ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to APPROVE the Funding Recommendations from the Advisory Commission on Human Resources for the 2018 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC SERVICE FUNDING, in the Amount of $227,400.00.
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BACKGROUND: As approved by City Council on July 25th (Item #17-245), the Advisory Commission on Human Resources (HRC) undertook the process of reviewing the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public service applications. For the 2018 funding year, eighteen eligible applications were received requesting nearly $438,000. Applications were received in all six priority funding areas adopted by the City Council:
• Senior Services
• Youth Services
• Employment and Training
• Child Care Services
• Abused and Neglected Children
• Mental Health Services
Each Commissioner reviewed all 18 applications received. Applicants presented a short overview for the Commission and the Commission had an opportunity to ask questions of the applicants at a special meeting on November 3rd. Following the meeting, Commissioners independently submitted evaluation forms for each application. City staff compiled these scores and dropped the highest and lowest score for each application. Then, an average score was created from the remaining scores taking into account any Commissioners who did not score an applicant due to a declared conflict of interest.
At the November 17th Commission meeting, the average scores were presented to the Commission along with some funding options as a starting point for discussion. After a detailed discussion, the Commission decided to fund all applications that received 140 points or higher, which would be considered approximately 80% of the score to be at least a “B”. To comply with HUD underwriting standards, grant amounts were awarded based on an average score tied to a percentage of grant funds requested. A decreasing scale was used and some adjustments were made to allocate all the funds and ensure the minimum grant award of $7,000 was received. The draft minutes from the Commission meeting are included as an attachment.
A history of public service funding by organization from the last five years is also attached. This chart does not include the proposed grant awards for 2018.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: At this time, HUD had not announced the 2018 grant awards. City staff anticipate $227,400 to be available in CDBG Public Service funds. If there is less than a 5% variance in this anticipated amount, staff may adjust award amounts to programs as approved by the Human Resources Commission.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Public hearing and public comment periods are held per HUD grant requirements each year. In addition, the Human Resources Commission meetings are open to the public. The public service programs help 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 amounts dependent upon the amount of CDBG funds received by the City in 2018.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Funding would not be awarded for these activities and an alternative will need to be identified.
ALTERNATIVES: None at this time.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Please see attachment. All grantees will have an active EEO certification number prior to receiving funds.
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. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
3. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
2. Support sustainability.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development