Title
a. Conduct a Public Hearing and take comments on the draft Urban County Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for FY18/19;
b. Approve the Urban County Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for FY18/19 for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and,
c. Authorize the Housing Program Manager to make minor changes to the report as needed or in response to comments from HUD.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Conduct a Public Hearing and take comments on the draft Urban County Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for FY18/19;
b. Approve the Urban County Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for FY28/19 for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and,
c. Authorize the Housing Program Manager to make minor changes to the report as needed or in response to comments from HUD.
SUMMARY:
In November of 2012, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved the formation of an Urban County consisting of the cities of Del Rey Oaks and Gonzales and the unincorporated portions of Monterey County. This designation allows the Urban County to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds directly from HUD. The County is required to prepare an Annual Action Plan. It is further required to report annually to HGD on its implementation of the Plan and its progress in achieving it as well as the long-term goals contained in the Consolidated Plan. The Board is asked to approve the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which is mandated by HUD for reporting and evaluating Urban County performance.
DISCUSSION:
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) closes FY18/19 by summarizing the accomplishments and the progress the Urban County is making towards the goals and objectives it established in Consolidated Plan when qualifying for the Urban County designation. On June 19, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved the Urban County’s Program Year 2018/19 (FY18/19) Annual Action Plan (AP). The AP allocated $1,601,122 to seven projects, 12 public services and general program administration.
The Consolidated Plan identifies seven programmatic areas for CDBG investment. These programmatic areas are: Affordable Housing; Fair Housing; Homeless and Homeless Prevention Services; Infrastructure Improvements; Public Facilities; Public Services and General Program Administration. The Urban County’s accomplishments in each of these areas during FY18/19 is summarized below.
Affordable Housing - During FY18/19, the Urban County used approximately $48,800 to underwrite the GRID Alternatives cost of installing rooftop solar systems on homes owned by low or moderate income households. Since 2013, the Urban County has invested $218,800 and assisted 53 households through this program.
Fair Housing - The Urban County retained the services of the Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO and Legal Services for Seniors to provide fair housing activities during FY18/19. These agencies helped at least 43 people with fair housing and tenant/landlord dispute resolution. The dispute resolution provides an opportunity for renters to work with landlords and ensures landlords were not violating tenant fair housing rights. Since FY13/14, the Urban County has used over $117,000 in CDBG Public Service funds to enable fair housing activities in the County and assisted more than 3,000 people with fair housing services.
Homeless and Homeless Prevention Services - The Urban County invested almost $109,000 to add transitional housing capacity at the Veterans Transition Center and to provide life skills counseling for residents of the Rancho Cielo Youth Campus’s Transitional Housing Program.
Infrastructure Improvements - During FY18/19, the Urban County allocated more than $689,400 towards infrastructure improvements. The City of Greenfield is using $518,000 to complete street and sidewalk improvements on Walnut Avenue to benefit primarily low-moderate income residents. The City did not draw any funds during FY18/19 but anticipates drawing the full amount and recording beneficiaries during FY19/20. The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water is using $170,900 to consolidate three private water systems in the Middlefield Road area with CalWater and to construct new water service laterals from the CalWater main to the homes owned by low and moderate income households. This project has also been delayed but EJCW anticipates completing work during FY19/20.
Public Facilities - The Urban County invested $315,800 to make improvements to public facilities in Castroville, Gonzales and Sand City. These projects included making parks and public facilities in Gonzales and Sand City compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and revitalizing recreational facilities in Castroville during FY18/19. With more than $3.348 million in CDBG investments, Public Facilities are the single largest beneficiary of these funds and most improvements have been to make these facilities more accessible to the estimated 66,000 Monterey County residents with disabilities.
Public Services - During FY2018/19, the Urban County used more than $140,600 to support a wide range of public services. Services included youth leadership development programs in Gonzales, Greenfield and North County; providing food security and companionship in North County and the Salinas Valley; and programs to help maintain the independence and quality of life for the disabled and seniors. These services benefitted an estimated 8,700 Monterey County residents last year and an estimated 15,000 since FY13/14.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The cities of Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, and Sand City have partnered with the County to be designated as an Urban County.
FINANCING:
This action does not change the current FY 2019-2020 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.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Authorizing the Urban County to submit the FY18/19 CAPER to HUD by September 30, 2019 is necessary to keep the Urban County in compliance with the Urban County CDBG requirements. Continued eligibility for the Urban County designation will allow the County to continue to receive the Entitlement Allocation of CDBG from HUD, approximately $1.573 million annually, 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, and help children and youth develop the social skills they need to be successful in life.
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: _____________________________________________________________
Anastacia Wyatt, Housing Program Manager, Ext. 5387
Attachments:
Board Report
Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for FY2018/19