ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to Approve the Funding Recommendation from the Human Resources Commission for the 2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PUBLIC SERVICE FUNDING, in the Total Amount of $229,000.00.
Body
BACKGROUND:
As approved by the City Council on October 27, 2015 (Item # 15-305), the Advisory Commission on Human Resources (HRC) undertook the review process of the CDBG public service application process. For the 2016 funding year, 21 eligible applications were received requesting over $557,000 in CDBG public service funds. Applications were received for all six funding priority areas adopted by City Council:
• Senior Services
• Youth Services
• Employment & Training
• Child Care Services
• Abused and Neglected Children
• Mental Health Services
Each Commissioner reviewed all 21 applications received. Applicants presented a short overview for the Commission and Commissioners had an opportunity to ask questions of applicants at a special meeting on Friday, December 11. Following this meeting, commissioners independently submitted evaluation sheets for each application. City staff compiled these scores to obtain an average score for each application by dropping the highest and lowest score for each application and taking into account any conflicts of interest declared.
At the December 18 Commission meeting, the average scores were presented to the Commission. To comply with HUD underwriting standards, grant amounts were awarded based on average score tied to a percentage of grant funds requested. Applications with the highest average score received the highest percentage of the grant request. A decreasing scale was used and some adjustments were made including ones to ensure the minimum grant award set by City Council at $7,000 was received.
After a lengthy discussion, Commissioners unanimously approved the Public Service funding recommendations (Attachment A). This recommendation funds all eligible applications, all priority areas, and five new programs to CDBG funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: At this time, HUD has not published the 2016 grant awards. The City anticipates receiving $229,000 in CDBG public service funds. If amount is 5% more or less than this anticipated grant award, staff may adjust award amounts to programs as voted on by the Human Resources Commission.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Public hearings and public comment period are held per HUD grant requirements each year and HRC meetings are open to the public for comment. The public service program helps to address other neighborhood concerns by providing needed services for Peoria low-income residents.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: CDBG funds will be awarded to programs per recommended grant amount dependent upon the amount of CDBG funds received by the City in 2016.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Funding would not be awarded for these activities and an alternative will need to be identified.
ALTERNATIVES: None identified at this time.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Please see Attachment A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Responsive, Efficient City Organization
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Support sustainability
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods
DEPARTMENT: Community Development