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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-07-2017 Item 03 Consideration of the Human Relations Commissions recommended priorities for the 2018 community development block (CDBG) & Grangs-in-aid (GIA) Programs Meeting Date: 11/7/2017 FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director Prepared By: Cara Vereschagin, Planning Technician SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2018 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA) PROGRAMS RECOMMENDATION 1. Approve Community Development Block Grant and Grants-In-Aid funding priorities for 2018, as recommended by the Human Relations Commission; and 2. Make a determination pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) General Rule and Sectio n 15306 Categorical Exemption of the CEQA Guidelines that developing priorities for funding will not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from environmental review. DISCUSSION Background Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Section 805 of the City’s Charter specifically authorizes City funds to be budgeted for various grants and subsidies to economic, promotional, environmental, cultural, or other agencies whose operations are unrelated to those of the City but who contribute largely to the quality of life of the City. The City’s annual CDBG review process provides Council and the public with an opportunity to provide early input in the grant award process. Establishing funding priorities is the first step in the process, which helps to maintain an open, inclusive and fair grant application process. The Human Relations Commission (HRC) is the advisor to the Council on CDBG funding priorities and recommendations. The four steps in the CDBG review process include: 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 4, 2017). Attachment A contains the draft minutes from this hearing. 2. Council priority-setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities. This is scheduled for November 7, 2017. 3. CDBG applications hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to review CDBG applications in light of the adopted funding priorities and forwards its funding recommendations to the County for Program Year 2018. This is scheduled for December 6, 2017. 4. CDBG Program hearing: After the County releases the Draft Action Plan, the City Council holds a public hearing to approve the City’s 2018 CDBG Program and forwards its recommendation to the Urban County for inclusion in the final One-Year Action Plan. Packet Pg 11 3 This is tentatively scheduled for March 2018. Grants-in-Aid (GIA) The City’s GIA program serves to provide financial support to non-profit organizations that promote the economic and social well-being of the citizens of San Luis Obispo. The HRC is also the advisor to the Council on funding priorities and recommendations for the GIA program. The main steps in the GIA review process are similar to the CDBG process and include: 1. HRC “Community Needs Workshop”: The HRC hosts a public hearing to inform the public about upcoming funding amounts, how to apply for grants, to hear community views on grant funding needs, and to recommend funding priorities (held on October 4, 2017, minutes can be found in Attachment A). 2. Council priority-setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities. This is scheduled for November 7, 2017. 3. GIA recommendations hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to finalize GIA recommendations. This is scheduled for April 4, 2018. These recommendations are then forwarded to Council. 4. GIA Program hearing: City Council holds a public hearing to approve the City’s 2018 GIA Program. This is tentatively scheduled for July 2018. Community Needs Workshop On October 4, 2017, the HRC completed the first step of both the CDBG and GIA programs by holding the Community Needs Workshop. An audience of about 20 persons attended the workshop and 9 speakers addressed a wide variety of community needs. Testimony provided to the Commission and staff indicated that there is an increase in demand for services including: affordable and alternative housing, homeless prevention and services, mental health services and housing for previously incarcerated individuals, nutrition for seniors, and economic development opportunities for women. Few representatives also discussed the reduction of funding at the federal, state and local level. The increase in demand, along with a decrease in other agency grant funding has strained providers’ ability to deliver core services. The service providers stressed the importance of the GIA and CDBG programs and encouraged the HRC to continue its support. In addition, an Open City Hall online forum was available to those not able to attend the workshop. Six statements were received, which focused the need for affordable and diverse types of housing, transportation and employment opportunities for people with autism spectrum disorders, reducing homelessness, and mental health services. These comments were also used to assist the HRC review the grant funding priorities. HRC Recommended CDBG Funding Priorities for Program Year 2018 After hearing and reviewing public testimony, the Commission reviewed the previous 2017 CDBG funding priorities and decided to make very minor adjustments to the previous priori ties. The HRC’s recommended 2018 CDBG funding priorities are: 1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter, homelessness prevention and services. 2. Develop and enhance affordable housing for low and very-low income persons. 3. Promote accessibility and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and elderly. Packet Pg 12 3 4. Enhance economic development (to include seismic retrofit, economic stability, low and moderate-income jobs). The priorities adopted by Council set the framework by which the HRC reviews grant applications and recommends funding choices to the Council. Generally, most applications for CDBG funds fit intuitively within one of the listed categories. HRC Recommended GIA Funding Priorities for 2018 The HRC then reviewed the previous 2017 GIA funding priorities and decided to make homeless prevention, including affordable and alternative housing, supportive services and transitional housing, be the main funding priority for this grant year. However, in continuance to allow maximum flexibility for funding recommendations dependent upon the received applications, the following priorities were not ranked, but were agreed to be priorities: • Hunger and malnutrition prevention, • Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need, • Services for seniors and/or people with disabilities in need, • Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need. Next Steps The next step in the CDBG and GIA program cycles is for the Council to consider the HRC’s recommendations and to affirm or revise the City’s funding priorities. This step is important because these priorities will guide the HRC’s actions when it reviews grant applications. These priorities will also guide Council’s final funding decisions when it considers CDBG funding recommendations in March 2018, and GIA funding recommendations in July 2018. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The project is exempt from environmental review per Section 15061 (b)(3) General Rule and Section 15306 Categorical Exemption of the CEQA Guidelines. The project is an action to develop priorities to guide future decisions regarding the allocation of CDBG & GIA funding. Each grant request approved for funding will be reviewed for CEQA compliance at the time the project is filed. It can be seen with certainty that the proposed action to develop priorities for funding will have no significant effect on the environment and is exempt from environmental review. Packet Pg 13 3 FISCAL IMPACT Decisions made regarding priorities will affect how CDBG and GIA applications are evaluated and chosen for support. The City receives CDBG funds through the County allotment and, while this does not directly impact the General Fund, to the extent that projects can be funded through CDBG, they are not otherwise requesting money from the City’s General Fund. The City does designate a portion of General Fund monies for the GIA program and the priorities express ed by the Council will influence how those grants will be awarded. Establishing priorities has no immediate fiscal impact but can be helpful in allocating the CDBG and GIA funding regardless of the amount. ALTERNATIVES 1. The Council may modify the proposed funding priorities. 2. The Council may continue consideration of funding priorities. Direction should be given to staff regarding additional information needed to make a decision on priorities. This alternative is not recommended because the deadline to submit a request for 2018 CDBG funds ends on October 20, 2017, and applicants to the program benefit from knowing the City’s funding priorities in advance. Attachments: a - 10-4-17 HRC Draft Minutes Packet Pg 14 3 Draft Minutes Human Relations Commission Wednesday, October 4, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Clayton ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Michelle Tasseff, Brett Raffish, Barrie DuBois, Vice- Chair Nancy Welts, and Chair Robert Clayton Absent: Commissioner Carol Sexton Staff: Jenny Wiseman, Acting Housing Programs Manager; Cara Vereschagin, Planning Technician CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES ACTION: MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR WELTS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DUBOIS CARRIED 5-0 to approve the minutes of the Adjourned Special Meeting of January 24, 2017 as amended: …A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Tasseff… To Read … A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Vice-Chair Clayton... PUBLIC COMMENT None PUBLIC HEARINGS Packet Pg 15 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Draft Minutes Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 4, 2017 Page 2 1. 2017 Community Needs Workshop Acting Housing Programs Manager Jenny Wiseman presented an overview of the Grants-in-Aid and Community Block Grant processes and timelines, highlighting key dates for the applicants. In response to Commission inquiry, staff clarified that the Community Needs Workshop is intended to gather information from the public regarding health and human service needs in order to develop funding priorities for the 2018-19 grant cycle. Public Comments: Chair Clayton opened the public hearing. The following representatives of various local organizations provided program information and advocated for specific needs in the community, citing access to proper nutrition for seniors, economic development opportunities for women, mental health services for previously incarcerated individuals, and affordable housing, as primary needs in the community: Dan Dow, District Attorney Sr. Theresa Harpin, Restorative Partners Darya Oreizi, People’s Self-Help Housing Alexandra Steinecke, MCSC Women’s Business Center Chuck Jehle, MCSC Women’s Business Center Juliane McAdam, Senior Nutrition Program Donna Fioravanti, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County Frank Ricceri, Transitions Mental Health Association Marcia Alter, HomeShareSLO Chair Clayton closed the public hearing. 2. Establish 2018 CDBG and 2018-19 GIA Funding Priorities The Commission discussed the critical state of the housing situation, needs expressed during the Community Needs Workshop, obtained through Open City Hall, and written correspondence, and the ranking of funding priorities. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DUBOIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAFFISH, CARRIED, (ABSENT COMMISSIONER SEXTON) 3-2 to approve that homeless prevention, including affordable and alternative housing, supportive services, and transitional housing, will be the main funding priority, and the remaining priorities to be unranked for the 2018-2019 grant year. Packet Pg 16 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Draft Minutes Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 4, 2017 Page 3 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAFFISH, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DUBOIS, CARRIED, (ABSENT COMMISSIONER S EXTON) 5-0 to approve the 2018 CDBG and 2018-19 GIA Funding Priorities unchanged from the 2017-2018 funding year. COMMENTS & DISCUSSION 3. Advisory Body Handbook Acting Housing Programs Manager Jenny Wiseman introduced the Advisory Body Handbook to the Commission. Clarification was provided on Appendix A. Mission Statement by Wiseman. Commissioner Communications Staff introduced new Long-Range Planning Technician Cara Vereschagin. Staff informed Commission of a public meet regarding the City Fiscal Health Response Plan taking place on October 5th, at 6:00pm at the Ludwick Center. Vice-Chair Welts informed the Commission that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Commissioner Tasseff informed the Commission that the last of the Peace Talks regarding mental health will be held on Thursday, October 19th at 5:30pm at the Copeland Health Education Pavilion. Commissioner Tasseff informed the Commission that the walk to fight suicide would be happening on Saturday, October 14th out of Mission Plaza. Commissioner Raffish informed the Commission that Cal Poly will be hosting their first recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 9th on campus. Chair Clayton reminded the Commission how influential the work and collaborative effort between Restorative Partners and the County District Attorney’s Office was impacting the community. Staff informed Commission about the concluding of the County Point-in-Time Count Homeless Census and Survey, which could serve as a valuable resource to the Commission. Staff informed Commission that they would reach out to County Staff for a future presentations regarding processes for homeless services. Packet Pg 17 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Draft Minutes Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 4, 2017 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT Chair Clayton adjourned the meeting at 6:33 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Cara Vereschagin Planning Technician; Recording Secretary Packet Pg 18 3