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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-85-1183to; The Honorable Mayor and OEC 1 SO Members of the City Commission ausitett citizen participation for Ca mmunity Development Program e: Cesar B. Odic, ►��n�o: City Manager e It is recommended that the City Commission review its current citizen participation structure for the Community Development Block Grant Program and consider creating a 13-member city-wide Community Development Advisory Board, which would include neighborhood forums, to replace the existing 21-member city-wide Board. This would result in reducing target area representatives on the Board from two per target area to one. Staff proposes a reduction in order that one individual can be held accountable for attending Board meetings, representing the target area and assisting staff in the conduct of the neighborhood forums. In June 1982, the City Commission established a 21-member city- wide Community Development Advisory Board to advise the City Commission on community development needs and priorities with respect to the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Board has been comprised of representatives elected by the community as well as those appointed by the City Commission as follows: - 2 representatives from each of the eight Community Development target areas; one elected by the neighborhood; one appointed by the City Commission. Residents, property and/or business owners were eligible for membership. - a local developer, appointed by the City Commission. a representative of the Garment District, appointed by the City Commission. a representative of a financial institution, appointed by the Catty Commission, a representative of a corporation # appointed by the City commission. • a representative of the Parr West Civic Association, elected by the Association. DEC p 9 Mor�N 85-1183 R � All t, K r 1 3 'rho Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission page two w, 'This Board has been actively worming with the City since its inception. primarily during the community development planning process, which begins in December and ends in April# with the public hearing before the City commission. Staff. from the Department of community Development has provided the necessary technical assistance and administrative support for the Board. Meetings of the city-wide Board have been advertised, an neighborhood residents have been encouraged to participate at the Board meetings. tinder this citizen participation structure, it has been the responsibility of the target area representatives on the Board and the neighborhood residents to coordinate meetings at the neighborhood level . During last year's planning process, it was recommended by the Board that the City should provide a more formal mechanism for citizen participation at the neighborhood level. Based on the recommendations of the city-wide Board and the fact that there are several vacancies on the Board that would require appointment, it is recommended that the City Commission consider modifying the current citizen participation structure. Additionally, there have been no new members appointed to the Board since 1982. Staff recommends that a 13-member city-wide Board be created to be comprise of the following representatives appointed by the City Commission on an annual basis: - one member from each of the 8 Community Development target areas residents and/or property owners, with the excep- tt o of Downtown, whose member could represent a business or non-profit institution or be a business or property owner). 5 members representing the business' and/or financial community. The proposed structure exceeds the requirements set forth by federal regulations. (See Attachment A.) The Department of Community Development would solicit resumes of individuals interested in serving on the Board for consideration by the city Commission. — n�m�nrinnnmsr�r. 7 the Honorable Members of the Page three Mayor .and City Commission Once constituted, the board would be responsible for advising the City Commission on community development needs and priorities* prior to the city -wide Board making its final recommendations, community development planning meetings would be held at the neighborhood level to ensure that there is the opportunity for grassroots participation in -the community development process. The city-wide Board would consider the recommendations made at the neighborhood level in making its recommendations to the City Commission. The representative on the Board from each target area would be responsible for attending all meetings in his/her respective target area and for ensuring that the concerns of his/her respective target area are made known to the city-wide Board. Neighborhood residents would be encouraged to attend all city-wide Board meetings, which would be advertised and open to the public. Additionally, the city-wide Board and neighborhood forum struc- ture could be used by the City Commission and the City admini- stration to address and/or discuss other issues affecting the community, either at a neighborhood level through the forum structure or at a city-wide level through the Advisory Board. Staff from the Department of Community Development will continue to provide the necessary technical and administrative support for all meetings. If this concept meets the approval of the City Commission, we will proceed to request names and resumes of individuals interested in being considered for appointment to the Board and bring this item back to the City Commission in January. F Attachment A FEDS M,--WQ tTf MEWS FOR CITIME14 MA.RTICI.PATION Provide of funds to be Made citizens with the amount available and the range of activities that can be undertaken. Provide information on the amount Of funds to be used to benefit low and moderate income persons as well as information on the local policy to minimize Hold at least one public hearing to obtain citizens' views (The on housing and community development needs. public this hearing before the city Commission meats requirement.) Publish a Statement of community development objectives and proposed use of funds to allow citizens to comment Consider any comments and views and, if deemed appropriate by the grantee (city), modify the proposed statement. Make the final statement of proposed use of funds available to the public. Provide citizens with reasonable access to records regarding past use of funds.