ORDER N0.28960 RESOLUTION Came to be heard this the 28th day of December 2004 with a motion made by Commissioner Williams seconded by Commissioner Baldwin. The Court unanimously approved by a vote of 4-0-0 to adopt a resolution opposing certain diversion of funds from established programs by ORCA and find other entities for funding. ~ ~ ~~~ COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: William H. Williams OFFICE: Commissioner, Pct. 2 MEETING DATE: December 28, 2004 TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: (Please be specific). Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to adopt a Resolution opposing certain diversion of funds from established programs by OCRA. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: NAME OF PERSON(S) ADDRESSING THE COURT: Commissioner Williams. ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: 5 Minutes IF PERSONNEL MATTER-NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Govemment Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation is appreciated and contributes toward your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule adopted by Commissioners Court. rage i of ~ Bill Williams From: "Regan Lenehan" To: ; ; ; ; ; Cc: "Regan Lenehan" Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 10:19 AM Subject: From Dave Tucker: URGENT ALERT URGENT ALERT: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY URGENT ALERT: The Office of Rural Community Affairs has just issued a notice of Public Hearing to discuss and take comments on proposed changes to the Community Development Program (CDBG~SEE TEXT OF ORCA'S NOTICE BELOW. Four of the public hearing dates are NEXT WEEK (December 13-14) with a final hearing on December 22, 2004. Initially, these changes will take funds normally reserved for disaster relief and use them to fund an "Education Pilot Program" reserved for Pecos and Wllacy Counties. These Counties were originally designated by the Texas Legislature to receive CDBG funds for "spaceport development," but the federal government prevented this action. If the Pilot Program is successful, up to 15% ($12 million) of the State's annual CDBG funding may eventually be dedicated for educational funding (so called "Public Services" funding). This would take money from programs that fund water, sewer, planning, economic development and disaster relief projects throughout rural Texas. CDBG is your program. Despite support by some State officials for this major policy change, it will be difficult for ORCA and HUD to approve it if there is strong opposition from local governments. To express your opinion on this issue: 1. 1. Attend one of the Public Hearings listed below 2. 2. Write a letter to ORCA at the address in the Notice TEXT OF ORCA NOTICE: PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE TEXAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO: All Interested Parties FROM: Oralia Cardenas, Director Outreach and Development Services SUBJECT: Proposed Amendments to the 2005 Action Plan and the 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan DATE: December 7, 2004 OVERVIEW The Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) will hold public hearings to obtain comments on proposed amendments to the 2005 Texas Community Development Program (TCDP) Action Plan and 12/9/04 rage ~ or ~ 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan. The purpose of these public hearings is to propose an Education Pilot Program, which could assist Pecos and Willacy Counties through eligible education activities as part of the state's Anti-Poverty Strategy in the Consolidated Plan. The goal of the Education Pilot Program is to help break the cycle of poverty by directing education assistance to low-to-moderate income students who will become members of the Texas workforce in Pecos and Willacy Counties. This assistance will help students to obtain the math and science skills appropriate for the workforce needs of the future. IMPACT Education activities are considered a public service and are limited under Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regulations to 15 percent of a state's CDBG allocation. The expectation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is that, upon successful completion of these pilot projects, the proven concept would then be expanded and funded in an ongoing manner so that all nonentitlement communities could participate in the futwe. Upon possible future statewide expansion of the funding allocations the following funds could be impacted by the proposed amendments if approved by HUD and ORCA's Executive Committee: • Community Development Fund ^ Texas Capital Fund ^ Disaster Relief Fund ^ Planning and Capacity Building Fund ^ Non-Border Colonia Fund ^ STEP Fund In addition to the possible impact on the above funding categories, ORCA staff could consider options to reprioritize the use of unobligated and recaptured funds for public services activities. Currently, in accordance with the Consolidated Plan deobligated, unobligated, unused funds, and program income are used for disaster relief and urgent need projects as the highest priority. EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS ^ Education Pilot Program would receive $650,000 in PY 2005 deobligated funds; • Pecos and Willacy Counties would each receive up to $325,000 for eligible education activities; ^ Eligible education activities must be either a new education program or a quantifiable increase in the level of an existing service (Please see attached rules). WRITTEN COMMENTS DEADLINE We greatly encowage yow comments and participation regarding the proposed 2005 TCDP Action Plan and 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan. Deadline for written comments is January 13, 2005. Any written comments related to the proposed amendments to the TCDP Action Plan rules and the Consolidated Plan should be submitted to the following address ore-mail: Office of Rurai Community Affairs Attention: Oralia Cardenas, Director Outreach and Development Services P.O. Boz 12877 Austin, TX 78711-2877 Faa No. (512) 936776 E-Mail: ocardenasnorca.state.ta.us 12/9/04 rags ~ ui ~ PUBLIC HEARINGS DATES AND LOCATIONS Monday, December 13, 2004 10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Deep East Texas Midwestern State University Council of Governments Building Clark Student Center -Shawnee Theatre 210 Premier Drive 3410 Taft Blvd. (Intersection of Hwy 190 & Hwy 63, near Wal-Mart) Wichita Falls, Texas Jasper, Texas Tuesday, December 14, 2004 10:00 a.m. Webb County Administration Building 1110 Washington - 1~ Floor Conference Room 1 A Laredo, Texas 7:00 p.m. Tom Green County Courthouse Commissioner's Courtroom - 2nd Floor 113 W. Beauregard San Angelo, Texas Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:00 a.m. Capital Area Council of Governments Boardroom 2520 S. IH-35, Ste. 100 (Oltorf Exit) Austin, Texas **An additional public hearing has been set for Wednesday, December 22nd in Austin at the Travis B. Williams Building at 10:00 am (1701 N. Congress Avenue Room 1-100). 12/9/04 RESOLUTION WHEREAS The Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) is conducting public Hearings and taking written comment on proposed amendments to the 2005 Texas Community Development Program, and the 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan; and WHEREAS The proposed amendments would create an Education Pilot Program To be used to assist Willacy and Pecos Counties through eligible education activities as part of the state's Anti-Poverty Strategy; and WHEREAS The expectation that upon completion of the Pilot Program in Willacy And Pecos Counties, said program would be expanded to other non- Entitlement communities; and while education activities aze considered a public service, they are limited by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regulations to 15 Percent or $12 Million of the State's CDBG allocation; and WHEREAS Possible statewide expansion of the funding allocations for the proposed Education Program will divert available funding for existing programs Such as: Community Development Fund, Texas Capital fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Planning and Capacity Building Fund, Non-Border Colonia Fund and the STEP Fund and funding for disaster relief and urgent need Projects; now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That Kerr County Commissioners' Court through the adoption of this Resolution does hereby oppose the diversion of funding being proposed To fund the Education Pilot Program, and urges the ORCA Board of Directors to find alternate funding for the proposed Educational Pilot Program if, indeed the program is desirable. ADOPTED THE 28'~ DAY OF DECEMBER, 2004. l~ ~ ~ ~ , H. A. "Buster" Baldwin William H• Williams Commissioner Precinct 1 Commissioner, Precinct 2 Jo than tz Dave icho n Co oner, Precinct 3 Commissioner, Precinct 4