Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Director of Development Customer Service
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving a Funding Grant Agreement Between the Village of Oak Park and the West Cook Young Men’s Christian Association’s Incorporated in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,275,147 and Authorizing its Execution
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Overview
Overview
On January 17, 2023, the Village Board approved the funding recommendations from the Community Development Citizen Advisory Commission (CDCAC) in the amount of $2,152,860.00 for ARPA distributions to community partners which included: New Moms, Historical Society of Oak Park River Forest, Wonder Works Children’s Museum, Oak Park Area Arts Council, and West Cook Young Men’s Christian Association’s Incorporated (West Cook YMCA).
Staff was waiting to bring this contract forward until the YMCA understood if funding from the national YMCA was going to provide support to this program. The local YMCA did not receive any funding; therefore, this contract is written for the full amount approved by the CDCAC. In addition, the YMCA and the Oak Park Health Department agreed upon using a portion of the funds in partnership to hire a fellow to ensure a health equity approach to this program. Therefore, the program funding was reduced to the amount of $1,275,147.00 and the Village will hire a part-time fellow in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
West Cook YMCA is a nonprofit organization located in Oak Park. The request for this organization is attached in detail in the YMCA application and includes categories such as: staff support - Life Coaches, training/certification, and retainer; 3rd Party Partners - Platform, HIPAA Security, Rental Space; Marketing; and Operational Costs for a total of $1,275,147. More specific details and information on the requests of the organization are contained in their attached application.
The attached Agreement between the Village and West Cook YMCA is included as part of this agenda item for formal board approval in conjunction with the Resolution which will allow Village staff to execute the agreement and distribute the funding. The partner agency, as a recipient of Village ARPA funds, will be responsible for financial and performance reporting back to the Village. The Village in turn will be required to report data on the spend-down of this money to the US Department of Treasury.
Since the last meeting, the Health Department and the DEI Office of the Village met with the West Cook YMCA. The Village discussed potential ways to offer guidance as the program is developed, including an agreement by the YMCA to use $25,000 for the Health Department to hire a fellow to ensure health equity in the design.
Fiscal Impact
The Village received $2,152,860 in a second round of community ARPA funds. This agenda item relates to those requests. All ARPA funds need to be committed prior to December 31, 2024.
DEI Impact
This program will impact people many different marginalized communities such as those living with a chronic disease, and facing health disparities due to other social determents of health. By collaborating with the DEI division this program will be designed with a health equity lens and application. In conclusion, this program promotes health, well-being, community, and so much more that is aligned with promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Oak Park community and beyond.
Alternatives
The Village Board could not approve the recommendation or delay action and seek additional information.
Previous Board Action
On May 24, 2021, and again on July 6, 2021, the Village Board provided direction on the initial distributions of ARPA funds. The direction centered around providing support to the community in the following areas: (1) replenishment of unfunded costs incurred by the Village due to COVID-19; (2) support public health expenditures related to the pandemic; and (3) providing for immediate needs such as food and rental assistance, local business assistance and assisting households facing homelessness. As a result, the Village Board approved the following distributions in December 2021: Beyond Hunger: $85,000, Housing Forward: $500,000, Local Business Recovery & Non-Profit PPE: $550,000, Public Health Response & Personnel (not contained in Lost Revenue) $110,000, Local Business Vaccine Card Support: $150,000, Restore Village Operations for fiscal year 2020, and fiscal year 2021 lost revenue: $ 15,437,907 (includes COVID-19 expenses not paid by FEMA)
At the January 31, 2022, Special Meeting, the Village Board created a list of questions or “application” by which any community requests would be evaluated. In addition, the Village Board referred all community requests received at the time to the Community Development Citizen Advisory Commission (CDCAC) which subsequently supported all of the requests received by the Village Board.
On March 14, 2021, the Village Board concurred with the CDCAC and approved the following community requests in the amount of $ 3,511,300: $877,000 Tourism, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ernest Hemingway, Unity Temple, OP Area Arts Council, and Visit Oak Park. $1,109,300 Early Childhood Collaboration, $1,000,000 Park District of Oak Park (of which an additional $1 million request is to be reviewed later), and $525,000 Hepzibah.
On November 21, 2022, the Village Board agenda included a motion to amend the CDCAC’s 2022 work plan and include in the upcoming 2023 work plan the review of the community proposals for ARPA funds that are attached to this agenda item (less the Chamber of Commerce, Housing Forward Shelter, and daycare proposal if recommended by the Finance Committee for an early approval). This includes direction on the total amount of ARPA funds available for community requests for the CDCAC to use and recommendations as to how to divide among the proposals.
On January 17, 2023, the Village approved the recommendation for funding: Oak Park Area Arts Council $103,100.00, New Moms $47,500.00, Wonder Works Children’s Museum $202,113.00, West Cook YMCA $1,300,147.00, and the Historical Society of Oak Park River Forest $500,000.00 for a total of $2,152,860.00.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Community Development Citizen Advisory Commission met on December 12, 2022. During this Commission Meeting, each organization; The Historical Society of Oak Park River Forest, New Moms, Inc., Oak Park Area Arts Council, Wonder Works Children’s Museum, and the West Cook YMCA had an opportunity to present to the Commission and answer any questions regarding their application.
After the presentations, the CDCAC discussed the requests and developed funding allocation recommendations for each organization. The recommendations were determined based on the scores received and the funds available. The CDCAC provided three (3) different funding recommendations based on three (3) different scenarios, $2,152,860, $3,000,000, and $5,000,000.
The CDCAC requested additional documentation from New Moms and West Cook YMCA to determine the final recommendations. The CDCAC met again on December 20, 2022, after receiving the additional material from these organizations, and prepared the final recommendations to be submitted to the Village Board.
The final recommendation is: North Avenue Business District $103,100.00, New Moms $47,500.00, Wonder Works $202,113.00, West Cook YMCA $1,300,147.00, and the Historical Society of Oak Park River Forest $625,000.00 for a total of $2,277,860.00.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Once the Board approves the Resolution and Agreements, and the Agreements are executed, the partner agencies can begin incurring costs to bill the Village for reimbursement.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A