CDBG Advisory Committee

City of Blue Springs 903 W. Main Blue Springs, Missouri 64015 CDBG ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday, June 12, 2019 A regular meeting of the CDBG Advisory Committee of the City of Blue Springs was held at City Hall in the Development Conference Room 128 located at 903 W. Main Street on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 with the following members, guests and staff in attendance: VOTING MEMBERS Susan Stokenbury, PC Rep. Galen Ericson, Councilmember 1 PRESENT Cindy Miller, Chairperson Ron Fowler, Councilmember 3 Jason Ellis, DRB Rep. Keith Hannaman, Vice Chair STAFF / OTHERS Matt Wright, Com. Dev. Chris Sandie, Public Works Susan Culpepper, Councilmember 3 Pam Buck, Downtown Alive! Melodie Chrisman, CSL Mary Anne Metheny, Hope House CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Cindy Miller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Chairperson Miller requested action on the May 15, 2019, meeting minutes. Committee Member Keith Hannaman made a motion to approve the minutes, a second from Councilmember Ron Fowler, and a unanimous vote, the minutes for May 15, 2019, were approved as submitted. AGENDA ITEM 2 Chairperson Miller opened the public hearing for the Annual Action Plan at 6:01 PUBLIC HEARING / 2019- p.m. 2020 / ANNUAL ACTION PLAN / PROJECTS & Matt Wright, Senior Planner, informed the Committee that this is the second ACTIVITIES public hearing to review the funding proposal for the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan. Mr. Wright went through the funding proposal on how the $333,766 program would be expended. Each project was discussed and efforts were made to maximize funding to public service and non-profit organizations that had requested funds, including Downtown Alive!, Community Services League (CSL), and Hope House. The City has received an allocation of $260,678 from HUD for the program year and has an additional $73,088 being reprogrammed. The proposed allocations include: CDBG Minutes – 06.12.2019 Page 1 of 4 kf  • Minor Home Repair Program - $75,000 • First Time Home Buyers - $36,000 • Fieldhouse Scholarships - $1,850 • Downtown Alive - $25,000 • Commercial Façade Grant - $30,000 • Hope House - $12,240 • Community Services League - $25,000 • Park Improvements - $120,000 • Program Administration & Planning - $8,676 Total: $333,766 QUESTIONS Councilmember Susan Culpepper asked how it was determined to fund parks with CDBG versus the parks tax. Mr. Wright stated that the proposed park improvement was for basketball court replacements at Rotary Park, which is added to the CIP budget this year. Therefore, it was not covered under the parks tax. However, this park improvement is eligible for CDBG funds since Rotary Park is in a designated low-moderate income area, as is Blue Springs Park. Committee Member Susan Stokenbury asked what would happen if the full $120,000 wasn’t expended for the parks improvements. Mr. Wright stated that the remaining funds would be re-programmed to another project that needs funded, such as Minor Home Repair. Chairperson Cindy Miller followed-up on a discussion at the last meeting about penalty fees for Minor Home Repair and First Time Home Buyer recipients. Mr. Wright stated that those fees will be incorporated into the new applications and grant agreements. Councilmember Galen Ericson asked for clarification on where the Commercial Façade Grant Program can be used. Mr. Wright stated that façade grants are limited to the designated slum/blight area, which matches the MCRC District boundaries. Chairperson Cindy Miller asked about the $10,000 per storefront limit. Mr. Wright stated that there is some flexibility in the amount and could be increased or decreased based on need. A larger project with multiple storefronts may warrant additional funds. Committee Member Jason Ellis asked how information on CDBG is conveyed to the public. Mr. Wright stated that after the plan is approved by HUD, public notices are published in The Examiner, posted at community buildings, and the City’s website letting residents know that applications are available for Minor Home Repair and First Time Home Buyer programs. A lot of Minor Home Repair recipients are aware of the applications as they are current recipients who have additional repair needs. Chairperson Cindy Miller wanted to let the Committee know that there is accountability for public service and non-profit organizations before they receive funds. They have to document how they utilized the funds before the City will process a check request. Mr. Wright stated that organizations are required to provide quarterly reports for payment. CDBG Minutes – 06.12.2019 Page 2 of 4 kf  Committee Member Jason Ellis asked how sidewalk improvement locations are determined. Chris Sandie, Public Works Director, responded that they’ve historically focused CDBG funds in areas around schools, downtown, and ADA-compliance needs. Mr. Wright mentioned that CDBG funds are limited to neighborhood streets and not commercial streets, so for example, although a large section of 7 Highway is within the low-moderate income area we couldn’t install sidewalks along 7 Highway, but we could build sidewalks on the side streets leading to 7 Highway. HEARING CLOSED Chairperson Cindy Miller closed the public hearing at 6:20 p.m. Chairperson Miller requested to take two separate votes. The first vote would be to make a recommendation on the funding proposal without the downtown projects (Downtown Alive support and Commercial Façade Grant Program). MOTION Councilmember Ron Fowler made a motion to approve the 2019-20 funding proposal without the downtown projects. SECOND Seconded by Councilmember Galen Ericson. The Committee unanimously (6 aye, 0 no) recommended approval of the funding proposal without the downtown projects (Voting aye: Ericson, Fowler, Stokenbury, Ellis, Hannaman, and Miller). Chairperson Cindy Miller turned the meeting over to Vice Chairperson Keith Hannaman for a vote on the remainder of the funding proposal for the downtown projects (Downtown Alive support and Commercial Façade Grant Program) as Chairperson Miller serves as President of the Downtown Alive Board of Directors and will abstain. MOTION Councilmember Ron Fowler made a motion to approve the 2019-20 funding proposal for the downtown projects. SECOND Seconded by Committee Member Susan Stokenbury. The Committee recommended approval of the funding proposal for the downtown projects (5-aye, 1 abstain, 0 no) (Voting aye: Ericson, Fowler, Stokenbury, Ellis, and Hannaman; Miller abstained). Vice Chairperson Keith Hannaman turned the meeting back over to Chairperson Cindy Miller. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Wright informed the Committee that the draft Annual Action Plan will be published for a 30-day public comment period on Saturday, June 22, 2019. The City Council will hold a public hearing and make a final decision on the Annual Action Plan on Monday, August 5, 2019. MEETING ADJOURN With no further discussion, a motion was made by Committee Member Keith Hannaman to adjourn at 6:22 p.m. Seconded by Committee Member Susan Stokenbury. CDBG Minutes – 06.12.2019 Page 3 of 4 kf  _________________________ Respectfully Submitted by, Karen Findora, Recording Secretary ____________________________________ __________________________ Cindy Miller, Chairperson Date CDBG Minutes – 06.12.2019 Page 4 of 4 kf