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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2011-04-12 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-655 Approved Minutes IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee April 8, 2011 Present: Tracy Farrell, Teresa Halpert, Susan Cummings, Fernando de Aragón Absent: Caleb Thomas Staff: Sue Kittel, Alice Vargo I. Call to Order II. Additions to or deletions from the agenda Cummings requested adding ‘BZA Report’ under V.5.Other III. Public comment - None IV. Review of Minutes- January 14, 2011 After a review of the January 14, 2011 and March 11, 2011 minutes, a motion was made by Cummings, seconded by de Aragón to accept both sets of minutes with a minor change. Carried Unanimously 4-0 V. New Business 1. Red Cross Shelter (2006 # 6) – Discussion of conversion of emergency shelter beds to SRO units—possible action Kittel reported that the Red Cross Shelter on MLK/W. State Street has converted 10 of the 16 emergency shelter beds into SRO units, in violation of our grant agreement with Community Housing of Ithaca (CHI), who owns the building. The IURA funded the construction of the emergency shelter at this site with $350,000 of CDBG funds and there is a 10 year regulatory period controlling the building use. This regulatory period began in 2008. René Funke, IURA Contracts Monitor, sent a letter to Charles Guttman at Community Housing of Ithaca (CHI) describing the change and asking for his attention to the matter. Guttman responded by writing that he had no knowledge of this, but would check into it and report back. To date nothing has been heard. Discussion followed. On a motion by de Aragón and second by Halpert, the following was approved unanimously. Modify Loan Terms for 2006 CDBG #6 “Red Cross Shelter Conversion” Whereas, as part of the 2006 Action Plan, Community Housing of Ithaca, Inc. (CHI) was awarded $350,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, in the form of a Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency NI Minutes 4-8-11 deferred loan, to renovate a partially vacant building and create 16 emergency shelter beds as well as space for the drop-in Friendship Center at 618 West State Street, and Whereas, the shelter was created and has operated as under the terms of a 2009 deferred loan agreement that requires provision of at least 16 emergency shelter beds, and Whereas, the need for emergency shelter beds has fallen and the need for single room occupancy (SRO) units is growing in Ithaca, and Whereas, the shelter was constructed so that its use could be flexible and still meet the requirements of the relevant HUD regulations, and Whereas, on April 7, 2011 CHI formally requested conversion of seven of the emergency shelter beds to SRO units to be used for income-eligible tenants, and Whereas, this conversion can be administered to ensure that the project continues to meet CDBG eligibility guidelines for affordable housing, and Whereas, the Neighborhood Investment Committee of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency reviewed this matter at their April 8, 2011 meeting and recommends the following, now, therefore be it Resolved, that the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency hereby approves CHI’s request to convert seven (7) emergency shelter beds to SRO units for income-eligible tenants at affordable rents at the ‘Red Cross Conversion’ project located at 618 W. State Street (2006 CDBG #6), and be it further Resolved, the IURA approves a modification to the IURA loan agreement with CHI to implement the approved change of use, and be it further Resolved, the IURA Chairperson is authorized, subject to advice from IURA legal counsel, to execute all instruments necessary to implement this resolution. 2. Childcare Scholarships (2010 #12)—Request to modify use of funds—discussion The Child Development Council sent a letter requesting that they be permitted broaden the eligibility guidelines for the emergency childcare scholarship program to benefit not only children who are city residents, but also any child enrolled in a childcare program operating within the City. They stated that it is challenging to find city families who are eligible and need emergency daycare scholarships. The committee discussed the Child Development Council’s outreach program which was described in some detail in both reporting materials submitted to the IURA and during a technical assistance meeting held between IURA and Child Development Council staff. There was much discussion on whether the difficulty spending the funds pointed to a lack of need NI Minutes 4-8-11 for the program or a lack of the widespread knowledge that the program is available to City families struggling to pay for childcare. Members discussed the fact that the owners of the City-based childcare programs would benefit from the scholarships since families who are unable to pay their bills jeopardize the provider. Cummings argued that the focus should stay on the families with children and that the inability to spend the funds pointed to a need for reprogramming the funds to another activity and not retooling of the program that was funded. On a motion by Halpert and second by de Aragón, the following was passed 3-1, with Cummings objecting. Modify Grant Conditions for Child Care Scholarships (2010 CDBG #12) Whereas, as part of the 2010 Action Plan, the Child Development Council was awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $13,000 to provide emergency scholarships to families who were facing a short-term crisis that put their access to daycare in jeopardy due to a sudden inability to pay, and Whereas, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency approved this project subject to a restriction that beneficiaries be residents of the City of Ithaca, and Whereas, the Child Development Council had other funds committed to the project to fund non-City residents, and Whereas, after significant marketing efforts, the Child Development Council has been unable to implement the program as established on schedule due to an apparent limited demand for these scholarships by City residents, and Whereas, on March 17, 2011, the Child Development Council formally requested an amendment to the use of the CDBG funds to allow for City-based daycare providers to access the scholarship monies for their clients regardless of the residence of the child, and Whereas, the Neighborhood Investment Committee reviewed the issue at their meeting on April 8, 2011 and recommends the following, now therefore be it Resolved, that the contract for the 2010 CDBG project # 12 “Childcare Scholarships” be amended to allow scholarship funds to benefit either City residents regardless of the location of the childcare provider or City of Ithaca providers regardless of the residence of the child, and be it further Resolved, that the chairperson of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency is hereby authorized to execute such contract amendment upon advice from the IURA attorney. NI Minutes 4-8-11 3. 2011 Action Plan Process—Discussion and evaluation of the 2011 Grant process The committee reported being generally satisfied with the 2011 Grant process. Discussion regarding how to determine a program’s long term impact and the desire to fund activities which provide long term benefits followed. The committee is interested in making programs which result in structural or long-term opportunities for beneficiaries, including access to programs, services or amenities. 4. 2012 Entitlement Program—a look ahead After some discussion the committee noted that it is interested in jobs and job skills training as well as continued focus on quality affordable housing. Public facilities projects were discussed with the staff being directed to do some preliminary investigation of possible projects at the Alex Haley Pool and on Six Mile Creek where a pedestrian bridge is needed close to CVS (between Clinton Street and South Titus on Rt. 13). 5. Other Cummings updated the Committee on the Seneca Way Apartment project. This is proposed for the former Challenge Industries Site. Cummings described the action at the April 4, 2011 Special IURA meeting where this item was discussed and a letter to the BZA objecting to the project was approved by the Agency. VI. Old Business None VII. Staff Report None VIII. Motion to Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.