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06/15/1999NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITYOF CLEARWATER June 15, 1999 Present: Rev. William Graham Chair Warren Hunt Vice Chair Howard Groth Board Member Mayme W. Hodges Board Member William Turner, Sr. Board Member Milly Joplin Board Member Peggy M. Cutkomp Board Member Absent: Steven Jeffries Board Member Joyce L. Smith Board Member Also Present: Michael Holmes Housing Manager Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:02 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 Members introduced themselves and their area of representation. ITEM 3 – Approval of May 18, 1999, Minutes Member Hodges moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 18, 1999, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 4 – Citizens to be Heard – None. ITEM 5 – Agency Presentations – None. ITEM 6 – Subgrantee Monitoring Reports – None. ITEM 7 – Old Business Informing the Public of NAHAB Meetings/C-View At the last meeting, former NAHAB Chair Howard Groth said he had discussed increased exposure for NAHAB meetings briefly with the City Manager. He said a cooking program appears to be the dominant show televised on C-View. It appears Cooking Harborview still dominates the June schedule. Mr. Groth said the City Manager indicated he will research the matter and get back to him regarding the issue. Housing Manager Michael Holmes said he has spoken with the City’s new Marketing Communications Director regarding better ways to inform the public about NAHAB and community meetings. She suggested placing NAHAB meetings on the C-View TV program schedule and requested staff readdress the matter with her at a later date. In response to a question, Mr. Holmes said the City Manager’s office controls programming on C-View TV. ITEM 8 – New Business Discussion of the Proposed FY 2000 Consolidated Plan Mr. Holmes reviewed the proposed FY 2000 Consolidated Plan ranking analysis and proposed funding, and explained each funding program. The need is great for the Community Development HOME and SHIP funds. A larger number of public service agencies requested funds in excess of available funds in the public service category. A total of 8 agencies applied for public service funds. Only $150,750 is available to fund these agencies this year. In the public facilities category funding is not capped from Community Development Block Grant program. However, since only $1.5 M is available for various programs, a cap was necessary to award agencies that score better than others, in order to complete all the other program requests. A total of 165 points from total rankings were used as the cap. In the economic development category, four applicants will receive funding. In the Homebuyers Program category, two agencies applied for and will be recommended to receive funding. In the new category of Foreclosure Prevention Program, $50,000 is being requested. In the Relocation program category, $20,000 is being requested for temporary lodging to homeowners during rehabilitation efforts. In the Demolition program category, $30,000 is being requested to provide grants or loans to those individuals to demolish homes and rebuild on the site. This program will rid the City of homes considered “eyesores” in the City and encourage new housing. Mr. Holmes funds in the housing category represented the largest percentage of unspent funds. Those funds will be rolled over into the next year. The meeting recessed from 10:29 to 10:36 a.m. due to a fire drill. In the Affordable Rental Housing program category, no decision has been made as to how to deal with funding. Management is reviewing this category as to whether or not the City wants to participate in this category. Only one applicant has applied for funding. Over the past five years, HUD has given a lot of attention to the Fair Housing program. HUD is encouraging cities to be proactive in identifying fair housing issues. One agency requested funds in this category for $14,000 and staff will recommend they receive funding. In the Program Administration category, a statutory limit dictates the amount of funding for each program. Under the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) program the cap is 20% of the total allocation. Under the HOME program, the City is required to set aside 15% of those funds for a CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization). Only one CHDO, Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, exists. Funds can be used for general administration, rehabilitation, acquisition, disposition, or any other eligible activity under the CDBG or HOME programs. Mr. Holmes said this year, the City will be more proactive regarding funds allocated to agencies and ensuring funds are spent. Rather than earmarking funds to each nonprofit, those funds will be put into one large housing pool and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. As agencies apply for funding, funds will be set aside for their use. Hopes are this system will better utilize available funds. Five agencies have expressed interest in participating in the pool. In response to a question, Mr. Holmes said at the last NAHAB meeting, two agencies spoke in favor of providing funds in this manner. He feels there is sufficient funding for all agencies to participate in the program. To replenish the pool, staff will request that all agencies that generate program income through any opportunities or services provided by the City, return those program income dollars back to the City on a monthly basis and put back into the pool. The pool will be self-generating and provide more money to needed programs. Staff plans to review areas that have the largest housing needs and bring them up to a level comparable to the rest of the City. In response to a question, Mr. Holmes said this program allocated fund to an agency after they have met all criteria and applied for funding. The system encourages agencies to put their plans in place now and begin the qualification process. The system is not structured to allocated more funding to one agency over another. He said beginning in October 1999, the NAHAB will receive financial reports on a monthly basis in order to measure agency performance. Should the program be unsuccessful, staff will request the board’s input for suggestions to improve the program and make it work. One resident asked about funding for the Serenity Club. Mr. Holmes explained that agency requested and received funding last year, but will not be funded this year. One agency representative requested to see other applicants’ applications for funding. Mr. Holmes will provide that information to anyone interested. Mr. Holmes said the Consolidated Plan will be presented to the Commission on July 16, 1999. Update on members’ term limits Member Groth moved to continue this item to the next meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 9 – Announcements/Board Comments Member Joplin thanked Reverend Graham for accepting the nomination for Chair. ITEM 10 – Next Regular Meeting The next regular NAHAB meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 21, 1999, at City Hall. A comment was made that hopefully that meeting will be televised. ITEM 11 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:58 a.m.