CC MEETING: July 7, 2015
DATE: June 30, 2015
TO: Leonard Martin, City Manager
FROM: Scott Hudson, Environmental Services Director
Title
Hold A Public Hearing And Consider A Resolution Adopting The Analysis Of Impediments To Fair Housing And Program Year 2015 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) One-Year Plan Of Action And Budget.
Body
BACKGROUND:
This agenda item is to hold a public hearing and receive comments on the proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and Program Year 2015 One-Year Plan of Action and Budget. The item also includes a proposed resolution to adopt these documents.
On October 1, 2015 the City of Carrollton will receive $696,061 in CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG program is designed to address housing and community development concerns for low to moderate income families and neighborhoods. According to federal law, these funds must be used for the principal benefit of persons of low and moderate income in Carrollton. The proposed Plan of Action fulfills these requirements.
The proposed budget includes $543,720 for the reconstruction of streets and sidewalks in the Carrollton Downs Neighborhood - Phase II (NOTICE); $15,000 for special projects in Rhoton Park; $79,000 for the Housing Rehabilitation Repair Program; and $58,341 for enhanced code enforcement in the CDBG Target Area. All of the activities in the proposed budget are identified as major priorities in the previously adopted 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan.
In addition to the annual action plan, HUD periodically requires that grantees conduct a more comprehensive assessment of community housing status and needs, known as the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. This study must address housing opportunities for all protected classes: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. In May 2015 the City Council authorized a contract with BBC Research to conduct this assessment, which includes extensive demographic analysis and community input. This study is now complete.
Three public hearings were conducted to solicit public input on the proposed Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing: one at the Neighborhood Advisory Commission (NAC) June 2015 meeting, one at MOSAIC and one at the Crosby Recreation Center. These hearings were well attended and provided a wide variety of comments. These public comments and NAC input have helped shape the draft Analysis of Impediments.
The study indicated that Carrollton offers equitable housing opportunities across the board, including opportunities for persons with disabilities, senior citizens on fixed incomes, and minorities. While the report is generally positive, it does offer recommendations for future CDBG plans, including:
• Improving financial literacy in certain segments of the community, especially focusing on personal credit and budgeting
• Continuing funding of home improvement and rehabilitation programs with more detailed reporting
• Supporting development of affordable rental housing
• Updating aspects of land use codes to mitigate potential discriminatory treatment of persons with disabilities
Staff will continue to review options for implementing these recommendations.
On June 11, 2015, the NAC voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the draft Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and One-Year Plan of Action by the City Council.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The PY 2015 Community Development Block Grant will provide $696,061 in new financial resources for community development initiatives.
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY:
Annually, the Carrollton Community Development Block Grant program secures, allocates and administers approximately $700,000 in new community development resources for use in the low-and-moderate income areas of the City. Long-term community sustainability is supported by significant financial reinvestment in the physical infrastructure of aging neighborhoods, housing rehabilitation and code enforcement.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the public hearing and adopt the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing and Program Year 2015 Community Development Block Grant One-Year Plan of Action and Budget.