ACTION REQUESTED:
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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 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PUBLIC SERVICE FUNDING, in the Total Amount of $224,400.00.
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BACKGROUND: As approved by the City Council on July 12, 2016 (Item # 16-243), the Advisory Commission on Human Resources (HRC) undertook the process of reviewing CDBG public service applications. For the 2017 funding year, 21 eligible applications were received requesting over $529,000 in CDBG public service funds. Applications were received in all seven funding priority areas adopted by the City Council:
• Senior Services
• Youth Services
• Services for Battered and Abused Spouses
• Employment and 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 the Commission had an opportunity to ask questions of applicants at a special meeting on Friday, November 4. Following the meeting, commissioners independently submitted evaluation sheets 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 18 Commission meeting, the average scores were presented to the Commission along with some funding options as a starting point for discussion. To ensure the use of funds by the best applicants and to ensure rigor in the public service funding process, the Commission decided to fund all applications that received an average score of 139 points or higher, which would be considered approximately 80% of the total 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 including ones to ensure the minimum grant award of $7,000 was received.
After a detailed discussion, Commissioners approved the Public Service recommendation that funded 17 of the 21 applications (Attachment A). The draft minutes from the Commission meeting are included as an attachment.
A history of public service applications and funding by organization from 2002-2016 is also attached. This chart does not include the proposed grant awards for 2017.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: At this time, HUD has not published the 2017 grant awards. The City anticipates $224,400 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 voted on 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 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 2017.
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. 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. Support sustainability.
2. Have an efficient government.
3. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development