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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURAGOV-2016-08-19Approved:10/21/16 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-6559 (607) 274-6558 (fax) MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY Governance Committee (GC) 8:30 AM,Friday,August 19,2016 Third Floor Conference Room,City Hall,Ithaca,NY Present:Eric Rosario,Susan Cummings,David Whitmore,Kathy Schlather Excused:None Vacancy:1 Staff:Nels Bohn,JoAnn Cornish,Charles Pyott Guests:None I.Call to Order Chairperson Rosario called the meeting to order at 8:36 A.M. II.Agenda Additions/Deletions None. III.Public Comments (3 minute maximum per person)None. IV.Review of Meeting Minutes:May 20,2016 Cummings moved,seconded by Whitmore,to approve the May 20,2016 meeting minutes,with no modifications.Carried Unanimously 3 0 (Schlather arrived at 8:38 a.m.) V.New Business A.Response to Community Development Planner Staff Vacancy Rosario suggested the Committee review the position description and ensure it includes all elements of the position that staff and the Committee would like to see.The Committee also reviewed a 12/12/13 memorandum (from an earlier vacancy)from Bohn,titled “Response to Upcoming Employment Position Vacancy,”which analyzed the position in terms of major job duties,desired skill sets and experience,desired education,minimum requirements,compensation level,etc. Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 2 of 8 Cummings suggested the Committee seek someone with fundraising/development skills and expertise,given the IURA’s progressively diminishing real income from Federal sources. Bohn responded that IURA staff have been reasonably active in seeking out grants;but the private sector is generally not especially interested in funding a funder.Finding a receptive funder will continue to be a challenge. Schlather observed there has been considerable recent discussion about the need to conduct current housing studies,but it is not clear who would implement those recommendations.It would certainly not be the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA).Nor does Tompkins County have any staff dedicated to the housing sector. The Committee then made several minor modifications to the language of the job announcement and job description. Moved by Cummings,seconded by Whitmore: Authorize Job Search to Hire Community Development Planner WHEREAS,the Community Development Planner (CD Planner)resigned effective August 12,2016 to take another job,and WHEREAS,the CD Planner performs critical work functions for the IURA to achieve its mission and meet its obligations to administer the HUD Entitlement Grant program,and WHEREAS,IURA management recommends hiring a full time staff person to respond to the staff vacancy and meet the work load,and WHEREAS,the IURA desires to retain internal personnel capacity to perform critical work functions,and WHEREAS,at their August 19,2016 meeting,the IURA Governance Committee concluded that seeking a candidate with strong housing credentials will best advance the IURA mission,and WHEREAS,IURA Governance Committee member Kathy Schlather has agreed to serve on a search committee;now,therefore,be it IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 3 of 8 RESOLVED,that the IURA adopts the attached job description for the Community Development Planner position dated 8/19/16,and be it further RESOLVED,the IURA hereby authorizes the Executive Director,or her designee,to advertise,form a search committee,conduct interviews,and recommend a preferred candidate to fill a full time,permanent Community Development Planner position with the salary to be determined depending on qualifications,and be it further RESOLVED,that IURA member __________________,shall serve on the search committee,and be it further, RESOLVED,any employment offer shall be subject to approval of the IURA. Carried Unanimously 4 0 Job Description Community Development Planner Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency The Community Development Planner is a professional position responsible for developing and implementing the City’s community development program,which has historically focused on housing and neighborhood stabilization.The position manages the City of Ithaca’s HUD Entitlement Grant program,including development of the annual Action Plan to award funds to specific projects and preparation of the Consolidated Plan,a 5 year strategic plan.General work activities include community needs assessment,evaluation of funding proposals, grant administration,project oversight,and development of new programs to address community development needs.The Community Development Planner supervises the IURA Contracts Monitor. Duties and Responsibilities Coordinate all aspects of the development and administration of the 5 year Consolidated Plan; Coordinate annual Action Plan preparation and implementation,including citizen participation,environmental review,project set up on HUD’s on line Integrated Disbursement &Information System (IDIS),and performance monitoring; IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 4 of 8 Conduct community outreach activities —especially with groups that represent, or serve,low income persons and diverse elements of the community —to identify and jointly develop programs to address unmet priority community development needs; Supervise the IURA Contracts Monitor position,including approval of leaves and preparation of annual performance reviews; Manage the drafting of funding agreements to implement projects,in collaboration with the Contracts Monitor and legal counsel; Manage the monitoring of grant funded projects for effectiveness,timeliness and compliance with contract requirements,in collaboration with the Contracts Monitor; Administer implementation of certain housing,neighborhood stabilization and community facility projects undertaken directly by the IURA; Pursue and expand fiscal resources for community development; Prepare and administer grants to address community development needs as funding opportunities arise; Provide staff support to IURA committees;and Other related duties as assigned by the Director of Community Development. Supervision and Guidance The Community Development Planner is under the supervision of the Director of Community Development.S/he will work closely with IURA legal counsel and other independent consultants.S/he is expected to handle matters covered by policy or procedure independently,but consult with the Director on any matters not covered by policy or procedure. Job Requirements Skill in clear verbal and written communication to diverse audiences Ability to successfully work with diverse communities Skill in building partnerships throughout the community to effectively address community development needs Ability to manage complex projects and initiatives independently Ability to learn and apply complex regulations governing federal grant funding Ability to initiate and implement innovative programs to address unmet community development needs Ability to represent the IURA in public forums Willingness to conduct community outreach activities,especially with groups that represent,or serve,low income persons and diverse elements of the community IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 5 of 8 Skill in computer literacy,including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet,presentation and communication software Commitment to work in a professional manner that embraces diversity and inclusiveness in all facets of the job Preferred Qualifications A Master’s Degree in City Planning,Public Administration,Architecture,Real Estate or related fields; At least two (2)years of full time relevant experience in the public sector or real estate industry;and Working experience with one or more of the following activities: Developing and implementing affordable housing programs; Developing and implementing programs addressing neighborhood revitalization and community development needs; Housing finance or development;and Administering public grant programs,especially CDBG,HOME,Continuum of Care and Low Income Housing Tax Credits. (Whitmore departed at 9:23 a.m.) B.Amendment to Legal Services Contract:Ruswick —Resolution Bohn explained that the 201 Hancock Street project owner has already paid the IURA’s legal costs,but the IURA’s independent contract with Ruswick still requires an amendment to account for legal costs incurred beyond the maximum authorized amount.Ruswick performed all the legal work associated with the project. Moved by Cummings,seconded by Schlather: Procurement of Independent Legal Services,Ruswick —Increase Contract Amount to Cover Expenses Incurred on 210 Hancock Street Project WHEREAS,the IURA contracted for legal services with Richard P.Ruswick at Levene Gouldin &Thompson,LLP in both 2015 and 2016 for a total amount not to exceed $5,000,and WHEREAS,Ruswick was assigned to conduct legal review on IURA funding agreements for the 210 Hancock project,a Low Income Housing Tax Credit project (LIHTC),and WHEREAS,IURA legal costs incurred on IURA funding agreements to assist LIHTC (LIHTC)projects are paid by the project sponsor,and IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 6 of 8 WHEREAS,LIHTC projects involve multiple funding sources,multiple attorneys, syndication and a complicated ownership pattern that collectively generate extensive and complicated documents for legal review to ensure compliance with applicable CDBG and HOME regulations,and WHEREAS,Ruswick incurred a total of $18,744 in legal expenses to complete review of the 210 Hancock project,and WHEREAS,the project owner paid out IURA legal costs at the project closing,but the IURA independent contract with Ruswick requires an amendment to accommodate actual legal costs incurred beyond the maximum authorized amounts contained in the legal services contracts,and WHEREAS,the IURA Governance Committee considered this matter at their August 19,2016 meeting and recommended the following action;now,therefore,be it RESOLVED,that the IURA Chairperson is hereby authorized,upon review of legal counsel,to execute contract amendments for independent contractor legal services with Richard P.Ruswick at Levene Gouldin &Thompson,LLP not to exceed an additional $18,744 to account for legal services incurred on the 210 Hancock project, and be it further RESOLVED,that the source of such funds for legal services shall be derived from revenues received from the 210 Hancock project sponsor. Carried Unanimously 3 0 (Cummings departed at 9:24 a.m.) VI.Other Business A.Review of IURA Financials:July 2016 Bohn explained he is waiting for the current year’s HUD program funding awards to be received,before listing them on the “IURA Grants Summary”report.There are very few remaining un expended balances.The largest un expended balance is the Spencer Road Sidewalks project;however,the Engineering Division has made progress on that project and the Board of Public Works has authorized the final design,before bidding it out. Neighborhood residents appear very satisfied with the design options the Engineering Division proposed.Bohn noted that the Learning Web’s Housing Scholarship Program has been behind in submitting expenses,because of a loss of funding over the course of one year and its efforts to re design the program. IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 7 of 8 Bohn reported that the “Loan Repayments Due to IURA”report generally looks good. The State Theatre is one month behind,which is not a serious concern.The Finger Lakes School of Massage is also one month behind,although that is the first payment it has missed.IURA staff believe the payment is in the mail and do not expect it to pose a problem. Bohn reported that “Lease Payments Due to IURA”report only contains one item of note —Evaporated Metal Films’delinquent payment of its annual maintenance fee.(It is not a regular payment,like a monthly repayment,which is probably why it was missed.)Evaporated Metal Films has made a payment since the report was generated. B.FY2017 Federal Budget Funding for HUD Programs Update Bohn referred the Committee to a FY2017 Federal Budget Chart,showing anticipated FY2017 funding levels.The chart shows both HOME and CDBG program funding levels that are essentially flat lined.No Congressional appropriations bill has yet been passed, so funding would likely take place by means of an omnibus spending bill,which would retain the prior year’s funding levels.Assuming that is the case,that would represent a de facto funding cut for the IURA —both because of the increase in the Consumer Price Index and the fact that more communities become eligible for CDBG funding every year, thereby diminishing the IURA’s own funding level. [SEE FY2017 FEDERAL BUDGET CHART ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.] IURA GC Minutes August 19,2016 Page 8 of 8 C.IURA Strategic Planning Update Bohn reported the IURA sold the Hilton Canopy hotel property for $1.8M,receiving the payment in the form of a note for $1.375M,representing a loan repayment of $24,000 to the IURA over 20 years (applied to IURA Program Income). D.IURA &Common Council Actions of Interest to Committee None. VII.Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:45 A.M. — END — Minutes prepared by C.Pyott,edited by N.Bohn.