HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 - Community Development Block Grant Program — Preparation of 2020-24 Consolidated PlanQ �EwPpRT
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<,FORN'P City Council Staff Report
March 24, 2020
Agenda Item No. 17
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Seimone Jurjis, Community Development Director - 949-644-3232,
sjurjis@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Lauren Wooding Whitlinger, Real Property Administrator,
Iwooding@newportbeachca.gov
James Campbell, Deputy Community Development Director,
jcampbell@newportbeachca.gov
PHONE: 949-644-3236
TITLE: Community Development Block Grant Program — Public Hearing for
Preparation of 2020-24 Consolidated Plan
ABSTRACT:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") requires the City of
Newport Beach ("City") to prepare and submit a Consolidated Plan to receive funds under
the Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG") Program. The Consolidated Plan is
prepared every five years and assesses the housing and community development needs
of the community, and describes the City plan to address those needs over the
subsequent five years. The item is placed on the City Council's agenda as a public
hearing and is required to gain community input on preparing the Consolidated Plan to
ensure it meets the needs of residents, organizations, businesses and other local
stakeholders.
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Hold a public hearing to receive comments on the Program Years 2020-24
Consolidated Plan; and
b) Find this activity exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably
foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity
is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code
of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical
change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item at this time. The amount of federal funds
allocated to the City has averaged approximately $350,000 per year.
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Community Development Block Grant Program — Public Hearing for Preparation of
2020-24 Consolidated Plan
March 24, 2020
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DISCUSSION:
The City's 2020-24 Consolidated Plan is a broad outline of the strategic vision for housing
and community development in the City. The five-year plan outlines the City's top
priorities and goals for using the annual CDBG grant funds to meet HUD's national
objectives which include: (1) benefit to low- and moderate -income persons, (2) aid in the
prevention or elimination of slums or blight, and (3) meet a need having a particular
urgency (alleviate emergency conditions - disaster recovery).
The Consolidated Plan is the long-range planning document that guides the City's annual
Action Plan. Each year the Action Plan outlines how the particular years' grant funding
will be allocated by the City to meet the City's annual goals and objectives, and what
specific projects are proposed to carry out those goals and objectives. The Action Plan is
submitted in advance of the next program year, which operates on a fiscal year of July 1
through June 30. The 2020-21 Action Plan will be incorporated into the Consolidated Plan
and presented to City Council at a public hearing in the coming months.
Community Participation
An important component of preparation of the Consolidated Plan is soliciting feedback
from residents and stakeholders in the local community, to understand how CDBG funds
can best be used to meet the community's needs. Staff held a community forum on
February 18, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at Marina Park Community Center to seek public input
on the specific needs of Newport Beach. Eight residents attended the community forum
and provided feedback to staff, which will be incorporated into the Consolidated Plan,
along with any additional comments received at this hearing. Attendees expressed the
need for transportation services, senior facilities, meals on wheels programs, parking
facilities, and affordable rental housing. Using CDBG funds for code enforcement
activities was also discussed but is limited to areas that meet certain environmental and
low-income criteria, which are not found in Newport Beach. Additionally, it was suggested
the funds be used to address the needs of the City's homeless population, especially for
mental and behavioral health services.
Other examples of community needs where the CDBG funds could be directed might be
youth centers, health care services or facilities, infrastructure improvements, homeless
shelters or services, commercial fagade improvements, and affordable housing services
or facilities.
This public hearing is another opportunity for the public to provide oral and/or written
comments on what should be addressed in the Consolidated Plan. Additionally, HUD and
the City's CDBG Citizen Participation Plan requires that a public hearing be held to
receive comments from interested parties regarding the Consolidated Plan. This public
hearing addresses the CDBG citizen participation requirement.
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Community Development Block Grant Program — Public Hearing for Preparation of
2020-24 Consolidated Plan
March 24, 2020
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A resident survey has also been created as an additional method to obtain feedback on
the needs of the community. Paper copies of the survey were made available at the
community forum in February, and are available at City Hall through Friday, March 27,
2020. Surveys can also be completed and submitted electronically through Friday,
March 27, 2020, at http://bit.ly/NewportBeachResident. With the recent State and County
guidance and City implementation of social distancing measures in response to the
COVID-19 virus, staff is emphasizing the electronic submittal of the survey.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find approval of the Agreement is not subject to the
California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the
activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378)
of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it
has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
k 911 d ill reia
Notice of this public hearing was published in the Daily Pilot on March 14, 2020. Further,
the agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
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