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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07.c Date: Item No. 2017 Community Development Block Grant Application Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motions: Move to adopt a resolution authorizing the submittal of the 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application in the amount of $137,528. Overview The City has been informed that it will be receiving approximately $137,528 in CDBG funding in 2017, which is an increase of approximately 10.5% from 2016. Use of these funds is contingent upon the City submitting and receiving approval of an application that identifies activities that meet at least one of the federal objectives of either benefiting low/moderate income persons or eliminating slum and blight. At least 50% of the proposed activities for 2017 must be activities or projects that provide benefit to low/moderate income (LMI) individuals. A breakout of the recommended allocation for 2017 is included in Attachment B. In 2016, CDBG funds were used to acquire and clear the former Scheffler Property located at the corner of County Road 50 and Dodd Boulevard, construction of the ADA compliant transaction window and counter for the Finance Department, fund a portion of the Holyoke Avenue Streetscape Concept Planning and provide programming to seniors at the Heritage Center. Additionally, the Home Rehabilitation Loan program currently has two active loans totally $45,311, two pending loans totaling $48,000 and one (1) loan on a wait list totaling $25,000. Dakota County is expected to receive approximately $1,772,394 of the $3.066 billion Federal allocation. This amount is divided between 14 cities as well as a consortium of townships and small cities throughout Dakota County. Primary Issues to Consider • What are the eligible activities for which Lakeville can allocate its 2017 CDBG program funds? • See Attachment A Supporting Information • Resolution Authorizing Submittal of Community Development Block Grant Application • Attachment A – CDBG Eligible Activities Definitions • Attachment B – 2017 CDBG Application Description and Breakdown • Home Improvement Loan Programs Brochure Financial Impact: $ Budgeted: Y☒ N☐ Source: Related Documents: (CIP, ERP, etc.): Envision Lakeville Community Values: Diversified Economic Development Report Completed by: David L. Olson, Community & Economic Development Director January 17, 2017 137,528 CDBG CITY OF LAKEVILLE DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. ______ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION WHEREAS, the City of Lakeville is a participating jurisdiction with the Dakota County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program for Fiscal Year 2017 (ending June 30, 2018); and WHEREAS, the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) is a Subgrantee of Dakota County for the administration of the CDBG Program; and WHEREAS, the Dakota County CDA has requested Fiscal Year 2017 CDBG applications be submitted by January 20, 2017, based on an allocation of funds approved in the Annual Action Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Lakeville hereby approves the following: 1. The Fiscal Year 2017 CDBG application is approved for submission to the Dakota County CDA. 2. The Mayor and City Clerk for the City of Lakeville are authorized to execute the application and all agreements and documents related to receiving and using the awarded CDBG funds. 3. The Dakota County CDA is designated as the administrative entity to carry out the CDBG program on behalf of the City, subject to future Subrecipient Agreements that may be required for specific CDBG-funded activities. DATED this ____ day of January, 2017 CITY OF LAKEVILLE ___ Douglas P. Anderson, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________ Charlene Friedges, City Clerk Attachment A CDBG ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES DEFINITIONS The following are summary definitions of Community Development Block Grant Eligible Activities: Please Note: Although an activity may be deemed eligible for CDBG funding, it does not guarantee funding. The Community Development Needs for the CDBG Program in the Comprehensive Plan sets forth the priority of needs and as such, dictates which types of eligible activities may be funded in a given year. CDBG funds may NOT be used for costs attributable to a building used for the general conduct of government or used for political activities. Acquisition/Disposition: The use of CDBG funds to acquire real property, in whole or in part, by purchase, long-term lease, donation, or otherwise, for any public purpose. Real property to be acquired may include: land, air rights, easements, water rights, right-of-ways, buildings and other property improvements, or other interests in real property. Demolition/Clearance: Clearance, demolition, and removal of buildings and improvements including movement of structures to other sites. Economic Development Activities: Economic development activities may include, but are not limited to: (1) Construction by the grantee or sub-recipient of a business incubator designed to provide inexpensive space and assistance to new firms to help them become viable businesses, (2) Loans to pay for the expansion of a factory or commercial business, and (3) Providing training needed by persons on welfare to enable them to qualify for jobs created by CDBG-assisted special economic development activities. The level of public benefit to be derived from the economic development activity must be appropriate given the amount of CDBG assistance. Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation related activities may include single-family rehabilitation, multi-family rehabilitation, energy efficiency improvements, public housing modernization, and rehabilitation of commercial properties. General Administration: CDBG funds may be used for the general administration costs incurred by a Subrecipient to administer their CDBG program. Administration costs directly associated with a CDBG activity should be part of the activity as project administration. Relocation: CDBG funds may be used for relocation payments and assistance to displaced persons, including individuals, families, businesses, non-profits, and farms, where required under section 570.606 of the regulations (pursuant to the Uniform Relocation Act). Public Facilities/Improvements: CDBG funds may be used by the grantee or other public or private nonprofit entities for the acquisition (including long term leases for periods of 15 years or more), construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation (including removal of architectural barriers to accessibility), or installation, of public improvements or facilities. Buildings for the general conduct of government cannot be acquired or improved with CDBG funds. This includes neighborhood facilities, firehouses, public schools, and libraries, as well as water and/or sewer treatment plants. The regulations further specify that facilities that are designed for use in providing shelter for persons having special needs are considered to be public facilities. Public Services: CDBG funds may be used to provide public services (including labor, supplies, and materials), provided that each of the following criteria is met: 1) The public service must be either a new service or a quantifiable increase in the level of service; and 2) The amount of CDBG funds obligated within a program year to support public service activities under this category may not exceed 40% of the City’s allocation and the total public services of all Sub-recipients may not exceed 15% of the total grant awarded to Dakota County for that year. Planning: Includes studies, analysis, data gathering, preparation of plans, and identification of actions that will implement plans. The types of plans which may be paid for with CDBG funds include, but are not limited to: Comprehensive plans; Individual project plans; Community development plans, Capital improvement programs; Small area and neighborhood plans; Environmental and historic preservation studies; and Functional plans (such as plans for housing, land use, energy conservation, or economic development). Homeownership Assistance: Homeownership assistance activities may include financial assistance for downpayments, closing costs or other part of the purchase process and counseling for pre-purchase, post-purchase or foreclosure prevention. Attachment B 2017 CDBG Application The Dakota County CDA requires that all cities submit applications with at least 50% of the proposed allocation for 2017 being activities or projects that provide benefit to low/moderate income (LMI) individuals. One of the more commonly identified LMI activities in other cities in Dakota County is the Home Rehabilitation Loan program (residential rehab) administered by the Dakota County CDA. Preservation of the existing residential neighborhoods adjacent to the Downtown has been identified as a goal of the City Council approved Downtown Development Guide. Another area identified by staff is the Valley Park area, one of Lakeville’s older neighborhoods. Attached is a copy of a CDA brochure that describes this program in greater detail and also includes the current income guidelines for the program. Staff recommends funding this program at $68,764 for 2017. The City of Lakeville plans to continue to fund the Acquisition and Clearance program to purchase and clear substandard properties on a spot basis throughout the City. This activity has been used in the past and has had success. Staff recommends funding this program at $38,764 for 2017. In 2006, the City of Lakeville developed a Development Guide for Downtown Lakeville, which has served as the redevelopment plan for the last ten years. With a number of new developments occurring in Downtown Lakeville and potential for redevelopment increasing, the City feels it is time to update this plan to guide the process. Staff recommends funding this program at $30,000 to update the Development Guide for Downtown Lakeville. Additionally, the City is applying for $15,000 from the Dakota County Community Development Agency’s (CDA) Redevelopment Incentive Planning Grant program to fund this update. The 2017 CDBG application is recommended to be submitted as follows. The 2016 allocation approved last year is also provided below as a reference: 2017 Program Activities 2016 Program Activities Housing Rehab $68,764 Housing Rehab $62,185 Spot Acquisition & Clearance $38,764 Spot Acquisition & Clearance $62,185 Economic Development Plan $30,000 TOTAL Allocation $137,528 TOTAL Allocation $124,370