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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 01 09 Consent 401 Neighborhood Improvement GrantCOMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 401 CONSENT January 9, 2006 MGR /DEPT Meeting Authorization REQUEST: The Community Development Department, Urban Beautification Services Division, is requesting Commission approval for the 2006 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program (NIP). PURPOSE: The purpose of this Board item is to request authorization to proceed with the 2006 NIP Grant Program by advertising the program to City Residents, receiving applications to be pre-qualified by the Beautification of Winter Springs Advisory Board and City Staff, and to present the successful applications to the City Commission for approval in April 2006. CONSIDERATIONS: This agenda item is needed to initiate year two of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program. The program was designed to allow ordinary Neighborhood Groups of Citizens to creatively participate in the beautification process throughout their community in various Public areas such as rights-of-way, medians, parks, and City buildings. For the 2006 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program, application requirements have been adjusted to allow a greater number of resident groups to qualify and participate. Currently, there is $15,000 available in the '05/06 budget specifically earmarked for grant awards through this program. Each grant requires 50% participation from the applicant by way of either labor or funds (a combination of both may be used). Applicants will be responsible for maintenance of their project for at least (1) year after installation. The project completion deadline will be August 31, 2006. The 2005 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program was a huge success with projects completed in the Mount Greenwood and Tuscawilla subdivisions, the Fire Station on Moss Road, and the Police Department Building. NIP Grant Ag VeT. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 1 of 17 January 9,2006 Consent Agenda Item 401 Page 2 FUNDING: Funding for the 2006 NIP Grant Program in the amount of $ 15,000 is available from the Urban Beautification Services budget line code (1525-58000-30077). Commission approval will be sought prior to the individual grant awards being issued. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that authorization be granted to proceed with the NIP Grant Program for the '05-06 budget year. Final approval for each grant award will be obtained from the City Commission in April 2006 after recommendation for funding is provided by the Beautification of Winter Springs Advisory Board and City Staff. IMPLEMENT A TION SCHEDULE: The project will be implemented and notification to the Citizens published immediately after Commission approval. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Neighborhood Grant Improvement Program Packet COMMISSION ACTION: NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 2 of 17 -Attachment 1- City of Winter Springs Grant Project 2006 Proposal for Neighborhood Improvement Program NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 3 of 17 1. Introduction The City of Winter Springs Neighborhood Improvements Program is designed to assist Neighborhood Groups within the City limits who desire to enhance landscape amenities in the community in which they reside. A project of this kind allows the Citizens to have greater input and participation in the enhancement process and therefore directly affect the surrounding community. A primary focus of this program is the Residents of Winter Springs; therefore, this program is not available to businesses of any kind or status. - The Beautification Board of Winter Springs in cooperation with the Beautification Manager and City Arborist look forward to working with your Community on this project. - 2. Requirements / Conditions Grants awarded to Neighborhood Groups must be used for landscaping on Public Property such as Rights-Of-Way along Public Roadways and Streets, Medians, Public Buildings and Parks in the City of Winter Springs. Program Requirements: 1. Neighborhood groups must consist of at least (3) households located within the City of Winter Springs. Homeowners and Condominium Associations may participate with written support of the Association Board of Directors. All groups must be not for profit. 2. Participants must be willing to match grant funds dollar for dollar (50% of the total project cost) with either volunteer labor or financial participation. 3. Neighborhood groups must agree to establish and maintain the project for a minimum of (1) year after completion. 4. Completed applications with landscape design must be submitted on or before March 31st, 2006. Plans will be reviewed by Staff for compliance with ordinances. If plans fail to meet standards, staff will provide suggestions to allow the application to be processed. 5. Work must be completed and inspected by no later than August 31, 2006 - 3:00pm. 6. Projects must conform to all City requirements including but not limited to: building codes, regulations and ordinances. 7. Volunteer labor is valued at $15.00 per man hour for calculation purposes. Only time accrued after the grant award may be used toward the grant program. Volunteer hours must be documented and submitted along with the monthly progress report. 8. A project number and start date will be assigned if your grant is approved for funding. Work may not begin before authorization is provided from City Staff. Deadline for submission of grant applications and plans is March 31, 2006, @ 3pm. Location: City Hall C/O: Nancy Vobornik, Purchasing Coordinator, 1126 E SR 434, Winter Springs, FL 32708. NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 4 of 17 The City of Winter Springs reserves the right to change or cancel the grant program at any time. Application for the Neighborhood Improvement Program does not guarantee a grant will be awarded for your project. All grant proceeds must be used for tree and landscaping improvements on public property or rights-of-way areas within the City of Winter Springs, Florida. Selection of grant recipients will be done by the Beautification of Winter Springs Advisory Board and must be approved by the City Commission before your project can be funded. 3. Available Grants (FY 2005-2006) Applicants can apply for grant funding starting at $ 500 with maximum grant funding of up to $ 10,000 per applicant for the 2006 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program. Funding will be allocated based upon various qualifiers including but not limited to: benefit to the community, organization or group, plat selection (plan) and long term survivability of project. $ 15,000 Total Funds Available * Grant values must be matched dollar for dollar either by volunteer labor or by financial participation. Definitions Material used in your project must meet the following criteria: 1. Plant material must be at least 50% native to the Central Florida area; planting Zone 9, grown within 100 miles of the install site. 2. All plant material must not be listed on the Exotic Pest Plant Council- Exotic Invasive Plant List. 3. All items must be Florida #1 grade plant material at the time of installation. Definitions: Ornamental landscape plants - Shrub or plant material installed for aesthetic purposes in modern landscape setting. Examples are: Viburnum suspensum, Indian hawthorn, Azalea, etc.. Native - A plant which was occurring within the state's boundaries prior to European contact. Examples are Live oak, Cypress, Firebush, and Coontie, etc. Canopy Tree- Trees that grow large enough to provide shade for landscaped areas including roadways. Examples are: Winged elm, Sand live oak, Southern magnolia, Live oak. Oeciduous- Trees that lose their foliage due to seasonal changes throughout the year. Examples are: Winged elm, Alee elm, Red maple, Laurel oak. Evergreen - Trees that keep their foliage year round no matter what seasonal changes occur. Examples are: Live oak, Ligustrum tree, Southern magnolia, Southern Red cedar. Flowering Tree- Trees that flower at different months throughout the year. Examples are: Chickasaw plum, Crape myrtle, Golden trum Page 5 of 17 4. Project Description/Scope of Work Project Title: Description of project: Project location(s): Describe existing conditions (include photographs): Describe how the project will benefit the community: List any support organizations for the project: NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 6 of 17 5. Timetable Outline Provide detailed information on the expected timetable for the project. Break the project into phases, and provide a schedule for each phase. Description of Work Estimated Start and End Dates NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 7 of17 6. Budget Make sure to attach a separate document detailing all labor, materials, and costs required for your project. Please also complete the worksheet below: 1. Project Outline Description 2. City's Partlclpallon (Grant 50%) 3. Matching Funds (Your Portion) $ 4. Matching Volunteer Labor (Your Portion) $ < $15.00 Hour x _ Hours> $ Options 3 & 4 may be used together or separately but must add up To 50% of the total project cost. ( Matching may be eRher funds or volunteer labor or a combination of both to meet the crRerla for a grant) Total Project Cost (Add 2+3+4 above) $ Notes: NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 8 of 17 7. Key Participants List the key organizer who will be responsible for completion of the project, as well as other volunteers involved in the project. List all participants with contact information below. For Homeowners Associations list only Board Members: Name Address Phone 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 8. Evaluation Progress will be evaluated on a monthly basis by way of status reports submitted by your group as well as site visits from City Staff. Should there be any concerns from City Staff related to the project; your project organizer will be contacted immediately. NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 9 of 17 9. Good Faith Statement Please provide a brief written statement which expresses your group's willingness and commitment to the maintenance of this project for a minimum of (1) year after installation. Signature of Key Organizer: Date: NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 10 of 17 10. Grant Project Status Report This form must be completed and submitted at 50% completion and again at 100% completion of your project. Failure to submit completed reports will be grounds for disqualification of your project. Attn: Steven T. Richart, D.B.S.D.M. 1126 East State Road 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 407-327-5976 Voice 407-327-5976 Fax srichart@winterspringsfl.org Email Month: Project Name: Project Number: Contact Person: Telephone: (Day) (Evening) Proiect Elements Work Accomplished % Completed Problems encountered: NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 11 of 17 11 . Appendix Draw or attach a detailed sketch of your project here. Applicant must attach a detailed plant list and list of materials to be used on the project. *Sketch is not required to be to scale but must define the project location specifically. NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 12 of17 GRANT AGREEMENT NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS THIS GRANT AGREEMENT is made the last date signed below, by and between the City of Winter Springs, a Florida municipal corporation, and the Neighborhood Improvement Association, which is made up of the following individuals: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: Name: Address: each of whom are residents of the City of Winter Springs (collectively, the "Grantee"). RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Grantor has implemented a Neighborhood Improvement Program ("NIP"), the primary purposes of which is to improve the aesthetics and economic order of the community, thereby promoting the public interest, by making matching grants to interested groups who desire to enhance the landscaping located upon public property within the community in which Grantees reside; and WHEREAS, grants provided by the Grantor shall be on a dollar for dollar matching basis, matching the investment made by the Grantee and in accordance with the NIP; and WHEREAS, Grantee has submitted an application under the NIP which the Grantor believes meets the criteria and purposes as outlined by the NIP. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration, the mutual covenants and provisions hereof, and other good, diverse, and valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency all of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties desiring to be legally bound do hereby agree as follows: NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR2006 Page 13 of 17 1. Recitals. Each and all of the foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated herein and declared to be true and correct. 2. Grantee Representative. The Grantee shall appoint a representative who shall be responsible for managing this Grant Agreement and shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Grantee. 3. Grant Awarded. (a) The Grantee is hereby awarded a grant pursuant to the NIP. All regulations of the NIP shall be adhered to by the Grantee. The amount of the grant is & NOIIOO Dollars ($ .00), and is subject to appropriate by the City Commission. Under no circumstances shall the amount of money granted for qualifying neighborhood improvements under the NIP to the Grantee exceed the amount set forth herein. Grant funds shall only be paid by the Grantor for qualifying and approved neighborhood improvements described on Exhibit "B" . (b) The Grant is awarded on a reimbursement basis. Funds subject to this Grant shall be paid to the Grantee by the Grantor only upon substantial completion of all work. "Substantial Completion" of all work, as that term is utilized in this Agreement, shall be the sole determination of the City Manager, or authorized designee. (c) To be reimbursed, the Grantee shall provide to the City of Winter Springs, Beautification Division with paid receipts from suppliers, materialmen, contractors, and sub-contractors. The paid receipts are subject to Grantor review and approval for application to this grant. In no event shall more than fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost be reimbursed to the Grantee. (d) All work subject to this Grant Agreement must be completed by August 31, 2006, 3:00pm. (e) Authorized work may not be performed by a Grantee and applied to this Grant, unless same was approved prior to the date of this Agreement by the Grantor. (f) Reimbursem.ent shall be denied for any instance in which the terms of this Agreement have been violated. 4 Warrantv of Grantee: Maintenance. Grantee covenants and warrants that all improvements approved for matching funds under this Grant Agreement shall be maintained and preserved for a minimum of one (1) year. Such maintenance shall include, but is not limited to, trimming, watering, and fertilization. Failure to maintain NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 14 of17 these improvements shall constitute a default under the terms of this Grant Agreement, and may eliminate the individual Grantee's from participating in future grant programs 5. Grantee is an Independent Contractor. It is specifically understood and agreed to by and between the parties hereto that in utilizing the funds hereunder, that this grant award, and relationship between the Grantor and the Grantee is one in which the Grantee is an independent contractor of the Grantor and not an agent, employee, joint venturer, or other partner of the Grantor. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to be inconsistent with this relationship or status. Nothing in this Grant Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to constitute the Grantee, or any of its agents, volunteers or participants to be the agent, employee, partner, or representative of the City of Winter Springs, Florida. 6. Applicable Law/Notice. (a) This grant award and the attachments hereto shall be governed by the law of the State of Florida. Venue shall only be properly placed in Seminole County, Florida for state court actions and Orlando, Florida for federal actions. (b) All notices, demands, requests, instructions, approvals, and claims shall be in writing. All notice of any type hereunder shall be given by U.S. mail or by hand delivery to an individual authorized to receive mail for the below listed individuals, all to the following individuals at the following locations: TO THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS: Attn: Steven T. Richart, D.B.S.D.M. City of Winter Springs 1126 East State Road 434 Winter Springs, Florida 32708 TO THE GRANTEE: Neighborhood Improvement Association By: As Authorized Representative , Florida NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 15 of17 Notice shall be deemed to have been given and received on the date the notice is physically received if given by hand delivery or first class u.s. mail, postage prepaid, as addressed above. Notice shall be deemed to have been given and received on the date the notice is mailed, if given by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as addressed above. Any party hereto by giving notice in the manner set forth herein may unilaterally change the name of the person to whom notice is to be given or the address at which notice is to be received. 7. Amendment of Grant A2reement. Modifications or changes in this Grant Agreement must be in writing and executed by the parties bound to this Grant Agreement. 8. Severability. Invalidation of anyone word, clause, sentence, or paragraph, or the application thereof in specific circumstances, by judgment, court order, or administrative hearing or order shall not affect any other words, clauses, sentences, or paragraphs, all of which shall remain in full force and effect. 9. Entire Grant A2reement. This Grant Agreement represents the entire and integrated Agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, or Agreement, either oral or written, and all such matters shall be deemed merged into this Grant Agreement. 10. Soverei2n Immunitv.Nothing contained in the Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of the Grantor's right to sovereign immunity under Section 768.28, Florida Statutes, or other limitations imposed regarding the Grantors potential liability under state of federal law. 11. Headin2s. The headings used in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not be relied upon nor used in the interpretations of this Agreement. [Left blank intentionally, signatures on next page.] NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 16 of 17 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantors and Grantee have set forth their signatures on the day and year written below. Witnesses: GRANTEE: Neighborhood Beautification of Winter Springs Improvement Association Advisory Board Member By: Its: Authorized Representative Steven T. Richart, U.B.S.D.M. Date: ,20 Attest: GRANTOR: CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, By: Ronald W. McLemore, City Manager Deputy City Clerk Date: ,20 NIP Grant Ag Ver. 2 12/05 - YR 2006 Page 17 of 17