TITLE
Recommendation to approve Community Development Advisory Commission funding recommendations for the Neighborhood Partners Program Fiscal Year 2011 to support ten neighborhood beautification and improvement projects in the amount of $43,144.
(Districts 1,2,4,6,8)
DISCUSSION
The Neighborhood Partners Program (NPP) is offered by the Department of Development Services to assist neighborhood and community groups with neighborhood beautification and improvement projects. Eligible groups must be established organizations that meet regularly, have designated officers or representatives, have identified boundaries, and have a history of neighborhood involvement. The NPP provides matching grants of up to $5,000 in goods and services to accomplish approved neighborhood improvement projects within Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) eligible neighborhoods and the North Long Beach Redevelopment Project Area (NLBPAC). The match provided by the applicant must be equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost and may be supplied in the form of cash, goods and services, and volunteer work hours. Volunteer work hours may not be the sole match.
Notices of funding availability were sent to over 145 community groups and neighborhood associations within CDBG and NLBPAC eligible neighborhoods on January 21, 2011. Fifteen proposals were received in the competition for funds. One proposal was not in a CDBG eligible area and was referred to the NLBPAC for its review; two of the proposals were rescinded by the applicants; one proposal was incomplete; and another proposal could not be funded under CDBG funding guidelines.
A committee (Committee) of the Community Development Advisory Commission (CDAC) reviewed the remaining ten proposals. The Committee reviewed and ranked each application based upon pre-established criteria that emphasized beautification or bricks and mortar neighborhood improvement projects. The Committee recommended funding for all ten proposals totaling $43,144. The proposal referred to the NLBPAC was subsequently approved by the Redevelopment Agency Board on May 2, 2011.
At the April 20, 2011 CDAC meeting, the Committee's recommendation was unanimously approved (Attachment).
This item was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard Anthony and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on April 28, 2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Sufficient funds to support the Neighborhood Partners Program have been budgeted in the FY 11 Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Department of Development Services (DV). This action will not have an impact on local jobs.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER