AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff presentation and hold a Public Hearing to receive comments in regards to amending the 2015-2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan to add Economic Development as a funding category and add the Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) allocation of $425,261.
Body
Meeting date: May 19, 2020
Department: Planning and Development Services
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: Click or tap here to enter text.
Account Number: Click or tap here to enter text.
Funds Available: Click or tap here to enter text.
Account Name: Click or tap here to enter text.
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: On August 4, 2015, the City Council approved by Resolution 2015-95R the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan as required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD). At the time the City had only Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funding from HUD. On August 6, 2017, the City Council approved by Resolution 2017-97R an amendment to include the new CDBG-DR Disaster Recovery grant activities and funding.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
N/A
Choose an item.
Choose an item.
Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
☒ Economic Development - Choose an item.
☐ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
☐ Land Use - Choose an item.
☐ Neighborhoods & Housing - Choose an item.
☐ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
☐ Transportation - Choose an item.
☒ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
Choose an item.
Background Information:
The federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the creation of a Consolidated Plan that sets strategic priorities and goals for next five years of HUD grant funding, identifies types of activities the City will fund, and acts as the foundation for future one-year Action Plans. Staff is recommending two amendments to the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan because this plan governs the use of funds through the current program year 2019-2020.
One of the proposed amendments is to add the Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) allocation of $425,261 to the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan. This amendment provides the ability to consider project and program requests for CDBG-CV funds as an amendment to the 2019-2020 CDBG Entitlement Action Plan, enabling immediate use of the funds.
The other proposed amendments is to add Economic Development as a funding category so that projects and programs may be considered in this category in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The categories of activities identified in the original 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan were:
• Affordable Housing
• Public Services
• Public Facilities/Infrastructure/Transportation
• Clearance Activities
• Program Administration
The proposed amendment would mean that projects and programs can be considered for CDBG-CV funding in any of the above categories as well as Economic Development, as long as the use is in response to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidance issued by HUD to date for CDBG-CV includes waiving the 15% cap on funds used for Public Services, and allowing for a minimum five day public comment period for the changes to the 2019-2020 CDBG Entitlement Action Plan, instead of the usual minimum of 30 days. A public hearing is required prior to commencement of the comment period. Therefore, a public hearing will be held this evening, and the comment period will be May 24-30, 2020. Staff will report on comments received and ask City Council to consider approval of the amendments at the June 2, 2020, City Council meeting.
Proposed amendments to the plan are identified in “red.”
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Alternatives:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Recommendation:
Click or tap here to enter text.