AGENDA #4c(4)
MEMORANDUM
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Recommended 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant Program for Public Housing Renovations and Resident Services
DATE: April 24, 2000
The purpose of this memorandum is to present a preliminary proposal for use of funds we expect to receive from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant Program.
The attached resolution would approve a 2000-2001 Annual Statement for the Comprehensive Grant Program.
· We have not yet received notification from HUD of the amount of the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant. Therefore, we have developed a preliminary plan based on the 1999-2000 grant amount of $460,000.
· We expect to receive notification of the 2000-2001 grant by July 31, 2000.
· The proposed plan includes renovations in all nine apartments at the Lindsay Street neighborhood.
· The deadline for submitting the plan for the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant Program to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is June 1, 2000. However, the 2000-2001 grant year begins on October 1, 2000.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates modernization funds to localities that manage at least 250 public housing apartments for renovation and support of resident services. Funds are allocated under a formula basis rather than through a competitive application process.
Federal regulations require that the Town give priority to completing renovation work related to statutory or other requirements such as lead-based paint testing and abatement, asbestos testing and abatement, and renovation work necessary to meet the needs of disabled persons.
The proposed plan for the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant Program includes renovation in the Lindsay Street neighborhood because lead-based paint is present in these apartments.
Citizen Participation Process
On January 31, 2000, the Council held a public forum to receive citizens’ comments on the use of Comprehensive Grant funds. No comments were received.
Housing staff held a meeting with the residents of public housing on February 29, 2000 to receive comments and suggestions on the use of the Comprehensive Grant funds. Seven residents of public housing attended the meeting. Comments and suggestions received at the meeting include:
· Need to landscape throughout the public housing neighborhoods.
· Need to replace screens, windows and doors.
· Need to install or improve playground equipment in the neighborhoods.
· Need neighborhood watch programs and training for residents.
· Need to provide training or counseling in becoming a homeowner.
· Need to install security equipment.
· Need to install outdoor benches.
On March 29, 2000, the Council held a second public forum to receive citizens’ comments on the use of the Comprehensive Grant Funds. No comments were received.
DISCUSSION
We have not yet received notification from HUD of the amount of the 2000-2001 Grant. However, we have developed a preliminary plan for 2000-2001 in the amount of $460,000, the amount of the 1999-2000 grant. Also, the plan includes $120,000 that we expect to be allocated for public housing renovations under the 2000-2001 Community Development Program. The total amount of the funds expected to be available for public housing renovations and resident services in 2000-2001 is $580,000.
PROPOSED USE OF 2000-2001 COMPRHNSIVE GRANT FUNDS
Proposed Sources of Funds
Comprehensive Grant Program $460,000
Community Development Program $120,000
TOTAL $580,000
Proposed Use of Funds
Lindsay Street Renovations $448,000
Resident Activities $ 62,000
Other Costs $ 70,000
TOTAL $580,000
The Proposed proposal for the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant Program include the following activities:
1. Renovations at Lindsay Street $448,000
Renovate the 9 apartments at the Lindsay Street neighborhood. We estimated that the amount of funds we expect to receive in 2000-2001 under the Comprehensive Grant and Community Development Programs would complete renovation work in these apartments.
Proposed renovation work would include the abatement of lead-based paint and asbestos, replacement of windows and screens, replacement of interior and exterior doors, replacement of furnaces, replacement of floor tiles, replacement of bathtub liners and surrounds, bathroom fixtures, plumbing and electrical upgrades, and interior and exterior painting.
2. Resident Activities $62,000
We propose to reserve $52,000 for resident activities. Proposed use of funds could include, but would not be limited to, support of the staffing and operational needs of the Residents’ Council. The Residents’ Council staff would include a Community Organizer, a part-time Program Coordinator, a part-time Center Director and two part-time van drivers.
We also propose to reserve $10,000 for the ACHIEVE! Family Self-Sufficiency Program. The funds would provide workshops, training, and educational opportunities for the 21 program participants.
3. Other Costs $70,000
Includes the cost of general administration of the Comprehensive Grant Program, the cost of personnel to do day-to-day monitoring of the renovation work as required by HUD, maintenance training, and the cost of relocating public housing residents affected by the renovations.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Housing and Community Development Advisory Board’s Recommendation: The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board reviewed the proposed use of the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Grant Program funds on March 28, 2000. The members of the Board voted 4 to 0 to recommend that the Comprehensive Grant Plan be approved as proposed.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
1. A Resolution Approving the Annual Statement for the Comprehensive Grant Program (p. 6) (The HUD Resolution is in a federally required format that must be submitted with the Annual Statement for the Comprehensive Grant funding.)
2. Proposed 2000-2001 Annual Statement for Comprehensive Grant Program (p. 7) (The Annual Statement provides a summary of proposed Comprehensive Grant activities and cost estimates.)
3. Summary of Five-Year Plan For Public Housing Renovations And Resident Services (p.8) (This attachment provides a summary of the proposed expenditures that is expected to be available for public housing renovations and residents services over the next five years.)
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN ANNUAL STATEMENT FOR 2000-2001 COMPREHENSIVE GRANT FUNDS (2000-04-24/R-3 )
BE IT RESOLVED by the Chapel Hill Town Council that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to submit a Comprehensive Grant Annual Statement, as described in the Manager’s memorandum to the Council dated April 24, 2000, to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including compliance with all HUD policies, procedures and regulations required therein, for a program of $460,000 in Comprehensive Grant Program funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manager is hereby designated as the authorized representative of the Town to act in connection with submittal of an Annual Statement and to provide such additional information as may be required.
This the 24th day of April 2000.