Read on Twitter
Hiya! I’ll be live-tweeting this morning’s #CLEbudget @CleCityCouncil Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee meeting for #CLEDocumenters @CLEDocumenters @NeighborUpCLE.
The meeting will be livestreamed starting at 9:00 am on @CleCityCouncil’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandCityCouncil
This morning is the start of the city’s 3-day Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget hearings. “What’s that?” you ask...
If you’re like me and this is your first time wading into Cleveland’s budget process, here’s a primer on #CLEbudget written by @cledocumenters own @RachelDissell: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kxJt-Azj-wkl3qyZyHJl-CR5416fkYCuAG92RjfFwVo/edit?usp=sharing
And if you want to dive even deeper, here is a copy of the 2021 CDBG Budget Book so you can read along with all of today’s hearings: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16IRee4m8b6t6XPfFb9MwGGvdNgLokFDj/view
This morning's session should run til about noon. It will open the CDBG hearings and cover Housing Repair Assistance & the Healthy Homes Initiative #LeadSafeCLE
The Development Planning & Sustainability Committee is: @TBrancatelli @HairstonCCC10 @ClevelandWard5 @GriffWard6Cle @basheerj @KerryMcCormack1 @ADayInTheSlife ...but we can expect to see other members of Council & other presenters at today's hearings
Remember, this is the opening of 3 days of #CDBG hearings - an afternoon session will finish housing programs & move on to land reutilization grant programs like land bank & Summer Sprout gardens
The meeting is streaming & roll is being taken. Tune in here: #cledocumenters
We're 1st hearing an opening statement from Dir. of Community Development Michiel Wackers
@CityofCleveland has been granted a little over $2bn in #CDBG funds since the mid-70s ... the big spike this year represents Federal CARES Act emergency funds:
Dir. Wackers on the increase in funding this past year: "in six months we've almost spent as much as we spent in the previous 12 months":
2020 budget year "accomplishments" total over 113,000 so far (year ending June 2021) ... more than all of 2019 budget year. Here's a good thread from @Jesstrivisonno that covers CDBG & accomplishments: https://twitter.com/Jesstrivisonno/status/1358885671520391170
Dir. Wacker's presentation includes this slide, a snapshot of 2021 CDBG goals - I don't see a corresponding slide in the budget book, so my apologies for all the squinting you're about to do:
Councilperson Joe Jones (ward 1) asks if he can get a copy of the above slide - it was shared last night w/ Council, but apparently not publicly 
Councilperson Mike Polensek (ward 8) - "massive flow of dollars into the city" but "haven't been able to stem the tide of poverty, distress" -- what have we done that's worked & what can we do to correct what doesn't work?
Dir. Wackers - this past year has shown that increased capacity (partnerships) is as important as more #CDBG funds. Missed opportunity if residents can't tap into funds for things like home loans, home repair
@basheerj says a lot of residents are "too poor to fix their homes, but they're too rich to get any support from the gov't" ... hopes to see income guidelines changed at the Federal level
@basheerj tax abatements to bring in new residents, but support not there for longtime residents who've invested in City of Cleveland ... hopes a prospective Sec. of HUD @mlfudge will be able to change that
@basheerj - wants these hearings to include demographics of who is being served by #CDBG programs -- business owners of color, homeowners of color
@GriffWard6Cle wants to hear about an equitable philosophy - how is Community Development focusing on the highest and best need? Wants councilpeople to get a on a bus (post-covid) and see eachother's wards 
@GriffWard6Cle can we free up flexible, general fund $$$ to fill gaps in CDBG programs? @KerryMcCormack1 cheers this
Dir. Wackers says that can happen in some cases, but CDBG funding can't pay for "local gov't functions"
Dir. Wackers says that can happen in some cases, but CDBG funding can't pay for "local gov't functions"
@GriffWard6Cle - how do you ensure CDBG funds aren't spread too thin? Dir. Wackers says Community Development achieves that by "going big" and working with partners, leveraging other sources of funding
@jennyspencercle revisits Dir. Wackers' comment that CDBG funds can't replace local gov't functions -- asks how other cities deal with that
Dir. Wackers: Other large cities supplement CDBG programs with large-scale departments, funded in-house -- Cleveland does some of this but depends on partners to fill gaps.
@jennyspencercle suggests that these hearings should include community dev. corps, other folks that implement CDBG programs, to help folks realize the complexity of realizing CDBG "achievements"
@KerryMcCormack1 reiterates that he'd like to see CDBG dollars be flexed to support other programs. He says this can be done, and other cities do it.
@HairstonCCC10 (ward 10) also voices the theme of the morning: wants to see community development think outside its normal operating procedure ... talks about new hurdles businesses face accessing storefront renovation money
Councilperson Joe Jones (ward 1) asks how can City of Cleveland get support/investment from big financial institutions. Interim Dir. Wackers says CRA is one tool, but acknowledges it is limited
Joe Jones contrasts investment from banks in Pittsburgh to lack of financial institution investment in Cleveland
Meeting is moving past opening statement and into Chapter 1 - budget overview
You can view the CDBG budget book and follow along here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16IRee4m8b6t6XPfFb9MwGGvdNgLokFDj/view
some council Qs about staffing/budget for Community Dev Dept: 81 staff, ~$3.1 million salaries/benefits. Interim Dir. Wackers estimates that total cost to run the dept. is about $5 million
Finally getting into the substance of the budget book, #CLEbudget -- starting with an overview of Housing & Development Programs
Hearing from Director of Aging Mary McNamara
Dept of Aging's Chore program - includes mowing, raking, snow shoveling and indoor chores like installing smoke/CO detectors. Saw no reductions/impacts due to covid
Senior Homeowner Assistance Program (SHAP) saw an increase in applications this year bc of work of outreach staff
$280k budget for SHAP and CHORE programs - mostly for salaries for 9 staff associated w/ those programs
Also - Dept of Aging will be hiring this spring for seasonal workers to support these programs - help spread the word
@basheerj (ward 7) to Dir. of Aging McNamara: "what does this department need to be successful?" -- cites elders in his neighborhood who are isolated, have no one to check up on them
Dir. McNamara: 80,000 seniors in Cleveland -- Dept of Aging can't meet every need ... would like to see more ability to contact more seniors
@basheerj -- doesn't think more marketing will solve seniors' problems -- wants to see Dept. to get more $, more resources and more flexible ways to distribute those funds
Dir. McNamara says CDBG programs aren't the only supports for seniors -- cites Age Friendly Home Investment Program ($75k/ward) as an option for seniors not eligible for SHAP
@GriffWard6Cle how much time does it take to turnaround a Senior Homeowner Assistance Prog (SHAP) application
Commissioner Jackson (Neighborhood Services) estimates at least 6 months from application to construction or repair
Commissioner Jackson (Neighborhood Services) estimates at least 6 months from application to construction or repair
Commissioner Jackson adds: applications can "age out" -- if application isn't complete with all required info w/in 120 days it's called ineligible and applicant needs to start over. Sounds like these are HUD rules
Commissioner Jackson now talking about Repair-a-Home (RAH) program as well as SHAP -- biggest reason someone would be turned down is folks are "over income" or amount of repairs exceeds what Dept of Neighborhood Services can do
Repair-a-Home (RAH) program is open to folks who aren't served by a bank - biggest reason why a bank isn't serving them? Not enough equity in the home.
Thanks Councilman!
@GriffWard6Cle asking about trees and tree trimming -- Dept of Aging Dir says Urban Forestry can handle regardless of who's property its on - BUT income guidelines still apply
@GriffWard6Cle asks abt broadband internet access - Interim Dir. Wackers says that CDBG doesn't support that, but CARES Act funds are available at state/regional levels
Commissioner Jackson gives an update on lead safety efforts - outreach efforts in focus area along E 105 #LeadSafeCLE
Council will be required to hold a lead safety hearing before March (per Council's own legislation)
Council will be required to hold a lead safety hearing before March (per Council's own legislation)
Joe Jones shouts out several Dept of Aging staff for their good work, responsiveness. Ward 1 has one of Cleveland's largest senior populations
39 employees in Dept of Aging, 9 of which funded by CDBG (CHORE, tree & SHAP programs)
Joe Jones asks about the Repair-a-Home program. Commissioner Jackson says avg $60k spent per unit, 50% of which is a loan to homeowner, forgiveable after 5 years of occupancy
@ADayInTheSlife (ward 17) asks what's the average income of applicants to these housing assistance programs. Commissioner Jackson estimates most applicants probably have $12,000 annual income or less
Applicants to Senior Housing Assistance Prog (SHAP) can be denied if they're behind on taxes. @ADayInTheSlife asks what resources exist to help folks get current on taxes.
Dir. McNamara says 41 denials last year - got referred to case management (ESOP, @LegalAidCLE, @HFLAofNEO)
Dir. McNamara says 41 denials last year - got referred to case management (ESOP, @LegalAidCLE, @HFLAofNEO)
@ADayInTheSlife says city needs a more comprehensive solution that allows seniors to get current on delinquencies, access repair programs and keep seniors in homes.
Says its doable & should be as high a priority as programs that incentivize new development.
Says its doable & should be as high a priority as programs that incentivize new development.
@jennyspencercle & @basheerj raise an important point: City of Cleveland - not HUD - determines income guidelines for SHAP and other housing repair programs
@basheerj argues that design of programs isn't serving residents, isn't serving seniors. City has power to determine who gets help & who doesn't
@jsantanaward14 asks if all funds get spent or if there's money left over.
@jsantanaward14 asks about contractors - is there training to support minority contractors to connect w/ these programs, do you have enough contractors?
Commissioner Jackson: no not enough contractors -- yes, there is training for contractors to comply w/ HUD requirements
Commissioner Jackson: no not enough contractors -- yes, there is training for contractors to comply w/ HUD requirements
Joe Jones (ward 1) revisits @basheerj's comments and the application process ... says Community Development should revisit application process. Where City has flexibility should make changes to increase accessibility.
Interim Dir. Wackers saying Community Development needs to balance # of residents that can access these programs with the amount of funds available & pool of contractors available
Joe Jones brings up the importance of city leveraging add'l resources from big banks who aren't serving residents - call back to his earlier comments
AND WITH THAT - the hearing is taking a break until 1:30 pm - @cledocumenters will continue covering #CLEbudget hearings all afternoon (and all week!)
#CLEbudget hearings will be available here:
A lot of discussion in these opening remarks and first chapters of the budget book about:
1. accessibility/inaccessibility of programs
2. City's willingness/lack of willingness to exercise its flexibility of CDBG programs
1. accessibility/inaccessibility of programs
2. City's willingness/lack of willingness to exercise its flexibility of CDBG programs
A big revelation for me - and I'm pretty green here - is that while HUD sets the guidelines for who is eligible for CDBG-supported programs, the City of Cleveland has the power to set the eligibility criteria
Reps from Community Development say they're trying to balance the number of people who benefit from these programs with:
1. the available funds
2. the number of qualified contractors to meet demand
1. the available funds
2. the number of qualified contractors to meet demand
Multiple Councilpeople argued that Community Development thinks outside the box to incentivize & support new development, but doesn't show the same enthusiasm for supporting senior residents in decaying homes.
Here’s a moment from the meeting where @basheerj talks about the implications of restricting access to these home repair programs
Thanks for reading along with me this morning - I'm signing off but #CLEdocumenters will continue to follow @CleCityCouncil #CLEbudget hearings - follow @cledocumenters for more this afternoon
Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any enquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters. Or email #CLEDocumenters at [email protected]
Follow @seandene’s thread for part 2 of today’s hearings! https://twitter.com/seandene/status/1359208092529954816
