REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: AKIO LOPEZ, Senior Management Analyst
Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
HEARING to obtain public comments regarding community needs for consideration in the development of the 2026-2027 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
RECOMMENDATION
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 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 $11.7 million in Program Year 2026-2027. 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 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and federal regulations, and must be informed by public participation. The 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan will cover the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and will be the second year of the current Consolidated Plan.
BACKGROUND
2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Priorities
The Consolidated Plan was adopted by the City Council on June 12, 2025, and identified the following priorities for funding during the plan period. In accordance with federal regulations, the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan must be consistent with these priorities:
• Improve quality of life by providing housing and supportive services for residents experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, including homelessness prevention, case management, wrap-around services, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.
• Improve standards of living by increasing access to safe and affordable housing through development, acquisition, or rehabilitation of affordable for-sale or rental housing; owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, such as roof repairs, minor home repairs, and rehabilitation/reconstruction; rental housing repair or rehabilitation; and housing assistance programs for low-income households.
• Increase resident prosperity by supporting neighborhood revitalization through site development to facilitate access to affordable housing, improvements to or development of public infrastructure, or improvements to existing or development of new public facilities owned by the City of Fresno or partner agencies.
• Invest in the community by providing services to low- and moderate-income individuals that promote well-being and improved quality of life through projects and activities that support children and families, people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, victims of domestic violence, or other non-homeless special needs groups.
• Improve the administration of funds for community development, housing, and homelessness activities by enhancing community engagement and providing activities for residents and housing providers that promote the advancement of fair housing.
As of the writing of this report, official allocations for Program Year 2026-2027 have not been released by HUD. The City anticipates the allocations will be consistent with the most recent year, which is approximately as follows:
• $7,098,936 - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
• $2,874,896 - HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
• $1,074,810 - Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA)
• $616,438 - 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 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 2026-2027 HUD CPD funding. After a 30-day public review and comment period, the draft Annual Action Plan will be brought to City Council for consideration and approval of submission to HUD by the deadline of May 15, 2026.
Consultation and Public Participation
In addition to this required public hearing, the City conducted two virtual and six in-person workshops at different times of the day between November 12th and November 21st, to collect input from as many residents as possible. All workshops offered accommodation, including sign language interpretation or spoken language translations, upon request. To reach as many low- and moderate-income residents as possible, the City used the newspaper, social media, email, and community calendars to share the opportunities to participate in a community needs workshop. Additionally, flyers in English, Hmong, Punjabi, and Spanish were distributed to each of the community meeting locations, libraries, community centers, emergency shelters, and college campuses.
The City also made available a survey for individuals to provide input on the greatest needs in their community and held stakeholder meetings with local units of government, community-based organizations, and leaders to receive input.
Schedule of Key Activities:
• November 2, 2025 - Public Notice published in the Fresno Bee and to the City HCDD website
• November 3 - 10, 2025 - Meeting flyers distributed to community centers, libraries, and college campuses
• November 12, 2025, at 10AM - Virtual Community Needs Workshop #1
• November 12, 2025, at 6PM - Community Needs Workshop #1 - Pinedale Community Center
• November 13, 2025, at 6PM - Community Needs Workshop #2 - Legacy Commons
• November 17, 2025, at 11AM - Community Needs Workshop #3 - Ted C. Wills Community Center
• November 18, 2025, at 10AM - Community Needs Workshop #4 - The Word Community Church
• November 18, 2025, at 6PM - Virtual Community Needs Workshop #2
• November 19, 2025, at 10AM - Community Needs Workshop #5 - Ambassador Inn Shelter
• November 21, 2025, at 10AM - Community Needs Workshop #6 - Clarion Pointe Shelter
• December 4, 2025, at 9:15 A.M. or thereafter - City Council Community Needs Public Hearing
• December 15, 2025 - Consolidated Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Released
• January 23, 2026, at 5 PM - Applications for Funding Due
• March 2, 2026 - April 1, 2026 - Draft Annual Action Plan public comment period
• April 2026 - City Council Annual Action Plan Public Hearing and Consideration
• May 15, 2026 - 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan due to HUD
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 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan process will qualify the City to receive an estimated $11.7 million of new entitlement funding.