STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
PH 1
12/12/2023
JC
Date: December 12, 2023
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Larissa De La Cruz, Director– Community Development Lisa Anderson, Analyst – Housing
Subject: Substantial Amendment to the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2020-24 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023- 2024 Action Plans
Recommendations:
1.Conduct a public hearing and upon accepting public testimony;
2.Approve the Substantial Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2020-2024 Five-Year Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan) and 2021-22, 2022- 23, and 2023-24 Annual Action Plans (Action Plans) to allow for the inclusion of one (1) new objective, the cancellation of three funded activities, and the reprogramming of funds to the Mariposa Park Project and the Acquisition / Rehabilitation Program for Underserved Populations; and
3.Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute and transmit all necessary contracts and associated documents, including the Substantial Amendment to the Consolidated Plan and Action Plans, and any additional amendments, to ensure the City’s timely expenditure of CDBG funds.
Fiscal Impact:
There will be no impact to the City’s General Fund. All proposed dollars impacted by the Substantial Amendment have previously been awarded to the City and budgeted to activities in previously adopted Action Plans and Substantial Amendments. The reprogramming of CDBG funds will ensure that the City’s program funds are utilized to improve the quality of life for the City’s residents. The City Council’s approval of the recommended action adopts the Substantial Amendment thereby allocating those resources into the CDBG budgets. 1 4
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Background:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires all entitlement communities receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, such as the City, to prepare and submit a Consolidated Plan every five (5) years to establish a unified, strategic vision for economic development, housing and community development actions. The Consolidated Plan encompasses the analysis of local community needs and coordinates appropriate responses to those needs and priorities.
The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified in the Consolidated Plan. The City must submit an Annual Action Plan to HUD each year of the five-year Consolidated Plan period. The City Council adopted and submitted the Action Plans to HUD by the required deadline dates of each year.
After a thorough review of existing activities, proposed goals, and consultation with HUD representatives, the City identified the need to Substantially Amend its Consolidated Plan and Action Plans by allocating funds to activities that will provide decent, safe, and affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and expand on economic opportunities principally for persons of low- and moderate-income throughout the City.
Per the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, a Substantial Amendment to a Consolidated Plan and Action Plan is required when a “substantial” change is proposed as it relates to funding priorities, proposed activities, goals, and objectives. This Substantial Amendment is necessary because the City a) has identified one (1) new objective it wishes to address throughout the Consolidated Plan cycle; b) proposes to cancel three (3) existing activities; and c) will allocate reprogrammed and uncommitted current and prior year CDBG funds in the amount of $2,060,430. A total of $560,430 will be added to the Mariposa Park Project and the remaining $1,500.000 will be allocated to the Acquisition / Rehabilitation Program for Underserved Populations.
Pursuant to 24 CFR 91.505(a), a Substantial Amendment requires specific citizen participation actions, including a Public Hearing and a 30-day public review period, before the changes may be approved by the City Council and submitted to HUD. The Public Hearing Notice concerning the proposed Substantial Amendment was published in the Antelope Valley press on November 1, 2023. The Substantial Amendment was made available on the City’s website and City Hall for a 30-day public review period starting on November 9, 2023, and ending on December 12, 2023.
As such, staff recommends amending the Consolidated Plan and Action Plans as noted in the enclosed Substantial Amendment. The proposed projects are consistent with the Consolidated Plan goals and will provide immediate assistance to the community.
Analysis:
The following narrative provides descriptions and other information for the proposed Consolidated Plan objectives and Action Plan activities.
Objectives
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Goal Name: Prevent and Eliminate Homelessness
Goal Description: Provide programs that support a continuum of services to prevent and eliminate homelessness including but not limited to acquisition of facilities to house homeless and homeless prevention / rapid rehousing programs. Address urgent issues and conditions impacting the health and safety of homeless residents and those at risk of becoming homeless.
New/Increased Activities
2023-2024 Mariposa Park Project
The proposed project will replace the existing playground equipment and playground surface with ADA accessible equipment; existing picnic structure and concrete pads; install new accessible picnic tables, BBQs, and drinking fountain; and all concrete and asphalt sidewalks and pathways into and throughout the park. Improvements also include interior and exterior building renovations to the activity building, restrooms, and maintenance office. 2023-2024 Acquisition / Rehabilitation Program for Underserved Populations The proposed program will acquire and rehabilitate properties located within the Lancaster City limits that will be converted into transitional housing facilities that will be operated by a local non- profit services provider. The project is anticipated to benefit 25 homeless persons or persons that are at risk of being homeless during the program year.
Table 1: Proposed Activity Budget Modifications and Reprogrammed Activity Budgets Program Year/ Activity Title Existing Budget New Budget Difference Webber Pool Project $500,000 $0 -$500,000
Housing Rehabilitation Program $681,258 $0 -$681,258
The Childrens Center Drop-In Center Facility
Construction $175,000 $0 -$175,000
Pre-PY 2023 Unallocated Funds 704,172 $0 -$704,172
Mariposa Park Improvement Project $1,880,459 $2,440,889 $560,430 Acquisition / Rehabilitation Program $0 $1,500,000.00 +$1,500,000.00
CA/la/js
Attachment:
Substantial Amendment to the CDBG 2020-24 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and 2021-22, 2022- 23, and 2023-24 Annual Action Plans