TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Kelvin Parker, Community Development Director
DATE:April 29, 2025
SUBJECT: 2025-2029 Regional Consolidated Plan, 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan, and Related Documents for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Find that the federally funded activities related to the FY 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan and other related documents qualify for a Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), Common Sense Exemption.
2. Approve for submittal to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2025-2029 Ventura County Regional Consolidated Plan, 2025 Ventura County Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, and FY 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan, collectively known as the “HUD Documents.”
3. Authorize City Manager to adjust the budget and proposed allocations if HUD revises the amount of the City’s FY 2025-26 CDBG grant; and authorize City Manager to finalize and execute grant agreements and related documents in connection with the HUD Documents.
4. Adopt resolution approving a revised Citizen Participation Plan and rescinding Resolution No. 2020-013.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: Yes
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. The City receives an annual CDBG entitlement grant to carry out eligible public service and community development activities. The CDBG program covers the costs of staffing the programs. The anticipated FY 2025-26 CDBG Grant from HUD is estimated to be $607,919 and $15,081 in unused funds previously approved with prior CDBG grants, which is
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being reprogrammed for FY 2025-26 projects. The proposed FY 2025-26 budget includes $650,000 for CDBG related expenses, which will be used to offset the grant.
BACKGROUND:
HUD plays a vital role in ensuring that all Americans have access to safe, affordable, and inclusive housing. Established in 1965, HUD manages various programs aimed at supporting low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, HUD promotes fair housing practices and sustainable community development.
Ventura County Regional Consolidated Plan (RCP) and Other Documents The federal government requires each jurisdiction that receives funding for programs, such as CDBG from HUD, to develop a Five-Year Consolidated Plan.
This document includes an assessment of the housing and community development needs in the respective community and strategies for implementing the HUD programs. The City of Thousand Oaks, the County of Ventura, and nine other cities in the county collaborated to produce the 2025-2029 Regional Consolidated Plan (RCP).
The RCP is the five-year strategic umbrella plan for CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding plans. The City, as a participating jurisdiction, annually updates the County’s long-range plan with an Action Plan that sets forth expenditures for that year’s CDBG funding.
In 2020, the County of Ventura formed the HOME Consortium in partnership with the cities of Camarillo, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks, allowing HUD HOME funds to be managed regionally by the County of Ventura with an annual budget of $1.3 million. Prior to 2020, the City and non-profit affordable developers were under the very competitive State HOME Program from which the City last received a funding award in 2009.
The RCP includes priority needs such as the Development of New Affordable Housing, Housing Rehabilitation, Housing Services, Housing Stability, Homelessness, Supportive Services, Fair Housing Services, Public Facility Maintenance, Street Improvements and Infrastructure, Economic Support for Small Businesses and Job Training, and Disaster Planning and Recovery.
HUD further requires each community receiving federal funds to conduct an analysis and identify impediments to fair housing choice within its jurisdiction. This Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AIFHC) is published in conjunction with the RCP.
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The County of Ventura, as the lead entity, hired a consultant to assist in preparing the required HUD Documents, which include information for all ten cities and the County of Ventura, collectively. This staff report highlights items specifically related to the needs and goals of Thousand Oaks.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
As part of the CDBG program, HUD annually distributes an entitlement grant to U.S. counties and cities. As a HUD entitlement City, these funds may be used for community improvements, such as housing, public facilities, and infrastructure, as well as grants to non-profit organizations delivering public and social services to the City’s low-income residents.
HUD regulations allow the City to use up to 20 percent of the annual grant to recover administrative costs to implement the CDBG program. HUD regulations also allow the City to use up to 15 percent of the annual grant to provide public and social services grants. At least 70 percent of all CDBG-funded activities must primarily benefit lower-income persons.
The CDBG grant amount fluctuates from year to year. This report proposed FY 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan for the City in the amount of $623,000, which includes the estimated City’s share of the annual Federal CDBG entitlement of $607,919 and the prior year’s unused funds of $15,081. The actual FY 2025-26 CDBG allocation will be finalized by HUD in May 2025. Based on the final allocation, the City will proportionally adjust the funding allocated to each identified project in the Annual Action Plan.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
2025-2029 Regional Consolidated Plan (RCP)
The RCP serves as the official application to HUD for CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships Act (HOME), and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs.
The City receives CDBG funding but does not receive HOME or ESG funding directly. The County receives ESG and provides countywide services through this funding source. On May 14, 2019, the City joined the HOME consortium with the County of Ventura, Camarillo, and Simi Valley, which brings additional HUD funds to the region.
In preparing the 2025-2029 RCP, the City collaborated with the HUD entitlement Cities of Camarillo, Oxnard, San Buenaventura, and Simi Valley, and the Ventura Urban County, which includes the Cities of Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, and the unincorporated areas of Ventura County. Primary FY 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan and other HUD Related Documents April 29, 2025
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sections of the RCP consist of 1) Needs Assessment, 2) Market Analysis, and 3) Strategic Plan.
Needs Assessment (NA)
In addition to the consultant’s research, community members played a crucial role in identifying the region’s most urgent housing and community development needs.
Public input was solicited during the plan development process with several community and stakeholder workshops, as well as gathered information focused on housing and community development needs. The details and results of the citizen input and community engagement in the RCP process are outlined in the Community Outreach section of this staff report.
Ventura County has a range of housing and community development needs, summarized in the Needs Assessment section of the RCP. However, HUD program funds alone are insufficient to address the myriad needs identified during the public outreach process.
Market Analysis (MA)
A comprehensive market study analyzed current housing market conditions, supportive services surrounding low-income housing and homelessness, and the economic conditions and needs to support housing sustainability. The market study also identified the effects of low housing supply and other barriers to affordable housing, limited job growth, and special facilities and service needs for special populations such as the elderly, frail elderly, and persons with disabilities.
A five-year plan was created based on the information gathered in NA and MA as described below.
Strategic Plan (SP)
As the centerpiece of the RCP, the Strategic Plan has established six regional goals. The SP describes general priorities for assisting households, programs to support those households in need, and five-year objectives. The SP also addresses anti-poverty strategies, lead-based paint hazard reduction, barriers to affordable housing, institutional processes and structures, and inter-agency coordination. The SP has established that the City will receive approximately $3 million in CDBG funds over the next five years. SP goals are summarized in Table 1 below and relate specifically to Thousand Oaks.
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Table 1: Strategic Plan Goals
Thousand Oaks
CDBG 5-year Goal
CDBG
Fund %
Estimated 2025-
2029 CDBG Funds
5-year Goal
Outcome Indicator
Improve the Supply of
Affordable Housing (Goal 1) 65% $1,972,887
Rehab 250 Multi-
Family units and 50
Single-Family units
Increase and Improve
Social Services (Goal 2) 10% $303,521
Provide services to
4,000 Thousand Oaks
residents
Work to End Homelessness
(Goal 3) 5% $151,760
Provide shelter to 25
Thousand Oaks
residents
Effective Administration
(Goal 6) 20% $607,042
5 years of CDBG
Program and HUD
administration
5-Year Total 100% $3,035,210
HUD permits a maximum of 15 percent of CDBG grant funds to be allocated toward public services, which encompasses the objectives of SP Goals 2 and 3. While Goal 4 (Create and Maintain Quality Neighborhoods) and Goal 5 (Promote Economic Development) are listed in the five-year SP as a lower priority for Thousand Oaks, the City annually reviews the needs of lower-income Thousand Oaks residents, should HUD funding become available. City Council decisions on funding are made during the annual CDBG Action Plan process. 2025-2029 Ventura County Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AIFHC)
In accordance with the Fair Housing Act, HUD grantees must administer all housing and community development related programs and activities in a manner that affirmatively furthers the policies of the Fair Housing Act. Therefore, each community is responsible for conducting an analysis to identify impediments to fair housing choice within its jurisdiction, taking appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and maintaining records that reflect the analysis and actions in this regard.
The AIFHC reviews impediments to fair housing choice in both public and private sectors, and it involves a comprehensive review of lack of integration, racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty, disparities in access to opportunity, disproportionate housing needs, and evidence of discrimination or violations of civil rights law or regulations related to housing. The document provides a housing assessment on regulations affecting opportunities in the location, availability, accessibility, and fair housing choice.
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The AIFHC provides impediments and recommended actions for the Ventura County region to improve the fair housing environment. The contributing factors and fair housing goals in the document came from the most recent State of California certified 2021-2029 Housing Elements. City staff analyzed these recommendations and identified potential options that the City might implement to enhance its efforts to support fair housing. Currently, the City partners with the County of Ventura and the Housing Rights Center (HRC) of Los Angeles on a Fair Housing Counseling program that offers all residents support and information via phone and online.
2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan Families and individuals in the City continue to face housing insecurity, homelessness, and at-risk of becoming homeless based on the assessed needs and information gathered from outreach efforts. The need stems from housing shortages, extremely low vacancy rates, and high living costs. Maintaining existing multi-family and single-family affordable housing units is an important component of supporting the housing needs of Thousand Oaks residents and remains a priority of the City Council. In addition, the City aims to support the local providers of “essential” public and social services, primarily to the vulnerable populations.
These populations include those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and very low-income individuals and households. The number of persons seeking services increases annually, especially for residents who are elderly and disabled.
The CDBG Grant Review Committee (Committee) was composed of City staff management from various departments, including the City Manager’s Office, Cultural and Community Services Department, and Finance Department.
Before opening the application period, the Committee was tasked with assisting in creating the application, instructions, and evaluation guidelines. After closing the application period, the Committee evaluated the applications using a criterion and scoring matrix specific to the CDBG-funded programs.
All activities were assessed to ensure applicants followed federal rules, identified a community need, and proved that the proposed activity was ready to be implemented in a timely manner. The Thousand Oaks 2021-2029 Housing Element goals and the draft priority list from the 2025-2029 Ventura County Regional Specific Plan were among the resources used by the Committee.
Due to limited funding, the Committee recommended approval for organizations that provided unduplicated and essential services. These organizations also addressed previously identified priority needs within the City, demonstrated strong FY 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan and other HUD Related Documents April 29, 2025
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financial management skills, and had a reasonable understanding of HUD regulations. The Committee’s application recommendations to the proposed CDBG Action Plan are summarized in Attachment #1. All new application activities are expected to begin July 1, 2025.
Proposed FY 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan Activities
The City’s FY 2025-26 Action Plan proposes CDBG-funded activities for the first year of the 2025-2029 RCP. The County of Ventura, as the lead agency for the HOME Consortium, will be submitting documents to HUD.
The City expects to receive approximately $607,919 in CDBG funds for the FY 2025-26 Action Plan. Additionally, $15,081 is available for reallocation from the 2023 CDBG closed activities. The estimated FY 2025-26 CDBG budget is $623,000 as summarized in Attachment #2.
During the preparation of the draft Action Plan for the 30-day public review period, which started on March 21, 2025, HUD had not yet announced the specific amount of the HUD entitlement grant. In past years, HUD has made adjustments to grant amounts. For example, HUD reduced the overall CDBG grant for 2020 by $88 and raised the total CDBG grant allocation for 2021 by $8,445. Last year’s CDBG estimated budget amount was under by $7,338. Should HUD’s authorized entitlement grant amount differ from the expected amount, City staff request authorization for the City Manager to adjust the CDBG budget and execute grant agreements and related documents in connection with the FY 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan accordingly.
CDBG Community Development Project Budget: $440,000
The City received five proposals totaling $660,000 for Community Development activities and one incomplete application. Of the completed applications, three were for housing rehabilitation and two were for commercial projects.
With redevelopment funds no longer available, projects that rehabilitate existing multi-family and single-family affordable units are a high priority for the City. These projects are significant because they assist very low and low-income households who are at risk of becoming homeless. The three recommended FY 2025-26 CDBG projects and program activities are expected to benefit approximately 119 units occupied by very low and low-income Thousand Oaks residents as described in Table 2, and their respective Levine Act Disclosure Form provided in Attachment #3.
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Table 2: CDBG Community Development Projects
Agency Activity Budget
Many Mansions Shadow Hills project includes replacing
roofs and ancillary items related to the
roof, such as painting, and Davis Bacon
Prevailing Wage Monitoring (100
affordable units and 1 manager’s unit)
HS9266
$175,000
Habitat for Humanity of
Ventura County
Habitat Home Repair Mobile Home
Rehab for Low-Income Owner/Occupants
(10 units) HS9267
$157,500
Senior Alliance for
Empowerment (SAFE)
Mobile Home Rehab for Low-Income
Senior Owner/Occupants (9 units)
HS9268
$107,500
Total Community Development Project $440,000
CDBG Public/Social Services Budget: $90,000
Ten proposals totaling $250,000 were received for Public / Social Services. The City supports the local delivery of essential public and social services to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and very low-income households who are disabled or seniors. The four recommended FY 2025-26 CDBG public service activities are expected to benefit approximately 764 extremely low, very low, and low-income Thousand Oaks residents as described in Table 3.
Table 3: CDBG Public/Social Services
Agency Non-Homeless Programs Budget
Conejo Valley
Senior Concerns
Meals on Wheels (225 clients) BG9818 $25,000
St. Vincent de Paul /
St. Paschal Baylon
Assistance to Needy (30 clients) BG2029 $25,000
Many Mansions Community Services to Many Mansions
residents (500 clients) BG9828
$15,000
Total Non-Homeless Program $65,000
Agency Homeless Program Budget
Turning Point
Foundation
Our Place Safe Haven: Emergency Shelter
and Navigation Center (9 clients) BG9835
$25,000
Total Non-Homeless and Homeless Programs $90,000
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CDBG Administration Budget: $93,000
For FY 2025-26, the CDBG Program administration budget is expected to be $93,000, which is below the 20 percent maximum allowable threshold to recover a portion of CDBG costs. The administration budget includes City staff, issuance and publishing of public notices, printing, and overhead costs to ensure CDBG programs are monitored and in compliance with HUD’s regulations and requirements. The budget includes preparing for and implementing the RCP and AIFHC. In addition, the budget includes the County of Ventura Fair Housing Program, a service provided free to all Thousand Oaks residents.
Updated Citizen Participation Plan (CPP)
The 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan process provides an opportunity to update the City’s required Citizen Participation Plan (City Council Resolution 2020-013).
Accordingly, City staff has updated the existing document for use during the 2025- 2029 RCP period. The proposed resolution replaces references to the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan with the 2025-2029 RCP.
The updated CPP includes clarifying and restructuring sections to align with HUD regulations and public notices. The revision also clarifies that accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency will be made available to the greatest extent possible.
City Council Resolution (Attachment #4) updates the City’s Citizen Participation Plan and rescinds the previous plan (City Council Resolution 2020-013). City staff is recommending City Council adopt the attached resolution.
Environmental Review
The recommendations were reviewed pursuant to CEQA and City staff determined that all FY 2025-26 CDBG proposed activities and HUD related documents are exempt from CEQA. CDBG provides various federally funded services and activities to residents of Thousand Oaks. Therefore, they are exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, in that they are “covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which 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 recommendations were reviewed pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and City staff determined that all FY 2025-26 CDBG proposed activities and HUD related documents are exempt or converted to exempt.
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•Housing Rehabilitation activities were reviewed under the “Categorically Excluded Subject to 58.5 Statutory Worksheets” for rehabilitation of minor rehabilitation of single-family homes 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(i) and multifamily buildings 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(ii). These activities are categorically excluded subject to 24 CFR 58 and converted to exempt under 24 CFR 58.34(a)(12). •Public Service activities are “Categorically Excluded Not Subject to 58.5” and are exempt under supportive (public) service under 24 CFR 58.35(b)(2) or 24 CFR 58.34(a)(4).
•Administration is exempt from determination under 24 CFR 58.34(a)(3).
Community Outreach
Citizen participation is an important component of the RCP process. To solicit public input during the development of the RCP, community workshops, focus group workshops, and a housing and community development needs survey were administered. For all noticing, the City published legal notices in the Ventura County Star and prominent display ads in the Thousand Oaks Acorn. In addition to the City’s social media to reach out to the community, notices were also provided to the local public housing authority, the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura, and Many Mansions for distribution to their residents.
Regional and Focus Group Meeting for preparing HUD Documents In preparing the HUD Documents, the consultant conducted regional meetings and workshops throughout the County on October 7, 8, 9, 10, and 17, 2024, and remote meetings on October 18 and 19, 2024. Stakeholders focus group meetings were conducted remotely on October 23, 25, and 29, 2024. The consultant also conducted a countywide resident survey and a stakeholder survey. The meetings, workshops, and surveys addressed Housing Needs, Homeless Needs, and Community Services. Legal Notices were published in Ventura County Star and Vida on September 24, 2024, and a display ad in the Thousand Oaks Acorn on October 4, 2024.
Administrative Hearing and Workshop for Drafting the CDBG Action Plan The City held an administrative public hearing and grant workshop live and via Zoom on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Three people attended in person, and eight via videoconference, representing eight organizations. Three individuals spoke during the “public comment” or “CDBG Workshop.”
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From November 21, 2024, to January 15, 2025, the City solicited public comments regarding the unmet needs of at-risk individuals within Thousand Oaks. During this period, the City also made applications available to community stakeholders for CDBG-funded activities that would address the unmet needs of at-risk and/or low-income Thousand Oaks residents. All necessary information was posted on the City’s website ( https://toaks.gov/cdbg) for public access. Legal Notice in Ventura County Star and a display ad in Thousand Oaks Acorn were published on November 1, 2024, for the November 21, 2024, public hearing and comments period.
Public Comment Period for HUD Documents and CPP
In accordance with the City’s Citizen Participation Plan under City Council Resolution No. 2020-013, the City released the draft HUD Documents for public comments for a minimum of 30 days. The comment period began on March 21, 2025, and ended on April 20, 2025. A display ad for the public comments period and public hearing was published in the Thousand Oaks Acorn on March 14, 2025, in addition to the Legal Notices published in Ventura County Star on March 14, 2025, and April 15, 2025, respectively.
The draft HUD Documents, including the draft CPP, were available at City Hall in the Community Development Department and on the City’s website.
All public comments received throughout the review process, including those received at the public hearing, will be incorporated into the final HUD Documents before submission to HUD.
An electronic copy of the proposed HUD Documents is provided under separate cover for review by City Council, and a copy is posted on the City’s website at (https://toaks.gov/cdbg).
LEVINE ACT (California Government Code § 84308):
This item is subject to the Levine Act. City Councilmembers who have received a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) within the preceding 12 months from a party or their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; or if applicable (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $500 within 30 days from the time the official knew or should have known about the contribution, and participate in the proceeding.
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All parties and their agents/representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any aggregated contribution of more than $500 made to any Councilmember within the preceding 12 months. Councilmembers are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) from a party, their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. In addition, a party, their agent/representative, or a financially- interested participant is prohibited from contributing more than $500 (aggregated) to a Councilmember during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
A. Create a more equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive government and community regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, language, education, and/or socio-economic status.
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
H. Participate in public-private and multi-jurisdictional opportunities to ensure residents have access to high levels of parks, recreation, education and leisure programs and services.
PREPARED BY: Lynn Oshita, Community Development Analyst Attachments:
Attachment #1 – 2025-26 CDBG Recommended Activities Summary Attachment #2 – 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan Budget
Attachment #3 – Levine Act Disclosure Forms
Attachment #4 – Resolution Revised Citizen Participation Plan Documents Provided Under Separate Cover:
#1 – 2025-2029 Ventura County Regional Consolidated Plan https://toaks.gov/cdbg
#2 – 2025 Ventura County Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice https://toaks.gov/cdbg
#3 – 2025-26 CDBG Action Plan https://toaks.gov/cdbg
cdd:480-10\H:\COMMON\Housing & Redevelopment\2025 CDBG\2025 COUNCIL\2025 ACTION PLAN – RCP AI CPP.docx