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Minutes 03-29-07 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2007 @ 6:00 P.M. I. Opening Octavia Sherrod, Manager of the Community Redevelopment Division, City of Boynton Beach, moderated the meeting and explained the Community Development Block Grant Program. Ms. Sherrod began the meeting at 6:07 p.m. and reminded those in attendance to sign in. Self- introductions were made with the following individuals noted as present: Gerone Powell Peggy Deal Gail Reynolds Elizabeth Jenkins Myra K. Jones Doris Jackson Gertrude Sullivan Regenia Scott Sherry Johnson Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC Palm Beach County Resource Council Palm Beach County Resource Council Boynton Hills Neighborhood Ridgewood Hills Poinciana Heights Boynton Terrace City of Boynton Beach Community Caring Center II. Overview of CDBG Program A. History Ms. Sherrod explained this was the annual publiC meeting required by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds. The purpose of the meeting was to receive input and recommendations on what the block grant dollars could be used for. These were federal funds the States received. Local governments, based on population and poverty levels, used them to address identified needs within the community. B. National Objective Ms. Sherrod reviewed the three national objectives, which were the following: . Benefit low and moderate-income persons . Address slum and blight . Meet a particular urgent community development need She emphasized the third item was the funds could be used to address "a particular urgent community development need". In the past with Hurricanes Frances and Jean, some dwellings were severely damaged and many people were displaced. The funds were used to assist those persons for a variety of issues as noted on the list of types of eligible activities. The allocation this year was $543,481, which was about $2K more than last year. Ms. Sherrod explained 70% of the allocation would benefit low and moderate-income individuals. She provided examples of Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 29, 2007 how other municipalities used CDBG funds. Public facilities and improvements could be funded with CDBG funds. Public services agencies who previously received funds were sub-grantees and there was a list of regulations they needed to follow. Ms. Sherrod explained the sub- grantees would be monitored by the City to ensure the guidelines were followed. C. Eligible Activities Ms. Sherrod reviewed the list of eligible activities which are: . Capital Improvements . Property Acquisition . Clearance of Land . Interim assistance such as hurricane assistance, earthquakes, flooding . Urban Renewal Projects . Relocation Assistance . Code Enforcement . Housing . Capital Improvements such as streets and sidewalks This year a new program was being introduced. Ms. Sherrod introduced Regenia Scott, Manager of Neighborhood Services, who discussed a new program about youth violence. Ms. Scott explained this project was about violence and targeted youth aged 13-21. The age was increased to 21 because some residents had children in high school at age 19 or older. The funds would address youth-at-risk, or borderline for potential violence, and covered different activities. Examples of those activities were academic assistance, community outreach, mobilizing the community, job training, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The goal was to prepare youth for life after high school and life after living at home with parents. The program included a component for prevention, intervention and treatment. The program was still being promulgated but the intention of it was for youth to be mainstreamed back into society after receiving assistance on how to leave the gang lifestyle behind. A teen council would be formed and the City would recruit teens to help determine which programs and activities would interested youth. Ms. Scott explained, to make the effort successful, the community needed to be an active participant. Three positions would be created to support the program; a teen specialist, an office associate and a third position. The remainder of the funds would be for outreach. It was emphasized this program was a pilot program from the County for three years. There was an evaluation component whereby the University of Florida would review the program to determine whether it is a successful model to reduce juvenile delinquency and whether to continue and expand the program. Ms. Scott reported the program would be a partnership initiative and they were soliciting internal and external assistance. They had already met with the Chamber of Commerce regarding business internships. A steering committee was being formalized and established for that effort. 2 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 29, 2007 Ms. Scott had a written narrative about the program that contained questions and answers, which is attached to the meeting backup. III. Using Sub-recipients A. Application Workshop Friday. April 5. 2007 9:00 - 11:00 A.M. (Commission Chambers) Ms. Sherrod announced the workshop would be held for the benefit of the public. IV. Public Audience Myra Jones, Ridgewood Hills Neighborhood, asked whether the City had a homeless shelter. Ms. Sherrod responded in partnership with the Palm Beach County Housing Partnership and Community Development, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton, a study was conducted and concluded there may be a few homeless individuals, but the City did not have a homeless problem. Consequently, the City does not set aside a large portion of the funds to service that segment of the population, and Ms. Sherrod noted the Community Caring Organization addresses that issue. Ms. Jones reported there was a problem in the neighborhood with children under the age of 13. She asked what was being done to address after school youth programs. Ms. Sherrod explained the Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC has an organization called the Peacemakers. The program was a referral program made by the principals of Galaxy and Poinciana Elementary Schools, which consists of tutorial programs. Teachers were paid to tutor and assist with FCAT preparation and everyday homework. There are field trips and clean-ups twice a month. At the moment there were about 20 children at each of the two schools and other activities, such as dance or martial arts are provided. Gerone Powell, Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC explained the accommodations were based on different factors such as academic and social behavior as well as the ratio of students to teachers which was a one to eight ratio. The present funding in place was to accommodate five teacher. The Peacemakers were presently being funded through a grant from the Jim Moran Foundation and from Washington Mutual and also partially funded through the CRA. The City donated $5K towards the program. Activities also include mentoring programs in the morning to assist in pulling children together and addressing any issues they had from the day before so it would not impede their ability to learn. After school some transportation is provided. Gertrude Sullivan, 201 NE 6th Avenue, President of Boynton Terrace Neighborhood Association requested assistance in obtaining a building for permanent office space. Ms. Scott responded they may have information, and they were working on the issue. Some proposals were made, but she had nothing definitive to report and suggested identifying what was needed from the neighborhoods standpoint. She reported funding was available and they just needed a plan. 3 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 29, 2007 Doris Jackson, Poinciana Heights Neighborhood Association, spoke about Mad Dads of Greater Boynton Beach. Ms. Sherrod announced they have funded the organization in the past but an application is not always made. She encouraged Ms. Jackson to take an application, which was due by April 27, 2007. An application workshop was scheduled for April 5, 2007. Ms. Jackson noted she toured the neighborhood and grass was an issue. She announced the area needed to be cleaned up. Ms. Sherrod noted the CRA allocated funds for the Heart of Boynton (HOB) area for these types of activities. Her office was working with the Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC, the CRA and the Neighborhood Improvement staff to leverage funds and stretch dollars. Ms. Sherrod explained the Community Development Block Grant monies have to address safety, health and welfare issues, and the funds the CRA allotted allowed for exterior issues such as paint, sprinkler systems or repairing existing driveway systems to be repaired. Ms. Jackson thought the word needed to be distributed in the community. Ms. Sherrod explained the churches were aware of the services, but sometimes individuals were hesitant to take advantage of the services. She further announced the hurricanes forced many individuals to approach her. She also reported the City received an additional $750K as the result of a development being constructed on Old Boynton Road. That did not include affordable housing, so the developer paid the fee that went to her program. The City was also awaiting a contract for additional CDBG funds to address damage from the hurricane. The County was administering the program and the City anticipated receiving $1.6M to rehabilitation homes. She reported the money was coming in and her office would complete the applications for the recipients, if needed. Ms. Sherrod explained the repayment provisions for the program, which forgives a percentage of the loan each year. Statutorily, the program must contain a recapture provision, however, the longer the individual inhabits the dwelling, the more the lien is forgiven. After 10 years, the loan is paid off. Ms. Sherrod explained homeowners could be placed on a waiting list. A large portion of SHIP funds are for hurricanes She explained neighborhood associations are not eligible to obtain grants. Ms. Scott can assist with them. She emphasized a lien is not always a bad thing. Alternatively, it may spare homeowners from predatory businesses and lenders. Often contractors do not pull the required building permit or obtain the proper Code specifications for repairs. Additionally, unlicensed contractors can become injured on the homeowner's property, which places a claim on the homeowners insurance. Ms. Sherrod explained they used licensed bonded contractors with their own insurance. A requirement of the City's program is the homeowner must prove ownership of the property, such as a warranty deed. The Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC is the agent for the CRA to take applications for the HOB area south of the C-16 canal. Individuals north of the canal are not eligible for the program. She also explained the CDC takes the application and follows the Community Improvement guidelines. The maximum the CRA would provide was $25K and she has yet to do a rehab under $30K-$40K. If various state monies are used, the stricter rules would apply. Compliance audits take place by the City and State. Ms. Sherrod explained the City is not accepting applications, but have a wait list for housing rehabilitation projects. The programs are income related, but if there is an urgent, life threatening need, it takes priority and is addressed immediately. 4 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 29, 2007 Ms. Sherrod invited all to attend the application workshop. Sherrie Johnson, Community Caring, addressed the homeless issue. The Community Caring organization worked with all service providers in Palm Beach County. At one time, they had provided assistance for people all over the county. On a regular basis, she reported there was a core of about 60 homeless individuals that dwell within the City. There was a lot of opportunity to service them, but it was Ms. Johnson's observation that the homeless refused services. She explained many factors contribute to homelessness such as mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse and others. There are ample programs to assist those populations. Ms. Johnson noted there was a long waiting list for housing for single moms. The County, as a whole, was working diligently to resolve he housing issue. She noted her organization was not the only agency to address these issues, but it was the only entity funded by the City. In her opinion, what would make the change in peoples lives and prevent reoccurring homelessness was the faith component. Ms. Sherrod closed the floor to comments. She announced she had applications available and thanked all for coming. v. Adjournment There was no further business and the meeting ended at 7:02 p.m. 5