TO: CRA Board of Commissioners
FROM: Ashlyn Darden, Legal Advisor
THROUGH: Renée A. Jadusingh, Esq., Executive Director
DATE: February 27, 2024
Title
APPROVE THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE A.-G.U.I.D.E. (ACHIEVING GOALS USING IMPACT DRIVEN EVALUATION) PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Approve the modifications to the A.-G.U.I.D.E. (Achieving Goals Using Impact Driven Evaluation) Program Guidelines.
Body
Background:
The A.-G.U.I.D.E. program was established to assist organizations that engage in activities that further the CRA’s mission. Through the program, the CRA can more effectively address several of the Overall Needs identified in the CRA Plan. However, changes to Fla. Stat. § 163.387(6)(c) limited the expenses that the CRA may fund.
In September 2023, at the A.-G.U.I.D.E. Workshop, CRA Staff and Board discussed modifications to the A.-G.U.I.D.E. guidelines based on the 2019 amendments to the statute and discussed City funding of the A.-G.U.I.D.E. recipients, with the exception of Affordable Housing related programs (See Exhibit A). The City informed the CRA that they would provide the CRA with $450,000 of $902,000 to fund a portion of the A.-G.U.I.D.E. Program with the anticipation that the City would fund the full amount in the following fiscal year.
This modification to the guidelines is needed to ensure that the program aligns with the changes to the statute. Although, the A.-G.U.I.D.E. program may still be used to fund the Affordable Housing related programs as the acquisition of real property and the creation of affordable housing is still a permitted expense under the statute.
A summary of proposed modifications is listed below:
Currently, the Funding Framework is as seen below. CRA staff recommends removing section 2. Recreation and Cultural Facilities and 3. Economic/Business Development to better align with Fla. Stat. § 163.387(6)(c) as amended.
CRA staff recommends that the two types of support provid...
Click here for full text