City of Lawrence, KS

Community Development Advisory Committee

January 23, 2014 Minutes (City Commission Room)

MEMBERS PRESENT:		Linda Bush, Alex Delaney, Steven Koprince, James Minor, Vern Norwood, Travis Weller, Patrick Wilbur

MEMBERS ABSENT:		Quinn Miller, Julie Mitchell

STAFF PRESENT:		Danelle Dresslar, Brad Karr

PUBLIC PRESENT:		Shannon Oury (LDCHA)

Chair Minor called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

1. Introductions.

Members skipped introductions; no public present at that time.

2. Approval of the January 9, 2014 Minutes.

Norwood moved to approve the CDAC meeting minutes from January 9, 2014. The motion was seconded by Bush and passed 7-0.

3. Discussion of 2014 HOME allocations.

Wilbur asked about the rehab portion of item 15b. Dresslar said that item should not include rehab, and she would fix the table of contents. Wilbur asked if there was any metric used to show success of the First Time Homebuyers Program. Dresslar explained that Tenants to Homeowners administers that program, and referred the committee to their application for information on program statistics. Delaney asked if all of the money from 15b goes to Tenants to Homeowners. Dresslar said yes, Tenants to Homeowners administers all of that through the Lawrence Housing Trust.

Bush asked about the required amounts for items 20a and 20b. Dresslar explained that there is a required minimum amount for 20a of 15% of the total HOME allocation for the CHDO set aside for Project Funds. The committee could allocate more than that, but 15% is the minimum. Item 20b is capped at 5% of the total HOME allocation for the CHDO Operating Funds. Dresslar reminded the committee that the dollar amounts listed on the table of contents is based on the amount of last year’s allocation, and are subject to change when this year’s allocation is determined.

Shannon Oury, Executive Director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, spoke to the committee about item 18a, the Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA). She gave two handouts with statistics of the program by grant year. Bush asked about the budget listed on the LDCHA application. Oury explained that all of the grant funds received from the HOME allocation go to pay individual’s rent. All of the other administrative costs listed on the budget were absorbed and paid from LDCHA reserves. Delaney asked if the amount allocated could be quantified to a per person dollar amount. Oury said it would be difficult to break that down to a per person amount because the amount each individual receives is different based on the rent amount and the size of the family. Dresslar said a rough estimate could be determined by dividing the amount allocated last year ($175,000) by the number of beds from the homeless count last year (52). That comes to about $3,365 per person.

Wilbur stated that he has read all of the applications, and he felt that while Lawrence Habitat for Humanity is a great organization, it has other means of support. Some of the other organizations in the HOME allocation depend solely on this funding to continue. Wilbur moved to zero fund 19a, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, Home Foundations. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-3.

The committee decided to figure the dollar amount for the required minimum 15% for 20a and the 5% cap for 20b. Based on last year’s allocation amount, the 15% minimum for item 20a would be $56,460. The 5% cap for item 20b would be $18,820.

After discussion, the committee decided they would rather reduce the amount given to item 15b, and increase the amount given to item 18a.

Norwood moved to fund 15b, City of Lawrence Community Development Division, First Time Homebuyers Program-Law Community Land Trust at $70,000. Delaney seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.

Norwood moved to fund 18a, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA), Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA) at $193,482. Wilbur seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.

Bush moved to fund 20a, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH), CHDO Project Funds at 15% of the HOME allocation, $56,460 and to fund 20b, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH), CHDO Operating Funds at 5% of the HOME allocation, $18,820. Delaney seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0.

4. Discussion of 2014 CDBG Public Service allocations (time permitting).

Weller asked if Old West Lawrence could qualify for Public Service funds in regards to item 7a, Common Ground, Pearl Clark Garden Improvements. Dresslar said yes, they were in the CDBG eligible area. Some neighborhoods are eligible for CDBG funding; they just do not always request it.

Norwood asked about fees and fringe benefits listed on some of the budgets included with the Public Service applications. Dresslar said the application states what items funding can be used for. As far as fringe benefits, some neighborhood coordinators are independent contractors, and some are employees of the neighborhood association. If they are an employee, fringe benefits could be offered. Each coordinator does different duties, and the funding for coordinators varies widely between neighborhoods. Minor said that if a neighborhood asked for funding that the committee did not feel should be paid, such as certain fringe benefits, the committee could vote to reduce funding by that amount. The neighborhood could still use the money for those benefits, but their total allocation would have been reduced.

Bush asked if the Oread Neighborhood Association held any meetings last year, because their application lists past activity, but nothing in 2013. Dresslar said she did not know if they held any public meetings last year. Norwood asked about the two different Oread associations. Dresslar said the Oread Residents Association is not a CDBG eligible association for the neighborhood. Weller commented that he is considering making a motion this year to zero fund ONA, since they show no evidence of having meetings nor do they have a coordinator listed, but they are requesting the highest amount of funds to pay a coordinator. Bush agreed that money is being kept from other groups that do work hard on their neighborhood associations.

The committee decided to begin allocations on the 2014 CDBG Public Service applications at the next meeting.

5. Public Comment.

Shannon Oury thanked the committee for their time.

6. Miscellaneous/Calendar.

The next meeting of the CDAC will be February 13, 2014. The following meeting will be February 27, 2014.

7. Adjourn.

Minor moved to adjourn the January 23, 2014 meeting of the CDAC at 6:43 p.m. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

Attendance Record

Members

Jan 9

Jan 23

Feb 13

Feb 27

Mar 13

Mar 27

Apr 10

Apr 24

May

Jun

July

Linda Bush

Alex Delaney

Steven Koprince

Quinn Miller

Julie Mitchell

James Minor

Vern Norwood

Travis Weller

Patrick Wilbur

E Excused Absence

U Unexcused Absence

X Meeting Cancelled – Weather Conditions

- Meeting Cancelled – Committee Vote/No Business

* First meeting after appointment

** Last Meeting Prior to expired term

^ Last Meeting