Title
a. Approve the draft Urban County Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2016-2017, including recommendations for projects and programs to be funded, for issuance for a 30-day period of public review; and
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 2016-2017, 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) 2016-2017 through FY 2018-19. Participants include past participating jurisdictions of unincorporated portions of Monterey County and Gonzales and new participating jurisdictions of 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, 2016. Additionally, based upon changes in participating jurisdictions, HUD requires that the Consolidated Plan be amended to reflect the new configuration.
DISCUSSION:
Since the first award of an allocation from HUD in FY 2013-14, the Urban County has received $2,618,503 for the jurisdictions of Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, and the unincorporated areas of the County of Monterey. For FY 2016-17, the HUD allocation is $1,156,760 which reflects the addition of the two jurisdictions and the loss of Del Rey Oaks which opted to not continue as a participating jurisdiction.
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, on December 3, 4, and 5, 2015, a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published for estimated CDBG funds in the amount of $1,140,000 for FY 2016-2017. On December 14, 2015, an application workshop for interested parties was held at the County Government Center. Nineteen applications requesting a total of $2,083,970 for funding were received on or before the due date of January 22, 2016.
On March 9, 2016, 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 attachment -Exhibit A - FY 16-17 Urban County Funding Allocation Recommendations).
The Consolidated Plan must be amended to reflect the loss of Del Rey Oaks and the addition of Greenfield and Sand City to the Urban County. HUD originally informed county staff that these changes could be reflected in the Action Plan. On February 17, 2016, HUD informed the County of a mistake and that the Consolidated Plan must be amended. The County is making all efforts to undertake the amendment so that it can be submitted to HUD, along with the Action Plan, by May 15, 2016. The County’s ability to meet this deadline is contingent upon HUD’s ability to update the census data for the new Urban County configuration, which has not yet been received. The draft Consolidated Plan attached hereto will be updated with HUD data when received, likely before the end of March. The public will receive the amended draft, including updated HUD census data, which will be released on April 9 for a 30-day public review period.
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 10, 2016 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 2016-2017 will be made available on each participating jurisdiction’s website and a hard copy will be available at Monterey County’s Economic Development Department and the city halls of Gonzales, Greenfield and Sand City.
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. Each City approved applications for projects located in their jurisdictions. 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, 2016, 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 and Consolidated Plan as to form.
FINANCING:
The HUD grant is an annual agreement. HUD has notified the County that it intends to award the Urban County $1,156,760 for FY 2016-17. 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 grant will be budgeted in the FY 2016-17 recommended budget in 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 or Consolidated Plan.
Prepared by:
_____________________________________________________________________
Jane Royer Barr, Housing Program Manager, Ext. 5389
Approved by: _____________________________________________________________________
David L. Spaur, CEcD, EDFP, Economic Development Director, Ext. 5387
Attachments:
Exhibit A - FY 16-17 Urban County Funding Allocation Recommendations
Annual Action Plan
Amended Consolidated Plan
Amended Consolidated Plan (redline)
(Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board)