the end of this term, nominated Bob Browning as Chair of the CDBG Commission for the coming year. Gordon Coombes seconded. The motion passed unanimously, with Bob Browning abstaining. Kay Rios nominated Gordon Coombes as Vice Chair of the CDBG Commission for the coming year. Margaret Long seconded. The motion passed unanimously, with Gordon Coombes abstaining. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Margaret Long moved that the minutes from September 12, 2013, be approved as presented. Bob Browning seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Margaret Long moved that the minutes from October 17, 2013, be approved as presented. Bob Browning seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Bob Browning moved that the minutes from November 14, 2013, be approved as presented. Margaret Long seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Kay Rios asked that the minutes from Dec. 12, 2013, be amended to read: [in title to minutes] Special Meeting (because of location change). Margaret Long moved that the minutes from December 12 be approved, as amended. Anita Basham seconded. Motion passed unanimously. STAFF REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES Heidi Phelps reported that the City’s Boards and Commissions function has been going through an analysis/updating process at the executive/City Council level. She informed Commissioners that there would be an event for members of all Boards and Commissions on February 24th, 6‐8 p.m., at the Lincoln Center. Kay Rios encouraged all Commissioners to attend this valuable opportunity. Sharon Thomas reported that the Spring 2014 Competitive Process funding cycle opened on January 7th. While there are no total figures available yet, staff is anticipating an increase in program funding available, primarily because of some Program Income that is being returned to the program. Of the estimated $2 million to $2.5 million available, about $800,000 may be earmarked for the Public Service funding category. The rest of the funding will be available for the Housing and Public Facility funding categories. She said the City does not know when it will find out about the availability of federal funds for the new fiscal year. 4 Bob Browning asked for an update on the Elderhaus project. Heidi Phelps reported that the organization had decided not to purchase the property at 605 Shields St., and staff believed it was a prudent decision. Sharon Thomas said CARE Housing was working through mitigation and legal issues regarding the impact of expansive soils on the construction at its Provincetowne I property. It is unclear whether the Provincetowne II phase of the project will proceed, or how soon. Staff has asked CARE Housing for a new timeline on the development and construction of Provincetowne II. It is possible that the City will recall the $250,000 in CDBG funding allocated to Provincetowne II in the Spring 2013 Competitive Process. If so, that amount will be returned to the general pool of funds to be allocated during a future competitive process funding cycle. Anita Basham asked whether the Davis‐Bacon compensation issues with Respite Care had been resolved. Heidi Phelps said that a month after the project was completed, the Department of Labor finally rendered a wage determination for the Painter classification. The contractor paid the painters the restitution required. Anita Basham also asked about the wheelchair lift at the Turning Point facility at 614 Mathews Street. Heidi Phelps reported that while the property is in a national historic district, a high‐level historic survey is not required, since there are no federal funds involved. However, staff has not heard anything about the project since November, so she will be checking the status of the project within the next month. Bob Browning asked where the additional Program Income funding was anticipated to be coming from. Sharon Thomas explained that it was from loan repayments from the Homebuyers Assistance Program and other project loan repayments. Browning asked if the Commission could use Program Income to fund Public Service requests. Thomas said up to 15 percent of Program Income can go toward the Public Service funding category. Browning believed that was a change from previous years. Thomas clarified that if funds come back from a project that did not move forward, those funds are categorized as “reprogrammed” funds, not Program Income. Reprogrammed funds cannot be used for the Public Service category. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting is scheduled for February 13, 2014, 6:30 p.m., 215 N. Mason Street, Community Room. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.