HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/02/2019 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 090, 2019, APPROPRIAgenda Item 15
Item # 15 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 2, 2019
City Council
STAFF
Meaghan Overton, City Planner
Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Policy and Housing Program Manager
Katie Ricketts, Economic Health Analyst
Cameron Gloss, Planning Manager
Ingrid Decker, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 090, 2019, Appropriating Unanticipated Grant Revenue in the General Fund for
Updating Policies, Codes and Regulations Affecting the Quality and Quantity of Affordable Housing in Fort
Collins.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appropriate unanticipated grant revenue awarded by the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) through its Health Disparities Grant Program (HDGP) to implement
critical updates to policies, codes and regulations affecting the quality and quantity of affordable housing with a
specific lens on reducing health inequities in Fort Collins. This housing affordability and health equity project
will use CDPHE grant funds in the amount of $795,657 in reimbursable grant funding over a two-year grant
cycle (State Fiscal Year 2020-2021).
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The objective of this housing affordability and health equity project is to implement community-led policy, code,
and regulatory changes to improve housing affordability in Fort Collins, particularly for community members
who struggle to afford safe, stable, high quality housing. The Centers for Disease Control, the World Health
Organization, and Healthy People 2020 all state that housing affordability and quality are critical components in
health outcomes, and this grant project seeks to reduce health inequities in our community by addressing
housing as an “upstream” determinant of health.
Funding for this grant comes from the CDPHE Office of Health Equity’s Health Disparities Grant Program
(HDGP). This grant is funded through Amendment 35 (Tobacco Tax) revenues. Attachment 1 is a memo from
the Office of Health Equity, outlining the background of the Request for Applications for this grant, the review
process, and the funding recommendations made to the State Board of Health in March 2019.
Amount and Timing
The City was awarded a total of $795,657 in reimbursable grant funding over a two-year grant cycle (State FY
2020-2021). The budget for each year is approximately $397,000. Year 1 (July 2019-June 2020) will focus on
assessment, analysis and community engagement. Year 2 (July 2020-June 2021) will focus on code/policy
writing, implementation and adoption of recommended changes. The timing of the grant funding aligns very
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well with the initial implementation of City Plan and the update of the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan
beginning in 2019.
Key Staff and Partners
The City is the lead agency on this grant and is responsible for overall management and coordination of all
grant activities, including any tasks completed with consultant support. Departments involved in this effort
include:
• Planning - lead, convener, organizer, public engagement, code changes
• Finance - grant management, financial expertise, purchasing assistance
• Social Sustainability - topic area expertise, policy coordination, public engagement, code changes
The grant also requires cross-sector collaboration with outside organizations or entities who will receive
funding through sub-grants with the City in approximately the amounts listed below and play a key role in the
project:
• Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, Built Environment Group -- $30,000
• The Family Center/La Familia -- $5,000
• The Family Leadership Training Institute -- $46,350
• The Center for Public Deliberation at CSU -- $40,000
Each of these organizations is formally committed to the grant and has submitted a letter of collaboration to
CDPHE.
One of the first tasks associated with this grant will be a stakeholder analysis. Many different sectors (e.g.,
businesses and employers, developers, housing agencies, property managers/owners) will need to be involved
in this project in a variety of capacities. While these stakeholders will not have responsibility for coordinating or
managing the grant itself, their participation will be critical to the success of the project.
Previous related Council Actions
Several policy documents adopted by City Council within the last six years, including the City Strategic Plan
(2018) and City Plan (2019), discuss the need for more affordable housing, both subsidized and unsubsidized.
Further, several plans specifically mention a need to prevent displacement of vulnerable populations. This
grant would provide significant funding to implement policy direction contained in:
• Affordable Housing Redevelopment Displacement Mitigation Strategy (2013)
• Housing Affordability Policy Study (2014)
• Affordable Housing Strategic Plan (2015 with update beginning this year)
• Social Sustainability Strategic Plan (2016)
• City Strategic Plan (2018)
• City Plan (2019)
This grant is closely aligned with community, City and Council priorities, particularly in the Neighborhood
Livability and Social Health Outcome Area.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The City has been awarded a state-funded grant, entitled Making Policy Together: A Community-Driven
Approach to Improving Housing Affordability in Fort Collins. This grant will be administered on a
reimbursement basis; funds will be spent and reimbursed from the General Fund on a monthly basis.
The City will receive $397,828 in 2019 and $397,829 in 2020 (total grant award of $795,657).
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There is no financial impact to the City of Fort Collins, as there are no matching funds required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Office of Health Equity Funding Recommendation Memo (PDF)
2. City of Fort Collins Grant Award Press Release (PDF)
To: Members of the State Board of Health
From: Maggie Gomez, Co-chair, Health Equity Commission
Leslie Cook-Knerr, Co-chair, Health Equity Commission
Web Brown, Director, Office of Health Equity
Jami Hiyakumoto, Manager, Health Disparities Grant Program
Through: Karin McGowan, Deputy Executive Director and Director, Community Relations
and Legislative Services Division (KM)
Date: March 18, 2019
Subject: Request for approval of the Health Equity Commission’s FY 2020-2021 funding
recommendations for Health Disparities Grant Program grantee projects.
The Health Disparities Grant Program (HDGP) respectfully requests approval of the enclosed
funding recommendations for grant projects for the next two-year funding cycle, fiscal years
(FY) 2020-2021, beginning July 1, 2019 and concluding June 30, 2021. Specifically, the grant
program is seeking approval to provide a total of $2,934,570 in grant funding to five (5)
grantee projects.
Per statute, these recommendations were approved by the Health Equity Commission and are
supported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Enclosed with this memo is:
Background information and statutory requirements.
The HDGP FY 2020-2021 RFA (Request for Applications) and Strategic Framework.
Application review and funding recommendation processes.
List of the FY 2020-2021 recommended grant projects.
FY 2020-2021 HDGP projects recommended for funding.
These funding recommendations expand the grant activities approved by the Board of Health
in April and May of 2018. A summary of these grants is located in Appendix A.
Please contact Web Brown, Director of the Office of Health Equity (OHE) at 303-692-2329 with
any questions or requests for additional information.
ATTACHMENT 1
Amendment 35 Grant Programs Health Disparities Grant Program
Board of Health Funding Recommendation March 2019 Page 2
Background Information and Statutory Requirements
The Colorado Assembly created the Health Disparities Grant Program (HDGP) to “provide
prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular and pulmonary
diseases to under-represented populations. These populations are currently identified by
race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, geographic area
and socioeconomic status and experience poorer health outcomes.”
Sections 25-4-2203(2)(b) and 25-20.5-302, C.R.S., and 6 CCR 1014-5 (HDGP rules promulgated
by the State Board of Health) state grants for the HDGP shall meet at least one of the
following criteria:
Provide evidence-based strategies for the prevention and early detection of cancer,
cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease in health care, workplace and
community settings;
Provide diagnosis and treatment services for anyone who has abnormalities discovered
in screening and early detection programs;
Implement education programs for the public and health care providers regarding
cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease; or
Provide evidence-based strategies to overcome health disparities in the prevention
and early detection of cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) acknowledges that
generations-long social, economic and environmental inequities result in poorer health. They
affect communities differently and have a greater influence on health than either individual
choices or a person’s ability to access health care. Reducing health disparities through
policies, practices and organizational systems can help improve opportunities for all
Coloradans.
To address these issues, the overall purpose of the HDGP is to ensure all Coloradans have an
equal opportunity to live in thriving communities and achieve their full health potential. To
accomplish this (including preventing diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and
pulmonary disease and addressing health disparities), the OHE realizes we need to look at
factors that affect where we are born, grow, live, learn, work, play and age. This includes
social and economic factors that influence health and public health, such as unequal
education, employment, social support, community safety, housing, transportation and
environmental conditions.
These factors are called “upstream determinants” because they begin to have a negative
impact on a person’s health long before the person is diagnosed with a disease. Addressing
these determinants presents an opportunity to prevent diseases from developing. By funding
programs, policies and practices that address these upstream determinants, we can influence
healthy social, economic and environmental conditions that give rise to health disparities and
contribute to cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary disease.
Section 25-4-2206, C.R.S. created a 15-member Health Equity Commission that serves as an
advisor to the OHE issues, specifically focusing on alignment, education, and capacity-building
for state and local health programs and community-based organizations. This commission
makes recommendations to the office and the department on the health disparities grant
program regarding financial support for local and statewide initiatives that address
prevention, early detection, needs assessment, and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular
Amendment 35 Grant Programs Health Disparities Grant Program
Board of Health Funding Recommendation March 2019 Page 3
disease, including diabetes, and pulmonary disease in minority populations. In addition,
pursuant to Section 25-4-2203, C.R.S. the commission appoints a review committee to review
the applications received and make recommendations to the commission regarding the
entities that may receive grants and the amount of the grants. The commission finalizes the
recommendations for funding and provide them to the state board. Within thirty days (30)
after receiving the commission’s recommendations, the state board awards grants to the
selected entities, specifying the amount and duration of each award. Grants are not to
exceed three years without renewal.
Evaluation of the HDGP is required pursuant to Section 25-20.5-305, C.R.S. HDGP grantees will
work with Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Institute for Health Research, Partners in Education
Research Center (the state selected evaluation grantee) to develop evaluation plans and to
seek assistance on evaluation strategies. Grantees are required to submit quarterly progress
reports and report on project implementation and outcomes.
The HDGP FY 2020-2021 RFA (Request for Applications) and
Strategic Framework
The Office of Health Equity developed a strategic framework after engaging community,
governmental, statewide and rural agencies to gather input on the need for funding related to
closing the gap on health disparities in Colorado. The HDGP seeks to fund lead agencies with
existing partnerships to implement evidence-based strategies to overcome health disparities
in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary
diseases in underrepresented populations by: 1) working on systems and policy changes that
are community led and address housing and land-use planning, 2) focus on affordability and
reducing displacement, segregation and gentrification. These partnerships must include
multisector collaborations (for example: education, transportation, environmental conditions,
employment, community safety, etc.). The project must begin the process for making, or
implementing approaches that make, changes to public and organizational practices, rules,
laws and regulatory changes related to housing and land-use planning focused on anti-
displacement and/or affordability that affect how systems operate and influence people’s
health.
With guidance from the Health Equity Commission, the Office of Health Equity released RFA
#11545 on September 12, 2018 that reflected the HDGP FY 2020-2021 strategic framework. An
applicant information webinar for the HDGP RFA was held on September 25, 2018. In addition,
applicants had the opportunity to submit questions regarding the RFA to the program staff via
email. Updates and responses to all questions received were posted on the program’s web
page (https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/hdgp-funding-opportunities) for public
access. The deadline for all grant applications was October 30, 2018.
Application Review and Funding Recommendation Processes
Thirteen (13) applications for HDGP grants were receive by the RFA deadline totaling a
request of approximately $3,900,000 per year.
A four-stage review process was followed. The first stage involved a technical review by
program staff for completeness in addressing major components of the RFA (e.g., did the
application propose a system or policy change, are the partners from different sectors, etc.)
and compliance with the legislation. Next, nine (9) applications totaling a request of
Amendment 35 Grant Programs Health Disparities Grant Program
Board of Health Funding Recommendation March 2019 Page 4
approximately $2,800,000 per year (a total of $5,600,000 for the 2-year grant period) moved
to the remaining three-stage process on November 15, 2018. This included an independent
scoring by individual reviewers comprised of community volunteers and program staff
assigned applications based on their area of expertise. Conflicts of interest were disclosed
and accounted for during the application review assignments.
During the next stage which took place between January 2, 2019 and January 18, 2019,
reviewers met as a team to discuss each application and agree on the overall team score for
each application. Three (3) applications scored 86-100 points and were highly recommended
for funding; two (2) applications scored 71-85 points and were recommended for funding if
funds were available; and four (4) applications scored below 70 points and were not
recommended for funding. Finally, a funding conference was held on February 6, 2019 where
applications were discussed and a final list of recommended applications was forwarded to
the Health Equity Commission. The Health Equity Commission met to review and finalize
these recommendations on February 6, 2019 and again conflicts were disclosed. Individuals
were asked to leave the room during review, discussion and voting on those applications as
needed. Through a formal vote the Health Equity Commission moved five (5) applications
totaling $2,934,570 for the two-year grant cycle for final approval by the Board of Health.
These five (5) agencies represent both urban and rural counties; community-based
organizations and local public health agencies. All projects focus on either housing or land-
use planning with the goal of increasing housing affordability and reducing displacement,
segregation and gentrification as outlined in the RFA.
FY 2020-2021 HDGP Projects Recommended for Funding
The following provides detail regarding the projects recommended for funding for the next 2-
year funding cycle. Please note that all amounts listed are the total “not to exceed” 2-year
funding amounts. The detailed project information is based on the information contained in
the originally submitted grant applications and may vary from the final negotiated projects.
Amendment 35 Grant Programs Health Disparities Grant Program
Board of Health Funding Recommendation March 2019 Page 5
Number of Recommended Applications by Upstream Determinants of Health
Upstream Determinants of Health
# Apps %
Housing 3 50%
Land-use Planning 3 50%
Totals 6* 100%
*Some applicants will work on both upstream determinants during their project.
50% 50%
UPSTREAM DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH
Housing Land-use Planning
Contact: David Young, Communications Specialist, dyoung@fcgov.com, 970.221.6882
Date: April 4, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Wins Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Grant
Recognizing the importance of housing affordability and health equity, the City of Fort Collins is excited to
announce it has been awarded a $780,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment’s (CDPHE) Health Disparities Grant Program.
The grant titled, “Making Policy Together: A Community-Driven Approach to Improving Housing
Affordability in Fort Collins,” will bring City and community stakeholders together to implement critical
updates to policies affecting the quality and quantity of affordable and attainable housing, with a specific
focus on reducing health inequities in our community.
Health inequity is an issue in communities around the country, including Fort Collins. Here, lower income,
often Hispanic/Latinx communities tend to experience higher levels of obesity, asthma, and poor mental
health, and our community’s lack of affordable and attainable housing is linked to these negative health
outcomes.
The City hopes to help positively influence health incomes by working with the community to identify
changes to development regulations and explore policy solutions that can improve our supply of affordable
and attainable housing. This work will also coincide with an update to the City’s Affordable Housing
Strategic Plan.
The City is partnering with several outside partners on this two-year grant, including The Family Leadership
Training Institute, the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, the Center for Public
Deliberation at Colorado State University (CSU), and The Family Center/La Familia. Within the City this
work is being led by the Planning Department in partnership with Social Sustainability.
The City is starting work on this grant in summer 2019 and will ramp up efforts in the coming months. More
information about the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Health Disparities
Grant Program is available at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/ohe.
###
ATTACHMENT 2
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ORDINANCE NO. 090, 2019
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED GRANT REVENUE IN THE GENERAL
FUND FOR UPDATING POLICIES, CODES AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING
THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN FORT COLLINS
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”)
has awarded the City a grant through its Health Disparities Grant Program (the “Grant”) to be
used to update City codes, policies and regulations affecting the quality and quantity of
affordable housing in the community (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the Project will focus on health inequity with the goal of helping residents
who may not be able to afford safe, stable, high quality housing and, as a result, are more likely
to have health issues; and
WHEREAS, the total amount of the Grant is $795,657 over two years (2019-2020 and
2020-2021); and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance appropriates the Grant funds for the first year in the amount
of $397,828; and
WHEREAS, the Grant does not require the City to provide matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the City will sub-grant a portion of the funding from the Grant to several
outside organizations or entities that will be collaborating with the City on the Project, including
Larimer County, the Family Center/La Familia, the Family Leadership Training Institute and
Colorado State University; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager will enter into a grant agreement with CDPHE and sub-
grant agreements with each entity receiving funds from the City for the Project; and
WHEREAS, this appropriation benefits public health, safety and welfare of the citizens
of Fort Collins and serves the public purpose of improving access to safe, stable, affordable
housing; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make
supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the
total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous
appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated
revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and
determined that this appropriation is available and previously unappropriated from the General
Fund and will not cause the total amount appropriated in the General Fund to exceed the current
estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year; and
-2-
WHEREAS, the City Council supports the Project as described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated grant revenue in the
General Fund the sum of THREE HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT
HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS ($397,828) for expenditure in the General Fund for
updating codes, policies and regulations with regards to affordable housing.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 2nd day of
July, A.D. 2019, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of July, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 16th day of July, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk