Title
Resolution approving the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 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.
Presenter:
Catherine Duarte, Senior Analyst, Community Development Division
Peter Wysocki, Director of Planning and Community Development
Body
Summary:
Approval of the Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plans identify five-year priority needs and strategies, as well as planned activities for the 2020 program year (Apr 1, 2020 through Mar 31, 2021). The Plans are required and are submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Background:
The City of Colorado Springs is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement 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 slum and blight, encourage the development, improvement, and preservation of affordable 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 Consolidated Plan every five years, laying out housing and community needs based on updated data and public input. The Annual Action Plan is a component of the Consolidated Plan and identifies activities for the coming program year.
This item supports the City’s strategic goal relating to building community and collaborative relationships by addressing a shortage of affordable housing, funding efforts to prevent homelessness, and improving the built environment in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.
Furthermore, this item is supported by and implements PlanCOS Vibrant Neighborhoods Policy VN-2-A pertaining to attainable housing and providing a variety of housing types for various life stages and income levels.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan establishes the community’s priority needs through data analysis, while the 2020 Annual Action Plan lays out the expected financial resources. Though the City received more funds than anticipated in Program Year 2019, the Division drafted the 2020 Action Plan based on level funding, as we make these estimates based on long-term trends. Per capita entitlements from HUD have decreased over the past two decades.
Because the Congressional budget was passed long after the initial deadline, HUD granted permission to grantees to proceed with the public process and local approval based on estimates. Once the final allocation amounts are made available by late February, CDD may request a supplemental appropriation from City Council if the allocations exceed the amount approved in the City’s 2020 budget. No additional general fund appropriation will be required.
For 2020, CDD anticipates the following resources:
CDBG: $3,027,878
• $2,927,878 from HUD
• $100,000 in program income
HOME: $1,596,467
• $1,396,467 from HUD
• $200,000 in program income
ESG: $254,334 (all from HUD)
TOTAL: $4,878,679
The projects and activities described in the 2020 Action Plan are consistent with the highest priority needs established in the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan with a particular emphasis on projects and activities that address affordable housing needs in the community.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
The Division began soliciting citizen participation through its housing market experience survey in May 2019. Staff also considered input collected and summarized during other public planning processes, such as PlanCOS, 2019 Homeless Initiative, Mill Street Neighborhood Plan, and City Strategic Plan.
Staff began consultations with key stakeholders in the Fall, such as the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care, other City departments, local service providers, housing providers, Area Agency on Aging, and neighborhood advocates continuing through December. CDD also held public meetings open to the general public to discuss project priorities in early December 2019.
The Community Development Division opened the public comment window on January 1, 2020 for public review of the draft 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Action Plan. Staff solicited input online and via community organizations and is hosting a public hearing on Monday, January 22 in the Pikes Peak Room of City Hall to talk about the draft. The comment period closes on January 31. All public comments and responses will be summarized and made available to Council before this item comes to the Feb. 11 regular session in the Plan as required by HUD.
Once HUD announces the allocations and Division staff amends the Plan to reflect actual PY 2020 numbers, the Plan will be posted online as submitted to HUD, available to all citizens. Staff prints and binds the Plan once it is approved by HUD, distributing to various community sites.
Alternatives:
Council can choose to not approve the Consolidated Plan/Action Plan draft and decline the estimated $4.5 million allocation.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Approve the resolution approving the draft 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 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 (HUD).
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A