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• administering the project if funded. If the application receives funding, the consultant would get a percentage of the project cost, ranging from 5% to 8%, for administering the project. If the project does not get funded, there would be no cost to the county for the consultant having prepared the application. If the county hires a consultant and then does not submit an application, there would be no cost to the county. As part of the CDBG program requirements, the Board of County Commissioners must establish a CDBG Citizen Advisory Task Force or activate the existing one. Attachment 3 is a copy of the membership list of the county's existing CDBG Citizens Advisory Task Force. According to DCA's CDBG rules, a public hearing to obtain citizen input is required prior to submitting any CDBG application. As structured, the hearing to be held at the May 9, 2000 Board meeting will meet that requirement. At that May 9, 2000 public hearing the Board has the following alternative actions to consider- 1.) onsider 1.) Direct staff to work with existing local businesses or new businesses wishing to relocate to the county regarding potential economic development CDBG projects and authorize staff to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant to advise staff on potential projects and prepare an application and administer the grant; 2.) Reapply for CDBG fimds to be used for potable water improvements in the Wabasso area and authorize staff to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant to prepare an application and administer the grant; 3.) Undertake both Alternative 1 and Alternative 2; or 4.) Decide not to apply for CDBG funds in this fiscal year. Based on the analysis, staff supports alternative 1. Staff has already held preliminary discussions with one local business that is considering an expansion of its operations. Due to the amount of time involved in obtaining a consultant, it would be beneficial to initiate the RFP process as soon as possible if the county intends to apply for any CDBG funds in this fiscal year. Based on the result of the neighborhood revitalization application that the county submitted in the previous fiscal year, undertaking alterative 2 would be an inefficient use of staff time. As indicated in the analysis, a neighborhood revitalization project in Indian River County cannot attain a competitive score in the CDBG program. Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners choose alternative 1. Specifically, staff' recommends that the Board: Obtain public input during the public hearing regarding the county's overall community development needs; Direct staff to work with existing local businesses or new businesses wishing to relocate to the county regarding potential economic development CDBG projects; Authorize staff to initiate the process to select a consultant to prepare an economic development CDBG application and administer the grant; and MAY 0% 2000 • -33- BOOK il �, J PAGE 3215.7