CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
STAFF REPORT
2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal
Hill, California 90755-3799
1/24/2023
AGENDA ITEM
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
YVETTE E. AGUILAR
COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ALISON DOBAY
COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER
SUBJECT:
PUBLIC HEARING - RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED USE OF FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2023-24 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS Summary:
Form of Notice: Notice was published in the Signal Tribune newspaper per Government Code Section 65091(a)(4) and posted in accordance with Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 1.08.010 on Friday, January 6, 2023.
The City Council will conduct a public hearing and consider proposed uses for the City’s FY 2023-24 CDBG funding allocation. The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) estimates the City will receive approximately $86,190 to use on CDBG projects and programs.
Staff is proposing to allocate the funding for two purposes: (1) continuation of the City’s Food Distribution Programs and (2) construction of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Streets and Sidewalk Improvements. If approved, the Council is required to adopt a resolution affirming the use of CDBG funds for the projects.
Recommendations:
1. Adopt a resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING THE CITY'S PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24
2. Approve the CDBG estimated allocation for FY 2023-24 in the amount of $86,190 and the CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 1 of 4 Printed on 1/20/2023
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2. Approve the CDBG estimated allocation for FY 2023-24 in the amount of $86,190 and the proposed expenditures.
Fiscal Impact:
The available funding for CDBG projects and programs for FY 2023-24 is estimated to be $86,190.
The estimated allocation of FY 2023-24 CDBG funding is proposed to be used as follows.
Estimated FY 2023-24 CDBG Fund
Allocation (Acct No.: 201-11-4310)
$ 86,190
Proposed CDBG Expenditures
Public Service Projects (20%
maximum): Food Distribution
Programs (201-40-5723)
$ 86,190 x 20% $17,238
Non-Public Service Projects (80%
maximum): ADA Streets and Sidewalk
Improvements Project (201-99-7939)
$ 86,190 x 80% $68,952
Grand Total of Proposed CDBG
Expenditures
$ 86,190
The non-public service project costs will be reflected in the FY 2023-24 annual budget process within the Community Services Block Grant Fund 201.
Strategic Plan Objective:
Goal No. 5: To ensure an enhanced quality of life for residents.
Background:
The primary objective of the Federal CDBG Program is the development of viable urban communities, including providing decent housing, promoting a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunity, principally for persons of low- to moderate incomes. Local CDBG programs must give maximum priority to benefit low- to moderate income households, special needs groups such as senior citizens, preventing or eliminating slum or blight conditions, and making public facilities accessible for individuals with disabilities in compliance with ADA. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations allow a variety of activities that meet documented National Objectives. Each year, the Council conducts a public hearing to allocate how the expected funds will be used for the following fiscal year.
In FY 2020-21, LACDA allowed the City to use all CDBG funding towards public service projects. On July 14, 2020, in response to community needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council reallocated the City’s CDBG funding for FY 2020-21 in addition to approving supplemental CDBG-CV funding. The City elected to use the funding to provide weekly supplemental groceries to a total of 44 CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 2 of 4 Printed on 1/20/2023
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low-income senior households and 38 low-income families.
In FY 2021-22, the City continued to provide supplemental groceries to low-income seniors every other week and approved the Signal Hill Park Open Space Project to demolish two structures on E. 21st Street as part of the non-public service projects portion of the funds. The Family Food Distribution Program was approved to be funded by the General Fund.
In FY 2022-23, the City continued to provide supplemental groceries to low-income seniors and approved the ADA Rubberized Playground Surfacing at Discovery Well Park as part of the non-public service projects portion of the funds.
Analysis:
LACDA has notified the City that the FY 2023-24 CDBG allocation will be approximately $86,190, a decrease of $1,655 from FY 2022-23. Beginning in 2020, CDBG allowed a maximum of 20% of funds to be allocated toward a public service project such as the Food Distribution Program. The remaining funds (80%) may be used for non-public service projects, typically a capital improvement project. Staff is recommending CDBG funding allocation for the projects listed below.
Public Service Project: Food Distribution Program
For the past few years, the City has used CDBG funding to cover the cost of the Food Distribution Program. In FY 2020-21, the Food Distribution Program supported 44 low-income senior households on a weekly basis, an increase of 19 households from those served in FY 2019-20. A total of 38 families were also supported in FY 2020-21 due to COVID-19 and the City’s ability to expand the program.
In FY 2021-22, the program returned to supporting low-income senior citizens every other week and served 38 low-income seniors. In FY 2022-23, the program continued to support 34 low-income senior citizens. The Family Food Distribution Program was funded by CDBG-CV and Council approved to designate funding for this program as part of the Community Services operating budget for FY 2022-23.
Each fiscal year, participants are required to reapply for the Food Distribution Program through a process of self-certification of household size and income. Only low-income and extremely lowincome households, based on HUD guidelines, are approved for the Food Distribution Program.
With increased participation and the annual allocation returning to a similar amount received in FY 2019-20, the FY 2022-23 Food Distribution Program returned to serving senior households every other week. In FY 2022-23, staff surveyed the existing participants and found that the amount of food and the frequency of the distribution could be reduced each month. The program was adjusted to provide supplemental groceries to 34 senior households one time per month. Staff estimate that a maximum of 35 low-income senior households will be supported in FY 2023-24 and propose using the estimated allocation of $17,238 for the Food Distribution Program.
Non-Public Service Projects: ADA Streets and Sidewalk Improvements Community Services and Public Works staff collaborated efforts and worked to identify potential projects for FY 2023-24. After consulting with CDBG compliance agents and careful evaluation of CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 3 of 4 Printed on 1/20/2023
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projects for FY 2023-24. After consulting with CDBG compliance agents and careful evaluation of other potential projects, staff determined that the ADA Streets and Sidewalk Improvements Project is an appropriate and timely use of CDBG funds. Public Works staff identified ten (10) locations in residential neighborhoods currently listed on the Department’s Streets and Sidewalk Inventory that are missing ADA ramps. The proposed ADA Streets and Sidewalk Improvements Project will construct ADA ramps at 10 locations in the residential neighborhoods east of Cherry on 19th Street and 20th Street. If approved, the CDBG allocation for non-public services projects would cover $68,952 of streets and sidewalk improvements.
Staff recommend that the non-public service funding be allocated to the ADA Streets and Sidewalk Improvements Project at ten (10) locations throughout the City for FY 2023-24. The remaining locations on the Department’s inventory list are already prioritized within their regular maintenance schedule of streets and sidewalk throughout the City.
Staff anticipate issuing a Request for Bids for the ADA Streets and Sidewalk Improvements Project in FY 2023-24 and will present a staff report to Council to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
Reviewed:
_________________________
Sharon del Rosario
Approved:
_________________________
Carlo Tomaino
Attachments
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