THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING FINANCE AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board’s Value of offering sustainable, compatible, innovative housing options for all income-levels, including integrated supportive housing and rapid-rehousing: Goal 1: Facilitate a regional approach to growth and redevelopment through coordination and collaboration at the federal, state and local levels; Goal 2: Strengthen stakeholder partnerships to increase the availability of affordable housing of all types (e.g. rental, purchase, supportive, etc.), countywide, in every community; and Goal 3: Develop, through effective community collaboration, neighborhoods and communities incorporating intermodal connectivity, while integrating energy efficiency community resilience, and other livability standards and initiatives.
On November 12, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved the first round of 11 projects funded through the Broward Redevelopment Program (BRP). Among those 11 projects, the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Fort Lauderdale CRA Northeast 13th Street Complete Streets Project was for roadway redesign, installing new wide sidewalks, on-street parking, bike lanes, bike racks, pedestrian level lighting, new tree canopy, bio swales and ADA accessible improvements on Northeast 13th Street, between Northeast 4th Avenue and Northeast 9th Avenue, for an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.
On June 10, 2014, the Board approved the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for the NE 13th Street Complete Streets Project project.
According to their letter requesting an ILA extension, dated July 21, 2017 (Exhibit 2), the City states;
…”Construction is well underway and should be completed before the October deadline. We are requesting an additional six months to receive final payment applications from the contractor, execute payments from the City, and compile the final reimbursement package according to the Article 4.2(b) of the executed grant documents.”
Since the request letter was received, the City stated that delays due to Hurricane Irma are likely, and the extension will help provide additional time needed to receive final sign-offs and submit final paperwork.
The Project will continue to implement the Broward Redevelopment Program objectives of promoting economic development, job creation and reducing blighting conditions. Therefore, County staff recommends approval of the above MOTION.
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