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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 6.A
Meeting Date: March 9, 2022
From: John Corella, Director of Engineering/Public Works Title: Substantial Amendment to the CDBG FY 2021 -22 Annual Action Plan
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve a Substantial Amendment to reallocate unspent prior year CDBG funds for the FY 2021-22 Annual Action Plan for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
BACKGROUND:
In September 2020, the City Council approved the City’s FY 2020 -21 CD BG Annual Action Plan (AAP) describ ing the federal funding allocations from the City’s annual entitlement grant ($613,195) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Round 1 apportionment ($360,777). After the approval of the AAP, the City received additional CARES Act Round 3 funding ($566,430), which was approved by City Council to amend the AAP to fund the Small Business Assistance Loan program. The CARES Act Round 1 and Round 3 apportionments are collectively called CDBG-CV funds. After the FY 2020 -21 CDBG program was executed and finalized, there was a remainder of $530,364 in CDBG-CV funds and $47,969 in CDBG funds.
On May 12, 2021, the City Council approved the City’s FY 2021 -22 CDBG AAP for submittal to the U.S. Department of Hou sing and Urban Development (HUD). Included in the AAP is the proposed Via De Anza Sidewalk Improvements Project for an amount of $436,825. The CDBG funding will provide for the construction of sidewalk, curb and gutter and driveways on Via De Anza between Ortega Road and Olancha Road (Census Tract 449.15). Currently, this section of Via De Anza does not have sidewalk and residents are forced to walk on the street. The installation of the proposed improvements will promote walkability and prov ide a safe pa th of travel for this community to walk to and from Ocotillo Park, the library, and schools.
On June 9, 2021, the City Council approved an Administrative Amendment to the FY 2021-22 AAP to correct a discrepancy in the City’s entitlement apportionment, and to allocate the additional increase of $9,532 to supplement the Via De Anza Project.
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On December 8, 2021, the City Council approved an Administrative Amendment to the City’s 202 1-22 AAP to award Desert Access and Mobility $25,000 fund ing with the City’s CDBG-CV apportionment. This leaves the City with a remaining balance of $505,364.
DISCUSSION:
According to the PR01 Report generated from HUD’s Integrated Disbursement & Information System (IDIS), the City has approximately $47,96 9 of unspent prior year funds from Public Improvements and $505,364 in CDBG-CV funds. In addition, the City has $80,000 in unallocated funds for Public Services from the current FY 2021 -22 AAP.
The approval of this Substantial Amendment will allow the City to reprogram these funds into our FY 2021-22 AAP.
On January 12, 2022, a Study Session was held with the City Council to discuss the reasons for the Substantial Amendment and how the unspent prior year funds will be allocated. Below is the table presented to the City Counci l of Staff’s proposed allocations for amending the 2021-22 Annual Action Plan.
FY 2021 PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS FUNDING
FY 2020-21 Unspent Funds to Via De Anza Project 47,968.91$ Total Funding Allocated 47,968.91$
FY 2021 PUBLIC SERVICES FUNDING
CVAG: Homelessness Program 51,500$
Transgender Health and Wellness Center 20,000$
WeeCare Child Assistance Program 8,500$
Total Funding Allocated 80,000$
CDBG-CV (CARES Act) FUNDING FUNDING
CC Senior Center 100,000$
CV Rescue Mission 51,500$
Assistance League 15,000$
CC Senior Center: 911 Program 53,000$
Small Business Assistance Loan 143,000$
WeeCare Child Assistance Program 130,000$
Remaining Total 12,864.34$
Total Funding Allocated 505,364.34$
After the study session on January 12, 2022, the City Council requested additional information about the proposed Public Service s providers and their respective programs, describing how each grantee will provide a benefit to Cathedral City residents. A description of each proposed program is provided below:
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments ( CVAG) Homelessness Program: CVAG is the regional planning agency coo rdinating government services in the Coachella Valley. The City of Cathedral City makes annual donations to CVAG for their Housing First Program which aims to combat
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homelessness and providing shelter for the homeless . Half of th is year’s City’s annual donation of $103,000 ($51,500 from CDBG) is proposed to be contributed using these CDBG funds.
• Transgender Health and Wellness Center (THAWC) Suicide Prevention Program: THAWC is proposing a suicide prevent ion program (includ ing education, peer, and mental health support) designed to prevent fatal outcomes and self-harm in the LGBTQ+ Community. The outreach program is projected to serve a minimum of 24 Cathedral City residents, with 10 to 15 individuals enrolling in their rapid re-housing program. This program includes:
o Case management services to track individuals entering and exiting the program.
o Peer and mental wellness recovery groups to support.
o Support services may include HIV education and prevention linked to the lack of mental wellness leading to suicidal thoughts and self-harm. o Emergency services and care such as food and clothing to reduce stress caused by external factors leading to suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
• WeeCare Child Assistance Program : WeeCare is proposing a childcare assistance progr am that solves the pain of finding childcare for families.
Currently there are numerous childcare providers that are already signed up with WeeCare. The assistance program would cover all employed residents in Cathedral City of employers with less than 100 employees, currently estimated at 24,000 employees and any new employees added during the term. The assistance program would essentially cover the cost of the membership and benefits would include:
o Priority placement at all WeeCare Providers.
o 24/7 1-on-1 Care Managers.
o Waived $98 Care Manager Fee.
o Waived $6.99 Weekly Safety Fee.
• Cathedral City Senior Center (CCSC): The City of Cathedral City provides annual funding to CCSC, to assist with their operations in providing for the needs of Cathedral City’s se niors, families, and caregivers. This year, CCSC is requesting funding for an additional 911 program. The proposed project details are:
o The City refer s frequent non-emergency call ers to CCSC for wellness checks, evaluations, resource connections, follow-ups, and tracking. o CCSC utilizes contracted bilingual social workers who will visit and call seniors to help determine the root causes of their frequent calls to emergency personnel.
o CCSC refers individuals to health and social services, and community agencies to address root causes of repeat 911 calls.
o CCSC tracks these individuals for one year from the contract’s start.
• Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM) Outreach Program : CVRM’s vision is to end homelessness in the Coachella Valley. CVRM’s outreach program takes place every Monday at Calvary Christian Center in Cathedral City. Their outreach program includes:
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o CVRM employees and volunteers locating homeless encampments and/or individuals to offer essentials that are needed.
o Water, small non -perishable meals, clothes, shoes, socks, umbrellas, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
o Handwashing stations and shower trailers.
o Conversations and companionship.
o Safe and free ride to desired destination.
o Non-emergency medical services and DAP testing.
• Assistance League Ope ration School Bell Program : Assistance League’s proposed program has a goal of clothing 2,500 students and providing 3,000 hygiene kits to 2,500 students and 500 homeless persons in the Coachella Valley. The goal within Cathedral City is to use funding to buy school clothes and hygiene kits for over 300 City elementary school students.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Under the City’s adopted Community Participation Plan, any programmatic or financial changes resulting in over ten percent (10%) of the City annual a pportionment will need to be documented with a Substantial Amendment and will require a public hearing.
A public notice was published in the local newspaper, The Desert Sun, noticing the availability of the proposed Substantial Amendment. The Substantial Amendment was made available for 30 days from January 29, 2022, to February 27, 202 2. The Substantial Amendment was posted on the City website , public information cabinet just outside City Hall , the Cathedral City Senior Center, the Cathedral City Librar y and the Boys and Girls Club . The Substantial Amendment was also made available to be electronically forwarded to anyone interested in reviewing the information included in the Amendment upon request.
This virtual Public Hearing is being held on March 9, 2022, during this City Council Meeting to allow any members of the community an opportunity to comment on the information in the proposed Substantial Amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The approval of the recommended action is required to ensure the City is able to program the remaining FY 2021-22 CDBG funds in a timely manner in accordance with HUD requirements.
ATTACHMENTS:
FY 2021-22 Transgender Health and Wellness Proposal
FY 2021-22 WeeCare Child Assistance Proposal
FY 2021-22 Cathedral City Senior Center Proposal
FY 2021-22 CVRM Proposal
FY 2021-22 Assistance League Proposal
FY 2021-22 Senior Center: 911 Program Proposal
FY 2021-22 Angel View Proposal
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FY 2021-22 Desert Blind Access and Mobility Proposal
FY 2021-22 CVAG Proposal