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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURANI-2012-11-09Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Approved: 12/12/12 Page 1 of 3 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-655 5 IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee November 9, 2012 November 9, 2012 I. Call to Order I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:30 AM by Chairperson Tracy Farrell with committee members Teresa Halpert, Karl Graham and Fernando de Aragon present. Also present were staff members Sue Kittel and JoAnn Cornish. Intern Stefan Lutter joined the meeting at 9 AM. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 AM by Chairperson Tracy Farrell with committee members Teresa Halpert, Karl Graham and Fernando de Aragon present. Also present were staff members Sue Kittel and JoAnn Cornish. Intern Stefan Lutter joined the meeting at 9 AM. II. Public comment II. Public comment None None III. Review of Minutes –October 12, 2012 III. Review of Minutes –October 12, 2012 With corrections to the section heading at Item IV (A) the minutes were approved unanimously on a motion by Halpert and second by Graham. With corrections to the section heading at Item IV (A) the minutes were approved unanimously on a motion by Halpert and second by Graham. IV. New Business IV. New Business a) Catholic Charities update a) Catholic Charities update The committee discussed progress made with redefining the Catholic Charities Promoting Change project (2012 # 14). Due to scheduling conflicts Interim Director Mary Pat Dolan has been unable to attend NI Committee meetings. It was agreed that Chairperson Tracy Farrell would meet separately with Catholic Charities representatives to clarify the following: The committee discussed progress made with redefining the Catholic Charities Promoting Change project (2012 # 14). Due to scheduling conflicts Interim Director Mary Pat Dolan has been unable to attend NI Committee meetings. It was agreed that Chairperson Tracy Farrell would meet separately with Catholic Charities representatives to clarify the following: • Program guidelines which allows Catholic Charities the flexibility to effectively deliver services to allow their clients to move more stable housing situations while still getting effective long‐ term benefits to program participants. • Program guidelines which allows Catholic Charities the flexibility to effectively deliver services to allow their clients to move more stable housing situations while still getting effective long‐ term benefits to program participants. • Data collection plans so that the information needed by Catholic Charities and the IURA is gathered and made available. • Data collection plans so that the information needed by Catholic Charities and the IURA is gathered and made available. • Documentation of the case manager’s efforts and outcomes. Committee members want documentation which describes what was actually accomplished during program contact hours so that they are clear on exactly what services the CDBG funds were spent on. • Documentation of the case manager’s efforts and outcomes. Committee members want documentation which describes what was actually accomplished during program contact hours so that they are clear on exactly what services the CDBG funds were spent on. • Identification of performance measures for the program so that future funding decisions can be guided by what is learned from current practices. • Identification of performance measures for the program so that future funding decisions can be guided by what is learned from current practices. It was agreed that Kittel would inform all committee members of the meeting when it is scheduled so that interested members could join if they wished. Kittel also agreed to email a summary of the discussion to the entire committee once the meeting had happened. It was agreed that Kittel would inform all committee members of the meeting when it is scheduled so that interested members could join if they wished. Kittel also agreed to email a summary of the discussion to the entire committee once the meeting had happened. Page 2 of 3 b) Schedule and process for the 2013 Entitlement Grant Kittel reviewed the 2013 Entitlement Grant schedule which is currently under development. The committee agreed that they would like to review applications at their regular March meeting so that their ideas and concerns can be brought forward to the Agency‐level discussion. c) Review of required policy development (develop policies mandated by HUD as part of HOME program changes for FY 2013) Farrell called the member’s attention to the meeting packet information regarding changes to the HOME program requirements. It was decided that since the NI committee reviews housing projects that it would take on the task of overseeing the development of newly required HUD policies. De Aragón suggested that many of the new requirements be passed on to applicants, noting that the application materials could be modified to ensure that enough material was submitted for the committee to satisfy themselves on compliance with underwriting requirements, as an example. Committee members agreed. d) Review and possible revisions of the IURA Citizen Participation Plan The Committee took a detailed look at the existing Citizen Participation Plan, focusing particularly for thresholds for substantial amendments. All of the basic editing and grammatical clarifications were accepted by the committee. It was agreed that the two elements which now trigger a substantial amendment to the Action Plan (one requiring a substantial amendment for projects which change location and another for projects which alter the method of assistance delivery) be struck from the policy statement. These items will be determined on a case by case basis during the Action Plan approval process and will be made part of the record at that time. The only other change was to strike the threshold amount from the requirement for a substantial change process for items which were not a part of the adopted Action Plan. If adopted by the IURA and Council, the Citizen Participation Plan will now identify any new projects, regardless of subsidy level, to trigger the substantial amendment process. e) Other None V. Old Business a) Staff Report ‐property disposition Kittel updated the committee on the transfer of the City tax‐foreclosed properties to the City. The properties are still under the control of the City but final steps in the disposition process and imminent. The RFP is currently in the IURA attorney’s office so that it can be issued as soon as the properties have transferred to the IURA. Kittel agreed to keep the Committee informed. Page 3 of 3 ‐NI Committee Membership Farrell reported that Caleb Thomas had given notice that he will no longer be serving on the NI Committee. The Mayor has asked that Committee members identify potential candidates for the position. The members discussed possibilities and agreed to come to the next meeting with people in mind. ‐Other Kittel provided a copy of the letter being sent to Cooperative Extension regarding the lack of compliance in project reporting. The committee agreed that putting Cooperative Extension on notice about the potential negative effects poor reporting could have on their future allocations was timely as the 2013 grant round begins next quarter. Kittel agreed to keep the committee advised on progress in getting Cooperative Extension up to date. b) Other None. VI. Motion to Adjourn The committee adjourned at 10:15 AM by consensus.