Administrative
Report
L.1., File # 23-5695 Meeting Date: 4/4/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: CAMERON HARDING, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
TITLE
PUBLIC HEARING TO SOLICIT INPUT ON PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE DRAFT FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURE:
a. Open Public Hearing and take testimony;
b. Solicit input on public service grant recommendations and the draft FY 2023-24 Action Plan; and,
c. Continue the Public Hearing to May 2, 2023.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funds from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Redondo Beach is required to develop a one-year Action Plan and solicit input from residents as well as other interested organizations on housing and community development needs in the City. This report reflects the City’s needs that are identified in the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan and provides details on FY 2023- 24 CDBG activities and funding allocations. The City will receive $263,834 for FY 2023-24 in CDBG entitlement monies. These funds will support the programs identified in the Action Plan.
BACKGROUND
Title I of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act requires that, in order to apply for certain HUD programs, state and local governments must have an approved five-year Consolidated Plan and annual Action Plans. The Consolidated Plan is used by state and local governments as a working guide for the application of resources to address local housing and community development needs. The City of Redondo Beach draft FY 2023-24 Action Plan is attached to this report and is presented for review and comment. The final FY 2023-24 Action Plan will be presented to City Council for review and adoption on May 2, 2023.
The primary purpose of the CDBG Program, established under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, is to improve living conditions for low and moderate-income persons in the community. Since 1986, the City has been the recipient of CDBG funds. The City has received CDBG entitlement funds totaling over $16 million for a variety of projects and programs including housing rehabilitation; commercial rehabilitation; renovation of teen, community and senior centers; park improvements and local public service agency funding.
L.1., File # 23-5695 Meeting Date: 4/4/2023
The one-year Annual Action Plan will serve to address strategies and goals established in the 2020- 2025 Consolidated Plan and provide recommendations for the expected allocation of the City’s FY 2023-24 CDBG entitlement funds for the City’s housing and community development activities for the upcoming fiscal year. The CDBG funding allocation for the City is $263,834. This represents a slight decrease from the City’s current year grant allocation of $279,033. The history of CDBG funding levels for Redondo Beach since FY 2001-02 is provided as an attachment to this report.
The following projects and activities are proposed to be funded through the CDBG funds for FY 2023-
24. Each activity is shown with a draft CDBG funding allocation and the corresponding percentage of the overall budget of $263,834.
· Public Facilities and Improvements: Public improvements are an eligible expenditure of CDBG funds. Thus, City staff would like to propose installation of access ramps and/or curb cuts for Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) compliance throughout the City. This has been a very successful program throughout the City and compliments other annual roadway capital projects.
Funding Allocation: $131,492, 50% of total CDBG budget
· Administration/Fair Housing: Per HUD regulations, 20 percent of the City’s FY 2023-24 entitlement funds may be used for program administration. However, the City is required to develop a fair housing program to help prevent, reduce and/or eliminate housing discrimination and address barriers to equal housing choice based on race, gender, religion, disability or age. City staff would like to contract with the Housing Rights Center to address housing discrimination complaints filed by Redondo Beach residents to meet HUD’s fair housing requirements. In addition, City staff would like to continue to contract with an outside consultant for administrative services to coordinate CDBG projects and reporting and reduce internal workload impacts.
Funding Allocation: $52,767, 20% of total CDBG budget
· Public Service Agency Funding: Per HUD regulations, 15 percent of the City’s FY 2023-24 entitlement funds may be available to fund public service agency programs ranging from family counseling, senior lunch programs, independent living skills training and dental programs. A Request for Proposals for these services were issued on January 27, 2023, and proposals were reviewed during the development of the FY 2023-24 Action Plan. City staff would like to propose the following public service organizations for funding:
o 1736 Family Crisis Center provides counseling, support, and referral services to women and youth who are victims of domestic violence (Proposed Funding: $9,498) o Redondo Beach Salvation Army provides hot meals to elderly and disabled residents in
L.1., File # 23-5695 Meeting Date: 4/4/2023
o Redondo Beach Salvation Army provides hot meals to elderly and disabled residents in Redondo Beach (Proposed Funding: $4,749)
o Venice Family Clinic, formerly known as South Bay Family Healthcare Center, provides therapy, parenting, crisis interventions, domestic violence counseling, substance use therapy and Medication-Assisted Treatment to individuals coping with impact trauma to eligible residents in Redondo Beach (Proposed Funding: $6,332) o St. Paul’s United Methodist Church - Project NEEDS provides hot meals and a food pantry to people experiencing homelessness and food stress (Proposed Funding:
$6,332)
o Disability Community Resource Center supports seniors and people with disabilities to maintain self-directed and community-based independent lives (Proposed Funding:
$6,332)
o City Net (Navigation Assistance for Chronic Homeless) - City Net provides outreach, case management, and referral services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Redondo Beach (Proposed Funding: $6,332)
Total Funding Allocation: $39,575, 15% of total CDBG budget · Home Improvement Program (Mobility Access/Emergency Repair Program): The Mobility Access/Emergency Repair Program provides mobility access and emergency repairs to low and moderate-income and disabled Redondo Beach homeowners. For Mobility Access, eligible repairs include the installation of access ramps and handle grabs to support disabled homeowners. For the Emergency Repairs, eligible repairs are restricted to components that will correct health and safety hazards in the home. Allowable fixtures include electrical, plumbing, heating and replacement of hot water heaters. The program will assist approximately 10 households.
Funding Allocation: $40,000, 14% of total CDBG budget
Lastly, it should be noted that, WeeCare, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization submitted an application to provide technical assistance and business support to childcare providers who run home daycares for residents of Redondo Beach. More specifically the organization looked to expand economic opportunities for daycare providers by training them to utilize economic opportunities and stabilize jobs in the childcare industry. Unfortunately, due to HUD regulations, WeeCare was not considered for funding because they did not qualify as a public service benefit.
The Annual Action Plan is being developed according to the following schedule:
Date Item
January 27, 2023 Issue RFP of Public Service Proposals
February 17, 2023 Proposal Submittal
March 2023 Review of Public Service Proposals
April 4, 2023 City Council Public Hearing
April 8 to May 8, 2023 Provide Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan for 30- day comment period
M22023 Pt Al AtiPlfCitCil l
L.1., File # 23-5695 Meeting Date: 4/4/2023
Date Item
January 27, 2023 Issue RFP of Public Service Proposals
February 17, 2023 Proposal Submittal
March 2023 Review of Public Service Proposals
April 4, 2023 City Council Public Hearing
April 8 to May 8, 2023 Provide Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan for 30- day comment period
May 2, 2023 Present Annual Action Plan for City Council approval May 15, 2023 Submit Final Action Plan to HUD
COORDINATION
Development of the FY 2023-24 Action Plan has been prepared by the Community Services Department in coordination with the Financial Services Department and the City’s CDBG consultant.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no General Fund fiscal impact associated with the development and implementation of the FY 2023-24 Annual Action Plan. All program and administration costs are funded through restricted CDBG funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Draft FY 2023-2024 CDBG Action Plan
· CDBG Funding History