Daily Record; Downtown Today, Revitalization Committee approves Downtown development authority

[Patricia M. McBride]

And Brown thinks he can simply change the name of the commission to something sounding like we are involved and we will continue spending like we have money.  What say you????  And does it really matter what they approve since the city council has not approved anything and is still trying to balance the budget and eliminate a 60 million dollar short fall???

 

 

Committee approves Downtown development authority

The Mayoral Transition Downtown Revitalization Committee heard a proposal to develop a day center to provide a place for social services.

by Max Marbut

Staff Writer

If order of action has any relation to level of importance, the establishment of an independent Downtown development authority tops the list of priorities for the Mayoral Transition Downtown Revitalization Committee.

The committee voted unanimously Thursday to send that recommendation to Mayor-elect Alvin Brown.

All 18 transition committees have been charged by Brown to submit their recommendations to his office by close of business June 30, the day before his inauguration.

Details regarding the organizational structure of the proposed entity and its level of “authority” remain to be determined by the new administration.

Some members said they believe the entity should be entirely autonomous, while others suggest that some level of oversight should be part of the protocol.

Committee member Oliver Barakat said that if all the proposed Downtown authority wants to do has to be approved by City Council, “it will be ineffective.”

Instead of Council approval, the authority should have “Downtown summits” to seek continual community input, said committee member Mya Surrency.

Committee member Chris Flagg said the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission would have to “have a role in some respect,” as well as the City’s Planning Department.

“They need highly defined roles,” he said.

Co-chair Bob Rhodes advised the committee that even the most independent of entities would still have to pass through the City’s budget and audit process and the formation of the proposed new authority would have to be approved by Council and by the state Legislature.

The committee also heard a presentation from Wight Greger, director of the City’s Housing & Neighborhoods Department.

She addressed the issue of homeless people Downtown and reiterated how the perception of Downtown as having a large population of homeless people is a deterrent to attracting visitors and businesses to the urban core.

Greger said the department has been working with local social service agencies to develop a plan to provide a daytime resource center, a place where homeless people could receive nutritional, medical and job placement services as well as attend to personal hygiene and laundry.

She said the concept has been studied for three years and the idea of a single resource center “has been embraced by virtually every homeless service provider in the city.”

Greger said Council has approved a $1 million appropriation for the construction of an intake center and it will be located on the Sulzbacher Center campus.

“We expect to begin construction this fall. We just have to sign the contract with Sulzbacher,” she said.

The new center will not offer overnight accommodations but will eliminate Hemming Plaza and the Main Library being the “de facto day center,” said Greger. Voluntary transportation will be provided to the facility.

Greger said the center will require $100,000 per year to cover salaries for two staff positions, operating expenses and insurance. The City is seeking donations and federal grants to cover those costs.

“We’d love to have City funds, but I don’t think there’s the political will to do that,” she said.

The committee will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Ed Ball Building with an agenda to take action on several items proposed last week in order to allow approval of its final recommendations for the new administration at its last scheduled meeting Thursday.

 

[e-mail]

356-2466

 

Downtown Revitalization Committee
Tuesday’s scheduled discussion and voting items:

• Funding - Require Downtown tax increment funds be spent Downtown and not appropriated for the City’s general fund, reserve parking meter income and parking ticket revenue for Northbank improvements, review revenue suggestions from ad hoc committee and Civic Council to establish a dedicated funding source, focus planning and resources on the core and review and refresh current City economic development incentives.

• Convention Center - Confirm previous analyses supporting a convention center including return on investment and public-private partnerships and develop complementary retail and entertainment uses.

• Public safety - Expand the walking and bicycle police presence in the core and on the riverwalks.

• Community support - Precede any new Downtown initiative by convening a Mayor’s Downtown Summit and follow the summit with a continuing Downtown forum to engage citizens and maintain the Downtown agenda.

(Other items may be added at the discretion of the co-chairs.)

 

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2011-06-24

[Patricia M. McBride]

Debbie, I don't remember the council approving a Revitalization Committee?   Have these folks existed and we are just now hearing about and from them????  Or is this a merry band put together by the upcoming new mayor?  They have no authority to do anything really.  The city council, as far as I know, is the only group who can approve something like this.  I might also add that when Brown was running for office he indicated this group would cost 30 million and he would find another way to finance it besides tax dollars (gee maybe these folks volunteer?).

[Debbie G]

More money, more programs, more committees, and more experts seems to be the first and only manner our government addresses problems.  The city has received millions since 2009 to solve this problem.

 

 

 

JANUARY 2009:

Application for Federal Assistance SF-424                                                                                              Version 02
*1.  Type of Submission:   Preapplication   Application   Changed/Corrected Application		*2.  Type of Application   New   Continuation  Revision			* If Revision, select appropriate letter(s)
					*Other (Specify)
3.  Date Received           :                       4.  Applicant Identifier:
5a.  Federal Entity Identifier: FL200807214362C				*5b.  Federal Award Identifier:
State Use Only:
6.  Date Received by State:			7.  State Application Identifier:
8.  APPLICANT INFORMATION:
*a.  Legal Name:  City of Jacksonville
*b.  Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): 59-6000344				*c.  Organizational DUNS: 004076998
d.  Address:
*Street 1:                       214 N. Hogan Street, Suite 800
Street 2:
*City:                            Jacksonville
County:                       Duval
*State:                          Florida
Province:
*Country:                      US
*Zip / Postal Code           32202
e.  Organizational Unit:
Department Name: Housing and Neighborhoods Department				Division Name: Community Development Division
f.  Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application:
Prefix:               Mrs.                              *First Name:    Wight
Middle Name:
*Last Name:       Greger
Suffix:
Title:                 Director
Organizational Affiliation:
*Telephone Number:                                                   Fax Number:
*Email:
OMB Number:  4040-0004 Expiration Date:  01/31/2009
Application for Federal Assistance SF-424                                                                                          Version 02
*9. Type of Applicant 1: Select Applicant Type:
Type of Applicant 2:  Select Applicant Type:
Type of Applicant 3:  Select  Applicant Type:
*Other (Specify)
*10 Name of Federal Agency: U S Department of Housing and Urban Development
11. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 14.253               CFDA Title: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitilement/Recovery Act (CDBG-R)
*12  Funding Opportunity Number: FR 5309-N-01                   *Title: Community Development Block Grant Program funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
13. Competition Identification Number:                              Title:
14. Areas Affected by Project (Cities, Counties, States, etc.): County
*15.  Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: 1) preserving and creating jobs and promoting economic recovery 2) assisting those most impacted by the recession 3) providing investment needed to increase economic efficiency 4) investing in transportation, environmental protection, or other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits 5) minimizing or avoiding reductions is essential services and/or 6) fostering energy independence
OMB Number:  4040-0004 Expiration Date:  01/31/2009
Application for Federal Assistance SF-424                                                                                          Version 02
16. Congressional Districts Of: *a. Applicant:  Congressional District 3                                                                   *b. Program/Project:  FL-003
17.  Proposed Project: *a. Start Date:  10/1/2009                                                                        *b. End Date:  9/30/2012
18. Estimated Funding ($):
*a.  Federal *b.  Applicant *c.  State *d.  Local *e.  Other *f.  Program Income *g.  TOTAL	1,817,335.00
	1,817,335.00
*19.  Is Application Subject to Review By State Under Executive Order 12372 Process?   a.  This application was made available to the State under the Executive Order 12372 Process for review on         b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the State for review.   c.  Program is not covered by E. O. 12372
*20.  Is the Applicant Delinquent On Any Federal Debt?  (If “Yes”, provide explanation.)   Yes               No
21. *By signing this application, I certify (1) to the statements contained in the list of certifications** and (2) that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.  I also provide the required assurances** and agree to comply with any resulting terms if I accept an award.  I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties.  (U. S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001)   ** I AGREE ** The list of certifications and assurances, or an internet site where you may obtain this list, is contained in the announcement or agency specific instructions
Authorized Representative:
Prefix:               Mr.                                            *First Name:  John                                        Middle Name:                                               *Last Name:       Peyton                          Suffix:
*Title:  Mayor
*Telephone Number:  [phone]						Fax Number:  [phone]
* Email:  [e-mail]
*Signature of Authorized Representative:							*Date Signed:

 

 

APRIL 2009:

Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

 

Grantees eligible to receive funds under the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) are required to complete a substantial amendment to their Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan.  This form sets forth the required format for this substantial amendment.  A completed form is due to HUD within 60 days of the publication of the HUD HPRP notice. 

 

To aid grantees in meeting this submission deadline, the HPRP Notice reduces the requirement for a 30-day public comment period to no less than 12 calendar days for this substantial amendment. With this exception, HPRP grantees are required to follow their Consolidated Plan’s citizen participation process, including consultation with the Continuum of Care (CoC) in the appropriate jurisdiction(s). Grantees are also required to coordinate HPRP activities with the CoC’s strategies for homeless prevention and ending homelessness. To maximize transparency, HUD strongly recommends that each grantee post its substantial amendment materials on the grantee’s official website as the materials are developed. 

 

A complete submission contains the following three documents:

1)    A signed and dated SF-424,

2)    A completed form HUD-40119 (this form), and

3)    Signed and dated General Consolidated Plan and HPRP certifications.

 

For additional information regarding the HPRP program, visit the HUD Homelessness Resource Exchange (www.hudhre.info).  This site will be regularly updated to include HPRP resources developed by HUD and its technical assistance providers.

 

The information collection requirements contained in this application have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).  This agency may not collect this information, and you are not required to complete this form, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

 

Information is submitted in accordance with the regulatory authority contained in each program rule.  The information will be used to rate applications, determine eligibility, and establish grant amounts.

 

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 16 hours, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.  This information is required to obtain benefits. To the extent that any information collected is of a confidential nature, there will be compliance with Privacy Act requirements.  However, the substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan 2008 Action Plan does not request the submission of such information.

 

Warning:  HUD will prosecute false claims and statements.  Conviction may result in criminal and/or civil penalties. (18 U.S.C. 1001, 1010, 1012; 31 U.S.C. 3729, 3802)

A.  General Information

 

Grantee Name	City of Jacksonville
Name of Entity or Department Administering Funds	Housing and Neighborhoods Department Community Development Division
HPRP Contact Person (person to answer questions about this amendment and HPRP)	Wight Greger
Title	Director
Address Line 1	214 N. Hogan Street
Address Line 2	Suite 800
City, State, Zip Code	Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Telephone	[phone]
Fax	[phone]
Email Address	[e-mail]
Authorized Official (if different from Contact Person)	John Peyton
Title	Mayor
Address Line 1	117 W. Duval Street
Address Line 2	Suite 400
City, State, Zip Code	Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Telephone	[phone]
Fax	[phone]
Email Address	[e-mail]
Web Address where this Form is Posted	http://www.coj.net/Departments/Housing+and+Neighborhoods/2008-09+Ho...

 

Amount Grantee is Eligible to Receive*	$2,779,039
Amount Grantee is Requesting	$2,779,039

*Amounts are available at http://www.hud.gov/recovery/homelesspreventrecov.xls

 

B.    Citizen Participation and Public Comment

To be in compliance with the City of Jacksonville’s Citizen Participation Plan, on April 25, 2009 the draft 2008-2009 Homeless Prevention Fund Substantial Amendment was published in the Jacksonville Times-Union and the Florida Star for a 15-day public comment period ending on May 9, 2009.  The document was also made available to the   public   at   the Main    Library, the Housing and Neighborhoods Department, as well as our website at http://www.coj.net/Departments/Housing+and+Neighborhoods/2008-09+Ho...

 

Once the document is finalized, and submitted to HUD for approval, it will be placed in all twenty-one libraries throughout, Duval County to be accessible to all citizens specifically low and moderate income citizens of Duval County.

 

1.     Provide the appropriate response regarding this substantial amendment by checking one of the following options:

 

             Grantee did not receive public comments.

             Grantee received and accepted all public comments. 

 Grantee received public comments and did not accept one or more of the comments.

 

2.     Provide a summary of the public comments regarding this substantial amendment. Include a summary of any comments or views not accepted and the reasons for non-acceptance.

 

Response:

C.  Distribution and Administration of Funds

 

1.     Check the process(es) that the grantee plans to use to select subgrantees. Note that a subgrantee is defined as the organization to which the grantee provides HPRP funds.

 

 Competitive Process  

 Formula Allocation

 Other (Specify:  ___________________________________________)

 

       2.  Formula Allocation

The City of Jacksonville will use a formula allocation to disburse funds to partner agencies to administer the HPRP funds.  The formula will include providing funds to proven agencies already in partnership with the City of Jacksonville to include but not be limited to the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition (ESHC) and the United Way approved providers.  Criteria for the funding will include but not be limited to the current standing with the approved funders, organization capacity, outreach and education standards, project delivery and coordination.

3. Distribution and Administration of Funds

The City of Jacksonville is committed to the development and execution of  all contractual agreements to allocate funds to subrecipients by September 30, 2009.   During the subgrantee selection process, we will develop boilerplate contracts for eligible costs and activities based on the greatest needs as established by our Continuum of Care (C of C) organization and their data sets.  Because we will be working with the C of C and United Way approved homeless providers and have consulted and collaborated with those same agencies in preparing this application, we will not have a problem finding agencies to partner with in this effort.  This course of action can be done simultaneously with the HUD application approval process.  All subrecipients will enter into an contractual agreement(s) with the City of Jacksonville to administer their program in accordance with the rules and regulations that govern the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) under Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

4. Monitoring and Oversight

The professional staff of the Housing and Neighborhoods Department will oversee and monitor all projects in the 2008 Consolidated Plan Action Plan Substantial Amendment-Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program to ensure subrecipients are complying with projected performance standards, contractual requirements, and applicable federal regulations.

 

The standards and procedures set forth will ensure effective and timely use of grant funds for eligible uses.  The monitoring and oversight procedures that will be used  in furtherance of the Consolidated Plan includes:  Pre-contract negotiations and pre-award conferences that will be held to finalize contracts or letters of understanding and post award conferences will be conducted to discuss and explain in detail the terms of the contracts or terms of the letters of understandings.  Technical assistance will be rendered on an on-going monthly basis as monthly reports are received from the subrecipients.  Also, at least one monitoring visit will be conducted for each subrecipient annually.  Additional monitoring visits will be conducted on as as-needed basis.  The entire monitoring process will involve six basic steps: pre-monitoring contact, in-office review of recipient files and backup documentation, on-site monitoring visit, post review of documentation, written report, monitoring letter and follow-up.

 

Each contract and Letter of Understanding receives on-going monthly monitoring through review of monthly reports submitted by each subrecipient.  Through this process, potential problems can be identified early in the program year and additional technical assistance and/or on-site visitation can be conducted as well.  This process also allows staff to properly manage timeliness of expenditures and have the subrecipient make adjustments accordingly for compliance in meeting the goals and objectives of the contractual agreements.

 

A Monitoring Strategies and Procedures Manual and an IDIS Procedures Manual was developed as management and guidance tools to foster proper compliance with federal regulations.  The IDIS Procedures Manual specifically addresses drawdown procedures and timeless of expenditures.

 

D.  Collaboration

 

       1.  The City of Jacksonville will collaborate with the established Continuum of Care   

            Organizations, the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville,

             Inc. and funded organizations, and the United Way of Northeast Florida, Inc.

             Emergency Financial Assistance who serve similar target populations to establish

             priorities.

 

        2.  In collaborating with these partner agencies, the Ending Homelessness in

             Jacksonville: A Blueprint for the Future is a ten year plan developed with funding        

from the United Way of Northeast, Florida, The Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, The Florida  Department of Children and Families, the Weaver Family Foundation and the Dubow Family Foundation will provide the foundation of data collection, data analysis, goals, objectives and strategies for efforts made with the HPRP funds.  All mainstream sources of knowledge regarding preventing homelessness and funding available will be considered for collaborating with the HPRP funds including Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds received in this jurisdiction.

 

3.     In order to remain consistent with the Consolidated Plan, the City of Jacksonville will use HPRP to continue and enhance homelessness prevention services currently being provided by our agency partners.  In particular, we will continue to work with the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition (ESHC) to provide the CARE 211 Homeless Prevention Hotline.  The ESHC also provides the Housing Locator which is a housing search and placement site through www.floridahousing.org .   The Housing Locator is a database that lists available units, rents, etc. and will be a primary source of information for the City.  The Housing Finance Authority will assist in the housing placement effort by providing a monthly rental vacancy and occupancy rate for the State of Florida by zip codes.

 

We will also piggy-back off of the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) provided with HOME funds to match income with rents and foreclosed properties with rental unit needs.  Priority will be given to evictions caused by loss of job. 

For persons residing in buildings that have been condemned or otherwise not suitable for human habitation, HPRP funds will provide financial assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services to relocate them to more suitable housing.

The housing unit which the program participants move into must meet habitability standards. The City will consider local and state building and housing codes when providing financial assistance to persons to allow them to remain in their home.

 

E.  Estimated Budget Summary

 

HPRP Estimated Budget Summary
	Homelessness Prevention	Rapid Re-housing	Total Amount Budgeted
Financial Assistance1	$1,217,309.89	$200,000.000	$1,417,309.89
Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services2	$744,873.26	$200,000.00	$944,873.26
Subtotal (add previous two rows)	$1,962,183.15	$400,000.00	$2,362,183.15

 

Data Collection and Evaluation3	$277,903.90
Administration (up to 5% of allocation)	$138,951.95
Total HPRP Amount Budgeted4	$2,779,039

 

¹Financial assistance includes the following activities as detailed in the HPRP Notice:

short-term rental assistance, medium-term rental assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and motel or hotel vouchers. 

 

²Housing relocation and stabilization services include the following activities as detailed in the HPRP Notice: case management, outreach, housing search and placement, legal services, mediation, and credit repair.

 

³Data collection and evaluation includes costs associated with operating HUD-approved homeless management information systems for purposes of collecting unduplicated counts of homeless persons and analyzing patterns of use of HPRP funds. 

 

⁴This amount must match the amount entered in the cell on the table in Section A titled “Amount Grantee is Requesting.”

F.  Authorized Signature

 

By signing this application, I certify (1) to the statements contained in the list of certifications and (2) that the statements herein are true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I also provide the required assurances and agree to comply with any resulting terms if I accept an award. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. (U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001)

 

 

________________________________________________            ___________________ Signature/Authorized Official                                                             Date

 

Mayor John Peyton                                                                       

Title

 

 

 

 

[Debbie G]

Build it and they will come. . .

Sulzbacher already receives tax dollars through the Emergency Shelter Grant program, our tax dollars sent to Washington and funneled back with a plethora of strings attached.  U.S. Code title 42 requires dollar for dollar matching for these funds, so we are paying twice to use the money once.  The city needs to "JUST SAY NO" to these federal dollars so that we may have more latitude to make decisions that are for the good of the city.