Appendix A: Public Comments and Outreach
Public Comments
Between October 13, 2023, and November 13, 2023 at 5 PM, the City made Substantial Amendment 2023-02 available to the public for comment. Members of the community were able to provide feedback via email, in-person, by mail, over the telephone, and by survey. One comment was received.
Hope & Effort Appropriately Thriving (H.E.A.T.) for South West Fresno Community via letter Please be advised that H.E.A.T. for SW Fresno Community does not understand why the City did not provide more information on the few pages received of what this Substantial Amendment really is? Were there meetings held prior to the development of this Substantial Amendment? If so, where were these meetings held, who was involved and why wasn’t H.E.A.T. and the SW Fresno community notified?
[City Response:
On October 13, 2023, the City sent a copy of Substantial Amendment 2023-02 to an address given to the City by H.E.A.T. so the organization would have an opportunity to comment on the substantial amendment prior to the November 13, 2023, deadline; the group’s address has been redacted from the image in Figure 1.
The information provided to H.E.A.T. includes a justification of the necessity to reprogram funds, and details the grant name, program year, activity from which funds are being reprogrammed, and amounts from each activity that are being reprogrammed. The Substantial Amendment also provides information on the funds proposed to be reprogrammed for the use of land acquisition for future affordable housing development as well as relocation assistance for businesses impacted by the development of affordable senior housing. No requests for additional information were received from H.E.A.T. members.
To make the public aware of the substantial amendment, the City published a public notice in the Fresno Bee, provided access to the document on the City’s website, promoted the substantial amendment on the City’s Facebook account, sent an email update to more than 500 residents and advocacy organizations, and sent a hard copy to H.E.A.T. via traditional mail; however, it did not hold any public meetings. These methods are consistent with the City’s Citizen Participation Plan outlined in the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan.
Residents are able to comment on the substantial amendment at the November 16, 2023, City Council meeting.
This comment has been received and accepted.]
October 13, 2023 Page 2 of 4
Figure 1 - H.E.A.T. Letter to City of Fresno
October 13, 2023 Page 3 of 4
Public Outreach
Figure 2 - Public Notice - Fresno Bee
October 13, 2023 Page 4 of 4
Figure 3 - City of Fresno Website
Figure 4 - City of Fresno Facebook Post