101-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\cLmiami-beach,f1.us
L.T.C. No. 101-1999
LETTER TO COMMISSION
May 4, 1999
TO:
FROM:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Co mission
Sergio Rodriguez /L
City Manager ~
SUBJECT:
Planning Phase for the Development of the Annual Action Plan
for FY 1999/00 for Federal Funds (CDBG, ESG and HOME)
On December 18, 1999, the City was notified by the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development that the City would receive $2,773,000 in Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Funds, $98,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Funds and $1,471,000 in HOME
Investment Partnerships Program(HOME) for fiscal year 1999/00 which commences October 1,
1999.
On February 3, 1999, the Department of Community /Economic Development issued a Request for
Proposals (RFP) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the
Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) program. The deadline for the submission of proposals was March
5,1999. The Department of Community /Economic Development received 65 proposals from thirty-
three outside community agencies and eight City Departments for the use of these funds (several
entities submitted more than one proposal). This represents the largest number of proposals received
to date, representing an increase of 15 proposals received last year.
The total dollar amount received in funding requests for FY 1999/00 totals over $13 million dollars
compared to last year's total funding request of $8.5 million. The $13 million funding requests
represents over six times the actual dollar amount available for CDBG funds. Part of the increase
in both the number of proposals and dollar amounts received may be due in part to a larger number
of City departments submitting individual proposals for various eligible CDBG activities. This year,
there were a total of 13 proposals submitted for consideration from the various city departments
compared to only five proposals submitted last year. Incidentally, current CDBG funds are being
used by four city departments for eligible CDBG activities. They are the Parks Department, Public
Works, Fire Department, and the Housing Division of the Community/ Economic Development
Department.
In the COBG category of Public Services where there is a 15% cap of funds that can be allocated,
the total dollar of funding requests received was $1,541,314, compared to the actual dollar amount
of$582,291 available for Public Services. Subsequently, there is a total dollar amount of over $11.5
million requested for other eligible CDBG activities outside the public services cap, with only
$1,913,403 actually available for activities such as public facilities improvements, rehabilitation,
housing and economic development activities.
In accordance with federal regulations, the City held a public meeting, which was co-hosted by the
Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC), on March 23, 1999 to provide the citizens
of the community an opportunity for input on identifying the needs and priority areas of housing and
community development for the City of Miami Beach. Over 31 people attended and spoke on issues
ranging from the need for increased child care services, expanded evening and afterschool activities
for youths, more affordable housing, increased social services, street improvements and increased
tree canopies for area neighborhoods.
On April 12, 1999, the CDAC began the first of six evening meetings to hear all the proposals that
were received in response to the CDBG/ESG RFP. The CDAC met twice a week for three weeks
and concluded its sessions for proposal presentations and reviews on April 27, 1999. The CDAC
will now begin their deliberations on voting and funding for the 65 proposals that were presented.
This phase of the planning process will begin Monday, May 3rd and will continue through Tuesday,
May 4th and Monday, May 10th. During this time, the Administration will present to CDAC a list
of agencies and projects recommended for funding and the corresponding dollar allocations, thus
allowing CDAC the opportunity to review the proposed Administration recommendations for
funding. The Administration's recommendations will be forwarded to the City Commission under
separate cover. In the past, CDAC has closely mirrored the Administration's recommendations,
enabling the Administration to present a mutually acceptable joint recommendation to the City
Commission for the development of the annual Action Plan which will be presented to the City
Commission in July.
As stated in the City's Citizen Participation Plan, during the final stages of the annual planning
process for the allocation of federal funds, the CDAC will invite the Mayor and City Commissioners
to attend the final meeting with the City Manager so that the City Commissioners may be apprised
of the CDAC's reasons for their recommendations. This meeting has been scheduled for May 18,
1999, in the first floor conference room of City Hall at 6:00 p.m.
SRlc~~IIf
c: Sergio Rodriguez, City Manager
Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Randolph Marks, Assistant Director - C/ED
Joanna Revelo, Community Development Division Director
Betty Gutierrez, CDAC Chair
CDAC Members
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