REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Ursula Luna-Reynosa, Director of Community Development
Subject:
title
Public Hearing to consider acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER)
body
Statement of Issue:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the City to conduct a Public Hearing to approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER) in accordance with Federal regulation 24 CFR 570.486(a)(5).
Financial Impact:
There is no fiscal impact to receive and file this document.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Conduct the Public Hearing to hear comments and approve the FY 2019-2020 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for CDBG and HOME Federal funds; and,
B) Authorize the City Manager to transmit this report to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by October 23, 2020.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve and file the report and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Annually, the City is required to submit to HUD its CAPER, which reports on program performance and accomplishments for the use of CDBG and HOME entitlement funds. The City is required to conduct a public hearing to adopt the CAPER.
The purpose of the CAPER is threefold:
1. It provides HUD with necessary information for it to meet its statutory requirement to assess each grantee's ability to carry out relevant City programs in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations;
2. It provides information necessary for HUD's Annual Report to Congress, also statutorily mandated; and,
3. It provides the City an opportunity to describe its successes in revitalizing deteriorated neighborhoods and meeting objectives stipulated in the Consolidated Plan.
To those ends, the attached CAPER has been prepared in accordance with Federal guidelines. The CAPER highlights the City's achievements during the implementation year of the HUD-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Act (HOME) Programs covering July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Additionally, the CAPER reports the progress the City made in carrying out its strategic plan as part of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan and its Annual Action Plan.
Every five years, the City prepares a Consolidated Plan describing the proposed use of CDBG, HOME, and other applicable Federal program funds. The Council-adopted Consolidated Plan covering 2015-2020 identifies the City's overall vision and strategy for addressing housing and non-housing community development needs in Huntington Beach. As a means to achieve the strategic goals outlined by the Consolidated Plan, the City prepares an Annual Action Plan that describes projects, programs, and activities that will address the priority needs of low- and moderate-income households through community development, economic development, housing, and public services during the specified year.
Public Service Accomplishments (CDBG)
HUD allows up to 15 percent of CDBG funds to be used for public service programs, but in response to COVID-19 and CARES Act funding, HUD waived this restriction and allowed for a total of $441,789 for this funding during FY 2019-20. Public service programs are administered by City departments and social service agencies that assist youth, homeless, elderly, and disabled individuals.
For FY 2019-2020, public service program accomplishments included the following:
• Provided literacy services to 153 low-income adults to improve their ability to understand, speak, read, and write English
• Assisted 264 children and families with after-school drop-in recreation services focused on child development, parent education, and mental health
• Provided services to 401 at-risk older adults including care management, home delivered meals, and transportation
• Provided homeless services to 408 people; 365 as part of the homeless outreach program and 43 as part of StandUp for Kids street outreach program.
Capital Improvement Accomplishments (CDBG and RLF)
For FY 2019-20, the City Council allocated $557,297 to capital projects, of which $228,102 were derived from Revolving Loan Funds. These funds helped accomplish the completion of the ADA Curb Cuts in Maintenance Zone 9. Other capital accomplishments include the completion of the Central Library ADA Restroom Renovation Project in the amount of $176,000, which was approved in FY 2018-19, and the Youth Shelter Roof, Structural, and ADA Improvement Project, which was awarded $300,000 in FY 2017-18.
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (HOME)
The City continues to have success in providing short and medium-term rental assistance targeting the homeless, those at risk of homelessness, veterans, and victims of domestic violence. Using HOME funds, the City allocated $761,078 in funds for FY 2019-20 and was able to assist 96 households working with three operators to run the program.
It is recommended that after conducting the public hearing, the Mayor and City Council accept the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, inclusive of public comments, and authorize the City Manager to execute all required documents for transmittal to HUD by October 23, 2020.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), government fiscal activities that do not result in a physical change in the environment and do not commit the lead agency to any specific project, do not constitute a project. Therefore, these activities are exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3).
Strategic Plan Goal:
Strengthen long-term financial and economic sustainability
Attachment(s):
1. Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER) FY 2019-20