Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Special Orders of the Day
SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2020-2021 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM (CITY COUNCIL)
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. In the past, the CAPER public hearing was conducted by the Citywide Advisory Commission, which has been eliminated, thus this hearing is required to be conducted by the City Council. The purpose of the hearing is to provide the public with a chance to comment on the CAPER. Upon the review and approval of the CAPER by the City Council and consideration of public comments, staff will forward it to HUD.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. OPEN the Public Hearing, TAKE public testimony, and CLOSE the Public Hearing.
2. APPROVE the final version of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and DIRECT staff to submit the CAPER to HUD by the required deadline of September 28, 2021.
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. The second 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.
The CAPER outlines progress made in achieving goals established in the 2020-2024 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Program Year 2020 (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) Annual Action Plan. The CAPER includes: 1) information regarding the amounts 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 (no later than September 28, 2021).
A public notice was posted on August 30, 2021 announcing the availability of the draft CAPER for public review and inviting written public comments to be submitted to the Community Development Department no later than September 23, 2021. 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 on September 2, 2021.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact, as this report summarizes activities funded by previously appropriated CDBG Program Year 2020-2021 (which corresponds with City fiscal year 2020/21) funding.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. City of Carson 2020-2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) Draft for Public Review (pgs. 4-24)
Prepared by: Keith Bennett, Community Development Department, and Saied Naaseh, Community Development Director