2024-016 Grant Program - CSAC Recommendations - Final to Submit May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Funding recommendations from the Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) for the
proposed activities to be included in the 2024 Action Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Community Services is currently preparing the 2024 Action Plan that provides recommendations
for the use of federal community development funding in the City of Denton. The draft 2024
Action Plan for the Program Year from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, represents
the second year in the City's 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community_
Development (linked).
Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) recommendations for the allocation of
$1,747,703.16 of local and federal funding are included in the 2024 Action Plan, which will be
posted for public comment May 20 through June 21. A public hearing for the plan will be held
June 18, 2024, during the regular City Council meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Community Development Funding Overview
As a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment
Partnership (HOME)program funds, the City of Denton is required to submit a three or five-year
Consolidated Plan (Con Plan) for Housing and Community Development and a corresponding
annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These
federal funds are received annually to support the Con Plan and the activities outlined in the City's
annual Action Plan. In 2023, the City submitted a five-year Con Plan for the following program
years.
• 2023-24 Action Plan-Year 1/Current Year
• 2024-25 Action Plan—Year 2/Recommendations
• 2025-26 Action Plan-Year 3
• 2026-27 Action Plan—Year 4
• 2027-28 Action Plan—Year 5
The annual Action Plan is developed based on strategies outlined in the Con Plan and provides a
description of how funds are allocated each Program Year. The annual Action Plan is reviewed
and approved by City Council for submission to HUD.
The Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) advises the City Council on programs,
services, and use of public resources to address complex social problems such as economic
instability, housing, homelessness, and meeting community service needs. The CSAC reviews
applications for the Community Development Grant Program annually and makes funding
recommendations to City Council which includes distribution of local (General Fund) and federal
(CDBG and HOME) sources of funding.
May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
CDBG/HOME Eligible Activities
Eligible activities include housing development, rehabilitation and preservation; improving
community facilities and neighborhood infrastructure; public (human) services; economic
development; planning; and program administration.
CDBG HOME
■ Acquisition ■ Affordable Rental Housing
■ Public Facilities and Improvements ■ Homeownership Assistance
■ Demolition and Clearance ■ Tenant Based Rental Assistance
■ Social Services (15% cap) ■ Land Acquisition
■ Housing Programs ■ New Housing Construction
■ Economic Development
■ Historic Preservation
■ Code Enforcement
■ Removal of Architectural Barriers
Citizen Participation
To gain public input to draft the 2024 Action Plan, staff held a public hearing on November 2 at
the MLK Jr. Recreation Center and used an online survey requesting citizen input regarding the
use of CDBG and HOME funds. A summary of online surveys is included in Exhibit 1. A final
Public Hearing will be held June 18, 2024, for feedback on the draft 2024 Action Plan. Public
hearings and survey outreach methods included the following:
1. Information was sent out through Constant Contact to interested citizens, previous clients,
committee members, local churches, participating lenders and realtors, neighborhood
associations and social services agencies;
2. Newspaper advertisements were posted in the Denton Record Chronicle;
3. Information was sent to City Council members and City employees through the Friday
Report;
4. Flyers were posted in City buildings; and
5. Information was posted on social media.
Available Funding
The City of Denton's 2024 Action Plan reflects local (General Fund), and federal (CDBG and
HOME) funding. The City's general fund allocation for the Community Development Grant
Program is included in the Action Plan to reflect the City's investment leveraged with federal
funds. However, the General Fund recommendations will be considered for approval by City
Council during the normal budgeting cycle for FY2024-25.
The total grant funding proposed for the PY2024-25 program year is $1,747,703.16:
May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
Funding Summary by Funding Source
FUNDING .
FUNDING1URCE AMOUNT ASIDESALLOCATION
Community Development Block Grant $1,015,047
Community Development Block Grant-Program $4,000.00
Income'
Community Development Block Grant— $203,009
Administration
Community Development Reallocated Funds' $0
IC M 816,038.00
HOME Investment Partnership Grant $471,992
HOME Investment Partnership Grant-Program $125,27.33
Income
HOME Investment Partnership Grant—
Administration 2 $47,199
HOME Reallocated Funds' $3589.83
General Funds $3,492,419.00
General Funds—Administration $2,066,014.00
General Funds—Homeless Initiatives $703,450.00
General Funds—Rental Repair Program $100,000.00
General Funds—Mentor Denton $20,000.00
General Funds—Development Fee Grant $225,000.00
• 11
'Based on HUD's recommendation the actual 2023-24 HOME Program Income will be allocated in the 2024 Action Plan.
21 UD allows a maximum percentage of the grant for administration(CDBG 20%/HOME 10%).Set-aside is based on costs for 2 FTE.
3The reallocated funds are residual balances from completed projects.
2024-25 Grant Application Process & Applications Received
To help determine funding allocations reported in the annual Action Plan, the CSAC conducted a
formal application process and developed funding recommendations to present to City Council.
The following is a summary of the 2024-25 application process and committee timeline this year
to date:
■ December 15, 2023: Combined Funding Applications were released;
■ December 18, 2023: Staff held a mandatory virtual application training,with the option to
request a recording or a one on one training with staff,
■ January 16, 2024: Applications were due;
■ February/March 2024: CSAC reviewed applications submitted by various organizations
and City departments.
May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
• March 8, 2024 and March 30, 2024: Requests for funding were presented to the CSAC in
March 2024. The CSAC meeting minutes are available on the City's website (linked)
• April 12, 2024: Th CSAC developed a set of funding recommendations to present to City
Council that were approved;
• May 2024: The Draft 2024 Action Plan was prepared based on the CSAC funding
recommendations for the CDBG and HOME funds.
Twenty-eight (28) eligible applications were received, totaling $2,707,024, and an overview of
applications received is included below.
Summag of Applications Received for the 2024-25 Communkr Development Grant Program
Application Ty1 ' #Applications T1 1 1Funding
Received Requested - Available
Human Services 22 $1,523,560 $522,634
Housing Projects 4 $898,464
Public Facilities 2 $285,000 $1,225,069.16
Total 28 $2,707,024 $1,747,703.16
City Staff screened out four(4) applications that did not meet the minimum requirements for
these grant programs and one (1) application was withdrawn leaving the total funding requests in
the amount of$2,057,024.00. Additional information on non-eligible and withdrawn
applications were provided to the CSAC committee at the February 9, 2024 meeting.
A table outlining eligible applications received is included on the next page.
May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
Eligible Applications Received or the 2024-25 Com unity Develo ment Grant Program
Applicant Organization Application 2024-25 Request
Type
Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas,Inc. Human Services $100,000.00
City of Denton- Summer Camp Human Services $72,000.00
Communities in School of North Texas Human Services $36,000.00
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County, Human Services $42,000.00
Inc.
Cumberland Youth and Family Services Human Services $100,000.00
Denton Christian Preschool,Inc. Human Services $30,000.00
Denton City County Day School Human Services $66,560.00
Denton County Friends of the Family Human Services $50,000.00
Denton County MHMR Center Human Services $30,000.00
Grace Like Rain Inc. dba Giving Grace Human Services $100,000.00
Health Services of North Texas Human Services $75,000.00
North Texas Solutions for Recovery Human Services $100,000.00
Opening Doors International Services,Inc. Human Services $30,000.00
Our Daily Bread,Inc. Human Services $100,000.00
PediPlace Human Services $50,000.00
SPAN Human Services $27,000.00
Tarrant Area Food Bank Human Services $100,000.00
The Salvation Army,A Georgia Corp-Denton Human Services $65,000.00
City of Denton-Minor Repair Program Housing Project $300,000.00
Denton Affordable Housing Corporation(DAHC) Housing Project $244,400.00
Habitat for Humanity of Denton County,Inc. Housing Project $54,064.00
Denia and Carl Young Park Upgrades Public Facilities $250,000.00
Interfaith Ministries of Denton Public Facilities $35,000.00
TOTAL REQUESTED $2,057,024.00
Committee Recommendations
On April 12, 2024, the CSAC finalized recommendations to City Council for the 2024 Action
Plan. All projects and programs to be approved by HUD under the 2024 Action Plan are funded
through CDBG, HOME, and program income from the use of these funds. In addition to federal
funds,the City Council allocates General Fund dollars each year to provide grants for social service
agencies.
The CSAC reviewed funding requests and developed recommendations during their April 12
meeting for the use of CDBG, HOME and City General Fund dollars. The detailed list of funding
recommendations including project descriptions, is included in Exhibit 2. Below is a summary of
total funding requests and recommendations by funding source. The amount requested and eligible
for HOME funds exceeds the amount available, so $309,310.16 is available as unprogrammed
funds. The unprogrammed funds will be allocated through a substantial amendment process
required by HUD by the end of the year.
May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
2024-25 Community Develo ment Grant Program Funding Recommendations
I Recommendations by Source
General CDBG HOME
Fund
TOTAL $2,057,024.00 $1,438,393.00 $377,955.00 $816,038.00 $244,400.00
CDBG FUNDS $816,038.00 $816,038.00 $816,038.00
HOME FUNDS $553,710.16 $553,710.16 $553,710.16
GENERAL FUNDS $377,955.00 $377,955.00 $377,955.00
TOTAL FUNDS $1,747,703.16 r $1,747,703.16 $377,955.00 $816,038.00 $553,710.16
UNPROGRAMMED $309,310.16 $309,310.16 $0.00 $0.00 $309,310.16
FUNDS
CONCLUSION:
The public comment period for the 2024 Action Plan will begin May 20, and end June 21, 2024.
A public hearing for the plan will be held June 18, 2024, during the regular City Council meeting.
Additional updates and actions will occur according to the below timeline.
2024-2025 Action Plan Timeline
PROPOSEDACTIVITY DATE
Notice of Public Comment Period May 19, 2024
(Denton Record Chronical/Social Media/Email)
30-day Comment Period on Action Plan May 20, 2024 through June 21, 2024
Public Hearing at City Council June 18, 2024
City Council considers approval of 2024-25 Action Plan July 23, 2024
Submission of Action Plan to HUD August 15, 2024
City Council considers approval of 2024-25 Budget September 24, 2024
Start of 2024-25 Grant Contracts October 1, 2024
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: 2024-25 Funding Priority Survey Results
Exhibit 2: CSAC 2024-25 Community Development Grant Program Funding Recommendations
and Project Descriptions
STAFF CONTACT:
Alaina Graff, Grants Program Coordinator
Luisa Garcia, Community Development Manager
REQUESTOR: Staff Initiated
May 17,2024 Report No. 2024-016
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS: Community Services
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 8 hours