Each fiscal year, the City of Riviera Beach (City) receives an award of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds through Palm Beach County (County).  This award of monies is transmitted to the City via the County because the City is not categorized as an entitlement entity due to the size of its population.  

The City was allocated FY 2020/2021 CDBG funds of $194,170 as its local entitlement share of the County’s CDBG grant, and another $364,164 CDBG through the Special Area of Hope Allocation, which rotates among municipalities each year. Thereby, the total amount of FY 2020/2021 CDBG monies is $558,334, which the City has received in FY 2020-21.

As such, at the September 16, 2020, City Council meeting, Resolution No. 81-20 was approved to accept such FY 2020/2021 CDBG monies in the amount of $558,334.  Through an agreement between the City and the County, these funds were to be used as had been usually done in the past for street and related infrastructure improvements.  In particular, this certain fiscal year monies were to be used for the reconstruction of 35^th Street from Avenue “H” to Avenue “F”. 

Given the discussion that ensued at that meeting and within City Administration thereafter, staff made contact with the County to determine if such monies could be de-obligated and subsequently used to support other eligible activities.  To be specific, activities that would produce more direct public benefit for a greater number of beneficiaries and involve emphasis on neighborhood enhancement and as well as human services.  As a result of those discussions, the following three (3) projects were realized and shared with the County for its consideration for eligibility:  

1.      Code Compliance Community Engagement Program

This newly designed Program’s purpose is to effectuate enhancements to neighborhoods that are situated outside of the CRA’s geographic boundary.  Creatively modeled after the CRA’s Ambassadors Program, this pilot initiative will take on similar characteristics of the Ambassadors Program and will highly focus on the services of approximately five (5) staff persons to undertake code compliance matters.  Services will be administered within the Code Compliance Division of the Development Services Department.

Designed with the intent to supplement and augment code regulations, efforts will also focus on the simultaneous installation of ancillary systems, which tend to proliferate and sustain clean, attractive, and healthy neighborhoods.  It is hopeful that such efforts will increase property values and reduce code violations, crime, and vandalism.

Proposed Allocation:  $340,000

2.      Urban Farm Collaborative Project

The City has the opportunity to collaborate with E-Road Map Corporation (ERM) and several other non-profit organizations to develop an Urban Agriculture Plan (Plan) culminating in an urban farm that produces organic and non-GMO products.  As the location is within walking distance of three schools, the project includes the development of not only an urban farm but also a component that provides educational opportunities centered on harvesting natural food products. Accordingly, education will be a major component of this project.  

The farm is planned to be constructed on Blue Heron Boulevard on the old fire station site next to Barracuda Bay. The parking, ingress and egress, restrooms, and other public amenities for the farm would be situated on the Barracuda Bay property. 

The City's role in the collaborative is proposed as follows:   

(1) Providing infrastructure support (the lot, Barracuda Bay for public parking, access, etc.),

(2) Assisting in recruiting volunteers,

(3) Serving as the fiscal agent for the CDBG funds, and

(4) Marketing and programmatic assistance.

The staff intends to work with partners, including the CRA and CDC, to:

(1)   Make the farm a sustainable success to produce healthy food items.

(2)   Implement an urban agriculture plan.

(3)   Eliminate any recurring costs through grants and fundraising. 

(4)   Develop an urban agriculture co-op to provide residents and visitors with organic healthy food alternatives and organic healthy urban agriculture knowledge.

Proposed Allocation:  $100,000

3.      City Parks - Digital Divide –Wi-Fi Installation Project

“The digital divide can be defined as the gap that exists between those who have reliable internet access and devices and those with very limited access or none at all.”   This issue is generally a challenge that affects a great number of individuals whether it be access to high-speed internet and/or access to reliable devices.  

As the City moves forward to improve its systems and services, and given the importance of the internet and the value that it brings to conduct business and personal matters electronically, the installation of cable and related appurtenances in respective City parks would be ideal.  Accordingly, moving this initiative forward to improve access to internet services, staff worked with Comcast Cable to survey park facilities throughout the City to determine their status for suitability for the installation of cabling for Wi-Fi connectivity.  The results of the survey demonstrated that five (5) of these parks were readily positioned for the installation of the cable.  Further, it was also determined that seven (7) other parks would require more extensive construction and installation activities. 

In concert with the City moving forward innovatively, staff desires to make affordable, available, and adequate opportunities for its citizens to connect to the internet to transact activities and electronically communicate without challenges. Along with the ability to connect in digital spaces, the City is augmenting this Project by incorporating electronic items such as computer systems to include desktops, laptops, and software in public spaces such as the new library facility, existing community centers as well as the new fire stations, which will house space for public assembly.