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Minutes 05-19-09 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 @ 5:00 P.M. Present: Keturah Joseph Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC Sherry Johnson Community Caring Center Ann Willett Girl Scouts Zarulugeo Liberty Africa International Christian Mission I. Opening Octavia Sherrod, Manager of the Community Redevelopment Division, City of Boynton Beach, moderated the meeting, which began at 5:08 p.m. She reminded those in attendance to sign in. Self-introductions were made as noted. Ms. Sherrod explained CDBG funds are monies allocated to entitlement communities. The entitlement is determined based on population and poverty levels of the communit, and are used to improve physical, economic and social conditions in low-income areas. They are also used to benefit low to moderate income people, address slum and blight, or address an urgent community need. Ms. Sherrod referenced the second page of the agenda package, which outlined eligible activities and the types of services and improvements that could be made under the program. She explained every five years, the City prepares a Consolidated Plan which describes the City and includes census information, income levels, items pertaining to social needs, education levels, and socio-economic statistics as a whole. It identifies areas that were distressed and in need of economic assistance. Activities that are eligible for CDBG funding were listed. This year’s allocation was $529,857. Of those funds, the portion to administer the program was $105,969. The City is permitted to identify needs for its own projects and issue grants to sub-grantees that assist the City with urgent needs. Through an application process, sub-grantees provide public services. The Public Service set aside was $79,478. The City funds two public service and two non-profit agencies. One organization facilitates the City’s housing program and conducts outreach, income certification and credit counseling. They also are involved with the community and attend meetings. Those providers assist the City with their Consolidated Plan each year as well. The organizations are community based. 1 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Hearing Boynton Beach, FL May 13, 2009 Ms. Willett inquired if single-gender programs were eligible for funding. Ms. Sherrod responded she would check with HUD because they never funded Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts in the past. Ms. Sherrod explained they have been administering CDBG grants since 1997, and gender had not been an issue since most of the programs included both genders. A Review Committee would review the merits and activities of the organization. The Consolidated Plan contains HUD priority needs, so being funded depended on whether the service was an identified priority and if there was any duplication of them. Currently, the Plan included an annual stipend for the Recreation Department, which provides afterschool and summer camp programs, and applications for free or reduced lunches in the public school system. The Review Committee reviews and scores the application and makes recommendations to the City Commission for funding and they ultimately decide who would receive funding and how much they would be given. Mr. Liberty was involved with the homeless and serves food to 50 people each Thursday. The Girl Scouts have undertaken activities in public housing complexes for girls and other programs. Ms. Sherrod explained the process differed from last year. The City was busy with Federal Recovery monies, and just found out what their CDBG allocation was. They had to publish the information and they usually were far into the CDBG process by this time of year. This year, they shortened the application period and the applications are due on May 29, 2009. Applications can be sent electronically if requested. Neighborhood Stabilization funds were also available for this fiscal year and next. Ms. Johnson inquired if funds were available for economic development and job creation. She explained she was asked to look at working with an individual in a rental property on MLK Boulevard, and there was a possibility she could respond to an RFP for property there. Ms. Sherrod responded there were funds available, but the funds have to be expended by September 30, 2010. It was also explained the Community Redevelopment Agency does not receive CDBG monies, although CDBG funds have economic development components to it. It was discussed the Core Regions Grants offered by the County were not successful. Ms. Sherrod advised Ms. Johnson that if she was planning something for next year, she had time to explore it. Ms. Johnson noted when properties were demolished in other cities, they allowed non-profits to develop Urban Farming projects which created jobs. Ms. Sherrod noted the cities who undertake those programs receive huge awards. The five-year plan they were working under was for years 2007 through 2012 and she pointed out Urban Farming was not on the list of priority needs. Ms. Sherrod 2 Meeting Minutes COBG Public Participation Hearing Boynton Beach, FL May 13, 2009 commented they would have to explore it over the next year and thought when the economy recovered, it would be a good activity. They could structure a program and put individuals to work. There were no other comments received. The meeting ended at 5:30 p.m. dCltLvUAlt ~MvUl Catherine Cherry 0 Recording Secretary 051409 3 Page 1 of 1 Cherry-Guberman, Catherine From: Cherry-Guberman, Catherine Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 7:42 AM To: Sherrod, Octavia Cc: Cornelius, Brenda; Reamsnyder, Debbie Subject: CDBG Public Participation Meeting Minutes Attachments: Minutes 05-19-09.pdf Good morning! I almost forgot to send these to you! Catherine Cherry Recording 6/9/2009