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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Chris Ragona, Community Development Manager
DATE: July 8, 2019
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2019-#1) to Reflect CDBG Funding Adjustments and Revisions to the Citizen Participation Plan
PURPOSE:
Staff requests authorization of Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2019-#1) to reallocate funds for four Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects and approval of an update to the Citizen Participation Plan. A summary of the proposed recommendations is attached as Attachment A and the draft Citizen Participation Plan describing the City’s citizen engagement process for allocating its HUD funds is attached as Attachment B.
BACKGROUND:
Staff requests authorization of an Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2019-#1 to provide CDBG funding for the projects listed below. The CDBG reallocation projects are recommended to reprioritize funding and projects identified in the 2019 Action Plan. The Block Grant Working Committee (BGWC) met on July 17, 2019, discussed and provided support for Staff's recommendations (draft meeting minutes - Attachment D) for the following funding (re)allocations:
|
Proposed New or Amended CDBG Activity |
Recommended Re/Allocation Amount |
CDBG Program Year Funding Source |
Original Funding Allocation |
Project Reallocation Comments |
|
CDBG-2018-18 - The Neighbor Project Lead Pipe Replacement Pilot Program |
$50,000.00 |
CDBG-2018-18 - City of Aurora Lead Pipe Replacement Pilot Program |
$50,000.00 |
Responsibility adjusted from City of Aurora Engineering Department to The Neighbor Project. Engineering will submit referrals as part of their outreach during road and sewer construction. |
|
CDBG-2017-07 - Choose Aurora Down Payment Assistance Program |
$30,000.00 |
2019 CDBG Annual Action Plan Neighborhood Revitalization Activity |
$231,459.00 |
Increase needed in down payment assistance to further assist clients |
|
Cancellation of 2013 Home Improvement Incentive Program (HIIP) |
$17,172.18 |
2013 Home Improvement Incentive Program |
50,000.00 |
HIIP Program eligible activities are now included in The Neighbor Project Safety First Program. Duplication of services reduced and the program has been streamlined with similar activities. |
|
CDBG-2018-19 - City of Aurora Engineering Sewer Replacement Activity |
$168,853.00 |
CDBG-2018-16 - City of Aurora Engineering Street Resurfacing Program |
$168,853.00 |
The Engineering Division identified a shovel ready activity to rehabilitate sewers identified as severe in eligible census tracts. (Please see Attachment F - Sewer Lining Project Map). |
|
Estimated Reallocation Total |
$266,025.35 |
Eligibility for the above activities must meet HUD's National Objective for low and moderate income benefit and also address the City's 2015-2019 Goals and Objectives. The BGWC has scheduled a public hearing on July 29, 2019 at 5:00 PM at City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor. A public notice will be forwarded to BGWC members in the coming weeks. Public comments will be included with the City's submittal of its Annual Action Plan amendment. The public comment period for the proposed Substantial Amendment will conclude tentatively on August 13, 2019.
In addition to the request to reprioritize funds, Staff is also seeking approval for an updated Citizen Participation Plan required by HUD.
The current Citizen Participation Plan was last amended in September 2010. Staff’s proposed updates (Attachment B) will amend the current Plan (Attachment C) by allowing more flexibility for the City in administering its HUD funds by reducing the approval time needed for minor program and project adjustments. Ultimately, the proposed changes, while still allowing for ample citizen engagement, also afford the City the opportunity to assist its subrecipient agencies in a more timely manner and as a secondary benefit, allow the City to further meet its HUD funding expenditure timeliness goals. The proposed changes are in compliance with HUD’s citizen participation regulatory requirements, will not reduce the approval level as required by the City, and will allow modifications to take place as much as four weeks faster than the current format.
The City's 2019 Annual Action Plan (AAP) was submitted to HUD on May 1, 2019. (The 2019 AAP's Executive Summary is attached as Attachment E.) Upon review of the AAP, HUD has directed that the City demonstrate its intent for reallocating program funds. The City has typically reallocated funds through a separate Substantial Amendment process once there are direct project activities.
Additional amendments will be submitted later this summer to allocate the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) as well as new activities for currently unallocated funding.
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 for the CDBG projects will be available in the 2019 City Budget, through budget amendments to the CDBG program account 221-1330-801-XX-XX series.
Pending the Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee's and Committee of the Whole's approval, should the respective committee approvals result in moving this item forward for the August 13, 2019 City Council review, staff respectfully requests that this item remain under "unfinished business" on the City Council's agenda in order to accommodate the substantial amendment's 30-day public comment period.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This action will have a positive impact on the City's community development efforts..
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed Resolution authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment (2019-#1) to reflect funding allocations for the CDBG Program. Staff also requests authorization for the City's Mayor, Chief Community Services Officer, Community Development Manager, or their designees to execute any contracts as well as any other documents associated with this Substantial Amendment (2019-#1), including but not limited to HUD's program administration requirements.
cc: Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, Chairperson
Alderman Patty Smith, Vice Chairperson
Alderman Theodoros “Ted” Mesiacos
Alderman Judd Lofchie
Alderman Michael B. Saville
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2019-#1) to Reflect CDBG Funding Adjustments and Revisions to the Citizen Participation Plan.
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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 a 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Plan which have been adopted by the City Council and which have defined priorities for community development funding; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora is required by HUD to complete a Substantial Amendment to reallocate its unexpended prior program year resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora’s Block Grant Working Committee recommended
adoption of the Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendment 2019-#1 to reflect CDBG funding reallocations at its July 10, 2019 meeting; and
WHEREAS, funding will be available in the 2019 City Budget CDBG program account (221-1330-801-43-series) for the Substantial Amendment 2019-#1 projects as identified in Attachment A; 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 a Resolution Authorizing Annual Action Plan Substantial Amendments (2019-#1) to Reflect Funding Re/Allocations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and authorizes the City's Mayor, Chief Community Services Officer, Community Development Manager, or their designees to execute any contracts as well as any other documents associated with this Substantial Amendment, including but not limited to HUD's program administration requirements.