City declines to apply as prime for VAWA award amid compliance concerns; suggests Hope House apply
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Summary
Lee's Summit staff recommended not applying as the prime applicant for a new VAWA grant due to short timelines and new regulatory compliance obligations; staff suggested Hope House pursue the award as prime while the city remains supportive as a subrecipient if appropriate.
City staff told the Finance & Budget Committee they would not apply as the prime applicant for a newly opened Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) award because newly issued regulations and short application timelines created compliance risks for the city and its subrecipients.
Brianna Burchter, director of finance, said staff reviewed new regulations and identified roughly 57 executive orders and related compliance requirements the city and its subrecipients would need to meet. "With the just quick turnaround on this, we didn't feel comfortable with pursuing that award at this time," Burchter said. She added that staff had discussed alternatives with Hope House and suggested Hope House act as the prime applicant, with the city supportive in a subordinate role.
Committee members pressed staff on the scope of the risk, including the potential impact on other federal funds. A committee member asked whether noncompliance by a subrecipient could place other federal dollars at risk; staff answered in the affirmative. "Anytime we are not in compliance as a whole as an organization, it puts all of our federal dollars at risk," Burchter said.
City staff said they plan to return to the committee in August with a broader risk assessment and recommendations about how the city will apply for federal awards going forward.
Hope House representative Eileen Sheehan was present; staff said they had discussed the option of Hope House applying directly and the city providing support rather than serving as applicant.
The committee received the update and did not object to the staff approach.
