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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2019-07-12 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-6565 DRAFT MINUTES ITHACA URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY (IURA) NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT COMMITTEE (NIC) 8:30 A.M., Friday, July 12, 2019 Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall, Ithaca, NY In attendance: Karl Graham, Chair; Tracy Farrell, Vice Chair; Fernando de Aragón. Excused: Teresa Halpert; Paulette Manos. Staff: Anisa Mendizabal Guest(s): None I. Call to Order Chair Graham called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. II. Changes/Additions to Agenda No changes. III. Public Comment None. IV. Review of Minutes – April 2019 (no meetings in May or June) Farrell motioned to approve; De Aragón seconded. Carried 3-0. V. New Business A. Action Item – Election of Officers – Resolution. The Committee discussed election of officers. One of the officers must be a member of the IURA Board. Graham and Farrell are members of the IURA Board. Farrell motioned to elect De Aragón for Vice Chair, Graham seconded. Carried 3-0. Farrell motioned to nominate Graham for Chair, De Aragón seconded. Carried 3-0. Selection of 2019 IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee Officers WHEREAS, IURA By-laws provide that the committee membership shall elect its own committee Vice-Chairperson and nominate a candidate for committee Chairperson for consideration by the Agency, and WHEREAS, per the Bylaws, an Agency member shall fill either the committee Chairperson or committee Vice-Chairperson positionó, 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 current Committee Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons are Karl Graham and Tracy Farrell, respectively, now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that Karl Graham be nominated as Chairperson of the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee, and be it further RESOLVED, that Fernando de Aragón be elected as Vice-Chairperson of the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee. B. Action Item – Contract Amendment - 2017 Project #12 – TCAT Urban Bus Stops Committee members discussed TCAT’s proposal to deploy $5,100 in funds remaining from its 2017 Action Plan #12 Project – TCAT Urban Bus Stops to upgrade a deteriorated bus stop adjacent to West Village Apartments. The Committee he maps, images, and diagrams provided. Mendizabal stated that funds would be utilized for concrete pads for the bus stop and the “landing pad” (indicated in orange on the diagram) as well as sidewalk and curb replacement (indicated in blue on the diagram). TCAT would utilize funding from another source to provide the bus shelter. It is TCAT’s hope that the City will undertake the curb ramp (indicated in yellow on the diagram). Mendizabal said she had talked to the City’s Sidewalk Program Coordinator, John Licitra, who is aware of the TCAT proposal to upgrade the bus stop adjacent to West Village Apartments. Licitra indicated that the City will likely have resources to provide the needed curb ramp in about two years. De Aragón voiced support for the TCAT proposal and noted its multiple benefits: It serves an affordable housing complex; it’s located within an LMI neighborhood; upgrades would support ADA compliance; TCAT proposes to improve deteriorated sidewalk and curb. Farrell wondered about ridership numbers. Mendizabal responded TCAT reported 14,600 boardings, which is more than the hospital’s bus stop. The Committee members concurred that with so many benefits, it would like to see the project fully completed, including curb ramp. Chair Graham indicated he would like to see the City leverage the IURA funding and improve efficiency by working on the curb ramp at the same time, and would raise the issue with the Agency. The topic of combining efforts to further infrastructure projects like roads, curbs, sidewalks, and bus stop upgrades is often discussed; the Committee would like to find ways to facilitate this practice. Mendizabal indicated that City staff members working on multimodal projects have indicated interest in creating such efficiencies. They may have proposals suitable for Action Plan applications. It may be a benefit to all to invite them to a future NIC meeting. De Aragón motioned to approve the contract modification; Farrell seconded. Carried 3-0. HUD Entitlement Program, Urban Bus Stop Upgrades, Contract Modification (2017, Project #12) WHEREAS, the 2017 HUD Entitlement Program Action Plan allocated $25,000 in CDBG funds to Project #12 - Urban Bus Stop Dynamic Displays and Amenities Upgrade sponsored by Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) to upgrade three bus stops (Albany St. at Salvation Army, Third Street at Hancock, and Chestnut Hill Apartments), and WHEREAS, TCAT has completed upgrades at the three bus stops named in the 2017 Project #12 - Urban Bus Stop Dynamic Displays and Amenities Upgrade and $5,120.67 of CEDBG funding remains unobligated, and WHEREAS, on July 3, 2019, TCAT requested IURA permission to use $5,120.67 in remaining funds from the 2017 Project #12 contract to make improvements at an additional bus stop, and WHEREAS, TCAT has identified the inbound bus stop at on Elm Street at West Village Apartments as needing improvements, including those to meet standards for ADA compliance, and WHEREAS, West Village Apartments provide affordable housing to 229 low-to-moderate income households, and WHEREAS, the bus stop at West Village Apartments is a high ridership stop, with 14,600 inbound boardings, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) is 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 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and WHEREAS, the original project included upgrades at multiple bus stops with a city-wide service area, addition of a forth bus stop does not change the number of low/mod income beneficiaries and therefore does not require a program amendment to the action plan; and WHEREAS, this matter has been reviewed by the Neighborhood Investment Committee of the IURA who recommends the following; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, the IURA approves a contract amendment with TCAT to expand the scope of services to include establishment of an improved inbound bus stop at the Elm Street/West Village Place intersection as a forth site for improvement for the Urban Bus Stop Dynamic Displays and Amenities Upgrade projects (2017 #12), and be it further RESOLVED, that the contract amount shall remain at $25,000, and be it further RESOLVED, that the IURA Chairperson, subject to review by IURA legal counsel, shall be authorized to execute a contract amendment to implement this resolution. B. Discussion: Ithaca’s Affordable Housing Inventory Note: Mendizabal will report on Action Items that arose during the following discussion at August 2019 meeting At the Mayor’s request, IURA Contract Monitor Charles Pyott created a thorough report about Affordable Housing Production and Rehabilitation in the City of Ithaca. Farrell and Graham noted that Overlook West Hill and Linderman Creek are not in the City. Mendizabal added Ellis Hollow Apartments to the out-of-City list, and said that Pyott intends to footnote these units but keep them on the list since they are area resources. Action Item: The Committee requested that Pyott also remove these units from the total number of in-City units. Farrell wondered if Stone Quarry has targeted special needs housing, as indicated. Action Item: Mendizabal will verify. Farrell noted TCAction’s Magnolia House seems to be missing from the list. ArtHaus is not on the pipeline list. Conversation was had about proposed developments, zoning changes on State Street, and the need for green space. Chair Graham stated this inventory is an important tool and could allow the IURA better publicize the impacts of its funding, as has often been discussed. Graham will raise this at the next Agency meeting. C. Discussion: 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan Submission The Committee members reviewed Con Plan Overview of Key Information, Part I. 2019 – 2023 CONSOLIDATED PLAN – CITY OF ITHACA Key Information Part I 1. ANTICIPATED RESOURCES: 2019 Cycle vs. 2014 Cycle 2019 CONSOLIDATED PLAN CYCLE Total (CDBG +HOME) Total CDBG CDBG Per Year Total HOME HOME Per Year Anticipated Amount $4,350,000 $3,000,000 ~ $600,000 $1,350,000 ~ $270,000 2014 CONSOLIDATED PLAN CYCLE Total (CDBG + HOME) Total CDBG CDBG Per Year Total HOME HOME Per Year Anticipated Amount $5,875,052 $3,875,302 ~ $775,000 $1,999,750 ~ $400,000 Actual Allocation $5,123,766 $3,339,036 $667,807 $1,784,730 $356,946 Difference ─ $751,286 ─ $536,266 ─ $107,253 ─ $215,020 ─ $43,054 2. THE PROCESS: Community Participation & Consultation 10 Community Meetings (4) Required publically noticed Community Meetings (4) Additional Community Meetings (1) AFH Follow-up Focus Group (1) “New” Focus Group 46 Consultations Community Organizations Service Providers Government Subject Matter Experts 14 Local/Regional/State/Federal Planning Efforts Considered CoC Plan; City Comprehensive Plan; Parks Master Plan; County Housing Strategy; Independent Youth Survey .. and 9 other plans! 3. PRIORITY NEEDS 2019 CONSOLIDATED PLAN PRIORITY NEEDS & ASSOCIATED GOALS # Code Priority Need Priority Level Associated Goals Code Key: AH = Affordable Housing E = Economic evelopment PF = Public Facili es PF = Public Infrastructure PS = Public S ervices 1 AH Production of New Units High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 2 AH Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 3 AH Homeowner Rehab/Repairs High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 4 AH Accessibility Improvements High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 5 AH Transitional Housing High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 6 AH Permanent Supportive Housing High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 7 AH Affordable Homeownership High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 8 AH Rental Rehab/Energy Efficiency High Improve & Expand Affordable Housing Options 9 E, AH, PF Childcare Centers Low evelop Economic & Employment Opportunities; Remove Barriers to Opportunity 10 E Job Creation & Entrepreneurship High evelop Economic & Employment Opportunities; Remove Barriers to Opportunity 11 E Job Readiness & Placement High evelop Economic & Employment Opportunities 12 PF Public Facilities High Strengthen Neighborhoods 13 PF Emergency Shelter High Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter & Safety 14 PF omestic Vio lence Shelter Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter & Safety 15 PF Health Facilities Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter & Safety 16 PF Blight Removal High Strengthen Neighborhoods 17 PI Public Infrastructure High Strengthen Neighborhoods 18 PS Information & Referral High Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, and Safety 19 PS Immigrant Services High Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, and Safety 20 PS Transportation Services High Remove Barriers to Opportunity 21 PS Code Enforcement High Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, & Safety 22 PS Landlord/Tenant Counseling High Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, & Safety 23 PS Youth Services Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, & Safety; evelop Economic & Employment Opportunities; Remove Barriers to Opportunity 24 PS Homeless Services ay Programming Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter & Safety 25 PS Senior Services Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter & Safety; Remove Barriers to Opportunity 26 PS Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, & Safety 27 PS omestic Violence Services Low Meet Essential Needs for Food, Shelter, & Safety 28 AFH AFH Factor: Resident isplacement – Economic Pressure High Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 29 AFH AFH Factor: Source of Income iscrimination High Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 30 AFH AFH Factor: Access to Opportunity High Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 31 AFH AFH: Lack of Fair Housing Enforcement High Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 32 AFH AFH Factor: isplacement of V Victims High Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 33 AFH AFH Factor: Lack of In-Home/Comm.-Based Services High Affirmatively Further Fair Housing 4. NEEDS ASSESSMENT A. Owning & Renting among City of Ithaca Residents • Renters = 74% • Homeowners = 26% • Ithaca’s homeownership rate (26%) is half of New York State’s homeownership rate (51%). O New York State ranks 50th in the nation for homeownership (has the least homeowners per state). • People of color comprise 32% of Ithaca’s population, yet fewer than 10% of Ithaca’s homeowners are people of color. B. Housing Cost Burden for Renters Housing Cost Burden is defined as spending more than 30% of one’s income for housing. Severe Housing Cost Burden is defined as spending more than 50% of one’s income for housing. • 56% of Ithaca’s renters are housing cost burdened, 41% severely so. o Renters of color are disproportionately affected by Severe Cost Burden. 47% of Hispanic renters are severely cost burdened 44% of Asian renters are severely cost burdened 43% of African American renters are severely cost burdened 27% of White, Non-Hispanic renters in Ithaca are severely cost burdened. o Severe housing cost burden is the predominant housing problem for renters with incomes between 0-50% HU Average Median Family Income (HAMFI). o For renters above 50% HAMFI, the predominant housing problem becomes cost burden of over 30%. C. Housing Cost Burden for Homeowners • 25% of Ithaca’s homeowners are housing cost burdened, 7% severely so. • In 2018, the median sale price for a home in Ithaca was $266,770. D. Homelessness In the past two years, there has been a significant increase in homelessness in Ithaca. • In 2017, 394 individuals accessed emergency shelter. • In 2018, 502 individuals accessed emergency shelter, a 27% increase over the previous year. • In 2018, the Point-in-Time (PIT) counted 91 homeless people, evenly divided between those who were sheltered and those who were not: o 46 sheltered homeless people o 45 unsheltered homeless people Bed nights: There average length of stay (bed nights) in the emergency shelter has jumped by 50%, from 24 nights in 2017 to 48 nights in 2018. The median length of stay increased by 55%, from 15 nights in 2017 to 33 nights in 2018. Farrell wondered how much the presence of students impacts rental cost burden. Mendizabal stated she had shared the off-campus student Census information with Bohn in hopes to find some clues. e Aragón stated that 15 years ago, va rious partners in the City including his agency paid to have the Census create tabulations without students. The cost has risen significantly since then, but perhaps 2020 will provide an opportunity. Mendizabal pointed out that whether or not students, people of color are disproportionally affected by rental cost burden, at almost double the rates for White, Non-Hispanics. Similarly, the income levels of those affected have grown. Farrell wanted to know if shelter stays are measured by individual or stay in the shelter. Action Item: Mendizabal believes the measure is shelter stay, but will verify with the Continuum of Care, which provided the data. Farrell asked Action Item: Questions about ACS methodology. VI. Other Business A. IURA Grant Summary The Chair noted that the organization is within the HU spenddown limit. Mendizabal reported that with TCAT finishing up its 2017 project, most 2017 funded activities are completed. Quarterly reports from grantees are due July 18, 2019, and these will indicate which projects now need outreach. Love Knows No Bounds (LKNB) may be having a hard time starting its 2018 project due to change in longtime leadership. Action Item: Though it is in the 2018 LKNB contract, Farrell recommended Mendizabal send LKNB a letter reminding them of the State Historic Preservation Office requirement to obtain a letter of no effect for properties proposed for rehab before starting work. B. Staff Report Mendizabal recently made site visits to the Aurora Street Sidewalk project and to Historic Ithaca. She reported that Historic Ithaca has taken seriously the admonition to seek funding to replace or supplement HU Entitlement Fu nding. The organization is submitting proposals to 3-4 NYS opportunities and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Sue Chaffee and Renee Spear of Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga reached out to Mendizabal after the funding decisions were made with concern about the scaling to the request for Immigrant Services Program (roughly $5,000). Ms. Chaffee elaborated on the grant the program received from the NYC Office for New Americans, and explained why a community of Ithaca’s size may find it difficult to meet the grant’s metrics for renewal. Mendizabal will reach out to the organization and invite Sue Chaffee to September NI Committee meeting. Nagiane Lacka-Arriaza has announced her departure from GIAC and the Hospitality Employment Training Program (HETP) to pursue post-graduate education. GIAC has posted the position. Jude Rose, Childcare Planner from the Child evelop ment Council will present to the NI Committee in August. Committee members are interested in knowing the minimum requirements for childcare code-compliant housing units, how much such units cost in comparison with non-code compliant units, what housing developers she has approached with the idea. VII. Motion to Adjourn Adjourned by consensus at 9:45 a.m.