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Minutes 03-06-19 [Type here] MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) Public Participation Meeting Held on March 6, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. at the Intracoastal Park Clubhouse 2240 North Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, FL 33426 PRESENT FOR THE CITY: Octavia Sherrod, Community Improvement Manager Lashea Brooks, Community Improvement Specialist PRESENT: Alicia Hester, Pathways to Prosperity Irwin Cinesus, Boynton Strong Tory Orr, Boynton Strong Melanie Rodriguez, AVDA Patina Chaves, Economic Empowerment, Domestic Abuse Keturah Joseph, Boynton Beach Faith-Based Community Development Corporation Lynn Taylor Kosick, Sensibility Jack Kosick, Sensibility Tracy Anderson, Sensibility Bonnie Schmidt, Sensibility Debbie Majors, Americans with Disability Act Coordinator Dr. Stephanie Hayden-Adeyamo, Mayoral Candidate Welcome and Introduction Octavia S. Sherrod, Community Improvement Manager introduced herself and Lashea Brooks, the Affordable Housing Administrator, and began the meeting at 5:15 p.m. I. Overview of CDBG Program Ms. Brooks explained this was the annual meeting for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. They normally advise organizations CDBG is a reimbursement grant and the organization has to demonstrate they have the funds to apply for the grant. They spend their own money first and then seek reimbursement. The City asks for a budget and review finances, which sometimes is difficult for start-up organizations. A. History— PowerPoint Presentation Ms. Brooks explained CDBG is a federally-funded program and the City of Boynton Beach is an entitlement city, which is a City that gets direct funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Other entitlement cities in the county are Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach although there are other entities in Palm Beach County. All the other cities in the county would have to apply to the county for the funds. Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2019 The funds benefit individuals who have low, very low and moderate incomes. Funds are also used to address slum and blight and urgent community needs. All organizations have to abide by the objectives. Eligible activities funded in the past included acquisition and disposition. The City used funds for the Boynton Beach Senior Center on Federal Highway, land acquisition in the Heart of Boynton (HOB) for homeownership, and for clearing and demolition of some projects as well. The completion for urban renewal projects included parks and recreation, Wilson Park, Sara Sims equipment, street improvements in the HOB, construction of housing and community-based organizations. They provide funds to assist organizations that provide housing. One big non-profit that builds homes in Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC (BBFBCDC) who handles intake, help with credit, prepare potential homeowners and get them to lenders. The Wilson Center was reviewed which used CDBG funds. Ocean Breeze West, off Seacrest, before was formerly Boynton Terrace. They demolished Boynton Terrace and constructed 21 single-family homes, BBFBCDC, Habitat for Humanity and the CRA had a role as did the City with CDBG dollars. Economic and community development activities included retention of jobs, and matching funds from Palm Beach County. That was a project, special dollars set aside for companies to create job. if they were approved by the county, the companies coming in or expanding, the City matched those dollars for the businesses, funds were used to construct building or retro fit exist bldg. to accommodate the new ? that come into the city. It was done in several phases over time. Economic/community development included infill housing in Cherry Hills, just west of MILK Jr. Blvd., When applicants approach the City for home improvements or the first-time homebuyer program, they use federal dollars and state dollars for lead abatement as many homes are old. and rehabilitation for homeownership for single-family housing in the City. Funds can be used for installation and construction and rehab of infrastructure, streets, water lines in conjunction with public works, acquisition construction or rehab of neighborhood facilities for those with special needs. Health care and substance abuse services for domestic abuse prevent programs for the city. AVDA provides services to you at the BBHS. Youth sign prevention programing, curriculum by teaching how to sustain and build healthy relationship and be advocates for change, do activities and events. in February BBHS held annual youth summit with Florida Coalition against domestic violence Emergency services — Community Caring Center and the aid and prevention of homelessness. Fair housing counselling, - the City spent $107,546, and, in the past, provided assistance for child care in the City by having summer camp scholarships and mentoring programs. In 18/19 the City got $544,399 from HUD. They do not know what they will get this year. They hold the workshop and normally the funds are announced in March, but the last few years has 2 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2019 been uncertain and last year, the City did not learn of their allocation until June. The City accepts the applications, when they receive funds, they post them on the website. 11. Sub-recipients A. Application submittal — one [1] hard copy original and one [1] electronic copy B. Application Submission Deadline — Monday, April 8t" 2019 No Later than 4:30 p.m. — City of Boynton Beach - 3301 Quantum Blvd, Suite 101 Boynton Beach, FL 33426 111. Public Audience — Comments — Questions Irwin Cineus learned there is an application process. Interested parties have five weeks to prepare an application. The applications are then reviewed by a committee, city staff and individuals in the community who benefit from the programs, but who are not related to the agencies or are city employees. They review and score the applications, which the City then reviews. Hopefully the City will know how much money they will receive and the requests go before the City Commission for approval. Community Improvement has a one-year action plan. Staff prepares the documents which outline what the city's plans and activities are and entities that will handle them. It also seemed like a lot of grant funds were concentrated in some areas. It was explained there is a formula HUD uses to see if cities are entitled to the funds and why. "Entitlements" are based on poverty levels and population. The program requires 51% of the funds go to assist people who are in the very-low and low-income categories. In 1997, when the program started, historically the Heart of Boynton was the area that had the highest preponderance of poverty. The City tries not to box themselves in though. They have an area of preference, but if there are needy elsewhere and the applicants meet the income criteria, the emphasis is on meeting building standards. Mr.Cineus queried if there was education to help with applications. Ms.Sherrod explained technical assistance for the application is available and that was the purpose of the meeting. She provides technical assistance and help with questions. Mr. Cineus explained he was trying to provide information to the community. It was explained the City works with many agencies such as Bridges, Pathways 2 Prosperity and the Community Caring Center. When the City does its reporting, they ask what the agency addressed. The Community Caring Center pays rents, mortgage, counselling helps people look for jobs, help get medicine vouchers at medication station. They look for agencies to provide services. On average, since 1992 they get half million. After administrative funds and funds for the other categories are dispersed, there is not much left for housing, roofs, windows and doors. The funds try to address hurricane mitigation and electrical upgrades 3 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2019 and half a million dollars does not go very far. They try to get the biggest bang for the buck. The funds are to benefit the community by providing services needed Mr. Kosick represents individuals with deficiencies; however, no money was spent on that segment of the population. Ms. Sherrod explained it depends what they are trying to do. Often funds go to the end user directly to the underserved person. If there was a non-profit that provided affordable rental housing for this population, such as a shared housing concept, she would refer them to the county. The City does not have a rental strategy, when using funds for rentals, they are required to monitor them for 15 years. She noted many smaller cities move away from rentals. The City's strategy is more of homeownership. Ms. Sherrod noted the City does not have large parcels so they addressed infill housing, but each time they gave away land, the City would have to do site preparation. The Boynton Beach Community Development Corporation and Habitat for Humanity assists and the City gave them the lots. Habitat for Humanity had handled new construction. They have a construction coordinator for people to apply and he does the inspections. There is an open policy for contractors to apply and when they have a house, the house is bid to the contractors. Years ago, Habitat did not do rehabilitation, but they have expanded. There is enough work for all, but there is just not enough money. The City also receives SHIP funding, but for the last few years, the funds were slim. The State promised more funds this year, so they can conduct rehabilitations with those funds as well. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked about housing for vulnerable populations in lower socio- economic groups and the forgotten, such as the elderly or the intellectually or emotional disabled. Sometimes their caretakers take them to state funded institutions. She asked if there would be opportunities for group homes. Ms. Sherrod could not answer that. The SHIP program is for moderate income individuals and years ago, SHIP was given to individuals for housing in the Preserve. A question was posed if the funds could provide assistance for people to find homes in areas other than District II and learned they did. One person found a property behind Checkers. Mr. Tory Orr asked about jobs for the community. Ms. Sherrod explained there is an Economic Development Director, David Scott, who was hired to create jobs. A portion of the fund was used to set aside funds for an economic development Planner to create jobs. All they do is for the City of Boynton Beach. Ms. Sherrod explained the Community Caring Center on 4th Avenue provides job training, restaurant work, and helps with start-ups. As an advocate, they want to share the information. Ms. Sherrod explained they hire contractors from the community. Mr. Orr commented he knows people who want jobs in the community but cannot find any. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked if a non-profit could apply for a space for a teen center. Ms. Brooks noted P2P already has a teen center. The application is simplified from prior years and much simpler. It was 27 pages in the past, it is easier, any questions, please call them. There is a glossary, self explanatory and simple. 4 Meeting Minutes CDBG Public Participation Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 6, 2019 IV. Adjournment Ms. Brooks closed the meeting at 6:13 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 5