Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1995 0301 CC REG ITEM 09BTO: AGENDA REPORT CITY OF MOORPARK h T e Honorable City Council I IV FROM: Donald P. Reynolds Jr., Administrative Servic *'� \ DATE: February 17, 1995, (CC Mtg. of March 1, 1995)` ITEM Be it�N:,(..�� `E +... SUBJECT: 1995/96 Community Development Block Grant ("CDBGN) Public Hearing for the Appropriation of Funds, (estimated to be $271,832) The following report will summarize Moorpark CDBG activities and program requirements, and recommend proposals for the use of this year's CDBG monies. Staff's recommendation is that the Council open the public hearing and receive public testimony, close the public hearing, allow the Budget and Finance Committee to review the proposals and testimony, and return to the Council March 15, 1995, with a recommendation for final appropriations. This year, the City received 19 different proposals requesting funds from the City's CDBG program, (five of these are for continued funding for six existing programs). Staff has prepared a proposal summary provided in Attachment "A." Actual grant proposals are located on the Council's desk and provide additional details of each program. Background On January 4, 1995, staff presented the Council with a summary of past City CDBG activities, (Attachment "B "). Of the three national objectives for the CDBG program, (to benefit low and moderate income persons, eliminate slum and blighted conditions, and to address an urgent health and safety need), the City has focussed on the low income benefit criteria. CDBG programs have benefitted low and moderate income persons building various public facilities including; street improvements, improvements at Casa Pacifica, removal of architectural barriers, and facility acquisition for Food Share, Inc. The City has appropriated 15 percent of each grant year since 1989 to public services to the benefit of low and moderate income people, and has used 10 percent of the funds to administer the grant. In making these appropriations, the City followed the prescribed 00056 formula which places limits on funding for administrative activities and public service programs. Limitations for expenses incurred for grant administration are calculated based on the entire Entitlement grant award, and the public service cap equals 15 percent of the City's total grant award. The Council can select programs separate from these limits if it wishes. This year, staff recommends full funding for public services, and that administration funds be considered for staff costs and other uses based on the City's current needs. The HUD limits are summarized in the cover page of Attachment NAR. Discussion 1994/95 CDBG Appropriations This grant year is the first year of the three year Cooperative Agreement with the County and the cities of Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Ojai, Fillmore, (and the first year without the City of Camarillo), containing a revised formula (which includes a "poverty index ") for the distribution of funds. When the first of the three year cooperative agreements was executed July 1991, staff estimated that this change would lower the City's annual grant award (and it has by between 11%, and 17 %). However, because the federal funding has increased over the past three years, and partly because the City of Camarillo elected out of this system, the net result is that there are 19 percent more funds available for 1995/96, than in 1994/95, (Attachment "B" shows the total grant awards from past years) . The first page of Attachment "A" illustrates that based on an estimated grant amount of $271,832, administration can be appropriated up to $30,890, and public service programs can be appropriated up to $40,775. The CDBG Fair Housing program will require an appropriation of $1,900 of the funds available for administration, reducing the capped amount of $30,890 to $28,990. Under "Administration" in this report, staff will describe that current expenditure levels are closer to $21,000, leaving an extra $7,990 for projects or planning related CDBG activities (special studies, assessments, etc.). If the Council chooses to use the grant at the maximum allowed amounts for public services ($40,775), and appropriate $1,900 from the Administration funding for fair housing, and then applying the balance to directly related project uses will leave $208,157 available for City projects. K 00057 Staff recommends that the 1995/96 funds be split as described above, and summarized as follows: Use of funds HUD Limit _ Staff Recommendation Administration and Fair Housing Public Services Projects Total $ 30,890 $ 22,900 $ 40,775 $ 40,775 $200,167 $208,157 $271,832 - $271,832 The cost of the Fair Housing appropriation of $1,900 has not been confirmed by the County (which administers this program). Staff will know the precise amount by March 1, 1995. Each year, the City has an opportunity to appropriate funds which would allow for the County to administer the program, (Joint Powers Agreement, or "JPA "). If the County funds a program which serves the Entitlement jurisdiction, and the City also funds the same program, than the project is eligible for a JPA. In the past two years, the Homeless Ombudsman and Long Term Care Ombudsman public service programs were jointly funded between the City and County. This year, the City's public hearing is scheduled slightly ahead of the County, but the final appropriations will be considered in Moorpark after the County's hearing. Consolidated Plan In staff's January 4 report to Council, it was mentioned that HUD has replaced the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy (CHAS), with the Consolidated Plan. This plan is similar to the CHAS in that HUD has to accept it prior to releasing funds, and it includes "strategies" depicting one, three and five year approaches to providing for the un -met needs of low income people. The draft plan being prepared now includes housing, and all other needs of low income people. The difference this year is that the strategies have to tie to actual CDBG appropriations. The one year "strategy" has to be reflected in the 1995/96 CDBG appropriations. In the past, accurate data has been difficult to find, leaving staff to rely primarily on the 1990 Census. Fortunately, a new 00058 study was recently completed which does address some of the more obscure issues related to low income persons; The 1994 Community Profile of Health and Human Services ("Profile"). The Council was provided a copy of this study in January. Staff has found its data to be useful. Moorpark's CDBG program has not been portrayed to HUD as the answer for all of its low income needs, or all of those described above. The City has attempted to use CDBG to meet some of these needs in the past with difficulty, because of the relatively high level of income for a majority of residents, (a teen at "risk" for example, is not automatically eligible to receive CDBG benefits). Nonetheless, the "plan" mandated by HUD has been beneficial to staff. The Profile has been referenced by most of this year's CDBG proposals. Outside Organization's Proposals In staff's summary of proposals, the public service programs are presented on page two through five, listed alphabetically, with proposed projects and administrative uses on the last three pages. A separate category has been established for "economic development" proposals, because as explained in staff's January 4 report, some economic development activities may be eligible to by -pass the public service cap, if they serve "microenterprises." There is one County -wide proposal for economic development on page 7 of Attachment "A". The eligibility of each grant proposal has been evaluated by staff. Most appear to have the capacity to meet the low and moderate income national objective. One proposal which plans to develop data bases and reference lists for elder respite care, has been written like a public service proposal, but has been placed in the "administration" category because it does not directly provide a service to the needy. A second proposal is written to address the economic needs of single female head of households, but is actually a public service program because it does not directly refer employment to "microenterprises." Public Services The public service proposals are the most numerous, and address a wide variety of needs both in Moorpark, and County -wide. Staff is 4 00059 recommending that the Council consider the proposals received from other agencies and the City for use of the maximum $40,775 that is available for this purpose. If the current social service programs (Literacy, Senior Nutrition, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Catholic Charities and Legal Services) are funded at the same level, the City will still have approximately $8,000 available for new programs. The Homeless Ombudsman program, funded by the City for the past four years via a JPA with the County, has not proposed a use of funds to the City this year because the County has re- organized this function within the Public Social Services Agency. There are however, other proposals serving the needs of homeless persons for the Council to consider. Teen programs, which are emphasized by the Profile, are proposed by three different service proposals. El Concilio del Condado Ventura ("E1 Concilio") has proposed funding for Moorpark Project Pride, and the substance abuse service provider working as a subcontractor for E1 Concilio and Project Pride is also requesting funds. The El Concilio proposal is not specific in its use of CDBG (shown as "other" in the budget for Project Pride) and assumes that the City will provide an additional $20,000 from other resources. This proposal appears to be in competition with a City proposal which describes a collaborative effort between the City, Moorpark Unified School District and the Boys and Girls Club to provide the same programs, at $26,900. Moorpark Project Pride or its equivalent, is probably eligible, but will require constant income monitoring, as have other similar Moorpark CDBG programs for teens. It may be possible to consolidate these proposals if the City Council decides to fund an at -risk youth program,. Administration Thus far, expenses related to administration have been derived from the direct expenses of the Administrative Services Manager and Community Development staff. This years expenses will not exceed $21,000, and staff recommends that the same amount be appropriated next fiscal year. The County has not relayed information to participating cities regarding the fair housing contract, but is assumed that a slight k, O0060 increase will occur, from $1,600 last year to approximately $1,900 during the next fiscal year. This is because Camarillo will not be sharing the cost of this JPA. Administration funds have been used by the City in the past for planning studies of the downtown area. The balance of these funds could be used for a further study of the downtown area estimated at $8,000, economic development studies, or other general assessments of City needs. Staff will explore using the funds for this need and it will be described in the final appropriations report March 15. Streets and Affordable Housing The First Street improvement project is the primary objective for the current use of funds. The recently executed contract left $25,300 remaining, which is also scheduled for reconsideration at this time in a separate report. This year, staff recommends that projects located in Census Block 5, which includes the residential areas north of High Street, be considered. The Public Works Department has proposed another funding source for some of the eligible projects in Census Block 5 including Everett Street, Magnolia Street and Bard Street. Staff is therefore recommending the use of CDBG for improvements to Wicks Road. This street is eligible for CDBG, and appears to be in need of many improvements including retaining walls and reconstruction. The surplus funding from First Street could be used here, or for other un -met needs which will be described later in this report. Potential uses for CDBG to address housing needs in Moorpark can be combined with redevelopment funds for the new housing proposed at Gisler Field, or for the housing preservation /rehabilitation program. CDBG could enhance this program by serving homes outside of the project area. Gisler Field would be slightly more difficult, because CDBG would be entering the project at a relatively late stage, and would potentially delay progress attempting to receive environmenta.L clearances from HUD. Removal of Architectural Barriers Several proposals have been received to address the needs of persons with mobility limitations including staff's proposal for 6 00061 replacing play equipment at Mountain Meadows Park. Unlike most new improvements, the removal of existing barriers is a generally eligible CDBG use of funds, because it is seen to benefit 10 percent of the City's population which has a mobility limitation. Replacing the equipment at Mountain Meadows Park is therefore eligible for CDBG. New improvements in City parks would be seen to benefit the entire community. Staff is considering the use of the surplus funding from First Street for Mountain Meadows Park and the removal of other architectural barriers in public facilities, which is estimated no to exceed $25,300. The existing play equipment would be salvaged and replaced by an estimated $22,000 of new equipment. The balance of the $25,300 could then be used for access from the on- street parking on Mountain Meadows Drive to the tot -lot, in lieu of access that is now limited by parking restrictions on Mountain Trail Street, (shown in Attachment "C "). Currently, there are no park improvements funds available for this improvement, and no play equipment accessible to mobility limited persons in this part of the City. Other similar proposals include a request from the Moorpark Boys and Girls Club for assistance completing their new facility located east of the gym on Casey Road, and Ventura County Alcohol and Drug Program, which needs to up -grade all of its shelter facilities. These two proposals equal $30,000, and are clearly eligible uses for CDBG. If the City Council decides to fund the Moorpark Boys & Girls Club request, the Council may want to consider using MRA funds to avoid CDBG regulations. Other project Proposals Three additional project proposals have also been received; two address needs for public facility improvements, and one addresses the Economic Development programs. Food Share is proposing to expand the warehouse funded by the City two years ago. They are asking for funds to increase the size of their facility by 33 percent. Association for Retarded Citizens of Ventura County is asking for funds to complete improvements at their Lewis Road facility, which may have a potential to be jointly funded by the County. The "Microenterprise" economic development proposal is to expand a current County program by creating a job link for unemployed persons to find work in the small businesses which have graduated from their "Academy." 7 40062- Summary The City has received more proposals this year than in the past, which is partly because of the extra outreach which has occurred in compiling the Consolidated Plan. The City's appropriations this year will represent the one year strategy to meet the needs of low income persons in Moorpark and County -wide (as appropriate). Public service proposals are many and varied. Unfortunately, there are many more needs than CDBG alone can address. Considerations for projects include the needed improvements to Wicks Road, handicap accessibility and improvements to other public facilities. Unlike last year where only two proposals were received, the project proposal have increased, making the selection of projects more difficult. Recommendation That the City Council: 1) Receive public testimony for consideration in appropriating the 1995/96 Community Development Block Grant funds estimated to be $271,832 and close the public hearing; 2) Defer final appropriations to the April 5, 1995, City Council meeting; and, 3) Direct the Budget and Finance Committee to review proposals prior to the April 5, 1995, Council meeting and make a recommendation to the Council for final appropriation. Attachments: A) 1995/96 Proposal Summary A: \94CDBGHS B) Summary of Past CDBG Appropriations C) Diagram of Accessibility Needs at Mountain Meadows Park. C] 00063 ATTACHMENT A CITY OF MOORPARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR THE 199i/96 PROGRAM FUNDING SUMMARY CDBG Category Funding Available Administration $ 30,890 Public Services $ 40,77> Projects/Economic Development $200,167 TOTALS $271,832 Funding Requested $ 6,900 $120,098 $ 60,590 $187,588 00064 ATTACHMENT A CITY OF MOORPARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR FIfE 1995/96 PROGRAM PUBLIC SERVICES AMERICAN RED CROSS COORDINATION OF HOMELESS SERVICE DELIVERY $4,500 Requested 2,000 to 3,000 persons served County -wide To hire staff to coordinate all aspects of service needs for the homeless population, in response to the proposed closing of existing shelter services provided by the National Guard. Proposed objective is to replace the National Guard Armory with a "Center" which consolidates access to services to one location, ranging from beds to employment and entitlement benefits. CATHOLIC CHARITIES MOORPARK CASE WORKER $8,000 Requested 5,000 served annually in Moorpark To continue and expand existing services in Moorpark. The Moorpark Catholic Charities Office is the central social services point of contact for indigent persons in the City. The case worker conducts initial screening to assess needs, makes referrals as necessary and recommends services to individuals and families. CHANNEL COUNTIES LEGAL SERVICES ASSQCC LEGAL OUTREACH $10,054 200 Moorpark Families would receive the services To increase the current program which is funded at half of this level. An attorney would be able to increase the number of hours spent in Moorpark and therefore serve more families than the current case load. Currently, the program operates from the Catholic Charities office. CITY OF MOORPARK TEEN ASSISTANC E PROGRAM $26,140 300 teens are proposed to be served Establish a new program to serve the un -met needs of teens who are known to be "at risk." This program would be a collaborative effort between the Boys and Girls Club, Moorpark Unified School District, Moorpark Police Department, and the City. Partial funding has already been secured from the School District and Boys and Girls Club. Many programs including tutoring, substance abuse and recreational activities are being proposed to serve this population. 0006% ATTACHMENI A CITY OF MOORPARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR THE 199/96 PROGRAM EL CONCILIO DEL CONDADO DE VENTURA PROJECT PRIDE $6,000 300 to 400 teens in !Moorpark served To continue the existing Project Pride program, offering special services for teens "at risk." These services include tutoring, substance abuse, recreational and vocational activities. The proposal did not identify precisely what part of the program costs would be funded, (CDBG portion of costs was listed as "other" in the proposal and staff will pursue specific information). The proposal for $6,000 is in addition to a contribution from the City anticipated to be $20,000. INTERFACE FAMILY CHILDREN SERVICES CHILDREN'S RESOURCE PROGRAM $4,591 122 children served in Moorpark last year Pay for the salary of a Children's Resource Coordinator to connect the health needs of children with in -kind medical, dental, optometrist, psychotherapy and other forms of professional care services. The service benefits the working poor and fills the gap for those without medical insurance, who need it. In doing so, it focusses on the needs of children. The Coordinator is fundamental in connecting those in need, with in -kind services. LIBRARY SERVICES AGENCY ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM $5,000 .30 students from Moorpark are proposed to be served To continue the Adult Literacy program by increasing its current level of service from 23 to 30. This program serves a portion of the population in Moorpark that has not reached the common level of educational attainment. It is common knowledge that the level of educational attainment equates to dollars earned. Literacy helps to raise the standard of living for each person or family served. LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM $3,300 375 persons from Moorpark served last year This is the only program in the County that defends the civil rights of persons confined to convalescent care facilities. The number /need for this service continues to grow. In the past, this program has been jointly funded by the County and the City in a JPA format. 00066 ATTACHMENT A CITY OF MOORPARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR THE 199i/96 PROGRAM LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF S CA JOB DEVELOPMENT/EMRG. ASSIST. $8,000 1940 served County -wide A proposal to split the funds 60 percent for the salary of a job placement developer, and 40 percent to go towards existing emergency service programs. This program operates from Ventura, providing a comprehensive approach to the needs of indigent persons. In addition to immediate response to needs (e.g., food and shelter, this program currently employs and employment case worker. The Job Developer would take the skills provided to a persons from the case worker and actually place people in jobs PDAP OF VENTURA COUNTY SUBSTANCE: ABUSE SERVICES FOR YOUTH $3,558.56 7 -10 additional teens from Moorpark To expand the existing program by providing additional staff to serve the needs of school students by actually going on campus and conducting outreach activities and soliciting interest. The current program is affiliated with Moorpark Project Pride, and services are limited by funds to staff the program. They currently rely solely on referrals from County Probation. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY SENIOR NUTRITION $12,000 100 seniors served both at the Senior Center and via home delivered meals The senior nutrition program requests funds to continue to pay for the site coordinator. The nutrition coordinator arranges for home delivered meals which has increased by 18 percent in Moorpark last year, and also prepares daily hot lunches for the Senior Center. Over 3,000 meals are served on an annual basis. TURNING POINT FOUNDATION HOME SHELTER PROGRAM $3,960 36 persons per year ( ounty- wide /3 from Moorpark The Shelter is the only one available of its kind serving mentally ill homeless persons with 10 beds, and a central location for services in Ventura The staffing helps to identify barriers to employment for this population, that caused them to become homeless. Residents learn about self sufficiency and develop skills to provide for themselves Networking for Housing in Ventura County, a City funded program, helped to finance the development of this shelter. 00067 ATTACHMENT" A CITY OF MOOR-PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR THE i 995/96 PROGRAM V.C. COMMISSION ON HUMAN CONCERNS YEAR TO EMPOWERMENT AND SELF SUFFICIENCY,( "YESS ") $24,994.30 7 persons proposed to be served in Moorpark This program focusses on the special needs of single female head of households, and is asking for funding to increase the level of service. The program emphasizes a "continuum of care" approach using case management to low income individuals that includes job placement and job training skills. Although proposed as an economic development project, at this time, staff deems it to be eligible only for public service consideration. 00068 ATTACHMENT- A CITY OF MOORPARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR THE 1995/96 PROGRAM PROJECTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION ALLIANCE FOR FAMILY SOLUTION ELDER CARE RESOURCE REFERRAL $5,000 Seniors County -Wide To expand the Alliance data base of Elder Care resources in the County and to make available a list of qualified individuals to provide affordable Respite care for seniors PROJECTS ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS OF VC. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT $ 12,500 492 persons County -wide; 8 from Moorpark Water line reconstruction improvements for the facility in Camarillo. This facility houses programs for 174 adults. Most of the domestic water system needs replacement as well as backflow devices. MOORPARK BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB REMOVAL OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS $ 13,090 1,300 members from Moorpark To remove architectural barriers and build replacement facilities for the second building located next to the Gym on Casey Road. This facility will accommodate programs when completed, but currently lacks rest room accessibility and completion of the handicap ramps. The parking lot also needs to be re- striped for handicap parking. Building and safety codes require these improvements prior to the building being approved for use 00669 ATTACHMENT A CITY OF MOORPARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY FOR THE 199i/% PROGRAM FOOD SHARE HUNGER 2,000 WAREHOUSE AND REFRIGERATION EXPANSION PROJECT $5,000 x,400 currently served in Moorpark The food processing technology has changed making fresh produce less available to Food Share, and increasing the amount of fresh -frozen foods. Food Share is expanding its warehouse to accommodate the change in technology. When completed, they will be able to store 12 million pounds of food, which is 30 percent more than the current capacity. The Food Share warehouse provides emergency food for all of Ventura County. distributed in Moorpark through the local Food Pantry at Catholic Charities V.C. ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROGRAMS ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT $22,000 2, 104 County -Wide None of the current facilities for this County program are accessible to the mobility impaired. The program has been mandated to provide accessibility by December 1995. Depending on the amount of funds received from each agency applied to, the project will address these needs in as many as four facilities through -out the County ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT V.C. COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT entrepreneur ACADEMY EMPLOYMENT LINK $8,000 14 business owners in Moorpark To continue the State funded program (this grant is ending) which trains owners of Microenterprises (business with less than five employees), in developing business plans which include capital improvement layouts, employment and marketing techniques. The Academy has had excellent success creating jobs by assisting Microenterprises. Now, they hope to provide job placement services for these and any new businesses owners that graduate from their training program. 00671) �o a -A ' u ar-j�z= rn i x 7