Title
A Resolution of the City Council of Colorado Springs, Colorado Approving the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan, 2015 Action Plan and Citizen Participation 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, Manager, Housing and Community Initiatives Division
Summary:
A resolution to approve the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan, 2015 Annual Action Plan and Citizen Participation Plan
Previous Council Action:
City Council appropriated federal block grant funds and program income in the amount of $3,920,000 as part of the 2015 municipal budget process.
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 Colorado Springs, prevent slums and blight, provide decent housing, prevent homelessness and meet other urgent community needs. To be eligible to receive the 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 Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.
The program year for the federal block grant funds is April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.
The City's most recent Consolidated Plan covered the five-year period of April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2014. The draft Consolidated Plan attached covers the five-year period of April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2019. A consultant was retained to assist in developing the plan.
The Annual Action Plan process is initiated with the City's annual municipal budget process based on funding estimates. Public input on priorities is solicited via a public hearing and other participation strategies, projects 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 final notice of allocations from HUD. 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, like 2014, HUD announced 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 February 5, 2015 and on March 5, 2015 HUD announced it would begin accepting plans. The 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Annual Action Plan will be delivered to HUD by June 1, 2015. Administrative costs incurred for the 2015 program year beginning April 1, 2015 will be reimbursed once the 2015 Action Plan is approved by HUD. No other projects may begin until the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan are approved by HUD and contracts are executed with the City.
Financial Implications:
City Council appropriated federal block grant funds and program income in the amount of $3,920,000 as part of the 2015 municipal budget process. The appropriation was based on estimated allocations. An additional appropriation of $451,557 will be needed to reflect actual allocations.
The City cannot enter into agreement with sub-recipients for the expenditure of funds until the plans are approved by HUD. Delaying approval of the plans puts the City at risk of being in noncompliance with the timeliness standard for the expenditure of funds. The timeliness test is conducted on or around February 1.
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, focus groups, neighborhood meetings to discuss capital improvements projects, a Notice of Funding Availability process and meetings with department heads to identify priority projects. Housing and Community Initiatives Division (HCID) staff hosted a Public Needs Hearing on August 6, 2014 to get input on community priorities for consideration in preparing the plans. City Council hosted a public hearing on the federal block grant budget on October 23, 2014, as part of the 2015 municipal budget process. No comments were received. HCID staff conducted a third public hearing on May 4, 2015 to get public comment on the proposed plans. Public comment and responses are summarized in the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Annual Action Plan document as required by HUD.
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move to approve A Resolution of the City Council of Colorado Springs, Colorado Approving the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan, 2015 Action Plan and Citizen Participation Plan for the use of Federal Block Grant Funds (CDBG, HOME, ESG) Provided Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Ordinance Language
N/A