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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-2016 Item 10 Consideration of the Human Relations Commission Recommended Priorities for the 2017 Community Development Block Grant and Grants In Aid Programs Meeting Date: 10/18/2016 FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director Prepared By: Jenny Wiseman, Acting Housing Programs Manager SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) AND GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA) PROGRAMS RECOMMENDATION As recommended by the Human Relations Commission, approve the Community Development Block Grant and Grants-In-Aid funding priorities for 2017. 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 ap plication 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 September 7, 2016). 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 18, 2016. 3. CDBG Initial Recommendations 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 2017. This is scheduled for December 7, 2016. 4. CDBG Program Hearing: After the County releases the Draft Action Plan, the City Council holds a public hearing to approve the City’s 2017 CDBG Program and forwards its recommendation to the Urban County for inclusion in the final One-Year Action Plan. This is tentatively scheduled for March 7, 2017. 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, similar to the CDBG process, include: 10 Packet Pg. 124 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 September 7, 2016, minutes can be found in Attachment A). 2. Council Priority-Setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities. This is scheduled for October 18, 2016. 3. GIA Initial Recommendations Hearing: HRC holds a public hearing to finalize GIA recommendations. This is scheduled for May 3, 2017. These recommendations are then forwarded to Council. 4. GIA Program Hearing: City Council holds a public hearing to approve the City’s 2017 GIA Program. This is tentatively scheduled for July 18, 2017. Community Needs Workshop On September 7, 2016, 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 10 speakers addressed a wide variety of community needs. Testimony provided to the Commission indicated that there is an increase in demand for services including: affordable and alternative housing, homeless prevention and services, health care and pharmaceutical supply, hunger prevention and nutrition, child care, and senior 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. Ten comments were received, which focused the need for affordable housing, reducing homelessness, and assisting at-risk youth. These comments were also used to assist the HRC develop the grant funding priorities. 2017 FUNDING PRIORITIES HRC Recommended CDBG Funding Priorities After hearing and reviewing public testimony, the Commission reviewed the 2016 CDBG funding priorities and decided to make very minor adjustments to these previous priorities. The HRC’s recommended 2017 CDBG ranked 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. 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 10 Packet Pg. 125 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 The HRC then reviewed the 2016 GIA funding priorities and decided to modify them to include affordable housing and further distinguish clients that are in need. 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 affordable and alternative housing, supportive services and transitional housing.  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 Once the Council considers the HRC’s recommended funding priorities, these priorities will guide the HRC’s actions when reviewing grant applications and awarding funding. These priorities will also guide Council’s final funding decisions when it considers CDBG funding recommendations on March 7, 2017, and GIA funding recommendations on July 18, 2017. 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 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. FISCAL IMPACT Funding priorities will affect how CDBG and GIA applications are evaluated and how funds are awarded. The City receives CDBG funds through the County allotment; 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 awarded. While final 2017-18 GIA fund amounts have not yet been established, a total of $138,500 in General Funds was set aside for GIA in fiscal year 2016-17. Staff expects to receive similar GIA funding amounts for fiscal year 2017-18. Establishing priorities has no immediate fiscal impact but is helpful in allocating the CDBG and GIA funding regardless of the amount. 10 Packet Pg. 126 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 an application for 2017 CDBG funds ends on October 21, 2016, and applicants to the program benefit from knowing the City’s funding priorities in advance. Attachments: a - HRC Draft Minutes - 09-07-2016 10 Packet Pg. 127 Minutes - DRAFT HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission was called to order on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Tasseff. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Julia Jones, Paul Orton, Carol Sexton, Nancy Welts, Vice Chair Robert Clayton, and Chair Michelle Tasseff. Absent: Commissioner Gene Strohl Staff: Acting Housing Programs Manager Jenny Wiseman, Planning Technician Steven Orozco, and Recording Secretary Monique Lomeli PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of Minutes MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JONES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WELTS, CARRIED (ABSENT: COMMISSIONER STROHL) 6-0 to approve the minutes of the Human Relations Commission for the meeting of August 3, 2016. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. 2016 Community Needs Workshop Acting Housing Programs Manager Jenny Wiseman presented an overview of the Grants-in-Aid and Community Block Grant process and timelines, highlighting key dates for the applicants. 10.a Packet Pg. 128 Attachment: a - HRC Draft Minutes - 09-07-2016 (1467 : 2017 CDBG and GIA Funding Recommendations) DRAFT Minutes – Human Relations Commission Meeting of September 7, 2016 Page 2 In response to Commission inquiry, staff clarified that the Community Needs Workshop is intended to gather information from the public regarding health and human services needs in order to develop funding priorities for the 2017-18 grant cycle. Public Comments: Chair Tasseff 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, mental health services, and affordable housing, childcare, and medical services as primary needs in the community: Juliane McAdam, Senior Nutrition Program Frank Ricceri, Transitions Mental Health Association Charlene Ables, Assistance League of San Luis Obispo County Dona Hare Price, Learn. Connect. Play. Foundation Claudia Lopez, Alliance for Pharmaceutical Access, Inc. Audrey Flemming, Pharmaceutical Access, Inc. Consuelo Meux, SLO Noor Foundation Jenny Luciano, Child Development Resource Center Suzanne Russell, Tolosa Children’s Dental Center Anne Wyatt, Home Share SLO Chair Tasseff closed the public hearing. 2. Establish 2017 CDBG and 2017-18 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 possibility of ranking funding priorities. ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JONES, CARRIED, (ABSENT COMMISSIONER STROHL) 6-0 to approve the 2017 CDBG and 2017-18 GIA Funding Priorities. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS Vice-Chair Clayton informed the Commission that October is Suicide Prevention month and suggested interested parties consider participating in one of the local awareness walks. Staff introduced new Long-Range Planning Technician Steven Orozco. 10.a Packet Pg. 129 Attachment: a - HRC Draft Minutes - 09-07-2016 (1467 : 2017 CDBG and GIA Funding Recommendations) DRAFT Minutes – Human Relations Commission Meeting of September 7, 2016 Page 3 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: XX/XX/2016 10.a Packet Pg. 130 Attachment: a - HRC Draft Minutes - 09-07-2016 (1467 : 2017 CDBG and GIA Funding Recommendations) Page intentionally left blank.