Title
Agenda Items:
Proposals for Community Development Block Grant 2013 Annual Plan
Body
Issue:
1) Review proposals for Program Year 2013 CDBG funding
2) Review staff preliminary recommendations of proposals
3) Identify specific project(s) to receive funding during CDBG Program Year 2013
4) Direct staff to include a description of this project(s) in the City's One-Year (Program Year 2013) Annual Action Plan to be included with the Five-Year Consolidated Plan submission to HUD by July 15, 2013
Committee Recommendation:
N/A
City Manager's Recommendation:
Recommend one or more proposals to receive CDBG funding from the City's CDBG Program Year 2013 (September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014) One-Year Action Plan, or narrow down the list of potential projects for final review and approval at the May 14th Council meeting.
Staff Contact:
M. Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager, 360.753.8183
Steve Friddle, Community Services Manager, 360.753.8591
Presenter(s):
M. Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager
Background and Analysis:
Request for Proposals: Council directed staff to release a "Request for Proposals" (RFP) for Program Year 2013 (September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014) CDBG funding. The anticipated amount of available funding will be $450,000. Applicants were directed to target any of the five strategy areas of eligible activities identified in the Consolidated Plan as:
· Priority: Economic Development (Activities that sustain or increase business activity such as property acquisition, relocation, building renovations, or business training)
· Housing Rehabilitation (Renovation of existing housing stock, both owner and renter occupied)
· Land Acquisition (for a CDBG-eligible purpose)
· Public Facilities & Improvements (includes both public infrastructure such as sidewalks, sewers, water systems, and community facilities such as homeless shelters, drop-in centers, community
centers)
· Public Services (direct social services, operating expenses for social service agencies)
Council further directed staff to provide preliminary screening of applications based on the following five criteria, with readiness being the most important:
1) Readiness to Proceed - Applicant and project will be underway immediately upon receipt of funding
2) Demonstration of Need - Documenting level of hardship and pervasiveness of need
3) Organizational Capacity - Demonstrable experience in managing similar projects
4) Expected Impact - Describes impact on direct beneficiaries, surrounding neighbors, and other stakeholders
5) Leveraging - Budget documents committed funding from other federal, state, local or private funding sources
In recognition of the short timeline, Council directed staff to follow the proposed schedule:
May 7th - 9th Staff conduct preliminary screening and post scanned copies of the proposals on the City's website
May 9th Council Study Session to review and rank proposals
May 14th Council selection of one or more proposals to receive CDBG funding
Proposals and Preliminary Recommendations:
Purpose of the Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan:
The Consolidated Plan is the key strategy document that guides the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program over a five-year period. The Annual Action Plan is the one-year plan that identifies the activities to be funded during each program year of the Consolidated Plan. The City is working with Thurston County to develop a regional Consolidated Plan identifies the development of viable communities by the provision of: 1) Decent Housing; 2) suitable living environment; and, 3) expands economic opportunity. Each of the regional Thurston County Consolidated Plan strategies will be qualified under one of the three federal CDBG National Objectives:
1) Benefit to low and moderate income persons;
2) Elimination of slums or blight; and
3) Meeting urgent needs.
The five specific regional Thurston County Consolidated Plan Strategies include:
1) Affordable Housing
2) Public Facilities
3) Public Services
4) Economic Development
5) Land Acquisition
NEXT STEPS:
Based on tonight's guidance, staff will:
· Prepare a staff report for the May 14, 2013 Council meeting to review and approve Program Year 2013 (September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014) proposals to receive funding.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Neighborhood and community interests are identified through the RFP and public comment processes.
Options:
Recommend one or more proposals to receive CDBG funding from the City's CDBG Program Year 2013 (September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014) One-Year Action Plan, or narrow down the list of potential projects for final review and approval at the May 14th Council meeting.
Financial Impact:
1) Available CDBG Funding: Council authorized $450,000 from federal CDBG monies to be made available for proposals to be funded during Program Year 2013 (September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014).