ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 22, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Reports TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic and Community Development Director DATE: January 10, 2025
SUBJECT: Update to the Council on the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan for the City of Bakersfield
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends receive and file report
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide an update on the City of Bakersfield’s Consolidated Plan 2025-30 process thus far, to give an overview of the community engagement received, and provide a draft of the Citizen Participation Plan for review.
City of Bakersfield Consolidated Plan 2025-30 (ConPlan) Every five years, the City of Bakersfield is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop a new Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) and supporting documents. These documents use a combination of data and community outreach to determine the top housing needs, community development concerns, and gaps in supportive services for low- and moderate-income populations in the city. Elements of the ConPlan include the 2025-30 Consolidated Plan, the 2025-26 Action Plan, an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), and a Citizen Participation Plan (attached for review). Completing these documents is a condition of receiving housing and community development funding.
Over the next five years, the City of Bakersfield anticipates receiving $6.7 million per year from the following HUD programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).
Total funds for all programs over the next five years will be approximately $33.8 million.
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI)
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is a complimentary document to the Consolidated Plan that analyzes local housing practices and provides action steps to remove or lower barriers to fair housing choice. Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in all aspects of housing, including home sales, rentals, housing policies and financing. Each resident is entitled to equal access to housing opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability/medical conditions, familial status, marital status, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, source of income or any other arbitrary reason. This document is a requirement by federal and state law, and will be
completed and submitted by City staff to HUD along with the Consolidated Plan. A completed draft of the AI will be available for public review with the Draft 2025-30 Consolidated Plan in March/April of 2025.
ConPlan Outreach
As part of the community outreach for the ConPlan 2025-30, a comprehensive community engagement strategy was developed to solicit feedback from the full community. City staff shared information about the Consolidated Plan at three community meetings, several stakeholder focus groups, and various community partner meetings. Additionally, City staff engaged with community partners to share on their respective listservs, utilized media through a press release, radio interviews and two news interviews, and publicized multiple social media postings.
A Community Needs Survey was also conducted to solicit input from residents and workers in the City of Bakersfield. Respondents were informed that the City was updating the Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for federal funds that primarily serve low- to moderate- income residents and areas. The questionnaire polled respondents about the level of need in their respective neighborhoods that can potentially be addressed using entitlement funds, as well as any barriers to fair housing choice. Surveys were conducted in both English and Spanish and through online and paper methods. A total of 496 survey responses were collected. A list of community engagement activities and survey results is attached.
Community outreach generated consistent themes across community partner focus groups, community meetings, and surveys. While other needs were identified, the following top three topics were heard at all levels of engagement:
Affordable Housing (e.g., rental housing affordability, first-time homebuyers’ assistance, increased housing costs),
Addressing Homelessness (e.g., homelessness prevention, behavioral health services, and access to housing)
Economic Development (e.g., job training, living wage, and finding/maintain jobs).
The needs identified above were used to create the recommendations for the 2025-30 Consolidated Plan Goals. These goals will govern the HUD funded projects over the next five years. The following table lists the Recommended Goals for 2025-30 as well as the goals identified in the City’s last Consolidated Plan. As seen, goals remained consistent with those outlined in previous years.
Recommended Goals for the City of Bakersfield Consolidated Plan 2025-30 Recommended Goals for ConPlan 2025-30 Previous Goals – ConPlan 2020-25 1 Invest in and preserve the supply of affordable
housing for low-and moderate income households,
including homeownership opportunities.
Increase and preserve the supply of affordable
housing for low-and-moderate income households.
2 Prevent and reduce homelessness, including
increased support related to mental and behavioral
health.
Prevent and reduce homelessness.
3 Foster and improve the quality of life by increasing
access to economic development opportunities.
Foster community and economic development.
Note: Goal was previous four, it has been moved to
the third goal based on community feedback.
4 Improve community infrastructure and facilities to
promote safe and vibrant communities.
Improve public infrastructure and facilities to
promote safe and vibrant communities.
5 Increase vital services for special needs
populations, including children and youth, seniors,
persons with disabilities, and persons living with
HIV/AIDS.
Enhance facilities and services for the non-homeless
special needs population, including seniors, persons
with disabilities, and persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Next Steps
In April of 2025, the City Council will hold a Public Hearing pursuant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Title 24 CFR Part 91. The purpose of the Public Hearing will be to accept community input and consider approval of the City of Bakersfield ConPlan 2025-30, 2025-26 Action Plan, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2025-30, and Citizen Participation Plan. The city will submit final documents to HUD before the deadline of May 14, 2025.
Next Steps in Consolidated Plan Timeline
February 2025: Draft ConPlan and Annual Action Plan presented to the Budget, Economic Development and Jobs Committee.
March/April 2025: 30-day public review and comment period April/May 2025: Draft ConPlan and supporting documents presented to City Council Prior to May 15, 2025: ConPlan submitted to HUD
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
ATTACHMENTS:
Citizen Participation Plan
Community Outreach Memo