Title
Adoption of the Citizen Participation Plan (B)
This item requests the City Commission to conduct a public hearing to adopt the Citizen Participation Plan .
Explanation
This item involves adopting the Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) which is required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Programs funded by HUD include the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). As an entitlement jurisdiction, the City annually receives funds from those programs. In FY2016, the City received a combined total of approximately $1.68 million from those programs. The City uses CDBG and HOME funds for many types of services, including Homeowner Rehabilitation, Down Payment Assistance, Homeless Services, Code Enforcement and other services.
In accordance with Federal regulations, the City of Gainesville has prepared a CPP to provide for and encourage citizen participation in the process of preparing and implementing plans related to programs funded by HUD.
The purpose of the CPP is to meet HUD’s requirements and to explain how the City will accommodate and encourage citizen input, particularly for the City’s program-eligible populations.
The CPP provides a guide for citizens and organizations to participate in an advisory role in assisting with the development of the following HUD-required documents: the Five Year Consolidated Plan, the Annual Action Plan, and the Assessment of Fair Housing. The CPP also helps citizens and organizations to participate in the review of the HUD-required Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report. The CPP sets forth policies and procedures for citizen participation, which are designed to maximize the opportunity for engagement in the community development process. The CPP emphasizes and encourages participation by persons of low- and moderate-incomes, residents of blighted neighborhoods, residents of areas where community development funds are utilized, and residents of predominantly low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
In particular, the CPP includes the following elements: How to contact City staff when citizens have questions; A description of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Community Development; How to Access Information; Public Notice Requirements; Public Meeting Requirements; Grievance and Complaint Procedures; Special Needs Policies; and Anti-Displacement Policies.
At this time, only minor changes to the CPP are proposed. In response to HUD’s new rule replacing the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice with an Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), the CPP has been revised to apply to the AFH. Other changes to the CPP include updated contact information.
On August 24, 2017, the City advertised a 30-Day Public Comment Period in the Gainesville Sun and the Gainesville Guardian. During that time period, paper and electronic copies of the Draft CPP have been available for public review and comment. The paper copies have been available at the City’s Housing and Community Development Division Office in the Thomas Center, the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, the Alachua County Public Library Headquarters Branch (Downtown), the Cone Park Library Branch and the Library Partnership Branch. The Draft CPP also has been available on the Housing and Community Development Division webpage. Staff has not received any additional comments since the advertisement was published.
HUD does not require a Public Hearing in order to adopt the CPP. However, to ensure public input, staff recommends that the City Commission conduct a Public Hearing to adopt the CPP at their October 5, 2017 Regular Meeting.
Fiscal Note
HUD rules require Entitlement Jurisdictions, such as Gainesville, to adopt a CPP in order to continue to receive CDBG and HOME funds. In FY2016, the City received a combined total of approximately $1.68 million from those programs.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from staff; 2) conduct a Public Hearing to gather public comments about the Citizen Participation Plan; and 3) adopt the Citizen Participation Plan.