Section 67.490

Title VI COUNTY, TOWNSHIP AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISION GOVERNMENT

Chapter 67

Effective - 27 Jun 2000, 3 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  67.490.  Petitions, contents, review, criteria, approval by board as proposal, public hearing — procedure if funds sought, additional review, findings by board required when — select neighborhood action program, eligible projects. — 1. The board shall in a timely manner adopt rules setting forth basic guidelines for acceptance and evaluation of petitions, including a common understandable format, as well as appropriate supporting material, maps, plans and data. The board shall begin to accept petitions one month after the adoption of the plan by the governing body of the county pursuant to section 67.487. The board shall review all petitions submitted by any petitioner. Review shall begin no later than thirty days after submission of the petition to the commission. In order to qualify as a proposal, a petition shall address the criteria set forth in subsection 4 of this section. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "pending" means any proposal submitted to the board which has not yet been approved by the board.

  2. When practical, a petition shall be initially submitted to the advisory committee for constructive review and comment in a manner likely to result in a proposal that addresses a strategy outlined in the plan.

  3. The board shall hold a public hearing concerning the petition, which may be on the same day as a scheduled meeting of the board.

  4. (1) In reviewing any petition for funding, the board shall first determine if funds are sought for eligible expenses for a neighborhood reinvestment project. If the petition seeks such funds, the board shall certify such petition as a proposal subject to further review unless the board finds that the petition seeks funds for expenses that do not qualify as eligible expenses, or seeks funds for an endeavor other than a neighborhood reinvestment project. If the board finds that funds are sought for ineligible expenses or for an ineligible endeavor, the board need not take any further action and shall notify the petitioner in writing of all deficiencies that prevent the petition from being a proposal. If the board determines that there is a minor error or discrepancy in a petition, the board, with the petitioner's concurrence, may make such changes to the petition as are necessary to rectify the error that prevents the petition from being certified as a proposal subject to further review. Within six months of certification of a petition as a proposal, the board shall issue a finding approving or disapproving such proposal. In disapproving any proposal, the board shall issue a document indicating the reasons that the proposal was disapproved.

  (2) If the board determines that a proposal is a priority comeback project consistent with the strategies and priorities set forth in the community comeback plan and that the project is well-planned, realistic, creative, resourceful, benefits the local community and is cost-effective, then the board shall award funding. If the board determines that a proposal is a priority comeback project, but is inconsistent with the strategies and priorities in the community comeback plan, the board may award funding if it finds that the project is well-planned, realistic, creative, resourceful, benefits the local community, is cost-effective and addresses the reinvestment needs of neighborhoods by one or more of the following:

  (a) Reducing or removing impediments to attracting home buyers;

  (b) Providing the necessary physical infrastructure needed to promote significant job growth;

  (c) Reducing or removing any such factor or factors that constitute an economic or social liability or a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use.

  (3) If the board determines that a proposal, which is not a priority comeback project, is consistent with the strategies and priorities set forth in the community comeback plan and is well-planned, realistic, creative, resourceful, benefits the local community and is cost-effective, the board may award funding if the board adds such proposal to the plan. If the board determines that a proposal, which is not a priority comeback project, is inconsistent with the strategies and priorities in the community comeback plan, the board may award funding if it finds that the project is well-planned, realistic, creative, resourceful, benefits the local community, is cost-effective and addresses the reinvestment needs of neighborhoods by one or more of the following:

  (a) Reducing or removing impediments to attracting home buyers;

  (b) Providing the necessary physical infrastructure needed to promote significant job growth;

  (c) Reducing or removing any such factor or factors that constitute an economic or social liability or a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in its present condition and use.

  (4) The board, the advisory committee and the staff of both may advise petitioners on issues related to petitions or proposals. The board may meet informally, subject to the requirements of chapter 610, RSMo, with representatives of potential petitioners with regard to future petitions and plans.

  5. The board shall establish a select neighborhood action program. SNAP applicants shall provide a ten-percent cash or in-kind match to be eligible for a SNAP grant. Project categories eligible for SNAP grant funding shall be:

  (1) Neighborhood beautification projects which enhance the appearance of the overall neighborhood. Such projects include, but are not limited to, tree and flower plantings, cleanups, entranceway landscaping, community gardens, public art and neighborhood identification signs/banners;

  (2) Neighborhood organization or capacity projects which create or increase membership in a neighborhood organization promoting community betterment. Such projects include, but are not limited to, neighborhood newsletters, neighborhood marketing brochures, neighborhood meetings and special events, and technology such as web site development;

  (3) Neighborhood-school partnership projects which benefit a school and the adjacent neighborhood. Involvement of both the school and the neighborhood in planning, implementation and maintenance must be substantiated. Partnership projects include, but are not limited to, youth and community programs that promote safety, culture or the environment and that are beneficial to both the school and the neighborhood;

  (4) Capital purchase projects which include the acquisition of equipment or property. Such projects include, but are not limited to, land acquisition, playground equipment, bicycle racks and major supplies;

  (5) Neighborhood improvement projects which benefit the local infrastructure in a neighborhood, and include construction of sidewalks or installation of streetlights.

  6. Project categories ineligible for SNAP grant funding shall be:

  (1) Projects accomplished in more than twelve months;

  (2) Projects that duplicate existing private or public programs;

  (3) Projects that require ongoing services, or requests to support continual operating budgets; and

  (4) Projects that conflict with the community comeback plan.

  7. When making SNAP grant funding decisions, the board shall consider the level of neighborhood participation including the percentage of residents who are involved in planning and implementing the idea, the diversity of parties involved or that will benefit, and the amount of neighborhood opposition; the community benefit of the project, including the number of people who will benefit from the project and the overall quality of the project.

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(L. 2000 H.B. 1238)

Effective 6-27-00