Community Development Committee - January 17, 2017 Minutes

Regular Meeting: Tuesday: January 17, 2017:

The Regular Meeting of the Community Development Committee of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2017.

The Community Development Committee Members present or absent were as follows:

Present: Commissioner John Strand, Mayor Tim Mahoney, Linda Boyd, Linda Klebe, John Paulsen, Jan Ulferts Stewart, Samantha McDonald, Mike Hahn (DCP)

Item 1. Welcome
Chairperson Strand welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.

Item 2. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of November 22, 2016
Mr. Paulsen moved the minutes of the November 22, 2016 Community Development Committee meeting be approved. Second by Ms. McDonald. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Item 3. Review 2017 Community Development Budget and Requests
Community Development Administrator Dan Mahli presented a brief summary to the committee on the 2017 Community Development budget proposal, noting the high priority on affordable housing and homelessness; poverty reduction; neighborhood improvement; and integration of all people.

3:08 p.m. Member Boyd present.

Mr. Mahli reviewed the 2017 Community Development Grant requests. He stated Fargo anticipates $650,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG) and $300,000 in HOME funds to be available, as well as approximately $50,000 in HOME Program Income. Activities in the 2017 Action Plan include the following:

• HOUSING

- Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) - $100,000 in HOME funds for construction of affordable housing.
- Housing Rehabilitation-Owner Occupied – $315,000 to be available for rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied housing units. This includes $100,000 in CDBG and $215,000 in HOME funds.
- Special Assessment Assistance – $15,000 in CDBG funds to assist low-income homeowners with annual special assessments.

• DOWNTOWN PROJECTS - $100,000 in CDBG funds for projects that address slum and blight conditions in downtown Fargo.

• PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS

- Homebuyer Education - $15,000 to support Homebuyer Education classes in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
- Homeless Initiatives – $55,000 in CDBG funds to support homeless initiatives at the Gladys Ray Shelter, homeless police liaison, and 10-year plan activities.
- Job Training – $15,000 in CDBG funds to provide job skills training and development for refugees and low-income persons.
- Metro Transportation Initiative – Opportunities Under Transit (OUT) – $3,000 in CDBG funds to provide transportation to low-and-moderate income participants.
- Snow Removal Assistance – $2,000 in CDBG funds to offer snow removal assistance to low-income senior households and people with disabilities.
- Trust Engagement - $10,000 to provide funds for youth summer camp for kids in lower-income neighborhoods with the Fargo Police Department.
- Economic Development – Job Training and Microloans - $15,000 in CDBG funds to provide job skills training and development, and $25,000 in CDBG funds to provide microloans to New American and Native American people, and low-income persons, businesses, and entrepreneurs.

• FACILITIES/CAPITAL, NEIGHBORHOODS

- Fraser, Ltd. - $14,000 in CDBG funds to assist with costs of new roof for Transitional Living Program (TLP) house.
- Jeremiah Program - $50,000 in CDBG funds to support 20-unit permanent supportive housing unit/recruitment and training for eligible families.
- Rebuilding Together - $20,000 in CDBG funds to support home improvements to low-income seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals.
- Youthworks - $40,000 in CDBG funds to support expanded water line/improvements of newly-purchased program building.
- YWCA Cass Clay-YWCA Emergency Shelter - $50,000 in CDBG funds to support safety/security enhancements of emergency shelter facility.

• SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS

- Afro American Development Association - $2,000 to support self-sufficiency/self-reliance and partner with North Dakota Job Service to offer workforce training.
- CHARISM – $15,000 to support youth development programs and skill building for low-income families and youth
- Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm - $1,000 to support museum admissions, experience, and scholarships for underserved families
- Churches United for the Homeless - $2,000 to support services to people experiencing homelessness
- Cultural Diversity Resources and Metro Interpreters – $15,000 to support diversity training, annual conference, leadership building, education, and interpreters
- Emergency Food Pantry – $5,000 to support emergency hunger relief efforts and improve coordinated food pantry services in Fargo-Moorhead
- Family HealthCare – $10,000 to provide funds to offset the cost of emergent and limited health and dental care
- Fargo Human Relations Commission – $10,000 to support fair housing opportunities, cultural/community groups, and Welcome Week activities
- Fargo-Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons – $20,000 to support administration of Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund, emergency taxi rides, and CARES program
- Fargo-Moorhead Dorothy Day House of Hospitality - $2,000 to support food pantry, housing, and sheltering effort
- Fargo Native American Commission/Native American Center – $35,000 to provide support for Native American programs and Crossroads Powwow in Fargo
- Fargo Youth Commission/Boys & Girls Club – $10,000 to support scholarships and activities for youth development program and member programming
- FirstLink – $5,000 to support the 24-hour hotline
- Global Youth United - $1,000 to support New American youth with education, workforce training, and recreation
- _Great Plains Food Bank _- $5,000 to assist in the recovery and distribution of surplus and donated food
- Handi-Wheels Transportation – $5,000 to provide accessible and affordable transportation to people with disabilities and elderly
- Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization (HERO) – $1,000 to support the operational costs of core service of local programming
- Legal Services of North Dakota - $5,000 to assist people that are low-income elderly, homeless, and/or disabled with housing law issues
- New American Consortium– $10,000 to support management and program costs of the Consortium and Welcome Week 2017
- New Life Center – $10,000 to provide emergency shelter, meals, clothing, and other basics of life services to the homeless
- North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People – $5,000 to support the development of HUD’s Continuum of Care for housing programs in Fargo
- PATH – $5,000 to support Independent Living Program for youth aging out of foster care
- Presentation Partners in Housing – $5,000 to provide emergency assistance for families most at-risk and facing homelessness
- Rape and Abuse Crisis Center of FM – $15,000 to provide crisis support and follow-up services for victims of domestic violence and assault
- Red River Human Services Foundation – $12,000 to support educational and social activities for people with developmental disabilities
- Somali Community Development of North Dakota - $2,000 to support Somali community programming for elders, youth and community relations
- Valley Senior Services – $20,000 to support the Meals on Wheels and Senior Ride programs
- Village Family Service Center, Nokomis Child Care Center – $5,000 to support scholarship program for low-income families
- YWCA Cass Clay – YWCA Emergency Shelter – $15,000 to support shelter, housing, case management, and homeless prevention services.

• ADMINISTRATION – $135,000 in CDBG funds for project development, planning, and administrative costs associated with the delivery of the CDBG program. HOME funds will provide an additional $35,000 for administration.

3:55 p.m. Member Mahoney present.

Discussion was held regarding the timeline of the grant process, remaining blighted areas in downtown Fargo, and neighborhood planning.

4:06 p.m. Member Boyd absent.

Member Paulsen moved to approve staff’s recommendations of the 2017 grant requests. Second by Member Klebe. Members Strand, Mahoney, Paulsen, McDonald, Klebe, and Hahn voted aye. Member Ulferts-Stewart voted nay. The motion was declared carried.

Item 4. Other Business
No other business was presented.

Item 5. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 4:14 p.m.