REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 21, 2020
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
THROUGH: THOMAS MORGAN, Housing Manager
Housing and Community Development Division
KAREN JENKS, Administrative Manager
Housing and Community Development Division
BY: EDWARD CHINEVERE, Senior Management Analyst
Housing and Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan Including Citizen Participation Plan, 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice; authorizing submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for application of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Programs and authorizing the City Manager to sign all implementing documents required by HUD (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan including the Citizen Participation Plan as the five-year strategy to implement HUD entitlement funding; adopt the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan as the Fiscal Year 2021 implementation plan for HUD entitlement funding; adopt the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice to meet the HUD obligation and certification to affirmatively further fair housing; and authorize the City Manager to sign all reasonably required implementing documents, instruments, and funding agreements required by HUD as approved to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City staff implemented a comprehensive citizen engagement, analysis, and planning process beginning in November 2019 to develop the strategies and recommended project types for the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan including the Citizen Participation Plan, 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. In response to recent events, HUD has extended the deadline for submission from May 15, 2020 to August 16, 2020. The plans will be deemed approved 45 days after HUD receives them, unless HUD notifies the City before that date that the plans are disapproved. The City will submit the plans as early as feasible following City Council adoption to allow for timely approval at the start of Fiscal Year 2021.
BACKGROUND
2020-2024 Consolidated Plan
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires jurisdictions receiving federal entitlement funds through its Community Planning and Development Department to prepare a five-year Consolidated Plan detailing the housing and community development needs of its low- to moderate-income persons. Staff has undertaken, in partnership with its consultant, a robust public participation process and comprehensive needs assessment with the general public, housing agencies, social service agencies, and government agencies. Community input was analyzed alongside public databases of housing and demographic information, and current plans and studies including the City’s General Plan, the Housing Element, and the Greater Fresno Region DRIVE Plan.
The analysis conducted as part of this process in consultation with stakeholders and members of the public was used to develop five-year strategies to address the highest priority needs of low- to moderate-income persons. These strategies will serve as the guide for expending CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA program funds. The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan includes a revision to the City’s Citizen Participation Plan to better align the timing of Public Hearings to HUD requirements and to include provisions regarding citizen participation in the preparation of future Fair Housing Studies.
2020-2021 Annual Action Plan
In order to qualify for and receive federal grant funding through HUD, the City is required to prepare an Annual Action Plan detailing the projects proposed for funding through CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA programs, and the benefits to low- and moderate-income persons. The 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan covers the period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, and is the first year of the five-year Consolidated Plan.
The 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan allocates proposed funds according to HUD-defined ‘Projects’ which include descriptions of the types of activities that may be funded to benefit an estimated number of low- and moderate-income persons. Except in the case of City-administered programs, the specific subrecipients and activities to be implemented under each project are not defined by the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan and will be presented to City Council for consideration following an application process to begin after the adoption of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan.
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
As a requirement of receiving funds under the CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA programs, the City must periodically conduct a Fair Housing Study to certify the City’s commitment to affirmatively further fair housing. The current study required by HUD to meet this obligation is the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. Through the community engagement process and analysis of available demographic, economic, and housing data, the Analysis of Impediments identifies existing impediments to fair housing choice and provides recommended actions, goals, and timeframes for addressing those impediments.
Citizen Participation
Citizens were consulted at every step of the drafting and review process for the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. Seventeen meetings were held throughout the City at different stages of the analysis. Citizens were asked to provide broad feedback on community needs at an initial round of meetings, followed by a prioritization exercise of the most-discussed needs at a second round of meetings, and assisted in the review and revision of draft strategies in a third round of meetings. Spanish and Hmong interpretation was available at all meetings, and all notices and flyers were presented in English, Spanish, and Hmong. In total:
• 168 individuals participated in community meetings
• 66 individuals participated in focus groups
• 13 unique individuals were engaged in intercept interviews
• 500 individuals completed a community needs survey
• 40 housing and community development stakeholders were engaged in interviews
• 818 site visits were recorded for a dedicated project website (fresnoconplanai.com)
• 81,264 meeting information views were recorded on social media
• 411 interactions (shares, likes, comments) were recorded on social media posts
• 30,000 FresGo users received push notification invitations for community meetings
• 130,000 utility bill inserts were distributed
• 7,500 door hangers were distributed in neighborhoods near meeting sites
• 25,000+ Fresno Unified School District, Central Unified School District, and Clovis Unified School District parents received digital flyers
A list of meeting, public review, and key notice dates is provided below. An exhaustive list of promotional and outreach activities is provided in Appendix A of the Draft 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan.
• October 13, 2019 - Notice of upcoming meetings and planning process published in the Fresno Bee
• October 16, 2019 - Spanish Language notice of upcoming meetings and planning process published in Vida en el Valle
• November 2, 2019 - Meeting at Teague Elementary School, 4725 N. Polk Avenue
• November 2, 2019 - Meeting at Discovery Center, 1944 N. Winery Avenue
• November 2, 2019 - Meeting at Inspiration Park, 5770 W. Gettysburg Avenue
• November 4, 2019 - Meeting at Kirk Elementary School, 2000 E. Belgravia Avenue
• November 4, 2019 - Meeting at Pinedale Elementary School, 7171 North Sugar Pine Avenue
• November 4, 2019 - Meeting at Vang Pao Elementary School, 4100 E. Heaton Avenue
• November 4, 2019 - Senior Focus Group at Ted C. Wills Community Center, 770 N. San Pablo Avenue
• November 5, 2019 - Meeting at Highway City Neighborhood Center, 5140 N. State Street
• November 5, 2019 - Meeting at Webster Elementary School, 2600 E. Tyler Avenue
• November 5, 2019 - Meeting at Centennial Elementary School, 3830 E. Saginaw Way
• November 5, 2019 - Teen/Pre-Teen Focus Group at Maxie L. Parks Community Center, 1802 E. California Way
• November 6, 2019 - Meeting at City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street
• December 8, 2019 - Advertisement for upcoming meetings published in the Fresno Bee
• December 9, 2019 - Meeting at Leavenworth Elementary School, 4420 E. Thomas Avenue
• December 10, 2019 - Meeting at Ted C. Wills Community Center, 770 N. San Pablo Avenue
• December 12, 2019 - Meeting at Williams Elementary School, 525 W. Saginaw Way
• January 21, 2020 - Meeting at Sal Mosqueda Community Center, 4670 E. Butler Avenue
• January 22, 2020 - Meeting at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1343 E. Barstow Avenue
• January 23, 2020 - Meeting at West Side Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2750 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
• February 21, 2020 - Public notice of 30-day comment period and upcoming Public Hearings published in the Fresno Bee
• February 26, 2020 - Spanish language notice of 30-day comment period and upcoming Public Hearings published in Vida en el Valle
• February 28, 2020 - Public Comment Period Begins
• March 4, 2020 - Public Notice of First Extension of Public Comment Period through April 3, 2020
• March 24, 2020 - Public Notice of Continued Hearings (COVID-19 Related Postponement)
• March 31, 2020 - Public Notice of Second Extension of Public Comment Period through May 20, 2020
• May 13, 2020 - Public Hearing with the Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC), City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street, with remote participation
• May 14, 2020 - Public Hearing with City Council meeting, City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street, with remote participation
City staff will provide a verbal update of public comments received at the May 13, 2020 HCDC Public Hearing, May 14, 2020 City Council Public Hearing, or received in writing during the final week of the comment period ended May 20, 2020.
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
Adoption of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice will qualify the City to receive an estimated $59,700,000 of new entitlement funding and entitlement program income over five years, including $11,943,000 in Fiscal Year 2020-2021 pursuant to the adoption of the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan.
Attachments: Resolution
Summary
Public Draft of 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan Including Citizen Participation Plan and 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan
Public Draft of Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
Public Comments and Responses
Redline Version of City of Fresno 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan Including Citizen Participation Plan and 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan
Redline Version of City of Fresno Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice