Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC)

AGENDA City of Hot Springs Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) Thursday, June 3, 2021 1:00pm City of Hot Springs Board Chambers, 133 Convention Blvd, Hot Springs, AR 71901 In-Person and by Teleconference 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call: Kelly Thomason, Alice Marshall, Gene Williams, Becca Clark, Larry Williams 3. Approval of May 6, 2021 meeting minutes 4. New Business: a. Amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan to Correct a HUD Formula Calculation Error Michelle Sestili will present information regarding the correction needed to the fiscal year 2021 Annual Action Plan allocation. On May 17th the City received a Corrected Notice from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dated May 13, 2021 notifying us of a formula calculation error that increased the 2021 CDBG allocation from the original $439,417 to $445,947, a positive difference of $6,476. To account for this change, the City proposes a minor amendment to the 2021 Annual Action Plan that would increase funding for the quarantine/shelter project by $6,476 from $363,364.96 to $369,840.96. The proposed amendment also includes adjusted 2021 point-in-time homeless count numbers to match the validated and extrapolated data reported to HUD in May of 2021. CDAC Chair will open the floor for in-person public comments. Michelle Sestili will then call upon each person on the teleconference for questions and comments. CDAC will publicly discuss and consider recommending the 2021 Annual Action Plan amendment to the City Board of Directors with or without revisions, or remand the Annual Action Plan to the CDBG Administrator for substantial changes. b. Community Awareness: Available Rent & Utility Assistance for Residents Michelle Sestili will provide an overview of the rent and utility assistance programs that are currently available. Please note, mortgage forbearance may be an option that struggling homeowners should discuss with their lender, but at this time we are not aware of any mortgage assistance programs. Basic Requirements City CDBG / Ouachita Behavioral Arkansas Rent Relief Program / AR DHS / (other rules apply) Health & Wellness / CARES Act US Treasury / American Recovery Plan To apply… https://obhaw.org/programs/rental- https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/covid- and-utility-program/ 19/dhs-response-to-covid-19/updates-for- clients/rental-assistance/ Resident of… Hot Springs city limits only Arkansas Government issued X X photo ID  Proof of COVID Job loss, furlough, reduced hours, Someone in the home qualifies for hardship unpaid time off for required isolation unemployment or illness, medical expenses, funeral Or, household income went down costs Or someone in the home incurred significant financial hardship due to the pandemic Low to moderate X X income household (earns <80% Area Median Income) Includes arrears/past March 27, 2020 April 1, 2020 due back to… Length of benefits Up to 3 consecutive months payments Up to 15 months of payments Paid directly to X X landlord and/or utility RENT Must have a X X lease/rental agreement Past due notice or X X proof of non-payment Eviction notice or Not required X hearing date Landlords… Must agree to accept payment(s) Must complete an application after the tenant’s application and agree to payment Pays late fees No Paid, up to 5% of total overdue Amount up to… Fair Market Rent ??? UTILITIES not including telephone, cable and broadband Pays late fees No Paid, up to 5% of total overdue Amount up to… 100% electric, gas, sewer, garbage 100% 94% CHS water 70% CHS stormwater Fuel oil if less than 10% remaining 0% CHS CAPS type pick-ups EHV rapid re-housing: The Hot Springs Housing Authority has been awarded 15 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) to house the homeless; at-risk of homelessness; victims fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; and those who have recently been homeless. Effective July 1. Partnership with the Southwest Arkansas Partnership local homeless coalition and Arkansas Balance of State continuum of care needed to design an administrative plan and obtain referrals. More information will be provided when available. 5. Old Business Updates:  New HUD Community Planning & Development Representative assigned to Hot Springs – Ms. Chandra Taylor   2020 Annual Action Plan amendment allocating $317,926 in CV-3 CARES Act funding to a quarantine/shelter approved by HUD  Prior year projects -----FUNDED----- CV-3 Quarantine/Shelter $317,926 NOTE: Building/site not identified. Site specific environmental review will need to be completed. 2020 CV-1 Homeless Assistance $76,824 total allocation; $10,451.13 balance after purchasing the homeless shower/restroom trailer, insurance, supplies and cleaning services. Shower trailer now being used every other Tuesday staffed by St. Luke’s or Encounter Church volunteers who also provide hygiene items, towels, a fresh set of clothes and snack bags. 70 showers provided since October. CV-1 Rent Emergency Subsistence Payments $100,000 total, $78,352.61 balance. Ouachita Behavioral Health & Wellness (subgrantee). Applications being accepted. Referrals can be sent to Case Manager Loren Eitel-Morphew LorenE@obhaw.org or (501) 762-9038 15 Households Assisted Through 4/30/21 $12,246 Total Paid in Rent Subsistence CV-1 Utility Emergency Subsistence Payments $27,096 (with amended $270) total, $20,610.90 balance. Ouachita Behavioral Health & Wellness (subgrantee). Applications being accepted. Referrals can be sent to Case Manager Loren Eitel-Morphew LorenE@obhaw.org or (501) 762-9038 10 Households Assisted Through 4/30/21 $3,984.99 Total Paid in Utility Subsistence 2018 Home Buyer Education Classes $2,969 balance. Next class June 5, 2021 then last on July 10th from 9:30am-2pm at the Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace. Registration required at 501-372-2611 2019 RA Psychle 4C Elderly & Disabled Lawn $8,619.74 balance for youth landscape certifications. Care and Youth Landscape Mentorship Program Program launched 8/14/20. 17 lawns serviced, 1 youth engaged in training before winter break at the end of November. Restarted for spring in April 2021. Malvern Avenue Gateway Improvement In progress. 2 contracts: $65,817 total, $47,875.50 balance – 20% CDBG / 80% FTA - sidewalks, lighting conduit & foundations, bus shelter (frame), curb & gutter, rain gardens, crosswalks, tree grates, benches, bike racks & lanes. FTA covering all decorative elements. City funds burying high voltage power lines. $80,316.42 total – NOT FTA Match – medians 2018 & 2020 Garden Street Sidewalk & ADA $51,899.64 Survey complete. Contract signed. Garden & Jefferson to start soon. 2020 Jefferson Street Sidewalks & ADA $31,510 Garden & Jefferson to start soon. 2019 Crosswalk on Malvern to Silver Street $11,680 ARDOT consultation in progress. Habitat for Humanity Lot Acquisition $15,000 Environmental review in progress for potential lots. Off Cycle Infrastructure Improvements $35,418.52 Projects to be identified. 2020 Home Buyer Education, Credit Counseling, $25,000 Request for proposals to be prepared and released Refinance and Foreclosure Avoidance Services 2020 John Lee Webb House Brick Masonry & $60,000 award, $44,737.46 balance. Weather wrapping Ancillary Roofs complete. Ancillary roof repair almost complete. 2 brick masonry bids opened 5/17/21 - one rejected due to lack of bid bond; second bid complete and examples of prior work being examined by project Architect to determine contractor capability to perform to Department of Interior historic restoration standards. Rebid is also an option. 2020 Cedar Street Sidewalk & ADA Phase III $10,261 Funded. 2020 Whittington Avenue Drainage $44,850 Environmental Review to be completed Improvements 2020 Chelsea Street Sidewalks & ADA $40,800 Environmental Review to be completed 2020 Creek Street Sidewalks & ADA Accessibility $32,343.75 Environmental Review to be completed 2020 Park Avenue at Tom Ellsworth Sidewalk, $38,875 Environmental Review to be completed ADA & Drainage Improvements --PENDING APPROVALS-- 2021 Quarantine/Shelter $369,840.96 2021 Annual Action Plan to be amended to correct HUD Formula Calculation Error. NOTE: Building/site not identified. -----COMPLETED IN 2021----- 2020 Spot Blight Nuisance Abatement $25,621.02. 5 condemned structures removed early January: 1023 Mineral, 302 Highland, 407 Mississippi, 142 Greenwood and 248 Hobson. CV-Homeless Assistance Homeless shower/restroom trailer delivered 10/6/2020. 5 showers April 27, 2021. 34 showers at free COVID testing day 11/4/2020. 29 showers at homeless count 1/28 & 1/29/2021. 20 showers 3/9/21. Next shower day planned for May 11th. Daily and full cleaning/sanitation fees paid for warming shelter 2/12-2/22 with 85 day use and 71 overnight maximum. CV-1 Food/Meals Services and Supplies $50,824 Arkansas Foodbank food credits provided to Jackson House (pantry & prepared lunches), Salvation Army (pantry & dinner services), LakePointe Church (food boxes) and FaithPointe Ministries (food boxes). 4,031 households received meals and/or food boxes in April of 2021 2019 Dell & Ravine Sidewalk, ADA Accessibility $42,121. Completed in March 2021 & Drainage Improvements 2019 Park Avenue Sidewalk & ADA Accessibility $42,132. Completed in March 2021 Improvements – East Side 2019 Habitat for Humanity 115 Watt Street $5,350 for water line relocation. Home dedicated in February 2021 2019 Bus Shelter at Ouachita Behavioral Health Installed April 2021 Bus Shelter at Indiandale Plaza on Malvern Installed April 2021 Home Buyer Education Classes May 1, 2021 17 participants. 2020 Bell Street Sidewalk Phase II $10,000 CDBG + $1,250 in Complete Streets funding. Completed May 2021  CDAC Chair will open the floor for in-person public comments. Michelle Sestili will then call upon each person on the teleconference for questions and comments. 6. Announcements The next scheduled CDAC meeting is Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 1:00pm in City Hall Board Chambers. We will continue to offer the dial-in teleconference service. It is anticipated that the 2021 Annual Action Plan amendment to correct the HUD formula calculation error will be on the June 15, 2021 Hot Springs Board of Directors agenda. Home buyer education classes scheduled June 5th (registration closed) and July 10th (registration open at 501.362.2611) Arkansas Rent Relief Program funded by the American Recovery Plan and US Treasury funds allocated to the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS): https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/covid-19/dhs- response-to-covid-19/updates-for-clients/rental-assistance/ CDAC Chair will open the floor for community announcements. 7. Adjournment