Title
RESOLUTION OF SEDGWICK COUNTY RELATING TO THE REAP CONSORTIUM FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT AND SEDGWICK COUNTY'S CONTINUED ROLE IN SAID HUD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT.
Presented by: William P. Buchanan, County Manager.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Take action as deemed appropriate by the Commission.
Body
On September 28, 2011, the Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 196-2011 authorizing Sedgwick County to participate in a consortium of counties and other entities to apply for a HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant and to act as fiscal agent for the HUD grant. After the grant was awarded in November 2011, the Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners entered into an agreement entitled "REAP Consortium for Sustainable Communities Consortium Agreement" with REAP and other consortium members on April 4, 2012. The original grant period is expected to end February 15, 2015. An extension on the grant to April 20, 2015 has been requested and authorized.
Section 2 of the Agreement specifies the roles and responsibilities of Consortium members, which are as follows:
1. Designate a primary point of contact that has final decision making authority on behalf of the member regarding Consortium business;
2. Abide by the governance structure and decision making protocols of the Consortium;
3. Provide representatives to the Consortium Leadership Team ('CLT') and work teams, as necessary;
4. Provide timely responses to requests for information from REAP, the CLT, and work teams;
5. Participate in the community engagement process by helping to publicize community engagement activities in their community and providing access to facilities under their control, to the extent practical;
6. Provide matching funds for the grant in the form of cash or in-kind services; and, for Sedgwick County specifically,
7. Serve as the fiscal agent of the Consortium, with all budgetary, accounting, procurement, reporting and auditing matters performed in accordance with the County's established protocols.
As Fiscal Agent, Sedgwick County pays and seeks reimbursement for the grant-related bills, prepares and submits the grant's financial reports and ensures compliance with fiscal audit requirements. As such, the fiscal agent term will be longer than the term of the grant. After the grant period ends the County will prepare required final financial reports, and early in 2016 the grant will be included in the county's audit of 2015 grant and financial records.
Sedgwick County's commitment to provide matching funds is $120,707 of in-kind services.
Alternatives: N/A
Financial Considerations: Through December 31, 2014, total costs of $1,255,782 had been incurred. The HUD available balance on the grant was $244,218. To date, the County has provided $72,983 through a "soft" match, including time spent by the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Environmental Resources, and County Commissioners.
Legal Considerations: The Consortium Agreement that was executed by the county contains no provision allowing members to withdraw or terminate their participation in the Consortium.
The Resolution specifies that the county is opposed to the request to extend the grant from February 15 to April 30 of this year; that no work product derived from the grant shall be used to influence future count spending, planning, or policy decisions; and that no public funds under the control of the County shall be used to implement, support, promote, advocate for or participate in any future efforts relating to the work product of the grant.
Policy Considerations: N/A
Outside Attendees: N/A
Multimedia Presentation: N/A