CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

 

TO:                             Mayor and City Commission

 

FROM:                       Richard D. Sala, City Manager

 

BY:                              Tammy L. Reed-Holguin, Community Development Director

 

DATE:                        January 9, 2007

 

SUBJECT:                 33rd Year (2007-2008) Community Development Block Grant Application

 

The City of North Lauderdale has received funding from the Broward County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for many years.  These funds have been used throughout the entire City.  Some of the resulting improvements include a storm drainage system, acquisition and renovation of a Community Affairs Center, down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time home buyers, design/construction of utility improvements in Patron Village and SW 13 Street, home repair program, promotion of small scale businesses and a pending Economic Development Program.

 

Cities within Broward County are designated yearly allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds.  The County has notified staff that the City of North Lauderdale’s share of CDBG funds for the 33rd year (Oct.2007 to Sept. 2008) is approximately $318,973.  The City must submit an application for the implementation of eligible projects using these funds for the next fiscal year before the noon deadline on January 26, 2007.

 

The City has been implementing the Homeownership Opportunities Program (HOP) utilizing CDBG funds for the past few years. List below is an update of the program during the latest years:

 

  • 2003-2004 (29th Year) HOP Program:  Utilizing $276,334 received during this year we were able to assist (33) applicants to become homeowners in the City.

 

  • 2004-2005 (30th Year) HOP Program:  Utilizing $267,334 received during this year we assisted (24) applicants to become homeowners in the City.

 

  • 2005-2006 (31st Year) HOP Program:  Utilizing $253,172 received during this year we assisted (11) applicants to become homeowners in the City.

 

  • 2006-2007 (32nd Year) HOP Program:  Utilizing $243,973 received during this year for the Homeownership Opportunities Program we have already assisted (4) new homeowners.

 

Based upon the needs of the City and the interest shown by our residents in the housing program, the staff is proposing that the City apply for the continuation of our citywide Homeownership Opportunities Program (see attached project summary) and implement new programs focused on redevelopment that may include removal of architectural barriers at the City Hall, property acquisition and renovation of a public facility for a senior center for year 2007-2008.

 

Listed below are the four programs and recommended allocation:

 

Continuation of Homeownership Opportunities Program

$100,000

Removal of Architectural Barriers at the City Hall

$  30,000

Property Acquisition for Redevelopment

$  50,000

Renovation of Public Facility for Senior Center

$  80,000

Grant Administration

$  58,973

TOTAL

$318,973

 

Attached to this memorandum is description of the proposed programs.  At this time, it is the determination of staff that these are eligible CDBG projects.  Staff has further discussed the eligibility of these programs with Broward County and is awaiting a final determination.  Since there is no other City Commission meeting prior to the application deadline, we request the flexibility to adjust the funding and/or amend the list of programs incorporated into the application depending on the final response from Broward County.  New programs will not be added, however, modifications to the allocations and descriptions or deletion of projects may be necessary to meet eligibility requirements.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

The City Administration recommends Commission’s consideration and adoption of the attached resolution enabling the City Manager to take necessary steps to apply for CDBG funding as applicable and implement the approved programs when funding becomes available.

PROJECTS SUMMARY

 

  • Homeownership Opportunities Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to low-income first-time homebuyers anywhere in the City, improving the physical appearance and condition of housing through pride in homeownership.

 

A portion of the 33rd Year (2007-2008) CDBG funding, $100,000, would be used to continue our citywide Homeownership Opportunities Program. 

 

This program will assist at between three (3) to five (5) eligible homebuyers with down payment and closing cost.  A prospective applicant must contribute at least $1000 towards the down payment.

 

  • Removal of Architectural Barriers Program will facilitate renovations on the first floor of City Hall to improve handicap accessibility.

 

  • Property Acquisition Program will provide funding to acquire vacant lots and/or other properties that may be used for affordable housing projects as a redevelopment tool.

 

  • Public Facility funding to renovate the old library for reuse as a Senior Center.

 

RESOLUTION NO. _______________

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING  AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, TO APPLY FOR AND TO FILE SUCH DOCUMENTS AS MAY BE REASONABLY REQUIRED FOR AVAILABLE  33rd YEAR (FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 2007 – SEPTEMBER 2008) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF AN ESTIMATED $318,973 FOR PROGRAMS THAT MAY INCLUDE THE CONTINUATION OF THE CITY’S HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (CITY WIDE), PROJECT TO REMOVE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS, PROPERTY ACQUISITION PROGRAM AND RENOVATION OF PUBLIC FACILITY TO OPERATE A SENIOR CENTER; PROVIDING THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO IMPLEMENT SAID PROGRAMS IF AND WHEN FUNDING IS APPROVED; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS WITH REGARD TO THE BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED BY PROCESSING AND OBTAINING SUCH GRANT  FUNDS; AND, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA:

 

Section 1:         That the City Manager of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida is hereby authorized and directed to apply for and to file such documents as may be reasonably required for available 32nd Year Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $318,973 and to take appropriate actions to implement approved programs with regard to the continuation of the City’s Home Ownership Opportunities Program, implementation of project to remove architectural barriers, property acquisition program and the renovation of a public facility to operate a senior center.

 

Section 2:         That the City Commission finds and determines that it is in the best interests of the citizens and residents of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida, to apply for said Community Development Block Grant Funds for the continued funding of the City’s program listed in Section 1.

 

Section 3:         That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.

 

 

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida this 9th day of January, 2007.

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

                                                                                   

CITY ATTORNEY SAMUEL S. GOREN

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                    MAYOR JACK BRADY

                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                    VICE MAYOR RICH MOYLE

ATTEST:                     

                                                                                   

CITY CLERK C. MILLI DYER