Title
A resolution approving the City of Colorado Springs 2014 annual Action Plan for the use of federal block grant funds (CDBG, HOME, ESG) provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Body
From:
Aimee Cox, Community Initiatives Manager, Office of Economic Vitality
Summary:
Presentation of the 2014 Annual Action Plan
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Background:
The City of Colorado Springs is a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement community grantee and receives allocations of federal block grant funds under the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The purpose of the funds is to benefit low and moderate income residents of the City of Colorado Springs, prevent slums and blight, provide decent housing, prevent homelessness and meet other urgent community needs. To be eligible to receive its annual entitlement grants, the City must develop and submit to HUD a five year Consolidated Plan, which is a jurisdiction's comprehensive planning document and application for funding, and an Annual Action Plan identifying activities for the program year. The City's Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) outlines the public participation process in development of the plan. The CPP identifies Colorado Springs City Council as the approval authority for the City's Annual Action Plan.
The program year for the federal block grant funds is April 1 to March 31.
The Annual Action Plan process is typically conducted in conjunction with the City's annual municipal budget process based on funding estimates. Public input into priorities is solicited, project activities and expenditures are presented to City Council, the public is provided opportunities to comment at the annual City Council budget hearing and during a thirty (30) day comment period, and funds are appropriated with the municipal budget. A final plan is prepared once the City receives a notice of allocations. The final plan is typically presented for a thirty (30) day public comment period in January and delivered to HUD by February 15 for HUD approval prior to the beginning of the April 1 program year.
This year, HUD announced the allocations would be made late and directed the City to not submit the Annual Action Plan until after the notice of allocations was received. Notice of allocations was received on March 19, 2014. The 2014 Annual Action Plan must be delivered to HUD by June 27, 2014. Costs incurred for the 2014 program year beginning April 1, 2014 will be reimbursed once the Annual Action Plan is approved by HUD.
Financial Implications:
None. (Please see attached Federal Block Grant Funding Summary.) Council appropriated the federal block grant funds and anticipated program income as part of the 2014 municipal budget process. Because the HUD program year extends into Q1 of the 2015 City fiscal year, any funds needed for Q4 of the 2014 program year can be requested for appropriation as part of the 2015 budget. No additional appropriation is required at this time. Any substantial amendment to the budget (>$50,000 or a new activity) requires City Council approval per the CPP.
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
The City's Citizen Participation Plan details procedures for involving the public in program planning. Citizen participation was accomplished through meetings with the Continuum of Care, agency interviews, neighborhood meetings to discuss capital improvements needs, and meetings with department heads to identify priority projects.The budget was presented to City Council and presented to the public for a thirty (30) day comment period from October 11, 2013 to November 10, 2013. City Council hosted a public hearing on the federal block grant budget on October 17, 2013 as part of the 2014 municipal budget process. No comments were received.
Following the announcement of program year 2014 allocations, a public hearing was held on April 29, 2014 to give citizens another opportunity to provide input on the proposed use of funds. The draft 2014 Annual Action Plan was submitted for a thirty (30) day comment period from May 5 to June 4, 2014. In addition, Economic Vitality staff hosted a meeting with representatives from neighborhood strategy areas on May 20, 2014 to solicit additional infrastructure project ideas and discuss the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and Citizen Participation Plan process.
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Approve Resolution
Ordinance Language
N/A