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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURANI-2019-04-12 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 DRAFT MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY (IURA) NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT COMMITTEE (NIC) 8:30 A.M., Friday, April 12, 2019 Second Floor Conference Room, City Hall, Ithaca, NY In attendance: Karl Graham, Chair; Tracy Farrell, Vice Chair; Fernando de Aragón; Paulette Manos. Excused: Teresa Halpert Staff: Anisa Mendizabal Guest(s): None I. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. II. Changes/Additions to the Agenda None. III. Public Comments None. IV. Review of Meeting Minutes Minutes from March 8, 2019 and March 15, 2019 were reviewed. No changes. Motion for approval moved by Farrell, seconded by Graham. Minutes approved as written 3-0. De Aragón arrived at 8:43 a.m. V. New Business A. Action Item – Review CBDO Applications - Resolution(s) 1. Historic Ithaca The Chair opened the discussion of CBDO Applications. Historic Ithaca’s application was discussed. The Committee noted one of the HI’s Board Members has an out-of- state address; this is not frequently seen. Mendizabal concurred it was unusual, yet, 2 appears acceptable according to HI’s by-laws and because this particular board member is not one of the HI Board Members submitting self-certification for one of the CBDO board member categories. Moved by Manos; seconded by Farrell. Approved 4-0. 2019 IURA Designation of Historic Ithaca, Inc. (HI) as a Community-Based Development Organization WHEREAS, the Board of Historic Ithaca, Inc. (HI) seeks designation by the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO), and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has designated the IURA to administer the City’s HUD Entitlement Program that oversees Community Development Block Grant funds awarded to the City, and WHEREAS, an eligible category of CDBG activities is a “Special Activity by CBDO”, that offers certain advantages, such as exemption from the 15% expenditure cap otherwise applicable to public service activities, authorization to carry out new housing construction (normally prohibited with CDBG funds), and discretion to allow income generated by a CDBG-funded activity to not be considered CDBG program income, and WHEREAS, the following four tests established at CFR Title 24 §570.204 must be met to qualify under a category of “Special Activity by CBDOs”: 1. The entity qualifies as a CBDO, including the 51% board membership test; 2. The CBDO will undertake an eligible project; 3. That the CBDO will carry out the funded activity directly or with an entity other than the grantee; 4. That the CBDO will not carry out a prohibited activity, and WHEREAS, a CBDO must maintain at least 51% of its governing body’s membership to be made up of any combination of the following: • Low- and moderate income residents of its area of operation • Owners or senior officers of private establishments and other institutions located in its area of operation • Representatives of low- and moderate-income neighborhood organizations located in its area of operation, and WHEREAS, a CBDO must have as its primary purpose the improvement of the physical, economic, or social environment of its geographic area of operation, with a particular emphasis on the needs of low- and moderate-income persons, and WHEREAS, the project undertaken by the CBDO must qualify as one or more of the following project types: • neighborhood revitalization; • community economic development; • energy conservation project; and Whereas, at its April 12, 2019, meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee evaluated HI’s CBDO application and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA determines that Historic Ithaca meets the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO, and that the Work Preserve project qualifies as an eligible CBDO activity, and be it further 3 RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby designates Historic Ithaca as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO) and “Work Preserve Job Training with Placement” as eligible for CDBG funding under the category of “Special Activities by CBDOs”. 2. GIAC The Committee next considered GIAC’s CBDO application, and reviewed the accompanying paperwork and Staff evaluation memo. Moved by Farrell; seconded by De Aragon. Approved 4-0. 2019 IURA Designation of Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc. (GIAC) as a Community-Based Development Organization WHEREAS, the Board of Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc. (GIAC) seeks designation by the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO), and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has designated the IURA to administer the City’s HUD Entitlement Program that oversees Community Development Block Grant funds awarded to the City, and WHEREAS, an eligible category of CDBG activities is a “Special Activity by CBDO”, that offers certain advantages, such as exemption from the 15% expenditure cap otherwise applicable to public service activities, authorization to carry out new housing construction (normally prohibited with CDBG funds), and discretion to allow income generated by a CDBG-funded activity to not be considered CDBG program income, and WHEREAS, the following four tests established at CFR Title 24 §570.204 must be met to qualify under a category of “Special Activity by CBDOs”: 5. The entity qualifies as a CBDO, including the 51% board membership test; 6. The CBDO will undertake an eligible project; 7. That the CBDO will carry out the funded activity directly or with an entity other than the grantee; 8. That the CBDO will not carry out a prohibited activity, and WHEREAS, a CBDO must maintain at least 51% of its governing body’s membership to be made up of any combination of the following: • Low- and moderate income residents of its area of operation • Owners or senior officers of private establishments and other institutions located in its area of operation • Representatives of low- and moderate-income neighborhood organizations located in its area of operation, and i WHEREAS, a CBDO must have as its primary purpose the improvement of the physical, economic, or social environment of its geographic area of operation, with a particular emphasis on the needs of low- and moderate-income persons, and WHEREAS, the project undertaken by the CBDO must qualify as one or more of the following project types: • neighborhood revitalization; 4 • community economic development; • energy conservation project; and Whereas, at its April 12, 2019, meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee evaluated GIAC’s CBDO application and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA determines that Greater Ithaca Activities Center meets the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO, and that the Hospitality Employment Training Program (HETP) project qualifies as an eligible CBDO activity, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby designates Greater Ithaca Activities Center as a Community- Based Development Organization (CBDO) and “Hospitality Employment Training Program” as eligible for CDBG funding under the category of “Special Activities by CBDOs”. B. Action Item – Final Review of 2019 Action Plan Proposals 1. Recommendations The Committee discussed the presentations made by 2019 Action Plan applicants in Public Hearing #1, Parts 1 & 2 (March 28 and April 4) and finalized its recommendations to the IURA Board. 2. Recommendations for Above/Below Anticipated Funding The Committee also considered how projects could be affected should Ithaca’s HUD Entitlement funding level be above or below the amount anticipated, and made recommendations for alternate funding scenarios. Should the amount allocated be significantly different that the anticipated amount, the Committee agreed that a special meeting would be in order. C. Action Item – Recommend 2019-2023 Con Plan Priorities The Committee reviewed the documented entitled “2019 Con Plan Preliminary Priorities per Consultation.” Mendizabal noted that as a summary of public engagement portion of the planning process, ideas suggested in the process are documented whether or not ultimately they are eligible under the regulatory framework for HUD Entitlement assistance. The Committee also reviewed compiled by Mendizabal for the Consolidated Plan. The challenges of promoting affordable home ownership opportunities in Ithaca’s expensive market were discussed. Fair housing, code enforcement, and landlord/tenant counseling were examples of needs that arose through the 2019 community input and consultation sessions. De Aragón motioned to allow Chair Graham to present the Committee’s recommendations to the IURA Board; Manos seconded. Carried 3 -0 (Graham did not vote). Farrell departed at 10:20 a.m. 5 VI. Other Business A. IURA Grant Summary Mendizabal reported she had been in communication with INHS regarding its 2017 Homeowner Rehab activities. Two project sites have been completed and INHS hopes to conclude activity at the third and final site in the near future and will draw down the remaining funds. B. Staff Report Mendizabal reported that per Committee direction, she had reached out to Jerame Hawkins to inform him of the Committee’s interest in his (withdrawn) application, and, for his future reference, make him aware of the usual timelines regarding dispersal of HUD funding for funded activities (e.g. several months after the conclusion of application process). Additionally, Mendizabal told him about the Incremental Development presentations that the County Planning office is sponsoring, and connected him with David West, the County planner who is the point person. She let Mr. Hawkins know that technical assistance from IURA staff is available throughout the year. Mr. Hawkins indicated his intention to reapply in the future and thanked her for the above information. Per the Committee’s query in the March 15 meeting, Mendizabal created a matrix of Tompkins County-area funders and their guidelines. VII. Motion to Adjourn Graham motioned to adjourn, Manos seconded. Carried 3-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:24 a.m.