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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-82-0290RESOLUTION NO. 8 2— 2 9 U A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING. THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A FINAL STATEMENT TO THE U.S. DEPART- MENT OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT REQUESTING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,625,000 FOR THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DURING 1982-83; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, UPON APPROVAL OF SAID GRANT BY HUD, TO ACCEPT THE SAME AND NEGOTIATE THE NECES- SARY IMPLEMENTING CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The City Manager is hereby authorized to submit a final statement to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the proposed Community Development Program during 1982 - 83, in accordance with what was ap- proved at the duly held public hearing. Section 2. The City Manager, a Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Miami, upon approval of said grant by HUD is hereby authorized to accept the grant and upon receipt of same, negotiate the necessary implementing contracts and agreements to implement the 1982 - 83 Community Development Program. PASSED AND ADOPTED this first day of April 1982. Maurice A. Ferre MAURICE A. FERRE, MAYOR ATT / Q� RA H G. ONGIE CIT CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: APP VED AS TO F9M_AND CORRECTNESS: 10EL E. MAXWELL GEOIGIE F. KNOX,JR. A YISTANT CITY ATTORNEY CIT ATTORNEY CITY COMMISSION ' MEETING OF APR 1 .D2 ......................w..w N Howard Gary March 17, 1982 City "-tanager 8th Year Community Development Applications — Dena Spillman - Director Community Development = M It is recommended that a resolution be approved, authorizing the City Manager -� to submit a final statement to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development requesting funds in the amount of $9,625,000 for the proposed Community CIQ Development program during 1982-83; and further authorizing the City Manager, upon approval of said grant by HUD, to accept the same and negotiate the neces- sary implementing contracts and agreements. A public hearing on the 8th year Community Development program is scheduled for April 1, 1982, This will be the only hearing at the City Commission level on the proposed application for these funds. This will be the first application submitted to HUD since new applicable program regulations have been in effect. Since the new federal budget has resulted in drastic cuts in a multitude of other federal programs including a thirteen per- cent cut in the Community Development programs, the City's funding strategy has been changed in an attempt to meet existing needs with scant resources. 1) The new federal regulations have drastically reduced all funding sources for housing -related programs. In view of this, staff is proposing that thi►•ty-six percent of the CDBG be allocated to single and multifamily housing rehabilitation activities. Both the single family and multifamily programs are highly cost-effective as they leverage private funds and as they are used for loans, the funds are returned to the City to be recycled into other housing activities. 2) The proposed application includes no public improvement projects such as new parks or street improvements, due to funding cuts. In the future, street improvements done in targetare3 neighborhood will. be assessed to property owners, as are highway bond projects. •,.. 8 2- 2 9 0 Howard Gary 3/17/82 page 2 3) As a result of the cut in the City's Community Development program, the departments of Community Development, Planning, and Trade & Commerce will each experience administrative budget cuts of thirteen percent. This will result in staff layoffs. 4) Federal regulations have placed a ten percent cap on funding of Social Service programs. A waiver of such regulations has been requested from HUD in order to maintain social service programs above this cap. Social Service funding is proposed at a level of $1,428,144. This is $119,756 below last year's allocation. If the City Commission desires, this allocation can be increased to last year's allocation of $1,547,900. 5) Due to the cuts that have been made in the City's Community Develop- ment Block Grant, we can no longer maintain the City's economic development programs at the neighborhood level at their existing funding levels. Therefore, staff is proposing a phase down of the funding for the Community based organizations while promoting their self-sufficiency. a. Starting July 1, 1982, new contracts for the community based organizations (CBO's) will require the following: During the first six months, the CBO's must obtain alternative funding equal to at least twenty-five percent of their expenses to receive the CDBG funds. Therefore, the usual contract of $50,000 will be reduced to $43,750 - $25,000 to fully cover the first six months of the program, and $18,750 to cover the second half expenses at a seventy-five percent level. Unless the program is able to attain this match, it would be dis- continued after the initial first six months. b. On July 1, 1984, each CBO will be required by the City to obtain fifty percent alternate funding. Therefore, the allocation would be reduced to $25,000 per agency to agencies that receive alternate funding. Those who don't will be discontinued. c. On July 1, 1984, each CBO will be required by the City to obtain seventy-five percent alternate funding. This action would reduce funding of remain- ing agencies to $12,500. d. After 1984, the CBO program will be entirely funded through the efforts of the CBO's themselves. We expect this process to be assisted by state law which provides tax credits to businesses that aid CBO's. 6. In order to reduce the impact of the federal cuts, staff is proposing a $5 million Community Development float. The float would consist of lending up to $5 million of encumbered but unexpended Community Development funds through the Miami Capital Development Corporation, to qualified developers for construction capital. Funds loaned to them would be at an interest rate lower than market and the funds by 82 - 290 1% V Howard Gary 3/17/82 page 3 irrevocable letters of credit. The interest earned from this would be used to fund a minority business loan program, and to support the departments of Community Develop- ment and Trade & Commerce. It is recommended that the City Commission approve the attached program so that it can be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development in a timely manner. /cr Attachment 82 - 290 1 !loward Gar,.r Cite Mana er Dena Spillman Director, Department - ; ebruary 19. 1982 Overto%•:n interim Assistance Pr) gram of Community Development The purpose or this memorandum is to present a status report on the activities of the Overtown Interim Assistance Program and to recommend that actions to phase -out the Program and re -assign current personnel to other city departments be initiated. The Overtown Interim Assistance Program was es�ablished October, 1-977, within the City Manager's Office as a CET' project :with Community Development funds for program support, The Program intended to provide concentrated municipal services to the residents of the Overtown neighborhood until blight decreased and normal services could support the revitalized neighborhood. Ac,_i-vities and services offered through the Interim Assistance Program, although closely mirroring existing City services were an eligible activity because they were only to be carried out in an aopr.oved Target area, primarily consisting of low and moderate residents. Administrative responsLbili.ty for tno Program was assured by the Department. of CommlunI. V, Revelopmcnt in 1979 and assi.gned to the Department's }lousin- Division. From the Program's inception through 1980, prod=ram ocrsonnel were primarily CETA -funded p_artic1pan's. From the onset, a major objective for the program was to place :as mean,,? of the CVJA funded staff in classified job titles as such positions became available. This policy had the stronc support of the Overtop;n Co;,imunity Development Advisory Board. Funds were used to purchase supplies, equipment, and other related administrative and su )port costs. Initially Dade County .illoc;ated County CDBGJ funds to the Program. Interim Assistance at the height of its manpower, had over 100 CETA funded staff. The program activities that were cari-Lod out since 1977 included: Housin-_ Services Prok,ram Assigned staff made minor repai-rs to rc5i(enti_al pro pertios and b1.ockcd/hoarded up abandoned buiIdin;;s. A hoesing relocation resources component attemptc?(I to identi.l y structurally sound bui ldi.ng s with vacant units in order to refer residents in need o'.: ai):ai-Lments. v 82-290 H !toward Gar `.r Cite ,tanager ebruar,; 19 1982 Overtoc..n Interim Assistance Program r) Dena Spillman Director, Department of Community Development _ ,_ The puroose o` this memorandum is to present a status report on the activities of she Overtown Interim Assistance Program and to recommend that actions to phase -out the Program and re -assign current personnel to other city departments be initiated. The Overtown Interim Assistance Program was es�ablished October, 1977, within the City Manager's Office as a CrTn project :with Community Development funds for program support, The Program intended to provide concentrated municioal services to the residents of the Overtcwn neighborhood until bli 'it decreased and normal services could support the revitalized neig`iborhood. Acciviti.es and services offered through the Interim Assistance Program, although closely mirror.inp e:;i.sting Cir_y services were an eligible activity because they were only to be carried out in an aonrovcd Target area, pri.-marily consisting of low and moderate residents. Admini.strative resoon sibility for t'-le Program caa assu-med by the Departrlent of Com;,iunity 1)evelopmenl in 1.979 and assigned to the 1)ep;:rt;:9cnt's ffousin-, Division. From the Program's i.nccc-pti.on through 1980, pro ,oram nersonnel wereprimar. i Iv CI:TA-funded 1)arti.ci1)anILs. From the onset, a ma jor object ive for the program l- as to place as many of the CI -:TA funded staff: in classified job ti.tles as such positions bec,1,110 available. This policy had the strong support of: the Overtot.;n C():MMLl11itV Development Advisory Board. Funds were used to purchase supplies, equipment. and other related administrative and stu)port costs. Initially Dade County allocated County CI)BG fund~ to the Program. Interim Assistance at the height of its manpower, had over 1.00 CF.TA funded staff. The program acti-vi.ties that were c;lr171.0(1 out since 1977 included: llousin_­ Services Program Assigned staff made minor reprli.r, to r_si-(T•tl i_;11 j)r0J)01-ci0s Mild bl.ockcd/boarded up a`. andonc-d bu11dins;s. A housing rcloc.ati.on resources component attempLud to identi fy structural l y sound buildings with vacant units in Order to refer residents 111 neerl o'- v 82-290 or Code-Enforcement/Building Inspection Services. Staff inspected buildings in Overto::rn and prepared lists of code violations. This information was then for.-jarde I to owners of these buildings. Environmental inspection staff: made site inspections throughout the neighborhood, identified potential health hazards an:i carried out follow-up type inspe:,tLolls. Environmental Maintenance Service. Streets, parks, and vacant lots were cleaned and trash and debris that accumulated in the neighborhood was removed. A fee was established for this work on a charge -back basis to the owners of the properties. Community Information Service. Information on sponsored events; community wide services, etc. was provided. An early version of the "Crime Watch Program" was introduced and staff had a bi-weekly radio program on called "Inside Culmer". CETA administrative staff assigned to this service were responsible for record keeping on all CETA participants and provided job placement and employment counseling services to the participants. During 1930, the CETA funded contracts terminated. At the same time, an employment freeze prevented the program from filling several requested corker -trainee slots in the remaining programs. This attrition greatly reduced trade skills available for program use. Presently, onlv the following personnel remain: James D. Thomas Adm. Assistant III $30,035.20 (Step 4) Alma J. George Admi_n. Aide II 19,364.80 (Step 4) John A. Glass Environmental Inspector 19,364.8O (Step 3) I:d:•:nrd Knox Building Inspector. I 21,361.60 (Step 3) The three inspectors continue to carry out inspection related duties. 'The Pro -rare "'Innaer, in addiLioil to h I s overall. administrative responsibility for the Program, has been assigned to supervi se. a CFTA Title I I.-I3 grant . This grant provides cducati.onal and on-thc-jolt training to some 96 pal-Licipants. Ills primary r.esponsi bil.i t:y will be to supervise a comprehensive on-the- job work prot,ram for the trainees once their ed.illcatiorllll training is completed In May. The grant will be in operation through August. The Interim Assistance Pr.oi;l'am's an111MI bud -et. is $215,OOO. This amount, funded exclusively with CDIM, funds, wills approved with the understanding that every effort would be mndc to reduce expenses so that the total expenditure would be no more than $200,000 for the current fiscal year. Thy I'ror, r�1.11 Office has been hol_lsed, since iLs incepti(�I1,in .1 bd.lilding located at 541 NW 5 Street. This building is owlled by Dade County and is -,chedul ed to he dc•iaol i sired in late Spring of this year in order Lo malcc wa\, for a 75 unit public hollsirlg prdl joct . Due to the sub-,tint:i:lI1`: reduced level of pro ram activity a revil".i OI the Prntr:1:1 i.5 : pprO,pri:1te taiLhill thy' C sell cons tra W-s anal the substantial noods of ilverto%..,i1, Lhe IlZtel"i.l Assistance pro,,'rim has been sucCe5s11I1.. Its impact on Overtown has been posl.t ivo and c:ln 1`:, ob joctivCl y. •i 820 However, the heart of the Program was the use of area residents in projects that both improved the neighborhood and gavo participants needed work skills. This key aspect has been removed through the reductLon of CETA fund,. At its last regular monthly meeting, the Over.town Community Development Advisory Board reviewed tF:! Program's future and ranked the continued operation of Interim Assistance as its 9th priority out of ten projects. In view of these facts, I recommend that the following steps be implemented in terminating the Interim Assistance Program and transfering its functions to other Departments: 1. Environmental Inspector John Glass be assigned to the Solid Waste Department. 2. Building Inspector Edward Knox be assigned to the Department of Building & Zoning. 3. Program Manager James Thomas and Administrative Aide II Alma George be moved back to the Community Development Department offices. From this location the work experience component of the CETA Grant can be carried out. At the time that the Grant Administration is terminated, decisions as to future job assignments will be made. The inter -departmental agreements pursuant to HUD's requirements for payments of salaries, etc. can be prepared. Equipment and other supplies assigned to the Interim Assistance Program will be disbursed according to [IUD requircTr. ents covering such items purchased with CDI')G fund,,. 82-290