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County Administrator's Report 12. 4.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Escambia Consortium 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Annual Action Plan - Tonya Gant, Neighborhood & Human Services Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning the Escambia Consortium 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Annual Action Plan:
A. Approve the Escambia Consortium 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan providing goals, objectives, and strategies for housing and community development during the period October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2020;
B. Approve the Escambia Consortium 2015 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development, detailing the use of 2015 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $1,644,103; 2015 HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds in the amount of $882,771; and 2015 Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG) funds in the amount of $147,378; and
C. Authorize the County Administrator to execute all Escambia Consortium 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Annual Action Plan Forms, Certifications, and related documents, as required to submit the Plans to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and authorize the County Administrator or Chairman, as appropriate, to execute documents required to receive and implement the 2015 CDBG, 2015 HOME, and 2015 ESG Programs.
[Funding: Fund 129/CDBG, Cost Centers 370222, 370223, and 370224; Fund 147/HOME, Cost Center 370267; and Fund 110/ESG, Cost Center 370293] |
| BACKGROUND: |
With Congressional approval of the National Affordable Housing Act, government grantees are required to prepare and submit for HUD approval a local housing and community development planning document encompassing a five year period known as the Consolidated Plan. Escambia County in conjunction with other members of the Escambia Consortium (comprised of Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, Santa Rosa County, and the City of Milton) have prepared the Escambia Consortium 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan to enable local jurisdictions to continue to receive HUD funds under the CDBG, HOME and ESG Programs. The Plan serves as the Consortium's five year strategic housing and community development plan with respect to HUD Programs covering the period October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020.
Additionally, each year, the Consortium must prepare and submit an Annual Action Plan, which incorporates the specific funding applications of all member jurisdictions for the CDBG, HOME, and ESG Programs for that fiscal year. A full copy of the Consolidated Plan is attached as Exhibit I, with the Annual Action Plan also incorporated in the document. This funding will encompass the HUD Program Year extending from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. A summary of annual activities to be financed with 2015 CDBG, HOME and ESG resources is provided in Exhibit II. Activities listed in the Annual Action Plan are also in support of the County's Comprehensive Plan Housing Element and the County's Community Redevelopment Area Plans.
A public notice regarding preparation of the Consolidated Plan and Annual Plan was published in the Pensacola News Journal on February 9, 2015 to initiate the public participation process in order to receive public input, comments and agency proposals or recommendations concerning housing and community development needs and priorities in the area. Two public hearings were held in Escambia County on February 19 and March 5 and two in public hearings were held in Santa Rosa County on February 12 and March 2. An online survey was also created and made available in February to assess community needs and priorities and to allow for public comment. Following the input phase, the Plans were drafted and made available for public review and comment. The CDBG, HOME, and ESG activities proposed for funding through the 2015 Annual Action Plan were prominently advertised in the Pensacola News Journal on May 29, 2015 for a minimum 30 day comment period, and an additional public meeting was held in Escambia County on June 11, 2015 to receive public review, comments and specific input concerning the draft Plans. Finally, as denoted in the public notice, written comments were received by the Consortium through June 30, 2015. A summary of the Citizen Participation is included in Section PR-15 of the Consolidated Plan, with copies of ads and written public comments in the Citizen Participation Addendum included in the Plan.
The final step in the process is to obtain approval of the Plans by all governmental bodies within the Consortium. The City of Pensacola, Santa Rosa County, and the City of Milton will approve the Plans during their respective July meetings. Escambia County serves as the lead participating jurisdiction for the Consortium. The Plan is due to HUD on or before August 15, 2015, with HUD approval anticipated October 2015.
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| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
The Annual Action Plan does not commit any County General Fund revenue. The County will directly receive the following amounts for uses specified in the Annual Action Plan and summarized in Exhibit II:
| FUNDING |
AMOUNT |
| CDBG/Fund 129 |
$1,644,103 |
| HOME/Fund 147 |
$882,771 |
| ESG/Fund 110 |
$147,378 |
| TOTALS: |
$2,674,252 |
For reference, last year's CDBG allocation was $1,653,390; HOME was $975,346; and ESG was $136,359.
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| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney, has reviewed and approved the SF-424 and Escambia County Certification forms (Exhibit III) that must be executed in order to receive HUD funds. |
| PERSONNEL: |
| There is no new impact on County personnel or positions as a result of the Board's approval of the Escambia Consortium Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. Preparation of the Plans and implementation of the CDBG, HOME, and ESG activities financed hereunder are administered by Neighborhood Enterprise Division staff and/or staff of the Consortium's member jurisdictions. |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| The Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan requires formal approval by the Board prior to submission to HUD in order to receive CDBG, HOME and ESG funding. |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
Completion of the Consolidated Plan process has necessitated extensive coordination with many sectors of the local community, such as public and private affordable housing interests; County departments with respect to CDBG activities; non-profit public service agencies; local public housing authorities; homeless organizations; Escambia County, City of Pensacola, and Santa Rosa County administrative staff; interested citizens; and low/moderate income families.
For reference, the use of CDBG funds must be used for activities that primarily benefit lower income families in areas such as: housing rehabilitation and affordable housing development activities, CDBG eligible public infrastructure improvements, and public services. HOME funds are restricted to activities that produce or preserve affordable housing. ESG funds can only be used to support activities or services for the homeless.
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