HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - 2021-22 CDBG PGM (2)O
Agenda Item: 9
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CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT
PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:1
DATE: February 9, 2021
SUBJECT: RESULTS OF THE 2021-22 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SURVEY FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
PRESENTER: Michael Villegas
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council conduct a public hearing and receive information regarding the results of the annual
Community Needs Assessment Survey conducted as part of the Community Development Block
Grant Program for the 2021-22 program year.
BACKGROUND
Each year, the City of Santa Clarita (City) receives approximately $1.4 million dollars in
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to assist lower -income residents in the areas of decent housing, a
suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities.
In order to receive and use CDBG funds, the City is required to submit a Consolidated Plan (Con
Plan) at least once every five years. The most recent Con Plan, which was adopted by the City
Council on April 23, 2019, set the priorities for the use of CDBG funds for the five-year period
of 2019-2020 through 2023-2024. In 2020, the City Council approved a Substantial Amendment
to the Con Plan, which added an additional priority related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The
current Con Plan priorities are:
• Improve, Maintain, and Expand Affordable Housing
• Provide Supportive Human Services
• Improve and Expand Facilities and Infrastructure
• Provide Timely Assistance to those Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Planning and Administration
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The City must also develop an Annual Action Plan (AAP) which outlines the specific ways the
current year's allocation of CDBG funds will be spent to meet the priorities identified in the Con
Plan. As part of the development of the 2021-22 AAP, an assessment process is conducted to
identify the current needs of the lower -income community. This took the form of an on-line
Community Needs Assessment Survey (Survey). The Survey was available in hard -copy form if
requested. The results of the Survey will be used to assist in determining funding allocations in
the 2021-22 AAP.
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY PROCESS
The Survey was available through Survey Monkey from December 1 to December 31, 2020.
Respondents were asked to rate categories within the four programmatic Con Plan priorities as
high need, medium need, low need, or no need. In addition to scoring specific needs, respondents
had the option of providing written comments.
Outreach efforts for the Survey included:
• A press release was issued to multiple local news agencies, including The Signal, KHTS,
and SCVTV;
• A link for the on-line Survey was posted on multiple social media platforms;
• A link for the on-line Survey was sent to all 2020-21 CDBG service providers;
• A letter with the Survey link and information was sent to 84 non-profit organizations; and
• A link for the Survey was posted on the City's website and sent to City staff.
SURVEY RESULTS
A total of 315 individuals responded. Key demographic information on the respondents is below:
• 30 respondents (10%) identified themselves as senior citizens
• 205 respondents (66%) stated they owned their homes
The needs most frequently identified as a high need within each Con Plan priority were:
Improve, Maintain, and Expand Affordable Housing
o Affordable Rental Housing
o Homeownership Assistance
o Disabled Accessibility Modifications
Provide Supportive Human Services
o Homeless Services
o Childcare Programs
o Services for Neglected/Abused Children
• Improve and Expand Facilities and Infrastructure
o Childcare Centers
o Homeless Shelters
o Youth Centers
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Provide Timely Assistance to those Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
o Personal Protective Equipment for Essential Workers
o Rent and Mortgage Assistance
o Food Services
TRENDS
The overall results of the 2020-21 Survey are consistent with results from previous years. Over
the past five years, the areas of affordable rental housing, homeless shelters and services, and
youth centers have consistently been noted as among the highest needs.
Written comments were provided by 68 of the respondents. The most commonly identified issues
in the written comments (30 percent of all comments) were regarding the need for affordable
housing and/or homeless housing and services. Of the written comments, 22 percent were related
to the COVID-19 Pandemic and included the need for increased enforcement of safety
procedures, assistance with housing costs, and assistance for businesses.
No formal action is requested of the City Council at this time. The purpose of this Public Hearing
is to receive this information as required by HUD's regulations specific to CDBG funding. The
2021-22 AAP and recommended CDBG funding allocations will be considered by the City
Council in May 2021.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS
Public Hearing Notice
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9.a
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
City of Santa Clarita
As required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a Community
Needs Assessment Survey is conducted annually as part of the development of the City's Annual
Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan identifies how Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) funds will be allocated to meet the current needs of the community.
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be conducted on Tuesday, February 9, 2020, at
or after 6:00 p.m. in the Santa Clarita City Hall Council Chambers, located at 23920 Valencia
Blvd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. A summary of the results of the 2020-2021 Community Needs
Assessment Survey will be presented to the Santa Clarita City Council. The public hearing will
not be open for physical attendance by the public, but the public may participate virtually using
the Zoom meeting information as listed on the posted agenda.
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Copies of the City Council meeting agendas will be available 72 hours prior to the meeting date
on-line at www.santa-clarita.com/a eg ndas. Further information may be obtained by contacting Z
Erin Lay, Housing Program Administrator, at 661.286.4174 or by email at ela & santa-clarita.com. N
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If you wish to challenge the action taken on this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only
those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written
correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clarita, at or prior to, the public hearing.
Para los que hablan espanol, si usted tiene preguntas o desea mas informati6n sobre este producto,
por favor p6ngase en contacto con Vanessa Diaz, Clerk, al 661.255.4353 o por correo electr6nico
a vdiaz@santa-clarita.com. Gracias.
Dated: January 7, 2021
Mary Cusick, MMC
City Clerk
Published: The Signal — Tuesday, January 19, 2021
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