City Council Agenda Report
July 16, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alex Hamilton, Interim Director of Community Development Bethani Cardenas, Housing Manager
Rosio Medina, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY PLANS CONTINUED
HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS 2025/30
CONSOLIDATED PLAN, FIRST YEAR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, UPDATED
ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING CHOICE AND A HOUSING SUMMIT
Background:
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) are funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and every five years a Five-Year Consolidated Plan (Plan) and First Year Annual Action Plan (AAP) is required as part of the annual application process that must be submitted for funding. For reference the current Five-Year Consolidated Plan covers the time period: July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2025.
The Plan lists the specific activities that the City will undertake with the CDBG and HOME funds. The types of activities that the City may conduct are subject to federal rules and regulations, such as funding caps on program administration and social services, requirements for public-private partnerships, and compliance with National Objectives.
The Consolidated Plan submission must also include an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). The AI focuses on actions, omissions and decisions made which restrict, or have the effect of restricting, housing choices or the availability of housing choices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin in the City of Norwalk.
Such actions may include lending decisions, real estate advertising, discrimination in rental housing, hate crimes and zoning requirements.
City Council July 16, 2024
Agreement for Public Housing Agency Plans Page No. 2
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9 Michael Baker International (MBI) currently provides professional services to the Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA) with the preparation of the Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plans and the continued operation and management of the various HUD funded Housing Authority Programs. The PHA Administrative plan is a comprehensive guide to the PHA policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting the City’s housing needs goals. To ensure deliverable (tasks) associated with operations and reporting are performed in a timely fashion and compliant with all federal regulations, the NHA depends on MBI for guidance and assistance with the following tasks: NHA Administrative Plan, Five-Year Consolidated Plan Project Based Voucher (PBV) contracts.
Timeline for deliverables
The draft AI is to be made available for public review and comment for a period of 30 days starting July 2024. After the public review period, the final AI will be presented to City Council in August 2024 for information purposes. A Housing Summit scheduled for September 6, 2024, and ongoing data collection tasks such as, stakeholder outreach and interviews to be conducted through December 2024. The first draft of the Consolidated Plan is due to staff by January 2025.
The final Plan is due to HUD on May 15, 2025.
MBI submitted a proposal to prepare the Consolidated Plan, AAP, and updated AI based on pertinent requirements of HUD. The proposal includes providing comprehensive professional consulting services required for the successful and timely preparation of the Consolidated Plan, the AI and the first-year AAP at costs that fall within the annual planning and administrative fees allowed by HUD. Based on the strength of their housing team and expertise, MBI was retained by the City.
During the contract term with MBI, their housing team assigned to performed work on the housing tasks for the City transitioned to MNS Engineers. Therefore, staff is proposing to secure services with MNS Engineers for continuity and institutional knowledge and the fact that the City has critical milestones that would be jeopardized if the consultants cannot continue the necessary CDBG, HOME and Housing tasks. The project team is well qualified to provide the services and have a combined 80+ years of housing and community development experience.
Staff has reviewed MNS Engineers scope and find their selection will provide for a seamless transition during this critical period. In addition, per CFR 24 85.36 staff is permitted to make a change in consultant services for a maximum 12-month period if an emergency exists. In this case the transition of critical housing staff from MBI to MNS Engineers is justification for such a recommendation from staff. CFR also requires the City to procure housing consulting services in the future following solicitation methods in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal guidelines for procurement of professional services. The Request for Proposal (RFP) is expected to be released early in 2025 to retain a new consultant by June 2025.
City Council July 16, 2024
Agreement for Public Housing Agency Plans Page No. 3
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9 Fiscal Impact:
The NHA, CDBG and HOME programs are funded solely by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. There is no impact to the general fund.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council approve an agreement with MNS Engineers to continue services for the development of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, the draft FY 2025/30 Consolidated Plan for the Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnerships Program, Norwalk Housing Authority administrative plan and Project Based Voucher contracts in an amount not to exceed $98,500; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement and any additional amendments provided there is funding in the budget and it is within the City Manager’s signing authority, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Attachments:
N/A