* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] SORRY, I WILL NOW CALL THIS COMMUNITY [ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ] DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER TODAY BEING MARCH THE THIRD, 2026, THE TIME BEING 5:31 PM UM, THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CITIZENS COMICS. SINCE THERE BEING NO ONE DESIRING TO SPEAK, THIS CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. I WILL NOW [2. MINUTES] MOVE ON TO THE SECOND, UM, ITEM ON THE AGENDA MINUTES. CONSIDER APPROVING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 9TH, 2025. DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. MOTION BY MS. UM LOPEZ. SECOND BY, UM, MS. MESSA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. I WILL [a. The Community Development Division will hold a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Request for Proposal (RFP) Technical Assistance Workshop.] NOW MOVE ON TO, UM, ITEM THREE, A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WILL HOLD A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL OR RFP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP. MS. MS. SHARON, GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR COMING. MEL EXCUSE, WE'VE DONE THIS A FEW TIMES. UM, MY NAME'S SHARON ROSE, I'M THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR AND TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA GO OVER WHAT CDBG IS AND HOW TO ACTUALLY SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT. SO THIS IS OUR AGENDA HERE AND OUR INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF. OUR DIRECTOR MR. SCRIBNER, IS NOT AVAILABLE THIS EVENING, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CALVIN ABRAM, MYSELF, SHARON ROSE, UH, MONICA FA IS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GENERALIST. AND STEPHANIE WHO'S IN THE BOOTH, OH SHE'S OVER THERE. SHE IS OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST. SO WE HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GONNA GET. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED OUR ALLOCATION YET. IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE'D RECEIVE IT IN MAY IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE ALWAYS. SO WE WON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT IS THAT WE'RE GETTING IN FUNDING OR IF WE'RE GONNA GET FUNDING. SO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO WAIT 'CAUSE WE DO RECEIVE OUR FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THINGS CHANGE SOMETIMES. THIS IS A LITTLE CHART SHOWING YOU WHAT OUR ALLOCATION HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. UM, IT'S FLUCTUATED. I HAVE ONE THAT SHOWS YOU OVER 10 YEARS. YOU'LL SEE IT GO DOWN AND THEN GO UP AND THEN GO DOWN AND THEN GO UP. RIGHT NOW WE DID GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT BY ABOUT $41,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. UM, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, WE STAY LEVEL, BUT THERE'S REALLY NO TELLING 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES US WITH OUR FUNDING. SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE THE AVERAGE OF THOSE FIVE YEARS, THE AVERAGE AMOUNT WOULD BE AN ESTIMATE OF $737,000 THAT WE COULD RECEIVE IN CDBG FUNDING. 20% OF THAT IS USED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. AND THEN THERE IS A 15% CAP ON PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES AND THAT WOULD BE THE ACTIVITIES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND THINGS AND HOUSEHOLDS. AND THAT 15% CAMP, IF WE WERE TO GET THE 737,000 WOULD BE ABOUT $110,000. AND THEN $479,000 WOULD BE FOR ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BE FOR HOUSING, FOR UM, SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES, PARKS IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE MAIN PURPOSE OF CDBG IS TO PRIMARILY HELP LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND AREAS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE DO THAT BY TARGETING THREE DIFFERENT NATIONAL OBJECTIVES. EVERY PROJECT THAT WE FUND HAS TO MEET A NATIONAL OBJECTIVE. SO THE NATIONAL OBJECTIVE, IT IS EITHER A BENEFIT TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PERSONS OR AREAS ELIMINATING SLUM OR BLIGHT, WHICH IS WHEN YOU KNOW WE DEMOLISH SUBSTANDARD VACANT BUILDINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION, THINGS LIKE THAT, OR MEETING A PARTICULAR NEED, LIKE A URGENT NEED. AND TONIGHT WE'RE BASICALLY GOING TO MAINLY FOCUS ON THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PERSON'S NATIONAL OBJECTIVE BECAUSE THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT OUR FUNDING GOES TO. PREVENTION OF ELIMINATION, UM, OF SLUM AND BLIGHT. WE DO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THAT. WE HAVE IN THE PAST, UM, IN THIS CURRENT YEAR WE DIDN'T AND I'M, IT WAS PRIMARILY US BECAUSE WE HAD A SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES ABATEMENT PROGRAM, BUT WE NO LONGER HAVE THE STAFF FOR THAT. SO WE HAD TO TAKE THAT PROGRAM OUT. THE CITY STILL DOES CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AND THEY STILL DO DEMOLITIONS OF SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES, BUT WE DON'T USE ANY CDBG FUNDS TO PAY ANYBODY'S SALARY FOR THAT. SO LMI IS THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME NATIONAL OBJECTIVE. AND THAT IS USUALLY WHAT THE BULK OF OUR FUNDING GOES TO BECAUSE OUT OF ALL OF THE MONEY WE GET, 70% OF THAT HAS TO GO TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREAS OR HOUSEHOLDS OR PEOPLE. SO THAT COVERS OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES, OUR HOUSING ACTIVITIES, ANY NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION PARKS, PROJECTS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ALL FALLS UNDER LMI. UH, LOW MOD AREA BENEFIT WOULD BE, LET'S SAY A PARKS IMPROVEMENT. I KNOW IN THE PAST WE PROVIDED FUNDING TO BAY AREA [00:05:01] REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THEM TO UPGRADE, UM, A PLAYGROUND FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. SO THAT RIGHT THERE IT BENEFITS AN AREA. WHENEVER WE DO AN AREA BENEFIT, 51% OR MORE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN THAT AREA HAVE TO BE LOW INCOME. AND WE USE CENSUS DATA AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR US TO DETERMINE THAT THAT'S THE FACT. AND THEN LOW MOD LIMITED CLIENTELE, THAT'S PRIMARILY OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES. THAT'S OUR TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, THAT'S OUR UH, PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK USE FOOD BANK, PROVIDING BENEFITS TO THEM, THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT ALSO HAS TO BE AT LEAST 51% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE HAVE TO BE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME. SO YOU COULD SERVICE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LOW INCOME BUT ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT. AND PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES CAN BE ANYTHING LIKE CHILDCARE SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SENIOR SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, THINGS LIKE THAT. NOW ONE THING WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITY IS IT DOES HAVE TO EITHER BE A NEW SERVICE OR A QUANTIFIABLE INCREASE IN THAT SERVICE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT USED TO PRIMARILY ONLY SERVE HIGH SCHOOLS CHILDREN AT RISK YOUTH. WELL NOW THEY'VE EXPANDED THEIR PROGRAM TO ALSO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO JUNIOR HIGH KIDS. SO THAT WAS A QUANTIFIABLE INCREASE IN SERVICE. SO THAT'S WHY THEY WERE ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CDBG FUNDS, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS, THAT'S WATER AND SEWER LINE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD FACILITIES, LIBRARIES, PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE USUALLY UM, SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. UM, THERE'S DAVIS BACON ACT SECTION THREE. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THING ENVI, EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WITH CDBG. WE HAVE TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ON EVERYTHING. I'M GONNA SAY A BULK OF OUR PROJECTS EX OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES ARE EXEMPT. TYPICALLY IT'S OUR HOUSING PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE IT'S A MORE INVOLVED, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IN ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES WOULD BE UM, WE CANNOT REHAB CITY HALL WITH CDBG DOLLARS. WE CAN'T USE IT FOR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSES. WE CANNOT FUND ANY POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NEW CONSTRUCTION IS NOT ALLOWED UNLESS YOU'RE A COMMUNITY BASED DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING. INCOME PAYMENTS. WHILE WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUBSISTENCE PAYMENTS, WE CANNOT DIRECTLY BENEFIT ANY FAMILIES. WE NEVER HAND ANY MONEY TO ANYONE. TYPICALLY WITH CDBG, YOU SPEND THE MONEY, YOU PROVIDE US WITH THE RECEIPTS, WE PAY YOU BACK. EVERYTHING IS DONE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS WITH CDBG, I'M SORRY. AND THIS YEAR, UM, AFTER THIS WE CAN ALWAYS EMAIL YOU THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE THERE ARE WEBSITES HERE ON HOW TO DETERMINE INCOME ELIGIBILITY. HOW TO BASICALLY REVIEW ALL OF THE RULES THAT HAVE TO GO WITH CDBG IF YOU DO RECEIVE FUNDING, HOW TO ADEQUATELY SPEND YOUR MONEY SO THAT YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF HUD'S REGULATIONS. AND THERE'S EVEN A VIDEO THAT I FOUND ON YOUTUBE WHERE IT'S CDBG IN A NUTSHELL. SO THAT'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION. A BIG THING WITH CDBG IS RECORD KEEPING. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN YOUR RECORDS ONCE THE PROGRAM YEAR ENDS FOR FIVE YEARS. SO ALMOST SIX YEARS. BUT ONCE THE PROGRAM YEAR ENDS, SO IT'S FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 30TH. BUT WE'VE SUBMIT OUR ANNUAL REPORT AT THE END OF DECEMBER. SO AFTER WE SUBMIT THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT REPORTS ON ANY PROJECTS THAT YOU RECEIVE FUNDING FOR, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR RECORDS FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL YEARS. AT ANY TIME HUD CAN DECIDE TO COME OUT HERE AND REQUEST TO LOOK AT YOUR RECORDS BECAUSE THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOW IT IS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR MONEY. SO THEY CAN COME AND REQUEST THAT. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THOSE RECORDS, I'VE NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. IT WILL NOT BE GOOD THOUGH. SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU MAINTAIN YOUR RECORDS. I'M GONNA SAY SIX YEARS JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. AND THOSE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS. THE APPLICATION THAT YOU SUBMIT TO US, PRINT IT OUT, PUT IT IN A FILE. ANY PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE, ANY OF THE FILES THAT YOU CREATE FROM THEM, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE MAINTAINED. REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS, INVOICES, BIDS, IF YOU'RE DOING PROCUREMENT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN ALL OF THAT. AND NOW THE FUN PART IS HOW TO ACTUALLY APPLY. EVERYTHING IS DONE ONLINE THROUGH OUR CITIZEN SELF-SERVICE PORTAL. SO TO ACCESS THE CITIZEN SELF-SERVICE PORTAL, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO ON THE CITY OF BATESON'S WEBSITE AND GO TO ONLINE SERVICES AND IT'LL TAKE YOU TO CITIZEN SELF-SERVICE PORTAL. ONCE YOU GET THERE, THERE'S ACTUALLY IN THE TOP CORNER, YOU EITHER LOG IN IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING ACCOUNT OR YOU REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT. IF YOU HAVE TO REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT, YOU'LL HAVE TO ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, THEN YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM WITHIN THAT EMAIL. YOU CLICK ON CONFIRM AND IT TAKES YOU TO THE NEXT PAGE, WHICH IS WHERE YOU ENTER ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION, NAME, BUSINESS NAME, THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU CREATE A STRONG PASSWORD AND YOU SUBMIT EVERYTHING AND THEN YOUR REGISTRATION HAS BEEN APPROVED AND YOU CAN PROCEED WITH APPLYING. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING. [00:10:01] SO IN OUR SEARCH BAR, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR GRANT, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR RFP, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR C-D-B-D-C-D-B-G AND A DROPDOWN WILL COME UP. AND YOU'LL SEE RIGHT HERE, CAMINO DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT. YOU'LL SELECT APPLY. AND THE FIRST THING YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IS ENTER AN ADDRESS. SO YOU ENTER YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL JUST HIT THE LITTLE PLUS BOX RIGHT THERE. YOU'LL ENTER YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'LL CHECK IT THERE AND YOU'LL SELECT APPLY. AND THEN YOUR ADDRESS WILL BE ENTERED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU ENTERED WHENEVER YOU REGISTERED WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PO POPULATED UNDER THE CONTACT SECTION. IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE TOUCHING THAT APPLICATION, THAT WILL BE LOGGING IN TO REVIEW IT TO SEE WHAT THE STATUS OF IT IS. YOU WANNA ADD THEM AS CONTACTS. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE AN ACCOUNT CURRENTLY. YOU CAN ADD THEM, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND CREATE AN ACCOUNT AND THEN IT'LL LINK IT ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT WE DO IN THE CITIZEN SELF-SERVICE PORTAL, IF WE SEND AN EMAIL AND BOTH OF YOU ARE ON THE APPLICATION, BOTH OF YOU WILL RECEIVE THAT EMAIL AS LONG AS YOU'RE REGISTERED. IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET AN EMAIL. SO ONCE YOU GET ON OUR MORE INFORMATION PAGE AT THE TOP, WE HAVE A LINK FOR THE RFP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS. THE ACTUAL RFP APPLICATION, IT IS A LONG ANSWER APPLICATION, SO IT WOULD NOT WORK FOR US DOING IT WITHIN THE SYSTEM. SO IT IS AN ATTACHMENT. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHEET THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL. SO THE INSTRUCTIONS WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, WHAT NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION. AND OF COURSE THE RFP IS WHERE IT IS THAT YOU'RE APPLYING AND YOU'RE TELLING US EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO HELP, HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO AS YOU GO DOWN THROUGH THE APPLICATION, THESE ARE REQUIRED FIELDS BECAUSE IT IS INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO KNOW. SO DOES ANYBODY ELSE CARRY OUT THAT APP, UH, THAT PROJECT? BECAUSE IF BOTH OF YOU ARE DOING THE SAME PROJECT, WHAT IS YOURS GONNA DO THAT HERS ISN'T DOING? BECAUSE WE TYPICALLY DON'T FUND THE SAME PROJECT TWICE. SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAND OUT. UM, YOU, YOU WANT TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL. AND ONCE YOU PROCEED TO THE NEXT PAGE, THIS IS WHERE ALL OF THE ATTACHMENTS COME IN. SO THE BUDGET WORKSHEET IS A REQUIRED ATTACHMENT. YOUR ORG CHART IS A REQUIRED ATTACHMENT. YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT OR AUDIT IS NOW A REQUIRED ATTACHMENT. WE ALSO HAVE THE RFP ITSELF. WITHOUT THE APPLICATION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE ASKING FUNDS FOR. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. AND IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION, YOU CAN GO TO THAT LAST BOX THERE AND THERE'S A DROPDOWN AND YOU CAN SELECT THEM. IF YOU'RE DOING ANY KIND OF PROCUREMENT, ANY KIND OF CONSTRUCTION, YOU WOULD SUBMIT YOUR BID DOCUMENTS, ANY QUOTES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, ALL OF THAT WOULD GO IN THERE. YOU CANNOT GO PAST THIS PAGE. IF THOSE TOP FOUR BOXES DO NOT HAVE AN ATTACHMENT IN THEM, IT WILL STOP YOU. SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ATTACH ANYTHING THAT'S RELEVANT TO YOUR PROJECT BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE REVIEWING EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION. AND THE MORE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE, THE BETTER THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD RECEIVE FUNDING. ONCE YOU'VE UPLOADED ALL OF YOUR ATTACHMENTS, YOU SIGN YOUR APPLICATION AND YOU SELECT NEXT. AND THIS HERE IS BASICALLY A SUMMARY OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU ENTERED INTO YOUR APPLICATION. ONCE YOU SELECT SUBMIT IT IS SENT INTO THE EITHER AND THEN WE RECEIVE IT. ONCE WE GET IT. I ALWAYS LIKE TO REVIEW THE ATTACHMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED. ONCE THE CUTOFF DATE IS REACHED, THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE YOU ATTACH ANYTHING, ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IF I REVIEW IT AND I SEE THAT YOU'RE MISSING ANYTHING, I WILL CALL YOU AND I'LL SAY, HEY, I DIDN'T GET A FINANCIAL STATEMENT. YOU SUBMITTED THIS INSTEAD. OR I, I CAN YOU SUBMIT THIS AS WELL BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA NEED THAT SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW YOUR PROJECT. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM PROVIDING THAT ASSISTANCE TO Y'ALL BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR APPLICATION BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE. SO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS HELP PEOPLE. SO LET'S HELP EACH OTHER, HELP THE PEOPLE. SO YOU'VE APPLIED YOUR, YOUR GOOD, YOU'RE READY TO GO, YOU WANNA GET SOME FUNDS, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? SO ONCE WE RECEIVE ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS, WE HAVE TO REVIEW THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES TO RECEIVE CDBG FUNDING. ONCE WE DO THAT, WE PROVIDE A BOOK TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY GET EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION IN THIS BOOK AND THEY GET TO REVIEW THEM. AFTER THAT. WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE'LL HAVE ONE ON MAY 5TH AND ONE ON MAY 12TH. AND THAT IS WHERE YOU GET TO COME HERE AND YOU ARE SELLING YOUR PROJECT. YOU GET TO STAND UP HERE AND YOU GET TO TELL THESE PEOPLE WHY IT IS THAT YOU THINK THAT THIS PROJECT IS NECESSARY. WHY DO YOU NEED THE FUNDING? WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO TO BETTER THE COMMUNITY? 'CAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GONNA DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU RECEIVE ANY FUNDING. WE HAVE NO SAY. ALL WE CAN DO IS GUIDE THEM AND TELL THEM IF THEY'RE, IF WHAT YOU'RE APPLYING FOR IS ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR CDBG AND WILL IT BE FEASIBLE. BUT WE AS STAFF, WE DO NOT DECIDE IT IS ACTUALLY THESE PEOPLE ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT DECIDE. [00:15:01] ONCE WE HAVE THAT SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, THEY WILL HAVE A BUDGET DELIBERATION AND WE PROVIDE A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION AND WE PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 30 DAYS. AFTER THAT, IT GOES TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. ONCE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THAT BUDGET, WE SUBMIT OUR OUR ACTION PLAN TO HUD AND THAT'LL BE IT. FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OCTOBER 1ST. NO FUNDS CAN BE EXPENDED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1ST. IF YOU REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR SOMETHING AND YOU PURCHASE IT ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REIMBURSE YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT YEAR. OUR PROGRAM YEAR BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1ST AND ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. SO ANY FUNDS EXPENDED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1ST WILL NOT BE REIMBURSABLE. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, OUR APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON MARCH 20TH AT 11:59 PM AND THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON MAY 5TH AND 12TH. AFTER THAT, WE WILL DO OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS THE NEXT TWO TUESDAYS OR ONE, AND THEN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE FROM JUNE 5TH TO JULY 6TH. ONCE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES, WE TAKE IT TO CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 23RD, SUBMIT OUR ACTION PLANS AHEAD BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH, AND THEN WE JUST WAIT FOR HUD'S APPROVAL. ONCE EVERYTHING IS APPROVED BY HUD, WE ARE GOOD TO GO. AND YOU'RE GOOD TO SPEND THE FUNDS IF YOU RECEIVE FUNDING. SO WHAT MAKES A GOOD APPLICATION? SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CLEAR IN WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING. UM, SOMETIMES I'VE SEEN SOME APPLICATIONS THAT I'M NOT REALLY SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND IF I CAN'T SEE IT, THEY CAN'T SEE IT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE THE FINAL DECISION. YOU WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL ON HOW IT IS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR MONEY. YOU WANNA BE SPECIFIC ON YOUR BUDGET. DON'T JUST PUT ONE LINE ITEM THAT SAYS PUBLIC SERVICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YOU WANT TO, LIKE IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR MONEY FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, LINE IT OUT, OFFICE SUPPLIES, POSTAGE, THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THE BOARD MIGHT ACTUALLY LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND ONLY FUND YOU FOR A COUPLE OF ITEMS INSTEAD OF EVERYTHING. SO IF IT'S BROKEN DOWN, IT'S ITEMIZED, THEN THEY CAN ACTUALLY SAY YES TO THIS, NO TO THAT OR YES TO EVERYTHING OR NO TO EVERYTHING. IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO THEM. YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UM, ARE EXPERIENCED IN CARRYING OUT THIS PROJECT. IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS YOUR FIRST TIME DOING IT. YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE FUNDING TO SUSTAIN IT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT GET RE YOU DON'T GET THE MONEY UPFRONT. YOU GET REIMBURSED FOR IT. SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROJECT IS SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, CDBG CAN GO AWAY AT ANY TIME AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF THE PROJECT, IF THE MONEY GOES AWAY, THE PROJECT SHOULD STILL AT LEAST BE ABLE TO FUNCTION. AND THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE. DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OH NO. AND ONE THING I WILL, WILL SAY, UM, THE RFP, IT'S BEEN THE SAME FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT. SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE READING YOUR QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF COPYING AND PASTING FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR. 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN. SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE READING IT SO YOU'RE PROVIDING US WITH THE RIGHT RESPONSE INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T ACTUALLY ASKING FOR. YES MA'AM. JUST, UM MM-HMM . UM, QUANTIFIABLE INCREASE. YES, MA'AM. ALRIGHT, WELL BOBBY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. SINCE THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WILL NOW CONCLUDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP. I WILL NOW MOVE ON [a. Receive the Community Development Manager's Report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his transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.