Testing 1, 2, Now cause or the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee meeting to order from Monday, FEBRUARY 10th will begin meeting with introductions of my colleagues on the first row. Thank you. MADAM Derek, a Hill district. 23. Thank you. MADAM Chair Michael Paul Hart District 20. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Paul in a district. 22, thank you. MADAM Chair, Brian Mowery District. 25, thank you. MADAM Chair, Roberts has worked for. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Kristin Jones District 18. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Brand Illini District. 2. Good afternoon. MADAM Chair, Run Gibson District 8. Thank you. MADAM Chair John Barth representing District Thank you. MADAM Chair, Jerod Evans representing District 17. Met a Leroy Robinson District, one. Thank you. Counselors, Maggie Lewis, District 5, the first item on our agenda. His proposal number, 49, looking
for a motion to strike ripple's number 9 is Betty has resigned from the board. To second. Most of in a second. All those in favor signify by saying aye, those opposed same sign the motion carries the next item on our agenda proposal. Number 50 approved the 2025 downtown Economic Enhancement district as Taylor Schaffer. Thank you. MADAM Chair. This evening. You have in front of you proposal for 6 months of the downtown and Indianapolis Economic enhancement district. I keep joking that we are so close to a place for when I come and talk to you all. It'll be about the impacts and results, the district and not just getting it set up. But for the sake of one more time of
getting things set up, just want to walk through really quickly. A refresher on the district about how we got here, who this impacts and what this will look like in this first year of district operations. That's a really quick reminder. The General Assembly initially created the Edi during the 2023 session. There were additional tweaks made to that legislation in 2024. And enacted by you all the City County Council last year. The tool was specific for downtown Indianapolis, although the process that I'm going through tonight, we'll look really similar to what you see annually from the Woodruff Place, id and the Virginia Avenue e I d this tool, though, was intended to address 2 pressing issues, federal dollars that are currently supporting enhanced
downtown operations for running out and the need for additional new dollars to support long-term operations. The been low barrier shelter. The board has constituted under state law is made up of 9 members to were pointed by you all in the city County Council, one appointed by the mayor, one appointed one from the House, one from the Senate and for appointed by the governor. We're joined by 2 here this evening. Our chair Bill Brown, Anadarko our Vice Chair Greg panicky. Those dollars could be permitted, were permitted uses under the state law included security, which could be both for manpower, but also for public safety technology ula's ation of safety ambassadors, Non-law enforcement presence in
downtown cleaning litter graffiti removal power, washing outreach to those experiencing homelessness operations for a low barrier shelter, landscaping and beautification and supporting business development. Just as a refresher. This is the ultimate aed boundary that you all enacted into law. Last fall. That is a little bit different than the initial miles Square foot print. We're looking at it today with her operations team. The northern boundary is the highway. The eastern boundary is the highway. The southern boundary is still South Street. So as to not overlap with that existing district on Virginia Avenue and the one on the West side. It's approximately Blackford street that is
people descend on each side. It is not by setting any existing districts. If you'll recall that was that topic of conversation with the initial miles Square. It's about 3 blocks for their up to the north and about 2 blocks on either side. Again, these were things that were approved last fall. But as a grounding as a grounding exercise, that fee, the rate for the fee is 0.1, 6, 8, 1%, of gross assessed value on really all commercial properties, residential units, apartment units were removed from the legislation in 2024, you do still see some dollars from apartments that is removing that cap to a v. But including those that have mixed use in that development. So they're still paying for
that mixed use square footage within their property. For this year. Total budget of from based on that assessment. It's about 4.5, 3 million dollars, which is what we'll be talking about this evening. Some overarching goals from community listening sessions from our public hearing last week from conversations with the board and stakeholders really wanted to prioritize increase safety and perceptions of safety downtown and ensuring that it's a clean, inviting and cared for downtown experience. The 3rd one says a lot of words that really speaks to the fact we need a 365 day year downtown. But it's great and necessary for our crews to be working really hard ahead of big events. But that's also has to
be true on a Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. And there isn't a big event or convention in town. Downtown's vibrancy requires a livable downtown 365 days. A year and we achieved that through proactive place management and a high level of direct engagement and responsiveness. So what does that mean? Well, those dollars do. Utilizing a mix of full-time downtown and the employees and contractors to provide seven-day week cleaning services throughout that district footprint. We will deploy crews by quadrant with focus on high traffic areas and commercial corridors. You can see on the map that really nicely to those entities that are paying in. We understand the full downtown experience requires everything to look and feel good. But we also really want
to prioritize that. Those that are paying into the district, how they're receiving services leveraging the si se app to track and respond to property owner requests will get to this in the second. But during this process of setting up the district, we set out about 806 individual letters to every single parcel it will be paying in that included the legal language that is required to set up the district. But it also included my cell phone number. It included an e-mail address where people could reach out with questions, comments and concerns and included instructions for downloading the si se app. So that much like similar to the Mayor's Action Center. People can take pictures they can send in request. They can do that from their phone. We receive it. We
have about a 24 to 36 hour response rate for being able to address those challenges downtown. We're also prioritizing litter pickup graffiti removal, power, washing and read we'd remediation and the public safety bucket we those dollars will fund consistent off-duty bike patrols of focus on high traffic times and high visibility areas. We've worked really closely with impd and with those off-duty officers too, not just be reactive, although sometimes we have to be, but really to be proactive to able to schedule out over weeks to be able to identify where areas of our city are seeing. Of our downtown are seeing challenges and then
being able to move those resources around to be able to be really responsive to property issues. Continuing our safety master program. That is something regionally came together in partnership with the city during the pandemic. See Scotty there on the screen. Those are non law enforcement non-sworn officers that really helped to serve as both a friendly face, but also additional eyes and ears for public safety. You can also be a conduit and partner to ensure that people have a really great experience downtown. We see future opportunities to invest in public safety technology. But as you'll see in this first 6 months of of budgeted dollars that we really prioritized continuity and consistency of existing services and wanting to ensure that we're being conservative in our spending.
The last category is that homeless outreach we over the last 2, 2, and a half years work in partnership with Horizon House to provide those outreach services while downtown Indy is named in state law as the staffing partner for the e d and while we care very much about the impacts of homelessness and those neighbors call downtown home. We also understand that at the end of the day, we're a membership-based business focused organization and being service providers isn't what we do so early on contract with rising House to be able to provide that outreach. That includes a community outreach
coordinator and 5 full-time outreach workers. We've also added additional hours for impd is homeless unit staff Linda Street outreach team. Those are really above and beyond normal staffing hours to provide support, to provide coordination, to provide additional collaboration specifically in that downtown area with these outreach workers. We also know that there will be future funding for that low barrier shelter. But due to the fact that the shelter is not yet up and running, that is not included in that first 6 months of fund. How do we know what this looks like? What is the ramp-up period look like? How do we prioritize these numbers? How did we attempt to budget for these numbers? Well, from JANUARY 2023, through all the way through JUNE of 2025. We've been leveraging onetime American
rescue plan dollars to really be able to pilot and maneuver the services that items like we just talked about. The additional hours of impd is homeless unit. Those type of additions were really lessons learned over the last 2 and a half years that have allowed us to better understand what 7 day a week operations look like in downtown. A few key dates to better understand where we are in this process as dictated by state law. The board itself was not constitute until JANUARY one of this year. So on JANUARY, 3rd, our board met for the very first time they approved by laws. They approved the assessment formulation. They did an analysis of the expenditures that you're talking about this evening.
And then move forward with the public hearing on JANUARY 31st. As I mentioned, 806 pieces of mail went out in between those 2 dates as outlined in state law that allowed people to both come participate in the public hearing but also get connected to us for more information and to be able to answer their questions. The JANUARY 31st meeting we probably had 20 or so people attend. We had about 6 or 8, I think in total that testified many had questions. Many wanted to learn more about how we connected, how they could connect to city services, how they could connect to eat the service is how they would see this up here on there. Property tax bill, how those things would work and we were able to
provide that information. Then obviously this was introduced to the city Council on last Monday. We're here before you today at medic hopefully if you all see fit, it will be approved by the Council on MARCH. 3rd because we owe it to the treasurer's office. Nice Tester's office. The following week that approval in order for it to be at the assessment to be added to tax statements. MARCH 15th. We'll have another ebd board meeting on APRIL. 11th. I share that in large part so that if anyone watching that really be in for in informant we will do a deep dive on goals and priorities for this first year of the e d we'll do a deep dive. Inviting some folks associated with the low barrier shelter and talk about
what the timeline and operations for that will look like really be an opportunity to explore how the Edd will work over its 10 year period. And then JUNE of 2025. Is when that initial disbursement of funds will flow from the treasurer's office. As I mentioned, that's really important because that's the same timing that current federal funds wrap-up. And we want to ensure that there's not a dip in services that there's not a drop off in services. Few other considerations before I wrap up that helped to shape the financial document. The scene front of you, as I mentioned, really wanting to ensure that we are providing continuity for existing popular street level operational services. We believe over the life of the district that there will be future opportunities to invest in things like public safety
technology like infrastructure, not in terms of roads and streets, but in terms of the equipment that makes power washing possible makes graffiti removal possible. Those type of things that will really help us to do our job here in downtown. We want to be able to plan for those. But for this for 6 months, ensuring that clean transition and continuity of service was really the top priority. We at downtown Indy want to ensure that utilizing every dollar of federal funds was granted to us by you all in the city of Indianapolis. Before that grant period expires and then make for smooth transition to those district operational funds. Another thing that's important to note, I go back to that slide provided to us by policy
analytics. Your call that that total budget amount was about 4.5, 3 million dollars. It's important to note that are spending will actually happen 6 months in arrears. So you all are reviewing a budget for JULY one through DECEMBER 31st. The other dollars that you see held at the end is because those will go into next year's expenditures. We will come back to you in NOVEMBER just with our other districts to be able to talk about next year's budget. It's a weird quirk for this first year ensuring that all of these moving pieces working at the timelines are aligned moving forward will be on an annual basis just like the other districts. We also wanted to ensure that our spending is conservative figure one 2, we can have a better understanding of possible variables. And and knowing that low barrier shelter will open in late 2026. All things that we've
talked about in a lot of detail as we're planning for not just the 6 months but 18 months. And 24 months into the future, how we're thinking about our spending thing forward. With that. MADAM Chair woman, I am happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank you for your presentation. I do believe we have an amendment for your proposal. Council Jones, thank you. MADAM Chair. I move to amend Section one, a proposal, number 15, 2025 by adding the language underlined and replacing exhibit a with revised exhibit a attached Aaron Section one pursuant to ic 3, 6, Dash, 7 Dash, 40 dash 7, a and section 1, 2, 1, Dash 11. 0, 5, of the revised code of the consolidated city and county, the downtown economic
and hat in hand District Board has submitted its proposed budget for calendar year 2025. The proposed budget is attached here, too, and made a part here of Mark has revised highlighted and underlined exhibit a the total proposed budget is 4 million, $530,000. And I some of the motion and properly moved and second comments regarding the amendment. Seeing none. All those in favor signify by saying Aye. Aye. Those opposed same sign the motion carries questions regarding the proposal as amendment amended councilor Barth. Thank you. MADAM Chair, you reference is make sure tracking it as far as the covid relief dollars. Can you help me just with the timing of those that's expiring. You have enough to get through this dollars
kicking and is helping with the logistics of that. Going to go back a couple sides. That's right. So our initial allocation of about 3.7 million dollars. Was an 18 month pilot program. Originally that was going to align to the setting up of the district as had originally been passed and approved by all of you. Once it became clear that those timelines, we're no longer going to align and the the additional changes at the General Assembly made for a different timetable. Additional allocation of 2.3 million dollars for 12 more months was provided to us. And those will wrap up in JUNE of 2025. Thank you. And to questions MADAM Chair on, I think that Homeless population and partnering with present
House. Has been important part of this initiative from beginning. Do you is there any tracking of the folks who have been encountered have as the average resulted in folks getting permanent housing hasn't resulted in the one any treatment or options. That help them not become homeless. Just curious if there's any outcomes we can we can lead to. I would be happy to share that with the council. We comprehensive report as part of of those federal dollars with the city. And we actually for each of these categories track, not just in this case, those how that outreach occurs, what those connections are outcomes, at least to the degree that those outreach workers can we actually do that across all 3 categories. That includes number of number
of Responses, number amount of trash that's been picked up amount of graffiti that has been remediated. We do that across all of these categories and be happy to share that data with you. Okay. Thank you. I don't know you'd be able to do this. But, you know, from previous discussions we've had on this just like. The whole process of connecting people, especially people who are struggling with mental health addition to community health centers and ensuring that that intervention results and some benefit. I know it's hard to track, but that's like an important thing to see how successful remain. So I appreciate that and we'll have an ongoing discussion. And then my last question is on landscaping and beautification since I'm always looking for more dollars for public that. What does that help me is that defined in state statute? Do
you have flexible? What what what actually goes into the landscape? Beautification section. While it is not been, I think broadly defined. I think what I've heard from the board and what we've heard from stakeholders is really trying to prioritize those basic services. First that I think about it. Also in terms of the category supporting business development, there is some conversations about what that could possibly mean at the public hearing. I think we're open to creative conversations around beautification business development over the 10 year district. But right now what we've consistently heard from property owners is first things first and that is what does it look like on a street quarter? Was it feel like on the street corner? How are we
addressing those most basic blocking and tackling issues? And that's really where those dollars have been prioritized its things like said, ensuring power boxes painted over when there's been graffiti. It's ensuring that that when there's a a when a car has gone up on a bed and all of a sudden it's all ripped up. How are we? How are we addressing those issues with fencing has been all ripped up. How are we addressing those issues? And so that has really been the prioritization of those dollars thus far. Yeah. And I think 100 senators in this is just comment for the future in my own district in broad ripple, there's some exciting news coming about some. Investment in public art that we think could spur some economic development. So all these things that, you know, are interrelated, know you're working hard and all that stuff. So appreciate it. And thanks for your presentation today. Thank you. Counts
Ronnie. Thank you very much, MADAM Chair Schaefer. Thank you for being here. And and them going through this kind of newer concept of the downtown Indianapolis, economic and him Hanzman district. No, MADAM Chair, I think Michelle, Fred indicated that them to members of the District Board, CHAIRMAN Brown. District Board member Hannah Care here. And I didn't know if maybe be appropriate, invite them up just for a minute to say hello and maybe share their thoughts on on the board and your head. I don't mean to put him on the spot, but the service that they're contributing to our capital City is is important. I think they would be great to invite up to briefly say hello and ensure their thoughts. Yeah, absolutely. Good evening and thank you for hearing our case
this evening. I'm Bill Brown and chair of the and we're obviously very pleased that we have the opportunity to not only bring this before you but also have the opportunity to actually enact. Well, we've been doing for the last year and a half with the arpa funds. This gives us the opportunity to continue those services and actually expand those services beyond the Mile Square and into a larger area. Were we we really believe that this will make a big difference to the downtown. It already has already. And we know that it's important to our residents as well as to our business owners. And so we will you continue to see this is a a wonderful extension of the work that we've been doing with downtown Indy and and Taylor and her team have done an excellent job relative to
managing the arpa funds. We're going to be doing the same thing with the funds that are coming to us from the one of the things we're also going to be doing. And Taylor and I've talked about this a couple of times. We know that there are various parcels that have been accepted out of this and property owners and we're actually going to develop a strategy where some of those owners have already expressed interest in contributing when they don't have to contribute. And so we're going to set up a mechanism for those entities to actually contribute additional dollars into the into the fund, which will be welcomed, obviously solid. Greg offer his thoughts as well. Thanks, Bill. Thanks for having me up here. Maybe 30 years. And so the pair lot I
do MISS It. Sometimes. Echo what Bill I think downtown doing a fantastic job now and that covid money was a godsend live 2 blocks from been. The move back downtown for almost 20 years. Now. So it's it's my neighborhood. I'm just I'm just a neighbor at this point. But I was really honored to be asked by the mayor to be on this board. And I really believe in downtown Indy. I think it's a great places. Got a few black eyes. During covid and stuff and people that are down here do realize that we have. And as ours are greater Central Indiana community continues to grow outward. This really still important to have the Corby solid because the rest of think so said to be on this and appreciate consideration. Thank you. Council Gibson. Thank you,
MADAM Chair. Thank you. Board members are being really appreciate have a comment for Taylor. Taylor of I interested in and to see say at I wonder be using it and I so that you use it across the board in terms of to to to engage the stay calm for a Like a better word. Are you all is is also connected with other others, other resources like that? You mentioned it to partner with us. We'll so the way that it works is it's an out of the box solution market in large lead organizations like ours, playspace management organizations all across the country. It's kinda for downtown Indy. So select downtown Indy as your partner. We rolled it out. I think initially in 2023, early in 2023 initially just for downtown and the members and
have continued to scale it up. Obviously, all of the property owners, we want to be able to utilize it and have access to it. You really focus is when when you do it, you can report something that is not in one of the categories, but it's really focused on the things that you see here. It's vandalism. It's graffiti, trash environmental issues. It includes public safety challenges that a business might be experiencing with someone experiencing homelessness around their property. We do have it has a notification that if it's an emergency, we encourage them to it, too. Call 9-1-1. It's not monitored. 24 7, it's not an emergency hotline, but it does allow us to then provide that information to our partners, whether that's impd, whether that's are off-duty officers. It allows us to schedule a and and ensure that
our staffing nears where we're seeing trends in all sorts of challenges, whether that's like I said, whether that's environmental or otherwise. And then it also allows for us to share that information with relevant parties. That MAY not be the work that we do on a daily basis, but to be able to pass along appropriately. I appreciate that. And it sounds like a good good tool I just downloaded. But is not for my uses. It. You are more more than welcome if you're walking around downtown, I have no object I work for elements, health and since and I are all times. So I appreciate that. And think you're doing a wonderful job and I look forward to continue work with as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Council Gibson's additional questions as County leader Heart. Thank you, MADAM Chair and great questions by
the committee all. Very similar about I want. I want little bit deeper to into where CHAIRMAN Barth was going with really making sure that. But we're expecting these funds and we're using we're going down to make Indianapolis safer and cleaner. It sounds like a lot of the federal reporting is Quanta reverse you know, you're just saying which is a good thing, right? It's good to see and report on this metric. Sunshine how much trash don't confuse it, which is good to see. But that really isn't state. How it improves the quality of Indianapolis. And that's what I'm curious. Reiman. You would to invent that. I wasn't there the day, you know, visit promoting, you know, record breaking year. We have in
2024. And that's great. It's gonna be hard to break those records. But maybe that's a way that we can look at it right. Seeing that we're able to attract more people, more events to the city. Some curious the thoughts from from you. How can we show that qualitative improvement to Indianapolis in those 2 categories. As you come back and talk to this committee and as the board reports to cause, you know, in this middle position of both of these. Well, the everything you just said are conversations that we've been having as a staff that the board has been having as an oversight entity. And candidly that we've been having as sort of larger downtown Indy community one of the things that we began doing last year that we at downtown and you're committed to continuing is 8 user survey. We did it and then announce
the results as part our state of downtown in SEPTEMBER of last year. We plan on doing that utilizing that pretty consistently moving forward. We do plan on adding the cow, the category of a district payer moving forward. We talked quite a bit about it last year, but we felt like it was that that's a complicated answer until you see it on your property tax bill and know that you're a part of that district. And so we didn't include that as a stand-alone category. We plan on tracking that in the future to your point. How people feel is nearly as important as what the statistics say, whether that is about amount of trash picked up or for that matter, no amount like public safety issues, right? We can talk about what those outcomes are from impd standpoint and they're incredibly important.
But that doesn't the reason people come downtown, isn't that cut and dry, right? As much about revives as it is anything else. And we want to ensure that we're tracking that whose that was the reason for beginning that public sentiment survey little planning to do that. Like that argument was over 5 years, although I can't imagine that certainly rested after 5 years. But I think that something will do it but left the district. That's fantastic. So then I just encourage, you know, as being a business owner in the district, but not. Property owner district, right? So I'm not going to see that on And I'm sure there's a lot of people in that and I'm sure they would have lot of great input. So, you know, when you figure out how you do that survey, which I think is a front, phenomenal idea getting into the people that are also,
you know, Lee sees within in that category as well because I'm sure they have probably about better yet sometimes then police source. I think it is. So last time we we really marketed to users of downtown, right? That would those with the categories that were tracked. It was central Indiana residents. It was downtown residents and it was workers like those are really the 3 and students. Those are really the categories that we were pushing. Those 2. I think the evolution will be a more intentional. Push to include district payers as well. But undeniably the business owners, especially encouraging to the previous question about the set, encouraging those property owners to pass that along to the businesses. They're our eyes and ears on a daily basis. Right? And so often they're the first one to
experience a problem or see an opportunity or need additional resources probably before it ever trickles down to the person that it is actually owning that building. Absolutely. Thank you. Additional comments. MADAM Clerk, you like to read the statement. Thank you. Before we open the floor to public comments, we would like to remind committee members and the public of a few ground rules. So everyone can have a fair chance to speak and be heard. It is important that we each observe the following rules first, each speaker will be limited to 2 minutes. Second, any public comments must be reasonably relate to the agenda item under consist consideration. 3rd speaker,
some stray from the item under considers consideration or become unduly repetitions MAY be asked to move on to their next point. I conclude their comments finally attendees to cause disruption. That current prevent the committee from proceeding through tonight's agenda and a reasonably efficient manner will be removed. Please remember that some types of speech or incitement to violence are not protected by the First Amendment at all. We will deal with those issues if they come up. But we don't think they will. And MADAM Chair, if the committee member Axford consent to adopt these rules, we can proceed to the public comments. Consent. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to speak to pose a number 50? I haven't. Kelly Margot for proposal. 50. I'll
entertain a motion move it. The most of probably moved. And second, all those in favor signify by saying Aye. Those opposed same sign the motion carries the next item on our agenda was a number 50 want to presume out it locations and program operations. But of certain projects to be funded from the community development. Grant funds. Thank you, MADAM Chair and your patience. As we figure out some technological difficulties there. So good evening and thank you all for having me tonight. My name is Beth level and I'm the administrator community investments with the Department of Metropolitan Development. I'm joined tonight by a few members of my team who manage the grant programs will be discussing tonight. And so council proposal, 51 is seeking approval of the amounts, locations and use of community development. Grant funds. Before we get into the
specifics of council proposal. 51 in the annual action plan. I wanted to take a step back and give you all some context for what my team does. We are responsible for the grant management and oversight of numerous grant programs related to affordable housing Community Development and homelessness. This includes the grant funding. That's part of council proposal. 51 as well as the continuum of care grants, local housing trust Fund section 108, some covid specific response resources as well. The grant programs that we're focusing on tonight are the Home Investment Partnership program. The Community Development Block Grant the Emergency Solutions Grant and the housing opportunities for persons with aids. Grant the amounts for these programs is determined by the amount of funding approved through the federal budget and a formula determined by hud. So the whole program can be used for the creation and
rehabilitation of affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. It can also be used for down payment assistance and tenant based rental assistance. And we receive about 4 million dollars a year in home funding. The cdbg program is our most flexible funding source and it's focused on benefiting lowand moderate-income individuals and neighborhoods. We primarily use it for affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. Homeowner repair public facilities like community centers, demolition of unsafe structures and job training for youth and high barrier adults. We typically receive about 9 million dollars annually in Cdbg. So home and cdbg or more of the development focused grants
while Esg and hop more focused on providing services. So that esg program can be used to assist households were experiencing or at risk of homelessness. These funds are primarily used for emergency shelter operations, rapid rehousing Street outreach and homelessness prevention. This is one of our smaller grants and we only get about $800,000 a year annually in Esg. The hopwa program is unique within our portfolio. The other grants that we have. So those first 3, they can only serve households and projects within the city limits of Indianapolis. Hopwa. However, statutorily has a service area that includes the surrounding counties, including Brown, Hamilton Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Morgan
Putnam in Shelby County. So as a really large service area, hopwa funds can be used for rental assistance, mortgage assistance and other housing stability services for individuals and households were impacted by hiv or aids diagnosis and typically receive about 2 million dollars. Sometimes a little bit more in hop every year. It's important keep in mind that these grant programs come with a variety of complex federal regulations and they must be carried out on a reimbursement basis. So unlike traditional philanthropic grants, which can often be provided on the front end of a project, our partners must in current expense and then submit to our team for review in reimbursement. And then finally, again, with the exception of Hopwa, we can
only serve the city limits of Indianapolis. So we cannot fund projects in speedway, Beech Grove warrants and Southport. I've included a few photos of some of the cdbg and home funded projects over the last couple of years. These include affordable homeownership and affordable rental housing through our development partners. But it also includes historic rehabilitation, food access projects and partnerships with the parks department and dpw for Pivotal, Comprehensive Community Development based infrastructure projects as well. The Esg and Hopper programs partner with local nonprofits, focused on providing high quality services to our most vulnerable residents. This is not a comprehensive list of all of our partners but did want to provide some additional context for the types of organizations to carry out this work. I also want to make clear that the proposal before you tonight
only includes 4 programs within the full affordable housing spectrum. So there are a variety of other funding programs, some of which are managed by Dnd and others are external. So want to be clear Council proposal. 51 is just a subset of some of the affordable housing and commuters initiatives happening throughout our city. There are projects happening throughout our city that are arpa funded low-income housing tax credit funded to funded that are not included in the proposal before you tonight. So council proposal, 51 only relates to the 4 grant programs discussed earlier. So when we say affordable housing for our programs, this refers to households who are at or below 80% of the area median income or am I? Currently for household one. Someone has to
make below $57,650 to qualify for programs. A family of 4. We need to make less than 82,300. Requires that we go through a number of processes in order to be eligible to receive these funds as a city. The first concept to be aware of is our five-year consolidated plan we're required to complete this plan every 5 years. And this process involves community engagement to determine our funding priorities over the next 5 years. The second concept is our annual action plan. This serves as an annual update to that 5 year plan and includes projects will be funded that work towards those goals identified in that 5 year plan. All of the projects that we funds through. Our annual action plan must meet one of the goals and
priorities outlined in the consolidated plan. And then finally, in order to develop that annual action plan, we host a number of competitive funding application rounds. This includes both internal and external non conflicted review committee members and through these competitive process is we determine the projects that will be selected to be part of the annual action plan. Sourc current consolidated plan. That's not 5 year plan again is Sunsetting and it ran from 2023 2024. We are still within our 2024 program. Here years a little bit different from federal fiscal year from the city's calendar year. It runs through the end of MARCH. Every single year. So this the date on the slide is from our 2020 2021. 2022 2023 program years. So during this time we expended a little over 54 million dollars in total of those for grants and some of
those major highlights include creating 93 new, affordable homeownership opportunities. 57 affordable rental units were developed a rehabbed. 22 grocers and low-income census tracks are provided technical assistance. Nearly 1800 low-income households with hiv or aids we're providing short-term rental assistance. Over 3,500 adults and 1700 youth engaged in job training services. 1400. And 22 neighbors experiencing homelessness. We're engaged through street outreach. 65 new jobs are created for low-income individuals and nearly 500 households at risk of homelessness. We're providing rapid rehousing. This is not all encompassing, but I wanted to give you all a sense of the work we do and the skill with which our partners are able to carry out
this work. So we are working on final steps to finalize our 2025. To 2029 consolidated plan, which will officially kick off in APRIL and that'll be the start of our 2025 program here. Again, this can Saudi plan is the 5 year plan that's required by hud and sets the vision for the next 5 years. It also serves our application to hud to make sure that we can keep receiving these federal grants year-over-year. So 3 public hearings, participation in those road to resource block parties, surveys and stakeholder listening sessions. We've identified 4 main priorities for this consolidated plan is coming up. Overwhelmingly we heard about the need for affordable housing. So the first priority supporting the development of quality, affordable housing. So this includes developing affordable rental home ownership, permanent supportive housing and providing essential home
repairs. The next priority is reducing homelessness to shelter short-term housing and rental assistance. So that would include overnight Shelter Street outreach, rental assistance and homelessness prevention. 3rd is supporting basic human needs via public services and public facility improvements. So this is focused on improving access to healthy food, supportive services for those household with an hiv or aids diagnosis and supporting service programs, increase economic mobility the final priority is on increasing access to employment opportunities and investing in neighborhoods. So include job training, support for small businesses and micro enterprises, commercial rehab, public facilities and brownfield remediation and demolition. So those priorities have set the vision for the next 5 years of these funds. So any project that
we're going to fund the next 5 years past fall within one of those buckets. So those priorities then informed a 2025 action plan, which is what's before you tonight. Our action plan process requires a competitive application process. So for a little bit of context, we combine our home and cdbg applications which are primarily focused on developments. We also host a competitive hopple application and a competitive esg applications. We actually have 3 application rounds every single fall. For home and cdbg. Specifically around the affordable housing priorities. We have kind of broken down into neighborhood factors and project specific factors. So some of those neighborhood factors include proximity to transit and multi-modal transportation such as
greenways trails and bike lanes. We also really prioritize areas that don't have any existing affordable housing. Finally, we also prioritize neighborhood amenities so access to schools, health care and grocery stores. On the project. Specific side, we focus on current supportive housing units. If the project has more units available for lower-income households, requirements or 80% am I? But if this project will target, people who are at 50% and my or 30% am I that receives higher priority. We also prioritize a variety of bedroom counts. So we're looking for projects that have especially more bedrooms, pri and its a 3, 4, bedrooms are big missing piece in our affordable housing portfolio. Locally. And then finally, we're also factoring in prioritize projects was to sustainability features.
Fernand housing projects. We prioritize again. Transit access. We're also prioritizing the creation and expansion of retail food options and inclusive growth or bury. Barry are busting activities. So those are activities that reduce barriers for low-income households that could include things like affordable child care connection to education. Really anything again, that helps increase economic mobility. So this slide provides a summary of the purse pose 2025 action plan. Budget in 2025. Are planning on allocating approximately 21 million dollars. This includes rollover from prior years and are expected 2025 award amounts. So as you can see, the vast majority of the funding is going towards
affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. And they're also planning on 11% going towards admin costs. Here's a little bit more of a visual representation of the text is really tiny up there. But the dark blue is the amount of funding going towards affordable housing initiatives. 69%, grey is admin at 11%. About one percent is planned for demolition in brownfield remediation. 4% in red is for job training and use employment. 8% is an orange for public facilities and infrastructure again related to comprehensive community development, 6%, which is in yellow is set aside for our Central homeowner repair program. And one percent is planned for food access and my
grand prize assistance. This slide shows the distribution of where we received home and cdbg applications So these were development applications that were submitted to us requesting just that home and cdbg funding. This includes both housing and not housing applications, but not any of the services related to Esg Hapa. We received approximately 23 million and application requests with about 10 million available to award. Roll through this process with the empty. This is a non conflicted funder. Dmd staff does not develop programs or development projects through this process because we need to be able to maintain the integrity of our competitive process. We need to remain that neutral 3rd party. That response, the applications that we receive
from external groups. So our team is available throughout the year for technical assistance. We host a number of trainings around program policies, our processes and orientations for new entities applying these are available in both group settings or individualized meetings. But once our application opens. Which is typically late AUGUST early SEPTEMBER, we can only answer logistical questions about our applications so that we can ensure that these processes are still competitive. We also have external non conflicted review committee members participate in the decision-making process. These are typically other funders in the affordable housing and community space. Side. Apologize. A little difficult to read, but this shows the
geographic distribution of the projects we're proposing funding through the 2025 action plan. So if you focus first on the colors that are on the map so that pink green and blue. That's what's known as the mrsa, the neighborhood revitalization Strategy area. These areas have certain requirements. That are defined by a hud such as being primarily residential and a certain percentage. Low-income. He's particularly interested in tracking outcomes within those geographies. And we have slightly more flexibility with some of the rules and regulations for projects that are located within that and rsa. However, project outside the nra say are absolutely eligible and we do fun projects throughout the city limits of Indianapolis. So then if you look at the next
layer, the hash marks indicate citywide initiatives. So this includes projects like our essential homeowner repair program down payment assistance, job training and supportive services to Esg and Hopwa. The icons indicate project types such as rental home ownership, public facility or infrastructure. And again, we can only serve the city limits of Indianapolis. So that's why Speedway Beech Grove Lawrence in Southport are not part of those hash marks. So in order to meet the federal requirements for the 2025 action plan, we released a draft for public comment on JANUARY. 15th. That public comment period will end on Valentine's Day. Jade or FEBRUARY 14th and then the regulatory submission date is FEBRUARY. 15th. However, we are not allowed to submit. Our action plan to hud until the
passage of the federal budget. And we actually know the allocation amounts at this point. It's an estimate based on historical trends. So we will submit our action plan as soon as we're able, which will likely be later in the spring. So with that, I want to thank you all for your time this evening. You can use the qr code on the screen to link to our website where folks can learn more about our grant programs. Previously recorded trainings and sign up for email announcements. Are there any questions from? Yes. Thank you so much for presentation council thank you. MADAM Chair. I was just curious. What type of contact as the city maintain with the federal agency housing and urban development. Do on hud to contact the city? Are you
constant communications? Is that emails phone calls? Obviously we have an administration and obviously we all see that there are different philosophies as it relates to federal spending any indications that that the federal spending on this particular program MAY look different than it has past. Yes, we maintain a really strong relationship with our local hud office. We have established biweekly meetings with them. But then we also know that they're a quick phone call or email away. So we're very lucky that we have such a great relationship with our local head office at this point in time. We're continuing business as usual earned and struck Ting our partners to do the same everything that's before you tonight is statue statutorily eligible and follows the laws as outlined by these programs. So this point we're continuing
business as usual. Thank you, MADAM Trace of one more. Yes, sir. Thank you very much. I believe when you take a look at the map you provided you'll them off of Bluff Road, an ax for public space and believe that's the b, a c I and that's something that's in my council district. And I've been very supportive of the Burmese American Community Institute. Just curious when you when you fund these projects over a long term period of time, do you ever go back after 5 or 6 years and check back in? Did they take any type of surveys? Because I see where you've shown some statistics and I think it's council heart know that, you know, those tell one story. I was just curious if we're able to tell a longer story over a longer period of
time. Yeah, that's a great question. So I think historically we've mostly tracked with the 5 year required period of time but absolutely open and love those kinds of stories about qualitative outcomes as well, which sometimes are a little bit more difficult to track when it comes to community development. But yes, that's that's one of the things that I know do you do is really interested in and telling those stories of our community-based partners who do this difficult work day in day And I think the stories that we hear the short term say we're 5 years. They're really good. But if there are opportunities to go back over you no longer periods of time. I think it just helps even
greater talk about the stories. We don't always see these type of grants on the south side my district. We're very proud of this one. And we love to be able to tell that story over a longer period of time. Additional questions. Councilor Delaney. Thank you. MADAM I just want get very specific kind of drilling into something that counselor and they talked about. The PRESIDENT Has stated that he wants to cut federal funding and money flowing to local governments. I want to make sure we're like super clear what we're talking about. Do you anticipate any loss of funds because of what the PRESIDENT's actions are? At this point in time, we like I said, our continuing business as usual. The cdbg program has been around for 50 years. It was around for prior administrations of this
presidency. And so, you know, we don't know what we don't know. But at this point, we believe we will continue to receive these funds, especially prior year. Funds have already been approved by Congress. And so we're continuing on business as usual and these are funds that are used in both red and blue states throughout the country. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. MADAM Chair. I just want to dig into a couple things here. The first one on. The applicant pool that we're and we had a conversation last week about this. But I just want a really important and, you know, a lot of times and historically we had a counselor was on this committee and she would call this out and because I'm doing this in her namesake. But it's it's really seeing a broader use of these tools throughout the county, not necessarily
just. Well as I'm centralized in the center of the county, right, Indianapolis area. I mean, there's a great story that we're seeing a Perry Township this time around. But from what I've learned over the years of seeing these grants, it's not necessarily a lack of. Administering dollars out to that. It's the applicants that are coming in to the program. And that is really coming from society. Side. West Side, North side. So with that being the case, I'm curious in this current package that we're looking at approving how many new applicants are there? That's a great question. Do you mean applicants or the ones have been awarded awarded or did so if I were to affect the napkin? And it also depends we've had one of the ways that we've developed partnerships over time and help build the capacity of a lot of smaller grass roots organizations. Is
that we? Perhaps fund them through a services contract, which is a little bit easier than diving into complex development projects. I think Burmese American Cleaning Institute is a great example of that where for the last couple of years they've been one of our summer youth program fund recipients, which is a much smaller allocation. They get used to the requirements of federal funding and now they transition into a development project. So I think that that's one that kind of toes that line between they're not necessarily technically new but for development projects. They are new. Another new one hope cdc is relatively new as well. They Involved on lift in the Far East side and through a lot of the partnerships developed through that program
are now to the point where there they are, interested, willing and able to take on a development project equity 18. 21 is another new program for the federal grant dollars. As well as Midwest Support Foundation. The King King Avenue homes. That's a new developer for us. Let me see Shepard cdc. They're partnering developer who has worked over the number of years. But Shepard cdc is a new organization for us to That's because I don't he get there, but just find it interesting because you know You know, I tried to help a developer of a summer as much as I could write, directed them to your office. And, you know, I'm not an expert in things when means, but he was telling me about a project that he had. And again, we talked about this and happy to be counselor Gibson's district. I believe another
when a counselor Joneses. But it sounds like some of the challenges that he had is that, you know, he tried to apply for these grants, but it was another of the project. It was there's only so much they know about applying for these. And then it's almost as if it's not almost it is as if you apply and then you learn what you did wrong after the fact versus. You know, having very clear cut way of applying for the funds, which makes it difficult for really getting new. Admissions and approvals into these programs. So that to me is an opportunity for for the city of Indianapolis and, you know. I think there's more we could do that we have for some of the developers that have these projects that could qualify. But they're losing out because they didn't know how to fill out a form
properly. The thing I want to dive into his, you know, just as in question and how that could relate to student housing because I'm looking at the affordability matrix and it really shows. Pretty broad number one individual is 57,057 1000, 650 for one household member. That's going to be a lot of students would fall into that category. So some of these developing student housing qualify for these types of funds know a lot of very specific rules around students. So it can be sometimes project specific. But most often if you are still dependent on a tax return, you are not eligible and we are not allowed to do. Student housing traditionally know. Okay. That's going and then demolition restrictions only for housing or does include commercial properties
as well. Commercial properties are also eligible for demolition through Cdbg. Okay. No askew. This all go into details later on that often the last one would then be. Iu Bloomington Health on this distribution list. How does that? You know, you mentioned early on that there are some of these dollars that could be distributed to outside of Marion County. I would have to hope that there's a correlation between iu Health in Indianapolis with those dollars. So I hope we meet and that is recipients. That's the one that has huge service area that goes not only the donut counties but all the way down the Bloomington. And so we're statutorily required to serve all of those counties. And I live in 10 has been our long-standing partner through that. That MAY be another conversation for a different
day. Thanks a judge later yet. Think it does get a little complicated on that piece. Additional questions, comments from counselors. MADAM Clerk, you have a list. Kelly, Marco. Emily Hillebrandt. Joe Bowling. So Joe. MADAM Chair, yes, ma'am. Jenny Fultz deputy director for Department Parks Development. These folks had signed in to testify and stuff. Port of proposal, number 51, but had since left. So apologize or no Thank you. Said that I saw him. There anyone in audience said this is a speech to propose another. 51 Aaron level. Apologize. MADAM Chair and members of committee. My name is Aaron last year and I currently serve as director of acquisitions and development for the newest sports Foundation. Organization has been engaged in affordable housing development for over 2
decades, particularly in the income housing tax credit development space and we remain committed to ensuring the qualities stable have of stable housing and accessibility to those who need the most. Personal level I've been invested and a half hollow neighborhood since college about 9 years ago and see firsthand both the challenges and the potential, the neighborhood. Last month new Escort Foundation was awarded home funds for phase one of the homeownership project, which Beth mentioned earlier. And although is a neighborhood that has been overlooked for several years, but I believe deserves does the same investment opportunity as many other parts of the neighborhood of the city. And lastly, I would
like express my strong support proposal presented to you today. Projects like this are not just about housing. There about equity stability in creating a pathway to generational wealth for families. I appreciate the city's commitment to equitable development. And and I encourage the committee to support this effort. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you being here. And for the second clue, Jealous. Is there anyone else in the audience that wishes to speak to propose a number? 51? Cnn, a entertain a motion your second. Most property when a second, all those in favor signify by saying aye, I those opposed same sign the motion carries. Thank you so much for your presentation. Seeing no other business before this committee, I entertain a motion for adjournment. We are
adjourned.