TO: CRA Board of Commissioners
FROM: Alexina Jeannite, Community Engagement Director
THROUGH: Renée A. Jadusingh, Esq., Executive Director
DATE: January 25, 2022
Title
OLD SCHOOL SQUARE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, INC. - UPDATE
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Update on Achieving Goals Using Impact Driven Evaluation (“A-G.U.I.D.E.”) Funding Agreement for Old School Square Center for the Arts, Inc. (“OSSCA”).
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Background:
In July 2020, OSSCA applied for the Community Redevelopment Agency (“CRA”) A-G.U.I.D.E. funding for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 requesting $900,000 under the Economic Development and Recreation and Cultural Facilities need area to support Cultural Arts Programming.
At the August 25, 2020, CRA Regular Board Meeting, OSSCA’s funding request was presented for consideration; however, the CRA Board did not make a recommendation for funding.
Subsequently, OSSCA modified their funding request for a reduced amount of $750,000, which was presented for consideration at the September 14, 2020, CRA Workshop Meeting. At the September 29, 2020, CRA Board meeting, the CRA Board approved the funding request and on October 16, 2020, the CRA and OSSCA executed a Funding Agreement for FY 2020-2021 in an amount not to exceed $750,000.
On September 14, 2021, at the City of Delray Beach Commission Meeting, the City Auditor, Julia Davidyan, presented the Internal Audit Report: #21-02 Old School Square Lease Compliance (Report).
Pursuant to the CRA’s A-G.U.I.D.E. Funding Agreement, the CRA may request any information that it deems necessary in order to fully evaluate OSSCA’s performance and financial status. Following the CRA’s review of OSSCA’s audited financial statements for FY 2018-2019 and FY 2019-2020, and the City’s Report, the CRA requested information from OSSCA the CRA deemed necessary to fully evaluate their performance and financial status pursuant to the Funding Agreement.
To date, certain requests for information from OSSCA remain outstanding. In January 2021, OSSCA did receive their first quarter payment for FY 2020-2021 in the amount of $187,500. Consistent with the Funding Agreement, any additional payments are withheld until the CRA receives all the requested information from OSSCA that the CRA has deemed necessary to fully evaluate OSSCA’s performance, financial status, and determine the funds are being expended in accordance with their A-G.U.I.D.E. funding application and Funding Agreement.
At this time, CRA staff brings this update before the CRA Board.
Attachment(s): Exhibit A - FY 2020-2021 - OSSCA A-GUIDE Funding Agreement
CRA Attorney Review:
N/A
Funding Source/Financial Impact:
Funding previously allocated from General Ledger #7376 - A-GUIDE Funding.