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Home My WebLink AboutMN-IURANI-2014-10-10Ithaca 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 October 10, 2014 October 10, 2014 I. Call to Order I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:35 with members Tracy Farrell, Chair; Teresa Halpert, and Karl Graham present. Staff member Lynn Truame was present. Committee member Fernando de Aragon arrived at 9:10. The meeting was called to order at 8:35 with members Tracy Farrell, Chair; Teresa Halpert, and Karl Graham present. Staff member Lynn Truame was present. Committee member Fernando de Aragon arrived at 9:10. II. Public comment II. Public comment None. None. III. Review of Minutes – July 11, 2014 III. Review of Minutes – July 11, 2014 Moved by T. Halpert, seconded by K. Graham, approval of July 11, 2014 minutes as submitted. Moved by T. Halpert, seconded by K. Graham, approval of July 11, 2014 minutes as submitted. Carried unanimously. Carried unanimously. IV. Old Business IV. Old Business 1. Update on Cliff Street demolition costs (project #6 CDBG 2013). 1. Update on Cliff Street demolition costs (project #6 CDBG 2013). A comparison of actual vs budgeted costs for the demolition of 701 Cliff Street was included in the meeting packet. L. Truame noted that the actual costs were significantly less than the budgeted costs, and that over $28,000 in unspent 2013 CDBG funds from the project would therefore be available to reprogram. A comparison of actual vs budgeted costs for the demolition of 701 Cliff Street was included in the meeting packet. L. Truame noted that the actual costs were significantly less than the budgeted costs, and that over $28,000 in unspent 2013 CDBG funds from the project would therefore be available to reprogram. 2. Update on Hospitality Employment Training Program costs (project #8 CDBG 2013 & #8 CDBG 2014). 2. Update on Hospitality Employment Training Program costs (project #8 CDBG 2013 & #8 CDBG 2014). Copies of the 2013 project budget, original 2014 project budget, and revised 2014 project budget were included in the meeting packet, along with a copy of an e‐mail from project coordinated, Nagiane Lacka. Of the original $86,000 2013 budget, approximately $45,000 remains unspent, due primarily to N. Lacka having been hired part way through the program year and there being only one cohort of participants in 2013. L. Truame explained that N. Lacka proposes to increase the 2014 project budget by $26,370, for a total of $118,865, by adding $10,000 for a program assistant, increasing the stipend and training subsidy, and increasing the program/training costs line item. The balance of between $15,000 and $20,000 in unspent 2013 funds will be available to reprogram. Copies of the 2013 project budget, original 2014 project budget, and revised 2014 project budget were included in the meeting packet, along with a copy of an e‐mail from project coordinated, Nagiane Lacka. Of the original $86,000 2013 budget, approximately $45,000 remains unspent, due primarily to N. Lacka having been hired part way through the program year and there being only one cohort of participants in 2013. L. Truame explained that N. Lacka proposes to increase the 2014 project budget by $26,370, for a total of $118,865, by adding $10,000 for a program assistant, increasing the stipend and training subsidy, and increasing the program/training costs line item. The balance of between $15,000 and $20,000 in unspent 2013 funds will be available to reprogram. IURA NIC Minutes10/10/14 Page 1 of 3 IURA NIC Minutes10/10/14 Page 2 of 3 There was a brief discussion about the program, its success to date, and its future. L. Truame noted that the program has so far been quite successful un making placements and that numerous applications had been received for the first 2014 cohort. On the other hand, all funding for the program is currently coming from the IURA. Ideally, as the program continues to grow and develop, additional sources of funding will be identified. 3. Update on Learning Web Supported Employment results (project #22 CDBG 2013 & #13 CDBG 2014). The committee reviewed the August 31, 2014, interim report. As of that date, two participants had been placed at Cayuga Medical Center (CMC); another three are working on applications to CMC. One participant had been placed at Cornell Dining, which the committee agreed was equivalent to a CMC placement. K. Graham expressed the hope that the Learning Web would continue to work with participants who had secured other jobs to move them into the more career‐oriented placements. T. Halpert noted that many participants are identified as having numerous barriers to success, and that overcoming some of these barriers might require the involvement of agencies such as Tompkins County Mental Health. The project’s results to date and prospects for the future were discussed, with no firm conclusions reached. L. Truame noted that because the Learning Web’s project was designed to provide post‐ placement support, it did not include a stipend or other paid work component, unlike Work Preserve, HETP, and the Fingerlakes ReUse programs. The committee agreed that this could be an important difference and asked staff to research best practices in this regard. The committee will continue to monitor the project’s progress via interim reports. V. New Business 1. Job Training Round Table, October 24, 2014. L. Truame explained the purpose of the round table and listed the participants. The goal is to bring together staff from all of the job training programs that the IURA funds, along with staff from Work Force NY, so that successes, challenges, opportunities for collaboration, and unaddressed needs can be identified and discussed. K. Graham noted that other funders, including the Park Foundation, are looking for collaborative efforts and the potential for these programs to secure funding from sources other than the IURA would be enhanced by their working together. 2. T. Farrell asked for a brief update on the Fair Housing Choice Survey and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. L. Truame reported that the two surveys had been completed, the data was being sorted, and the testing component was underway. Nearly 800 survey responses were received; double the amount anticipated. 3. 2015 CDBG/HOME funding round The new electronic application forms were reviewed and approved by the committee. In addition to the electronic versions, a small number of hard copies will be made available in various locations around town, including City Hall, the library, and GIAC. Hard copy applications will also be sent to anyone who calls to request one. IURA NIC Minutes10/10/14 Page 3 of 3 The committee prefers to continue to receive hard copy binders of all final applications for their review. 4. NI Committee vacancy, Chair and Vice‐chair elections. T. Farrell noted that the committee had a vacancy and asked if committee members had any thoughts about who might be invited to fill that vacancy. L. Truame mentioned Gary Bucci as one possibility. K. Graham asked whether there was a “job description” for committee members. L. Truame will distribute the committee charge via e‐mail, and committee members will give some thought to community members who might be appropriate to fill the existing vacancy. T. Farrell asked if anyone would be interested in serving as Chair of the committee and indicated that she would be willing to continue or to step down, as the committee preferred. L. Truame observed that there was currently no Vice‐chair. T. Farrell asked for volunteers to serve as Vice‐chair; K. Graham indicated his willingness. Moved by T. Halpert, seconded by F. de Aragon, T. Farrell was nominated as Chair of the Committee and K. Graham as Vice‐chair. Carried unanimously. 5. T. Halpert asked for an updated on Stone Quarry Apartments. L. Truame stated that HUD had finally approved the use of HOME funds for the project, and that INHS had acquired the property and begun site work, but that NYS Housing and Community Renewal (which controls the tax credit allocation but is not a permanent lender) had not yet provided their approval. T. Halpert inquired about the challenge to release of the building permit. L. Truame replied that the Building Division had received documentation of the efforts made by INHS to secure agreement from adjacent property owners for a pedestrian connection to Old Elmira Road, they accepted these efforts as having satisfied the condition placed on the project by the BZA, and the building permit had been released. 6. There was a brief discussion of the Commons Rebuild Project and its impact on merchants. T. Farrell noted that the IURA did allocate $100,000 to the Downtown Construction Loan Fund project to assist 4‐5 businesses affected by the rebuild with below‐market loans from the CD‐ RLF. These funds have not yet been utilized. VI. Motion to Adjourn The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:48. END Minutes prepared by L. Truame