OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

904-630-1377

Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services Committee

Special Meeting Minutes

January 17, 2017

Location: City Council Chamber, 1^st floor, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street

In attendance: Council Members Scott Wilson (Chair), Doyle Carter, Garrett Dennis, Bill Gulliford, Joyce Morgan. Council Member Reggie Brown was excused.

Also: Kyle Billy – Council Auditor’s Office; Peggy Sidman – Office of General Counsel; Jeff Clements and John J. Jackson – Council Research Division; Juliette Williams – Legislative Services Division; Jordan Elsbury – Mayor’s Office

Meeting Convened: 9:42 a.m.

The topic for the Special Meeting was Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for FY 2015-2016. Diana Seydlorsky, Chief, Housing & Community Development Division, Neighborhoods Department was making the presentation.

The federal government requires the City to provide an annual report on how federal funds awarded the City in grants for housing and other initiatives are spent. The City must report on its accomplishments for four formula grant programs. The programs are: CDBG (Community Development Block Grant), HOME (HOME Investment Partnerships), HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with Aids), and ESG (Emergency Solution Grant).

The four programs committed $10,573,017 in 2015-2016 HUND funds to program recipients.

For 2015, CDBG funds expenditures were allocated for Public Facilities and Improvements (46%), housing (22%), general administration and planning (15%), public services (12%), acquisition (4%), and economic development (1%).

CDBG Program Year 2015 Funds programs targeted assisting low and moderate income persons and households (95%), expenditures that benefitted low/moderate income areas (37%) and assistance in eliminating blight (4.93%).

In her PowerPoint, Ms. Seydlorsky described photographs that depicted projects in before and after stages. The projects were in various Council Districts. The projects included: a deteriorating house that was demolished in the Clearance and Demolition Program; construction of a n Administrative Outpatient Building for Gateways Community Services on Stockton Street; rehabilitating a clinical services building for Children’s Home Society of Florida, Inc. on San Diego Road; working in conjunction with the Public Works Department to provide ADA curb improvements for persons living in zip codes 32202 & 32204 (CBDG funds); using CBDG funds to provide a new roof, new kitchen and bathroom and new sliding door for a house on Devron Drive in Council District 10; CDGB/SHIP housing repair work on Belair Road in Council District 4; CDBG/SHIP housing repair and rehabilitation work in Council Districts 9,12, & 14; HOME funded work for Metro Place and Operation New Hope on 8^th Street.

Ms. Seydlorsky reported that the Housing program has provided 239 homebuyers with direct homeownership assistance in the amount of $2,868,208.

HOPWA grant assisted approximately 2,305 HIV/AIDS infected persons residing in the Jacksonville Metro area through case management, rent/mortgage and utility assistance and supportive services/counseling.

2,206 persons received financial assistance for rent/mortgage and utility assistance through HOPWA partners Sulzbacher Center, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and The Arc Jacksonville

Ms. Seydlorsky announced that she would be calling on every Council Member to ascertain their wish lists for projects in their respective districts. She indicated that she could not make any promises but wanted to hear about the needs and priorities of neighborhoods across the City.

In an answer to a question raised by Council Member Bill Gulliford, Dayatra Coles explained that elderly homeowners are in particular need with housing rehabilitation work.

At the request of the Chair, Ms. Seydlorsky explained the universal application process that every applicant for assistance is required to complete.

There being no further business, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 10:16 a.m.

John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729

01.20.17

Posted: 10:00 a.m.