TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Michael Coleman, Director, Neighborhood and Community Services
THROUGH: Neal de Jesus, Interim City Manager
DATE: May 7, 2019
Title
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND CRA FOR FY 2018-19 CURB APPEAL RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Motion to Approve the Interlocal Agreement between the CRA and City for the Curb Appeal Residential Improvement Program.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2007, the CRA created the Curb Appeal Residential Improvement Program, to help facilitate for exterior improvements to homes in the Northwest (Sub-Area #4) and Southwest Neighborhoods (Sub-Area #8) and entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the City for the Neighborhood and Community Services Department to implement and administer the program. The program offers grants to owner-occupied and renter-occupied single-family homes, funding minor exterior improvements including painting and pressure cleaning, landscaping and irrigation, driveway repair or replacement, mailboxes, and house numbers. Grant funding is available at two levels. Owner-occupied single-family homes with a household income at or below 100% of the median area income may qualify for 100% funding. Homes that are leased to tenants or whose household income exceeds 100% of the median area income are funded at 50% of project costs, requiring matching funds from the property owner. The City is responsible for recruiting applicants, verifying eligibility, determining the scope of improvements for each project, obtaining construction bids and ensuring that projects are successfully completed, as set forth by the interlocal agreement. In 2009, the interlocal agreement was amended to include additional details regarding the responsibilities of the City in the administration of the program.
In 2016, the program guidelines were further modified to increase the maximum funding amount from $10,000 to $15,000, in order to accommodate general increases in construction costs as seen over time, as well as the more significant costs associated with roof repair and replacements, which was included as an eligible expense. In addition to single family homes, the program was made available to duplexes and the revisions also included clarification with regard to the eligibility area and insurance requirements.
For many years, the CRA has often allocated funds from the Curb Appeal Program to the City’s annual “Rock the Block” event (formerly called “Paint-Up Delray” & “Curb Appeal by the Block”). The City leverages the sweat equity of hundreds of volunteers who work to dramatically transform the exterior of several income-qualified homes in a concentrated area in the course of a single day. The program has traditionally targeted low-income families in single-family homes within the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Area, much of which overlaps the CRA District. Typically, the City submits separate funding request to the CRA for the event, which would require CRA Board approval. The CRA and City desire to include the funding for this event as part of the Curb Appeal Program funding on an annual basis. Attached is the interlocal agreement between the City and CRA for the 2018-19 Curb Appeal Residential Improvement Program to be administered by the City’s Neighborhood and Community Services Department. The agreement shall be retroactive to October 1, 2018 as the event was held on April 6th by approval letter to CRA Staff. The agreement also outlines specific terms and reporting requirements. This Agreement shall be effective through September 30, 2019 and thereafter on an annual basis, unless otherwise mutually terminated or amended,
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW:
The item should be fully vetted with legal for adherence with existing ordinances and laws.
FISCAL IMPACT/FUNDING SOURCE
Funding is provided at $75,000 with up to $15,000 allocated towards the City’s “Rock the Block” event.