Community Development Block Grant Policy Committee Meeting

CITY OF NORMAN, OK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 201 West Gray, Norman, OK 73069 Wednesday, February 07, 2024 at 6:00 PM MINUTES It is the policy of the City of Norman that no person or groups of persons shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, including marriage to a person of the same sex, disability, relation, or genetic information, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in employment activities or in all programs, services, or activities administered by the City, its recipients, sub-recipients, and contractors. In the event of any comments, complaints, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services regarding accessibility or inclusion, please contact the ADA Technician at 405-366-5446, Relay Service: 711. To better serve you, five (5) business days' advance notice is preferred. INTRODUCTIONS Attendees Jayne Crumply Heidi Smith Cindy Gordon Lee Hall Mary Katherine Long Michelle L. Jackson John McGraw Kendel Posey David John Jorie Welch Karen Canavan Staff Lisa Krieg, CDBG Grants Manager The meeting was called to order at 6:05pm. MINUTES 1. Consideration of Approval, Rejection, Amendment, and/or Postponement of the minutes from the January 3, 2024 Policy Committee meeting. Motion by Karen Canavan to approve the minutes as submitted; Second by Heidi Smith. All approve. REPORTS 2. Strong Neighborhoods Initiative Please see attached slides. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING - Wednesday, February 07, 2024 Page |1 ACTION ITEMS 3. Election of Chair & Vice-Chair Motion by Karen Canavan for Heidi Smith and Lee Hall for co-chairs; second by Jane Crumpley. All approve. 4. Consideration of Approval or Rejection of an amendment to extend the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative to include First Courthouse and Old Silk Stocking Neighborhoods in addition to Original Townsite Neighborhood. Motion by Lee Hall to approve the amendment as submitted; second by Karen Canavan. All approve. 5. Consideration of Approval or Rejection of an amendment to allow for the use of CDBG funds to replace private water line connections in coordination with the Utilities Department for the Parsons Avenue Water Line Replacement Project. Motion by Cindy Gordon to table this amendment for further discussion at next meeting on March 6, 2024; second by Michelle Jackson. All approve. MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS Staff informed the committee of the AIM Norman process and informed them of the Neighborhood Workshops which start on February 12, 2024. ADJOURNMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING - Wednesday, February 07, 2024 Page |2 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS INITATIAVE FEBRUARY 7, 2024  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM • THE BASICS: EACH ACTIVITY MUST MEET ONE OF THE THREE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES • BENEFIT LOW AND MODERATE POPULATION • AREA BENEFIT OR DIRECT BENEFIT • ELIMINATE SLUM OR BLIGHT • MEET AN URGENT NEED THAT CANNOT BE MET ANY OTHER WAY • ONCE THE NATIONAL OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN SELECTED THE ACTIVITY MUST MEET THE CRITERIA OF AN ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY  STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE (SNI) • FIRST COURTHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD • OLD SILK STOCKING NEIGHBORHOOD • ORIGINAL TOWNSITE NEIGHBORHOOD  SNI INTENDED OUTCOMES • Tip selected neighborhoods towards long term, economic sustainability through community engagement, holistic planning strategies and thoughtful public and private investments. • The goal is to not only assist in revitalizing the neighborhood, but to also engage the people who live there. Improved quality of life and culture – from Improved property values and market place to “A Place” stabilization Engaged and informed neighborhood Decreased perception of crime and groups, children, and parents discrimination Decreased turnover in neighborhoods and Greater connectivity and accessibility to schools jobs, education, and services Increased homeownership and private Reduction of vagrant properties investment Existing owners staying and aging in place Improved greenspaces and trees  POTENTIAL SNI ACTIVITIES • Exterior property maintenance – working with the City of Norman Code Compliance Division • Income eligible homeowners can apply for a grant ($23,000) to address their exterior property maintenance issues • Safe and Tidy Program • One time service to have unwanted and heavy items removed by an insured contractor • Placemaking Activities • Street Sign toppers, Banners, Signage • Park Improvements • Tree Planting/Hazardous Tree Removal • Gap Sidewalk Installation/Replacement • Down Payment Assistance (HOME Program) • For neighborhoods who have formally organized such as OSS, a small grant program is being developed, where the neighborhood develops and executes a project they select  CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN THE PURPOSE OF THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN IS TO PROVIDE FOR AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION FROM ALL CITY RESIDENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND ANY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN, AND IN THE REVIEW OF THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER). THE PLAN WILL ASSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS ARE AFFORDED ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ARTICULATE NEEDS, EXPRESS PREFERENCES ABOUT PROPOSED ACTIVITIES, ASSIST IN THE SELECTION OF PRIORITIES AND HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS ANSWERED IN A TIMELY AND RESPONSIVE MANNER.  CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN CONTAINS THE CITY OF NORMAN’S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN: • THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN, ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN; • THE REVIEW OF THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER); AND • ANY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN. • INCLUDED IN THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN ARE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPING, REVIEWING, AND AMENDING THESE DOCUMENTS.  CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN AMENDMENTS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 24 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91.510, THE CITY OF NORMAN WILL AMEND ITS APPROVED PLAN WHENEVER IT MAKES ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS: • TO MAKE A CHANGE IN ITS ALLOCATION PRIORITIES OR CHANGE THE METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS; • TO CARRY OUT AN ACTIVITY, USING FUNDS FROM ANY PROGRAM COVERED BY THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN (INCLUDING PROGRAM INCOME), NOT PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED IN THE ACTION PLAN; OR • TO CHANGE THE PURPOSE, SCOPE, LOCATION, OR BENEFICIARIES OF AN ACTIVITY. WHEN AN AMENDMENT TAKE PLACE, THE CITY OF NORMAN WILL MAKE THE AMENDMENT PUBLIC BY SUBMITTING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, POSTING IT ON THE WEBSITE, AND NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC. THE DOCUMENT WILL THEN BE SUBMITTED TO HUD FOR APPROVAL UTILIZING THE IDIS PORTAL.  PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 1. EXPANSION OF THE ORIGINAL TOWNSITE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FROM B19 PROGRAM YEAR AND THE STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE FROM THE B23 PROGRAM YEAR TO INCLUDE THREE CDBG NEIGHBORHOODS. • FIRST COURTHOUSE • OLD SILK STOCKING • ORIGINAL TOWNSITE 2. USE OF CDBG FUNDS TO REPLACE PRIVATE WATER SERVICE LINES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT REPLACEMENT OF THE PARSONS AVENUE WATER MAIN DUE TO POSSIBLE LEAD CONTAMINATION. PARSONS AVE. WATER LINE REPLACEMENT I i ""t,.<> {".1::, l ,. r R8-£N/Xt.J STREET ij "ou ?. I ..,,. . !1 - ,,rr-,o, •· j;,I . ,.-,'" ' jJJ, i ¾;. """ -'';le- 2014041 !...:.,JJ n  COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS • WHERE, AFTER ALL, DO UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS BEGIN? IN SMALL PLACES, CLOSE TO HOME - SO CLOSE AND SO SMALL THAT THEY CANNOT BE SEEN ON ANY MAPS OF THE WORLD. YET THEY ARE THE WORLD OF THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON; THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE LIVES IN; THE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE HE ATTENDS; THE FACTORY, FARM, OR OFFICE WHERE HE WORKS. SUCH ARE THE PLACES WHERE EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD SEEKS EQUAL JUSTICE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL DIGNITY WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. UNLESS THESE RIGHTS HAVE MEANING THERE, THEY HAVE LITTLE MEANING ANYWHERE. WITHOUT CONCERTED CITIZEN ACTION TO UPHOLD THEM CLOSE TO HOME, WE SHALL LOOK IN VAIN FOR PROGRESS IN THE LARGER WORLD. • ELEANOR ROOSEVELT