Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC)

MEETING MINUTES City of Hot Springs Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) December 2, 2021 1:00pm City of Hot Springs Board Chambers, 133 Convention Blvd, Hot Springs, AR 71901 In-Person and by Teleconference 1. The meeting was called to order at 1:07 p.m. by CDAC Chair Larry Williams. Those in attendance:  Larry Williams, CDAC Chair and Member-at-Large  Alice Marshall, CDAC Co-Chair and District 2 Representative  Kelly Thomason, CDAC Member-at-Large  Becca Clark, CDAC Member-at-Large  Gene Williams, CDAC District 1 Representative  Michelle Sestili, City of Hot Springs CDBG Administrator  Sarah Richardson, Garland County Literacy Council  Anne Quinn, Garland County Habitat for Humanity  Cindy Rogers, Park Avenue Community Association  Cheryl Batts, P.H.O.E.B.E.  Kimberly Lew, Southwest Arkansas Partnership (SWAP) local homeless coalition  Carol Scholp, Giving Circle  Kathleen Fason, City of Hot Springs Parks & Trails Department  Mark Toth, Whittington Valley Neighborhood Association  Jean Lacefield, Gateway Community Association  Fred Nicholson, ICFC Copies of the meeting materials were made available to all in attendance: Agenda, 2022 CDBG application instructions, Municipal Projects Application, Affordable Housing Application, Job Growth/Economic Development Application, Non-Municipal and Public Service Application, 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Study Overview, and Home Buyer Education Class Flyer. 2. November 4, 2021 Meeting Minutes Approved (5-0) 3. CDAC Chair Larry Williams acknowledged the retirement of CDBG Administrator Michelle Sestili pending replacement. 4. New Business: A. 2022 CDBG Open Application Period. Michelle Sestili provided an overview of the application process, general eligibility guidelines and support contacts.  Email Michelle Sestili for fillable Microsoft Word versions of the application msconsulting@outlook.com , or hand write/type into the hard copy applications provided today.  Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2022  Please read all instructions before beginning  Federal funding is not guaranteed. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.  Funds may not be available until July 2022 and historically have not authorized until months after.  Expenses incurred prior to final funding authorization will not be reimbursed.  Contact Michelle Sestili, CDBG Administrator to discuss project eligibility and Federal requirements that may apply (501) 276-7934 or msconsulting@outlook.com   Incomplete and late applications will not be considered  Municipal projects on public property (e.g. pedestrian improvements, public parks, most bus shelters) require a City Department sponsor and written support with application. Contact them early with your idea!  Non-municipal projects including public services, affordable housing, and economic development require a minimum 1:1 match of funding.  Do not use prior year applications! Affordable housing projects including homeless shelters must follow the City of Hot Springs CDBG Housing Underwriting Policy – read first! https://www.cityhs.net/563/Community-Development CDAC Chair opened the floor for public comments and questions. Carol Scholp inquired as to who applications would be submitted to if the CDBG Administrator retires prior to the application due date. Michelle Sestili responded that applications can still be submitted to her email address or mailed/delivered to the City of Hot Springs Planning & Development office at 133 Convention Blvd. B. Fair Housing Activities. Michelle Sestili reviewed a decision to apply $2,407.14 in prior year Fair Housing Activities funds to provide HUD-certified Rental Housing Education and Eviction Prevention Services to address impediments identified in the 2019 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Study and conditions contributing to housing instability. The Fair Housing Activities funds had previously been used for educational radio PSAs and print ads in 2019 and early 2020 to help renters, homebuyers and homeowners understand their rights under the Fair Housing Act. Those ads were placed on hold at the beginning of COVID in case funds were needed to respond to the pandemic prior to the availability of CARES Act funds. It is felt that the Fair Housing Activities fund would be best used providing renter education and eviction prevention, which may include households that have suffered a COVID related hardship or are otherwise at-risk. CDAC Chair opened the floor for public comments. None were heard. C. 2022 Point in Time (PIT) Homeless Count. Michelle Sestili provided information on the scheduled annual point in time homeless count.  January 27, 2022. Back-up date in case of severe weather January 29, 2022.  HUD required for certain grants including CDBG, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Continuum of Care (CoC).  Conducted by volunteers from non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations and interested residents across the country.  Sheltered and unsheltered – extra emphasis to reach homeless neighbors where they sleep rather than attract them to a central location for the count o Sheltered = Spent the night before in an emergency or transitional shelter o Unsheltered = Spent the night before sleeping in a tent, car, vacant building, public restroom, bench, alley, underpass, etc. o NOT COUNTED AS HOMELESS if they spent the night before in a motel, on a friend/family member’s couch, incarcerated, hospitalized or otherwise in shelter meant for human habitation even if they do not know where they will sleep again  Counting Us app is a standardized questionnaire to collect demographic and situational information that is shared   Children enrolled in school are counted separately by the schools under McKinney Vento  More information on volunteering and donating will be provided in the January CDAC meeting CDAC Chair will opened the floor for questions and comments. None were heard. 5. Old Business: A. CDBG Administration & Oversight request for SOQs re-released after first request yielded 1 unresponsive response on November 22. https://www.cityhs.net/Bids.aspx B. CARES Act waivers set to expired 12/31/21 if some or all are not extended by HUD. The biggest impact would be the loss of an official virtual meeting option for public hearings and CDAC voting. C. FY2022 HUD appropriations bill pending Congressional reconciliation D. Prior year projects status updates CARES Act CV funds must be used to prepare for, prevent and/or respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Project Fiscal Funded Current Notes Year Amount Balance Quarantine Shelter CV- 2020CV $317,926 $317,926 Acquisition soft costs funded. Site specific 1 environmental review required after building/site identified. Quarantine Shelter 2021 $369,840.96 $369,840.96 Acquisition soft costs funded. Site specific environmental review required after building/site identified. Homeless Assistance 2020CV $76,824 $9,629.88 Homeless shower/restroom trailer, CV-1 insurance, supplies and sanitizing services. 77 showers provided to date in fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2021-present). 100 individuals served by CV Homeless Assistance in fiscal year 2020. Meal and Food Services 2020CV $50,824 $7,513.51 34,807 total prepared meals, food boxes CV-1 (Subrecipient: as of and pantry items have been distributed Arkansas Foodbank) November since April 2021 from the 4 local Arkansas Foodbank non-profit providers: Jackson House, Salvation Army, Faith Pointe Ministries and Lake Pointe Church. Lake Pointe Church is the only one with food credits balance remaining. Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for additional Arkansas Foodbank credits for Jackson House, Salvation Army and Faith Pointe Ministries. Home Buyer Education 2020 $7,200 $7,200 Home buyer education class contract Classes and signed with HUD-Certified housing 2018 counseling agency In Affordable Housing, Inc. at $900 per class. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://hotspringshbeclass.eventbrite.com  Saturday at Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace, 10am-2pm: December 11, 2022 January 8, 2022 February 12, 2022 April 9, 2022 June 4, 2022 Tuesday Instructor-Led ONLINE, 6pm-8pm: December 14, 2021 January 11, 2022 June 11, 2022 Home Owner classes, 2020 $18,769 $18,769 Separate RFPs released for home owner and Foreclosure classes and foreclosure avoidance Avoidance Counseling counseling. RFP due 1/3/2022 Fair Housing Activities 2018 $5,096.00 $2,407.14 RFP released. Due 1/3/2022 - HUD-certified Rental Housing Education and Eviction Prevention Services 4C Elderly & Disabled 2019 $42,303.63 $8,619.74 37 low- to moderate-income elderly and Lawn Care and Youth disabled persons have received 1 or 2 lawn Landscape Certification services as of November 2021. 1 at-risk Program young person in training preparing to sit for (Subrecipient: RA OSHA certification. Psychle) Malvern Avenue Multiple $65,817* $35,672.00 In progress. *CDBG is 20% match to FTA Gateway Improvement grant. City funding high voltage power line Project Phase I Gulpha burial. to Grove Garden Street 2018 $56,690 $2,411.64 Complete; final invoice for balance Sidewalk & ADA 2020 pending. Accessibility Improvements Crosswalk on Malvern 2019 $11,680 $11,680 ARDOT consultation in progress. Submitted to Silver Street designs not approved; ARDOT requested design changes far outside of plans and budget. Compromise designs pending review. Cedar St Sidewalk & 2020 $10,261 $10,261 Funded. To be bundled with other projects ADA Improvements in a future bid for best, volume price. Phase III Lot Acquisition for 2020 $15,000 $15,000 Habitat searching for potential lots. Home Building (Subrecipient: Garland County Habitat for Humanity) Whittington Avenue 2020 $44,850 $44,850 Environmental review to be completed Drainage before funding is authorized. Improvements Chelsea Street 2020 $40,800 $40,800 Environmental review to be completed Sidewalks & ADA before funding is authorized. Accessibility Improvements Creek Street Sidewalks 2020 $32,343.75 $32,343.75 Environmental review to be completed & ADA Accessibility before funding is authorized. Improvements Park Avenue at Tom 2020 $38,875 $38,875 Environmental review to be completed Ellsworth Sidewalk, before funding is authorized. ADA and Drainage Improvements COMPLETED IN CALENDAR YEAR 2021 Emergency Rent 2020CV $100,000 $0 Completed 7/14/21. Subsistence CV-1 Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds on August 3rd to continue this program; funds expended and contract completed. Home Buyer Education 2018 $10,000 $969* Last class completed July 10, 2021. 47 Classes attended in program year 2020, 14 received additional housing counseling and 3 used the ADFA ADDI down payment assistance program to purchase a home during the program year. *Balance to roll over to next home buyer class contract. Jefferson Street 2020 $31,510 $6,194* Completed July 2021. Sidewalks & ADA Accessibility PY2020 CDBG Planning 2020 $76,909.78 $19,038.55 Program year ended 6/30/21. Costs include & Administration the administration of regular annual CDBG, CDBG CV-1 and CDBG CV-3. *Unspent balance to be reprogrammed to another eligible activity in a future amendment Spot Blight Nuisance 2020 $25,621.02 $0 5 condemned structures moved January Abatement 2021: 1023 Mineral, 302 Highland, 407 Mississippi, 142 Greenwood and 248 Hobson. Food/Meal Services CV- 2020CV $50,824 $0 Arkansas Foodbank credits provided to 1 Jackson House (pantry & prepared lunches), Salvation Army (pantry & dinner services), LakePoint Church (food boxes) and Faith Pointe Ministries (food boxes). Over 4,031 households served. Dell & Ravine at Park 2019 $42,121 $0 Completed in March of 2021 Ave Sidewalk, ADA and Drainage Improvements Park Avenue Sidewalk & 2019 $42,132 $0 Completed in March of 2021 ADA Accessibility Improvements – Phase V East Side Habitat for Humanity 2019 $5,350 $0 Water line relocation. Home dedicated in 115 Watt Street February of 2021 Bus Shelter at Ouachita 2019 $11,000 $2,709.77 Behavioral Health & Wellness Bus Shelter at 2017 $5,213.02* $0 Installed in April 2021. *Bus shelter was Indiandale Plaza on originally purchased for installation on Malvern Whittington Avenue. Residents request a different shelter design and the purchased shelter was reprogrammed to the Indiandale location in an amendment Bell Street Sidewalk and Multiple $46,885* $0 Completed in May 2021. *Total project ADA Accessibility cost $48,135 including CDBG and $1,250 in Improvements City Complete Streets funding Utility Emergency 2020CV $27,096 $ Low- to moderate income households in Subsistence Payments City limits with a COVID related hardship CV-1 received between 1 and 3 months of utility (Subrecipient: Ouachita assistance paid directly to provider, not Behavioral Health & including late fees. Wellness) John Lee Webb House 2020 $60,000 $78.80 Brick Masonry Restoration completed Historic Restoration – November 2021. Brick Masonry & Ancillary Roofs Ancillary roofs completed in May 2021. (Subrecipient: P.H.O.E.B.E.) Waterproofing Weather Wrap completed in January 2021. Malvern Avenue Multiple $86,510.42 $4,892.87 Completed November 2021. Balance may Medians Phase I be applied to additional related Malvern Gulpha to Jefferson work to be defined in change order. CDAC Chair opened the floor for public comment and questions. None were heard. 6. Announcements The next scheduled CDAC meeting will be held Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 1:00pm in City Hall Board Chambers. Items for the agenda include a recap of the 2022 CDBG open application period and procedures. Dial-in teleconference option will continue. CDAC Chair opened the floor for public announcements. Garland County Habitat for Humanity announced that they are still looking for buildable lot donations or reasonably priced sales. Applications currently being accepted for homeownership through 12:00 p.m. on December 16, 2021. Contact Garland County Habitat for Humanity to schedule an appointment for application and assistance. 7. Having no further business the meeting was adjourned