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04/20/1999NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITYOF CLEARWATER April 20, 1999 Present: Howard Groth Chair William Turner, Sr. Vice-Chair Milly Joplin Board Member Warren Hunt Board Member Joyce L. Smith Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Absent: Rev. William Graham Board Member Mayme W. Hodges Board Member Peggy M. Cutkomp Board Member Also Present: Michael Holmes Housing Manager Miles Ballogg Economic Development Programs Manager/ Brownfields Coordinator Brenda Moses Board Reporter 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 – Introduction of NAHAB Board Members ITEM 3 – Approval of March 31, 1999, Minutes Member Joplin moved to approve the minutes of March 31, 1999, minutes as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 4 – Citizens to be Heard A citizen questioned NAHAB (Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board) members’ role in Brownfields. She noted the board had indicated interest in working with the Brownfields Advisory Board and urged members to attend Advisory Board and Technical Advisory Committee meetings or listen to tapes of the proceedings. She said nominations are being accepted for economic development committees. ITEM 5 – Agency Presentations – None. ITEM 6 – Subgrantee Monitoring Reports Member Smith reported on Pinellas County Head Start which provides comprehensive child development service for ages 3 through mandatory school age. Program partners include: 1) City of Clearwater; 2) Coordinated Child Care; and 3) Pinellas County Housing Authority. Space to construct facilities is limited as most commercial land is developed. JWB (Juvenile Welfare Board) establishes County daycare standards and require facilities to be built where the need is greatest. Head Start wishes to construct a facility on a portion of Ross Norton Park, in an area where daycare needs are great. Head Start is meeting this year’s goals and anticipates spending all approved consolidated plan funds. Funding is leveraged by grants, contributions, volunteers, corporations, and service clubs. ITEM 7 – Old Business Brownfields Presentation by Miles Ballogg Economic Development Programs Manager Miles Ballogg stated State legislation in 1997, required BAB (Brownfields Advisory Board) to be a separate board. He reviewed the City’s Brownfields boundaries, types of contamination, current projects, and program history. He discussed economic development tools and BAB’s role in improving public participation through: 1) rehabilitation and redevelopment; 2) future land use; 3) employment opportunities; 4) community safety; and 5) environmental justice. BAB will review Brownfields TAC (Technical Advisory Committee) findings and make recommendations to the Commission. USF’s Environmental Science and Policy Director is a TAC member. Mr. Ballogg said successful Brownfields redevelopment benefit the economy, community, and environment. The BAB is focusing on removing negative environmental stigma from contaminated sites. A site’s history is reviewed followed by a Phase II assessment, if necessary. USF developed an economic model that includes data: 1) return of investment to City; 2) increased jobs; 3) increased tax base; and 4) community improvements related to investment in Brownfields. A survey by Career Options of Pinellas County identified all job-training elements in the area. Federal agencies EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), HUD (Housing and Urban Development), and the Army Corps of Engineers partner to redevelop Brownfields by providing resources and assistance and increase federal grant opportunities. Mr. Ballogg encouraged NAHAB members to attend BAB, TAC, and Environmental Justice meetings. He noted the difficulty of linking redevelopment in Brownfields areas to employment opportunities. Although the Public Works Academy is providing job training at a City facility, only 5 people have completed training. He felt neighborhood groups could circulate information successfully about training programs. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said some cities focus on one Brownfields project, rather than designate a Brownfields area. Not all of the 217 regulatory sites listed are contaminated. In response to a question, he said although groundwater is not tested for residential properties in a Phase I or II assessment, it is possible lawn pesticides may show up in groundwater tests. A risk assessment professor had indicated the inside of a home generally is more contaminated than the outside. Concern was expressed with 2 Brownfields boards, it is possible one board could blame the other or NAHAB for problems. Consensus was for BAB and TAC to contact NAHAB should those boards require or request NAHAB input. Members felt the BAB and TAC will act as watchdogs for Brownfields. Mr. Ballogg urged NAHAB to consider BAB and TAC as resources. He will supply Housing Manager Michael Holmes with a schedule of Brownfields and Environmental Justice meetings. According to State statute, BAB is responsible for environmental issues. In response to a question, Mr. Holmes said staff is seeking additional funds for Brownfields redevelopment. Funds awarded to subgrantees come through HUD. Informing the Public of NAHAB Meetings Mr. Holmes and the new Marketing Director are developing public information programs. It was stated according to the board’s creation regulations, City staff is responsible for advertising and informing the public and the Housing & Urban Development department and NAHAB must provide citizens with adequate and timely information through press releases, advertisements, and television programming. It was requested Mr. Holmes inform the City Manager and Mayor of board concern that NAHAB meetings are no longer broadcast as television is one of the best methods to reach the public. ITEM 8 – New Business Consolidated Plan Allocation/Ranking System Discussion Discussion ensued regarding the Consolidated Funding Programs Subrecipient Rank System form. It was felt with more than 26 applicants, board members should not have to answer Items A - J. Consensus was for staff to supply answers to the board for Section I, Items A – J, Section II, III, IV, and V. Mr. Holmes suggested the questions remain in the application for TRC (Technical Review Committee) review. In response to a question, he said agency applications include Sections II and III. The percentage of requested funds to be delegated to administrative costs in Section III differs from the City’s Ordinance 5410. The 10% allocation refers to limitations to funding under HOME (Housing Opportunity Made Equal) and SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Program). The percentages of program administration costs NAHAB may approve are calculated according to criteria in Section III. Member Joplin moved that the City, not NAHAB, be responsible for determining mandatory evaluation factors. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. It was recommended the subgrantee ranking system be reviewed. It was suggested a committee review the process and forward recommendations to NAHAB and the City. Concern was expressed all NAHAB members had not voted on this issue. Mr. Holmes said the consolidated plan process should be modified. When Clearwater was designated as a Neighborhood revitalization strategy area, HUD required the City to identify objectives related to an affordable housing strategy and meet the consolidated plan within 5 years. He said the process should be more performance-driven and target specific areas. He suggested 65% of housing funds be allocated to the revitalization strategy area. He reviewed activities normally funded throughout the year in the consolidated plan. He said certain projects need funding if the City is to meet the goals identified in the revitalization strategy: 1) Career Options job training program; 2) Strife Program; 3) foreclosure prevention program; 4) homeownership training program; 5) World Changers; 7) The Havens program; and 8) Community Pride Child Care. Mr. Holmes recommended housing funds be pooled instead of earmarking the money to specific agencies. Agencies would apply on a first-come, first-served, performance basis. Funds will be allocated when the application is approved, not annually. Agencies must prove they can spend funds satisfactorily before obtaining additional money. It was noted other cities use similar performance-based pools. Three subgrantees indicated they were comfortable with a performance-based process. Mr. Holmes said a separate allocation would fund homeownership training. Consensus was for staff to design the budget form so NAHAB members can identify financial information easily. Member Joplin moved to approve a revised performance-based funding distribution plan for housing funds. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Election of NAHAB Chairman & Vice Chairman It was stated Member Graham had agreed to serve as Chair, but cannot do so for 2 months due to a health issue. It was suggested if Member Graham is elected Chair, the Vice Chair can conduct meetings until his return. It was recommended the election be continued until more members are present. Consensus was to continue the election to May 18, 1999. ITEM 9 – Announcements/Board Comments – None. ITEM 10 – Next Regular Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 18, 1999, at City Hall. ITEM 11 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11:23 a.m.