Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2002, BUS 7 - CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE 2003 CDBG P A council j MaongDa�acEn6A Repout s IL-7, CITY O F SAN L U IS O B I S P O FROM: John Mandeville, Community Development Director Prepared By: Jeff Hook, Associate Planner SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE 2003 CDBG PROGRAM. CAO RECOMMENDATION: As recommended by the Human Relations Commission, establish the CDBG funding priorities for the 2003 CDBG Program. DISCUSSION Last year Council revamped the City's annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) review process. The purposes of the changes were to allow early Council input into the grant award process, help Council 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 for the first time, involved the Human Relations Commission (HRC) as advisor to the Council on community needs and funding recommendations. Four key steps in a revised CDBG review process were identified: 1. HRC hosts a "Needs Workshop": The HRC co-hosts a public needs workshop in SLO to inform the public about upcoming funding amounts and how to apply for grants, to solicit community views on grant funding needs, and to recommend funding priorities. 2. Council priority-setting hearing: Council holds a public hearing to set CDBG funding priorities. 3. CDBG applications hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to review CDBG requests and forwards its funding recommendations for the Draft Consolidated Plan. 4. CDBG Program Hearing: Council holds public hearing on Draft Consolidated Plan, approves the City's CDBG Program and forwards its recommendations to the Urban County. On October 2nd the HRC completed Step 1 by holding its combined Grants-In-Aid and CDBG community needs hearing. An audience of about 25 persons attended the hearing and speakers addressed a wide variety of community needs. Community needs identified included affordable housing, "safe zones" for homeless persons, new senior center, family planning for low income persons, senior citizen health screening, residential rehabilitation facilities for persons with drug and alcohol dependency, support for Hospice services, continued support for Prado Day Center and Homeless Shelter, bilingual services for non-English speaking community, and transitional housing for the mentally disabled. A recurring theme among most speakers was the need for --1 - 1 2003 CDBG Funding Priorities Page 2 affordable housing for their clients. After hearing testimony, commissioners reviewed last year's funding priorities set by Council: 1. Affordable housing. 2. Emergency shelter for homeless persons. 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. After a brief discussion and on a motion by Commissioner Lamb, seconded by Commissioner Hutchings, the Commission unanimously voted to affirm that these continue to be important community needs and recommended that "health services" for very-low and low income persons be added as a funding priority. Commissioners also recommended a "preamble" be included to clarify the primary intended clients for the CDBG priorities, as follows: "Community Development Block Grant funds will support programs and services for the most vulnerable members of the City's populations, including, but not limited to: the elderly and disabled non-English speaking persons, persons with life-threatening medical issues, mental health issues, ex-offenders and persons with substance abuse issues. " 1. Affordable housing. 2. Emergency shelter for homeless persons. 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). S. Childcare and youth recreation services. 6. Health services for very-low and low-income persons. The next step — step 2 in the CDBG program cycle -- is for Council to consider the HRC's recommendation and set the 2003 funding priorities. This step is important because these priorities will guide the HRC when it reviews the CDBG applications and makes funding recommendations on December 4th, and will guide Council when it considers the HRC's funding recommendations and CDBG applications,tentatively scheduled for March 4, 2003. ALTERNATIVES Council may choose to add or modify priorii;es, oy muLivi,, or e no action, thereby allowing the existing priorities to continue unchanged. ATTACHMENT 1. Human Relations Commission draft minutes, October 2, 2002 meeting Jh/cdbg/cdbgfundingpriotities I 1-12-02 � �a Attachment 1 Human Relations Commission Minutes October 2, 2002 Page 3 4. Recommend that Council direct staff to investigate the creation of a site where individuals can park vehicles/motor homes in a safe place overnight; motion carried 7:0. Item 3. HRC Overview of 2002-2003 Community Development Block Grant Program Associate Planner Hook gave an overview of the Community Development Block Grant process, funding, upcoming dates, and rules HRC needs to follow for the 2003 CDBG grant cycle. Brief HRC discussion ensued. Item 4. HRC Public Hearing for the 2002-2003 Community Development Block Grant Program Chairperson Nichols opened the Public Hearing. Mary Beth Schroeder expressed hope that the HRC would recommend the conversion of 1041 Nipomo to a senior center. Tammy-Hanania, Director of ALPHA, asked HRC to consider directing 2003 CDBG funds to ALPHA to assist women who are pregnant and homeless. Ronda Govette, EOC employee, advocated funding for Senior Health Screening and cited examples of substandard medical care for the elderly, the poor, and the uneducated in San Luis Obispo. Tammy Wiseman, Life Steps, requested funds to offset State budget cuts. She noted that Life Steps provided drug-free treatment facilities for mothers in San Luis Obispo County. Lillian Judd, EOC Planning Director, gave an overview of the County process and spoke in support of a Housing Trust Fund. Marianne Kennedy, Executive Director of the Women's Shelter, asked the HRC to direct CDBG funding toward affordable housing. Leslie Jones, Hospice, encouraged the HRC to support CDBG funding for Hospice to assist them with complimentary health care for end-of-life issues. -1 -3 i Attachment 1 Human Relations Commission Minutes October 2, 2002 Page 4 Katherine Manning, EOC Homeless Services, recommended support for the homeless population and cited the need for a place in the County of San Luis Obispo that would allow the homeless to park their vehicles in a safe place. Dee Torres, Manager Prado Day Center, provided an overview of the center's services and asked HRC to continue their support. Shawn Ison, Manager Homeless Shelter, noted that the homeless population is growing and implored HRC to provide funds for the shelter. Edie Kahn, Executive Director SLO Aids Support Network, summarized services they are able to provide with CDBG and GIA funds and asked for continued support. Cheryl Flores, Peoples Self Help Housing, declared that more housing is needed this year and asked for HRC support. Linda.Villanueva, Coordinator for the Latino Outreach Program, discussed the needs of the Latino Community in San Luis Obispo and urged HRC support. Ray Flemming, Director Health Services EOC, reviewed health needs for uninsured women and requested HRC's support. Carl Hedge, Literacy Council, spoke to the need for English language training for the increasing immigrant population. Jill Bolster-White, Transition Mental Health, spoke in favor of a Housing Trust Fund. . . She stressed the key to mental health stability is housing. Fredrick Chanev, Gatehelp Inc./Gryphon Place, summarized their program and stressed the need for housing. Chairperson Nichols closed the Public Hearing. Commissioner Hutchings suggested setting priorities including affordable housing, homeless shelter services, other homeless services, the needs of non-English speaking citizens and the needs of young families. Commissioner Wolff noted that the majority of the comments addressed the issue of housing. He expressed support for the formation of a Housing Trust fund. Additionally he noted the need for more jobs. He stated that the HRC funding recommendations are difficult to make because the needs are increasing while the funds for human services are decreasing. 1 rL� Attachment 1 Human Relations Commission Minutes October 2, 2002 Page 5 Commissioner Gingg thanked all the speakers and promised that HRC would try to help as best they could. Commissioner Lamb expressed appreciation to all the service providers. He cited the need for a comprehensive approach and urged HRC to make health care issues for the low-income population a priority. Commissioner Wheeler and Commissioner Forsberg thanked all the speakers and noted that the HRC will do their best to make recommendations to help as many groups as possible.. Chairperson Lamb inquired if community health care for low-income citizens could be considered for CDBG funds? Associate Planner. Hook advised that these health services have typically been the responsibility of the County of San Luis Obispo with the City only getting directly involved occasionally. He stated that City CDBG funds had been used in the past for acquisition of a women's health care center. Brief Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Hutchings suggested including the "under-served population" in the recommendation to Council. HRC members concurred. ACTION: Moved by Lamb/Hutchings to affirm the HRC-2003 CDBG funding priorities as follows: 1) Affordable Housing. 2) Emergency shelter for homeless persons. 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. 6. Health services for low-income persons. In addition the HRC Commission recommended adding the following preamble to the 2003 CDBG funding priorities, "Community Development Block Grant funds will support programs and services for the most vulnerable members of the City's populations, including, but not limited to: the elderly and disabled, non-English speaking persons, persons with life-threatening medical issues, mental health issues, ex-offenders and persons with substance abuse issues,"motion carried 7:0. Commissioner Comments on Other Issues: Commissioner Forsberg reported on the YMCA Childcare and Youth Activities. Attachment 1 Human Relations Commission Minutes October 2, 2002 Page 6 Commissioner Wolff invited HRC members to attend the open house for Hospice's new home on November 1, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. across the street from Scolari's Market. Commissioner Gingg asked the HRC to consider placing more information about the HRC on the City's website. Human Resources Analyst Sylvain presented an overview of recent staff training on Power Point for the Government Access Channel. There being no further business to come before the HRC, Chairperson Nichols adjourned the HRC meeting at 7:40 p.m. to the next regular meeting of the HRC to be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2002 in the Council Hearing Room. Respectfully Submitted, Mary Kopecky Recording Secretary