No formal action is expected at this Work Session. We have two goals for the discussion.  First, that the City Council understand the current Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and processes and second, that we begin the process for the new 5-Year Consolidated Plan.  As a starting point for input and direction, staff wants to illicit input and comments from the Council tonight in regard to its existing and draft priorities to help inform the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan that will guide HUD programs in Billings for the next 5 years.

Staff is pleased to be able to come to Council in a Work Session and not on any deadline to share information about the existing CDBG and HOME programs the City of Billings administers through HUD entitlement funding the City receives. Staff also wants this session to provide a first opportunity for Council input and policy direction since the City is embarking on a new 5-year Consolidated Plan process per HUD requirements to continue the provision of programs and services to low income residents and families in Billings. Staff expects this to be one of several discussions and information sharing opportunities with Council as the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan is developed and adopted in Spring 2025.

Tonight's Work Session focus is as follows:

• Overview of CDBG and HOME Funding Sources
• HUD Goals
• CD Board’s Role & Responsibilities
• Allocation Limits, Activities, & Timeliness
• Consolidated Planning Process
• Council Goals/Priorities Input on Programs for new Consolidated Plan
• Next Steps

Along with providing Council with a comprehensive overview of the current HUD programs the City administers, staff hopes to receive some initial input on future program changes based on its current and future Strategic Priorities so that staff may go back and review and vette these ideas in relation to HUD requirements and provide more information to Council at a future Work Session as to what might move forward in the next 5-years per the new Consolidated Plan. See some of the questions staff has provided in the Alternatives Section of this memo and will share in the presentation to help move the conersation forward.

The City serves low-income households through a variety of affordable housing programs such as housing development, home buyer, and foreclosure acquisition / rehabilitation programs. These populations are all potential stakeholders in these programs if changes are made or programs modified. Tonight, however, is just information and discussion of these current programs and will not affect these stakeholders at this time.

Since there is no formal action tonight, there are not clear alternatives for sharing information from staff and having Council provide input and direction.

Questions the City Council may consider and that will be shared during the presentation tonight, include:

• Current Program modifications or areas of added focus?
• More information on current programs and impacts?
• New program ideas Council wants vetted for the new 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan?
• Will Council’s formal adoption of its 2204-2025 Priorities clarify some focus areas?
• Suggested changes in process it wants vetted?
• Other topics?

There is no fiscal effect to providing input on current HUD programs and processes or discussion of the upcoming 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan to implement HUD funding the City receives. Fiscal and program constraints for the HUD funds may need to be discussed depending on the program changes the City might seek in achieving its Strategic Priorities. These may be vetted by staff after Council input tonight and at several upcoming opportunities for Council input during the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan process.