Two public hearings set for next year’s CDBG allocations
Posted May 22, 2009
The City of Port St. Lucie will hold two required public hearings for the 2009/10 Community Development Block Grant allocations, and on staff recommendations for alternative projects for 2007/08 and 2008/09 project funding.
The hearings will be conducted at regular City Council Meetings, beginning at 7 p.m. in City Hall on Monday, June 8 and Monday, June 22.
The City will receive $697,370 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the 2009/2010 program year which runs from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010. The Community Development Block Grant is federal grant money used to improve local neighborhoods.
The CDBG program provides federal funds for projects and programs that will improve the physical, economic and social conditions of the community. In general, eligible projects must benefit low and moderate-income persons, address an urgent need or address slum and blight.
Eligible activity categories include public facilities, public services, housing, and community and economic development. Typical projects funded include infrastructure improvements in low-income areas and construction of public facilities. Housing activities have traditionally been addressed with State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Funding; however, new SHIP funding will not be allocated by the State for the 2009/2010 fiscal year.
City staff will recommend that of the $697,370 CDBG allocation for the 2009/2010 Action Plan, $139,474 be reserved for administration and the remaining $557,896 be allocated as follows:
- $484,318.98: Repair/rehabilitation of approximately 16 homes for low to moderate income homeowners selected from existing SHIP Housing Program waiting list.
- $73,577.02: East/West Dunbrooke Storm Drainage Improvements. This project will involve replacement of aged and failing pipes, water control structure upgrades and road upgrades in a low income neighborhood (Census Tract 1603, Block Group 2). The project total of $588,115 will come from the following other resources: $312,276.00 from CDBG Disaster Funding; $ 202,261.98 from reallocation of 2008/2009 CDBG funding as noted below.
To address the recurring timeliness issues associated with utilizing annual CDBG funding the following alternate projects may be pursued if the projects listed above do not move forward in a timely fashion or if a portion of the funding remains after the project is completed:
- Additional funding for Repair/Rehabilitation of low to moderate income homes, as described above.
- Additional infrastructure projects in low-income neighborhoods.
2007-08 and 2008-09 funding was allocated for the Ravenswood Community Center project and the Tiffany Sidewalk Project. The Ravenswood project was delayed and funds were listed to be reallocated to other infrastructure projects in low-income neighborhoods. The Tiffany project came in under budget and the remaining funds must be reallocated. There is $540,510.40 in 2008-09 funding for reallocation and $161,751.58 in 2007-08 funding. The following projects will be recommended:
07-08 Reallocation of $161,751.58 as follows:
- Replacement of NP-5 wastewater lift station (Census Tract 1503, Block Group 3) to replace an aged lift station constructed in the 1970’s.
08-09 Reallocation of $540,510.40 as follows:
- $338,248.42 to Replacement of NP-5 wastewater lift station described above.
- $202,261.98 to East/West Dunbrooke Storm Drainage Improvements described above.
Note: CDBG funding for infrastructure projects in low-income neighborhoods was preapproved for reallocation in the 2008-09 Action Plan.
The second public hearing to review and comment on the 2009/2010 CDBG Action Plan will be scheduled for June 22. City staff will seek Council approval to publish the Action Plan for the month of July 2009 at the June 22 meeting. A draft Summary of the Action Plan will be provided to Council at that time.
In providing notices to the public, the city follows a Citizen Participation Plan that includes a plan for minimizing displacement of persons resulting from activities funded under the CDBG program and lists plans to assist any persons actually displaced.
As provided in the 2009/2010 Action Plan, no activities are contemplated that would cause displacement. The plan is available for review in the Community Services office.
The City of Port St. Lucie CDBG program does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
In accordance with Florida Statues, Sections 166.041(3)(a) and 286.0105, "Interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed", and "No stenographic record by a certified court reporter will be made of the foregoing meeting. Accordingly, any person who may seek to appeal any decision involving the matters noticed herein will be responsible for making a verbatim record of the testimony and evidence at said meeting upon which any appeal is to be based."
Any special accommodation requests, such as an interpreter, or special seating that may be required by the public should be made of the Port St. Lucie City Clerk’s office before the meeting. The Clerk’s Office can be contacted at (772) 871-5157.
For more information, contact:
Community Services Department
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5264