Congress Considers Extending NDR Timeline
North Dakota Senator John Hoeven is leading an effort in the United States Senate to extend the deadline for National Disaster Resiliency Competition (NDRC) awardees to utilize the program’s funding. The current deadline for completion of all components of the plan is September 30, 2022. Hoeven’s bill would extend the deadline to September 30, 2025, which provides an extra three years due to the difficulties some communities are experiencing meeting their timelines because of COVID-19.
“The Minot region has made real strides since the 2011 flood, rebuilding and growing while also protecting against future flooding, and the $74 million NDRC award that we worked to fund and secure through the Senate Appropriations Committee is an important part of these efforts,” said Senator Hoeven. “However, the challenges of the COVID-19 public health emergency have delayed many of the projects funded by this program. Our bill will help ensure that awardees do not run up against the current 2022 deadline, giving them the time they need to safely get back to work and finish these critical disaster protection and resiliency efforts for their communities.”
The bill, S. 4017, is co-sponsored by Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Joni Ernst of Iowa. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong co-sponsored a similar bill in the House of Representatives; H.R. 7298
was introduced by Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia and has six additional co-sponsors. The House bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Services.
“The City of Minot has put together a great plan to maximize the use of the NDRC funds,” said Representative Armstrong. “I believe that giving Minot and the other NDRC awardee communities additional time makes sense and will ensure that they have the ability to use these dollars wisely without being penalized for events that are out of their control.”
In June, Mayor Shaun Sipma joined leaders representing the 12 other awardees in urging Congress to extend the deadline.
“While it is evident from all reports that the City of Minot is one of the most successful of the 13 NDRC Grantees in spending the funds on a timely basis, we do agree with our partner NDRC Grantees that the impacts for the necessary measures being taken to combat COVID-19 can adversely affect all of the NDRC Grantees abilities to do all projects and activities by the current deadline.” Sipma wrote.
Although introduction of this legislation is a great step, the community should not assume the deadline will change until the legislation is approved in Congress and signed by the President. The City of Minot continues to move full speed ahead on its approved action plan with the intent to finish all projects by September of 2022.
Senator John Hoeven and Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite tour the Minot area on April 16, 2019.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Acquisition Program
• Overall, the City of Minot has acquired 152 properties to date: 80 properties using NDRCDBG funds and 72 properties using State Water Commission Funds; 7 properties included in the 80 NDR properties were partially funded with State Water Commission funds. These properties are needed for on-going or upcoming flood mitigation projects.
• The City has demolished 127 properties in the first three buyout areas. The 2019 Round 4 Structure Demolition and Site Restoration project has resumed and is slated to be completed in summer 2020. The 2020 Round 1 Structure Demolition and Site Restoration project bids were opened, and the project award was approved. The contractor has begun demolition and the work is anticipated to be completed in summer 2020.
• The City’s structure and salvage auctions continue, and all sales generate program income which will be fed directly back into acquisition program future purchases.
Affordable Housing
• 81 people have applied to the Resilient Homebuyer Program: 43 remain in the process of review and eligibility verification through a lender of their choice, 28 applied but were not eligible or withdrew, and 10 have closed to date. The program continues accepting applications.
• After recently completing the plans and specs for the Milton Young Towers rehabilitation project, the Minot Housing Authority (MHA) will be releasing the request for bids for construction the first week of July. Construction is slated to begin late summer/early fall.
• The Blu on Broadway mixed-use affordable rental housing facility will provide 42 rental units built above a ground-level commercial space; construction is targeted to start in the summer/fall 2020.
• The City entered into a sub-recipient agreement with Essential Living to build 22 affordable housing units, which will be known as Park South II. A Request for Proposals was issued in May for construction management services and is awaiting award.
• The City entered into a sub-recipient agreement with Lutheran Social Services Housing, Inc. to build 17 units of multi-family affordable rental housing; the future site for the affordable housing project was acquired in early January. An RFQ for Architecture and Engineering services was published in early May and the proposals received are currently under review.
• The Minot Area Community Land Trust’s single-family affordable housing activity is underway; the trust is planning to renovate or construct one house first to determine a solid process framework moving forward.
Family Shelter
• The City entered into a sub-recipient agreement with Lutheran Social Services Housing, Inc. to create a 6-unit family shelter; the future site for the family homeless shelter was acquired in January. An RFQ for Architecture and Engineering services was published in early May and the proposals received are currently under review.
Downtown Gathering Place
• At the April 20 meeting, Council decided to defund the Downtown Gathering Place activity. The activity’s funds will be moved to the City Hall and Center for Technical Education activities, pending approval of a substantial amendment to the NDR action plan.
City Hall
• At the April 20 meeting, Council agreed to pursue the Wells Fargo building for a new City Hall location; the environmental review process will be finalized in July.
Center for Technical Education
• The CTE committee is currently in discussions with Trinity Health about the acquisition and remodeling of a downtown building for the CTE location. The environmental review process is underway.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Reduce Flood Risk/ Improve Water Management
A. Buyouts / Acquisitions / Demolitions / Relocations
a. Total Budget - $20,052,016
b. Spent to Date - $18,261,621
Build Affordable Resilient Neighborhoods
A. Multi-Family Affordable Housing
a. Total Budget - $20,897,000
b. Spent to Date - $3,885,009
B. Single-Family Affordable Housing
a. Total Budget - $12,807,750
b. Spent to Date - $1,540,845
C. Gathering Place
a. Total Budget - $6,000,000
b. Spent to Date - $0
D. Family Shelter
a. Total Budget - $3,041,500
b. Spent to Date - $633,614
Foster Economic Resilience and Diversification
A. Center for Technical Education
a. Total Budget - $1,540,000
b. Spent to Date - $40,230
B. Relocate City Hall
a. Total Budget - $3,750,000
b. Spent to Date - $10,935
Completed Projects
∙ Affordable Housing Supply & Demand Study
∙ Souris River Decision Support Tool
∙ Park South Renovations