Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Keith D. Bostick (Deputy Director)
Department: Human Services Division: Community Partnerships
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-293 of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, authorizing appropriation and disbursement of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) grant funds in the amount of $ 9,444,701 and a Broward County match contribution of $920,077 for a total amount of $10,364,778 to specified service providers for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022; authorizing the County Administrator to execute grant agreements with HUD and new agreements and amendments to existing agreements with specified service providers, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, and take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the agreements; and providing for severability and an effective date.
ACTION: (T-11:24 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2021-294 in the HUD Continuum of Care Fund in the amount of $10,364,778 for supportive services, housing, and rent assistance for individuals and families in Broward County who are experiencing homelessness in addition to providing for operational and administrative expenses.
ACTION: (T-11:24 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
C. MOTION TO APPROVE waivers of conflict under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, for the following Broward County advisory board members holding an employment or contractual relationship with an entity receiving funds for the performance of services under this agenda item.
1. Thomas M. Campbell
2. Frances M. Esposito
3. Danny C. Osley
4. Steven Ronik
5. Lisa Vecchi
6. George S. Werthman
ACTION: (T-11:24 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) adoption of this Resolution is required for appropriation and disbursement of grant funds for agreements with external agencies and to authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreements.
B. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires a budget resolution to recognize revenue.
C. A waiver of conflict arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statues, requires two-thirds approval by the Commission.
What Action Accomplishes
Adoption of Motions A and B provides continued funding for supportive services, housing, and rent assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as providing funding for focused and coordinated strategic planning to reduce homelessness in Broward County.
Approval of Motion C waives the existence of any conflicts arising under Section 112.313 (7)(a), Florida Statutes, as authorized under applicable law.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These actions support the Commission’s value of “approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable” and the goal to “collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.” Funding supports the provision of supportive services, housing, and rent assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Commission approval is requested for appropriation and disbursement of HUD funds to specified service providers (Exhibit 1, Attachment A). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD did not release a competitive application process in 2020. HUD issued this funding to Broward County as a non-competitive award based on the 2019 project funding amounts issued to the County.
Broward County is responsible for providing a HUD-required match for the following projects: Broward Partnership Housing IV, FL-601 CoC Planning Project, FL-601 Homeless Management Information System, HART & Home, and NewHart (Exhibit 1, Attachment A).
Approval of this item would give rise to certain employment conflicts under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes, which provides that "no public officer ... shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity ... which ... is ... doing business with an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee." In accordance with 112.313(12), Florida Statutes, Commission approval is required to waive any conflict of interest arising under Section 112.313(7)(a), Florida Statutes. An effective waiver requires two-thirds vote of the Commission after disclosure of the conflicting relationship (Motion C) in accordance with Section 112.313(12), Florida Statutes. Forms 4A, Disclosure of Business Transaction, Relationship, or Interest, are attached to this report as Exhibit 3 and constitute full disclosure of any existing conflicts.
Source of Additional Information
Darrell Cunningham, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Rebecca S. E. McGuire, Ph.D. Homeless Initiative Partnership, (954) 357-5686
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The total HUD appropriation is $10,364,778 which includes $9,444,701 allocated for the service provision and a $920,077 match (cash and in-kind) from the County. The HUD grant guidelines allow Broward County to retain $307,767 of its allocation to cover administrative expenses.