Commissioner Mills pressed staff on April 3 for details after seeing a memorandum about the home-repair and down-payment assistance programs and raised concerns about a prior outsourced contract that left federal funds unspent.

Cynthia Rogers, representing the department's program staff, told the commission staff will continue serving residents in the current pipeline and described reasons staff say outsourcing is being considered for additional work. Rogers said the department currently has 158 homeowner applications reviewed and awaiting contracts and that roughly $6,200,000 in assistance is identified for the pipeline. Rogers also said the broader program budget referenced in the meeting was about $10,000,000 and that additional Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars were allocated to the home-repair program beginning in October, which increases annual program volume.

Rogers said the program must continue serving the existing pipeline and that one reason a vendor-based approach is being explored is capacity: the department is sized to handle annual federal-funded volumes but not the additional yearly TIF allocation. Rogers said outsourcing partners being sought would be turnkey and bring legal and administrative capacity to move larger sums and manage volume quickly, citing constraints across related city units such as the city attorney's office, accounts payable and inspections when volume spikes.

Commissioner Mills recalled a prior outsourcing attempt that produced delays and unspent funds and asked why the new effort would be different. Rogers said staff had identified differences: the department intends not to halt the program during vendor transitions, plans to seek nationally experienced vendors, and expects to use allowable administrative set-asides from TIF where eligible. Mills asked for a briefing that summarizes the prior outsourced contract outcome and the proposed new outsourcing approach; Chair Rubin asked staff to set up that briefing.

Why it matters: the home-repair program is a visible source of service in neighborhoods; past outsourcing problems were raised as leaving eligible residents without timely repairs. Commissioners want to understand administrative safeguards, staffing capacity, and how locally allocated TIF dollars will be used alongside federal HUD funds.

Requested follow-up: commissioners formally asked staff to present a detailed briefing on (1) the earlier outsourced contract that led to a substantial amendment and unspent funds, and (2) the proposed outsourcing model for handling expanded TIF-funded work, including which administrative costs will be covered and how the city will ensure quicker disbursement while maintaining oversight.

Ending: Staff agreed to schedule the requested briefing and to provide details on funding sources and administrative plans; commissioners characterized the issue as a priority for additional oversight.