R2023-121 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate Terms and Execute an Agreement between the City of Decatur and Old King's Orchard Community Center for an Urban Ag Project and Community Services

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FINANCING THE PROJECTS Through the efforts of Senator Doris Turner, the city received $1 million in funding for "community development and violence reduction." Last week the city was notified that a grant agreement for this funding had been approved. Half of the grant budget has been earmarked for the Good Samaritan Inn project. The remaining half is for new crime-fighting technology for the Police Department, a violence intervention program, and other smaller components.These non- urban Ag elements will be the subject of a future City Council agenda item later in the summer. Details about this grant (officially identified as DCEO GRANT-DG230094) are also attached. It is proposed that the OKOCC project be funded with unallocated CDBG-CV funds. On February 6, 2023 the City Council approved a resolution allocatingjust over$1 million in unallocated CDBG- CV funds to four (4) projects, pending additional details from staff.The four are: 1. Realignment and reconfiguration of Garfield Park 2. Acquisition, campus realignment and improvement of Wee Folks properties 3. Additional rent and utility assistance to needy citizens, managed by DOVE, Inc. 4. Old Kings Orchard property repurposing& Urban Ag project Subsequently, agreements with DOVE, Inc. and with the new owner of the former Wee Folks building have already been approved by the City Council. The attached proposal from OKOCC corresponds to#4 above. Representatives from Good Samaritan Inn and Old Kings Orchard Community Center will make brief presentations at the Monday council meeting. It is requested that the City Council:authorize the city manager to: 1) negotiate and enter-in to an agreement with the State of Illinois for the funding and administration of DCEO GRANT-DG230094; 2) negotiate and enter-in to an agreement with Good Samaritan Inn to implement their proposal; and 3) negotiate and enter-in to an agreement with OKOCC to implement their proposal.