Report Prepared by: Kimberly Nutt, Housing Program Supervisor, Housing Division/Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Allocation of Fiscal Year 2020-21 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Resources to Fund a Subgrantee Agreement with Symple Equazion for the Respective Program Approved Within the Adopted 2020 Annual Action Plan
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers authorizing the execution of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subgrantee agreement with Symple Equazion in the amount of $38,960 for the Aim High POWER Academy Program.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving an agreement for a program identified in the 2020 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Annual Action Plan using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the 2020/21 Fiscal Year, per previous City Council recommendation for an agreement with Symple Equazion (“Aim High POWER Academy”) for Transitional Shelter Operating Costs and Employment/Life Skills Training for Shelter Residents in the amount of $38,960: and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or the Deputy City Manager to execute, and if necessary, make minor modifications to the agreement described above and as attached, and all associated documents; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to conditions other than recommenced by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to City staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Section 200 of the City of Merced Charter, City of Merced 2019 HUD Annual Action Plan, and Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 570 (the U.S. Housing and Urban Development regulations concerning CDBG, including Subpart K of these regulations).
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As approved by City Council on November 16, 2020 and budgeted with Program Year 2020 HUD CDBG Program Funds.
DISCUSSION
Staff is requesting Council consideration of authorizing execution of an agreement with the subrecipient in order to receive reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred in carrying out their respective program, as approved in the 2020-21 Annual Action Plan.
The subject program was to provide for operating cost assistance to the subrecipient’s existing transitional shelter for homeless and at-risk young women and to arrange for the provision of job attainment, life coaching, and general life skills classes and training for shelter residents that would enable their success upon completion of the subrecipient’s program.
The agreement is to be funded by the Program Year 2020 HUD CDBG Program funding granted to the City by HUD on March 12, 2021, and that ended on June 30, 2021. Symple Equazion implemented the program during the 2020 Program Year, which spanned the period of time between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, in anticipation that HUD would approve the activity with the 2020 Annual Action Plan and that an eventual contract would be in place that would facilitate reimbursement of approved expenses. The 2020 Annual Action Plan identified and budgeted the activity, which met the basic HUD eligibility requirements.
Staff will perform back-monitoring to ensure proper recordkeeping and reporting and will review all reimbursement requests that will be submitted by the subrecipient prior to disbursement of funds to ensure the activities were carried out per HUD’s Regulations and Guidelines.
Symple Equazion is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity organization whose stated mission is to empower disenfranchised and homeless young women to achieve sustainable living and self-sufficiency through education, learned life skills, and support services.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
This agreement does not require any expenditure from the General Fund. A contract with Symple Equazion was not yet in place by the end of the 2020-21 year. Since this is a grant allocated but unused funds automatically rolled over to the current year budget in Fiscal Year 2021-22 and are available within Account 018-1301-552-29.00 (Supplies and Services). This subrecipient agreement will be encumbered and paid from current year 2021-22 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement with Symple Equazion - “Aim High POWER Academy” Program