AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Meeting Date:           July 11, 2011

From:                          Kenneth Thomas, Director of Housing and Economic Development Dept.

                                    Chris Edwards, Community Redevelopment Coordinator/Project Manager

Subject:                      Second Public Hearing Concerning New CDBG Funding Cycle                    

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends the City Commission authorize the City Manager to submit grant applications in the Neighborhood Revitalization category.  Additionally, staff recommends that Neighborhood Revitalization category grant be identified as the priority project for funding.

Analysis:

The City of Leesburg is eligible to receive up to $750,000 Community Development Block Grant funding in the 2011 funding cycle.  The purpose of the second public hearing is to identify the activities proposed for funding with the grant funds.  City staff and the City’s grant consultant have prepared a grant application in the neighborhood revitalization category.

Neighborhood Revitalization Category

Funding from this grant category can be used to install or replace infrastructure in residential neighborhoods.  Infrastructure can include water lines, wastewater lines, stormwater and street paving.  The majority of the households serviced by the infrastructure to be constructed within the residential neighborhood must meet the low to moderate income (LMI) requirements.

      Activity Number and Name                                           Budget                                    LMI% Benefit____

            01 –    Acquisition for Retention Pond                 $  35,000.00                             At Least 51%

            03I –   Flood & Drainage                                             $238,000.00                            At Least 51%

            11 –    Undergrounding Electric                               $125,000.00                            At Least 51%

            14A – Electrical Underground Reconnects         $257,000.00                            At Least 51%

            21A – Administration                                                  $  60,000.00                                N/A

            21B – Engineering                                                        $  35,000.00                                N/A

                                                                               Total      $750,000.00 

The application proposes to assist a minimum of 16 families through this grant.

The Citizen Advisory Task Force (CATF) met Monday, June 20, 2011 to review the proposed project.  The CATF recommended the projects as presented, with the interest of having neighborhood revitalization as the City’s priority.  City staff recommends the Neighborhood Revitalization Category as the priority due to the level of competition that normally occurs annually.

Options:

1. Submit application in the Neighborhood Revitalization grant category; or
2. Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

Fiscal Impact: 

If the City receives this grant a budget adjustment will be necessary to recognize the additional revenue. The grant match of $125,000 has been approved in the adopted 2011-20 Capital Improvement Plan under the Electric Department.  The Electric Department will fund the match as part of its FY 2011/2012 proposed budget to complete Phase 4 of the Underground Utility Project for Carver Heights. 

Submission Date and Time:    7/7/2011 11:30 AM____

Department: ______________________ Prepared by:  ______________________                      Attachments:         Yes____   No ______ Advertised:   ____Not Required ______ Dates:   __________________________                      Attorney Review :       Yes___  No ____ _________________________________            Revised 6/10/04

Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance  Dept. __________________                                     Deputy C.M. ___________________                                          Submitted by: City Manager ___________________

Account No. _________________ Project No. ___________________ WF No. ______________________ Budget  ______________________ Available _____________________

RESOLUTION NO.________

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A FUNDING REQUEST IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000 TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING FUNDING FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT; ESTABLISHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CATEGORY AS A PRIORITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

1. THAT the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to submit a grant application to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for funding in the Neighborhood Revitalization grant category of the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program;

2. That the City Commission hereby commit to provide a match of $125,000 to the Neighborhood Revitalization grant application; and

3. That the Neighborhood Revitalization grant application shall be the funding priority for the City.

 THAT this resolution shall become effective immediately.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the _11th____ day of __July_______ 2011.

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________

City Clerk