CITY OF RIVERSIDE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
In the “Guidelines for Preparing a Consolidated Plan Submission for Local Jurisdictions,” the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development states that the “consolidated plan must result from an effective citizen participation process.” In addition, the jurisdiction “must develop and follow a detailed citizen participation plan that addresses each of the following elements which is described below.
Participation
Access to Information
Anti-Displacement
Publishing the Plan
Public Hearings
Notice of Hearings
Access to Meetings/Hearings
Comments
Substantial Amendments
Performance Reports
Availability to the Public
Access to Records
Technical Assistance
Complaints
Amendments
HUD also requires that citizens, non‑profit organizations, and other interested parties must be afforded adequate opportunity to review and comment on the original citizen participation plan” and to review and comment on substantial amendments to the citizen participation plan. Therefore, the local jurisdiction must make the citizen participation plan public.
The City of Riverside has taken actions necessary to comply with all of HUD’s citizen participation requirements as noted above. Actions include:
Participation
In order to ensure a wide range of participation from citizens in the development of the City’s five-year consolidated plan, annual action plans, any substantial amendments to these plans, and the annual performance report, the City of Riverside shall conduct community outreach and education to all affected persons including those groups of persons specifically listed by HUD within its Consolidated Plan guidelines. This effort shall (where applicable) consist of multiple contacts (posters, flyers, mailers, published notices, etc.) to the following groups of persons:
low‑ and moderate‑income residents where housing and community development funds may be spent; minorities and non‑English speaking persons;
persons with disabilities;
non-profit and community-based organizations serving target populations; residents of assisted housing developments;
recipients of tenant-based assistance; and
low‑income residents within CDBG Target Areas
Access to Information
The City of Riverside shall provide opportunities for residents, public agencies, and other interested parties, including those most affected, to receive information, review, and submit comments on any proposed submission concerning the proposed activities, and according to HUD guidelines, “including the amount of assistance the jurisdiction expects to receive (including grant funds and program income) and the range of activities that may be undertaken including the estimated amount that will benefit persons of low‑ and moderate‑income.
Opportunities to receive information included:
CDBG Postcards mailed to resident households as well as representatives of local agencies, businesses, and neighborhood organizations; Postcards made available in display stands including libraries, local community and recreational centers, Public Utilities Customer Centers and City Hall public service counters; Postcards delivered for distribution at local committees, coalitions, and task forces meetings; Postcards delivered to post and distribute at local community service organizations; Information posted on City’s web site and social media; and Published notices of meetings in local newspapers.
The City shall also conduct extensive outreach to inform local agencies regarding the opportunity to apply for CDBG funds. Such outreach shall include a public notice for availability of funding, invitations to apply sent to local non-profit organizations, and at least one application workshop for non-profit agencies and city departments combined. The City shall also provide technical assistance to persons or groups in developing their proposal during regular business hours.
Anti-Displacement
The City has in place an Anti-displacement and Relocation Plan describing assistance available to persons/families that become temporarily relocated or permanently displaced due to projects that use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), or Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. The plan sets forth the City’s plans, per HUD’s requirement, “to minimize displacement of persons and to assist any persons displaced, specifying the types and levels of assistance the jurisdiction will make available (or require others to make available) to persons displaced, even if the jurisdiction expects no displacement to occur.” Copies of the Anti-displacement and Relocation Plan can be obtained by contacting the City of Riverside Housing and Human Services (HHS) at (951) 826-2515.
Publishing the Plan
The City of Riverside shall publish its draft consolidated plan and annual action plans so that affected citizens have sufficient opportunity to review it and provide comments for at least a 30-day period. A summary describing the contents and purpose of the consolidated plan and annual action plans, including a list of the locations where copies of the entire plan may be examined, shall be published within the local newspapers.
Draft copies of these plans shall be made available at the following public places:
City of Riverside Housing and Human Services Department; City of Riverside Office of the City Clerk;
City of Riverside Central Public Library
Public Hearings
The City of Riverside shall conduct at least one (1) public hearing annually in order to obtain citizens’ views and to respond to proposals and questions concerning housing and community development needs, development of proposed activities, and review of program performance under the consolidated plan and annual action plan. Each of public hearing shall be held at times and locations convenient to potential and actual beneficiaries, and with accommodation for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking residents. The public hearing shall be conducted by the City Council to receive public comment on the proposed consolidated or annual action plan.
Notice of Hearings
Adequate advance notice shall be provided to community residents for each public hearing by publishing sufficient information in The Press Enterprise, a local newspaper, and any other appropriate publication.
Access to Meetings
All public hearings and community meetings regarding the consolidated plan and annual action plans shall be held at times and locations convenient to potential and actual beneficiaries, and the organizations that serve them. All meetings will be held in locations accessible to persons with disabilities with additional accommodations for persons with disabilities available upon requests. Language translation services shall be made available for non-English speaking residents. American Sign Language interpreter shall be made available for residents who are hard of hearing.
Comments
The City of Riverside shall have a period of not less than 30 days to receive public comment prior to submission of the consolidated plan and annual action plans and implementation of any substantial amendments. Notification to the public will advise citizens of how and where to submit comments, including public hearings. A summary of comments received, both oral and written, shall be included in the final plan document.
Citizen comments for all matters related to the Consolidated and Annual Action Plans can be directed to:
City of Riverside
Housing and Human Service Department, CDBG Division
3900 Main Street, 5th Floor
Riverside, CA 92522
951.826.2515
Attn: Michelle Guzman, Division Manager
Substantial Amendments
The City of Riverside shall consider making a substantial amendment to the consolidated plan and/or annual action plan when one of the following changes is proposed:
the use of CDBG funds is changed from one national objective to another; a new activity is proposed that is not contained in the Annual Action Plan; a funded activity described in the Annual Action Plan is cancelled; funding once allocated to a project is now being allocated to another a funded activity needs supplemental funding over $50,000.
When a substantial amendment is proposed, the City shall provide affected citizens a period of not less than 30 calendar days to make comments before the amendment is implemented. Acceptable methods of meeting the citizen participation requirements include:
publication of any proposed change in a local newspaper whose primary circulation is within the area serving the community of affected citizens; posting notices in public buildings within the jurisdiction of the administering agency, which include, but are not limited to, public libraries and city halls; or holding meetings with citizens’ advisory groups within the city or area affected by the substantial amendment.
Notification to the public will advise citizens of how and where to submit comments on the proposed changes. A summary of these comments, and a summary of comments not accepted and the reasons, therefore, will be attached to the substantial amendment. Documentation of each notice will be retained for a minimum period of five (5) years.
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPER) The City of Riverside shall publish its draft CAPER report so that affected citizens have sufficient opportunity to review it and provide comments for at least a 15 day period prior to submission to HUD. A summary describing the contents and purpose of the CAPER, including a list of the locations where copies of the entire report may be examined, shall be published in the local newspaper, and the City of Riverside Website.
Availability to the Public
The City of Riverside shall make available to the public copies of the consolidated plan as adopted, annual action plans, any substantial amendments, and CAPER to the public at the following locations:
City of Riverside Housing and Human Services Department, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522; City of Riverside Office of the City Clerk, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522; City of Riverside Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501 Access to Records
All citizens will be given reasonable access to information and records regarding the Consolidated Plan and the programs and projects it covers. All information and records will be available through the Department of Housing and Human Services during regular business hours.
Copies of the Consolidated Plan will be available upon request. These documents may be obtained from the City of Riverside HHS - CDBG Division. Most reasonable requests will be filled at no cost to the public. The City reserves the right to charge a fee for duplicating documents when such requests are not reasonable. Reasonableness will be determined by a combination of the number of copies requested; the size (pages and/or dimensions) of the document; the length of time needed to compile the data; and the direct costs to the administering agency to duplicate the document.
Copies may be requested in person, by mail, e-mail, or by telephone. Program records maintained on file, or requiring research and compilation, will be provided within a reasonable time period upon receipt of a written request, which specifically states the information desired. All books and records relating to the Consolidated Plan shall be maintained and available for a minimum period of five (5) years.
This sub-section is not intended to supersede the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act of 1966, as amended, which covers all programs and activities in the Consolidated Plan.
Technical Assistance
City of Riverside staff shall be available to all interested parties in order to answer questions, receive input and provide technical assistance related to consolidated plan programs, projects and activities. Representatives of groups serving of low- and moderate-income persons desiring to develop project proposals are encouraged to contact the CDBG Division for technical assistance.
Complaints
Citizens, administering agencies, and other interested parties may submit complaints and grievances regarding the consolidated plan, annual action plans, any substantial amendments and performance reports to the City of Riverside CDBG Division.
Complaints and/or comments for all matters related to the Consolidated Plan can be directed to:
City of Riverside
Housing and Human Services Department/CDBG Division
3900 Main Street, 5th Floor
Riverside, CA 92522
951.826.2515
Attn: Michelle Guzman, Division Manager
Complaints on the following types of issues should be submitted in writing, be specific in their subject matter, and include facts to support the allegations. the administering agency has purportedly violated a provision of this Citizen Participation Plan. the administering agency has purportedly violated a provision of the CDBG, ESG, HOPWA or HOME program regulations. the administering agency, or any of its contractors, is purportedly engaging in questionable practices resulting in waste, fraud, or mismanagement of any program funds.
Upon receipt of a written complaint, CDBG Division staff will respond to the complainant in writing within 14 business days. If more time is needed due to the nature and complexity of the complaint, Division staff will notify the complainant in writing including the reason for the extension and the date on which a response can be expected.
The process also includes the opportunity for residents to present complaints and grievances orally or in writing at scheduled community meetings and/or public hearing. All public comments, including complaints and grievances, made either orally or in writing within the 30-day public comment period, will be included in the consolidated plan, annual action plan or annual performance report.
Amendments - Standard
Amendments that are not considered substantial (as described in #9 above) will be referred to as standard amendments. The City of Riverside, as specified in CDBG regulations [Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91.505(a)], will amend the Consolidated Plan when it:
changes allocation priorities or funds distribution method; revises policies, data, or goals; or
modifies the purpose, scope, location, or beneficiaries Such amendments are considered standard and do not require citizen participation.