Report Prepared by: Laura Ivancich, Housing Program Specialist, and Kimberly Nutt, Housing Program Supervisor, Housing Division/Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Second Amendment to the Program Year 2021-22 Subrecipient Agreement with Alliance for Community Transformations for the “Achieving Housing and Economic Stability with Survivors of Violence” Program; and, Approval of an Allocation of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program Resources and Approval of an Associated Subrecipient Agreement with The Boys and Girls Club of Merced County for the Program Approved with the Adopted 2022 Annual Action Plan
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers extending the Term of Performance for the existing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Agreement with Alliance for Community Transformations; and, considers authorizing the execution of a 2022- 23 Program Year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subrecipient Agreement with The Boys and Girls Club of Merced County ($55,730).
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a Motion:
A. Approving the Second Amendment to the 2021-22 Subrecipient Agreement between City of Merced and Alliance for Community Transformations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) “Achieving Housing and Economic Stability with Survivors of Violence” Program; and,
B. Approving an Agreement for the program identified in the 2022 HUD Annual Action Plan using Fiscal Year 2022-23 CDBG funds with The Boys and Girls Club of Merced County in the amount of $55,730 for the “Journey Upward Merced Program/J.U.M.P.” Program; and,
C. Authorizing the City Manager or the Deputy City Manager to execute, and if necessary, direct staff to make minor modifications to the agreements described above and as attached, and all associated documents and exhibits; and,
D. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make any necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications or conditions other than recommended 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 2021 and 2022 HUD Annual Action Plans, and Title 24 of the U.S Code of Federal Regulations, Part 570 (the HUD regulations concerning CDBG, including Subpart K of this regulations).
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As previously amended and approved by the City Council with 2021 CDBG funds and the 2022 Annual Action Plan. The projects associated with the amendment and agreement being presented align with the 2022-23 Council Goals and Priorities for Housing and Homelessness, and in support of programs to prevent homelessness and invest in youth.
DISCUSSION
Staff is requesting Council consideration of two CDBG Subrecipient Agreements as explained further below.
As required, Housing staff has completed all National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) environmental reviews necessary to allow Federal funds to be spent on each of the projects. The subrecipients are federally recognized Section 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organizations, as well as Public Charities under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
Following the execution of each agreement, the organizations can begin or continue to submit invoices for payment of eligible costs.
Alliance for Community Transformations
Alliance for Community Transformations (ACT) received previous approval by City Council and HUD of their 2021-22 “Achieving Housing and Economic Stability with Survivors of Violence” Program through the 2021 Annual Action Plan. Using CDBG funds, this program provides services to benefit individuals who have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
On August 1, 2022, the City Council approved a First Amendment to the 2021-22 program Agreement, which redefined the funding sources and corrected the Term of Performance to reflect the Program Year in which eligible expenses are reimbursable.
Recently, ACT has been trying to effectively manage the barriers they are experiencing in trying to house their participants. The lack of available housing units has slowed their efforts and has made them try to find a different approach in assisting their participants. City staff Is requesting a second extension to the Agreement to allow more time for the Subrecipient to expend the funding.
The current Agreement and First Amendment are set to expire on March 31, 2023. The Second Amendment proposes to extend the Term of Performance to June 30, 2023, which should allow plenty of time to accomplish all requirements of the 2021-22 program. Funding will not be affected by this amendment.
The Boys and Girls Club of Merced County
The Boys and Girls Club of Merced County (BGCM) is a non-profit organization that is a part of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Their mission is to provide children a safe atmosphere to learn, play, explore, and build new skills to instill a belief in their future success. BGCM also provides tutoring and a variety of programs in areas of character development, leadership, education/career development, and health and life skills.
The Boys and Girls Club applied for the 2022-23 Program Year CDBG funding assistance to expand their current youth enrichment program to serve older youth aged 13-19 years from low-income families. The Journey Upward Merced Program (J.U.M.P) provides afterschool and non-school enrichment programs to benefit City youth by offering tutoring to ensure participant future success. They also will provide workforce/career preparation such as resume building, preparing career portfolios, enhancing critical thinking skills, communication, and decision making, as well as also providing visitations to local colleges to spark interest in college and higher education for Merced youth.
HUD approved the project in the 2022 Annual Action Plan on November 13, 2022.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The ACT amendment does not require any new appropriations of funding. The program will use previously encumbered CDBG funding from the 2021-22 budget that is available within Non-operating Materials & Supplies, Project GR210044.
The BGCM agreement does not require any expenditures from the General Fund. It is a subgrant allocated in the current year budget (Fiscal Year 2022-23) and funds are available within Non-operating Materials & Supplies, Project GR220044.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Second Amendment to 2021-22 Agreement with Alliance for Community Transformations
2. Draft Agreement to the 2022-23 Agreement with Boys and Girls Club of Merced County
3. Executed Agreement to 2021-22 Program with Alliance for Community Transformations
4. Executed First Amendment to 2021-22 Agreement with Alliance for Community Transformations