REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: BRANDON SISK, Senior Management Analyst
Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
HEARING to obtain public comments regarding community needs for consideration in the development of the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan for federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Community Planning and Development (HUD CPD).
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with federal regulations, staff recommends the City Council conduct a community needs public hearing to request public input on the needs of the community with regard to housing and community development activities eligible for funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Community Planning and Development (HUD CPD) entitlement grants.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The community needs public hearing is an element of the City’s Annual Action Plan process required in order for the City to receive HUD CPD entitlement grant funding. HUD CPD’s four annual entitlement programs are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME); Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG); and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA). Staff anticipates that the City will receive approximately $12 million in Program Year 2024-2025. Funding from these programs must be used to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons through eligible activities, must be consistent with the City’s 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and federal regulations, and must be informed by public participation. The 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan will cover the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and will be the final year of the current Consolidated Plan.
BACKGROUND
2020-2024 Consolidated Plan Priorities
The Consolidated Plan was adopted by the City Council on May 21, 2020 and identified the following priorities for funding during the plan period. In accordance with federal regulations, the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan must be consistent with these priorities:
• Provide assistance for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless through safe low-barrier shelter options, housing first collaborations, and associated supportive services.
• Improve access to affordable housing for low‐income and special needs households by partnering with interested developers to increase development of low-income and affordable housing in high opportunity areas, and by promoting the preservation and rehabilitation of existing affordable housing units.
• Promote quality of life and neighborhood revitalization through improvements to current public infrastructure and facilities, and by closing gaps in areas with aging, lower quality, or nonexistent public infrastructure and facilities.
• Provide services to low‐income and special needs households that develop human capital and improve quality of life.
• Provide services to residents and housing providers to advance fair housing.
• Plan and administer funding for community development, housing, and homelessness activities with improved transparency, increased community involvement, and full compliance with federal regulations.
As of the writing of this report, HUD has not announced 2024-2025 annual entitlement funding allocations; however, the City anticipates receiving approximately the following allocations:
• $6,897,161 - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
• $3,578,083 - HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
• $990,192 - Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA)
• $601,082 - Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
Following the community needs public hearing, the City will prepare a consolidated Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to request applications from units of local government and eligible community-based organizations for activities to achieve the goals of the Consolidated Plan consistent with the community needs identified during the consultation and public participation phase of the planning process. The City will provide technical assistance to organizations during the application process in order to help them understand and address the Federal regulations and requirements for funding. City staff will then analyze applications and score them according to the criteria published with the consolidated NOFA. The City will prepare a draft Annual Action Plan detailing the proposed activities for 2024-2025 HUD CPD funding. After a 30-day public review period, the draft Annual Action Plan will be brought to City Council to authorize submission to HUD in order to meet the City’s submission deadline of May 15, 2024.
Consultation and Public Participation
In addition to this required public hearing, the City conducted four virtual and four in-person workshops at different times of the day on November 7th, November 8th, November 13th, November 14th, November 16th, November 27th, November 28th, and November 29th, in order to collect input from as many residents as possible. All workshops and hearings offered Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi, and American Sign Language interpretation by request. In order to reach as many low- and moderate-income residents as possible, the City used social media, email, radio, newspaper, and residential canvassing to promote the public participation and comment opportunities and is also actively encouraging interested parties and community leaders and organizations to share the participation opportunity. It is vital that the public have distinct public comment opportunities for the Annual Action Plan.
The City also distributed a questionnaire to local units of government and community-based organizations who have participated in the prior public consultation efforts for HUD CPD plans to request more detailed information relating to how community needs may have changed over the past year.
Schedule of Key Activities:
• October 7, 2023 - November 16, 2023 - Residential canvassing and social media outreach provided by Chinatown Fresno Foundation, West Fresno Family Resource Center, Live Again Fresno, and Teague Community Resource Center
• October 30, 2023 - Public Notice published in the Fresno Bee and to the website of the City Clerk
• Week of October 30, 2023 - Meeting invitation flyer and public notice distributed to Community Development Division mailing list (approximately 500 people - email HCDD@fresno.gov to join); posted to City of Fresno social media accounts
• November 7, 2023 at 11 AM -Community Needs Workshop #1 - Chinatown Fresno Foundation
• November 8, 2023 at 11 AM - Virtual Community Needs Workshop #1
• November 13, 2023 at 6 PM -Community Needs Workshop #2 - West Fresno Family Resource Center
• November 14, 2023 at 6 PM -Community Needs Workshop #3 - Live Again Fresno
• November 16, 2023 at 6 PM - Community Needs Workshop #4 - Teague Community Resource Center
• November 27, 2023 at 6 PM - Virtual Community Needs Workshop #2
• November 28, 2023 at 6 PM - Virtual Community Needs Workshop #3
• November 29, 2023 at 11 AM - Virtual Community Needs Workshop #4
• December 7, 2023 at 10:05 A.M. or thereafter - City Council Community Needs Public Hearing for PY 2024 AAP
• December 18, 2023 - Consolidated Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Released
• January 26, 2024 at 5 PM - Applications for Funding Due
• March 4, 2024 - April 4, 2024 - Draft Annual Action Plan public comment period
• April 18, 2024 - City Council Annual Action Plan Public Hearing and Consideration
• May 15, 2024 - 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan due to HUD
• May 2024 - Affordable Housing and Substantial Rehabilitation NOFA released
• July 2024 - Affordable Housing and Substantial Rehabilitation applications due
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378. These plans, strategies and studies are an exempt activity under HUD NEPA Requirements (24 CFR 58.34 (1)).
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
Completion of the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan process will qualify the City to receive an estimated $12 million of new entitlement funding.
Attachments: Annual Action Plan Overview