HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2014-03-14Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-655 655
Minutes Minutes
IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee
March 14, 2014 March 14, 2014
I. Call to Order I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:35 AM with members Fernando de Aragón; Tracy Farrell,
Chair; Karl Graham and Teresa Halpert present. Staff members present were Nels Bohn and
JoAnn Cornish.
The meeting was called to order at 8:35 AM with members Fernando de Aragón; Tracy Farrell,
Chair; Karl Graham and Teresa Halpert present. Staff members present were Nels Bohn and
JoAnn Cornish.
II. Public comment II. Public comment
None. None.
III. Review of Minutes – February 14, 2014 III. Review of Minutes – February 14, 2014
Minutes were unavailable for review. Minutes were unavailable for review.
IV. New Business IV. New Business
1. 2014 Re‐Certification of Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc. (GIAC) as a Community
Based Development Organization (CBDO)
1. 2014 Re‐Certification of Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc. (GIAC) as a Community
Based Development Organization (CBDO)
Members reviewed GIAC’s CBDO application and staff’s comparison with the CBDO
requirements contained at 570.204(c)(1). Staff noted that Board membership had increased
from last year and that GIAC identified 8 of the 15 member as satisfying CBDO requirements
and that additional information has been requested to verify qualifications of several members.
Committee members reviewed the Board composition table and agreed that the Board
appeared to satisfy CBDO Board membership requirements, subject to receipt of additional
information to verify qualifications.
Members reviewed GIAC’s CBDO application and staff’s comparison with the CBDO
requirements contained at 570.204(c)(1). Staff noted that Board membership had increased
from last year and that GIAC identified 8 of the 15 member as satisfying CBDO requirements
and that additional information has been requested to verify qualifications of several members.
Committee members reviewed the Board composition table and agreed that the Board
appeared to satisfy CBDO Board membership requirements, subject to receipt of additional
information to verify qualifications.
Halpert moved, seconded by Graham: Halpert moved, seconded by Graham:
2014 IURA Designation of the GIAC, Inc. as a 2014 IURA Designation of the GIAC, Inc. as a
Community‐Based Development Organization Community‐Based Development Organization
WHEREAS, the 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 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, 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
IURA NIC minutes, 3/14/14 Page 1 of 5
IURA NIC minutes, 3/14/14 Page 2 of 5
WHEREAS, an eligible category of CDBG activities are “Special Activities by CBDOs”, that
offers certain advantages, such as exemption from the 15% expenditure cap otherwise
applicable to public service activities under certain circumstances, authorization to carry
out new housing construction (normally prohibited with CDBG funds), and discretion to
allow revenue 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 Activities 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 their March 14, 2014 meeting, the Neighborhood Investment Committee
compared GIAC’s application against CBDO eligibility requirements 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 subject to receipt of information to verify Board
composition qualifications, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the GIAC‐proposed Hospitality Employment Training Program and the
Gateway Local Diverse Suppliers activities qualify as an eligible CBDO community economic
IURA NIC minutes, 3/14/14 Page 3 of 5
development project(s), and are therefore exempt from the 15% CDBG expenditure cap on
Public Services, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the IURA hereby renews its designation of Greater Ithaca Area Activities
Center, Inc. as a Community‐Based Development Organization (CBDO) and finds their
Hospitality Employment Training Program and the Gateway Local Diverse Suppliers
activities as eligible for 2014 CDBG funding under the category of “Special Activities by
CBDOs”.
Carried Unanimously
2. Amend Funding Contract with the Learning Web for the Housing Scholarship Program to
Authorize use of Funds for Security Deposits (project #4 2013 HOME)
D’Aragon moved, seconded by Halpert:
2013 HUD Entitlement Program
Amendment #1 to Funding Contract for Housing Scholarship Program
(2013 project #4)
Whereas, on March 11, 2014, The Learning Web requested a modification to their funding
agreement for the Housing Scholarship program to authorize use of funds for security deposits,
and
Whereas, on October 23, 2013 the IURA executed a $78,000 funding agreement with Learning
Web, Inc. for the Housing Scholarship program, and
Whereas, per the funding agreement HOME funds are being used to assist at least 6 low‐ and
moderate‐income households in accessing affordable rental housing by paying solely for rent and
utilities for a period not to exceed 18 months while the household works toward achieving
independence, and
Whereas, use of HOME funds under the agreement is limited to tenant based rental assistance for
rent and utility payments only, and
Whereas, in the past, tenants in the program have secured security deposit assistance through the
IURA‐funded Catholic Charities’ Security Deposit Assistance Program, and
Whereas, The Learning Web’s landlord won’t accept a security deposit through Catholic Charities
and,
Whereas, Catholic Charities projects it will exhaust its 2013 allocation of security deposits in the
next 30 days, and
IURA NIC minutes, 3/14/14 Page 4 of 5
Whereas, The Learning Web projects they will still meet their program objectives if funds are
authorized for security deposits, and
Whereas, there is no change to the scope, beneficiaries or authorized location of the project,
therefore no public hearing or Action Plan program amendment is required, and
Whereas, the Neighborhood Investment Committee reviewed this proposal at their meeting on
March 14, 2014 and recommended the following; now, therefore be it
Resolved, that the funding agreement with The Learning Web, Inc. for the 2013 Housing
Scholarship program (2013 project #4) be amended to permit use of HOME funds to pay
security deposits in addition to rent and utilities, and be it further,
Resolved, that the IURA Chairperson, upon advice of IURA legal counsel, is hereby authorized to
execute any necessary and appropriate documents to implement this resolution.
Carried Unanimously
V. Old/Other Business
1. Development of 2014 Action Plan, Review of Funding Applications – Recommendation to
IURA
A. HOME‐Eligible Projects
Members reviewed and discussed housing applications. The following projects were
recommended for funding, pending additional information received at the upcoming
public hearing:
• Community Housing Trust New Construction
• Homeowner Rehabilitation 2014
• Mini‐Repair Program 2014
• Security Deposit Assistance Program
• Housing Scholarship Program
• Housing First
Members noted the following:
• The homeowner rehabilitation project was scalable by increments of $25,000.
• Only $50,000 of the $80,000 funding request for Housing First is eligible from
HOME funds. The support services component is only eligible as a Public Service
CDBG activity. Partial funding was suggested unless funding for support services
is secured.
• Delivery expenses for the Security Deposit Assistance program are only eligible
as a Public Service CDBG activity.
Graham excused himself from the meeting citing a conflict of interest to discuss any
CDBG funding applications as his employer, AFCU, is sponsoring the Business CENTS
CDBG application.
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B. CDBG‐Eligible Projects
Members reviewed Public Service activities and recommended the following projects for
funding, pending additional information received at the upcoming public hearing:
• 2‐1‐1/I&R Service
• Learning By Doing Supported Employment
• Immigrant Services
• ReSet Job Training Expansion
• Housing Stability Support
Members recognized that the CDBG expenditure cap on Public Service activities would
not allow full funding of all of the Public Service activities recommended for funding.
Members also sought more information on performance of the Learning By Doing
Supported Employment program that began operations in January.
Members reviewed projects in the Economic Development category. Staff noted that
the Economic Development Committee will review projects in this category, but it is
appropriate for the NIC to also review job training applications and projects that impacts
neighborhoods and infrastructure. The NIC recommended funding for the following
projects, pending additional information received at the upcoming public hearing:
• Hospitality Employment Training Program
• Work Preserve Job Training Program
The Lake Street Bridge Public Plaza Enhancement project under the Public Facilities
category was discussed as desirable, but members suggested seeking funds from
alternative funding sources such as Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Grant program.
VI. Motion to Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 10:30 AM.
― END ―
Minutes prepared by N. Bohn