Title
a. Approve the draft Urban County Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2017-2018, including recommendations for projects and programs to be funded, for issuance for a 30-day period of public review.
b. Approve the amended Consolidated Plan, reflecting changes in Urban County jurisdictional partners, for issuance for a 30-day period of public review.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the draft Urban County Annual Action Plan Fiscal Year 2017-2018, including recommendations for projects and programs to be funded, for issuance for a 30-day period of public review.
b. Approve the amended Consolidated Plan, reflecting changes in Urban County jurisdictional partners, for issuance for a 30-day period of public review.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has re-qualified Monterey’s Urban County for entitlement purposes for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-2018 through FY 2019-2020. The Urban County includes the County of Monterey and the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield and Sand City. To receive its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant allocation, the Urban County must adopt an Annual Action Plan which sets forth a description of eligible projects and programs to be funded. It is to be submitted to HUD by May 15, 2017.
DISCUSSION:
Since the first award of an allocation from HUD in FY 2013-14, the Urban County has received $3,775,263 for use in the jurisdictions of Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, Sand City and the unincorporated areas of the County of Monterey. For FY 2017-2018, the HUD allocation is anticipated to be $1,156,760. The Urban County also anticipates receiving loan repayments totaling $11,900 in FY 2017-2018 for total available financing of $1,168,660. Beginning with FY 2016-2017, the City of Del Rey Oaks opted out of the Urban County and the cities of Greenfield and Sand City joined the Urban County.
Each year, HUD recipients are required to submit an Action Plan to HUD which includes approved funding recommendations for projects, services, and administration. To satisfy that requirement, Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA) were published in El Sol, the South County Newspaper Group and the Monterey County Weekly announcing that the Urban County anticipated having CDBG funds in the amount of $1,168,660 for FY 2017-2018. The Urban County may use up to $173,514 to fund public service activities and $233,732 for general administration of the CDBG program. The balance of the funds must be used for projects.
On December 15, 2016, an application workshop for interested parties was held at the County Government Center. The Urban County received four applications requesting $937,311 for projects to improve existing community facilities and to rehabilitate homes owned by low or moderate income households. The Urban County also received nine applications requesting $308,814 for public service activities. On March 9, 2017, the Urban County Standing Committee (Standing Committee) reviewed the applications received for funding and made recommendations which have been incorporated into the Annual Action Plan (see Exhibit A - FY 2017-2018 Urban County Funding Recommendation).
After the Board of Supervisors takes action, the Annual Action Plan and the amended Consolidated Plan will be made available for public comment for a period of 30 days. The Annual Action Plan will then be brought back to the Board on May 9, 2017 for review of public comments and final approval. It is then submitted to HUD for approval. A copy of the final approved Urban County Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 will be made available on each participating jurisdiction’s website and a hard copy will be available at Monterey County’s Economic Development Department office and the city halls of Gonzales, Greenfield and Sand City.
The Annual Action Plan is not intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, constitute, directly a commitment by the parties to undertake or commence the Project prior to the completion of all necessary environmental reviews and all necessary permits have been obtained. County shall complete all NEPA requirements prior to the dispersal of any funds to the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, or Sand City, and those cites will abide by and follow all applicable State and Federal law relating to any project for which said funds are applied, including but not limited to any necessary environmental review and CEQA.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, and Sand City have partnered with the County to be re-qualified as a HUD designated Urban County. The City of Gonzales approved an allocation to make ADA accessibility improvements to their City Hall and Council Chambers. The cities of Greenfield and Sand City elected to roll their annual allocation over to FY 2018-2019. County staff made recommendations for county projects to the Standing Committee. Staff from the three cities and the county made recommendations to the Standing Committee in regard to programs. On March 9, 2017, the Standing Committee reviewed the applications and made recommendations on funding that are included in the Annual Action Plan. County Counsel has reviewed the Annual Action Plan as to form.
FINANCING:
This action does not change the current FY 2016-2017 appropriations, revenues or positions. The HUD grant is an annual agreement. If the County complies with grant requirements, the County may elect to continue to receive annual entitlement funding, subject to the federal budget process.
The Economic Development Department has prepared a budget request for FY 2017-2018 based on the FY 2016-2017 funding level plus $11,900 from Program Income for Fund 13, Unit Code 8200 (Community Development Grants), Appropriation Code DEO 003. There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of the Board’s approval of the Action Plan. Should the actual grant from HUD be less than the $1,156,760 received in FY2016-2017, the amount made available to subrecipients will be reduced on a pro-rata basis.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Authorizing the Urban County to post the FY 2017-2018 Action Plan is the first step toward making an anticipated $1,168,660 available to help local jurisdictions make improvements to public facilities and non-profit agencies to create new housing opportunities for the psychiatrically disabled, provide food security, help develop children and youth develop the social skills they need to be successful in life and help homeless veterans transition into housing.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
X Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: _____________________________________________________________
Darby Marshall, RHO Project Analyst II, Ext. 5391
Approved by: _____________________________________________________________
David L. Spaur, CEcD, EDFP, Economic Development Director, Ext. 5387
Attachments:
Urban County Draft Action Plan Approval -2017-3-28
Urban County Draft Action Plan Approval - Exhibit A - 2017-3-28
(Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board)