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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURANI-2013-02-08 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-655 Minutes IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee February 8, 2013 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Tracy Farrell with members Karl Graham, Nancy Zook, Fernando de Aragón and Teresa Halpert in attendance. Also present were Dale Schumacher, Executive Director of the Learning Web, Dennis Stein, Historic Ithaca Board President and Karen Coleman, the Work Preserve Program Coordinator. Staff member Sue Kittel also attended. II. Public comment None III. Review of Minutes –December 12, 2012 On a motion by Zook and second by Halpert, the minutes of December 12, 2012 were approved unanimously. IV. New Business a) Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Designation Policy- Resolution The committee discussed the HUD requirements for CHDO designation and unanimously adopted the following on a motion by de Aragón and second by Zook: Adoption of Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Capacity Evaluation Policy WHEREAS, HUD regulations and the 2012 HOME Appropriations Act requires that Participating Jurisdictions develop and implement written policies and procedures for assessing Community Housing Development Housing Organization (CHDO) staff capacity and ensure that adequate documentation of the assessment is included in appropriate files, and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has designated the IURA to administer the City’s HUD Entitlement Program that oversees HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program funds awarded to the City, and is therefore responsible for developing and implementing such procedures, and Whereas, at their February 8, 2013 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee reviewed the regulations and other materials and recommends the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA adopts the Community Housing Development Capacity Evaluation (CHDO) policy dated XX/XX/2013. Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency b) CHDO Designation- INHS Referring to the new policy, the committee discussed the materials submitted by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) for re-designation as a CHDO. On a motion by Graham and second by Halpert the following was approved unanimously: HUD Entitlement Grant Program – 2013 Designation of INHS as a CHDO Whereas, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) has been designated by the City of Ithaca as the Lead Agency to develop, administer and implement the HUD Entitlement grant program, including funds received through the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) program, and Whereas, grant recipients under the HOME program are termed Participating Jurisdictions (PJs), and Whereas, PJs must reserve not less than 15% of their HOME allocation for investment in housing to be developed, sponsored, or owned by Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), and Whereas, a CHDO is a specific type of community-based nonprofit organization as defined in 24 CFR §92.2, and Whereas, a PJ may use HOME funds to provide special assistance to CHDOs, including: • Project pre-development loans; • Operating assistance; • Use of HOME project proceeds; • Capacity-building assistance; and Whereas, each PJ must annually identify CHDOs that are capable, or can reasonably be expected to become capable, of carrying out projects to address priority housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan, including the requirement that the CHDO has staff with demonstrated development experience, and Whereas, on January 31, 2013, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (INHS) submitted materials documenting their eligibility as a CHDO and requested renewal of their designation as a CHDO by the IURA, and Whereas, this submission included materials documenting that INHS has staff with demonstrated development experience on projects ranging from single family homes to large low-income tax credit projects, including materials which assure the IURA that the INHS staff has the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to undertake eligible CHDO set-aside projects, and Whereas, at their February 8, 2013 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee of the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency reviewed the submitted materials, evaluated them in compliance with the policies for assessing CHDO staff capacity and recommends recertifying INHS as a CHDO, and Whereas, the IURA has reviewed this matter and determined that INHS meets the criteria for designation as a CHDO, now, therefore be it Resolved, that the IURA, acting in its capacity as the Lead Agency for the Participating Jurisdiction of the City of Ithaca, hereby renews its designation of INHS as a Community Housing Development Organization for a one- year period. c) Community Based Development Organization (CBDO) Designation- Kitchen Theatre This item was referred to the Governance Committee as all the materials had not been received by IURA staff. d) Community Based Development Organization- Historic Ithaca Historic Ithaca is seeking designation as a CBDO to continue their work in the area of job training through the Work Preserve program. Board president Dennis Stein discussed the commitment of the Historic Ithaca board in continuing this program and their oversight and support for the program. He also mentioned that this job training program is viewed as a means of outreach to the neighborhood and the board’s interest in serving people who otherwise might not visit Significant Elements. Program Coordinator Karen Coleman described the way the program has been running, offering information on challenges and success stories to the committee. On a motion by Graham and second by Halpert, the following was approved unanimously: IURA Designation of the Historic Ithaca, Inc. as a Community-Based Development Organization WHEREAS, the Board of Historic Ithaca Inc., (Historic Ithaca) 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, the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO are established at CFR Title 24, Section 570.204 and include specific eligibility criteria for composition of the governing board of a CBDO, and Whereas, at their February 8, 2013 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee compared Historic Ithaca with CBDO eligibility requirements as documented in the attached materials and recommended the following, contingent of documentation of the adoption of the mission statement described in their submittal; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA determines that Historic Ithaca, Inc. meets the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby designates Historic Ithaca, Inc. as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO). e) Community Based Development Organization (CBDO) Designation- GIAC possible resolution The Greater Ithaca Activities Center submitted materials for re-designation as a Community Based Development Organization. After a review of the criteria and the materials submitted, Halpert moved and de Aragón seconded the following, which passed 4-0 with Graham abstaining: IURA Designation of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center as a Community-Based Development Organization WHEREAS, the Board of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (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, the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO are established at CFR Title 24, Section 570.204 and include specific eligibility criteria for composition of the governing board of a CBDO, and Whereas, at their February 8, 2013 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee compared Historic Ithaca with CBDO eligibility requirements as documented in the attached materials and recommended the following; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA determines that the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc. meets the requirements for eligibility as a CBDO, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby designates the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc. as a Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO). f) Election of Chair and Vice Chair- Resolution The committee discussed the need to elect a chair and vice-chair. On a motion by Graham and second by Halpert, the following passed unanimously: Appointment of Chairperson of IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee Whereas, amendments to the IURA By-laws adopted on September 27, 2008 established procedures for selecting officers of IURA committees, and Whereas, the IURA By-laws provide that the committee membership shall elect its own committee Vice-Chairperson and nominate a committee Chairperson to the Agency, which shall have authority to appoint each committee Chairperson, and Whereas, an Agency member shall fill either the committee Chairperson or committee Vice Chairperson position, and Whereas, officers of each committee serve a one-year term, but continue to hold office until their successor is selected or appointed, and Whereas the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee is comprised of the following members: • Tracy Farrell • Teresa Halpert • Fernando de Aragón • Karl Graham • Nancy Zook, and Whereas, at their February 8, 2013 meeting, the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee nominated Tracy Farrell to serve as Committee Chairperson and elected Fernando de Aragón to serve as Committee Vice-Chairperson; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby appoints Tracy Farrell to serve as Chairperson of the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee. g) 2013 Grant Review- discussion in preparation for the March 8 meeting Kittel briefly reported on organizations which had been in contact with IURA staff and who are considering making application for the 2013 HUD Entitlement Funds. h) Other Kittel discussed concerns about Catholic Charities’ Promoting Change program. The implementation of this project has been delayed due to the replacement of the executive director and the capacity of the organization has shifted with new employees replacing experienced program staff in several key roles. Committee members discussed possible reprogramming of the funds to other Catholic Charities activities as this did not seem the time for Catholic Charities to be undertaking an entirely new program. Options were discussed and Kittel was directed to speak with the Catholic Charities staff to see if a reprogramming of funds for delivery of the security deposit program and further support of the Immigrant Services Program at Catholic Charities would be appropriate at this time. V. Old Business a) Project Reports - Property Disposition Kittel reported that the property disposition process is ready to go. Staff is delaying the issuance of the request for proposal due to the heavy workload anticipated in the next few weeks related to the Entitlement Grant Process. - Other None b) Other None VI. Motion to Adjourn ON a motion by Halpert and second by Graham the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 AM. j:\community development\admin files\minutes\nic\2013\ni draft minutes- feb 8, 2012.doc