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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURA-2024-02-23Approved: 3/22/24 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY 8:30 A.M., Friday, February 23rd, 2024 Common Council Chambers, Third Floor (City Hall) 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 Members: Chris Proulx, Chair; Karl Graham, Vice-Chair; Robert Cantelmo (Mayor) [virtual]; Donna Fleming; Shaianne Osterreich; Ducson Nguyen (Common Council Liaison) Excused: None. Vacancies: 1 IURA Staff: Nels Bohn; Anisa Mendizabal; Charles Pyott [virtual] City Staff: Lisa Nicholas Guests: None. I. Call to Order Chair Proulx called the meeting to order at 8:31 A.M. II. Agenda Additions/Deletions None. III. Public Comments None. IV. 2024 HUD Entitlement Grant Action Plan — PUBLIC HEARING #1 A. Review of Projected Funds Available & Public Hearing Format Mendizabal explained that IURA staff anticipates the availability of $622,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds and $317,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds, in addition to $160,000 in anticipated CDBG Program Income and $76,000 in recaptured/unallocated HOME funds. The IURA received 22 funding applications in 2024. She added no Public Comments regarding the Action Plan have been received to date. B. Disclosure of Any Potential Conflicts of Interest Nicholas disclosed that she serves on the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) board of directors; however, she is not a voting member of the Board. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 2 of 9 On a motion by Fleming, seconded by Graham, and unanimously approved, Chair Proulx opened the Public Hearing. ― ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS ― 1. APPLICATION #7: CAREER & RESOURCES PROGRAM — BLACK HANDS UNIVERSAL (BHU) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Harry Smith Black Hands Universal (BHU) The program is designed to graduate 15-20 people and find permanent employment for 10-15 people, with a focus on developing standard work skills/trades, career-readiness training, licenses, GEDs, and certifications. BHU has reached out to the City and a number of other funders (e.g., United Way, Community Foundation) for their support. BHU primarily works in the West End section of the City, but it is open to working in other parts of the City. BHU collaborates with The Learning Web, Inc., Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT), and Tompkins Workforce New York, as well as other organizations. Gladys Brangman Business Leaders of Color Graham observed that the budget in the application lists $31,500 in funding from the City. He asked what year those funds were granted. Smith replied the funds were awarded in 2023, but they were not actually received until late 2023, so they would also be spent in 2024. Graham asked who would be responsible for grant documentation and reporting for the program. Smith responded the organization has been working together as a team, with secretaries and instructors individually keeping track of information they are responsible for. He would then prepare the actual reporting himself. Graham observed that the budget in the application appears to list more funding than expenses: $75,500 in funds vs. $68,496 in expenses. Smith replied he would need to review his records and provide Mendizabal with an answer to that question after this meeting. Brangman explained she would be working with BHU to hire someone to perform the administrative tasks associated with the program. Proulx remarked the figures on the Uses & Sources table also do not match. Proulx noted that the Economic Development Committee (EDC) had a question about the Project Schedule in the application. It only lists the first four months of activity/milestones. Smith replied those four months of activities/milestones should actually be carried over into the other months. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 3 of 9 Bohn observed the application lists 5 micro-enterprises and 5 new jobs to be created by the program. He asked if those accomplishments would be in addition to the 10-15 people enrolled in training. Smith replied, yes. 2. APPLICATION #8: EXPANDED REUSE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES — FINGER LAKES REUSE, INC. (FLRU) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Diane Cohen Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. (FLRU) The program would provide job-training opportunities for LMI individuals and place at least 20 individuals into permanent unsubsidized employment. The program would be targeted to assist the unemployed, formerly incarcerated, persons with disabilities, individuals in recovery, and youth. Suzanne Burnham Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. (FLRU) In 2023, the ReSET (ReUse Skills & Employment Training) job training program received 26 applications. It enrolled 19 paid Apprentices, including 6 Apprentices in various stages of re-entry. 11 Apprentices conducted informal interviews with local employers and 10 of those Apprentices were successfully hired into the community. FLRU currently partners with Tompkins Workforce NY, Associates for Training and Development (A4TD), Youth Employment Services, The Learning Web, Challenge Workforce Solutions, TST BOCES, and Opportunities Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Tompkins County. FLRU also partners with the Career Pathways Project (Cornell Cooperative Extension) to explore funding opportunities through State and Federal grant programs (e.g., NYSERDA, Department of Labor). Abbey Ball Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. (FLRU) The program would work with 30 paid Apprentices, with the goal of placing at least 20 into permanent unsubsidized employment. Apprentices have repeatedly praised FLRU’s flexibility and uniquely supportive atmosphere. Graham asked what accounts for this year’s increase in the goal of placing 20 individuals into permanent unsubsidized employment, compared to last year’s goal of placing. Cohen replied FLRU has been ramping up its activity to address a growing waiting list for the program. Over the past few years, FLRU’s administrative capacity atrophied significantly due to its financial situation, but it is now rebuilding its administrative staff. Bohn noted the application states that funding for the Apprentices is the program’s limiting factor. He asked how FLRU would restructure the program, if it only received partial IURA funding. Cohen responded FLRU would simply reduce the number of Apprentices it enrolls. Fleming asked if there is a risk of double-counting the program’s outcomes with the other IURA-funded organizations it works with. Cohen replied that is conceivable, but she would need to double check. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 4 of 9 Proulx added FLRU should also clarify the number of program participants. In one place in the application, it lists 20 and in another it lists 30. 3. APPLICATION #10: WORK PRESERVE (WP) JOB TRAINING ̶ JOB PLACEMENTS — HISTORIC ITHACA, INC. (HI) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Geno Tournour Historic Ithaca, Inc. (HI) The program would result in job placements for 6 LMI individuals following job-readiness training, targeted to individuals with barriers to employment (e.g., youth, adults, homeless, the formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities and mental illness). As a result of the Park Foundation’s increased funding for the program, which will allow HI to hire another trainer. HI needs the funding the IURA provides it in order to maintain the program’s momentum. Susan Holland Historic Ithaca, Inc. (HI) IURA funding allows HI to provide much more robust one-on-one training and support for program participants than it would otherwise. Work Preserve is designed to meet the needs of individuals with barriers to employment and new entrants to the workforce. Every participant is part of a population that experiences unemployment at significantly higher rates than the overall population, both locally and nationally. Jordan Governale Historic Ithaca, Inc. (HI) Graham asked if HI specifically makes an effort to place its participants with living wage employers. Holland replied, yes, absolutely. Graham asked if HI is increasing its efforts in terms of recruitment. Tournour responded, yes; and the Park Foundation Sustainable Ithaca grant is enabling HI to provide a stipend to its participants for the first time, which will be a valuable recruiting tool. Bohn remarked that while HI admittedly works with vulnerable populations, it has not met its job placement goals over the past two years. He asked how HI plans to achieve its job placement goals in the future; and will some of the job placements come from graduates of the Green Job Starter Kit pilot program. Tournour replied HI definitely anticipates being able to place more participants in jobs. Governale added the Park Foundation Sustainable Ithaca grant will funnel more participants into the long- term IURA-funded program. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 5 of 9 ― HOUSING APPLICATIONS ― 4. APPLICATION #1: THE BEACON — ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, INC. (INHS) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Lynn Truame Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) INHS already has an existing IURA award for the project, but it could not meet the original project schedule, so IURA staff suggested INHS submit a second application to the IURA. Requested funding would go towards construction of 55 units (studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments) of 5-story affordable housing serving households with incomes between 30% and 90% Area Median Income (AMI), in addition to 9 households exiting homelessness with a household member impacted by a substance use disorder. The Beacon is part of the larger redevelopment of Inlet Island, including construction of an extended-stay residence hotel and significant public site improvements (e.g., public playground, access points to the water, kayak storage racks, seating areas, paving the Cayuga Waterfront Trail). INHS will partner with Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga Counties on the nine units for households exiting homelessness. Catholic Charities will provide comprehensive, wrap-around supportive services to them as they transition to housing stability. Core services will include individual case management, drug/alcohol counseling through partner agencies, safety planning, and assistance with obtaining public benefits. Proulx asked staff to clarify the issue of whether the requested funding would represent an extension of the 2023 funding commitment or an entirely new award. Bohn explained that in 2023 the IURA funded it through a Housing Development Action Grants (HODAG) bridge financing award. Typically, the IURA employs a bridge financing source, until it foresees the project approaching a final financing agreement. The original plan was for the project to apply to this year's annual State funding application round, but in order for it to do so, full site control of the property was required. The State needed assurances that the NYS DEC land transactions had been finalized. The delay to the project was never INHS’ fault. Proulx asked if the current project schedule is the best estimate INHS has been able to calculate. Truame replied, yes. Proulx asked how Nicholas realistic the project schedule is, from the City’s perspective. Nicholas responded it would be reasonably tight, but much depends on the developer’s level of preparedness. Graham asked about how the discovery of hazardous materials on the site impact the project. Truame replied that is a situation that happens relatively frequently, so INHS already has contingencies in its budget to address that. INHS has already conducted geotechnical investigations. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 6 of 9 Mendizabal asked how INHS determines the housing unit sizes for its projects. Truame replied that the greatest demand is for 1-bedroom units. This particular location is an ideal place for family-sized housing units, so it decided to construct smaller unit sizes, although NYS HCR requires a minimum range of square footage for the projects it funds. 5. APPLICATION #2: 113-115 CLEVELAND AVE. — ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, INC. (INHS) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Leslie Ackerman Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) The requested funding would go towards construction of two permanently affordable owner-occupied Community Housing Trust (CHT) homes at the site of a fire-destroyed former rental property. The objective will be to optimize the modestly sized parcel, creating attractive and functional indoor space with ample outdoor area for the future homeowners. Following INHS practice, the homes will be high-performing, energy-efficient, all electric homes. The homes will be sold to first-time homebuyers under 80% of AMI. Proulx noted he saw a reference to the flood map in the area. Ackerman replied that is correct. The flood map goes through the neighborhood; however, the exact coordinates of the flood zones have not yet been published. It appears the 100-year flood zone cuts through the very rear of the backyard, at the southernmost end of the parcel; but because the house would be so far away from the flood zone portion of the property INHS has spoken to T.G. Miller about an applicable FEMA process, called a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), to address the issue (which is why flood insurance is not included as a cost of the project). Osterreich noted the Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) had questions about the CHT and the comparative extent of wealth generation it provides homeowners. The Committee wondered how homeowners’ wealth generation would be impacted, when/if they sell a CHT home. Ackerman responded, while INHS does not have exact statistics, the vast majority of CHT homeowners who sold their homes went on to purchase market-rate homes, so they did generate at least some wealth. In addition, those homeowners would have benefited to some extent from the tax savings associated with CHT homes. 6. APPLICATION #3: HOUSING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM — THE LEARNING WEB, INC. Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Michelle Nolan The Learning Web, Inc. The requested funds would be used for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) for transitional housing over 12 months for unaccompanied homeless youth (between the ages of 21-24) in 5 scattered site apartments, which are selected and leased by the youth. Youth are identified and enrolled into the Housing Scholarship Program through The Learning Web’s Youth Outreach Program, in IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 7 of 9 Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief conjunction with the Human Services Coalition’s Coordinated Entry Program and referrals from other agencies. The program provides intensive case management and life-skills training to each participant (e.g., secure and maintain/safe and stable housing; set and achieve personal goals; improve financial literacy and knowledge of personal finance/budgeting; obtain access to medical, mental health and substance-abuse care; pursue educational milestones; obtain and maintain employment). Since 2008, 90% of the youth exiting The Learning Web’s housing programs have maintained stable housing (this program has served an average of 6 youth per year). The housing units are fully furnished, including food, cleaning supplies, sheets, towels, and other resources, so the youth are entering fully functional housing units. The Learning Web staff provides intensive case management and one-on-one support for the youth. The Learning Web also now has a clinical social worker on its staff who provides mental health counseling and support for the youth. The Learning Web has a successful history of working with local landlords. It currently works with over 2 dozen landlords. Graham noted Nolan said the program serves six youth per year. He asked if that is youth graduating from the program, or youth being enrolled into the program. Nolan replied it is new youth being enrolled in the program. Graham observed that past applications have mentioned the possibility of a six-month lease extension for youth participating in the program. He asked if that extension is still a possibility. Nolan replied it is still a possibility, but it was not included in the application. It is primarily designed as a 12-month program. Proulx asked if it is a limitation of the program or a limitation of the funding mechanism that the program does not serve anyone under the age of 21. Nolan replied that is a limitation of the funding mechanism. Youth between the ages of 18 to 21 are assisted in another program. Fleming asked how many youth in total are served at a time. Nolan responded, 35. Bohn noted Nolan mentioned that youth may pay a portion of their rent. He asked what proportion of their income that generally represents. Nolan replied the program budget actually assumes they pay 0% of the rent, since that is usually what they begin contributing, but TBRA funding does provide The Learning Web some flexibility to enable an employed tenant to contribute something towards the rent on a formula basis. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 8 of 9 7. APPLICATION #4: MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM — ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, INC. (INHS) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Delia Yarrow Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) There is a constant need for the services the program provides. LMI homeowners need assistance to maintain and stay in their homes, so they can age in place. The program provides labor at no cost to the homeowner, with occasional INHS funding for materials. Most clients fall between 40%-60% AMI. A comprehensive safety check (e.g., expired smoke detectors) is the first step in the process, followed by a survey to determine if additional maintenance is needed. INHS conducts door-to-door outreach to identify people who do not know about the program. Many materials used by INHS are funded by the County’s Office for the Aging (e.g., grab bars, plumbing supplies). Graham asked if a building code violation is discovered during an initial inspection it is then reported to the City. Yarrow replied, no. Graham asked if the targeted number of assisted homeowners is based solely on the amount of funding INHS receives. Yarrow replied, yes. 8. APPLICATION #5: THE MEADOW ON SENECA — REHABILITATION SUPPORT SERVICES (RSS) Speaker Affiliation Comments-in-Brief Robert Cain CSD Housing, LLC The requested funds would be used to construct 70 units of mixed- income affordable housing with integrated supportive services for households below 50% AMI and up to 80% AMI, including 35 households experiencing homelessness who include a member impacted by serious mental illness, chronic homelessness, and/or domestic violence. In order to meet NYS HCR’s criteria, the project must demonstrate the municipality has committed financing to the project and is listed as a priority project in the annual Action Plan adopted by Common Council. Lauren Tegnander Rehabilitation Support Services RSS operates programs in 17 counties throughout the state, including Tompkins County, its newest. RSS provides a variety of services to individuals, with its primary focus on residential services. It operates a variety of housing models throughout the state. The frequency of contact between the residents and supportive services providers will be governed by an individual service plan for each resident. Residents will be assigned a housing specialist, who will serve as their point-of- contact for a wide variety of concerns. IURA Minutes February 23, 2024 Page 9 of 9 Proulx asked what CSD’s success rate is in obtaining NYS HCR funding. Cain replied, although he does not have a precise figure, he believes CSD is one of the most successful tax credit developers in the state. Graham noted that Cain mentioned the requested funds would show local support for the project. He asked what other uses the funds would go towards. Cain replied they are intended to fund residential construction costs, but could be also be used for soft costs. On a motion by Fleming, seconded by Osterreich, and unanimously approved, Chair Proulx suspended the Public Hearing until March 1st, 2024. V. Other/Old Business A. IURA Financials Review: January 2024 Bohn reported there are no significant outstanding loan payment delinquencies. Liquid State Brewing paid its loan off early. All lease payments are also in good standing, except Southside Community Center (SCC). Bohn reviewed the Grants Summary, explaining that the left-hand “On Schedule” column calls out any projects that are not on schedule and may need attention. Most projects are making steady progress, except for the Urban Bus Stop and GIAC Gymnasium Renovation projects. One area of potential concern is the CDBG timely expenditure deadline, which requires that any unexpended CDBG funds cannot exceed 1.5 times the most recent annual HUD CDBG Award, by June 1st of each year. B. Reports: IURA Chairperson, Mayor, Common Council Liaison, & Staff IURA Chairperson None. Mayor’s Report None. Common Council Liaison Report None. Staff Report None. VI. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:19 A.M. — END — Minutes prepared by C. Pyott, edited by N. Bohn.