Title
Resolution authorizing the City of Pittsburgh (the "City") to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh ("HACP") to serve as Co-Applicant for the purposes of (1) Submitting a FY2015/2016 Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") in an amount up to $2,000,000; and (2) authorizing a financial commitment from the City in the amount of $10,000 for the purpose of formulating a Transformation Plan for the Bedford Dwellings/Middle Hill District Neighborhood.
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WHEREAS, HUD has issued a FY2015/2016 Notice of Funding Availability (“NOFA”) under HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant Program (FR-5900-N-14) (the "CNI Program");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the NOFA, eligible applicants may apply for a Planning and Action Grant (the "Planning and Action Grant") in an amount up to $2,000,000 in order to develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy for eligible neighborhoods (the "Transformation Plan"); and
WHEREAS, HACP is the owner of certain real property and related improvements located in the City, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania known as Bedford Dwellings (“Bedford Dwellings”); and
WHEREAS, HACP has determined that it is in the best interests of HACP and the residents of Bedford Dwellings to submit an application in response to the NOFA (the "Planning and Action Grant Application") in order to obtain a Planning and Action Grant for the purpose of the redevelopment of Bedford Dwellings and the immediate surrounding neighborhood known as the "Middle Hill District" (together, the "Eligible Neighborhood"), with one-for-one replacement housing units and additional mixed-income housing and, subsequently, apply for a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Implementation Grant for the Eligible Neighborhood, in several phases; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City ("Council") has determined that it is in the public interest and to the benefit of the citizens and residents of the City to authorize the City to serve as the Co-Applicant (the "Co-Applicant") of the Planning and Action Grant Application for which HACP will serve as the Lead Applicant (the "Lead Applicant"); and
WHEREAS, Council has determined that the City will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Lead Applicant for the purpose of defining the roles and responsibilities for the administration and implementation of the Planning and Action Grant and in order to memorialize and demonstrate the City's commitment as the Co-Applicant to work collaboratively with the Lead Applicant in order to develop the Transformation Plan in a participative manner with the community stakeholders and public/private partners; and
WHEREAS, Council has determined that the Mayor of the City and/or his authorized representative may execute and deliver the MOU so that the Planning and Action Grant Application may be submitted to HUD on or before February 9, 2016, in accordance with the requirements of the NOFA; and
WHEREAS, Council has determined that the Mayor and/or his authorized representative may execute all documents and agreements on behalf of the City in connection with the Planning and Action Grant Application for and, the implementation of, the Planning and Action Grant; and
WHEREAS, Council has determined that an amount of $10,000 may serve as a portion of the "leverage amount" required by the Planning and Action Grant Application, in accordance with the requirements of the NOFA, to pay for associated eligible costs related to the implementation of the Transformation Plan for the Eligible Neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Council has reviewed the foregoing and determined that the action authorized herein is in furtherance of the public purposes of the City.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The City is hereby authorized to serve as Co-Applicant, with HACP as Lead Applicant, to submit an application to HUD for a Planning and Action Grant in the amount of up to $2,000,000.
Section 2. The Mayor and/or his authorized representative is hereby authorized to execute and deliver a MOU with HACP for the purposes of (i) defining the roles and responsibilities for administration of the Planning and Action Grant and (ii) in order to memorialize and demonstrate the City's commitment as the Co-Applicant to work collaboratively with the Lead Applicant order to develop the Transformation Plan in a participative manner with the community stakeholders and public/private partners.
Section 3. The City hereby authorizes the amount of $10,000 to serve as a portion of the "leverage amount" required by the Planning and Action Grant Application, in accordance with the requirements of the NOFA, to pay for associated eligible costs related to the implementation of the Transformation Plan for the Eligible Neighborhood.
Section 4. The Mayor and/or his authorized representative is hereby authorized to execute all documents and agreements on behalf of the City in connection with the Planning and Action Grant Application for and, the implementation of, the Planning and Action Grant.