Per school. And what is the outcome? And you say that each of these individuals has a case load of 25?
Yes. Well, the particular outcome we are looking for, once that child is assigned a court --
So let me see if I can get this straight. So the process works the following way: You don't deal with kids who are truant every day? I mean, you don't get a series of information from every school coming to your office that said, these kids were absent today?
You don't deal with 279 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 that?
You only deal with the individuals who have been assigned to the court system?
Excuse me. I have to step out for a few moments. I have to go down to the Caucus Room. But I did want to stay, before I stepped out, just in case you are gone -- I will be out about 15 minutes -- I wanted to thank you for advertising the Guiding Light and the Community Award for Lucien Blackwell in your book, as well. I certainly want to thank you for all the work that we 280 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 do together. I have, in fact, in one of my blocks, to my colleagues, we even have a loose-leaf book with pictures for Pentridge Street in my district, just one of the -- 50th and Pentridge, or 5000 block of Pentridge Street, but one of the many clean-up activities that we have enjoyed together. And I would say to my colleagues that we use this office for everything; from interceding on school problems, interceding on community problems, whether it be a house, street, drugs, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. But we work hand in hand with the MOCS office in every phase. And certainly I wanted to say that before I leave. I will leave my loose-leaf book, while I am gone, if anyone would like to see the pictures and talk about a devoted community that was really, really frustrated. And we have come together, thanks to the MOCS office, in trying to help pull us together and get some of the hard work done and come out on Saturdays and do clean-ups, et cetera, et cetera. Thank you. I will be back. (Applause.) 281 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
In the year that just went by, the last fiscal year, how many students were referred to you by the court system?
I don't have the exact number. Over a hundred. I can provide that.
Do we have the resulting in any sort of data on what happened with that over a hundred students?
Yes, we do. Of course the outcomes we are looking for is return to school.
Now, once we get the referral and we go to court with this child and that child's family, the court will give that family another court date, usually 60 to 90 days. Within that 60 to 90 days, they expect that family to return with zero unexcused absences. And if the family meets that requirement, that case is discharged. If the family does not comply with the 282 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 order of the court, then that family is referred to Family Court and other measures are taken at Family Court.
That's a court discharging. I am interested in how you keep the data in order to be able to evaluate success rate with the students. So that, you know, if you are going to send me data, and you have got a hundred-plus students, and I respect confidentiality, put a name to it, students 75 from Kensington High School, absent prior entering the program truancy levels at such level, ending the program he is still maintaining this, the following. Because I would imagine that there is followup; right?
Once a kid enters into the process, you are talking about there is followup to maintain connection with him; right?
So you will be able to detail that? 283 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
Sir, do you have a chart of, a structural chart of, MOCS?
And who and what, who are the supervisors, managers, and so on down the line, with names and so on?
In the Workwise Program, I am interested in that. 261 individuals out of 539, that was in the last fiscal year.
And they have been placed in what type of companies and what types of jobs?
That's a good question. One of the things the program is noted for is trying to identify what we consider 284 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 appropriate employment opportunities that would aggressively bring a family toward self-efficiency. So, therefore, we are talking about employment in our eyes that are going to offer our customers, at a minimum, salaries beginning at $8 an hour and up. And, so, we will begin to scan the Philadelphia business community and suburban business community to find those type of employment opportunities.
I didn't ask that. I would hope that they get a living wage. You placed 261 individuals in companies.
Could you let us have the names of the companies where those 261 individuals have been placed.
They went through an eight-week training period. 285 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 Have they all maintained their jobs? Do you have a rate of employment on the 261 still employed?
Yes, we do. We do track our customers anywhere, again, from six months to a year. So, quite naturally, we have to have records for that.
I would like to find out what is the level of the length and the level of stay in jobs of the individuals that you referred. We will come back.
Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you. Good afternoon. On -17 of the book, there is an increase in the purchase of services, $3,391,742. Do we know what that is going to buy? Does that buy increased services, you 286 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 are going to have more contracts? Or, what does that buy? And this is for the Mayor's Office of Community Services. And do you have a breakdown?
If I may answer that question, I believe most, if not all, of that number relates to the Empowerment Zone, which, as you know, contracts with third-party providers to carry out its programs. Last year approximately $14 million was spent through grants to third-party providers, and we are anticipating this year a $3 million increase in that amount.
Also on that page, at the bottom, there is an increase of 48 employees from Fiscal Year -- well, the difference between 2005 and 2006, there is going to be an increase of 48 people?
We are anticipating additional revenues through more grant writing. Historically the Community Services Block Grant, which is one of our larger grants, has increased year after year. I know that there is talk about the 287 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 level of funding to CSBG going down, but for several years it has gone up. So we are anticipating additional revenues which would allow additional staffing.
So we go back to this morning's testimony of the chief of staff relative to the number of positions that are going to be eliminated from the General Fund. And you may not have answered this question, but it seems to me that it might be somewhat of an equal transfer of people, 43 people from the General Fund, maybe they end up in the MOCS program, Mr. Dubow?
No, there is no plan to do that, that I am aware of. But, I was present. And not to answer for the chief of staff, of course, but, you know, I was present and I did hear that there is an effort to make present city employees aware of -- whether they are targeted for layoff or not, make them aware of vacancies throughout the city. As the Executive Director of MOCS, we welcome the opportunity to talk with people, as long as they are qualified, regardless of where they come 288 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 from. So even though there is no plan to move people into those anticipated jobs, I personally will welcome the opportunity to work with anyone who is qualified.
I just want to clarify. While there is a possibility you could find one or two people moving over to MOCS, it is not the intention that any large portion of those 50 people will be moving into MOCS. And, actually, when you look through the detail of the MOCS budget, you can see the grants for which they are assigned and the kind of responsibilities that they have to undertake.
Well, you seem to be losing some pretty high-powered people out of your department, so they might even be overqualified.
And that's all right. I just wanted to raise -- 289 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
The objective of the General Fund is to cut costs. It seems to me that MOCS is getting more money, so...
If it actually is successful in getting the grants for which it is applying.
Well, it seems that he is getting a million-dollar increase in your MOCS program. Where is that coming from? Is that coming from the state?
We are anticipating an increase in the Community Services Block Grant funding, which would, you know, be in the area of that figure.
So have you targeted where these people will be -- and I haven't had a chance to start looking through here -- where you would place these 48 people? What I am looking at is the summary. But throughout the rest of the budget, have you targeted where those departments, where the 48 290 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 people, would be placed?
No, we haven't targeted where those people would be placed. We are very hopeful that our funding will be increased, but we are always at MOCS meeting and discussing where resources would be best spent. So at the time that we receive the funds, you know, due to, you know, ongoing meetings, we will have a better idea of how we would use those funds.
One other question I have on the Fatherhood initiative. I don't see on -29, I don't see any allocation for personnel services. How is the director paid?
The director is actually a staff person of MOCS, so he would fall into --
The Fatherhood Initiative on -39, Cost Reimbursement.
All I see are purchase of services and supplies. I don't see any appropriation for that position. 291 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
Bringing up Terry Flores. Ms. Flores oversees the fiscal area of the agency.
You would usually see the salaries under the Class 100. As you noted, I don't see anything listed here except purchase of services.
Maybe he is not going to get paid. I just wanted to call that to your attention. I am sure it is probably a mistake.
I will have to get back to you on that. I am sorry, I can't answer that.
Thank you. One followup. Thank you, Madam President. One followup on the truancy program. From the answer that was given, I 292 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 learned that truancy is not just limited to high schools, young people across the board.
Correct. Referrals come from high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. However, once a child has reached the age of 16, usually they won't appear on the list. Because by the time the courts can deal with them, they will have reached an age where they can be emancipated. They can actually legally drop out of school at age 17. So once they hit age 16, they won't appear on a court list.
So the services you provide for those three populations, elementary school, middle school, and high school, has to be age specific, I guess. Would you agree?
Yes. But it has been our experience that, in elementary school, the culprit, so to speak, or the blame is usually on the parent. That's the problem. Once they get to the middle school, now the children are starting to make certain decisions, starting to do the hookey, and things like that. And, so, we have programs that we can attach those 293 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 youth to right at the Family Center.
You are welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam President. Just three quick questions. Although I think the record should reflect that, according to all published reports, Councilwoman Reynolds-Brown was never truant or inappropriately out of school. On of the testimony, you make reference to FY '03 MOCS programs are providing an array of services which are projected to reach over 27,000 individuals. And I know that we are in, we are still obviously in, that FY 03. So you still have some people to be in touch with, or to serve. But if you could give us, through the Chair, again, a listing, just kind of raw numbers by zip code, the number of people who were served in FY '02, which is done, and year to date on FY '03, individuals served, total number of individuals served by zip code that make up your projected 27,000, I would appreciate it. 294 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 Second, there was discussion earlier about food cupboards. And apparently you have three presently?
Odessa Clarkson, Director of Community Services, will give you the locations of the four food cupboards.
If they were given earlier, you don't have to. If they were given earlier, then don't go back through it. I probably just missed it. I will track it down. But, you might want to stay. Did you make reference to two new ones?
At Broad and Girard, at the Workwise Program, as well as the Frankford Family Development Center. They are fairly new.
The Frankford Center is the one that we talked about earlier?
Yes; that has the truancy 295 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 program and the Workwise Program.
Thank you. Mr. Blakney, as we have gone through this, and we had, actually, some discussion earlier about CDBG and now this Community Services Block Grant, and, obviously, extensive program with services that MOCS and the Empowerment Zone combined provide, we have a virtually separate plan and process for the CDBG program, which I am assuming those bills will come over soon, although they were referenced, actually, in the OHCD testimony. And I am wondering at this point in time whether, rather than going through this kind of process during this portion of the budget hearings, whether we should just have a separate kind of a consolidated plan, or a plan, or we can call it whatever we want, process for the Mayor's Office of Community Services. Do you have any particular perspective on that?
No. I really have not thought a lot about that. I think that discussions around any kind of consolidation or merging -- 296 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
I am sorry. I was using "consolidated plan" as an actual government term of art. In the CDBG process, there is something called a "consolidated plan" that is put together by OHCD and the other, kind of, either brother or sister agencies that is required to be approved by City Council before the funding request goes up to HUD. So what I am suggesting -- I am just wondering aloud at the moment whether or not we should -- the process was created by City Council for the consolidated plan for the CDBG program. And so I am wondering aloud at the moment, because there are, obviously, a lot of questions and concerns about MOCS and how it functions and how it operates, and it is somewhat of a cleaner process. You have some documents that are produced up front, you have the preliminary plan that we get to see that you take some preliminary testimony on, and then there is a final plan that's submitted to this Council for approval before that plan goes to HUD. 297 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 And what I am suggesting here is that, given the heightened interest in MOCS and given some of the sizable dollars -- when you combine MOCS and the Empowerment Zone, we are now up in the $30 million range -- it is actually starting to get to be a serious amount of money, that we might want to know up front or early on, before the application goes up, just what the plans are, what the mission is, what it is that you are trying to accomplish on the front end, as opposed to hearing about it on the back end here as we go through budget process. And that, as I indicated, that process and those hearings are separate from the traditional budget process, although many of us think that it should all take place around about the same time. There are funding issues and service issues that tie into our General Fund budget. So I just wondered whether you had any thoughts about that? And I didn't mean to confuse terminology talking about actual consolidations or mergers. It is something totally separate.
Okay. That would be challenging to those discussions and to achieve the kind of thing that you are speaking of, primarily 298 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 because the CDBG monies actually come directly to the city; where, CSBG money goes to the state and then to the city.
Application is made usually in the beginning of the last quarter of the fiscal year; around April, late April or early May.
Okay. You know, I am sure we could be quite accommodating leading into that process. We do CDBG somewhere in the, usually, May, June time period, getting ready for submission that I think is due no less than 45 days after the start of fiscal year. But, I mean, I think if we kind of worked together in a spirit of partnership and cooperation, that we could be most accommodating to have a bit of this process take place before the actual application goes in. So I just wanted to know what your 299 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 thoughts are. I mean, it's -- you provide an extensive amount of services to a whole host of people, somewhat similar to what OHCD does. And I think that if Council were more involved in that process, you'd have an even closer working relationship with many of us here.
Once again, I thank you for recognizing that MOCS does provide an extensive amount of service to the residents of this city. And what you have proposed I will be putting on the table and talking with my superiors more about, and should be able to get back to you with some kind of -- with the results of that discussion.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. I think that that completely takes care of everything on my mind at the moment. Thank you. And I appreciate your testimony, your honesty, your perseverance at the table. And I think you should know and understand that, I mean, this particular process is certainly not, from my standpoint, at least, it is not meant to be of an adversarial nature. 300 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 But it is an opportunity for Council to better understand what people are doing in the government. And as you try to do your job in serving the citizens of the city, we are also trying to do our job in making sure that we understand who is doing what, how it is getting done, why dollars are being spent in certain ways. And I could have certainly, but it goes without saying, that all of our public employees are working very hard, under trying circumstances, trying to do the best they can with what they have. So my questions are asked for a variety of reasons, trying to elicit as much information as possible, having very little to do with whether you are doing a good job or not. I assume that people working on the government payroll want to do a good job, they are seeking to do a good job. And I thank you for the hard work that you do. But, you know, that's kind of the way it is.
Well, thank you, Councilman. You know, on behalf of all of the staff 301 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 at MOCS in particular, we really appreciate the opportunity to be asked a number of questions. I also appreciate my colleagues. It is just not possible that I could myself answer all the questions about all the details of all the programming that we do. But truly we appreciate the fact that it is not adversarial; but, you know, but still being, you know, a challenge to -- not only to respond honestly, but just to talk to a very clear and precise way about what we do is something that we welcome and we look forward to it again next year.
Okay. I would be pleased to give you some opportunity before next year. I mean, you all can come back next week. I have another 20, 30 questions. It is no problem, as they say. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon again. Quick question. You talked about the truancy program. 302 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
You may have answered this, and I may have just missed it, but I am not clear on the point. What's the relationship between MOCS and the School District on this issue? Are you on the same page, are they working with you, are they helping you, are they giving you any money? What is the story on that relationship?
Well, the contract comes from DHS, division of community-based prevention services, so as office of truancy prevention. And it is a collaboration with the School District. The courts are actually run at Northeast High School, it is for the Frankford cluster. And each school has a truancy designee that works very closely with our case managers. So when we get the court listing, our initial step is to get in touch with that truancy designee so we can get the records of this student and find out exactly how many days. Because that court listing just lists their name and address and their parents' names; but 303 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 no other information, like how many days were missed, and things like that. So we get that information from the School District, and about grades. And then we make that initial pre-court home visit so we can make an assessment to present in front of the court Master whether we can accept this case as being something that we can handle on a community-based level or whether the conditions are so acute that it may have to be referred to DHS, Family Court.
I got a fax from a constituent that made a pretty interesting observation. The legal age to go to school today, how old must you be required, how old should you be to be required to stay in school? In other words, at what age can you just say to mom and dad, "See you, I am just out of here"?
16. Actually, it is 17. But as far as the truancy court is concerned, they will not handle a case at age 16. Because by the time it gets processed, that child will be 17 and can't do anything with them. 304 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
That's a good point. Maybe this is good I asked this question, then. Because the constituent is suggesting that when you only require a student to go to school until they are 17, that you are kind of setting them up for disaster; that once they are 17, they just end, you know, "I am out of here." And you just said something very interested. You basically give up on them when they are 16. I hate to say it like that.
So I guess that's a state issue that requires a young person -- normal age of graduation is around almost? 17
Maybe we ought to do something in Harrisburg, like we do a lot of things in Philadelphia lately, that maybe the age of required high school should be more than 17. Because if you lose them, if you lose them at 17, they are lost. And, you know, there are a lot of things in my life that I didn't want to do, but I had to do 305 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 them because that's the way it was. And, again, you just confirmed the fact that at 16, you don't even go back after as truants. And at 17, you can bet if they are not going to school in that one year, the minute they hit 17, they are in, possibly, a different places other than in a school.
Exactly. We find the most critical age period, where they initially start to be truant, is that transition between middle school and high school, the 8th and 9th grade period.
But if there is no 18 enforcement, for lack of a better word, between 16 and 17, man, they are just waiting for their 17th birthday to say, "I'm quitting school."
But, you know, I don't think a child actually waits to quit school. There are so many other factors that disillusion them about school. So if we can get that early intervention 306 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 and start to deal with those issues, it may be just a matter of a child may be behind and embarrassed.
Do you think that policy, even though it is limited, that you do stop at 16, is wise? Is that sending, maybe, a message maybe that you gave up on them? Do you think maybe you ought to reconsider what you do in that 16th to 17th year? Because, I will tell you, that sounds like we are just writing them off and basically saying, you know, "You do what you need to do." When you are 17, we don't care whether you quit or not."
I think we should give it some serious consideration, then.
Thank you all very 307 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 much.
Madam President, thank you. I know that one of the Councilpeople did ask if the employees of the agency could raise their hand. We do have a number of people who have received services from MOCS. Just so that you could see them, I would like to ask them to stand, please, those of you who have been serviced. (Audience members stand.)
Because they have been here all day. And, you know, as the Executive Director, I appreciate them being here. And I thank you, all City Council, for giving us this opportunity.
Thank you very much. Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development. Mr. Hanna, thank you for your patience. I never thought you would have to wait this long. We do have a copy of your testimony. I know it is rather brief. If you would like to summarize that, we will make certain that the 308 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 stenographer has your testimony in full.
Madam Chairwoman, good afternoon. My name is Kevin Hanna. I serve as Secretary of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation. With me are Deborah McColloch, Director of Housing; and Tony McIntosh is here, as well as Rod Lyles. I will try to summarize what's here, it is only a couple of pages, but I will be as brief as possible so that we might have as much time as possible to answer questions. I am here today to present testimony on the Office of Housing and Community Development's proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2004. A proposed Operating Budget under the Community Development Fund, Branch Revenue Fund, and General Fund will be presented in the spring to the Finance Committee in its hearing on a Council bill 19 on the consolidated plan authorizing the Community Development Block Grant and other housing programs for Fiscal 2004. At this time it is important to note that at this time we have not been informed by HUD of Philadelphia's CDBG allotment, the primary funding source for OHCD. 309 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 This proposed Operating Budget assumes a level funding to result in an percent reduction in 4 available resources due to the effect of the 2000 5 census. 6 CDBG funding from HUD is based on a 7 complex formula using census data, housing 8 conditions, and other factors. We expect to have the final entitlement figures by the time we return to the City Council with the consolidated plan. The numbers are pretty much self-explanatory. And, Madam President, if you would like for me to go over them, I would be more than happy to do so. But, generally speaking, that's the testimony that is herein and pretty much explains where we are at this point in terms of our budget. As I said, in May or June, thereabouts, we will come back and talk in much more detail relative to the CDBG budget.
Thank you. Mr. Hanna, on -21 of the detail, you are requesting $200,000 for advertising and promotional activities. Please explain how these funds are used. 310 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
I will ask Ms. McColloch to speak to that. MS. DEBORAH McCOLLOCH: Good afternoon. I am Debra McColloch. The advertising is fundamentally for plan amendments and other advertising that we are required to do as part of the Community Development Block Grant consolidated plan, which is presented to Council and approved by Council before it's sent out to HUD. If we make any changes to the plan that has been approved, we have to do a formal amendment, which includes an advertisement of our -- what amendment we are proposing, and has to run in a newspaper of general circulation, and so forth. So we have a fairly high advertising budget because of the HUD requirements for any changes to the plan.
Thank you. Also, on -45 of the detail, you are budgeting $1,120,000 for the RDA. How will these funds be used? How much is for administration and how much is for programs? MS. McCOLLOCH: I just want to make sure 311 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 we are talking about the same line. The $1,120,000?
Yes. MS. McCOLLOCH: Okay. Those are HOME funds. That's one of the sources of funding that we receive from the federal government. We receive Community Development Block Grant HOME. And the HOME funds, this amount of the HOME funds, is what would be allocated to the Redevelopment Authority for administration and operations of HOME-funded programs. So this 1 million is part of what will support the Redevelopment Authority's activities; the staffing, support the staff of the Redevelopment Authority.
So is it all for Administration? MS. McCOLLOCH: This 1 million?
Yes. MS. McCOLLOCH: Yes. The total HOME budget for the city is projected to be between 10 and 12 million. And this portion, this million, 23 is the admin portion of the total HOME budget. 24
How many employees are 25 we talking about? How many employees would come 312 1 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 under this?
Mr. McPherson is just whispering to me that a million dollars certainly wouldn't cover 140 employees.
That's because a certain amount of RDA's budget, admin budget, is also covered by CDBG funds. This is that portion that's allocated for source from HOME specifically.
Do you know how much CDBG will be funding the RDA? Do you have a figure on that yet? MS. McCOLLOCH: It is on page -- I am sorry. You have different page numbers, so I don't know. I don't know how to refer you to your page, because the book I have is a different page number. But the projected CDBG portion for the Redevelopment Authority is about 9.8 million for program delivery and administration.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter. 313 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. McColloch, what exactly are you reading from? MS. McCOLLOCH: I am reading from the -- I have just been told what page you are on. It is 4-106, which is the Community Development portion of the budget that shows the Redevelopment Authority will be receiving approximately 1.6 million for administration and 7.2 million for program delivery. The figure to which the Council President was just asking about is part of the Grants Revenue budget, and that's where the HOME money appears.
That's where what? MS. McCOLLOCH: That's where the HOME money is, Community Development Block Grant and --
I got that. But I was asking you, are you reading from your own notes? MS. McCOLLOCH: I am reading from my own copy of what you have, so that's why my page numbers didn't correspond with yours.
I understand. Thank you, Madam President. 314 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
Thank you. Mr. Hanna, what is the status of the reorganization of the city's various housing agencies?
Madam President, as you know, I started in this job in December, mid to late -- early to mid December. At that point, and up until this point, the city's Administration has done a lot of work from the standpoint of research on that particular subject. I envision the reorganization to be a three-phase process, and we are in Phase One as we speak. The first phase involves figuring out what it is we as in the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, we ought to be doing. And, quite frankly, these hearing meetings with our employees, particularly those folks who deliver the services, as well as meetings with the public, will go a long way towards determining for us what it is we ought to be doing. That's the first phase. The budget process, I will tell you, as 315 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 well, has an awful lot to do with each one, at least the first two, of the three phases. The second phase, in my mind, is a matter of determining what our resources are, both human and financial resources. And, again, from a budgetary standpoint, that will go a long way towards helping to answer that question. Once we figure out what resources we have available, both human and financial resources available, we will go gradually into the implementation phase. My guess is that that process will take anywhere from another 6 to 18 months, depending on a number of factors.
Mr. Hanna, could you explain your duties with regard to OHCD and the NTI program? I don't know whether you are wearing two hats or one, and I would like you to explain exactly what your duties are on each of the programs.
Surely. My title is Secretary of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation. As such, it is my responsibility to essentially 316 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 oversee each of the, what I call, three main deliverers of housing services: Redevelopment Authority, OHCD, and PHDC. Each of those three organizations report up to me. NTI is an, obviously, fairly ambitious Neighborhood Transformation Initiative here in the city. It is driven by Housing. And, so, even though there is a separate office of NTI, for the most part NTI looks to the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation to kind of drive most of what's on the table for NTI. I look at it as my responsibility to drive that portion of NTI and work very closely, obviously, with the folks -- with the Mayor's chief of staff. But, essentially, each of the three organizations report up to me. It is important to note, however, that PHA does not report up through my office. On the flip side of that, however, we work very, very closely with the folks at PHA. By and large, each of the neighborhoods that we target will have some elements, large or small, of public housing therein. 317 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 It has been my intention all along that, as a means of transforming neighborhoods, unless we deal with the public housing element, again, be it large or small, unless we deal with the public housing element in the neighborhoods that we target, we won't be completely successful in transferring that given neighborhood. It is a very long answer to a short question.
Thank you. I am looking at of your testimony. Would you please detail how you propose to use your various NTI funds. MS. McCOLLOCH: I want to make sure I understand this. The 10.2 million?
Yes. MS. McCOLLOCH: Yes, I can detail that. 2 million is going to the Targeted Basic Systems Repair Program, 2 million is going to support the PHIL Loan program, 2 million is going to support the Home Ownership Rehabilitation Program, 250,000 is supporting the Employer Assisted Housing Program, 750,000 is supporting the Anti-Predatory Lending Services. 318 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 That's 8. And I need another 2 million. MS. McCOLLOCH: I will have to give you the final. I can't remember it off the top of my head, I apologize. We will give you the full.
Do, please. I would appreciate it. And I see we have $20 million, it is in your second paragraph, $20 million from the city NTI program. MS. McCOLLOCH: That will be detailed when we present the full consolidated plan.
Okay. And can either of you tell us, we have some constituents sitting here with signs for accessible housing, is there anything in the budget that they could quickly refer to to address their needs?
Madam President, at this point, as I said in my introductory statements, we are unsure as to how much money will be available specifically -- well, from any of those sources, CDBG, HOME, or HOPWA. We have a general idea, but we certainly don't have specific numbers. I think at this point to be that specific on certain levels is probably a little bit 319 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 early. But, again, that's not to avoid the question. We will, over the next month or two, have more detail. And when we come back, we will certainly provide that to you.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon and welcome to you, Mr. Hanna. Good afternoon, Ms. McColloch and Mr. McIntosh. Let's first deal with the overall amount entitlement in terms of CDBG. In your testimony, you put the CDBG entitlement at $82.6 million. In the budget briefing book, on , it is at $82.49 million. Interesting enough, though, in your testimony it refers to it as an 8 percent reduction in available resources, but the budget briefing book refers to it as a 9.3 percent increase in spending. Now, I understand how there can be a reduction in entitlement, but an increase in spending. But is it in fact an increase in 320 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 spending? MS. McCOLLOCH: The number in the budget book is higher because of the reserves. The expectation of the entitlement --
I am not speaking about available resources. Right now I am actually speaking about spending. Speaking more so about, in the budget briefing book it says the current estimate in terms of spending of entitlement dollars for this year is $75.48 million. The obligation for next year is 82.49 or 82.6 if you look at the updated testimony from the budget book. That's an increase of roughly 7 million or so. So there is actually supposed to be an increase in available resources for this year over that which is estimated to be spent -- for next year, as opposed to that which was estimated to be spent for this year. In other words you expected to spend about $75 million this year. What you are saying is, you will have 82 million next year. That's an increase. 321 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03
The Budget Director is here, too. I am sure he has a copy of the budget briefing book.
My name is Rod Lyles, Fiscal Officer for OHCD. The numbers referred to by Councilman Goode does net out to reflect an overall increase in CDBG funding for Fiscal Year '04. But, in essence, what is misleading about that is that our CDBG appropriation for FY '04 does include a million or -- a $10 million, I am 14 sorry, a $10 million reserve appropriation. 15 That is solely for the purpose of 16 covering any unanticipated Block Grant funding that 17 might come in during the fiscal year. 18 So that does give you a misleading -- it 19 does mislead you to think that there is an increase 20 in the actual grant.
And I want to be very clear here. What is the proposed entitlement for '04? I know you don't know yet, but you give roughly the same figure in both the testimony here 322 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 and within the budget briefing book.
What we actually projected was a and a half million dollar decrease from the 5 current year, the proposed entitlement projected, if you will.
The $82 million covers, as I said, additional appropriations, simply because we don't know exactly what our funding will be for the year. And, historically, we have also requested, from an appropriation standpoint, additional appropriations, really, to cover any unanticipated funding during the course of the year.
I see that $20 million figure. But it actually takes it to 102.4. I see the 20 million in contingency. I would suggest you look at the budget briefing book, . I know what you are working from, and 323 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 that's why I am trying to --
Okay. You are looking at $20 million additional appropriations; is that what you are referencing? I am sorry.
I am looking at the difference between the current estimate for Fiscal Year '03, which is 75.48 million, versus the budget amount for '04, which is 82.49 million, which is a $7 million increase.
Okay. Now, I will walk you through that process, if you can bear with me just for a minute. The appropriations for the current fiscal year, I believe, is 72.3. Am I correct? I just don't have that in front of me.
Current estimate in terms of spending for this year, 75.48. the budget briefing book.
Give me just a second, please. All right. You are looking at 75.5, in essence, current-year appropriations. And it is the estimated appropriations for the current year. And you are comparing it to the FY -- I 324 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 am just trying to make sure we are dealing with the same budget amounts for FY '04 of 102.
No. Comparing to the 82.49, it then says $7 million more, which is a 9.3 percent increase, according to the -- it is right here on the same line.
Okay. Could be off, because it does -- well, this could be off a million or two. But I am doing some rounding, so you just have to sort of bear with me. All right. Starting with the $75.5 million, that includes -- or, to get from that to the 82 million, it does include --
I need you first to deal with of the budget briefing book and explain what's here. I know you can explain what you have and what you brought to testify from. But are the figures in the budget briefing book accurate? Can you explain the 9.3 percent increase?
I really need to get back to you on that. Because I do have a slight difference, and it is about a $2 million difference in the numbers that, based on my summary numbers, are not 325 Bill Nos. 030004, 030008, and 030010 - 2/24/03 consistent.
In actual -- in the actual grant award? Appropriations, I would have to say, yes to that.
Not in the projected CDBG preliminary grant proposed budget, no. 15