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02/27/1996 NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER February 27, 1996 Present: Shirley Moran Chair Mayme W. Hodges Vice-Chair Rev. William Graham Board Member William Turner, Sr. Board Member Howard Groth Board Member Mary Myhill Board Member Milly Joplin Board Member Alan J. Ferri Economic Development Director Michael Holmes Economic Development Assistant Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter Absent: Bertha Kelley Board Member George Konstantinidis Board Member The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM # 2 - Approval of Minutes Member Joplin moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 16, 1996, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 - Agency Presentations: CRT (Community Response Team) Lt. Jeff Kronschnabl, Special Assistant to the City Manager/Community Response Team, thanked NAHAB (Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board) for their support. He introduced CRT's Vine Avenue staff: Code Inspector Vicki Niemiller; Staff Assistant Ginny Larcom; Housing Code Technician Fred Hinson; and Code Technician Shirley Dawkins. He said staff responds to complaints within 48 hours. They educate the community regarding compliance issues by discussing code violations and explaining how they can be corrected. The team has been successful in achieving between 98% and 99% voluntary compliance. On November 16, 1995, TBRPC (Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council) presented the CRT with the "Future of the Region Community Service Award" for outstanding achievement for the neighborhood improvement program and address numbering. A video prepared by Channel 8 on CRT efforts in the North Greenwood Avenue neighborhood was presented. Mr. Hinson chaired a partnership formed in conjunction with CNHS (Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services) that worked in unison with the City Manager's City-wide visual improvement program. Citizens care about the community but need resources and assistance. The partnership helped provide funding and direction. A video of Neighborhood Partnership '95, produced by C-View TV, was aired. The partnership is committed to revitalization, not just painting. The City has supported the effort by picking up debris and providing support services. It was noted deteriorating conditions are often the result of an owner's poor health or limited resources, not a lack of caring. Neighborhood Partnership '95 volunteers were organized to paint homes and clean lots on Vine Street. Mr. Hinson, a lifelong Clearwater resident, said the CRT's program has resulted in lasting and real changes. Problems will not disappear overnight but a positive change has begun. He said Partnership '95 resulted from discussions with the CNHS, Economic Development, and CRT. NAHAB has directed community resources to rid the area of dilapidated housing and blight, resulting in positive long term effects in the community. The entire City appreciates and benefits from the program. Ms. Dawkins, a North Greenwood Avenue homeowner, noted strong community interest in removing debris and abandoned automobiles. She said the CRT has had a positive impact on families and children in the community. Staff educates citizens so they are willing and able to address problems. Ms. Dawkins thanked NAHAB for their support. Lt. Kronschnabl said it is difficult to enter homes and tell residents how they are expected to live. Residents are accustomed to impersonal communication via mail. Education has been a successful tool in gaining compliance. Staff works hard to address residents' problems and hardships. Four of the City's zones have one inspector each. The Greenwood Avenue zone has three inspectors and a staff assistant. Inspectors walk door to door checking with residents and working with tenants and owners to address problems. In answer to a question, Lt. Kronschnabl said the CRT reports inspector visits to residents in compliance and to those in violation. Inspectors visit residents not in violation to say, "thank you." In answer to a question, he said homes in disrepair house both tenants and homeowners. CNHS has replaced many homes razed by Central Permitting with new in-fill housing. A CNHS conversion program for qualified homeowners replaces decrepit homes with new housing. In answer to a question, Lt. Kronschnabl said Central Permitting handles the demolition process and addresses problems related to asbestos and lead-based paint. He will provide NAHAB with additional information regarding that program. The CRT was commended for doing a good job. Lt. Kronschnabl indicated they had exceeded their original service projections. Code related issues are quickly resolved while housing related issues take longer. He estimated the Greenwood neighborhoods will meet City standards within five years, then will need to maintain those standards. Efforts are successful because of community involvement. He reported a girl scout group has volunteered to monitor houses addressed by the Neighborhood Partnership '95 project to maintain City standards. Another partnership has been started to address a new group of 23 houses. The Greenwood Avenue zone has the highest number of calls for service related to life threatening codes such as running water and fire hazards. Inspections are done seven days a week. City water inspectors are cross trained to identify code and housing problems. Other City departments also participate for the best use of City resources. The Solid Waste and Police departments currently help monitor graffiti. Economic Development Director Alan Ferri said the salaries and benefit packages for the four CRT staff members who work in the Greenwood Avenue zone are paid with CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding. CRT staff in the City's other four zones are funded through the municipal general fund. As the CRT accomplishes its goals to meet City standards in one area, they will move their efforts to another. Priority lists are dictated by calls for service. Teams try to identify problems before they become complaints. Lt. Kronschnabl invited NAHAB members to attend an orientation and ride with staff. He thanked the Board for their support. ITEM #4 - Subgrantee Reports Mr. Ferri referred to the information packets and noted two agencies submit their reports late. Neighborly Senior Services has had no scheduled activity. The Mustard Seed Foundation Executive Director's health problems have precluded that organization from starting their program. Information also included referrals to loan funds administered by the Economic Development Department for Citywide economic development, housing rehabilitation, and in-fill housing. Concern was expressed regarding changes to expenditure numbers in CNHS' in-fill housing report. Mr. Ferri said during on-site monitoring, staff reviewed files and open projects and noted a project had been misclassified. Confusion by CNHS staff regarding submission requirements has been addressed. Each funding source has special regulations and eligibility requirements. CNHS has adopted a new internal policy requiring them to submit projects to the Economic Development Department for assignment and approval before they commit to a project. In answer to a question, Mr. Ferri said agencies that did not submit reports had notified staff no activity had occurred. It was recommended staff provide the Board with information regarding when agencies plan to begin projects. It was suggested an audit of explanation be provided when report numbers are changed. Mr. Ferri said he would prepare a memorandum explaining the changes. ITEM #5 - Adoption of Rules of Procedures A draft of proposed rules of procedures was distributed to Board members. Mr. Ferri said each Board must adopt Rules of Procedure indicating how and when they conduct business and who has voting rights. Mr. Ferri recommended rules of procedures regarding public hearings the Board may hear be expressed by the Chair as they occur. In answer to a question, Mr. Ferri said staff is mandated by municipal ordinance to notice the public of all meetings ahead of time by advertisement. Member Groth moved to approve the NAHAB Rules of Procedure as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. It was noted in the last line of Article II, "fundtion" should read "function." ITEM #6 - Board Member Monitoring Reports Member Turner will present a report on CNHS at the next meeting. Chair Moran met with Mike Johnson of the Mustard Seed Project on February 6, 1996. The agency is located in the Homeless Emergency Project dormitory at Everybody's Tabernacle. In St. Petersburg, the agency has placed 1,200 people in gainful employment after two years of operation. They provide transportation to job sites. To date, allocated funds have not been used due to construction delays. Funding of $26,879 will be used for staff and utilities. Currently, no statistics to measure the agency are available. Chair Moran also met with Barbara Green, Administrator of the Homeless Emergency Project at Everybody's Tabernacle, and toured their recently completed dormitory funded by CDBG funds in FY (Fiscal Year) 1994/95. The dormitory has 17 bedrooms, a laundry room, storage, recreation and a Mustard Seed Office. To cover the cost of furnishings, rooms were adopted for $650 each. On the day of her visit, 48 of the 180 residents were children. Residents are housed in 30 houses, 12 mobile homes, 8 apartments and a women's dormitory. Supportive services include literacy counseling, dental services, and job placement. FY 1995/96 CDBG funding of $75,800 will be used to refurbish 3 houses: 1) 906 Nicholson - raze and rebuild with 4 bedroom-2 bath house - $58,800; 2) 701 Vine Avenue - rehab kitchen and bathroom - $10,500; and 3) 307 Vine Avenue - rehab bathroom - $6,500. These projects have not been started due to delays renovating the dormitory. Ms. Green indicated the projects will be complete within the funding period. In answer to a question, Mr. Ferri said services provided by RCS (Religious Community Services) and the Homeless Emergency Project do not overlap. The agencies refer clients to each other. Open communication exists between agencies providing homeless services. ITEM #7 - Old Business a) Economic Development Department FY (Fiscal Year) 1995 Productivity Report Mr. Ferri referred to two private sector industry standards as they relate to labor productivity. Construction management costs usually are no higher than 5% of the total amount of construction being managed. Based on labor costs of $94,379 to supervise $1,719,856 worth of construction, the productivity measure for the Economic Development Department was 5.5%. For loan origination, the standard is no more than 1% of the total amount of loans originated. Based on labor costs of $69,131 to originate $8,794,850 worth of loans, the productivity measure for the Economic Development Department was 0.8%. Most of the loans did not come from government money. $6,747,032 came from private sector investment. The department goal was to attract $4 of private money for every $1 of public money invested. The department succeeded in attracting $13 of private money for every $1 of public money. Mr. Ferri praised his staff. ITEM #8 - New Business a) Notice of Funding Availability for the Consolidated Plan Mr. Ferri reviewed the Consolidated Plan Process schedule for FY 1996/97. The City usually receives a NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) in January from HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) indicating how much money the City will have for Consolidated Plan purposes for the next fiscal year. Due to the budget impasse, HUD has not been able to issue a NOFA and instructed the City to stipulate last year's dollars in advertising with a notice that the amount is subject to change pending Congressional and Presidential action. Historically, federal funding is reduced 10% annually. Mr. Ferri anticipated State funding levels will not change. He recommended announcing funding availability and specifics by public notice on March 11, 1996. b) North Greenwood Town meeting with the City Commission on March 26, 1996, at 7:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center Mr. Ferri invited Board members to attend this meeting. Issues specific to North Greenwood will be discussed. These issues may be relevant to the Board's evaluation process. c) Calendar of meetings, site visits, public hearings for Spring and Summer Mr. Ferri reviewed the event calendar which is coordinated with Pinellas County deadlines and includes the City's social service grant program. Consensus was to accept the proposed event calendar: 1) NOFA - March 11, 1996; 2) Technical Assistance Meeting - March 20, 1996; 3) Homeless Public Hearing - Everybody's Tabernacle - March 26, 1996; 4) Housing Public Hearing - Condon Gardens - March 28, 1996; 5) Economic Development Public Hearing - Commission Chambers - April 2, 1996; 6) Special Needs Population Public Hearing - April 4, 1996; 7) Subgrantee Application Due Date - April 19, 1996; 8) Site Visits - May 3, 1996; 9) Subgrantee Public Presentation - Commission Chambers - evening - May 21, 1996; 10) TRC Evaluations - May 28, 1996; 11) NAHAB Evaluations - June 4, 1996; 12) Publish Consolidated Plan - June 14, 1996; 13) Public Comment Period Begins - June 15, 1996; 14) Public Comment Period Ends - July 16, 1996; 15) City Commission Presentation - July 19, 1996; and 16) Submission to HUD - August 15, 1996. For consolidated planning, federal guidelines require the Board solicit public comment in four areas. Mr. Ferri encouraged Board members to attend all public hearings. Grant applications will be available to Board members by May 3, 1996. Board members are requested to participate in the May 3, 1996, site visits, the May 21, 1996, subgrantee public presentation and the June 4, 1996, evaluations. Mr. Ferri recommended Board members complete their monitoring visits before April 19, 1996. It is important all agencies have equal access to the Board. d) EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Brownfield application Mr. Ferri reported his department will submit an application on March 4, 1996, to the EPA for approximately $200,000 over two years under a program called Brownfield, a recent EPA initiative to streamline the redevelopment process. Brownfield encourages the redevelopment of used sites in compliance with environmental regulations rather than develop fresh green land. Economic Development plans to concentrate on existing commercial and industrial sites with potential contaminate problems or functional obsolescence in North and South Greenwood and downtown. Their goal is to redevelop sites using sound environmental management practices so they can be returned to the community as productive resources. Citizen involvement is necessary to identify resources and coordinate issues on the community level. He requested the Board write a letter of support stating they will serve as citizen participants. Consensus was for the Chair to sign a letter supporting the Brownfield application and stating NAHAB will serve as the citizen participation vehicle. ITEM #9 - Announcements a) Annual Report to the City Commission The Chair will present NAHAB's Annual Report to the City Commission on June 6, 1996, shortly after 6:00 p.m. Mr. Ferri encouraged all Board members attend. b) Next Scheduled Agency Report Mr. Ferri advised against inviting a funded agency to address the Board once funding availability is announced. He recommended inviting Economic Development staff to review City-wide programs. The department receives leftover funds for housing and economic development purposes. Loan Officer Linda Byars will be invited to the March 19, 1996, meeting and Loan Officer Diane Hufford will be invited to the April 16, 1996, meeting. Both deal with residential and economic development loans. c) Next Scheduled Meeting March 19, 1996 Paint Your Heart Out Clearwater Member Myhill reported Paint Your Heart Out Clearwater, scheduled at 8:00 a.m. on March 2, 1996 (March 3, 1996 rain date), will paint 25 homes, including a UPARC group home and an Everybody's Tabernacle home. Paint Your Heart Out Clearwater has adopted RCS and every volunteer is encouraged to donate a baby item. The wrap up party is scheduled at the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce headquarters at 12:30 p.m. Board members are invited. ITEM #10 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11:34 a.m.