| Item No. 2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MEETING DATE: February 10, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TO: | COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FROM: | KELLY FUJIO, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES By: Susan Louie, Housing Specialist |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUBJECT: | Discussion The City of La Habra’s Community Development Department accepted proposals/applications for the use of the 2021-2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The interested agencies submitted written proposals/applications for the implementation of programs that comply with Federal regulations relative to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended that meet one of the three National objectives:
Table A provides the ranking of Low and High priority the Commission established for program year 2021-2022. Table A
Lastly, on January 13, 2021 applicants were invited to give a three-minute presentation on their request for CDBG funding before the Commission via audio zoom. The City Council will conduct a public hearing on April 19, 2021 on the draft 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan. The actions of the City Council will be forwarded to HUD. Applications The following applications were submitted for FY 2021-2022: Public Facility Activities The Public Works Department has developed a list of projects that have currently received CDBG funding. These projects are expected to be multi-year projects. This request represents year-two request in efforts to continue towards completion of the projects. Project Name: Community Center Parking Lot (multi-year) FY20-21 Approved Amt: $396,623 Amount Requested: $196,623 Amount Recommended: $196,623 CDBG Total Cost: $396,623 This project will continue the design and construction of a new parking lot at the Community Center located in census tract/block group 12.01/2. Funds provided during FY 2020 helped with the cost that will be used to towards the abatement of lead-based paint, asbestos, the demolition of the project as well as starting the design of the parking lot. Funds requested during FY 2021-2022 should allow the project to start and complete construction. Project Name: Old Reservoir Park Improvement Project (multi-year) FY20-21 Approved Amt: $ 51,125 Amount Requested: $ 33,000 Amount Recommended: $ 33,000 CDBG Approx. Total Cost: $284,125 This project will continue the design and construction of new sidewalks, lighting, playground equipment, shade structures, walking trail, planter areas, perimeter block wall, landscaping, and irrigation system. The project is located in census tract/block group 14.01/1. The funds provided during FY 2020 -2021 assisted with the cost of design. The funds requested for FY 2021-2022 should assist with completing the design. Staff anticipates requesting funding for construction during FY 2022-2023. Project Name: Portola Park Sports and Cultural Arts Complex Improvement Plan (new request) Amount Requested: $350,000 Amount Recommended: $0.00 The goal of the project would be to clean up the Portola Park Sports and Cultural Arts Complex by removing the blighted area and enhance the usage for members of the surrounding area, the City of La Habra, and our visitors. This project will continue to request funds in the next few funding cycles. Project Name: Alley Improvement Program (multi-year) FY20-21 Approved Amt: $204,448 Amount Requested: $150,000 Amount Recommended: $150,377 CDBG Approx. Total Cost: $204,825 The Alley Master Plan is a tool used by the City to effectively and equitably manage the alley system for the entire City. During FY 2020-2021 funds were provided to make improvements in census tracts/block groups 12.01/2 and 12.02/3. The funds provided during FY 2020-2021 allowed for the design of the alley improvements. The funds requested during FY 2021-2022 will allow for the construction of the improvements to be completed. Project Name: Aldrich Improvement Project (multi-year) FY20-21 Approved Amt: $454,000 (through a substantial amendment) Amount Requested: $ 62,000 Amount Recommended: $ 62,000 CDBG approx. Total Cost: $716,000 During FY 2020-2021 an opportunity arose to start long-term revitalization of La Habra Boulevard. The City is negotiating the purchase of a vacant parcel that will be utilized for public parking and can assist with parking for city events as well as assist businesses meet parking requirements. A Substantial Amendment for the use of CDBG funds is underway for FY 2020-2021 to purchase the land. Funds requested for FY 2021-2022 will allow for the design to be completed. Staff anticipates requesting CDBG funds for FY 2022-2023 to complete construction of the parking lot. The project is located in census tract/block group 12.02/3 on the north east corner of 1st Avenue and Aldrich Street. Public Service Activities (Limited to a 15% cap) Project Name: Graffiti Removal Amount Requested: $65,000 Amount Recommended: $65,000 The program is intended to provide La Habra residents and businesses a graffiti free environment and a positive community image. The program removes graffiti from public and private property to discourage further graffiti, maintain property standards and prevent neighborhood degradation. Project Name: La Habra Community Employment Program Amount Requested: $35,000 Amount Recommended: $17,476 In FY 2020-2021, the Employment and Training Division of the Community Services Department initiated a program, through CDBG funding, that provides a service to connect La Habra residents to training and greater employment opportunities as well as La Habra businesses to qualified, pre-screened applicants. Also, being funded with CDBG CARES Act (CDBG-CV) Grant Funds in the amount of $30,000 during FY 2019-2020. Project Name: Social Services Outreach and Program Coordination (new request) Amount Requested: $85,000 Amount Recommended: $0.00 Researching the possibility of funding through CDBG CARES Act (CDBG-CV) Grant Funds. Project Name: Fair Housing (mandatory) Amount Requested: $9,524 Amount Recommended: $9,524 Fair Housing is mandatory for jurisdictions receiving CDBG funds. There are regulations and requirements of fair housing and equal opportunity laws applicable to CDBG projects. To be in compliance, the grantee (City of La Habra) must adhere to all the tenets of fair housing and equal opportunity regulations. Fair housing and equal opportunity laws are like an umbrella, intended to protect individuals from discrimination in housing, employment, through business opportunities such as contracting, or through other benefits created by CDBG projects. Project Name: Fair Housing Council of OC (new request) Amount Requested: $8,750 Amount Recommended: $0.00 Funded in past years, new staff and commission members not familiar with the operation of this organization. Project Name: Mercy House Amount Requested: $10,000 Amount Recommended: $10,000 Homelessness has become a continuous issue in our community. Mercy House has been successful the past three FY’s in providing emergency shelter and services to homeless individuals from La Habra. The City received 12 program requests from five (6) agencies/departments for use of CDBG funds totaling $1,140,932 for fiscal year 2021-2022. The CDBG proposals include activities and projects such as: Fair Housing Services (mandatory for jurisdictions that receive CDBG funds); public facilities, street and alley improvements; public services such as graffiti, homeless services and employment program. HUD regulations mandate expenditure limits for two categories: 1) Administration (20% cap) and 2) Public Services (15% cap). Program Administration may not exceed 20% of the entitlement and Public Services activities are limited to 15% of the entitlement. The CDBG program year 2021-2022 expenditure caps for Administration and Public Services are $136,000 and $102,000 respectively. Staff is recommending the funding of 9 projects (including Planning and Administration 20% cap, which covers cost of staff, Notices and consultant that is used for policy planning, management, environmental process, assist with submission of reports in the HUD reporting system for Federally funded programs, etc.) totaling $680,000. These are anticipated total estimates and project amounts may be adjusted up or down, once HUD releases final numbers. Due to limited funding, not all requests can be accommodated (see attached Summary with staff’s recommendations). Recommendation/Requested Action It is recommended that the Committee approve funding recommendations for CDBG funds for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The Committee’s funding recommendations will be forwarded to City Council along with staff’s recommendations for review during the Public Hearing. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Community Services Commission approve funding recommendations for CDBG funds for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The Commission’s funding recommendations will be forwarded to City Council along with staff’s recommendations for review during the Public Hearing.