AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff presentation and hold a Public Hearing to receive comments for or against Resolution 2021-243R, authorizing the submission of the 2020-2021 Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Program Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (“CAPER”) to the United Stated Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and declaring an effective date; and consider approval of Resolution 2021-243R.
Body
Meeting date: December 7, 2021
Department: Planning and Development Services
Amount & Source of Funding
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Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Click or tap here to enter text.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Workforce Housing
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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 - Diversified housing options to serve citizens with varying needs and interests
☐ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
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☐ Core Services
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Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
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Background Information:
Program year 2020 (PY 2020) which began October 1, 2020 and ended September 30, 2021 was the first year of the 2020- 2024 Consolidated Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This 5-year plan established three priority needs to be addressed using CDBG Entitlement funds: (a) affordable housing; (b) public services; (c) public facilities, and added economic development as a priority for CDBG-Coronavirus Relief funds along with affordable housing and public services. All projects and activities carried out during program year 2020 addressed a priority need. All projects/activities satisfied a National Objectives: all benefitted low to moderate income persons. The City was above the timeliness threshold of 1.5% on the August 1, 2021 testing date; however, when the housing rehabilitation programs re-start in PY 2021, the City will be well below the threshold at the next testing date.
Funds provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic took some focus away from planned programs because staff time was needed to create and administer a separate application process, and then work with recipients to get programs underway as quickly as possible.
Key accomplishments in Program Year 2020:
• One staff-administered program was active during the year: the Homebuyers Assistance Program. Five new homebuyers were assisted with down payment and closing costs. Funding was available for twelve.
• Two subrecipient-administered CDBG-Entitlement programs were active during the year: Advocates for Foster Children (105 served) and Housing Counseling (61 served).
• Several CDBG-Coronavirus programs continued: Advocates for Foster Children (22 served), Small Business Assistance (23 served), and Rent-Mortgage Utility Assistance (192 served).
• Community Initiatives staff assisted with Council discussions on the allocation of a $2.6 million reimbursement through the Texas Department of Emergency Management’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF)
• A competitive application process was held for $640,000 using general funds generated by the CRF reimbursement. Staff worked with a three-member volunteer committee, which made recommendations to City council on allocating the funds.
• A competitive application process was held for $999,120 for Human Services Grants. Recommendations for allocations of these funds will be made to the City Council by the Human Services Advisory Board in PY 2021.
• San Marcos continued to affirmatively further fair housing by publishing an annual fair housing rights ad in English and Spanish in the local newspaper, maintaining a Fair Housing page on the City's website, and issuing a proclamation declaring April to be "Fair Housing Month". The City partnered with Austin Tenants Council to provide training on fair housing for landlords.
• Policies and procedures were finalized for the disaster recovery and mitigation grants. Section Three (low income contractors) policies and procedures were revamped following updates to the federal regulations.
• Construction was started on the Uhland Road disaster recovery stormwater project.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
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Alternatives:
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Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the report for submission to HUD.