Subject:
Payment request for Lealman Community Redevelopment Area Residential Improvement Program.
Recommended Action:
Approval and execution by the County Administrator for payment requests related to the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Residential Improvement Program. This grant program is included on the Fiscal Year 2025 Lealman Work Plan and Budget approved by the Board of County Commissioners sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency during their regular meeting on September 19, 2024.
The Residential Improvement Program aims to reduce or eliminate the costs associated with improving and enhancing the exterior appearance of the applicant’s home and property. To be eligible for grant funds, the property must be located within the boundaries of the Lealman CRA. It must also be structurally sound and meet Florida building codes and local housing codes. Grant awards of up to $15,000.00 are available for residential façade and site improvements.
The payment request submitted is for the following project:
• 4407 44th Avenue North, Lealman, FL 33714
o The work performed by Living Roots Eco Design, LLC. included landscaping and tree installation for a total of $1,815.00
o Resident paid an overage charge of $375.00, as shown on the partially paid invoice.
o This payment request is for the original contracted price of $1,440.00.
• The current lag of grant applications submitted under the prior guidelines are 4 applications (not yet executed contracts) and 9 executed contracts (grants) not yet paid out that will submit for payments after project(s) and final inspection(s) are completed.
• Approval of this item will decrease the number of executed contracts not yet paid out from 9 to 8.
• The total for this funding request is $1,440.00 and is included in the FY25 Operating Budget for the MSTU portion of the Tax Incremental Financing revenues for the Lealman Redevelopment CRA Trust Fund.
Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing
Summary:
The Residential Improvement Program aims to reduce or eliminate the costs associated with improving and enhancing the exterior appearance of the applicant’s home and property. Properties must be located within the boundaries of the Lealman CRA to be eligible for grant funds. Eligible properties include single-family detached houses, townhomes, villas, cooperatives, condominiums, and manufactured housing. The property must be structurally sound, meet Florida Building Codes, and local housing codes. Up to $15,000.00 is available for residential site and façade improvements.
Grant applicants are required to execute an Acceptance of Grant and Conditions, which lists all contracts associated with the grant and acknowledges the applicant’s receipt of and adherence to program guidelines, as well as a Rehabilitation Work Contract with each contractor providing services.
Background Information:
This grant program is included in the FY25 Lealman Work Plan and Budget, approved by the Board of County Commissioners sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency during their regular meeting on September 19, 2024. A copy of the Work Plan is attached to this item.
Fiscal Impact:
The total for this funding request is $1,440.00 and is included in the FY25 Operating Budget for the MSTU portion of the Tax Incremental Financing revenues for the Lealman Redevelopment Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund.
Funding for this agreement is included in the FY25 Operating Budget for Lealman CRA in the Lealman Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund. A total of $300,000 was confirmed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the FY25 Budget for this Program. Approval of this grant is not anticipated to require additional budgetary or spending adjustments.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign these Grant Agreements is granted via the Agency’s approval of the FY25 Lealman Work Plan.
Staff Member Responsible:
Cameron Ehmig, CRA Specialist, Lealman Community
Partners:
Lealman CRA Advisory Committee
Lealman residents, businesses, stakeholders, and community partners