Fiscal Note
The City recently received a payment of $418,000 as payback for a WHEDA- administered Housing Development Grant made to Cardinal Associates of Madison LLC in 1986. The scheduled loan repayment was 2016, but the loan has been paid back earlier. These revenues were not anticipated as part of the 2013 adopted budget. The budget will be amended to recognize additional revenues deposited in the City General Fund, and to increase the expenditure authority in the Community Development Division budget to provide an additional $200,000 for Community Agency contracts allocated through the Emerging Opportunities Process. (The Council previously approved expenditure of $183,300 of the loan payback monies via Legistar #29756, RES-13-00306, adopted 4/30/13.) There is no impact on the levy in 2013. The 2013 budget will be amended as follows:
($200,000) GN01-78890-000000 Increase General Fund Revenues - Miscellaneous
$200,000 GN01-54920-274000 Increase CDD Expenditures for Community Agency Contracts
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Establishing a 2013 Emerging Opportunities Fund Program process and directing the City Attorney to draft ordinance changes to create an ongoing annual Emerging Opportunities Fund Program process and amending the 2013 operating budget of the Community Development Division to provide an additional $200,000 in expenditure authority.
Body
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division, Community Services Committee and Community Development Block Grant Committees have an ongoing role and biennial process to address and fund social services and community needs through investment in programs that serve prioritized issues or populations;
WHEREAS, emerging needs or unanticipated opportunities routinely occur throughout the calendar year that cannot be addressed by the established process; and,
WHEREAS, the Common Council and Mayor's office desire to address these issues in a timely manner;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that $200,000 will be allocated in 2013 for the Emerging Opportunities Fund Program by amending the 2013 adopted budget of the Community Development Division; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a conference committee comprised of members of CDBG and CSC be formed to make recommendations to the Common Council on allocations of such funds by October 1, 2013 using the following parameters:
1. Eligibility
Non-profit organizations and agencies that have obtained tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code and/or have incorporated under Chapter 181, Wisconsin Statutes, are eligible to apply for this program.
Unincorporated neighborhood resident groups are also encouraged to apply for this program. Prior to receiving funding, these groups (at the City's discretion) may be required to secure a fiscal agent to disburse the grant monies received.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with the appropriate Alderperson(s) affected by the proposed project prior to submitting an application.
2. Funds Availability
· Funds will be administered by the Community Development Division. Applications will be reviewed by the CDD conference committee, and staff from CDD and the Planning Unit. Funding recommendations will be submitted to the Common Council for approval.
· The minimum grant amount will be $5000.
· Funding should not be requested for a program that would be appropriate for other City Grant Funds such as those available from the Community Development Division or the Neighborhood Grant Programs unless the funds requested are for a short-term opportunity that cannot be met within the timeline of the other City Grant Fund sources.
· Funding can be used for childcare, tuition assistance, housing, neighborhood revitalization, early childhood education and other programs to enhance the quality of life in the City's emerging needs and unanticipated opportunities, which includes, but is not limited to:
ü Costs for staff hours;
ü Operating costs such as office supplies, telephone, postage, printing, training, rent, transportation, insurance and bookkeeping/audit fees;
ü Fees and scholarships;
ü Program supplies and equipment; and
ü Capital costs necessary to operate a program may be approved if integral to the program and funding is unavailable from other sources.
3. Award Criteria
The Emerging Opportunities Fund Program Workgroup will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:
· Extent to which the project is unique, short-term and not duplicative to other funding sources; and
· Extent to which the need is well articulated and responsive to an emerging issue in the City or neighborhood(s); and
· Extent to which the project is well-planned, feasible, and likely to be beneficial proposes a specific benefit to the City or neighborhood(s); and
· Extent to which the project includes the involvement of a diverse group of residents and businesses; and
· Extent to which the project budget is detailed, practical, and involves a one-time expenditure or demonstrates long-term sustainability through volunteer support or other resources.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Attorney's office will work with Community Development Division Director to revise the appropriate ordinances to establish the CSC/CDBG Conference Committee in ordinance and designate the Emerging Opportunities Fund Program review and recommendation for funding as part of its responsibilities.