Recapping the 10/26 conversation here – to promote further comments and/or allow for updates:
The City of Fairbanks is interested in applying for a Community Development Block Grant, CDBG, on behalf of Clearwater Ministries INC for the renovation of the house to be used as shelter. The city asked for feedback from the community and they got emails as well as 3 different agencies speaking to the support of this collaboration (FNA, FHHC, and Joel’s Place). At the end of the meeting, a show of hands was asked for, and all at the meeting supported the project. (~8 or so)
In a meeting following, The City of Fairbanks assured me that the property never will be in the city’s possession, but remain in Clearwater’s ownership, should the city decide to follow through with this project. The city also assured me that the Board of Directors for Clearwater would be asked for guidance and input and that the city is interested in seeing our goals and interests attained.
The ceiling on this grant proposal would be $850,000. They would ask for our input in what we want to see in a building, and Dave Miller has offered to draft something up – so they will know our hearts.
The city has asked for copies of the engineers report and access to the building. Pat Smith, from the city, is to make a preliminary decision by this Friday, 10/28/2011.
Our costs:
through discussions and from what I can tell, the cost to us is that we need to come up with a 25% match. THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CASH MATCH. So the house can be match. My time is match, our time is match, etc. ( I will start tracking my hours – so it can be considered) and the city takes care of the rest. In other words, this is covered easily – even it if costs quite a bit more – the city can count their work or a portion of their work as match.
Once Pat Smith says yes, he is willing to take this on, it will go before the city council next week.
I presume that we are in agreement:
we do not need to be the construction administrators???
When they vote yes, things will really get clipping.
May His will be done!
Wanting to keep everyone up to date:
At the finance meeting with city council there was opposition to this project.
The city’s concerns:
our sustainability for 5 years min.,
city’s risk if we folded – they would have to payback CDBG money,
the city’s purpose – is this the business they should be about,
The meeting in which they make this decision is Monday, November 14th, City Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m. On behalf of the board, I will be contacting key agency heads – to speak in support of this resolution. Board members should, at a minimum, be present as well. The mayor said to me “this is your opportunity to show community support. . . ” so – here we go!
Pat & I are meeting with Mike Walsh today to begin to address the concerns of the council.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us. I fully support moving with this grant proposal. We can figure out what needs to happen as far as managing this construction.
I second the motion and vote yes to move ahead to work with the city for this grant proposal.
Update with the latest: I presume everyone has had a chance to read the email regarding the City NOT wanting to be the construction managers. They are still interested in applying for the grant on our behalf. I have had multiple conversations with Dave Miller. He feels that we should NOT shy away from this opportunity, that if the grant proposal is accepted – then there will be away for it to work. He also contacted someone to see if they would be interested in supervising – and Landmark could also provide that if we needed.
I make a motion to move ahead and tell the city that we still want to be part of this project and we will gladly take on the responsibilities of renovating the house under their guidelines, etc. if the grant proposal is accepted.
I need to reply to the city BY NOVEMBER 4, Friday. Please vote before then, thank you.
I’m in agreement that we don’t need to be the construction administrators. I will be out of town but will have access to email so I’ll follow the decision coming forth on the 28th. Thanks Marylee for being the gateway on this project.