Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC)

MEETING MINUTES City of Hot Springs Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) VIRTUAL TELECONFERENCE Thursday, September 3, 2020 at 1:00pm 1. CDBG Administrator Michelle Sestili called the meeting to order at 1:01pm. Those in attendance:  Terry Kent, CDAC Chair and Member-at-Large  Leslie Ramsey, CDAC Co-Chair and Member-at-Large  Kelly Thomason, CDAC Member-at-Large  Kelly Cowart, CDAC District 1 Member  Alice Marshall, CDAC District 2 Member  Michelle Sestili, City of Hot Springs CDBG Administrator  Derek Phillips, Majestic Park  Cheryl Batts, P.H.O.E.B.E.  Traci Berry, Visit Hot Springs Northwoods Trails Coordinator  Ginger Teegarden  Esther Dixon, Diamonds in the Rough and Hot Springs Garland County Complete Count Committee  Mark Toth, Whittington Valley Neighborhood Association 2. August 6, 2020 Meeting Minutes Approved (5:0) 3. Old Business:  Hot Springs Board of Directors adopted the CDAC recommended change in fiscal year to July through June during their September 1, 2020 meeting.  HUD issued the Federal Register Notice pertaining to the 3/27/2020 CARES Act CDBG-CV funding. Highlights include: o Expedited purchasing procedures can be used where City policy allows. It is our practice to use competitive purchasing procedures as often as possible on purchases over $1,000. Exceptions require prior written approval. o Virtual public hearings and 5 day comment periods can be used for FY 2019, FY 2020 and CDBG-CV decisions as long as the public health crisis exists. It is our standard practice to use 30 day public notice and comment periods whenever possible. o CDBG-CV funds cannot be provided to a for-profit entity (e.g. economic or housing development) without HUD review and underwriting technical assistance o Economic Development low/mod income requirements are much different for CDBG-CV o Emergency payments for items like food, housing or utilities can be provided for up to 6 months with CDBG-CV instead of the usual 3 months o Duplication of benefits must be avoided and documented o States can use their CDBG-CV funds in an entitlement area (like Hot Springs) or a non- entitlement area (like Garland County) with or without a required match o The City cannot use CDBG-CV or regular CDBG funds in Garland County or elsewhere outside of City limits or for non-residents  o All other CDBG rules and regulations apply to CDBG-CV, e.g. low- to moderate-income benefit, income verification/self-certification, environmental reviews, Davis Bacon, etc. o We must spend 80% of CDBG-CV funds by 2022 and 100% by 2025 o All amendments to re/allocate past or future CDBG funds to COVID relief must be submitted no later than 8/16/2021  Michelle Sestili provided updates on prior year CDBG projects -----Funded----- CV-Homeless Assistance $76,824 total allocation; $16,827.99 balance. Purchases: - 3 Stall Shower/Restroom Trailer $59,016.36 with tax - ULV Cold Fog Sprayer with 7 gal disinfectant $979.65 CV-Health Services and Supplies $128,893 Purchasing of personal protective equipment, medical supplies and testing agents. Ongoing CV-Food/Meals Services and Supplies $50,824 meals on wheels/grab and go food services. Pending CDBG-CV authorization then a Request for Proposals 2018 Home Buyer Education Classes $5,969 balance. Classes on hold due to COVID-19 2020 Spot Blight Nuisance Abatement $40,000. 8 structures in environmental review 2018 & 2019 Linden Park Bathroom $97,581.48 Purchased. Delivery rescheduled from to 9/1 to Replacement 9/9 due to wet weather conditions. Parks Dept removed the old bathroom and prepared the site. 2019 RA Psychle 4C Elderly & Disabled Lawn $8,619.74 balance for landscape certifications. Program Care launched 8/14. Refer low- to moderate income elderly and disabled Hot Springs residents in need of lawn care to: HotSprings4C@gmail.com and cc: msconsulting@outlook.com Malvern Avenue Gateway Improvement Project $141,241.56 Easement obtained for power line substation (non-CDBG). Engineering drawings pending then bid prep. CDBG will be the 1:4 match to Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) grant funds for sidewalks, ADA accessibility improvements, bus shelter, curb & gutter, street lighting conduit (not the decorative lights), bike lanes. 2018 Garden Street Sidewalk & ADA Survey complete. To be included in greater Malvern project. 2019 Dell & Ravine Sidewalk & Drainage $42,121 In progress Improve 2019 Park Avenue Sidewalk & ADA Accessibility $42,132 In progress 2019 Bus Shelter on Hobson near Lacey $11,000 Concrete pad complete and shelter ordered. 2019 Bus Shelter at Ouachita Behavioral Health $11,000. Concrete pad complete and shelter ordered Reallocate Bus Shelter to Indiandale Plaza on Concrete pad poured by Engineering Dept annual supply Malvern contract (no charge to CDBG). Shelter in storage; scheduled to be installed by Streets Dept. 2019 Crosswalk on Malvern to Silver Street $11,680 ARDOT consultation in progress. 2019 Habitat for Humanity 115 Watt Street $2,750 balance for water line relocation. In progress. 2019 Habitat for Humanity Garland Avenue $9,000 retaining wall removal and grading for ADA access. Habitat for Humanity Lot Acquisition $15,000 Lots being identified. 2020 Bell Street Sidewalk Phase II $10,000 Bid being prepared. Off Cycle Infrastructure Improvements $35,418.52 Projects to be identified.  -----Completed in 2020----- 2019 Arbor Street Sidewalk & ADA Access Completed 8/25/2020 2019 Cedar Street Sidewalk & ADA Phase II Completed 8/12/2020 2019 Hobson & Linwood Sidewalk & ADA Completed 7/16/2020 2018 OCC Roof Replacement (1:1+ matching) Completed 6/29/2020 2017 OCC Fire Escape Door (1:1+ matching) Completed 1/27/2020 2017 OCC Staircase (1:1 matching) Completed 1/27/2020 Habitat for Humanity 206 Boaz Home dedicated on 1/25/2020 Home Buyer Education February 1, 2020 class with 22 participants 2019 Spot Blight Nuisance Abatement 111 Cypress, 130 Gibson, 110 Liberty, 207 Ostego, 324 Ozark, 207 Texas, 621 Crescent, 512 Crescent, 333 Ridgeway, 409 Apex, 213 Meadow, 114 Francis Bus Shelter on Central near Crestwood Installed in February Bus Shelter on Hobson at Charteroak (Ouachita Installed in February Children’s Center) Bus Shelter Highrise Circle (Housing Authority) Installed in February David F. Watkins Memorial Park CDBG Phase II sidewalks and amphitheater completed. Michelle Sestili called on each CDAC member then resident participants for questions and comments. Leslie Ramsey mentioned that the Hot Springs Board of Realtors has been donating to purchase groceries for distribution at local schools. Mark Toth clarified that the Linden Park restroom would be placed on 9/9. 4. Community Announcements  Esther Dixon provided an overview of the 2020 Census. Deadline for self-completion is September 30, 2020 online at my2020census.gov or phone (844) 330-2020. Census data influences CDBG, schools, school lunch programs, roads & bridges, Medicaid Part B, programs for the homeless, seniors and persons with disabilities, libraries, community access to healthcare, representation and more. Each person that is not counted is an estimated loss of $3,000/year for 10 years.  Traci Berry invited everyone to the Gud Run November 14-16 starting Friday night with a slow roll. Mountain biking on the Northwoods Trails and jump competitions at Cedar Glades Park on Saturday and Sunday.  The Gateway Community Association is hosting The Color of Law event presented by the FBI on Wednesday 9/16 from 2:00-4:00pm in the Roy Rowe Auditorium (Jones School/HSSD Administrative building), 414 Linwood Avenue. Masks and social distancing required. Contact Robin Wise at 701-0338 to reserve a seat.  Garland County Habitat for Humanity is in need of lot donations or low cost sales for future home building sites. They anticipate their 147th home dedication in Hot Springs in late September.  Ouachita Children’s Center was awarded HUD Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) funds from the State of Arkansas for rapid rehousing, rental assistance payments to avoid homelessness, continued homeless street outreach and youth drop in day shelter activities  The City of Hot Springs Engineering Department was awarded a grant through AARP to construct a photo opportunity platform in front of the musical mural on Malvern Avenue (on the side of the Habitat REStore). It will include a plaque describing the history of the neighborhood and significance of the mural; 2 metal silhouettes of musical instruments so people can “be in the band”; and a couple of boulders for seating in a grassy area to be installed by the City. City staff  will work with Cutwell4Kids students to paint the platform and design the metal silhouettes, and P.H.O.E.B.E. on historic plaque content. 5. Having no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:59pm