Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Approving And Authorizing The Appropriate Officials To Submit A Pre-Application Grant Packet For Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus Funds From The Florida Department Of Economic Opportunity In The Amount Of $760,335.00.
Strategic Plan Focus
Quality of Life & Strong Neighborhoods
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of Attached Resolution.
Explanation:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act has appropriated $5,000,000,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funding nationwide to assist low-income families and most vulnerable citizens.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is a recipient of a portion of the CDBG-CV funding and has made available $51,050,910.00 in Round 2 Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV2) to entitlement communities for activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents that have been impacted by the COVID-19 health emergency.
As an entitlement community, the City is eligible to apply for up to $760,335.00 of CDBG-CV2 for up to five activities. If approved, funding from CDBG-CV2 will become available in late summer or early fall of 2021.
Prior to the submission of a pre-application grant packet, the City must conduct a public hearing to provide general information to residents on the availability of CDBG-CV2 and discuss the types of activities that could be implemented with CDBG-CV2 funds.
Eligible CDBG-CV2 activities include Acquisition, Public Improvements, Public Facilities, Business Assistance, Micro-Enterprise Assistance, Public Services, Planning, Broadband Planning and Public Infrastructure, providing the use directly relates to the prevention, preparation, and/or response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This item solicits comment from the public on community needs in order to respond to, prepare for, or prevent the spread of the coronavirus and proposes certain projects or activities for use of the funds, should funds be awarded to the City.
After a public hearing, DEO requires the submission of a “Pre-application Grant Packet” that describes the activities the City proposes to undertake using CDBG-CV2 funding.
Staff proposes the following activities be submitted as part of the “Pre-application Grant Packet”:
1. Small Business Assistance: $250,000.00
Eighty-five percent (85.1%) of Florida small businesses experienced a loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Broward County’s job report indicated a 6.6% unemployment rate in December 2020. This rate was 4 percentage points higher than a year ago. The City wishes to subsidize creation and retention of jobs provided by Small Businesses that have suffered negative impacts due to the COVID-19 health emergency by providing a Small Business Assistance Program.
2 and 3. HVAC Replacement Martin Luther King ($200,000.00) and Washington Park Community Centers ($140,000.00): Total $340,000.00
Viral particles are spread between people more readily indoors than outdoors. Staff proposes to improve indoor air quality at City of Hollywood Community Centers by replacing existing HVAC systems at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and the Washington Park Community Center with new HVAC systems that include High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing.
4 and 5. Laptops ($80,000.00), Wiring, and Network Improvements ($70,000.00): Total $150,000.00
Various City of Hollywood Community Centers house Public Service Programs that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. Staff proposes purchasing 50 laptops to replace existing desktop computers found in computer labs at; Driftwood, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kay Gaither and Washington Park Community Centers. The current computer labs have a rigid seating structure that limits capacity and requires a high ratio of shared use that increases the potential of exposure. The additional laptops would provide a flexible virtual learning environment for after school care, learning pods, specialty/season camps, educational career development programs, recreation, self-improvement, and work-force skills while still maintaining the recommended six foot social distancing mandate. Also proposed is to improve wiring and network infrastructure to increase functionality and accommodate complete Wi-Fi coverage in the respective buildings as opposed to the limited locations currently available. Please Note: The networking equipment, including the support and maintenance contract, will have a typical 5-year life cycle. After a 5-year period, the networking equipment will need to be replaced and a new support and maintenance contract will need to be executed.
General Administration: $20,335.00
Up to 8% per activity (not to exceed $50,000.00 per activity) can be used for general administration and is not considered a separate activity. This funding will assist with distribution of funds for the Small Business Assistance Program.
Subsequent to a DEO “Capacity Review” of the Pre-Application Grant Packet, the City is required to conduct a second Public Hearing prior to the submission of a “Final Application”.
Fiscal Impact:
This item seeks approval to authorize the appropriate officials to submit a pre-application grant packet to the Florida DEO to fund projects/activities at a cost not to exceed $760,335.00. If approved, the funding shall be provided as a grant allocation from the Department of Economic Opportunity.
If awarded, CDBG-CV2 grant proceeds will be recognized and allocated in the FY 2021 Operating Budget of the Special Revenue Fund to eligible activities.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Anthony Grisby, Manager, Community Development Division
Shiv Newaldass, Director, of the Department of Development Services
Gus Zambrano, Assistant City Manager for Sustainable Development