Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Special Orders of the Day
SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT 2022-2023 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM
Body
I. SUMMARY
Each year, prior to the start of the Community Development Block Grant program year, the City submits an Annual Action Plan (AAP), its application to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for CDBG funding. Following the conclusion of that program year, the City is required to submit to HUD a summary report on its performance against that Annual Action Plan. That report, called the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), is due to HUD not less than 90 days following the close of that program year. HUD regulations require a public hearing on the draft CAPER prior to the submission of the final report. Prior to the elimination of the Citywide Advisory Commission, the CAPER public hearing had been conducted by that Commission, but with that Commission having been eliminated two years ago, this hearing is being conducted by the City Council.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. OPEN the Public Hearing, TAKE public testimony, and CLOSE the Public Hearing,
2. DIRECT staff to the submit the final version of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by the required deadline of September 28, 2023.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action that the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City of Carson annually receives CDBG funds under the federal Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, due to its status as an “entitlement” jurisdiction (based on having a population above 50,000 and meeting certain other demographic criteria). CDBG funding can be used for a variety of projects and programs primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income persons (the focus of the aforementioned demographic criteria.)
HUD guidelines, as found in Title 24 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 91 and Part 570, mandate a minimum of two public hearings on a jurisdiction’s activities in a given program year. One is required prior to the submission of the AAP, and another is required prior to the submission of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which is a summary of activities prepared following the end of a program year. In previous years, the public hearing on the draft CAPER has been conducted by the Citywide Advisory Commission, but City Council action two years ago eliminated the CAC, thus necessitating that this public hearing be conducted by Council.
The CAPER outlines progress made in achieving goals established in the 2020-2024 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Program Year 2022 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) Annual Action Plan, and includes: 1) information regarding amounts of funds expended on projects and activities; 2) descriptions of households assisted through expenditure of these funds; 3) actions taken to affirmatively further fair housing; and 4) other information relevant to the status of grant-funded projects administered by the City affecting local housing and community development needs. Jurisdictions are required to submit their CAPERs no later than 90 days following the end of the previous program year (or in this case, no later than September 28, 2023).
A public notice was posted on September 5, 2023 announcing the availability of the draft CAPER for public review and inviting written public comments to be submitted to the Housing Division no later than September 26, 2023. That notice, along with the draft CAPER itself, was also posted on the City’s website, and the public notice was published in the Daily Breeze in September.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact, as this report summarizes activities funded by previously appropriated CDBG Program Year 2022-2023 (which corresponds with City fiscal year 2022/23) funding.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. City of Carson 2022-2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) Draft for Public Review (pgs. 3-25)
Prepared by: Keith Bennett, Housing Division