01-17-2012 - Amendments to FY 2011-2012 Community Development B - Item 11 (2).doc
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
FROM: Lyndel Morgan
Community Services Manager
SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO THE FY 2011-2012 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ACTION PLAN
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the proposed amendments to the FY 2011-2012 CDBG Action Plan as detailed in this report and authorize appropriations necessary to implement
the amendments.
DISCUSSION:
The City receives CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The overall objective of the federal program is to develop viable urban communities by
providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities principally for low and moderate income persons.
The City’s FY 2011-2012 CDBG Action Plan – a required document which details how funds will be used to achieve community development goals – was approved by the City Council on May 3,
2011. However, according to HUD regulations, a plan can be amended at any time.
At the City Council meeting on June 21, 2011, staff presented options for projects to be funded with unobligated CDBG funds. Staff identified available resources of $780,000, which
included the balance of the City’s unobligated line-of-credit with HUD and $150,000 from a project approved in 2008 to install an elevator in the Police Department. Staff is recommending
canceling the elevator project and re-programming the $150,000.
The City Council directed staff to conduct community meetings relative to park improvements at the two CDBG-eligible parks, Del Norte and Palmview Parks and to provide the City Council
a summary of those community meetings.
The City retained David Volz Design, Inc., to facilitate community meetings at Del Norte and Palmview Parks and prepare summary reports. The firm provided similar service for the development
of other City projects such as: Aroma Parquette, Heritage Park Trails, and the expansion of Cortez Park.
The community meetings were marketed through press releases, signage at the parks, the City website, and the City’s Twitter account. Residents living within 1,000 feet of each park
were notified directly by mail. The Del Norte Park meeting was held on August 10, 2011, and the Palmview Park meeting was held on August 17, 2011.
Attachments #1 and #2 are tables, prepared by staff, to summarize the responses at park meetings included in reports prepared by the consultant. Improvements are listed in the respective
tables in descending order based on the number of mentions at the meeting. The Community Input Summaries of the Del Norte and Palmview Park meetings prepared by the consultant are
included as Attachments #3 and #4, respectively.
Meeting discussions were not exclusive to strictly CDBG-eligible park improvements. As a result, the lists include some projects that are ineligible for CDBG funding (dog parks, shaded
bleachers, etc.). The CDBG-eligibility of some desired improvements are dependent upon the end use. In the tables, these are denoted with a “D*” in the CDBG columns of Attachments
#1 and #2. In other cases, desired “improvements” such as “Keep open areas
Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
Page 2 – January 17, 2012
open” require no funding. In these instances, an “n/a” is noted in the CDBG column of the tables, accordingly.
Based on the community input at the meetings, the limited resources, and ability to complete the proposed projects, staff recommends the following three amendments to the FY 2011-2012
Action Plan:
The City’s approved CDBG Citizen Participation Plan, sets criteria for Action Plan amendments. With respect to this report, the percentage changes in activity funding relative to proposed
Amendments #1 and #2 trigger the required amendment process. The addition of a new project, such as proposed Amendment #3, is also a trigger. The process for such amendments requires
a 30-day public comment period, a public hearing, and approval by the City Council. This comment period began on December 16, 2011. Staff received one public comment, by phone, from
a Del Norte Park meeting attendee who stated he preferred additional parking to a splashpad.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve the proposed amendments to the FY 2011-2012 CDBG Action Plan, as detailed in this report and authorize appropriations necessary to implement the amendment.
Provide alternate direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This report has no impact to the General Fund. Sufficient CDBG Funds are available to cover the cost of the proposed amendments.
Prepared by: Kelly McDonald Reviewed/Approved by: Lyndel Morgan
Management Analyst II Community Services Manager
_____________
Finance Public Works
Attachments:
Del Norte Park Community Meeting – Summary of Responses
Palmview Park Community Meeting – Summary of Responses
Del Norte Park – Community Input Summary
Palmview Park – Community Input Summary