REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 5, 2020
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
THROUGH: THOMAS MORGAN, Housing and Community Development 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:
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Actions pertaining to the Program Year (PY) 2019 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs:
1. HEARING to obtain public comments regarding the PY 2019 CAPER; and
2. Adopt PY 2019 CAPER and authorize submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council obtain the views and comments from interested persons regarding the Draft PY 2019 CAPER and authorize submission to HUD.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The CAPER serves to meet the performance reporting requirements of HUD as set forth in the Consolidated Plan Regulations. On October 12, 2020, a Public Review Draft of the CAPER was made available for a fifteen-day public review period. HUD’s deadline for receipt of the CAPER is December 27, 2020. This year’s CAPER describes the activities undertaken by the City of Fresno (City) with HUD CPD funds during PY 2019, beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020.
BACKGROUND
The City is an entitlement jurisdiction receiving annual federal funding from HUD. In accordance with federal regulations, each year, the City’s Department of Planning and Development, Housing and Community Development Division (HCDD), produces a CAPER. The CAPER serves to meet the performance reporting requirements of HUD as set forth in the Consolidated Plan Regulations. On October 12, 2020, a Public Review Draft of the CAPER was made available. The draft report described activities undertaken by the City during the HUD PY 2019, beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020, using the following federal funds:
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
• HEARTH Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
• Home Investment Partnerships (HOME)
• Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
These grants fund community development efforts to improve housing, economic, and social conditions and opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents of the City. The draft PY 2019 CAPER was developed based on information provided by project managers, subrecipients, and several additional departments and illustrates how the City funded and administered projects to address the four main goals of the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan. Highlighted accomplishments by goal area for activities funded with HUD CPD grants are as follows:
Affordable Housing:
• 98 home repairs were completed for low- and moderate-income homeowners
Homelessness:
• 860 homeless persons (unduplicated) received street outreach or overnight shelter
• 158 homeless households obtained rental assistance or rapid re-housing services
Community Services
• 1,561 youth received afterschool and educational programming from PARCS (571), Boys and Girls Club (896), or Fresno EOC (94)
• 797 seniors participated in PARCS CDBG-funded enrichment programming
• 56 Microenterprise businesses received technical assistance from Helping Others Pursue Excellence (HOPE)
Public Facilities & Public Improvements
• 15,000+ residents benefitted from improved neighborhood streets
• 43,000+ residents benefitted from improved parks
Additional Affordable Housing Development Projects Completed or Underway
One project was completed following the close of the program year, which will be reported on next year’s CAPER, and four additional projects are underway which utilize HUD CPD funds:
• 40 units - Annadale Commons Senior Housing Project / Self-Help Enterprises (completed PY20)
• 180 units - Fancher Creek Senior Housing / FCTC LP (underway)
• 3 units - Central Lots Single-Family Housing / Habitat for Humanity (underway)
• 2 units - B and Amador Street Single-Family Housing / Habitat for Humanity (underway)
• On June 24, 2020, the City Council approved a substantial amendment to allocate $7,116,000 in HOME Program Income and general funds to housing development activities. Projects will be identified during PY20
Public Outreach and Citizen Participation
• October 9, 2020: Public Notice published in Fresno Bee
• October 9, 2020: English and Spanish Language Public Notice distributed on social media, through HCDD distribution list, and City Clerk website
• Week of October 9, 2020: Public Notice read in Hmong on KBIF radio
• October 12, 2020: draft CAPER published to HCDD website and City Clerk website for 15-day public comment period
• October 12, 2020: Availability of draft documents communicated to HCDD distribution list and social media
• October 14, 2020: Spanish-language announcement published in Vida en el Valle
• October 19, 2020: Publication of a pre-recorded webinar regarding the PY19 CAPER
Comments were encouraged and accepted by mail, email, phone, TTY, or fax. No comments were received by the close of the written comment period on October 28, 2020. Comments received during the Public Hearing will be attached to the final report submitted to HUD.
Coronavirus Considerations and Regulatory Waivers
In light of the Coronavirus emergency, HUD has issued several regulatory waivers, including an extension to the CAPER submission deadline from September 28, 2020 to December 27, 2020.
HUD has also allocated significant additional CPD funds to the City in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Coronavirus. Per HUD guidance, the City has begun programming this funding through Substantial Amendments to the 2019 Annual Action Plan, and will continue to do so until all funding has been programmed. HUD has directed jurisdictions not to include CV funds in the 2019 CAPER, and has indicated that they will be providing further direction regarding the manner and form of reporting for CV funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to the CAPER.
FISCAL IMPACT
No City of Fresno general funds will be used for the finalization or submission of the CAPER. Submission of the CAPER is a federal requirement to maintain the City’s eligibility for the receipt of HUD CPD funds, which totaled $11,943,000 for PY20, with an additional allocation of $19,021,000 of HUD CPD-CV funds to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the Coronavirus.
Attachments: Summary
Public Draft of 2019-2020 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER)
CAPER Webinar Presentation