ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to APPROVE the APPLICATION INTAKE PROCESS for the 2015 City Roof Repair Program. (City wide)
Body
BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria is an entitlement community with the federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As such, on an annual basis, the City receives HUD funding in the form of three formula grants: 1) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), 2) HOME Investment Partnership grant (HOME) and 3) Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The total annual funding from all three formula grants is approximately $2 million.
Each formula grant has its own specific regulations regarding eligible activities and projects. CDBG funding is used by the City for a variety of programming and services that ultimately benefit low income households in the community. For the 2014 and 2015 program years, the City has allocated CDBG funding for housing rehabilitation for owner occupied properties. City Council approved the 2014 allocation of $230,000 to the roof repair program on October 14, 2014 (Item # 14-406). Additionally, with the approval of the 2015 Annual Action Plan on March 24, 2015 (Item # 15-086), City Council approved the allocation of $218,051 from the yet to be awarded HUD funds for housing rehab - owner occupied programs.
Although the City's program year with HUD begins January 1st, grant funds are not typically received by the City until the spring/summer. This delay in fund availability has allowed the City to reserve grant dollars awarded in one program year for expenditures in the subsequent program year. As such, the 2014 program year dollars allocated to the roof program ($230,000) are currently available for use.
The City has use several different application processes for its rehab programming: 1) first come, first serve, 2) one day opening, 3) lottery system and 4) area restriction. Staff continually strives to find opportunities to leverage City HUD dollars with other initiatives to increase the impact towards neighborhood stabilization.
Peoria LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation) has recently developed a "Community Core Initiative" targeted at areas in the City's East Bluff and South Side neighborhoods. The Community Core Initiative is an effort to address the blight and safety issues identified by area residents and community stakeholders. Peoria LISC envisions that the Initiative will help create a comprehensive approach of demonstrable impact that will usher a ripple effect of positive change. Programming to be available will include home improvements (paint/porch program), beautification projects (lawn and landscaping program), safety initiatives (locks and lights program) and community organizing (litter patrol and vacant lot program). The boundaries of the Community Core Initiative for the East Bluff and South Side are highlighted in the attached maps (Attachment A: LISC Community Core - South Side and Attachment B: LISC Community Core - East Bluff).
To further the resources and community assets that will be focused within the designed "core" areas, staff recommends only accepting applications for the City's Roof Repair Program from the core areas during the first week program applications are available. With the amount of available funding, staff will accept 25 applications for roof assistance for the 2015 program year. If approved, during the first week of the program opening (applications will be available on Wednesday, May 6, 2015) staff will only accept applications from residents of the Community Core areas. This first right of refusal for applications will expire on Wednesday, May 13th and then the program would be available city wide on a first come, first serve basis until the 25 application spots are filled.
Although the program would be included with LISC's Community Core Initiative, City staff would administer this program and applicants would have to comply with City and grant regulations.
Below is the list of eligibility requirements for the City's Roof Program:
1) Owner occupied properties only - applicants must owned and occupied the property for one full calendar year before application submission
2) Household must be at or below 80% of Area Median Income ($53,900 for a family of 4)
3) Property taxes must be paid and current
4) No liens (with the exception of mortgages) can be filed against the property
5) Applicant has active homeowner insurance coverage
6) Contract for Deed properties are not eligible
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Applications for the City's Roof Repair Program for project funds in the amount of $230,000 will be available.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Historically the City's rehab programs are highly sought after by low income homeowners of the community. The opening of the City's Roof Program will provide a needed service.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Applications for the City's Roof Repair Program will become available on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 and will only be accepted from residents located in LISC's Community Core Initiative areas. This first right of refusal will expire on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 and the program will be available city wide on a first come, first serve basis until the 25 application spots are filled.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Applications for the City's Roof Repair Program will be available city wide and accepted on a first come, first served basis until the 25 application spots are filled. Program applications would be available on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.
ALTERNATIVES: None identified
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A. Contractors who will complete the roofing project will have a valid EEO number.
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development