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Minutes 04-12-12 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, AT CITY HALL 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Octavia S. Sherrod Community Improvement Manager Debbie Majors Grant Administrator Hannah Mattress Economic Development Planner Debbie Reamsnyder Community Improvement Division I. Opening A. Call to Order — Octavia S. Sherrod Octavia Sherrod, Manager of the Community Improvement Division, began the meeting at 5:04 p.m. and welcomed all who were in attendance. II. Overview of CDBG Program Ms. Sherrod explained this was a compliance meeting with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and was the public's opportunity to provide input as to what the community needs are. A. History Ms. Sherrod presented the overview of the CDBG Program through a PowerPoint presentation, and explained each aspect of the program and what the grant funds could be available for. She explained that the program was a formula grant from the Federal Government to determine how much money a community needs to devise innovative approaches to improve the physical, economic and social conditions of a low income area. She explained when the program began in 1997, the general rules were the City's population had to be a minimum of 50,000 people and was also based on the percentage of low to moderate income residents. This was based on the median incomes of Palm Beach County and the City of Boynton Beach. Ms. Sherrod explained the three national objectives for the CDBG program. They were to benefit low and moderate income persons who were at and below 80% of the median income of the jurisdiction. It was also used to address slum and blight and to address a particular urgent, community development need. The community need could be the result of hurricanes, floods, tidal waves, and things of that nature. Over the last 15 years, Boynton Beach had received $8,452,021 in CDBG dollars. She reviewed the eligible activities in the program and what the CDBG dollars have accomplished in the Meeting Minutes Community Development Block Grant Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, FL April 12, 2010 past. The City had spent almost a half million dollars, supplemented with over $3.5 million of State funding. The rules allowed 15% of the allocation to be used for public services, which could include job training and employment services, health care and substance abuse services, child care including summer camp scholarships and youth mentoring programs, crime prevention and fair housing counseling. This fiscal year, the City expects to receive $440,824, which would be a 24% decrease over the last two years, of which $66,123 could be used for public services. Twenty percent of the allocation would be used to administer the CDBG program. Ms. Sherrod explained how the CDBG received other funds. Neighborhood stabilization funds were received and were based on the number of foreclosures that were in the municipality. The areas of greatest need were taken and foreclosed properties were purchased. That was done in an effort to stop slum and blight that would result with boarded up houses throughout the City. The CDBG received $2.3 million and with the assistance of the Boynton Beach Community Development Corporation, which was the local non - profit agency, 15 foreclosed properties were purchased. To date, nine had been sold, with four additional sales pending. That was in round one. Round two, no monies were received, but in round three, another $1.1 million was received. The main focus with these funds would be the purchase of homes in the south end of the City. III. Using Sub - recipients A. Application submittal — one (1) original and five (5) copies B. Application Workshop Thursday, April 19, 2012, 9:00 — 10:00 a.m. (location tbd — call 742 -6066) IV. Public Audience Ms. Sherrod opened the floor to anyone who wanted to ask questions or provide input on where the monies should be spent. Sherry Johnson of the Community Caring Center, 145 NE 4 Avenue, inquired if there were any large projects in the community that would be considered as part of the five - year program Ms. Sherrod replied public facilities are mandated to address if the current facilities need to be updated. She did not know if any new buildings would be in the plan. Ms. Johnson explained what she heard from residents was the concern over the street lighting, the sidewalks and the infrastructure. She indicated her approval of the Seacrest beautification project. In light of the recent events that have occurred in the City, many residents were concerned with the lighting and the parking situation. Most homes are constructed where two vehicles could not be parked in the driveway, so the second or third car would have to be in the street. She inquired if that could be 2 Meeting Minutes Community Development Block Grant Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, FL April 12, 2010 addressed. Ms. Sherrod wanted clarification if Ms. Johnson was asking for parking lots on vacant land and explained the Code requirements and the fact that the request would have to be considered necessary. Rev. Lance Chaney, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, wanted to thank Ms. Sherrod for sending an invitation to all the non - profits. He asked for clarification on the public service section amount of $66,000. Ms. Sherrod confirmed, but advised she was going to have a conversation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inquire if there were any requirements or thresholds that could be met that would possibly increase that amount. He also advised that in his public service section, summer camp scholarships were provided. He advised the State of Florida was ranked 49 out of all the states for children being prepared to enter kindergarten. He inquired if any CDBG dollars could be used for child care scholarships. Ms. Sherrod advised that child care was an eligible activity under education. Rev. Chaney inquired if his organization was to consider building child care or the possibility of a district donating two portables and it was converted to child care, could CDBG dollars be used to assist in the infrastructure connecting sewer and water and/or electricity. Ms. Sherrod advised those items were eligible activities to her knowledge. She would research and provide an answer at a later time. Alan Hendricks, 122 SE 4 Avenue, representing Forest Park Neighborhood Association, advised there was a program called Curb Appeal the Block that had not been finalized. He explained it was a series of block parties that are concentrated on achieving two effects. One would be to build community and the other would be to clean up the streets in the neighborhoods. There are different projects that were being created to beautify the neighborhood. He advised if it was successful, it could be something that could be used in other neighborhoods. He inquired if that was the type of program that CDBG funds may be available for and if so, could they be used for administering the program. Most of the other items were being donated. Ms. Sherrod advised she would require more information and could be discussed at a later time. Patti DeBrown, 310 NW 1 Avenue, wanted clarification on the amount received for the purchase of foreclosures in the south end. Ms. Sherrod advised it was $1.1 million. Ms. DeBrown advised when she moved to the area, she restored a 1921 home. At that time, the CRA offered facade grants. Now, the grants have gone away. She inquired whether there was anything in the CDBG funding for people who would want to clean up or improve the facade of their homes. Ms. Sherrod advised funds from the housing rehabilitation area could possibly be used. She would research that topic. 3 Meeting Minutes Community Development Block Grant Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, FL April 12, 2010 Ms. Sherrod briefly explained the application process. It was cumbersome. The questions asked are questions that HUD would ask if funding took place. CDBG was a reimbursement grant. Money must be spent before reimbursement would come from the CDBG. There had been instances where CDBG would pay a direct invoice for services or commodities received that was eligible and there was no up -front money. That was not the preferred method. Janet Amigone, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), inquired if it was recommended for all applicants to attend the workshop. Ms. Sherrod advised the workshop was in place if someone required one -on -one instruction. There would be another workshop at a later time for those that received funding. V. Adjournment There were no further questions or comments received and Ms. Sherrod closed the public hearing at 5:57p.m. r 1 C Ellie Caruso Recording Secretary 4