Title
Approval of the Draft Program Year 2015 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan
Recommended Action
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the draft Program Year 2015 (PY2105) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan and direct staff to submit the approved document to HUD.
Report
Issue:
Should the City Council submit the draft PY 2015 CDBG Annual Action Plan?
Staff Contact:
Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager, 360.753.8183
Leonard Bauer, CPD Deputy Director, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
Anna Schlecht, Housing Program Manager
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia receives federal CDBG funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to the HUD website, the CDBG Program provides federal funds to "develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons." The City maintains a five-year consolidated plan that outlines the strategic priorities for CDBG grant funding.
Each year, the City re-evaluates the plan to ensure that it addresses the needs of the community, and adopts its Annual Action Plan for that year. The PY2015 CDBG Action Plan will cover the period of September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016.
The City has identified the following strategies, in priority order, for both the five-year Consolidated Plan and the Action Plan for Program Year 2015:
1. Economic Development - PRIORITY GOAL
2. Housing Rehabilitation
3. Land Acquisition
4. Public Facilities and Improvements
5. Public Services.
Action Plan Funding Availability:
Following is the breakdown of sources of Community Development Block Grant funds:
$338,265 Annual Entitlement Grants:
$120,000 Program Income (estimated receipts from housing loan repayments)
$458,265 Total CDBG Funding available for the PY 2015 CDBG Action activities.
Draft PY 2015 CDBG Action Plan
The Council proposes the following eligible activities receive funding during Program Year 2015 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016). Additional information is contained in the draft CDBG PY 2015 Action Plan Citizens Summary in Attachment 1, and at the website link in Attachment 2.
$27,500 Downtown Safety & Façade Improvement Pilot Project
$64,000 Repayment of CDBG Section 108 Loan
$55,397 Downtown Ambassador Program
$219,714 Grow Olympia Fund-Business Loans
$91,654 Program Administration
$458,265 TOTAL PROPOSED PY 2015 CDBG FUNDING
CDBG PY2015 Action Plan Timeline and Process:
The City's CDBG PY 2015 Annual Action Plan was made available to citizens and other stakeholders' in a public process described in its CDBG "Citizen Participation Process" which is outlined in the Five-Year CDBG Consolidated Plan. This process included a public comment period that ran from May 22 to June 22, 2015, and featured a public hearing on June 2, 2015. During this time, copies of the PY 2015 CDBG Action Plan were available online at the link in Attachment 2, and paper copies were made available at Olympia City Hall and the Olympia Timberland Library.
One comment was received during the public comment period. It is listed on Page 31 of Attachment 1.
Tonight the Council is scheduled for final approval of the PY 2015 Annual Action Plan. If approved, Council will then direct staff to submit the CDBG PY 2015 Annual Action Plan online and paper copies to the regional HUD office on or before July 15, 2015.
The CDBG Annual Action Plan timeline is illustrated in Attachment 3.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The PY 2015 CDBG Annual Action Plan is a city-wide document that is of interest to the entire community. All registered neighborhood associations and business associations will receive notices of the public comment period on the Draft Action Plan.
Options:
Approve the draft Program Year 2015 (PY2105) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan and direct staff to submit to HUD.
Financial Impact:
HUD estimates the City's PY 2015 grant award will be $338,265. The City also anticipates receiving an estimated $120,000 in CDBG program income, for a total of $458,265 in CDBG funding for PY 2015 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016).