Title
a. Conduct a Public Hearing to take comments on the draft Urban County Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 and proposed allocation of funds;
b. Approve the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Action Plan containing recommendations for funding of projects and programs;
c. Authorize the Director of Economic Development to submit the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Action Plan to HUD and to execute any and all other necessary HUD documents;
d. Authorize the Director of Economic Development to execute contracts and any and all other necessary and associated documents in regard to the allocations for projects and programs; and
e. Approve an allocation of Urban County Community Development Block Grant funds for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 of $896,616.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Conduct a Public Hearing to take comments on the draft Urban County Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 and proposed allocation of funds;
b. Approve the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Action Plan containing recommendations for funding of projects and programs;
c. Authorize the Director of Economic Development to submit the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Action Plan to HUD and to execute any and all other necessary HUD documents;
d. Authorize the Director of Economic Development to execute contracts and any and all other necessary and associated documents in regard to the allocations for projects and programs; and
e. Approve an allocation of Urban County Community Development Block Grant funds for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 of $896,616.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) qualified Monterey County, together with the Cities of Del Rey Oaks and Gonzales as an Urban County for entitlement purposes on November 1, 2012. The CDBG Entitlement Program allocates annual grants to cities and urban counties to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and opportunities to expand economic m opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. Subsequently, in May 2013, the Urban County submitted a Consolidated Plan, including a First Year Action Plan, and an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AIFHC) to HUD for approval. HUD approved the documents in June of 2013. To receive its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant allocation, the Urban County must adopt an Annual Action Plan, including a description of eligible projects and programs to be funded, and submit it to HUD prior to May 15, 2014.
DISCUSSION:
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 6, 2014, a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was issued for CDBG funds for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. On December 18, 2014, an application workshop for interested parties was held at the County Government Center. Seventeen applications for funding were received on or before the due date of January 23, 2015. On January 13, 2015, the Board of Supervisors created a Standing Committee to review and recommend funding for County projects and services and appointed Supervisors Phillips and Salinas to the Committee. On March 6, 2015, the Standing Committee reviewed the applications received for funding and made recommendations on those to be included in the Annual Action Plan.
On April 7, 2015, the Board of Supervisors approved the Draft Action Plan for Fiscal years 2015-2016, including recommendations for projects and programs to be funded, for issuance for a 30 day period of public review. On April 8, April 9, and April 11, a Notice of 30 Day Public Comment Period and Adoption of Community Development Block Grant Program FY 2015-16 Annual Action Plan was published in the following papers: Salinas Coast Weekly, Gonzales Tribune, Soledad Bee, Greenfield News, King City Rustler; and El Sol newspapers.
The purpose of the public hearing is to receive final comments on the Draft Action Plan for the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. In the absence of evidence and testimony to the contrary, it is recommended that the Board of Supervisors take action to submit the Action Plan to HUD for approval in order to receive the County direct entitlement funding for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. A final copy of the documents will be made available on each participating jurisdiction's website and a hard copy will be available at the Economic Development Department immediately thereafter.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Cities of Del Rey Oaks and Gonzales partnered with the County to become 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 two cities and the county made recommendations to the Standing Committee in regard to programs. On March 6, 2015, the Standing Committee reviewed the applications and made recommendations on funding that are included in the Urban County Annual Action Plan. County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Annual Action Plan.
FINANCING:
The HUD grant is a five (5) year agreement which is funded annually. Funding in the amount of $896,616 was awarded for Fiscal Year 2015-16. The award includes funding for administration in the amount of $ 184,923. Of this, $166,039 is allocated to the County, $15,805 is allocated to Gonzales, and $3,079 is allocated to Del Rey Oaks. If the County complies with the grant, the County will continue to receive annual entitlement funding, subject to the federal budget process.
The grant has been budgeted in the department's baseline budget submissions for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in its Appropriation Code DEO 003, Fund 013, Unit Code 8200 (Community Development Grants).
Prepared by: Jane Royer Barr, Housing Program Manager, x5389
Approved by: Nicholas Chiulos, Assistant CAO, x5145
Attachments:
Draft Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2015-16