Title
Approval of Activities and the Start of the Public Process Period for Community Development Block Grant Funding for Program Year 2017
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation
The General Government Committee recommends approval of the draft Program Year (PY) 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan and the commencing of the public process period, from June 7 - July 7, 2017.
City Manager Recommendation:
Consider the activities for the draft PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan and the commencement of the public process period, June 7 - July 7, 2017.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the recommended activities included in the draft PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan and release them for public comment.
Staff Contact:
Anna Schlecht, Community Service Programs Manager, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8183
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning & Development
Anna Schlecht, Community Service Programs Manager
Background and Analysis:
Overview: The General Government Committee forwarded recommendations for the draft PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan. Council action is needed to either approve or revise the recommended activities and allow staff to release the draft PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan for public comment. All recommended activities must be: 1) CDBG eligible as detailed in CFR 24 Part 570; and, 2) most likely to be completed by the spend-down deadline of June 30, 2018.
Council may also consider how these recommended activities support regional goals for housing, homeless services, social services and economic development. Additionally, the Council may consider the potential impact of proposed federal budget cuts to reduce or eliminate the CDBG Program. As required by our Citizen Participation Plan, the draft PY 2017 Annual Action Plan will be made available for 30 days of public comment, June 7 - July 7, 2017.
PY 2017 CDBG Public Timeline and Public Process: The public process for the draft PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan began with the General Government Committee’s (GGC) November 2016 agenda including initial discussions of funding priorities. The General Government Committee held another discussion at their February 3, 2017, meeting and directed staff to hold a CDBG Open House to solicit ideas from CDBG stakeholders. Two Open Houses were held on April 12 and 13, 2017, and followed the Committee’s direction to solicit ideas rather than more formal proposals. A record of the participants and their ideas is attached along with a comprehensive listing itemized as “Total Requests - PY 2017 CDBG Program”.
The General Government Committee reviewed the results of the Open Houses and developed these recommendations at their April 26 meeting. Once the draft PY 2017 Annual Action Plan is completed, the City’s CDBG “Citizen Participation Plan” requires that the City holds a public process to allow for a 30-day Citizen Participation Process to solicit public comments, during which a public hearing will be held. An overview of the City’s public process is as follows:
February 3, 2017 General Government Committee review
April 12 & 13, 2017 CDBG Open Houses
April 26, 2017 General Government Committee develops recommendations
June 6, 2017 Council Action to Start Public Process for Draft Plan
June 7 - July 7, 2017 Public Comment Process
June 20, 2017 CDBG Amendments Public Hearing
July 11, 2017 Council Approval - Consent Calendar
July 15, 2017 Submit PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan to HUD
Amount and Source of CDBG Funds: The City estimates there will be approximately $475,000 in CDBG funds for the PY 2017 Annual Action Plan. This includes $350,000 from the federal CDBG fund distribution, supplemented by an additional $125,000 in new program income. These funds must be allocated for activities that will expend funds in a timely manner by June 30, 2018 as detailed in the attached “CDBG Program Regulations”.
If the City receives additional program income from past housing rehabilitation loans in excess of projections, staff will advise the Council of an opportunity for additional allocations. If less than the anticipated amount of Program Income is received, staff recommends that the lesser amount be allocated to housing rehabilitation activities.
Committee Recommended Activities:
After considering other options, the General Government Committee recommends the following projects for the CDBG Program Year 2016 Action Plan. The recommendations follow the committee’s previous recommendation that the Five-Year CDBG Consolidated Plan strategies prioritize housing rehabilitation and social services, a change from the original priority of economic development established in the initial plan.
The recommendations include the following:
1) $90,000 Program Administration essential to continue the City’s CDBG program in a compliant manner with federal requirements.
2) $65,000 Section 108 Debt Service: Required repayment of CDBG Section 108 Loan Guarantees which previously funded downtown safety projects (ADA curb cuts and alley lighting projects)
3) $55,000 CRC Downtown Ambassador Program Street outreach portion of the walking Ambassador Program that provides referrals and limited services to homeless, mentally ill and other street dependent people. Please note: this contains 10% Activity Delivery Costs for staffing. (continuing existing program)
4) $75,000 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Program intended to provide loan funds to projects that increase safety and reduce crime downtown. Please note: this contains 10% Activity Delivery Costs for staffing. (continuing existing program)
5) $100,000 Interfaith Works Year-Round Day Center secure an appropriate location for a potential year round facility, offering a day center for both cold weather and warm weather. Optionally, the Day Center could ultimately serve as part of a 24/7 facility that provides accommodations for homeless, mentally ill and street dependent people during the day and emergency shelter housing at night. (Please note: up to $35,000 of funding can be utilized for social services and $65,000 must be utilized on facility related costs such as tenant improvements, long term lease or property purchase).
6) $25,000 Economic Development Council’s Business Training program for low and moderate income entrepreneurs and business owners. Please note: this contains 10% Activity Delivery Costs for staffing.
7) $35,000 Olympia Downtown Association’s Business Training and Technical Assistance Program for low and moderate income entrepreneurs and business owners. Please note: this contains 10% Activity Delivery Costs for staffing.
8) $30,000 - Housing Rehabilitation: Funding for housing rehabilitation projects that improve the quality of existing housing for low and moderate income people. Housing Rehabilitation projects can involve property acquisition if the project includes both purchase and housing rehabilitation. Please note: These funds will supplement ongoing housing rehabilitation projects. Contains 10% Activity Delivery Costs for staffing.
CDBG Background
CDBG Purpose: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was created as a “bundled” federal aid program intended to aid the development of viable urban communities, by providing:
• decent housing;
• a suitable living environment; and,
• expanding economic opportunities,
Projects should principally benefit persons of low and moderate income. The program was designed with flexibility to allow communities to determine how to meet the specific local needs of low-moderate income individuals.
CDBG Annual Action Plan Referral: Every year the Council refers the initial review of the CDBG Program to General Government Committee for the purpose of developing recommendations on priorities and the public process for the coming program year.
Options for CDBG-funded Activities: The City is entering its final year of the current CDBG Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2013 - 2017) which identifies the following five key strategies:
? Housing Rehabilitation - PRIORITY
Examples: Renovation of Smith Building to create housing units. Can include both acquisition and rehabilitation as conducted by Homes First!
? Public Services - PRIORITY
Examples: Capital Recovery Center Ambassador Program.
? Public Facilities
Examples: Providence Community Care Center.
? Land Acquisition
Examples: Purchase of Griswold’s Building.
? Economic Development
Examples: Business training programs; CPTED Safety projects.
The above five priorities were identified in the City’s strategic plan, the Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2013 - 2017). While Housing Rehabilitation and Public Services were identified as the highest priorities for the current annual action plan, the other three identified strategy areas are also eligible. Additionally, the Council could decide to add other CDBG-eligible strategic goals based on current conditions not anticipated at the time of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan development.
Proposed Federal Cuts to the CDBG Program
The federal administration recently released its proposed federal fiscal year 2018 budget (October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2018), which proposes the elimination of the Housing and Urban Development Department’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, and the transfer of all fiscal support for block grant program activities to the State and local level. Federal officials report this decision is based on HUD studies which found that CDBG is increasingly not well targeted to the poorest communities and has not demonstrated a measurable impact on communities. The Budget also proposes the elimination of HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Both of these programs are the primary sources of funding for the County’s Homeless Housing Plan.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The federal CDBG Program offers a flexible source of funding to meet a wide variety of affordable housing, social service, economic development and other community development needs. All neighborhoods and community stakeholders have an interest in how CDBG funds are invested in community development programs and projects.
Options:
1. Accept recommended activities or consider revisions for the PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan and commence public process, June 7th - July 7th, 2017.
2. Reject recommended activities, request additional information to develop revised draft recommendations, and delay the release of the PY 2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan. [Note: This option may jeopardize the City’s ability to meet HUD-required schedule for adoption of CDBG PY 2017 Action Plan.]
Financial Impact:
Staff estimates there will be approximately $475,000 in federal CDBG funding that can be included in a PY2017 CDBG Annual Action Plan.
Attachments:
Committee Recommendations - CDBG Program Year 2017
Open House Comments PY 2017 CDBG Program
Total Requests - PY 2017 CDBG Program
CDBG Program Regulations
Olympia CDBG Program - Annual Cycle
Draft CDBG PY 2017 Annual Action Plan