CC MEETING: July 23, 2019
DATE: July 16, 2019
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Cory Heiple, Environmental Services Director
Title
Hold A Public Hearing And Consider A Resolution Adopting The Draft 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan And Program Year 2019 Community Development Block Grant One-Year Plan Of Action And Budget.
Body
BACKGROUND:
This agenda item is to hold a public hearing and receive comments on the proposed Program Years 2019-2023 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan which incorporates Program Year (PY) 2019 One-Year Plan of Action and Budget. The item also includes a proposed resolution to adopt these plans. On October 1, 2019, the City of Carrollton will receive $828,463 for PY 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to federal law, these funds must be used to benefit persons of low- to moderate-income in Carrollton to address housing and community development concerns.
In addition to the annual action plan, every five years HUD requires that grantees conduct a more comprehensive assessment of community status and needs, known as the Consolidated Plan. This year’s plan will cover the five program years beginning in October 2019 to September 2023. In March, the city hired Root Policy Research to conduct this assessment which includes extensive demographic analysis and community input. This study is now complete.
Two public hearings are to be conducted to solicit public input on the proposed 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan, one at the Neighborhood Advisory Commission (NAC) July 18, 2019 meeting, and the second on July 23, 2019 at the scheduled City Council meeting in City Hall.
A preliminary focus group indicated a continued support for infrastructure improvements and enhanced code enforcement for Carrollton’s older apartment communities. Participants placed a high value on the funding the City provides to our local social service partners who support Carrollton’s vulnerable populations, particularly our youth, veterans, seniors and unemployed. They expressed the importance of maintaining and even raising the funding amount. The public comments and NAC input have helped shape the draft plans. On July 18, 2019 the NAC reviewed the draft plans for adoption by the City Council.
The NAC recommended budget includes $325,000 for redevelopment of Rhoton Park located in the Park Place Addition and $278,963 for redevelopment of Thomas Park located north of Woodcrest Estates and east of Park Terrace. Both city parks are located in the Low- to Moderate- Target Area required for CDBG funding, $95,000 for the Minor Home Repair Program, $30,000 for the Emergency Repair Program, $7,500 for People Helping People Program, $67,000 for Enhanced Code Enforcement in the CDBG Target Area, and $25,000 in Administration for CDBG training of three new staff members and ongoing training for established staff. All of the activities in the proposed PY 2019 CDBG budget are identified as major priorities in the draft 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan.
The proposed reflects an increase in all of the housing repair programs. As the community continues to age, the needs for these programs continue to increase with more resources being used to address the various issues low- to moderate-income individuals have in maintaining their homes.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The PY 2019 Community Development Block Grant of $828,463 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 $750,000 in new community Development resources for use in the low- to 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 the City Council open the public hearing, receive citizen comments, close the hearing, and approve the Resolution to adopt the Program Years 2019-2023 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan and the Program Year 2019 Action Plan and Budget.