HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2004, PH2 - CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2005 CDBG PROGRAM councit Mft6qD� �c ae
j acEnba Report
CITY OF SAN LU I S OBISPO
FROM: John Mandeville, Community Development Director L�
Prepared By: Doug Davidson, Housing Programs Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION'S
RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2005 CDBG PROGRAM
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve the CDBG funding priorities for the 2005 CDBG Program, as recommended by the
Human Relations Commission (HRC).
DISCUSSION
In 2001, Council revised the City's annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
review process. The purposes of the changes were to allow Council input earlier in the grant
award process, assist Council to prioritize community needs and help maintain an open, inclusive
and fair grant application process. These changes "moved up" the grant review process by at
least one month and established the Human Relations Commission (HRC) as the advisor to the
Council on community needs and funding recommendations. The four steps in the CDBG
review process are as follows:
1. HRC hosts a "Needs Workshop": The HRC hosts a public hearing to inform the public
about upcoming funding amounts and how to apply for grants, to hear community views on
grant funding needs, and to recommend funding priorities(held on October 6, 2004).
2. Council priority-setting hearing: Council holds a public hearing to set CDBG funding
priorities (November 16`n)
3. CDBG applications hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to review CDBG requests and
forwards its funding recommendations for Program Year 2005 (scheduled for December 15`).
4. CDBG Program hearing: Council holds a public hearing on Draft One-Year Action Plan,
approves the City's 2005 CDBG Program and forwards its recommendations to the Urban
County (tentatively scheduled for March 1, 2005)..
On October 6`s the HRC completed Step 1 by holding its combined Grants-In-Aid and CDBG
community needs hearing, including the longer range needs of the 2005 Consolidated Plan. An
audience of about 25 persons attended the hearing and speakers addressed a wide variety of
community needs (draft minutes attached). CDBG needs identified included continued support
for homeless services, affordable housing, senior services, and social services. After hearing
testimony, Commissioners reviewed last year's funding priorities set by Council.
a - I
Consideration of the HRC's Recommended Priorities for the 2005 CDBG Program Page 2
Council-Approved 2004 CDBG Funding Priorities
As established at a public hearing on November 18, 2003, the Council's approved 2004 CDBG
funding priorities are:
1. Emergency shelter for homeless persons. (Maintain existing services and building resources
for future needs.)
2. Enhance and develop housing affordable to low and very-low income persons, including
seniors.
3. Removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and elderly.
4. Economic development (to enhance economic stability, provide jobs for low/moderate
income persons, and remove spot blight conditions).
5. Childcare and youth recreation services.
Recommended 2005 CDBG Funding Priorities
After discussion and a motion by Commissioner Lamb, seconded by Commissioner Hutchings,
the Commission voted 6-0 (Commissioner Gingg absent from vote) to recommend that the City
Council modify the 2005 CDBG funding priorities as follows:
I. Emergency shelter for homeless persons. (Maintain existing services and building
resources for future needs.)
2.. Enhance and develop housing affordable to low and very-low incomepersons, including
seniors.
3. Education concerning and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and
seniors.
4. Economic development (to include seismic retrofit, enhance economic stability, and
provide jobs for low/moderate income persons).
Three priorities from last year were adjusted:
1. Adding the educational aspect to removal of architectural barriers (priority #3). The HRC
believed that education about access for the disabled was important, particularly given the
recent litigation throughout the County on ADA issues.
2. Adding seismic retrofit specifically (and removing reference to "spot blight") in the
economic development activities (priority #4). Following up on recent seismic activity, the
accelerated timeline to retrofit, and the hiring of a seismic coordinator, the HRC wanted to
specifically add seismic retrofit to the economic development activities.
Consideration of the HRC's Recommended Priorities for the 2005 CDBG Program Page 3
3. Eliminating child care and youth recreation (priority #5). Child care services have not been
funded with CDBG in recent years. With the ongoing commitment of CDBG public service
dollars (subject to the 15% cap) for the Homeless Shelter, the HRC thought it made sense to
take it off the list of CDBG priorities. Child care, along with other public services not able
to be funded through CDBG, remain on the list of GIA funding areas.
Step 2 in the CDBG program cycle is before the Council tonight; consider the NRC's
recommendation and set funding priorities for the 2005 Program Year. These priorities will
guide the HRC when it reviews CDBG applications and makes funding recommendations on
December 15` and the Council when it considers the HRC's funding recommendations, tentatively
scheduled for March 1, 2005.
ALTERNATIVES
Council may choose to add or modify priorities; by motion, or take no action, thereby allowing
the existing priorities to continue unchanged.
ATTACHMENT
1. Human Relations Commission draft minutes, October 6, 2004 meeting.
dd/CDBGCCfundingpriorities05
a - 3
i
Attachment 1
1 ; a .
Human Relations Commission Minutes _ �,•,.�,:�,,,,��, ;.,.. __,,,,,�,��. a„u�
October 6, 2004
Page 2 ®RAF,
PUBLIC HEARING
1. GRANTS IN AID (GIA) AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS
(CDBG)-COMMUNITY NEEDS WORKSHOP
Housing Programs Manager Davidson presented an overview of the CDBG process
and reviewed the Consolidated Plan progression. Director of Human_Resources
Moloney presented an outline of the GIA program. San Luis Obispo County Planner
Navarro delineated the sub points of the Consolidated Plan.
Chairperson Nichols opened the public hearing.
Richard Gruner, Senior Volunteer Services, advocated funding programs that support
senior citizens.
Karen Stensen, Long Term Care Ombudsmen 3232 South Higuera 101 B, spoke in
support of programs that keep seniors healthy. Additionally she suggested the City
consider adopting an ordinance to license private in-home care givers.
Gary Ray Rogers, San Luis Obispo engineering consultant, favored accessible
affordable housing, requiring minimal access standards, and promoting seminars to
educate business owners about cost-effective ways to make their business more
accessible.
Patsy McKenzie, ALPHA, encouraged HRC support for pregnant women and families
who are homeless.
Kathy Smith, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, reported their organization assists at-risk
children in the community by providing role models who interrupt the negative cycle and
asked the HRC for continued support.
George Moylan, Executive Director of the Housing Authority, noted homelessness is
on the rise especially with families. He stated CDBG funds were not an effective way
for addressing affordable housing because the pie is shrinking and also because the
process takes too long from start to finish. He stated last year he asked for$140,000
for Prado Day Center and had just received the money. This year he will be asking for
$40,000 more for the Prado Day Center because the CDBG process took so long the
work will cost more. Additionally he will be asking for $40,000 to add sprinklers to the
homeless shelter. He asked the HRC to seriously consider replacing the homeless
shelter because it is deteriorating.
C:\DOCUME-1\slouser\LOCALS-I\Temp\OCTOBE-].DOC n
n 4
Attachment 1
i. =
Human Relations Commission Minutes
October 6, 2004
Page 3
Commissioner Ginqq left at 6:00 p.m.
Jerry Rioux, Executive Director of San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund,
advocated partnering with cities and counties to help create more affordable housing.
He spoke in support of putting as many resources as possible into housing, buying
land, allowing second units, and permitting more affordable mixed uses.
Jody Smith, and Peggy Fowler EOC, Homeless Services Division, reported that
homelessness was the most important issue before the HRC. They reiterated Mr.
Moylan's comment regarding the physical condition of the homeless shelter.
Suzanne.Heitzman, Department of Social Services Homeless Coordinator, spoke in
support of finding housing for homeless mentally ill citizens.
Vicki Taylor, 805 A Fiero Lane, EOC Child Care Resource Connection, spoke to the
need for funds to assist in recruiting and retaining child care providers.
Bernadette Bernardi, Executive Director of the Literacy Council, reported that the
Literacy Council was serving 465 learners with 350 volunteers. She spoke to the need
for assisting community members who cannot read or write. She urged continued HRC
support.
Chairperson Nichols closed the public hearing.
HRC discussion ensued.
ACTION: Moved by Lamb/H_utchings to reorder and amend the CDBG Funding
Priorities to read as follows:
1. Emergency shelter for homeless persons.
2. Enhance and develop housing affordable to low and very-income persons,
including seniors.
3. Education concerning and/or removal of architectural barriers for the
disabled and elderly.
4. Economic development (to include seismic retrofit, economic stability, low
moderate income jobs.)
Motion carried 6:0.
C:\DOCUME—l\slouser\LDCALS—I\Temp\OCTOBE—I.DOC
a -s
r ;
.. Attachment 1 _
Human Relations Commission Minutes
October 6, 2004 ,
Page 4 ffr 0
ACTION: Moved by Hutchings/Wolff to amend the non-ranked GIA Funding
Areas to read as follows:
■ Homeless Prevention and Services
■ Job Training
• Supportive Health Services
• Services for Seniors and/or People with Disabilities
■ Affordable Child Care
■ Families and/or Youth at Risk
BUSINESS ITEMS
2. REVIEW AND REVISION OF THE 2004-2005 WORK PLAN (CONTINUED
FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2004)
Continued to the November 3, 2004 meeting.
3. 2005-22Q7 FINANCIAL PLAN --AND YOUR IMPORTANT ROLE IN IT
(MOLONY)
Director of Human sources Moloney,briefly discussed the 2005-07 Financial
Plan—And Your Imports t Role in It memorandum from City Administrative Officer
Hampian and Finance and formation Technology Director Statler dated August 30,
2004.
HRC discussion ensued.
ACTION: Moved by Lamb/Whe er to approve the following HRC Goals in
support of the City's 2005-2007 Fi\an
1. Reaffirm the HRC Work Plaished City Priorities.
2. In reaffirming the HRC comies, through the GIA process and
CDBG process, the spectruaffordable housingand
assisting those without houe ocus of City efforts. It is
recommended:
C:\DOCUME-I1.slouseTUDCAIS-1\Temp\OCTOSE-I.DOC n