Title
Discussion of CDBG 2017 Draft Annual Action Plan and the potential amendment of the CDBG 2016 Annual Action Plan
Body
Summary and Background Information:
In 2016, the city became an Entitlement Community and now directly received funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). As required by HUD, the city works through its Citizen Participation Plan to determine how the funds will be spent. The final document produced with this procedure is called the Annual Action Plan (AAP). The AAP then serves as part of the city’s application for the following years’ CDBG funding.
Consideration Number One - Adoption of the CDBG 2017 Annual Action Plan
The CDBG Office met all of the requirements in the Citizen Participation Plan. The 2017 Draft AAP incorporates the input from 5 public meetings, 7 group meetings, 54 interviews and 23 submitted Project Idea Forms. A total of 245 residents participated in the process.
The twelve submitted projects were reviewed and ranked by the CDBG Team comprised of nine staff members. Seven projects were recommended for funding. The results are shown below:
|
2017 AAP Project Rank & Funding Table |
June 2017
|
# |
Public Service Projects (15% Limit) |
Rank |
Suggested Funding |
|
1. |
Domestic Violence Victim Support |
1 |
$ 36,951 |
|
2. |
Recreational Activity Sponsorship |
2 |
$ 7,000 |
|
3. |
Fair Housing Activities |
3 |
$ 4,000 |
|
4. |
Resident Resource Directory |
4 |
$ 10,000 |
|
5. |
Project Angel Heart |
5 |
$ - |
|
6. |
You Have Options |
6 |
$ - |
|
7. |
Access Housing Staffing |
7 |
$ - |
|
|
Public Services Total |
|
$57,951 |
|
|
Other Projects |
Rank |
Suggested Funding |
|
8. |
Sidewalk Repair & ADA Curb* |
1 |
$ 123,630 |
|
9. |
Bus Stops |
2 |
$ 50,000 |
|
10. |
Home Repair Program** |
3 |
$ 101,121 |
|
11. |
GRID Alternatives - Solar |
4 |
$ - |
|
12. |
Access Housing - Bathroom Repairs |
5 |
$ - |
|
|
Public Works Projects Total |
|
$274,751 |
|
|
Administration (20%) |
|
$83,175 |
|
|
Total 2017 Funding |
|
$415,877 |
Consideration Number Two - Amendment of the CDBG 2016 Annual Action Plan
After reviewing the City’s 2016 AAP and discussions with HUD, the CDBG Office discovered the Quebec Street Sidewalk, south of E. 88th Avenue to the Truck Stop, is not eligible for funding by CDBG. This sidewalk is needed for several reasons; however because of its commercial neighbors, it does not meet the HUD funding criteria of “primarily serving residential communities”.
The City may keep the $100,000 in funding by reallocating the funds to the 2016 AAP’s Sidewalk Construction - Core City Project. The neighborhood sidewalks properly utilize the funding in accordance to HUD guidelines.
However, spending the $279,072 within the 2016 AAP program year requires an additional amendment to the 2016 AAP. Sidewalk repairs need to be added to provide flexibility for the Public Works Department to perform the additional sidewalk improvements within the Core City. The new title would be Sidewalk Construction and Repairs - Core City.
Reallocating the $100,000 requires a formal amendment to the 2016 APP. According to the City’s Citizen Participation Plan and HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 91.505, a Substantial Amendment is required:
“… whenever there is a change in the allocation priorities or method of distributing funds presented in the plan; a change in the use of funds to an activity not described in the Annual Action Plan; or a change in the purpose, scope, location, or beneficiaries of an activity”. (page 7)
and
“An increase in the CDBG funds allocated to an existing activity in an amount greater than $50,000 over the current funded amount” (page 8)
Changing the project location and the large funding amount triggers a Substantial Amendment to the AAP. This requires a 30-day Comment Period and an adoption by the City Council. (page 8)
Staff Responsible (Department Head): Chris Cramer, Director of Community Development
Staff Member Presenting: Cheryl Steinberg, CDBG Coordinator
Financial Impact:
CDBG 2017 Annual Action Plan - $415,877 Grant to the City
CDBG 2016 Annual Action Plan Amendment - No Financial Impact
Funding Source:
HUD’s Community Development Block Grant
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends the adoption of the 2017 Annual Action Plan and to approve the amendments to the 2016 Annual Action Plan.
Suggested Motion:
None. Discussion only