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11/19/1996 NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER November 19, 1996 Present: Mayme W. Hodges Chair Howard Groth Vice-Chair Rev. William Graham Board Member Mary Myhill Board Member William Turner, Sr. Board Member Bertha Kelley Board Member Milly Joplin Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Alan J. Ferri Economic Development Director Michael Holmes Economic Development Assistant Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter Absent: Shirley Moran 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 September 17, 1996, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Groth moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 15, 1996, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 - Agency Presentations a) Boys & Girls Clubs Economic Development Director Alan Ferri said the Boys & Girls Clubs' presentation will be rescheduled. b) Girls Inc., of Pinellas Sharon Bailey, of Girls Inc., of Pinellas, thanked NAHAB (Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board) for recommending they receive CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding. Girls Inc., opened its first Pinellas County center in 1961. Four of the eight local centers are in low income housing areas where girls are most at risk and need services. Girls Inc., of Pinellas has an annual budget of $1-million with $80,000 budgeted for the Condon Garden Center, which opened in 1975. The program is staff intensive. Girls Inc.'s national 9-week program, PAP (Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy), addresses self esteem issues and the consequences of teen pregnancy and includes role playing exercises. Kim Scirlotta, of Girls Inc., said the Condon Garden Center serves between 30 and 35 girls with a safe atmosphere and positive role models. A new program brings together the girls, senior citizens, animals, and arts and crafts. After school, girls arrive at the center, have a snack, do their homework, and then choose from different areas of interest including sports, arts & crafts, etc. A national program helps girls develop math and science skills. The group takes a field trip several times a year to a senior home. Staff interacts with parents and offers help when possible. In response to a question, Ms. Bailey said the program also is funded by JWB (Juvenile Welfare Board), United Way, the city of St. Petersburg, and fund-raisers such as the Gasparilla Run. Clearwater CDBG funds cover approximately one-third of the Condon Garden Center costs. The $24,700 contribution funds 2 employees. Participants pay a $25 fee for the school year and $25 for the Summer. All school girls between 5 and 17 years old can participate. As girls contribute to the cost, free or low cost outside activities are planned. Most participants are between 5 and 8 years old. Ms. Scirlotta said the impact of drugs on their lives seems to relate to drug use by parents or relatives. She said it is important these children have a place where they feel safe. ITEM #4 - Discussion of the Economic Development Element of the Comprehensive Plan Mr. Ferri said after NAHAB submits their comments regarding the Economic Development Element of the Comprehensive Plan, it will be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Board as the local planning agency. After City Commission approval, the plan will be in effect for 5 years. An economic development element was not completed previously. This element is broad based and may be important when the City applies for State funding. He stated census tracts consist of 2 to 6 block groups with 300 to 500 people living in each block group. North Greenwood tracts contain the poorest areas in Pinellas County based on average family income. Mr. Ferri said last year, City programs created approximately $5-million worth of local housing construction and rehabilitation activity, however, few minority construction firms are licensed to bid. Staff is working with SPJC (St. Petersburg Junior College) to establish a curriculum to help experienced North Greenwood area residents pass certification tests for State and County licenses. It was noted using local contractors keeps money in the community. It was felt helping local tradesworkers qualify for certification will increase the diversity of City contractors. Mr. Ferri said the Small Business Development Center at USF (University of South Florida) is the only local program designed to helping minority small businesses get up and running. Activities of the Minority Owned Business Council in the Tampa area do not extend to Clearwater. In response to a question, Mr. Ferri said City staff arranged 18 of last year's 19 economic development loans. CNHS (Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services) arranged the other one. Staff leveraged $9.90 in private money for every $1 of public money. It was recommended that NAHAB support the agencies that provide lending services to maintain neighborhood control. Mr. Ferri said last year, the Economic Development Department spent the total funding recommended by NAHAB. CNHS was not able to spend their allocated funding. Their scope of services is directed specifically to the North Greenwood community for business development. CNHS has other sources for lending money for small business development City-wide. Member Groth moved to recommend the Planning & Zoning Board review and approve the Economic Development Element of the Comprehensive Plan the plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #5 - Subgrantee Reports Mr. Ferri said reports from last fiscal year are being closed. New forms will be used next year. It was felt report updates should be distributed on time. Concern was expressed that unexpended funds remain at the end of the year. It was questioned if staff checks claims per encumbered funds. Mr. Ferri said the $176,000 of CNHS' encumbered funds may be lowered further. He said the Federal legislature delayed authorization to fund first-time home buyers until March 1996 and HUD did not inform the City of this decision until mid-August. In the meantime, local needs were met with SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) and HOME funds. Staff allocates unexpended funds remaining in the predetermined pools. It was felt surplus funds could be used differently. Mr. Ferri said previously, Clearwater carried forward large amounts of funds each year. He felt staff is qualified and effective in distributing funds returned to the pools. It was suggested the community should make distribution decisions. Mr. Ferri said credible agencies that provide housing services are welcome to apply for funding and be ranked by the TRC (Technical Review Committee) and NAHAB. He opposed reserving unspent funds. It was suggested the evaluation process consider which funding requests can leverage community jobs. It was requested that monthly reports to NAHAB identify CDBG, HOME, and SHIP funds. Mr. Ferri noted the City Commission had increased the level of social service funding. The cost for small organizations to audit their performance standards could be greater than the grants. Mr. Ferri noted a disagreement with HUD regarding classifying a funding request. The City had categorized a program to hire teenagers as economic development. The Federal government claims it is a public service. He expressed concern a program designed to create jobs and job skills must compete in the most competitive funding pool. ITEM #6 - Old Business a) Filling Board Vacancy for Housing Development Mr. Ferri will forward board recommendations to the City Commission for consideration. b) Brownfield Program Report Mr. Ferri said the Brownfield contract began October 1, 1996. The City has been invited to give a presentation on Brownfields at a two-day remediation conference in Orlando. Most Brownfield funding will be used for environmental site assessments. The first Brownfield site evaluation will address the CNHS Winn-Dixie site. A link will be made between Brownfield activities and the number of jobs generated. The development of a job center in North Greenwood will be part of the City's Brownfield efforts. He said the contract to gather economic development baseline data has been delayed. A series of meetings on environmental issues will be scheduled for North and South Greenwood. In response to a question, Mr. Ferri said job center services will be coordinated by local agencies that address economic development issues. The goal is to offer neighborhood residents a one-stop location for job-related resources. Approximately $10,000 in Brownfield funds will be used to develop a training curriculum for job seekers at new or expanded businesses in the Brownfield area. ITEM #7 - New Business Grantee performance report Mr. Ferri said this report only addresses CDBG funding and requires no action. This year, the City distributed $1.6-million in CDBG funds. A few typos were noted. Corrections will be forwarded. Next year, this report will reflect funding from CDBG, HOME, and SHIP programs. The report is available for citizen review and comment. ITEM #8 - Board Member Monitoring Reports Member Groth reported visiting the Tampa Bay CDC (Community Development Corporation). The agency had left over funds last year due to unexpected delays in some closings for Willowbrook condominiums. ITEM #9 - Announcements a) Next Scheduled Regular Meeting Mr. Ferri said the December 17, 1996, meeting was canceled. As City Hall will close for renovations in January, 1997, NAHAB meetings will be scheduled at alternative sites for several months. Meetings away from City Hall will not be televised. It was suggested meetings in North and South Greenwood be scheduled. Mr. Ferri recommended NAHAB meet with the North Greenwood Task Team during an evening meeting to discuss housing and the Brownfield program and to solicit input. Mr. Ferri will announce the schedule. ITEM #9 - Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 11:14 a.m.