Posting Language
Title
Authorize the negotiation and execution of a 20-month contract that includes three 12-month contract extension options with each of the following non-profit agencies: American Youthworks, Austin Area Urban League, Austin Habitat for Humanity, Inc., Easterseals Central Texas, Inc., Interfaith Action of Central Texas, Meals on Wheels and More, Inc., and Rebuilding Together Austin to fund and administer the Private Wastewater Lateral Program in an amount not to exceed $200,000.00.
De
Lead Department
Housing and Planning Department.
Fiscal Note
The Private Wastewater Lateral Grant activity is administered by the Housing and Planning Department while the activities are funded by Austin Water. Funding for the 12-month extensions is contingent upon the availability of funding in future budgets. The contract term is estimated to begin February 1, 2022 and end on September 30, 2023, and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation retains the right to extend the contract for three additional years. This item has no fiscal impact.
For More Information:
Rosie Truelove, Treasurer, Austin Housing Finance Corporation, 512-974-3064; Letitia Brown, Community Development Manager, Housing and Planning Department, 512-974-3132.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action
September 19, 2019 - The Austin Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors approved a two-year contract (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) that expired December 30, 2021.
Additional Backup Information:
The Private Wastewater Lateral Program (PLP Program) provides grant funds in an amount up to $15,000 to households that do not exceed 100% of the Austin Median Family Income (MFI), which is currently $98,900 for a family of four. In addition, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) will reimburse subrecipients an administrative fee not to exceed 20% per project and $150.00 per project for the Housing and Planning Department program administration fee. A total of approximately 10 households were served in Fiscal Year 2021. AHFC has the option to request additional funding, during a contract year, if additional funds are needed to meet the demands of the PLP Program.
The purpose of the PLP Program is to assist homeowners who are customers of Austin Water (AW) with repairs relating to the private lateral line. The PLP Program is specifically designed to repair the portion of the wastewater service line connecting the house to the City wastewater main.
AW performs investigations of Private Laterals for City retail wastewater customers when there is a wastewater overflow or blockage on private property or when there is a problem with the City’s wastewater system that could affect the Private Lateral. The PLP Program exists to ensure defective Private Laterals are repaired to reduce the chance of wastewater overflows and so that external water contributions (inflow and infiltration) into the City’s wastewater collection system are reduced. This subsequently decreases wastewater overflow incidents and avoids additional costs to ratepayers. AW carries out the initial inspection, provides the homeowner with information about the program, and approves the repairs and associated costs.
Funding can only be used to address issues with the private lateral line within property lines but outside of the housing structure. Also, septic tanks may be addressed with funding. All services are at no cost to qualifying households. The property must be a single-family home or duplex and must be the Applicant’s principal place of residence. The property must also be an AW customer.
If approved, AHFC will negotiate and execute contracts with the selected Non-Profit Organizations awarded contracts through the October 2021 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the General Obligation Bond Funded Home Repair (GO REPAIR!) Program. The selected Non-Profit Organizations will be the City’s and AHFC’s subrecipients for the Programs. The GO REPAIR! Program seeks to eliminate health and safety hazards. It also encourages collaboration with other local programs in an effort to reduce waiting lists and to improve non-profits’ capacity to provide home repair services.
Under the contract, Non-Profit Organizations will respond to client requests for repairs, verify client eligibility, develop specifications for repairs, facilitate repairs, hire licensed contractors and other skilled tradespersons, provide quality assurance for the work performed, and make referrals to other City funded home repair programs.
The PLP Program has been administered by AHFC for approximately eight years.
Award Matrix attached.