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COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
City Manager’s Office
GENERAL INFORMATION
Agenda Date: 11/21/05 Communication No.: 05-654
Agenda Item Type: Resolution Roll Call No.:
Submitted by: Larry Hulse, Community Development Director
SUBJECT—
Resolution authorizing a $125,000 Grant Request to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund for a pilot program jointly administered by the City and the Polk County Health Department that will target five (5) owner-occupied houses or more in Des Moines for Lead-Based Paint Interim Control measures. These homes are identified as the primary residence of a child under the age of six with elevated blood lead (EBL).
SYNOPSIS—
The City of Des Moines will submit a $125,000 grant request to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund for a Lead-Based Paint Pilot Program that will be jointly administered by the City’s Community Development Department and the Polk County Health Department. If awarded, the grant will be matched by $125,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds. The purpose of this pilot program is to provide interim Lead-Based Paint control measures to five (5) houses or more within the City of Des Moines identified as the primary residence of a child under the age of six with elevated blood lead (EBL).
FISCAL IMPACT—
The grant application is for $125,000. This will be matched by $125,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds (applied). These grant funds will enable the City’s Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program to proceed with Lead-Based Paint interim control measures for at least five (5) eligible low-income homeowners that are targeted for assistance.
RECOMMENDATION—
Approval
BACKGROUND—
The City’s Community Development Department will submit an application to the Polk County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) on December 2, 2005 requesting $125,000 for the City of Des Moines and Polk County Health Department Lead-Based Paint Interim Control Pilot Program. Funds received from the PCHTF will be leveraged with CDBG funds for the Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program administered by the Neighborhood Conservation Services Division.
The City has a component within the current Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program for undertaking major rehabilitation projects (greater than $25,000). The interim controls pilot program is intended to complete the necessary rehabilitation work for at least five (5) eligible low-income homeowners that have homes identified as the primary residence of a child under the age of six with elevated blood lead (EBL) at a cost of approximately $50,000 per unit.
Federal regulations enacted in 2000 require Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded programs to treat and/or abate lead hazards. About 27% of the homes in Des Moines were built before 1950, compared to 22% nationwide. Studies have shown that virtually all pre-1950 homes contain lead hazards. Within Des Moines, the Enterprise Community boundaries (bordered by MLK Jr. Parkway on the west, Des Moines River on the east, Hickman Road on the north and I-235 on the south) has shown to have the highest concentration (19%) of tested children, six years of age and under, with elevated blood lead greater than 10 micrograms per deciliter; levels where children’s intelligence, hearing and growth are affected and can cause developmental deficits and learning disorders.
The Polk County Health Department is required to test and maintain a list of children with elevated blood lead (EBL) by address. The City had partnered with the County to target addresses with children at the highest risk for the Pilot Program for Interim Lead-Based Paint Controls. Further, the City, County, and surrounding communities have created a Lead-Based Paint Coalition that will support an application to HUD for a Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Grant application in 2006. If awarded, the $2 million grant will be administered by Polk County Health Department in conjunction with the applicable local rehabilitation programs.
This resolution gives authorization for the submission of the grant application, which is required by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. If the grant is received, the City Manager or his designee is authorized to execute the terms of the agreement through the City’s Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program.