AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Drug Elimination Grant
INTRODUCTION
The attached resolution would authorize the acceptance of a public housing Drug Elimination Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $77,019. No local match is required. The attached ordinance would establish a grant project budget.
BACKGROUND
In the spring of 2000, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the availability of funds for public housing agencies who submitted plans to help eliminate drug-related crime from their housing communities. Effective October 1999, HUD implemented regulations to replace the competitive distribution of these funds with a formula allocation system. Agencies who had successfully competed for Drug Elimination Grants in any of the past three fiscal years were considered preference agencies. The Town successfully competed in each of those three years. In April 2000, we submitted our plan for the Drug Elimination grant formula allocations. The grant does not require any matching funds from the Town.
DISCUSSION
The Department of Housing first received funding through the Drug Elimination Grant program in February 1992, and has continued to apply for the grant annually. Activities have included programs for drug prevention, increased security and crime prevention. Grant funds have provided physical improvements, such as fencing and lighting in public housing areas, adult education programs, crime prevention training for residents, youth activity programs and police investigative services.
In July 2000, we received notification that HUD had awarded drug elimination funds in the amount of $77,019. HUD requires that the Town indicate its acceptance of the grant by returning a signed agreement form along with other standard budgetary forms to HUD. Failure to return the signed acceptance form to HUD will result in the reallocation of this grant to other housing agencies.
In the application, we requested funding for the following:
1) Continuation of the full-time Resident Services Coordinator position to implement the programs of the Drug Elimination Plan.
2) Continuation of a police investigator position to be assigned full-time to the Police Department's Investigations Unit to investigate, track and monitor crime in public housing communities. The Investigator also assists housing staff with screening applicants and provides regular communication with Housing staff about problem areas in housing communities.
3) Support for drug prevention programs: Examples include continuation of the Computer Learning Lab programs operating jointly with the Orange County Literacy Council, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) preparation program, and drug education/prevention.
4) Funds for youth activities: The plan includes funds for youth academic programs and structured youth drug prevention activities.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution approving the acceptance of the Drug Elimination Plan grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the attached ordinance establishing a grant project ordinance.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A PUBLIC HOUSING DRUG ELIMINATION PROGRAM GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (2000-09-11/R-3)
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made funds available to public housing agencies to assist in the elimination of drug-related crime from their communities; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Town of Chapel Hill to provide drug prevention, intervention and referral to treatment programs for its residents of public housing; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Housing and Community Development's Drug Elimination Plan was approved by HUD in the amount of $77,019;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby authorizes the Manager to accept the Drug Elimination Plan grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to make all necessary assurances.
This the 11th day of September, 2000.
AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A DRUG ELIMINATION GRANT PROJECT ORDINANCE (2000-09-11/O-3)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that pursuant to Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina; the following project ordinance is hereby established.
Section I
The project authorized is the Drug Elimination Grant submitted to U.S. Department of Housing and Department of Housing and Urban Development April 2000; funds are as contained in the grant agreement between the Town and by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Section II
The Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with the project within the terms of the agreement document(s), the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the budget contained herein.
Section III
The following revenue is available to complete the project:
Drug Elimination Grant $77,019
Section IV
The following amounts are appropriated for the projects noted below:
Police Housing Investigator 33,000
Drug Prevention Activities 41,319
Youth Activity 2,700
Total $ 77,019
Section V
The Finance Director is hereby directed to maintain within the Project fund sufficient specific detailed accounting records to provide the accounting to HUD as required by the agreement(s) and federal regulations.
Section VI
Funds may be advanced from General funds for the purpose of making payments as due. Reimbursement requests should be made to HUD in an orderly and timely manner.
Section VII
The Manager is directed to report annually on the financial status of each project in Section IV and on the total revenues received.
This the 11th day of September, 2000.