Community Development Committee - November 21, 2017 Minutes

Regular Meeting: Tuesday, November 21, 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 2:30 p.m., Tuesday,
November 21, 2017.

The Community Development Committee Members present were as follows:

Present: Commissioner John Strand, Linda Boyd, Linda Klebe, Michael Redlinger, Shara Fischer, Lynn Fundingsland, Samantha McDonald, Thomas Hill, Sami Eidenschink

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

Item 2. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of October 17, 2017
Ms. Klebe moved the minutes of the October 17, 2017 Community Development Committee meeting be approved. Second by Ms. Fischer. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Member Redlinger present.

Item 3. Update of Fargo’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Community Development Administrator Dan Mahli provided an overview of Fargo’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. He stated the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has determined the City of Fargo is in compliance with requirements of applicable laws and regulations, and has the continuing capacity to implement and administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs. He said HUD’s evaluation further states the City of Fargo appears to be making strides in providing affordable housing and addressing its community development needs through its 2016 program year activities.

A handout was distributed with the 2018 Community Development Committee meeting dates.

Item 4. Review 2018 Community Development Grant requests
Mr. Mahli provided an overview of the application review process and a summary of the subcommittee’s recommendations. He stated Fargo anticipates $637,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $336,000 in HOME funds to be available, as well as approximately $50,000 in HOME Program Income. Activities in the 2018 Action Plan include the following:

• HOUSING
- Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) - $100,000 in HOME funds for construction of affordable housing.
- Housing Rehabilitation and Delivery – Owner Occupied - $450,000 to be available for rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied housing units. This includes $200,000 in CDBG and $250,000 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
- Housing Education - $15,000 to support Tenant and Homebuyer Education classes in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
- Homeless Initiatives - $38,000 in CDBG funds to support homeless initiatives at the Gladys Ray Shelter and 10-year plan activities.
- Metro Transportation Initiative - $5,000 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.
- NDSCS – Job Training - $30,000 in CDBG funds to provide job skills training and development to low-income and New American populations.

• FACILITIES/CAPITAL, NEIGHBORHOODS
- Fraser, Ltd. - $17,000 in CDBG funds to assist with costs of upgrades to an Independent Living Program house.
- Rape and Abuse Crisis Center - $60,000 in CDBG funds to improve the safety and security of the center.
- Rebuilding Together - $10,000 in CDBG funds to support home improvements to low-income seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals.

• SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS
- Afro American Development Association - $5,000 to support self-sufficiency/self-reliance training in transportation, financial management, and job retention.
- Boys & Girls Club of the Red River Valley - $5,000 to support after-school/youth development programs for youth from low-income families.
- CHARISM - $10,000 to support youth development programs and skill building for low-income families and youth.
- Cultural Diversity Resources and Metro Interpreters - $10,000 to support diversity training, annual conference, leadership building, education, and interpreters.
- Emergency Food Pantry - $7,500 to support emergency hunger relief efforts and improve coordinated food pantry services in Fargo-Moorhead.
- F5 Project - $10,000 to support program costs for transition into the community of individuals with challenging pasts.
- Family HealthCare Center - $10,000 to provide funds to offset 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 - $25,000 to administer Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund, emergency taxi rides, and CARES program.
- Fargo Native American Commission/Native American Center - $35,000 to provide support for Native American programs and Crossroads Powwow in Fargo.
- Firstlink - $5,000 to support 24-hour helpline and staff costs for coverage of behavioral health/addiction navigator.
- Global Youth United - $1,000 to support youth engagement program with transportation, program costs, and capacity building.
- Handi-Wheels Transportation, Inc. - $5,000 to provide accessible and affordable transportation to people with disabilities and elderly.
- Immigrant Development Center - $5,000 to provide entrepreneurship training for new American business owners.
- 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 - $5,000 to support management/program costs of Consortium and Welcome America/Welcome Week activities
- 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.
- Presentation Partners in Housing - $5,000 to provide financial assistance/housing navigation services for families at risk/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 - $7,500 to support educational and social activities for people with intellectual disabilities.
- Somali Community Development of North Dakota - $5,000 to support Somali community programming for elders, youth and community relations.
- United Way of Cass Clay - $10,000 to support efforts to provide opportunities for individuals/families to gain skills in the local workforce.
- Valley Senior Services - $20,000 to support Meals on Wheels and Senior Ride programs.
- YWCA Cass Clay – YWCA Emergency Shelter - $15,000 to support shelter, housing, case management, and homeless prevention services.

• PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION & FAIR HOUSING
- High Plains Fair Housing Center - $5,000 to support comprehensive outreach and fair housing education.
- Planning and Administration - $127,000 in CDBG funds for project development, planning, and administrative costs associated with the delivery of the CDBG program. HOME funds will provide an additional $34,000 for administration.

A dot map of completed Community Development Projects was distributed to Board Members for reference of the impact these projects have in the community.

Member Fischer absent.

Mr. Mahli stated the next step is to draft the 2018 Action Plan.

Ms. Klebe moved to accept the recommendations of the 2018 grant requests as presented. Second by Ms. McDonald. On call of the roll Members Klebe, McDonald, Boyd, Eidenschink, Fundingsland, Redlinger, and Strand voted aye. Member Hill abstained from voting. The motion was declared carried.

Item 5. Update from the subcommittee studying community land trusts
This item was presented before Items 3 and 4.

Assistant Planner Tyrone Grandstrand provided a brief history about community land trusts.

A handout was distributed with information about the subcommittee formed to discuss community land trusts and the recommendations.
Ms. Boyd moved the Community Development Committee recommend to the Fargo City Commission the formation of a community land trust. Second by Mr. Fundingsland. On call of the roll Members Fundingsland, Redlinger, Fischer, Hill, Boyd, Klebe, McDonald, Eidenschink, and Strand voted aye. The motion was declared carried.

Item 6. Other Business
Mr. Grandstrand and the Community Development Fellows were thanked for their work on community land trusts on behalf of the City and this Board.

Mr. Strand addressed the acknowledgment of Member John Q. Paulsen for his lifetime of service.

Ms. Boyd made a request of staff to create a picture of the housing issue and its need in the community.

Mr. Strand passed around letters received from citizens expressing gratitude for assistance received through Community Development programs.

Planning and Development Director Jim Gilmour acknowledged Mr. Mahli for all his work with the Community Development group and City of Fargo through his years of service. The Board thanked Dan and wished him the best.

Item 7. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 3:33 p.m.