Travis County Commissioners Court
March 9, 2010,
Item 14
>> number 14 is to receive update from Travis County health and human services on the american reinvestment and recovery act weatherization assistance program.
>> Commissioners, sherri fleming, executive manager for health and human services.
and today we are here to give you a brief update on our progress with the -- our stimulus project.
we are not requesting any action from the court today.
we did provide to you an update to a powerpoint presentation that we did, and we know you will probably be very excited to know that we're not going to do that powerpoint presentation today, but we did want to maybe get into just some very specific questions that the court had asked and an overview of where we are to date and then I think that pbo wants to also give you an update.
we'll try to move through this as quickly as possible.
in our last visit with you on this subject matter, there was one question-- several questions.
the first being whether or not the stimulus money could be used for community-based training.
and what we meant by that was could we develop a program with these dollars that we could actually train folks in our community to be able to provide this service.
we did forward that specific question to the Texas department of housing and community affairs, which is the state pass-through agency for these dollars.
and I'm sorry to report that they reported that no, that those funds could not be used for a community-based training program that training can only be provided for contractors and our employees who do this work.
and part of the stimulus package related to weatherization was about $17 million that the state retained to be able to provide a contractor for us to refer our construction firms and our employees to receive the necessary training?
train.
we did include in the backup training money that went through for the hour and after the hour package to workforce solutions and Austin community college and a summary of how their projects developed to support the weatherization work that has come into our community.
>> I'm kind of concerned about the stimulus package money not being used to -- according to the Texas housing community affairs, it wouldn't be able to be used for training persons to acquire certain skills in this particular endeavor.
my concern, though, is does that not allow -- let's say that the money that's been used, weatherization, ac, a whole bunch of other things, heing, roofing, all these other things that they'll end up using some of this money for, does that not allow for -- an example.
when I was growing up there used to be a carpenter's helper.
and of course, I would do this and kind of do what the carpenter asked me to do.
and of course, in doing that I was just wondering would that not be opportunity that would be allowed, especially if the money is going to be used for the contractors and their employees.
would there be opportunities, for example -- coming up there would be a carpenter's helper.
and that would -- would that basically left to the discretion of the contractor?
>> yes.
if you are a carpenter's helper working for a contractor, that contractor upon becoming a part of the contractor's who are doing our work, would be eligible to attend some of the training that is funded by the state.
and so subsequently your employees would receive that training through that process.
but if you were a carpenter's helper who was not associated with a particular construction firm that was not a part of the process, then we would have to refer you through programs, through workforce development or Austin community college.
>> okay.
thank you.
>> okay.
so the second question we were asked was the court invests really about $1.3 million in home repair program, which primarily includes personnel, carpenters and folks who actually do the work associated with the grants we already receive.
as a part of that budget, there is about $223,000 that is not related to personnel.
so, for example, $138,000 that's in contracted services and $85,000 that's for supplies, and so the question would be could the county reallocate some of its investments to be able to provide some type of companion training program with weatherization.
and of course, that answer would be yes.
however, your home repair program was developed to compliment the work that you do in weatherization.
and what that program allows us to do is to provide minimal repairs that would further help the home benefit from the weatherization repairs that we are doing.
so in the cases where we need a roof repair or we may need some limited plumbing repair or something that we could not pay for with the grant, we would use those home repair dollars to pay for those minimal repairs.
>> do we have a list of repairs that may not be paid for with the weatherization money, with federal weatherization dollars?
>> yes, sir.
it's very specific.
very specific.
we're talking about things like caulking and solar screens.
>> weather stripping.
>> weather stripping.
things of that nature.
so, for example, there might be a window repair that is needed because you wouldn't want to caulk a window that might be off center --
>> or is broken.
>> or is broken, exactly.
so that's what those funds that I just identified would be used for.
so -- we also use them for certain health and safety improvements to homes, including building ramps for persons who are disabled.
>> okay.
then the last question that we were asked had to do with how many homes did we think would be able to be done, and we had previously reported we expect about 1200 units or homes throughout the life of the grant.
the grant goes through August of 2011.
and that number is derived from a maximum benefit of $6,500 per unit.
now, there are some units that we know may not require that 6,500-dollar match.
so that 1200 at this point is an estimate.
it's possible that we could do a few more.
so those were the specific questions that we wanted to make sure we got back to you.
now, I'm going to turn it over to debra blit ton, our director for community services, and have her tell you about where we are with our relationship with the city of Austin and in the procurement process.
>> okay.
as you recall on January 19th, we signed the interlocal agreement between the city of Austin or Austin energy and Travis County.
so that began our formal rep, although we had been working together for over a year in preparation for this grant.
on January 15th there was a meeting held with contractors and subcontractors, and those subcontractors included h.e.b., hubs like mbe's and wbe's and also prime contractors rmt there were probably about 150 primes and subs that attended that meeting.
i thought it was very well conducted because the whole purpose of it, the main purpose of it was so that the subs could really connect with and network with prime contractors.
we expect that the prime contractors will utilize underutilized businesses.
there were also two meetings held with community leaders and faith-based organizations on January 19th and 22nd.
again, the real purpose of this meeting was really to assist in getting the word out to the community about this program, especially in the case of Austin energy, the way they're conducting it is really doing some door to door outreach and it will be very difficult to get people to respond to this kind of request because typically they don't expect this kind of service from government, quite frankly.
but those meetings were very well attended and then we followed that up with finally bid solicitations being posted on February 23rd.
there was a prebid conference on March first, 2010.
and the bids are expected to close on March 16th, 2010.
that's next Tuesday.
the bid process is expected to be conducted around March 17th and 18th with the preparation of award of contracts somewhere around mid April.
now, this is all happening with the understanding that we have a deadline of April 15th from the Texas department of community affairs to have a unit completed by April 15th.
we actually have staff in-house that can provide those services.
we also have a wait list that we can tap for our regular doe funding, which are eligible for this -- for the arra funding as well.
we signed the contract last week, so we are ready to do that work that puts us ahead of the curve.
so once the contracts with the vendors are completed then we can start that process.
but at least we won't lose any more time.
because our year has been compressed now from a full year, although the funding was available September 1 of 2009.
we did not receive -- our contract wasn't completed until last week.
so we've got five months to complete a full year's worth of work.
so it's rather ambitious, but I think we're in a better position than a lot of the other recipients.
>> how much fund are are we talking about here?
>> the first portion of the funding is $2.3 million to be followed up based on our performance with another approximately 2.3 or 2.2 and change.
and to put in context what ms.
britain said about the April 15th deadline, you may have heard in the media discussions about Texas' performance under the stimulus allegations, and how that has played out for us as Travis County has been in the contract negotiation process.
need tols say it took us from September until you approved the contract on March second to negotiate those provisions that put Travis County in the best light.
so I'll just sort of leave it at that.
so that is in relationship to that April 15th deadline.
and I think the state of Texas is attempting to show some progress on behalf of the state in response to sort of the discussions around whether or not Texas is timely spending the funding.
>> let me ask you this this question and I will shut up after this one.
i'm concerned about the award of the contracts from the prime, and that money being issued to them, and of course they will be dealing with the subprimes.
and my concern is the payment, the essence of the payment from the primes to the subprimes -- I'm assuming that we've had instances whereby primes have not been paying or either been slow.
and paying the subpriems who are part of the situation for this particular stimulus package money.
is there any procedures that will be in place, the government source of funding, if there are procedures in place to ensure that the workforce that's dealing with this stimulus package money, the employees that are in (indiscernible).
>> I'm looking back at cyd because to the extent that our contracts are with prime contractors, I'm not sure how far we can reach around the primary contractor to ensure other than we can ensure that they're paying their payroll taxes and that they're complying with the provisions of our -- of our contract with them, which feeds off of the contract that we have with the state.
a big piece of this is the Davis bacon accountability, the wage rates and being able to document those wage rates.
and so to the extent that that information is provided to us, I think it will certainly -- we will be aware of whether or not those payments are being made in a timely fashion, but my guess is -- I'll let the purchasing agent answer, but my guess is that our -- any sanction would have to go to the prime if there was a problem.
>> the city of Austin is supervising this procurement and everything is going through them.
off the top of my head I cannot tell you whether these contracts is are payment bonds.
that's normally how we handle construction type projects that they have a bond that ensures think pay their subs.
>> would you check into that?
it's a big concern.
this money is used to be putting folks to work and also --
>> we have as you know, Commissioner, we get involved with that.
technically or legally it's between the sub and the prime, we do help out.
i'll need to look at that.
and as sherri mentioned, the prevailing wage rates, those are the rates that the contractor are required by law to pay the workers, their employees.
and of course, there's provisions that is one of the reasons that we had to hire additional staff was there's much more requirement for us to go out and do surveys to make sure that the workers are being paid wages that they are supposed to be paid.
that was a component of the grant that we had to comply with.
so we'll be checking that.
>> thank you.
>> so if we use county employees to begin this weatherization work, do we access the federal stimulus dollars or the doe funds that we have in another grant.
>> well, both, actually.
we intend to meet that April 15th performance requirement.
and so we have a significant waiting list that we have I think at least 10 homes that we believe we can begin our stimulus work immediately on those 10 homes that are already on our waiting list.
the doe and program that we operate annually requires us to keep a waiting list, so the availability of properties is not a challenge at this point.
the other thing is that part of the stimulus -- part of an outcome from the stimulus process has been that the department of energy and the department of housing and urban development at the federal level have entered into a memorandum of understanding that really reduces the eligibility process for apartment complexes that have been hud funded.
and those apartment complexes can also be considered for weatherization funds.
and we see those as being as important to which you in the process as those individual homeowners because we know that a significant portion of this population moves in and out of those facilities.
and so to the extent that we can make those facilities more energy efficient, then those facilities will continue to be affordable for our residents.
>> so do we think that we have in place an appropriate process to determine eligibility?
i mentioned Austin energy going door to door.
are they doing that in unincorporated areas as well as the city of Austin?
>> they have actually targeted zip codes.
so to the extent that they would identify folks in the unincorporated areas, they would refer them to us.
i think that our outreach in this area happens in a couple of ways.
anyone who receives assistance through our comprehensive energy assistance program, which is our utility, our cash utility assistance program, is asked if they would like to be referred.
so through our community centers when people are requesting those services, they are told about weatherization, they're asked.
we have in our contracts for calendar year 2010, we have certain social services providers who are interacting with the same populations that will benefit from this funding and they are able to complete our applications and do what we call presumptive eligibility, which basically means that they collect the documents, they fill out our application, they send it over to us and we basically say yes, this person -- or no, you forgot to do this piece of it.
so however that plays out for them.
and so the people were talking about are like meals are wheels and caritas and those partners that we work closely with.
so that's the case.
we're also making staff available for any community events that we know about, hear about or are invited to.
the most recent was a community picnic, for example, and sort of workshop at east side memorial this past weekend where there was a cadre of the parent liaisons that work in the school system.
so they receive the information that they could then pass on to their parents.
so we're looking for opportunities like that.
so it's a continuous outreach process while we are continuing to weather rise homes.
>> Commissioner?
>> we expect to serve about 1200 homes?
>> homes or units, yes.
>> this is an issue specific to my precinct, but I'm hoping that by bringing it out maybe we can find many more opportunities.
mr.
schneider was here earlier from northridge and they have some serious issues up there with sewer, with their septic, which the county does not have cash to handle their individual septic issues.
but I was speaking with him about the possibility of qualification for weatherization, which would then free up resources in their community that would otherwise go to refurbishing houses and higher utilities so that they could handle their septic.
so who do I need to put them in contact with?
>> you're done.
it's done.
>> miss busey.
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic].
specifically the one in Pflugerville or Jonestown might be the best.
>> great.
i really appreciate that.
>> and just fyi, I know firsthand that there are some smaller apartment complexes in the precinct 2 area that are in the process of determining -- getting eligibility determined on them.
and the ouch reef is done throughout the -- the outreach is done throughout the k.
county.
>> I really appreciate that.
>> any questions or comments from the court?
>> I believe planning and budget wanted to make a comment.
>> Travis County planning and budget.
more housekeeping things.
as debra and sherri mentioned, within pbo's recommendation on the grand item I highlighted administrative costs and staffing that's been approved for this project.
one was the purchasing board approved a position to act as a labor standards officer, and that's the person that was mentioned earlier.
also last week the court approved a couple of reclassifications that's allowing hsc to redirect staff to this project.
that didn't add two new positions, but you have two more case workers that are funded and authorized than you did before.
home repair supervisor that you didn't have before.
and you're directing one home repair supervisor just to this project.
that was all done within your existing budget.
the final piece as we've also been meeting with the auditor's office about this grant for a long period of time and to discuss their needs, and based those discussions, the accounts payable staff has been probably the hardest hit from -- they've had a 26% increase in the number of accounts payables.
one was the cf funding went from about 700,000 to about three million, so it's about a 300% increase.
those are relatively small payments.
and based on the 1200 units that could turn into about 18 -- 1200 could turn into about 3600 transactions just because there could be three transactions per units one.
so based on that discussion, the auditor's office is going to be requesting midyear staff to work on this.
they ask that we add the money to their target for next year.
we met with them, reviewed their performance measures, the positions needed.
we do support it.
and our goal is next Tuesday to put that under our weekly pbo budgets and transfers requesting the authorization for this year.
they're going to internally fund the position for this year.
the purchasing position, the auditor's position, the continuation of funding for those positions would be reviewed when this grant ends in two years.
and then the existing staff I guess we'll determine how to benefit use the hhsc at that time, whether or not you want to continue it, bring it back.
that's an fy '12 issue.
>> in agreement with pbo, we've put a time limit on those positions.
so at that time we would evaluate whether we needed to return to the original intended purpose or if these positions for whatever reason needed to continue.
>> so just in closing I would just say first to my right here at the end of the table is lance pearson, who is our newly secured housing manager, and he adds new meaning to initiation by fire.
>> [ laughter ]
>> so we welcome him.
--
>> initiation by fire.
>> yes.
we do welcome him and we'd have you all know who he is sitting at the table.
and I guess the best way I would describe this project is we have been sort of in the slow lane as we continue to work through our contracting issues.
we have clearly moved now to the fast lane.
so you will begin to see and hear much more activity, you know, within imrowr county departments around the expenditure of this funding.
>> could I say one thing?
i just want to thank pbo, the purchasing office, as well as the auditor's office.
we have really formed a really close pip in doing this.
it will take all of us to be successful at doing this.
and they've been excellent partners and we really appreciate it.
>> two quick questions.
what are the eligibility standards for assistance under the federal program?
>> 200 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines.
for an individual that would be an annual income of $21,660.
for a family of four that would be $44,100 of income.
>> okay.
>> and the maximum amounts that can be spent on a unit is how much?
>> of the grant funds, $6,500.
and then our cap, if we had to do any home repair -- does anybody know it off the top?
>> it's a percentage.
20%.
>> okay.
so about 20% over that we could spend from county funds if there were additional improvements that needed to be made to the home.
>> 20% over $6,500?
>> yes.
>> okay.
>> thank you.
>> could you repeat that again.
>> the eligibility?
>> please.
>> the income guideline would be for an individual $21,660 annually.
for a family of four, it's 44,100.
the other thing that's important to know to those who might be listening is that it's sort of a dual eligibility process.
the household or the individual and their income qualifies, but then we have to come out and do an inspection of the house and then the home itself qualifies.
so we encourage any questions.
please call us at 854-4100 or see the county's website co.travis.tx.u.s.
go to the health and human services homepage and you will see family support services and the number of locations where information is available.
>> thank you very much.
we appreciate it.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 2:53 PM
