t\genda Report
January 31, 2022
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
William K. Huang, Housing Director
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO 2021-2022
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that upon close of the public hearing the City Council:
1) Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act {"CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061 (b) (3), the •common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the environment; and
2) Approve the submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development {HUD) of a Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan (2021-2022) as described in the report for the reprogramming of $16,391 in Community Development Block Grant {CDBG), and $243,398 in Community Development Block Grant CV Round 3 (CDBG-CV3).
BACKGROUND:
The Annual Action Plan sets forth the projected uses of federal entitlement funds, including Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG"), HOME Investment Partnership Act ("HOME"), and Emergency Solutions Grant ("ESG") program funds for the coming program year. The Plan addresses the efforts made toward accomplishing the goals and objectives included in the City's Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2020- 2024). On June 7, 2021, the City Council convened a public hearing approving the submission of the Annual Action Plan (2021-2022) as an application to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The modifications described below require that the Annual Action Plan be amended in accordance with HUD regulations by a "Substantial Amendment" (as that term is used in the Citizen Participation Plan).
On November 23, 2020, $1,220,949 in CDBG-CV funds were awarded by City Council to Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) for the Pasadena Food Pantry Substantial Amendment to Annual Action Plan 2021-2022
January 31, 2022
Program. This award was reduced to $689,164 (a funding decrease of $531,785) because many of the food pantries that were working with PCRS did not have the capacity to implement a federally funded food pantry program and opted to not participate. The following four agencies received a sub--grant through PRCS: First African Methodist Church, Foothill Unity Center, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and First United Methodist Church. Due to staffing shortages, PRCS can no longer provide financial approvals for the food pantry program. A restructuring of the program will convert the sub-grantees into sub-recipients of the Pasadena Food Panty Program, which has served over 1,800 families since February 2021. In order to meet federal expenditure deadlines, the City reallocated the $531,785 in CDBG-CV funds for administration ($243,398) and tenant-based rental assistance ("TBRA") ($288,387 approved by Council on December 13, 2021).
The Substantial Amendment to the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan consists of two (2) funding reallocations: 1) $16,391 in unspent CDBG funds from the previous program year to a security enhancement project, and 2) $243,398 in unspent Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Round 3 funds ("CDBG-CV3") from the Emergency Rental Assistance project ("ERA") to the CDBG-CV Administration project.
The table below provides a summary of the Substantial Amendment allocations for CDBG and CDBG-CV3.
Implementing Remaining
Description Agency Location Action Budget after
Action
Emeraenc1:: Rentel Assistance
Emergency rental assistance to 649 N. Fair Decrease
pay back rent and/or future rent Housing Funding by Department - Oaks Blvd. $297,162 up to 6-months for TBRA City of Pasadena #202 $243,398 participants currently in (CDBG-CV3)
eviction process.
CDBG-CV Administration Increase
Administration of CD BG-CV 649 N. Fair Funding by
funds Housing $243,398 Department - Oaks Blvd. (fromCDBG- $388,128 City of Pasadena #202 CV3
ERA/fBRA)
Securitt Enhancements - Jackie Increase
Public safety enhancements Department of Robinson CC Funding by - La Pintoresca including the installation of Information Parle $16,391 $828,504 security cameras. Technology - • Villa Parke (fromCDBG City of Pasadena - Robinson Park unspent
funds)
2 Substantial Amendment to Annual Action Plan 2021-2022 January 31, 2022
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
This proposed action supports the City Council Strategic Planning Three-Year Goals in the areas of improving, maintaining, and enhancing public facilities and infrastructure; improving mobility and accessibility throughout the City of Pasadena; and supporting and promoting the quality of life and the local economy.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 {b )(3), the "common sense" provision of CEQA which applies to projects which may have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The approval of the subject Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan is a funding mechanism only and is excluded from the definition of "project" pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4). Furthermore, the action proposed herein will not have a significant effect on the environment and, hence is not subject to CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended actions will have no direct fiscal impact. Approval of the Annual Action Plan (2021-2022) by the City Council and subsequent approval by HUD will result in a total allocation of $259,789 in entitlement funds to support housing, community development, and homeless prevention activities. Approval also enables the City to be eligible for other federally funded programs requiring consistency with an adopted Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.\ Ra y Mabson
Program Coordinator
anag
3 Respectfully submitted,
«)~/-~
William K. Huang
Housing Director