New CDBG funding formula focuses on infrastucture projects (Printed March 23, 2007
Posted by Sentry Editor at 3/29/2007 8:04 AM 
Categories: So Po News, Public Safety, Knightville Mill Creek, Open Space, Transportation, Zoning, County News, Environment
Categories: So Po News, Public Safety, Knightville Mill Creek, Open Space, Transportation, Zoning, County News, Environment
By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
This fiscal year, the city of South Portland will apply for $500,857 in funding from Cumberland County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to be used for housing, public service, and public improvement projects throughout the city. Although it is the city’s fourth year of receiving funds from the CDBG program, as of July 1, the city will no longer be considered an entitlement community by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will instead be a “set-a-side allocation” in the county’s CDBG funds. The funds directed to South Portland will be based on 23 percent of the funding the city of Portland receives each year.
Earlier this year, the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) generated an Annual Action Plan to outline how the CDBG funds would be spent. The budget, excluding administration programs, is $419,697. Within that budget, $328,518 will fund projects in “target areas,” which include the Pleasantdale and Ferry Village neighborhoods and Memorial Middle School.
At Monday’s council meeting, Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development Jim Gailey, said the CDAC was proposing to fund all projects that were received in application form by the city’s Community Development Office. The office received fewer applications than in previous years.
Gailey said although Cumberland County received just over $1.4 million as opposed to the $2 million they had anticipated, South Portland actually benefits from joining the county’s program. He said the city would receive a $45,000 boost in funding from the transition.
The council voted unanimously to allow City Manager Ted Jankowski to submit the city’s action plan to Cumberland County’s Community Development program. County officials then have until May 15 to submit South Portland’s plan and their own plan to HUD.
Gailey said this year’s plan reflects a smaller budget for public service projects such as recreation scholarships and the English as a Second Language program. The CDAC is recommending $36,000 this year as opposed to last year’s budget of $43,250.
In comparison, Gailey said the budget for public improvement projects is larger than previous years. The CDAC is recommending $329, 342, up from $171,000 in 2006, be directed to renovate and improve spaces throughout the city.
The sidewalk rehabilitation project for the Pleasantdale neighborhood has been allocated $70,000 under the CDAC’s plan. Gailey said the sidewalks are rough and heaving in spots due to root growth from trees along the streets.
The Ferry Village Neighborhood is also poised to receive $70,000 for sidewalk rehabilitation and $15,000 for improvements to the Sawyer/High Street park. Gailey said one condition in renovating the park calls for a basketball hoop that is a popular attraction for teenagers to remain in the park.
“If there’s any population that is underserved in South Portland, it’s the teenagers,” said Councilor Maxine Beecher, expressing her approval of the distribution of funds.
Other major improvement projects slated to receive CDBG funds include improvements to the Clarks Pond trail, such as the addition of stairs, erosion barriers, and footbridges. The $80,000 allocated for the project will be aimed at improving access to the trail. Phase 1 of the Waterman Drive renovation project is also posed to receive $80,000, which will be a boost to the $100,000 that the city currently has earmarked for the project. Gailey said phase 1 of the project, which calls for improvements to the water side of Waterman Drive, will take the area out of the “arterial road feel” by narrowing the road and give it a “boulevard feel” by widening green spaces. If all goes as planned, Gailey said phase 1 will go out to bid this summer and he would hope the construction would take place over the late summer/early fall months. The CDAC also recommended that the tennis courts at Memorial Middle School be transformed into a basketball court and roller-hockey court with the proposed $55,000 in funds. Finally, the public improvement budget also calls for $9,176 to fund the planting of 30 trees along roads and in parks throughout the city.
Under the housing category, the CDAC is recommending $54,355 for homebuyer assistance, heating assistance, and housing rehabilitation programs.
Staff Writer
This fiscal year, the city of South Portland will apply for $500,857 in funding from Cumberland County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to be used for housing, public service, and public improvement projects throughout the city. Although it is the city’s fourth year of receiving funds from the CDBG program, as of July 1, the city will no longer be considered an entitlement community by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will instead be a “set-a-side allocation” in the county’s CDBG funds. The funds directed to South Portland will be based on 23 percent of the funding the city of Portland receives each year.
Earlier this year, the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) generated an Annual Action Plan to outline how the CDBG funds would be spent. The budget, excluding administration programs, is $419,697. Within that budget, $328,518 will fund projects in “target areas,” which include the Pleasantdale and Ferry Village neighborhoods and Memorial Middle School.
At Monday’s council meeting, Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development Jim Gailey, said the CDAC was proposing to fund all projects that were received in application form by the city’s Community Development Office. The office received fewer applications than in previous years.
Gailey said although Cumberland County received just over $1.4 million as opposed to the $2 million they had anticipated, South Portland actually benefits from joining the county’s program. He said the city would receive a $45,000 boost in funding from the transition.
The council voted unanimously to allow City Manager Ted Jankowski to submit the city’s action plan to Cumberland County’s Community Development program. County officials then have until May 15 to submit South Portland’s plan and their own plan to HUD.
Gailey said this year’s plan reflects a smaller budget for public service projects such as recreation scholarships and the English as a Second Language program. The CDAC is recommending $36,000 this year as opposed to last year’s budget of $43,250.
In comparison, Gailey said the budget for public improvement projects is larger than previous years. The CDAC is recommending $329, 342, up from $171,000 in 2006, be directed to renovate and improve spaces throughout the city.
The sidewalk rehabilitation project for the Pleasantdale neighborhood has been allocated $70,000 under the CDAC’s plan. Gailey said the sidewalks are rough and heaving in spots due to root growth from trees along the streets.
The Ferry Village Neighborhood is also poised to receive $70,000 for sidewalk rehabilitation and $15,000 for improvements to the Sawyer/High Street park. Gailey said one condition in renovating the park calls for a basketball hoop that is a popular attraction for teenagers to remain in the park.
“If there’s any population that is underserved in South Portland, it’s the teenagers,” said Councilor Maxine Beecher, expressing her approval of the distribution of funds.
Other major improvement projects slated to receive CDBG funds include improvements to the Clarks Pond trail, such as the addition of stairs, erosion barriers, and footbridges. The $80,000 allocated for the project will be aimed at improving access to the trail. Phase 1 of the Waterman Drive renovation project is also posed to receive $80,000, which will be a boost to the $100,000 that the city currently has earmarked for the project. Gailey said phase 1 of the project, which calls for improvements to the water side of Waterman Drive, will take the area out of the “arterial road feel” by narrowing the road and give it a “boulevard feel” by widening green spaces. If all goes as planned, Gailey said phase 1 will go out to bid this summer and he would hope the construction would take place over the late summer/early fall months. The CDAC also recommended that the tennis courts at Memorial Middle School be transformed into a basketball court and roller-hockey court with the proposed $55,000 in funds. Finally, the public improvement budget also calls for $9,176 to fund the planting of 30 trees along roads and in parks throughout the city.
Under the housing category, the CDAC is recommending $54,355 for homebuyer assistance, heating assistance, and housing rehabilitation programs.
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