I. RECOMMENDATION:
- Open the public hearing to accept comments on the City’s proposed submittal of an application in response to the 2020 State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), and to solicit citizen input.
- Adopt Resolution No. 3985 and thereby:
Review and approve an application for up to $86,343 under the NOFA for the following eligible activities:
Subsistence Payments: $86,343
General Admin (up to 17% of activity funds awarded)
TOTAL AWARDED - $86,343
- Determine that federal Citizen Participation requirements were met during the development of the application.
- Authorize and direct the City Manager, or designees, to enter into and sign the grant agreement and any subsequent amendments with the State of California for the purposes of the grant.
- If the application is approved, authorize the City Manager, or designees, to transfer or modify budget amounts and activities as necessary to fully expend CDBG Program funds and to execute loan documents, Funds Requests, and other required reporting forms.
II. BACKGROUND:
CDBG Program regulations require that the City conduct a public hearing on all CDBG-related matters to provide for and encourage citizen participation, particularly by low and moderate income persons who reside in areas in which CDBG funds are used. Therefore, when the public hearing is opened, the public will be invited to comment on the City’s proposed submittal of a 2020 CDBG Coronavirus Response Round 1 (CDBG-CV1) Grant application and to make their comments known on the proposed activities.
A public notice was published in the September 11, 2020, issue of the Hanford Sentinel and posted in at regular locations throughout the City notifying the public of this public hearing.
On June 5, 2020, HCD released a NOFA announcing the availability of CDBG-CV1 Program funds of approximately $18.7 million in new CDBG coronavirus response round1 federal funds authorized by the Coronavirus Aide, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Applications are due on September 21, 2020.
CDBG-CV1 NOFA provides funding ONLY for the following activities: Assistance to businesses and microenterprises impact by COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and shut-downs, Public Service related to COVID-19 support, Facility improvements related to COVID-19 healthcare and homeless housing needs, Acquisition of real property to be used for the treatment or recovery of infectious diseases in response to COVID-19. Funds are provided as non-competitive, and provided as an allocation to non-entitlement jurisdictions. The City of Avenal’s allocation under the CDBG-CV1 NOFA is $86,343 which included administrative funds.
III. DISCUSSION:
The City proposes to apply for CDBG-CV-1 funds to provide a Subsistence Payment Program to income eligible households in need of city utility assistance. A resolution is attached for your consideration, which approves submittal of a 2020 CDBG-CV1 Program application for up to $86,343 as follows:
|
Subsistence Payments
|
$86,343
|
|
General Administration (up to 17% of activity funds awarded)
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL:
|
$86,343
|
When the Public Hearing is opened, citizens are encouraged to ask questions and/or comment on the proposed activities/application or on any aspect of the CDBG Program. Citizens are also invited to submit written comments to the City or to review information on the City’s CDBG Program at City Hall, 155 W. Durian Avenue, Coalinga, CA 93210. Write or contact Shannon Jensen at 559-935-1533 extension 113, at the same address.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
Do not approve.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost for preparation of the CDBG application by Self-Help Enterprises is $2,500. | | |