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Home My WebLink AboutItem #29 - Discussion Itemt CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM �$ To : Cesar Odio DATE : February 16, 1996 r PJ�E City Manager FROM : Joe Carollo City Commissioner SUBJECT : Personal Appearance REFERENCES: ENCLOSURES : 2/14/96 letter from HAFI Please schedule Ms. Colette Hall, Executive Director of the Haitian American Foundation, Inc., for a Personal Appearance during the February 29, 1996 City Commission Meeting. CC: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission Walter Foeman, City Clerk A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney JC/cmw ZZ =Z1 kd 1 Z 833 96 s FEB-15-96 WED 02:01 FM HAFI 305 758 323e P.01 FOUNDATION, INC. OFFICERS FRANKLIN CASIHELY. O.O.S. PRESIDENT FRANK PINTA00 1st VICE-PRESIDENT February 14, 1996 PIERR£ NILFRIO emo WICC�PRESIOfNT PAUL VELEt The Honorable Joe Carollo TREASURER Commissioner JULCSLA805SIERE City of Miami SECRETARv 3500 Pan American Drive MFMSERS Miami, Florida 33133 8340 4 E. 2Nn AVE., SUITE 103 M'AHI. FLOnIOA 33138 (305) 750.3338 FAX: 758.3238 HENRI R. CAVARO ESTANISLAOCARBALLO Dear Commissioner Carollo: J. e. LUC CHARLOT. K.O. LORRAINE HARRIS OOrTE A-NALICJAVIERA In 1994, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Advisory GAHALIEL RMERA PIERRE RUTLCOCE Board recommended that HAFI be funded in the amount of $50,000.00 aICRRf C. SENATUS (received each year for job development and placement) and an additional $89,003.00 to cane out a Comprehensive Planning Process preliminary to ADVISORY MEMBERS begin a Housing and Community Economic Development Program in HDi. OMA140. WALSH "Little Haiti". AL CAAOCHAS - CATHLCCN B. MAGRATH COHORESSWOMAN CARRIC MEEK This planning program was to have begun July 1, 1994 and was to end June MRS. ATHALI£ RAN" 30, 1995. Before the City Commissioners could vote to give HAFI the STAFF funds, Mr. Frank Castaneda objected to the City Cominission. His objection was based on the question regarding whether or not funds COLEI I HALL CR£CVTIV60IRECTaR previously received by HAFI from CDBG were to be considered a "loan" or a "grant1l. His opposition to our fund request and the Advisory Board's recommendation handicapped our possibilities of helping the Haitian Community. UNOED BY: Mr. Castaneda's concern was waived when the City Commissioners adopted Motion 95-729 at Ambassador Ringo Cayard's request, which converted said loan to a grant. (See copy of Motion attached). SFETC Subsequent to this action by Commissioners, the City Attorney's office requested the U.S. Department of HUD in order to get a "fact specific" determination with respect to the matter. The City Attorney's office has informed us that the response from HUD was in support of the action taken by the Commissioners to convert the loan to a grant. (Please see memorandum dated January 24, 1996 attached). 4 FE8-13-96 WED 02:09 PM HPFI 305 758 3238 P.01 Page 2 of 2 February 14, 1996 City of Miami Because of the objections mentioned above, our organization has not been permitted to participate in the annual funding for CDBG funds. Sines the current CDBG recommendations will be presented to the City Commission Board on February 29, 1996, we would like to be placed on the agenda for this meeting. Thanking you in advance, we hope that the Haitian American Foundation, Inc., with your support, will receive its fair share of the CDBG funds to help the Haitian American Community. Very truly yours, eG'- 'olette HallO Executive Director CH/res Encl. cc. Ambassador Ringo Cayard Co -Founder & Volunteer FES-15-9S_WED 01:-'+7 PM HAFI 305 75e 323e P.04 CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA INTER-OFPICE MEMORANQUM TO: Cesar H. Odio Julie O. Bru 19011 ' Assistant City Attorney Law Department ►N OATC December 26, 1995 FILE SUBJECT WI REFERENCES . £NCLMRES On October 26, 1995 the City Commission adopted Motion 95-729 whereby the commission granted a request made by Mr. Cayard of the Haitian American Foundation (HAFI) that certain loan made by the city to HAFT be converted to a grant provided that there is no legal prohibition, In response to said Motion, I have met with several representatives from the Department of Community Development for purposes of determining the legal requirements pertaining to this matter;- Also; I have reviewed various documents, including the Community Development Block Grant Program Handbook issued by the U.S, Department of Housing and Urban Development office of Community Punning and Development (HUD). Based on the foregoing, there does not appear to be any "legal prohibition" which would preclude action in accordance with the aforementioned Motion. However, the Department of Community Development will be contacting a representative of HUD in order to get a "fact specific" determination with respect to this matter. Consequently, I recommend that the city postpone implementation of the directives of Motion 9$-729 until such time as a representative from HUI) renders its advice on this matter. job/Odiolf cc: Rafael 0. Diaz, Deputy City Attorney Jose L. Cerdan, Coordinator Department of Community Development d 1 6.1 305 758... 2 P.06 FEB-15-96 WED, 01 :59 PM HAFT C • Feb, 14, �1906 10: 52AII CI'PY `ATTORNEYS GF i CE }dlAkil; FL , 1 CITY OF MIAMI, FLOFJIDA INTER•OFnCE MEMORANDUM A. Quinn Jones, III January 24, 1996 TO: Law Department DATE : FILE. sua,ECT Haitian American ATTN: Julie O. Bra Foundation, Inc. (HAFI) FROM ; VAEFENCES Elber*L.aterss, 4Director Ervctcsusts N Per your December 26,1995 memorzadum, this is to irform you that this Department has contacted the US. Depa=ent of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Jacksonville Branch Office, in reference to the conversion of a Community Development BIock Chant (CDBO) loan into a grant for the Haitian Amcriean Foundation, Inc, (RAM). According to HUD staff there is no prohibition in federal CDBG rules and regulations that would prevent the aforesaid conversion. Should you have any questions regarding this subject, please advise. ELWJbw cc: Rafael O• Diaz, Deputy City Attomey