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04/18/2002NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER April 18, 2002 Present: Stephen Jefferies Chair Peggy M. Cutkomp Vice-Chair William Turner, Sr. Board Member Joyce L. Smith Board Member Laurel Braswell Board Member Rev. William Graham Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Also Present: Howie Carroll Assistant Housing Director Michael Holmes Housing Manager Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #3 – Approval of Minutes – March 12 & 27, 2002, meetings Consensus was to postpone approval of the minutes to the May meeting. ITEM #4 – Citizens to be Heard Jerry Spilatro, of Community Service Foundation, distributed a flier on the H.O.P.E. Expo 2002 (Home Ownership for People Everywhere) on June 8, 2002, at 105 Central Park Drive at the Largo Cultural Center. ITEM #5 – FY 2002-2003 Action Plan Funding Recommendations Assistant Housing Director Howie Carroll thanked the NAHAB (Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board) for their efforts during evaluations of subrecipient applications. Housing Manager Michael Holmes reviewed the FY 2002-2003 Consolidated Proposed Funding Scores, subrecipient requests for funding, and proposed allocations for each agency as determined by the NAHAB and TRC (Technical Review Committee). He said staff tries to estimate budget projections in April for fiscal year 2002-2003. Funds can increase or decrease depending upon actual funds received. He said different weights were used to rank agencies in the Public Services category last year. Staff also included additional projects in that category as directed by the City Commission. Mr. Holmes said annually, the City receives more requests for funding than actual funds. The neighborhood revitalization strategy area was formed this year in an effort to fund additional subrecipients in that area. All but 4 public facility projects were funded in the public services area. In response to a question, Mr. Holmes said the 60%/50%/40% ratios were only used to fund agencies in the public services area. As funding requests are higher than available funds, staff can allocate 60% of funds to the 2 highest ranked organizations, 50% to the next 2 highest ranked agencies, and 40% to the remaining agencies until the funds budget for public services are allocated. Mr. Holmes explained how the housing pool is set up for activities related to single family housing projects. Mr. Spilatro said there is a typographical error on staff’s chart indicating CSF had requested $100,000; CSF actually requested $10,000. His agency voluntarily cut back their request from $10,000 to $6,500 this year as they assumed the 100% ranking approval ratios were still in place. He said that cutback would not have been done had he been aware that the ratios for public services category had been changed. As a result, he said he would not be able to offer counseling and budgeting courses. Mr. Carroll said the SHIP (State Housing Initiative Program) has program regulations and thresholds regarding maximum counseling and education funds that can be awarded to agencies. If the opportunity exists, staff can raise those levels of funding to agencies such as CSF as long as they stay within the Florida Housing and Finance guidelines. Different restrictions apply for different uses. Concern was expressed that staff would be juggling funds that have already been targeted for the agencies as ranked. Mr. Carroll said additional funds would come from the Housing pool; none would be taken from any proposed projects that were already allocated funds. Member Braswell moved to amend the FY 2002-2003 Consolidated Proposed Funding by increasing 2 of the CSF funding requests, 2 of Tampa Bay CDC’s requests, and CNHS’s (Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services) request to permit them to be funded at their total requested amounts. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #6 – Old Business Greenwood Apartments Update Mr. Carroll updated the NAHAB regarding Greenwood Apartments. He said progress is continuing. The NAHAB will receive invitations to the ribbon cutting scheduled for the first of June 2002. Fulton Apartments Update Mr. Carroll said budget amendments are being made to include 4 more units. NAHAB Ordinance Changes Mr. Carroll presented a draft ordinance regarding reducing the NAHAB from 9 to 7 members, and consolidating 2 areas of representation. The purpose of the reduction is to address problems associated with finding qualified members to serve on the board. The ordinance also proposes to specify that a quorum would be based on a majority of members serving at each meeting. Consensus was to table this item to the May meeting to allow NAHAB members more time to review the proposed ordinance. Expiring Board Terms Mr. Carroll said Member Cutkomp’s term expires this year. She has indicated her willingness to serve again. Member Turner has indicated he does not wish to seek another term on the NAHAB. Mr. Carroll presented him with a certificate thanking him for his service on the NAHAB. ITEM #7 – New Business Mr. Carroll said the State sent the City a letter stating that Clearwater satisfactorily completed the SHIP program review done in February 2002. ITEM #8 – Announcements Next meeting May 14, 2002 ITEM #9 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.