CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

TO: Mayor and City Commission

FROM: Richard D. Sala, City Manager

BY: Tammy Reed-Holguin, Community Development Director

DATE: December 11, 2007

SUBJECT: 34^th Year (2008-2009) 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 and promotion of small scale businesses.

Cities within Broward County are designated a 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 34^th year (Oct.2008 to Sept. 2009) is approximately $374,737. 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 December 14, 2007.

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

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

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

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

• 2006-2007 (32^nd Year) CDBG Program: Utilizing $401,433 received during this year for the Homeownership Opportunities Program we have already assisted (14) new homeowners thus far with an extension granted until January 31, 2008.

• 2007-2008 (33^rd Year) CDBG Program: Anticipating $374,737 to be received during this year we have planned to utilize $79,982 for a Property Acquisition Program, $110,402 to go into a Public Facility Renovation for a Senior Center, $37,500 towards a Removal of Architectural Barriers Program and $146,853 to continue with the successful Homeownership Opportunities Program.

Based upon the needs of the City, it is recommended that we apply the 34^th Year’s funding to be used for the following three programs:

1. Homeownership Opportunities Program – Continuation of our successful first time home purchase program by using $149,000 of this year’s funding, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to low-income eligible homebuyers anywhere in the City, improving the physical appearance and condition of housing through pride in homeownership.

2. Senior Center Program - Plan to use the allowable 15% maximum under Public Service ($56,000) for a senior program designed to provide activities for seniors within our City such as classes on basic computer skills and internet access, physical and mental health, legal and financial issues, foreign languages, retirement living, gardening, home improvement, pet care, book and writers’ discussions, contemporary issues, public safety including home and personal security, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, adopt a grandparent program and physical activities – yoga and dancing. Additional activities and topics will be offered month to month. These services and activities will allow seniors to continue to maintain a physically active, intellectually challenging and socially enriched lifestyle based on their personal interests and abilities. The senior center program will be conducted by City staff and volunteers. All of the senior program activities will be carried out under the direction of the Parks and Recreation Director.

3. Code Enforcement Program – This program will provide the City with $90,000 in funding for one full-time Neighborhood Improvement Coordinator, a part-time Code Enforcement Officer, and the costs associated with abandoned properties in need of boarding up, mowing, graffiti removal and securing pools on structures located within CDBG eligible areas that are deteriorating or are deteriorated to a point where such enforcement may be expected to arrest the decline of the area and prevent slum and/or blighted conditions.

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. We also request the flexibility to adjust the funding and/or amend the 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.

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 34^th YEAR (FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 2008 – SEPTEMBER 2009) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF AN ESTIMATED $374,737 FOR PROGRAMS THAT MAY INCLUDE THE CONTINUATION OF THE CITY’S HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (CITY WIDE), IMPLEMENTATION OF A SENIOR CENTER PROGRAM, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO BE PROACTIVE BY IMPROVING AND EXPANDING OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS TO HELP IN THE PREVENTION OF ABANDONED PROPERTY DETERIORATION CONTRIBUTING TO SLUM AND/OR BLIGHTED CONDITIONS; PROVIDING THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE GRANT AWARD AGREEMENTS AND 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 34^th Year Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $374,737 and to take appropriate actions to execute grant award agreements and to implement approved programs with regard to the continuation of the City’s Home Ownership Opportunities Program, implementation of a project to provide a Senior Center Program and the implementation of a Neighborhood Improvement Program to expand and improve Code Enforcement operations to assist in the prevention of abandoned property deterioration contributing to slum and/or blighted conditions within eligible areas of the City.

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 programs 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 11^th day of December 2007.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

CITY ATTORNEY SAMUEL S. GOREN

MAYOR JACK BRADY

VICE MAYOR JOHN CANGEMI

ATTEST:

INTERIM CITY CLERK PATRICIA VANCHERI