Box 8, Folder 21, Document 39

Box 8, Folder 21, Document 39

CERTIFICATION OF MODEL CITY RELEVANCE



A series of interdepartmental and interagency agreements have been
initiated as a key segment of the Model Cities effort over the past
year. The objective of these agreements has been strengthening

both federal and local capabilities to coordinate federally assisted
programs that affect Model Neighborhoods. In recognition of

the fragmentation often resulting from disconnected projects operating
in the sarne neighborhood, an effort has been made to provide both

the chief executive of Model Cities and representatives of the

federal Cabinet Secretaries with the authority to review all programs
proposed for operation in a Model Neighborhood and comment on those

programs' relevance to the comprehensive plan of the Model City.

Guidelines

Federal local projects affecting Model Neighborhoods fall into two
broad categories: (a) projects developed primarily as a part of the
Model Neighborhood demonstration, and (b) projects with wider

community application.

A. Model Neighborhood Projects



This category includes all projects involving funds reserved
for Model Neighborhood demonstration and all HEW federal-
local projects in which more than 50% of the project's benefit

- can be attributed to the Model Neighborhood residents.

1. The Regional Director will recommend for approval
only those projects that the city has certified to be
satisfactorily linked to the city's comprehensive
Model City program, These projects may be
integral components of the demonstration or other

activitics relevant to and supportive of the program,
Prior to final obligation of HEW funds, project
applications that meet the above definition will include
such certification, signed by the CDA Director and the
HEW Regional Director (see-attached-format). Staff
of the Task Force on Interagency Funding will review
these certifications and bring any discrepancies to

the attention of the Task Force,

Since application and review procedures vary from
program to program, it is the direct responsibility of
the funding agency to assure timcly certification by
the CDA and concurrence by the Regional Director.
The existing Regional Resources Committee should be
the appropriate channel for review by agencies with

the Regional Director's staff.

Continuation applications and significant project
modifications will include CDA certification and

Regional Director concurrence,

CDA certification is understood in every case to include
consultation with the local chief executive, whether
mayor or city manager, and is expected to reflect

that chief executive's local authority to coordinate

federally funded projects in the Model Neighborhoods.

Where certification by the CDA has been refused or
has not been received within 60 days by the city agency
or community organization proposing a project for

the Model Neighborhood, that agency or organization
has the formal opportunity to’appeal the decision

(or the inaction) of the CDA directly to the local chief
executive and the Regional Director. Such a formal
appeal would be received simultaneously by the local
chief executive and the Regional Director, Itis

the responsibility of the Regional Director to discuss
the project with the local chief executive and to
reach final decision, in concert with DHEW agency

recommendations, on funding the project at issue.

City-Wide Projects (on-going and new projects)



The policies and process outlined above and in-the-attachéd
interdepartmental-agreerment also will apply to city-wide

projects with the following exceptions:



(a) If the Director of the City Demonstration Agency will not
certify that that portion of the proposed project affecting
the Model Neighborhood is adequately linked to the

comprehensive programs, and

(b) If the applicant agency and the CDA cannot negotiate

a satisfactory resolution, and

(c) If the Mayor's office fails to negotiate a satisfactory

resolution,

The the Regional Director, working with HEW regional agency

representatives, should seek to conciliate local differences,

If an impasse still exists at the time that a funding decision must
be made, the funding agency must communicate its formal
recommendations to the Repional Director, To approval is
rocopmnended, the Reploual Ditoctor digeat coneuwr bo the

extent that this action affects the Model Citics Program,
Regional Directors will assure that CDA's are aware of and understand
this procedures, and that the Regional Resource Committee
is used to disseminate these procedures to all regional

agency representatives.

Copy to:

Assistant Secretaries

Agency Heads

Regional Directors

Regional Resources Committee
Urban Coordinating Committee

. Task Force on Interagency Funding