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4.
City Council Special Meeting
Meeting Date:
04/10/2020
Co-Submitter:
Kristine Pavlik
From:
Sarah Darr, Housing Director

Information

TITLE:

Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2020-18: A Resolution amending the 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan to modify timeframes associated with the Citizen Participation Plan and allow for virtual meetings.

Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2020-19: A Resolution amending the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan to permit Flagstaff Shelter Services to provide infectious disease services in place of employment services.

STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1) Read Resolution No. 2020-18 by title only
2) City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2020-18 by title only (if approved above)
3) Adopt Resolution No. 2020-18 

1) Read Resolution No. 2020-19 by title only
2) City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2020-19 by title only (if approved above)
3) Adopt Resolution No. 2020-19

Executive Summary:

Due to the current State of Emergency, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued waivers to certain regulations that allow entitlement communities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in an expedited manner.

Resolution No. 2020-18 amends the 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan to modify timeframes associated with the Citizen Participation Plan from a minimum 30-day notice period to a minimum 5-day notice period, and allow for virtual meetings. These changes take advantage of recently released regulation waivers from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) related to expediting public processes related to the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and allowing for virtual meetings.

Resolution No. 2020-19 amends the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan to permit Flagstaff Shelter Services (FSS) to provide infectious disease services in place of employment services. FSS will provide expanded shelter and services in response to the COVID-19 infectious disease pandemic. FSS COVID-19 Infectious Disease Response Program will provide alternative temporary shelter to a minimum of 100 medically vulnerable individuals at increased risk of severe infection and exposure to COVID-19. CDBG funds will be used to provide temporary off-site shelter, purchase crucial biohazard supplies to protect clients and staff and to hire additional support for the supervision of clients during the daytime hours.

Financial Impact:

Resolution No. 2020-18 has no financial impact.

Resolution No. 2020-19 reallocates $59,597.45 of previously allocated CDBG funds.

FSS received an allocation of 2019-2020 CDBG funding in the amount of $59,597.45 in order to provide employment navigation services. This program has not yet started and due to the current pandemic, FSS requested these funds be reallocated to the COVID-19 Infectious Disease Response Program; as of this time, no funds have been expended from the 2019 CDBG Allocation.
 

***These resolutions and actions are unrelated to the anticipated CARES Act CDBG funding. Staff will bring forward information and recommendations on the use of the new funding, coupled with the 2020/2021 CDBG funding, as soon as HUD releases the necessary guidance and notices and input can be gathered from the community.

Policy Impact:

Resolution No. 2020-18: In order to work within regulatory and statutory guidelines related to Resolution No. 2020-19, amending the City of Flagstaff’s Citizen Participation Plan, a section of the City’s 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan, adopted in April of 2016, is necessary in order to implement the HUD Waivers.  

Resolution No. 2020-19:  This action is consistent with The City of Flagstaff Council's 2018-2020 CDBG Priorities:
  • Provide affordable housing (rental and ownership) 
  • Address homelessness 
  • Improve neighborhood revitalization 
  • Promote workforce job training 
  • Support education/ early childhood development

Connection to Council Goal, Regional Plan, CAAP, and/or Strategic Plan:

Regional Plan:
Goal NH.1. Foster and maintain healthy and diverse urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods in the Flagstaff region.  

  • Policy NH.1.1. Preserve and enhance existing neighborhoods. 

Goal NH.4. All housing is safe and sanitary.  

  • Policy NH.4.1. Expand the availability of affordable housing throughout the region by preserving existing housing, including housing for very low-income persons. 

  • Policy NH.4.3. Address accessibility issues and other housing barriers to persons with disabilities or special needs. 

  • Policy NH.4.4. Encourage green practices in housing construction and rehabilitation that support durable, healthy, and energy efficient homes. 

  • Policy NH.4.5. Renovate the existing housing stock to conserve energy and reduce utility and maintenance costs for owners and occupants. 

  • Policy NH.4.7. Enforce compliance with fair housing laws. 

Goal NH.5. Eliminate homelessness.  

  • Policy NH.5.1. Provide adequate resources for families with children experiencing homelessness. 

  • Policy NH.5.2. Provide adequate resources for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

  • Policy NH.5.3. Support and expand programs that prevent homelessness. 

  • Policy NH.5.4. Make transitional housing resources available to populations experiencing homelessness. 

Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:

Resolution No. 2020-18: Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-15 on April 19, 2016 approving and authorizing submission of the 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan.

Resolution No. 2020-19: Council adopted Resolution No. 2019-14 on April 16, 2019 approving and authorizing submission of the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan.

Options and Alternatives:

  1. Approve Resolution No. 2020-18 and Resolution No. 2020-19 and authorize the submission to HUD.

  1. Modify Resolution No.2020-18 and/or 2020-19 and authorize the submission to HUD. 

  1. Not approve Resolution No. 2020-18 and/or 2020-19.

Community Involvement:

HUD has urged entitlement communities to consider the use of allocated CDBG funds for the prevention and response to community spread of COVID-19. Flagstaff Shelter Services will serve one hundred (100) medically vulnerable/high-risk individuals experiencing homelessness with temporary, off-site shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flagstaff Shelter Services will provide an additional one hundred (100) individuals experiencing homelessness with crucial day services allowing for necessary social distancing and prevention of community spread of the COVID-19 Infectious Disease.

Expanded Options and Alternatives:

Utilizing a recently published waiver of regulations, there was a five-day (instead of a 30 day) Public Comment Period from April 5th – 9th, 2020.  An advertisement for Public Notice was published in the Arizona Daily Sun on April 5th, and the proposed DRAFT Resolutions, 2019/2020 Annual Action Plan, the Citizen Participation Plan (a section of the 2016-2020 Consolidated Plan) were made available on the City of Flagstaff website starting April 3, 2020.

Attachments