Title
Resolution to Appropriate $24,000.00 from the Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund Fund Balance for Consultants and Pre-Development Grants ($24,000.00 AAHTF) - (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The Office of Community Development is requesting Council approve an appropriation increase of $24,000 in FY 2010 from the Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund for consultants and pre-development grants with revenue from the fund balance.
Every year, Community Development (CD) issues Request for Proposals for housing, human service and neighborhood revitalization projects. The RFP’s are typically issued once per year. However, Community Development works with housing developers and non-profits throughout the year to prepare for those RFP’s. CD provides technical assistance to potential applicants to determine the feasibility of potential projects before the applicant responds to an RFP. This work is done in advance in order to ensure that the project is eligible, so that neither CD nor the applicant spends time on applications that are not eligible.
Sometimes CD cannot provide the technical assistance, it must be contracted out with an attorney, engineer, environmental consultant or other professional. By setting aside $24,000.00 in the Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund for these professional services, CD will be able to contract with these professionals in a timely manner. These services can range from $500.00 to $10,000.00, but are typically about $3,000.00. This resolution is required because CD can contract for services under $25,000.00 without a Council resolution, but only if those funds have been allocated in the budget. Non-profits do not have the cash-flow to pay for these professional services to determine a project’s feasibility. In addition, these services provide the required documentation needed to respond to RFPs.
The funds will be provided as a grant, with the condition that if a project is funded through another source, such as HOME funds for an affordable housi...
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