HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8053 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8091
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vp��okry To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 11, 1997
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT YEAR XXIII
BUDGET PROCESS
BACKGROUND
On January 7, 1997, Mayor Kenneth Barr asked the Safety and Community Development
Committee (SCDC) and members of the Community Development Council (CDC) to
develop an appropriate policy recommendation which would address the issue of whether
the majority of CDBG funds should be used to fund start-up projects or be used to fund
on-going or long-term projects, and to look at the criteria for selection of CDBG projects
this year.
Increasingly aware that the needs of the community far outweigh the CDBG resources,
and with future funding reductions predicted along with a decreased federal role, a policy
is necessary that strongly encourages organizations that are funded year after year to look
to other sources for funding. The issues as discussed in several work sessions of the
SCDC relate to whether CDBG monies should: ( 1) continue to fund programs for an
indefinite period of time or be used to provide money to fund pilot projects; (2) whether
CDBG funds should be used for non-City of Fort Worth capital projects; and (3) the
SCDC was briefed on the evaluation criteria currently utilized by the staff and the CDC
in selecting the Requests for Proposals (RFP) being recommended for funding during the
CDBG process.
Staff briefed the SCDC on the following criteria used to recommend funding for both
new and currently funded agencies: management capacity, leverage of funds, needs
assessment and project description. Each of these factors were scaled for a possible
twenty-five (25) points in addition to the agency's oral presentations, agency site visits
and three (3) letters of recommendation. For currently funded agencies, on-going
monitoring of the agencies' performance is also taken into consideration as an evaluative
tool. After review, the SCDC felt comfortable with the current selection criteria as
described by staff.
OFFICIAL RECORD
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8053
,AT(Af0
`Q4coar, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 11, 1997
Page 2 of 2
Subject:
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Given these selection factors, limited funds, and an increased number of RFl?',s in the
public service category, the SCDC directed staff and the CDC to develop a budget which
gave level funding to child care agencies (Title IV Grant Funds would match City CDBG
funds 1:1) but, entails a ten to twenty (10-20) percent reduction for all other public
service agencies.
The policy that-is recommended by the Safety and Community Development Committee
to the City Council is to provide money to fund pilot programs and directs the staff and
the CDC to give notice to agencies that have been funded on a long-term basis to seek
alternative funds. It is also recommended that given limited resources, emphasis should
be placed on implementing programs and not on capital projects. In particular, any
capital expenditures should be on City of Fort Worth related projects (parks, lighting,
safety, etc.). No CDBG funds will be spent on nonprofit agency requests for capital.
projects. Finally, in an effort to maximize the City Council's priority on economic
development, the SCDC recommends that funds be dedicated to further retail corridor
redevelopment in areas such as Evans Avenue, Hemphill - Berry Street and Lancaster
Avenue.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
OFFICIAL RECORp
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS �---^-