Title
Final Recommendations and Timeline for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year 2020 Action Plan
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Review new information on potential economic development activities, and develop final recommendations and a public process timeline for the CDBG Program Year 2020 (9/1/20 - 8/31/21) Action Plan for Council action.
Report
Issue:
Whether to develop final recommendations and a timeline for public process on the CDBG Program Year 2020 Action Plan.
Report
Staff Contact:
Anna Schlecht, Community Service Programs Manager, Community Planning and Development Department (360-753-8183).
Presenter(s):
Anna Schlecht, Community Service Programs Manager.
Mike Reid, Economic Development Director.
Background and Analysis:
The goal for tonight’s meeting is for the General Government Committee to receive new information on economic development options and to develop final recommendations for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations and activities, as well as to determine the public process for the Program Year (PY) 2020 Annual Action Plan (9/1/20 - 8/31/21). The Committee specifically asked for information on two economic development options: 1) Arbutus Folk School; and, 2) the Northwest Cooperative Development Council. CDBG staff consulted with the City’s Economic Development Director to tap his expertise on the highest and best uses of CDBG to support Economic Development. He suggested gathering together a broader range of economic development expertise to present options for the Committee. The attached matrix identifies the community partners that staff consulted with and some initial information about possible CDBG-funded activities. Due to scheduling challenges the final report on those options won’t be available until the meeting.
Public Process: Once the Committee develops its recommendations, the following timeline will allow for a robust public process:
November 20: General Government Committee final recommendations
Dec 2019 - March 2020: Council action to launch the CDBG Citizen Participation Process
May - June 2020: 30 Day CDBG Citizen Participation Process
June 2020: Public Hearing - PY 2018 CDBG Annual Action Plan
June - July 2020: Council review and approval of draft PY 2020 Annual Action Plan
July 15, 2020 : Submission of PY 2020 Annual Action Plan to HUD
Prior Discussions: This item was discussed at a General Government Committee meeting held on September 25. At that time, the Committee requested additional information on potential economic development activities as stated above. Separate from this agenda item, the Committee also discussed options for a potential CDBG amendment in the current PY 2019 to add land acquisition for housing to PY 2019 and a City budget appropriation to use available Housing General Funds for a Homes First Navigator program and an expansion of the Community Youth Services Rosie’s Place Program.
Draft Recommendations for CDBG-funded Activities - The attached “Draft PY2020 Community Development Block Grant Allocations & Activities” presents a framework for the recommendations developed by the General Government Committee in 2019 with more specific recommendations prepared by staff. These activities are drawn from recommended CDBG Five-Year Consolidated Plan strategies.
CDBG Program Purpose: The CDBG Program was created as a “bundled” federal program intended to aid the development of viable urban communities, by providing:
• Decent housing;
• Suitable living environment; and,
• Expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.
All applicable regulations for the CDBG Program are contained in 24 CFR 570. The coming PY 2020 will be the third year of the next Five-Year (2018 - 2022) CDBG Consolidated Plan, also referred to as the CDBG Five-Year Strategic Plan. This strategic plan currently identifies housing and land acquisition for housing to be the highest priorities, however each year the Council can revise the priorities based on current needs.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
All neighborhoods and community stakeholders have an interest in how federal CDBG funds are invested in community development programs and projects.
Options:
1) Review new information on potential economic development activities and develop final recommendations and a public process timeline for the CDBG Program Year 2020 (9/1/20 - 8/31/21) Action Plan for Council action.
2) Delay the process to recommend proposed activities as well as the public process timeline for Program Year 2020 (9/1/20 - 8/31/21) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and seek additional information.
Financial Impact:
The PY 2020 (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021) Annual Action Plan will guide the investment of an estimated $450,000. This includes $350,000 in new CDBG funds, $150,000 in CDBG Program Income (Estimates have increased since 2017). This also includes the reallocation of approximately $500,000 of unspent prior year funding.
Attachments:
DRAFT Options for Economic Development Funding - Program Year 2020
DRAFT PY 2020 CDBG Allocations & Activities
CDBG Program Annual Cycle