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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem IIPLAN COMMISSION APRIL 6, 2021 ITEM II: PUBLIC HEARING: APPROVE AMENDMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT 2020 ACTION PLAN - CARES ACT FUNDING ROUND 3; RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE AND AWARDS FOR ROUND 2 FUNDS FROM STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION BACKGROUND Earlier this year the Plan Commission approved an amendment to the 2020 CDBG Annual Action Plan to increase the Action Plan and award funds in the amount of $494,757 under Round 1 of the CDBG-CV funding. Staff is now requesting approval of an amendment to the 2020 CDBG Annual Action Plan to increase the CDBG allocation to include Round 3 funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $292,664. Staff is also requesting the Plan Commission recommend Council accept and award $210,269.89 in CARES Act funds from the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) to be awarded to three agencies to prevent, prepare for or respond to the COVID pandemic, as well as funds to administer the DOA grant. Please refer to the table below for a breakdown on funding sources and recommended awards for Round 2 and Round 3. ANALYSIS Oshkosh has received three rounds of funding under the CARES Act to prevent, prepare for or respond to the COVID-19 health crisis. Round 1 funds - $494,757 from HUD (awards approved in January 2021) Round 2 funds - $210,269.89 from State of Wisconsin, Department of Administration Round 3 funds - $292,664 from HUD Staff solicited proposals from public service organizations in late 2020 to identify the needs in the community to address the pandemic health crisis. Twenty-one applications were received. The Grant Review Committee, consisting of members of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, United Way, Common Council and community members, re-reviewed the public service applications received to consider awards under Rounds 2 and 3. Based on this approach, the Review Committee is recommending the following organizations be funded with Round 2 funds from the State DOA and Round 3 funds from HUD: Page 1 2 Agency Program Description ROUND 2 Recommendation STATE DOA funds ROUND 3 Recommendation HUD funds Day by Day Warming Shelter Shelter operational expenses, motel vouchers 55,800 Oshkosh Saturday Farmers Market Inc Security staff to monitor capacity of indoor market 4,821 Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Internet access for virtual meetings; expand WIFI for clients working/schooling in shelter; financial gap assistance for clients 23,374 Water City Care Mission Inc St. Anne's Clinic for homeless and clients in need of medical services 30,000 Winnebago Area Literacy Council Virtual literacy programs 38,062 Advocap Inc Rental assistance 96,334.89 Advocap Inc Homeowner mortgage assistance 22 Advocap Inc Utility assistance for renters and homeowners 33,135 11,385 Oshkosh Housing Authority Install air purifiers in elevators at elderly housing apartment complexes 10,000 Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) Emergency micro business loans 150,000 City of Oshkosh Grant administration 25,000 25000 Total Funding Rounds 2 & 3 210,269.89 292,664 Page 2 3 Next Step The City is accepting public comments on amending the 2020 CDBG Action Plan to include Round 3 CDBG-CV funds from HUD, as well as obtain citizen input on awards utilizing the State DOA funds (Round 2) until April 16, 2021. A summary of all comments received by the City will be included with the 2020 Action Plan amendment and will be provided to the Department of Administration as well, as part of the agreement to be entered into in this regard. Comments can be mailed to Darlene Brandt, Oshkosh City Hall, 215 Church Avenue, Room 201, Oshkosh, WI 54901 or email dbrandt@ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Questions can be directed to Ms. Brandt at 920.236.5029. Prior to Council consideration, these plans are reviewed by the Plan Commission for consistency with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, as amended, official maps, and other planned activities of the City and that projects/activities proposed prevent, prepare for or respond to the COVID pandemic. In this regard, staff has reviewed the proposed projects and activities to be carried out with Round 2 funds from the State DOA and Round 3 CDBG-CV funds, and none have been identified as being contrary to the Comprehensive Plan, official maps, or other planned activities of the City and applicable Federal regulations, and the proposed projects/activities prevent, prepare for or respond to the COVID pandemic. RECOMMENDATIONS/CONDITIONS Staff recommends approval of amending the 2020 Annual Action Plan to allocate $292,664 in Round 3 CDBG-CV funds from HUD, as noted above, together with a finding that listed projects/activities are not in conflict with the City of Oshkosh Comprehensive Plan, official maps or other planned activities of the City and the proposed projects/activities prevent, prepare for or respond to the COVID pandemic. Staff also asks that the Plan Commission recommend Council accept and award $210,269.89 in CARES Act funds from the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) to be awarded to three agencies to prevent, prepare for or respond to the COVID pandemic, as well as administrative funds to administer the DOA grant, as noted above. Page 3