IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee

Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-6565 AGENDA IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) 8:30 am, Friday, March 9, 2018 Third Floor Conference Room City Hall, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 I. Call to Order II. Changes/Additions to Agenda III. Public Comment IV. Review of Minutes – February 9, 2018 V. New Business 1. Proposed Resolution – Action Plan 2016 Program Amendment #1 2. Review/Discussion of Proposals for 2018 Action Plan Funding #1 - #14 VI. Other Business 1. IURA Grant Summary 2. Staff Report 3. Next meeting date: March 16, 2018 (next week) to review Proposals #15 - #28 VII. Motion to Adjourn If you have a disability and require accommodations in order to fully participate, please contact the IURA at 274-6559 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.  Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-6565 DRAFT MINUTES IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee (NIC) 8:30 am, Friday, February 9, 2018 Third Floor Conference Room City Hall, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850 Present: Karl Graham, Chair; Tracy Farrell; Vice-Chair; Fernando de Aragón; Teresa Halpert Staff: Anisa Mendizabal; Nels Bohn Excused: Paulette Manos Guests: Lynn Truame I. Call to Order Chair Graham called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. II. Changes/additions to Agenda None III. Public comment None IV. Review of Minutes – January 12, 2018 Moved by Farrell, seconded by Halpert. Approved as written, 4-0. V. New Business 1. Proposal for 402 S. Cayuga Street site Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) has interest in the the 402 S. Cayuga Street site. Lynn Truame, Senior Housing Developer, presented INHS’s recent efforts to understand the viability of new construction projects for affordable housing. Truame had the site priced by a stick-frame builder, but found the costs were prohibitively expensive. Truame has identified a modular building with interest in creation of affordable housing, Cayuga Country Homes, which priced four 2-bedroom units. INHS had asked for one 3-befroom, as well, but that size unit may not work for the site. Truame is encouraged, could see something happening there for homeowners. The site would have to go through site plan review again, since previous approval has expired. Halpert noted that some modular builders have been frustrated working in the City of Ithaca, due to difficulties with approval process. Chair Graham asked if the units would be adjoined. Truame responded, yes, as in previous iterations. The Committee wondered if there is a difference in demand between 2- and 3- bedroom for-sale units. Truame responded that in stand-alone units, yes, there is a difference. Not necessarily a difference in joined units. Truame does not think that four 2- bedroom units that are joined [town homes] would have trouble selling. Truame stated she would be meeting with Cayuga Country Homes again and that INHS does not have site control. Bohn pointed out that site control is not needed, just permission of the property owners (IURA). Bohn asked what the assumed level of subsidy for the site is. Truame’s current assumption is less than $100,000. The slope of the site has been an issue in the past. Truame said the builder’s crane operator has been out to the site twice, which was encouraging. Committee members then inquired about the status of Immaculate Conception School. Truame stated that the INHS has voiced interest in the site to the owner, the Diocese of Rochester. There is at least one other entity that has done the same. The Diocese may issue a Request for Proposals (RFP), but has not done so yet. If there is an RFP, the diocese could additionally specify its wishes regarding the convent (on the same site). 2. Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) Overview and Examples For discussion, Mendizabal distributed a chart providing examples approaches employers across the nation have taken to assist with availability or affordability of housing for their employees. Once largely used by employers for executive recruitment, more recently, employers have designed programs to help employees across the income spectrum with options for affordable housing close to work. Many types of assistance exist —from employers being involved in purpose-built construction to relatively small subsidies or negotiated rent reductions. Employers with EAH programs have reported a variety of benefits to the company itself including improved retention, decreased absenteeism, and positive community relations. Committee members discussed the examples and considered whether there was further application for the information. Chair Graham asked the members about their thoughts on how the Committee might use the information. Farrell said the information was useful, but that it is not the Committee’s role to go further, unless employers express an interest. Halpert noted employers might be interested knowing how such programs can benefit them. Chair Graham noted a local example that employers could also adapt: AFCU’s Independent Development Account (IDA) which provides a 4:1 savings match up to $9, 400 toward a down payment on purchase of a home.  3. Review AFH Data on Labor Market Engagement and Proximity to Work The Committee reviewed a staff-prepared analysis from the AFH. Farrell noted the data are likely skewed by students who often live where they work. De Aragon noted that the census shows that people of low income and people of color live closer to work. This is rational decision making. Yet, there is not always a choice. The Committee’s work is to provide that choice. Farrell noted that options like Flexpass allow workers to make pre-tax deductions to pay for some transportation costs. Chair Graham wondered about the prevalence of this benefit among retail employers. De Aragon wondered if such options correlate to benefit for low wage workers. VI. Other Business 1. IURA Grant Summary The Committee reviewed progress of projects. 2. Staff Report a. Program Updates i. Finger Lakes ReUse has notified the IURA of its intention to step away from 2017 Action Plan Activity #9 – Ithaca ReUse Center Expansion. The expansion is expected to go forward, but there are feasibility issues with utilization of the CDBG funding at at this time. ii. Mendizabal provided information from INHS to follow up on the Committee’s request for data about the impact of affordable for-sale units at 202 Hancock. iii. Staff shared data from final report of 2016 Action Plan Activity #6 -- Mini- Repair. 3. Next meeting date: March 9, 2018 VII. Motion to Adjourn Moved by Halpert, seconded by Farrell. Motion carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m. Proposed Resolution Neighborhood Investment Committee March 9, 2017 2016 Action Plan Program Amendment #1, Project #6 - INHS Mini-Repair, modify number of beneficiaries Whereas, the City-adopted 2016 HUD Entitlement Program Action Plan allocated $30,000 in CDBG funds to Project #6 - Mini-Repair Program sponsored by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services to serve 50 LMI homeowners in the City of Ithaca aged 60+ and/or disabled with minor home repairs and maintenance projects, and Whereas, on February 26, 2018, INHS requested a program amendment to modify the number of beneficiaries to 40 LMI homeowners aged 60+ and/or disabled, due to staffing change, and Whereas, the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA) is designated by the City of Ithaca as the Lead Agency to develop, administer and implement the HUD Entitlement grant program, including funds received through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and WHEREAS, this matter has been reviewed by the Neighborhood Investment Committee of the IURA who recommends the following; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, the IURA approves Program Amendment #1 to 2016 HUD Entitlement Program Action Plan Project #6 Mini-Repair to establish benefit to 40 LMI homeowners aged 60+ and/or disabled. h:\nic working folder\resolutions\template -- see resolved\resolution - nic - fy16 action plan amendment #1 - project #6 mini-repair - 3-9-2018.docx  IURA Grants Summary January 2018 ON TOTAL # SCHEDULE HUD ENTITLEMENT ACTIVITIES SPONSOR BUDGET EXPENDED UNEXPENDED % SPENT 2015 CDBG Activities 2521 complete 1.0 Hancock Street INHS 250,403.50 250,403.50 0.00 100% 2522 complete 2.0 Mini repair INHS 35,000.00 35,000.00 0.00 100% 2 2531 complete 6.0 Temporary Ramp Loan Program Finger Lakes Ind. Center 20,000.00 20,000.00 0.00 100% 3 2532 complete 7.0 Hospitality Employment Training Program GIAC 109,372.86 109,372.86 0.00 100% 2523 complete 8.0 Work Preserve Job Training Program Historic Ithaca 87,500.00 87,500.00 0.00 100% 2524 ok 9.0 Spencer Road Sidewalks City of Ithaca 100,000.00 28,106.50 71,893.50 28% 2525 complete 10.0 2-1-1/I&R Service Human Services Coalition 20,000.00 20,000.00 0.00 100% 7 2526 complete 11.0 Building for the Future Southside Community Center 21,227.76 21,227.76 0.00 100% 2527 complete 12.0 Immigrant Services Catholic Charities 16,000.00 16,000.00 0.00 100% 2528 complete 13.0 A+ Tuition Assistance BJM Enrichment Program 17,410.00 17,410.00 0.00 100% 2529 complete 14.0 ReSET Job Training Expansion Finger Lakes ReUse 23,759.00 23,759.00 0.00 100% 2530 complete 15.0 CDBG Grant Administration IURA 134,329.20 134,329.20 0.00 100% 7 2912 complete Unallocated 2015 CDBG N/A 2,349.24 0.00 0.00 100% Total 837,351.56 763,108.82 71,893.50 91% 2015 HOME Activities 2511 complete 1.0 210 Hancock Street INHS 206,922.50 206,922.50 0.00 100% 2512 complete 3.0 Security Deposit Assistance Program (including Inspections) Catholic Charities 44,000.00 44,000.00 0.00 100% 2517 complete 4.0 Housing Scholarship Program Learning Web 24,600.00 24,600.00 0.00 100% 10, 13 2514 complete 5.0 Housing First TCAction 15,131.00 15,131.00 0.00 100% 2516 complete 16.0 HOME Grant Administration IURA 36,866.10 36,866.10 0.00 100% 2518 complete 18.0 First Time Home Buyers-515 W Clinton4, 14 INHS 15,000.00 15,000.00 0.00 100% 2806 complete Unallocated 2015 HOME4, 13, 14 N/A 71,115.40 0.00 0.00 0% Total 413,635.00 342,519.60 0.00 100% 2016 CDBG Activities 2541 ok 3.0 LKNB Homeowner Rehab Love Knows No Bounds 36,334.72 25,510.00 10,824.72 70% 2542 complete 6.0 Mini repair INHS 30,000.00 30,000.00 0.00 100% 2543 ok 8.0 Work Preserve Job Training & Placement 5 Historic Ithaca 67,500.00 34,770.42 32,729.58 52% 2544 ok 9.0 Hospitality Employment Training Program GIAC 100,000.00 96,168.31 3,831.69 96% 2545 ok 11.0 Heating System & Code Corrections DICC 22,489.00 21,099.00 1,390.00 94% 2546 complete 12.0 Advocacy Center Garage Renovation Advocacy Center 10,317.00 10,317.00 0.00 100% 2547 ok 13.0 Wading Pool Renovations GIAC 185,000.00 0.00 185,000.00 0% 2548 complete 1.0a Housing for School Success IURA 11,580.00 11,580.00 0.00 100% 2549 complete 14.0 A Place to Stay Case Management Catholic Charities 17,625.65 17,625.65 0.00 100% 2550 complete 8.0a Work Preserve Job Readiness Historic Ithaca 20,000.00 20,000.00 0.00 100% 2551 complete 15.0 Immigrant Services Catholic Charities 30,000.00 30,000.00 0.00 100% 2552 complete 16.0 211 Info and Referral HSC 20,000.00 20,000.00 0.00 100% 2553 complete 17.0 CDBG Admin IURA 132,274.20 132,274.20 0.00 100% Total 683,120.57 449,344.58 233,775.99 66% 2016 HOME Activities 2755 ok 1.0 Housing for School Success IURA 77,104.40 43,288.42 33,815.98 56% 2756 ok 2.0 Security Deposit Assistance Program (including Inspections) Catholic Charities 44,026.00 41,251.00 2,775.00 94% 2757 ok 4.0 304 Hector Street INHS 100,000.00 96,380.00 3,620.00 96% 2758 complete 5.0 202 Hancock Townhouses 8, 9, 15 INHS 314,125.00 314,125.00 0.00 100% 2759 ok 7.0 Morris Ave Homes 14 Habitat for Humanity 75,000.00 0.00 75,000.00 0% 2760 complete 18.0 HOME Admin IURA 32,984.10 32,984.10 0.00 100% 2807 complete Unallocated 2016 HOME 11 N/A 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% Total 643,239.50 528,028.52 115,210.98 82% 2017 CDBG Activities 2561 ok 1.0 Chartwell House Tompkins Community Action 22,000.00 0.00 22,000.00 0% 2562 ok 2.0 2017 Homeowner Rehab INHS 75,000.00 0.00 75,000.00 0% 2563 ok 6.0 Mini Repair INHS 26,000.00 0.00 26,000.00 0% 2564 ok 7.0 Hospitality Employment Training Program GIAC 100,000.00 0.00 100,000.00 0% 2565 complete 8.0 Ithaca ReUse Center Expansion Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. 50,000.00 0.00 0.00 100% 2566 ok 10.0 Work Preserve Job Training: Job Placements Historic Ithaca 67,500.00 0.00 67,500.00 0% 2567 ok 11.0 Food Entrepreneurship CCE of Tompkins County 36,587.00 0.00 36,587.00 0% 2568 ok 12.0 Urban Bus Stop Signage & Amenities TCAT 25,000.00 0.00 25,000.00 0% 2569 ok 13.0 DICC Heating & Roofing Replacement 6, 7 DICC 35,500.00 0.00 35,500.00 0% 2570 ok 14.0 Immigrant Services Catholic Charities 30,000.00 7,500.00 22,500.00 25% 2571 ok 15.0 Work Preserve Job Readiness Historic Ithaca 20,000.00 0.00 20,000.00 0% 2572 ok 16.0 2-1-1 Info and Referral Human Services Coalition 20,000.00 7,976.80 12,023.20 40% 2573 ok 17.0 A Place To Stay: Supportive Services Catholic Charities 15,925.00 0.00 15,925.00 0% 2574 ok 18.0 Housing For School Success: Year #2 ICSD 13,280.00 0.00 13,280.00 0% 2575 ok 19.0 CDBG Admin IURA 128,882.00 11,724.63 117,157.37 9% ok 22.0 Economic Development Loan Fund IURA 56,886.24 0.00 56,886.24 0% ok 9.0 Harriet Gianellis Child Care Center Tompkins Community Action 84,200.00 0.00 84,200.00 0% ok Unallocated 2017 CDBG 16 N/A 50,000.00 0.00 50,000.00 0% Page 1 of 2  IURA Grants Summary January 2018 ON TOTAL # SCHEDULE HUD ENTITLEMENT ACTIVITIES SPONSOR BUDGET EXPENDED UNEXPENDED % SPENT Total 856,760.24 27,201.43 779,558.81 9% 2017 HOME Activities 2767 ok 3.0 402 South Cayuga Street Habitat for Humanity 80,000.00 0.00 80,000.00 0% 11 2768 ok 4.0 Housing Scholarship Program The Learning Web 65,592.00 5,585.94 60,006.06 9% 2769 ok 5.0 Security Deposit Assistance Catholic Charities 42,750.00 19,257.00 23,493.00 45% 2770 ok 21.0 828 Hector Street (CHDO) INHS 41,378.00 0.00 41,378.00 0% 2771 ok 20.0 HOME Admin IURA 27,565.10 3,525.94 24,039.16 13% 12 2807 ok Unallocated 2017 HOME N/A 19,977.80 0.00 19,977.80 0% 15 ok Recaptured Funds (HP) N/A 5,000.00 0.00 5,000.00 0% 8 ok Unanticipated Program Income (PI) N/A 21,545.00 0.00 21,545.00 0% Total 303,807.90 28,368.88 275,439.02 9% CDBG Spend Down Ratio (must be less than 1.5 by June 1st of each year (60 days prior to program year): CDBG Spend Down Ratio = total unexpended CDBG funds/most recent annual CDBG award YES Pre-2017 Method: Unexpended CDBG Grant funds on Line of Credit: 1.436 NO Current Method: Total Unexpended CDBG funds: Line of Credit + CDBG Revolving Loan Fund: 2.087 Maximum Unexpended CDBG Funds to Satisfy 1.5 CDBG Spend Down Ratio 966,615 Amount Required to be Expended by 6/1 to Meet CDBG Spend Down Ratio of 1.5: 377,975 Total Unexpended HUD Entitlement Funds CDBG Activities 925,228.30 CDBG Program Income 160,000.00 CDBG Revolving Loan Fund Balance 579,361.43 HOME Activities 390,650.00 HOME Program Income Activites 0.00 Total Unexpended HUD Entitlement Funds 2,055,239.73 Page 2 of 2