Administrative
Report
L.1., File # 24-0669 Meeting Date: 5/7/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ELIZABETH HAUSE, INTERIM COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR TITLE
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING TO SOLICIT INPUT ON PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT
RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO ADOPT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FY 2024-25 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
a. Reconvene the Public Hearing and take Testimony;
b. Continue the Public Hearing to June 4, 2024.
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 summarizes the needs identified in the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan and the City’s proposed activities for the upcoming Fiscal Year.
The City is estimated to receive approximately $237,451 of CDBG entitlement monies in Fiscal Year 2024-25. These funds will be used to support Public Facilities and Improvements, Planning and Administration, Public Service Agencies, and the Housing Improvement Program.
An initial Public Hearing to introduce the recommended activities for the upcoming fiscal year was held on March 19, 2024. The hearing was continued to May 7, 2024 to allow the required 30-day public comment period on the proposed activities and to provide time for HUD to deliver the City’s annual funding award letter.
HUD recently let staff know that they have experienced internal delays in the preparation of the annual award letters and that they would not be delivered to CDBG agencies until late May. As a result, it is recommended the City Council continue the Public Hearing to June 4, 2024 to provide time for HUD to formalize the City’s funding allocation, prior to approving the annual 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. The 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 2024-25 Action Plan is attached to this report and is presented for review and comment; FY
L.1., File # 24-0669 Meeting Date: 5/7/2024
draft FY 2024-25 Action Plan is attached to this report and is presented for review and comment; FY 2024-25 Action Plan will be presented to City Council for review and adoption on June 4, 2024.
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 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.
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 2024-25 CDBG entitlement to fund the City’s housing and community development activities for the upcoming fiscal year. The CDBG funding allocation for the City is anticipated to be approximately $237,451. This represents a slight decrease from the City’s current fiscal year grant allocation of $263,834. 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 in FY 2024-
25. Each activity is shown with a tentative CDBG funding allocation. Final allocations will be recommended at the June 4, 2024 Public Hearing following receipt of the formal award letter from HUD.
Public Facilities and Improvements
Funding Allocation: $144,344
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.
Administration/Fair Housing
Funding Allocation: $47,490
Per HUD regulations, 20% of the City’s FY 2024-25 entitlement funds may be used for program administration. 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 Housing Rights Center to handle 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.
Public Service Agency Funding
Funding Allocation: $35,617
Per HUD regulations, 15% of the City’s FY 2024-25 entitlement funds may be available to fund public service agency programs ranging from family counseling, independent living skills training, and behavioral health programs. An RFP for these services was issued on December 19, 2023, and proposals were reviewed during the development of the FY 2024-25 Action
L.1., File # 24-0669 Meeting Date: 5/7/2024
Plan. City staff would like to propose the following public service organizations for funding. · 1736 Family Crisis Center - provides counseling, support, and referral services to women and youth who are victims of domestic violence. (Proposed Funding: $10,685) · 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: $7,480) · St. Paul’s United Methodist Church - Project: NEEDS provides hot meals and a food pantry to people experiencing homelessness and food stress. (Proposed Funding:
$9,972)
· Disability Community Resource Center - supports seniors and people with disabilities to maintain self-directed and community-based independent lives. (Proposed Funding:
$7,480)
Home Improvement Program (Mobility Access/Emergency Repair Program) Funding Allocation: $40,000
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 electricity, plumbing, heating, and replacement of hot water heaters. The Program will assist approximately 10 households.
The Redondo Beach Salvation Army also applied, but staff is not recommending funding to the organization in the upcoming year. This decision was made in consideration of the late submission of the application, past deficiencies in responsiveness for invoicing, and concerns over the Salvation Army’s ability to maintain the necessary documentation required by HUD regulations. The Salvation Army was notified of the staff recommendation. Staff will continue to include the organization in communications regarding future funding availabilities and as an important stakeholder to the community for upcoming reports.
The Annual Action Plan is being developed according to the following schedule:
Issue RFP of Public Service Proposals December 8, 2023
Proposal Submittal January 11, 2024
Review of Public Service Proposals February 2024
1st City Council Public Hearing March 19, 2024
Provide Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan
for 30-day Comment Period March 20 to April 20, 2024
2nd City Council Public Hearing for Approval June 4, 2024 Submit Final Action Plan to HUD Page 3 of 4 August 16, 2024 L.1., File # 24-0669 Meeting Date: 5/7/2024
Issue RFP of Public Service Proposals December 8, 2023
Proposal Submittal January 11, 2024
Review of Public Service Proposals February 2024
1st City Council Public Hearing March 19, 2024
Provide Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan
for 30-day Comment Period March 20 to April 20, 2024
2nd City Council Public Hearing for Approval June 4, 2024 Submit Final Action Plan to HUD August 16, 2024
An initial Public Hearing to introduce the item was held on March 19, 2024. The hearing was continued to May 7, 2024 to allow the required 30-day public comment period in anticipation of the arrival of HUD’s formal award letter. During that time, staff was informed that as a result of delays experienced by HUD, award letters would not be dispersed until late May, which is almost a month after they are traditionally provided. Therefore, staff recommends the City Council continue the Public Hearing to June 4, 2024 to provide additional time for HUD’s formal dispersal of funds and for staff to return with a final recommendation on the allocation of funding for FY 2024-25.
COORDINATION
Development of the FY 2024-25 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 impact associated with the development and implementation of the FY 2024-25 Annual CDBG Action Plan. All CDBG program and administration costs are funded through restricted funds provided by HUD.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Report - Draft FY 2024-25 CDBG Annual Action Plan
· Chart - CDBG Funding History