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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Dan Barreiro, Chief Community Services Officer
DATE: March 15, 2016
SUBJECT:
Resolution Authorizing an Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2014 - #7 and 2015 - #3) to Reflect Funding Reallocations for the Community Development Block Grant Program
PURPOSE:
Staff requests authorization of Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2014 - #7 and 2015 - #3) to release unexpended funds from 2014 completed projects, and to re-allocate the funds for two projects previously approved under the 2015 Program Year as well as future to-be-determined CDBG projects. A summary of the requested funding reallocations is attached as Exhibit A.
BACKGROUND:
By federal law, the City must allocate CDBG funds to eligible projects in order to ensure the funds are spent in a timely and efficient manner.
On April 28, 2015, the City Council approved two such eligible projects under a Substantial Amendment to its 2015 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan (CDBG). At that time, the two CDBG projects and funding sources were identified as follows:
|
CDBG PROJECT |
Funding Source |
Comments |
Amount |
|
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry - On site Parking Lot Vehicular and Pedestrian Safety Improvements |
City of Aurora 2014 - Unallocated Funds |
Unallocated Entitlement |
$150,000 |
|
City of Aurora - Neighborhood Revitalization Strategic Planning Area (NRSA) Façade Improvement Grant Program |
City of Aurora 2014 - Unallocated Funds |
Unallocated Entitlement |
$ 4,596 |
|
|
2014 CDBG-Boy Scouts LaSalle Community Center/ Aurora Youth Leadership Academy |
Reallocation of Unexpended funds |
$ 95,404 |
|
Total CDBG: |
$250,000 |
The City Council's approval was granted in accordance with the City of Aurora’s Citizen Participation Plan and the requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CDBG Program, which included a minimum 30-day public comment period. No comments were received from the public for either project.
Subsequent to the City's 2015 approval of the above referenced projects, Staff discovered that the funding sources for the projects were incorrectly identified. To correct the errors, Staff has proposed the subject Substantial Amendments in order to amend the funding sources to identify the use of "reallocated" rather than "unallocated" entitlement funds. The requested amendments do not add additional funds to the project. Rather, the Substantial Amendments will deobligate the remaining balances on completed projects, reallocate the unexpended funds, and make the necessary adjustments.
The release of the unexpended 2014 funds as identified in Exhibit A is also requested as an administrative step in anticipation of future project funding decisions. Any future projects that use the reprogrammed funds will still be required to follow the Citizen Participation Plan process, with ultimate approval granted by the City Council for the specific allocations via amendment(s) to the City's Annual Action Plan(s).
To move forward in the proposed funding reallocation, and in accordance with the City of Aurora’s Citizen Participation Plan and the requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CDBG Program, a notice of the Amendments and Public Hearing was posted on in the Beacon News on March 7, 2016. The City's Block Grant Working Committee reviewed the funding reallocations and recommended them for approval on March 2, 2016. A public hearing was held on March 14, 2016 to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposed Substantial Amendments.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Aurora receives an annual CDBG entitlement allocation. Funding that is not expended during the grant period is reallocated to other program(s) or project(s) in order to make use of the federal funding investment in the community. Funding will be available in the 2016 CDBG Budget, CDBG program accounts (221-1330-801-43 series), for the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry project and the NRSA Façade Improvement Project as well as future CDBG projects that will utilize the reallocated 2014 CDBG funds as per Exhibit A.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
No additional staff or equipment resources will be required for this request.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends approval of a Resolution Authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2014-#7 and 2015-#3) to reflect funding reallocations for the Community Development Block Grant programs and authorizes the City's Chief Community Services Officer to execute any documents specifically related to these Substantial Amendments, with all other provisions of said Annual Action Plans remaining in full force and effect
cc: Alderman Saville, Chairman
Alderman Donnell
Alderman Irvin
Alderman Hart-Burns, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2014-#7 and 2015-#3) to Reflect Funding Reallocations for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has initiated numerous community development and
housing activities through funding by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan which
have been adopted by the City Council and which have defined priorities for CDBG funding; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora’s Block Grant Working Committee recommended
adoption of Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments # 2014-7 and #2015-#3 to reflect CDBG funding reallocations at its March 2, 2015 meeting; and
WHEREAS, funding will be available in the 2016 City Budget, CDBG program account (221-1330-801-43-series) for the Downtown Façade Improvement Project ($100,000) and Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry Vehicular/Pedestrian Safety Project ($150,000) and any future projects that utilize the reprogrammed 2014 CDBG funds as per Exhibit A;
WHEREAS, future CDBG projects which use reallocated CDBG funds will require City Council approval; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, finds as facts all of the preamble recitals of this Resolution and hereby approves authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2014-#7 and 2015-#3) to reflect funding reallocations for the Community Development Block Grant Program and authorizes the City's Chief Community Services Officer to execute any documents specifically related to these Substantial Amendments with all other provisions of said Annual Action Plans to remain in full force and effect.