Title
Adopt a Resolution to Approve the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Amended Citizen Participation Plan and Adopt the Community Development Block Grant Contingency Plan
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Housing and Homelessness
• Community Engagement and Outreach
• Community & Business Development
SUMMARY
The City of San Leandro (City), as a federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement jurisdiction, is required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to submit a five-year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans, and Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) in order to receive annual CDBG funds that the City utilizes to address community development needs. Many sections of the HUD-mandated CPP have not been updated in nearly 20 years and are due for modernization.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to approve the Amended CPP and the CDBG Contingency Plan.
BACKGROUND
The Amended CPP (Exhibit A1) encourages community members to participate in the development, revisions, and substantial amendments to the City’s CDBG program documents. The updates to the Amended CPP improve the efficiency and flexibility of outreach processes.
Due to the uncertainty of the federal budget and the short timeline to submit the Annual Action Plan to HUD, staff drafted a CDBG Contingency Plan (Exhibit A2), which the City did not previously have. The CDBG Contingency Plan outlines how CDBG funding amounts will be reduced or increased proportionally in the event that the amount of available HUD funding changes after City Council adopts annual CDBG funding allocations.
Analysis
Summary of Updates to the Citizen Participation Plan
Staff recommends amendments to the CPP to serve the following purposes:
• Create a distinct section that consolidates and streamlines language for participation during emergencies and disasters
• Align public noticing timelines, which are to be published at least ten calendar days prior to a scheduled public hearing
• Simplify the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan processes to require one public hearing instead of two, update public hearing processes, and clarify that public presentations on CDBG funding allocations will occur biannually
• Update various outreach and communication methods to reflect current practices and technologies
Current Agency Policies
• FY 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, adopted by Resolution No. 2020-056 on June 15, 2020
• Citizen Participation Plan, adopted by Resolution No. 2020-055 on June 15, 2020
Environmental Review
No environmental review is required for this action. Individual projects contemplated by the Consolidated Plan will undergo environmental review, as necessary, before they are authorized.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
The Amended CPP was made available for community review on the City’s website (www.sanleandro.org/292/Community-Development-Block-Grant-Progra) from March 4-18, 2024. A public notice was published in the East Bay Times on March 8, 2024.
Financial Impacts
There are no financial impacts associated with this action, which addresses federal requirements for receiving HUD funding. CDBG programs and projects are funded by HUD grants.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Resolution to Approve the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Amended Citizen Participation Plan and Adopt the Community Development Block Grant Contingency Plan
o Ex A1: Amended Citizen Participation Plan
o Ex A2: Community Development Block Grant Contingency Plan
PREPARED BY: Grace Streltzov, Senior Housing Specialist, Community Development Department