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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-06-2015 Item 06 - Consideration of the HRC's Recommended Priorities for 2016 CDBG and GIA Meeting Date: 10/6/2015 FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director Prepared By: Jenny Wiseman, Planning Technician SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA) PROGRAMS RECOMMENDATION 1. As recommended by the Human Relations Commission, approve Community Development Block Grant and Grants-In-Aid funding priorities for 2016. 2. Make a determination pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) General Rule and Section 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. BACKGROUND Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 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 City 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 September 2, 2015). Attachment A contains the draft minutes from this hearing. 2. Council priority-setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities. This is scheduled for October 6, 2015. 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 2016. This is scheduled for December 2, 2015. 6 Packet Pg. 15 4. CDBG Program hearing: After the County releases the Draft One-Year Action Plan, the City Council holds a public hearing to approve the City’s 2016 CDBG Program and forwards its recommendation to the Urban County for inclusion in the final One-Year Action Plan. This is tentatively scheduled for February 2, 2016. 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 and how to apply for grants, to hear community views on grant funding needs, and to recommend funding priorities (held on September 2, 2015, minutes can be found in Attachment A). 2. Council priority-setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities. This is scheduled for October 6, 2015. 3. GIA recommendations hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to finalize GIA recommendations. This is scheduled for May 4, 2016. These recommendations are then forwarded to Council. 4. GIA Program hearing: City Council reviews HRC recommendations and approves the City’s 2016 GIA Program. This is tentatively scheduled for July 5, 2016. Community Needs Workshop On September 2, 2015, the HRC completed the first step of both the CDBG and GIA programs by holding its community needs hearing. An audience of about 10 persons attended the hearing and 9 speakers addressed a wide variety of community needs. Testimony provided to the Commission and staff indicated that difficult economic conditions were continuing to drive an increase in service needs. Representatives from non-profits who spoke pointed to an increase in demand for services including: emergency shelter, homeless prevention and services, improved disability access, hunger prevention and nutrition, child care, senior services, affordable housing, business and self-employment training, and social programs. Representatives also discussed the reduction of funding at the federal, state and local level. The increase in demand along with a decrease in 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. HRC Recommended CDBG Funding Priorities for Program Year 2016 After discussion of community needs and testimony provided by the public, the Commission reviewed the 2015 CDBG funding priorities and decided to re-affirm the priorities without modification. The HRC’s recommended 2016 CDBG funding priorities are: 1. Emergency and transitional shelter, homelessness prevention and services. 6 Packet Pg. 16 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. 4. 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 2016 The HRC also reviewed the 2015 GIA funding priorities and decided to re-affirm the priorities without modification. The list below is bulleted instead of numbered specifically because the HRC does not rank these recommended funding priorities to allow maximum flexibility when making funding recommendations dependent upon the applications received.  Homeless prevention including supportive services and transitional housing  Hunger and malnutrition prevention  Supportive physical and mental health services  Services for seniors and/or people with disabilities  Supportive services for youth and their development; especially targeted to youth at risk 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 on February 3, 2016, and GIA funding recommendations on July 5, 2016. 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 gather information and community feedback, and develop priorities to guide future decisions regarding the allocation of CDBG & GIA funding. Each grant request approved for funding will be subject to CEQA 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. 6 Packet Pg. 17 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 expressed by the Council will influence how those grants will be aw arded. 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 2016 CDBG funds ends on October 23, 2015, and applicants to the program benefit from knowing the City’s funding priorities in advance. Attachments: a - 09-02-2015 DRAFT HRC Minutes 6 Packet Pg. 18 Human Relations Commission Minutes Wednesday, September 2, 2015 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, September 2, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Tasseff. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Julia Jones, Carol Sexton, Gene Strohl, Maria Troy, Vice Chair Robert Clayton and Chair Michelle Tasseff Absent: Commissioner Janet Pierucci Staff Present: Tyler Corey, Housing Programs Manager; Jenny Wiseman, Planning Technician; Rebecca Gershow, Associate Planner; and Monique Lomeli, Recording Secretary CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Human Relations Commission Meeting of August 5, 2015 Motion by Commissioner Strohl, second by Commissioner Troy, carried 5-0 to approve the Minutes of the Human Relations Commission meeting of August 5, 2015. BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Neighborhood Matching Grants Presentation Associate Planner Gershow narrated a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Neighborhood Matching Grants”. In response to Commission inquiries, Ms. Gershow explained that the program is intended to allow flexibility for neighborhoods to self- select and define their own boundaries; stated that applications requesting funding for phased programs will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 6.a Packet Pg. 19 At t a c h m e n t : a - 0 9 - 0 2 - 2 0 1 5 D R A F T H R C M i n u t e s ( 1 1 2 9 : C D B G & G I A F u n d i n g P r i o r i t i e s ) City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Human Relations Commission Minutes of September 2, 2015 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARING 3. Overview of the Grants-in-Aid and Community Development Block Grant Process Planning Technician Wiseman narrated a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Community Needs Workshop”; provided an overview of the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) processes, including applicant criteria, funding priorities, and the processing timeline for each program. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Tasseff opened the public hearing. Jerry Rioux, Nipomo, expressed concerns regarding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in businesses throughout the City; suggested the City allocate funds toward education and awareness of ADA requirements. Jason Reed, W omen’s Shelter for San Luis Obispo County, expressed gratitude to the Commission for recommending the organization for GIA funding in the past; emphasized the Community’s critical need for affordable housing. In response to Commission inquiry Mr. Reed specified that the shelter also serves men, noting that it has two transitional housing properties; conveyed that the agency mission focuses on serving the needs of abused persons but partners with other agencies that offer related services. Julianne Mcadam, Senior Nutrition Program, briefly summarized services the organization provides and stated that there is a clear need for these services within the Community. In response to Commission inquiry Ms. Mcadam stated that the program provides free meals to people over the age of 60, serving approximately 1,600 meals countywide daily; pointed out that program costs are increasing due to the rising cost of food and delivery. Bryn Smith, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO), summarized services provided by the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter and the Prado Day Center. Dona Hare Price, Learn Connect Play, uses underutilized civic spaces to provide child care services for low-income and special needs children; indicated that the intent is to employ teachers with specialized training beginning in September 2016 with children attending 3-days a week for 3-hours each day. Biz Steinberg, representing CAPSLO, spoke on the need to address issues related to low-income housing, access to medical services, affordable childcare, affordable education. Mary Lou Zivna, Case Manager, CAPSLO, stated that the goal of case managers is to help clients obtain affordable housing and maintain stability; expressed appreciation to the Commission for supporting CAPSLO in the past. 6.a Packet Pg. 20 At t a c h m e n t : a - 0 9 - 0 2 - 2 0 1 5 D R A F T H R C M i n u t e s ( 1 1 2 9 : C D B G & G I A F u n d i n g P r i o r i t i e s ) City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Human Relations Commission Minutes of September 2, 2015 Page 3 Chuck Jehle, Mission Community Services, Women’s Business Center, spoke of his involvement in providing self-employment training for low - to moderate - income individuals; provided an overview of services and success rates. Carol Ramirez, Mission Community Services, Women’s Business Center, applauded the services provided by Mission Community Services, noting that she attended the 12 - week training course which assisted her in creating a small business and becoming financially stable. There being no others desiring to speak on this item, the public hearing was closed. 4. Establishing Grants-in-Aid and Community Development Block Grant Funding Priorities Staff requested Commission feedback on the possibility of ranking priorities and setting criteria to help with decisions on allocation of funds. Following Commission discussion, motion by Vice Chair Clayton, second by Commissioner Sexton, carried 6-0 to adopt GIA funding priorities as-is. Commission expressed the need to assess the actual financial needs of organizations requesting grants; suggested changing the existing budgetary questions on the grant application to include specific information to indicate whether or not funds allocated are intended to leverage other funding; expressed the desire to wean organizations with a history of GIA funding off of the program and encourage self-sufficiency or alternate funding options. Following discussion, motion by Vice Chair Clayton, second by Commissioner Strohl, carried 6-0 to accept Community Development Block Grant priorities as-is. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Chair Tasseff directed staff to identify an appropriate point of contact for the public comment issue regarding ADA compliance and to follow up with the public speaker; and directed staff to keep the Commission updated on what requirements need to be met in order to establish GIA funding criteria for the 2017 grant cycle. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chair Tasseff adjourned the meeting at 6:35 pm. to the next regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday October 7, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. Respectfully submitted, Monique Lomeli Recording Secretary 6.a Packet Pg. 21 At t a c h m e n t : a - 0 9 - 0 2 - 2 0 1 5 D R A F T H R C M i n u t e s ( 1 1 2 9 : C D B G & G I A F u n d i n g P r i o r i t i e s )