Calendar Details:
Monday, March 2
12:00pm - Restructuring Government Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Develop a Sponsorship Policy, National League of Cities Prescription Discount Program, Small Business Opportunity Program, Citizens Board and Commissions
2:30pm - Environment Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: FY2010/2011 Focus Area Plan, Stormwater Enterprise Fund: Finances and Fee Structure
4:00pm - Government Affairs Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Review and Discuss Status of 2009 State and Federal Legislative Packages, Review and Prepare for March 14-18 NLC Meeting
5:00pm - Council Workshop, Room 267
7:30pm - Citizens' Forum
Wednesday, March 4
12:00pm - Economic Development & Planning Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Arts & Science Council Endowment Campaign, Utilities Financial Planning, FY2010/FY2011 Focus Area Plan, Deferral Policy for Rezoning
3:00pm Budget Retreat, Room 267. AGENDA: Federal Economic Stimulus, CATS Budget, Capital Investment Plan Next Steps, Additional Information Items, Future Budget Retreats and Possible Topics
Information Items:
Economic Stimulus Update
Staff Resource:
Carol Jennings, City Manager's Office, 704-336-7285, cljennings@ci.charlotte.nc.us
As staff begins to receive information on Stimulus Bill funding we will notify City Council. We have just been advised of funding allocated from HUD and the NC Department of Commerce as outlined below. Also, we address questions raised by Mayor McCrory on February 23. The City Council will receive a full briefing on the Stimulus Bill at the Budget Retreat on March 4.
Grant Notification: CDBG, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Lead Based Paint Program
On February 25, 2009 the City received notification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it would receive $6,192,416 in federal Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant and Lead-Based Paint Program funds. These are additional funds received as a result of the recently approved stimulus package. The breakdown and eligible uses of the funds are as follows:
Grant: Emergency Shelter Grant/Homelessness Prevention Fund
Allocated: $1,930,217 (formula grant)
Eligible Use: Short-term or medium-term rental assistance, housing relocation and stabilization services including (mediation, credit counseling, security or utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance and case management). At least 60 percent of funds must be spent within two years; all funds must be spent within three years.
Grant: Community Development Block Grants
Allocated: $1,262,296 (formula grant)
Eligible Use: Activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide decent affordable housing and create economic opportunities, primarily for persons of low and moderate income. Recipients shall give priority to projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days of the grant agreement.
Grant: Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant
Allocated: $2,999,903 (award)
Eligible Use: Undertakes programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately owned rental and owner occupied housing units. The Lead-Based Paint program grant award is a response to an application submitted by the City. The funds made available through the Recovery Act made it possible for HUD to fund our application. The funds will allow the City to continue its current Lead Hazard Reduction Program. Fifty percent of the funding must be expended within two years; all funds must be spent within three years.
Some of these funds will be available for use as soon as April 1, 2009. City staff is developing a strategy for the use of these funds. Recommendations will be presented to City Council for consideration as soon as possible. Rules for public input and comments regarding these funds are still being formulated by HUD. We will engage Council about the use of these funds once instructions are received from HUD.
For more information on these opportunities, contact Stanley Watkins in Neighborhood and Economic Development at 704-336-3796 or swatkins@ci.charlotte.nc.us Grant Notification: Adult Job Training, Summer Jobs for Youth
On Monday, March 2, 2009 the City expects to receive notification from the North Carolina Department of Commerce & Workforce Development that it will receive $3,979,275 in federal Workforce Investment Act funding for job training for dislocated and adult workers, as well as funding for summer jobs for youth. The breakdown and eligible uses for funds are as follows:
Grant: Adult and Dislocated Worker Training
Allocated: $2,285,713
Eligible Uses: Funds can be used provide job search and placement assistance, including career counseling; assessment of skills and needs, and training from eligible providers such as community colleges and universities. The City is required to contract with the Workforce Development Board for expenditure of funds, or get WDB concurrence if City wants to expend funds directly. All funds must be expended by June 30, 2010.
Grant: Summer Youth Jobs
Allocated: $1,693,562
Eligible Uses: Funds can be used to pay stipends for private sector employment, public service jobs, to hire staff to find youth jobs, skills training and counseling. Eligible youth must be ages 14 through 21, low-income, and have one or more of the following conditions: deficient in basic literacy skills; a school dropout; homeless, runaway, or foster child; pregnant or a parent; an offender; or require additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment. The City is required to contract with the Workforce Development Board for expenditure of funds, or get WDB concurrence if City wants to expend funds directly. All funds must be expended by June 30, 2010.
For more information on these opportunities, contact Brad Richardson in Neighborhood and Economic Development at 704-336-3857 or brichardson@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Stimulus Questions Regarding Provisions on Immigration and Organized Labor
During the Council Business Meeting on Monday, February 23 Mayor McCrory raised questions related to potential immigration and labor provisions in the Stimulus Bill.
Immigration:
The House Bill contained a requirement that employers receiving federal stimulus money had to use the E-Verify employment verification system. The E-Verify employment verification system is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. The provision was removed in conference and the final version of the Stimulus Bill does not contain an E-Verify requirement. On the other hand, nothing in the Stimulus Bill prohibits the use of E-Verify or other immigration status verifications.
Labor Provision:
The Stimulus Bill include the normal requirements that come with the receipt of federal funds, e.g., Davis-Bacon Act requirements, but we did not find any provision regarding the use of organized employees. One labor-related section that has received a lot of attention is the "Buy American" provision. The "Buy American" provision mandates that all iron, steel, and manufactured produced used in stimulus-funded public building and works projects be produced in the United States.
For more information on either of these issues, please contact Rob Phocas in the City Attorney's Office at 704-336-7558 or rphocas@ci.charlotte.nc.us
