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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1988/04/12 Item 17COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT • Item 17 Meeting Date 4/12/88 ITEM TITLE: Public Hearing: Review of City's Community Development Block Grant Program focus, program performance and public needs Resolution /3 ~~~ Approving the City Community Development Block Grant Program Citizen Participation Plan SUBMITTED BY: Community Development Director REVIEWED BY: City Manager ~ ~j4 (~/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) ~~ With passage of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, the federal government has placed additional requirements on City grantees of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to approve and implement citizen participation procedures. A specific new federal requirement is for City grantees to hold public hearings to receive public testimony on the focus, public needs and performance of the City CDBG program. In addition, public input on a proposed Citizen Participation Plan for the City's CDBG Program is mandated. • The purpose of this public hearing is to receive public comments on both past Community Development Block Grant activities and on the proposed new Citizen Participation Plan attached as Exhibit C. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council 1. Conduct a public hearing and receive citizen input on the City's Community Development Block Grant program focus, performance and public needs and proposed Citizen Participation Plan. 2. Consider resolution approving the City's Citizen Participation Plan. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: The first goal of the public hearing is to receive input on the present Community Development Block Grant program. Attached as Exhibit A is a list of current projects funded. The focus of the grants are directed toward improving neighborhoods by providing public works projects and facilities. In addition, social services programs have been assisted in accordance with HUD guidelines as listed on the same attachment. For public works, facilities and social program funding, it is required that 51q of the beneficiaries be of low and moderate income. The public has been made aware of this hearing through advertisement in both English and Spanish newspaper publications (Exhibit B). • Page 2, Item 17 • Meeting Date~4 T~j$$ The second element of this public hearing is to consider the new public participation program for the City. The basic thrust of new federal requirements regarding citizen participation is to compel grantee cities to more actively seek public comments, and particularly comments from low income and minority residents, on the City's focus and operation of its CDBG program. While the City has had an informal Citizen Participation Plan, this action would formalize a plan which incorporates the new federal requirements. The proposed Citizen Participation Plan establishes a program including the following City guidelines: 1. City to hold two public hearings annually on the CDBG program--one hearing to consider the general program focus, City program performance and needs of the community; the other hearing to consider the City's CDBG budget and submission package to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2. City to place display ads in local English and Spanish newspapers to advertize both public hearings and to solicit proposals for the City's CDBG budget consideration. 3. City to provide Spanish translators at public hearings regarding the CDBG program. • 4. City to provide technical assistance on preparing funding proposals to individuals or groups representing low and moderate income residents; residents to be made aware of the available technical assistance through public notices. 5. City to continue using the Commission on Aging and the Human Relations Commission for evaluating social service funding proposals and continue using the Montgomery Planning Committee for evaluating capital project proposals for the Montgomery area. Because of the proposed involvement of CDBG funds in the Montgomery Neighborhood Revitalization Program, additional public participation is expected to be involved in the development of CDBG budgets and programs in the Montgomery area. FISCAL IMPACT: Sufficient funds are budgeted in the CDBG Administration account to cover the minimal additional public notice and staffing costs required to carry out the Citizen Participation Plan. WPC 3484H ,~~ .a ;_ / i~ C i~ry~t `~ • y Council of Chula Vista, alifornia Dated o2