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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - CMTY DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES (2)CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA REPORT D City Manager Approval Item to be presented by: Ken Pulskamo DATE: February 12, 1991 SUBJECT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FINAL STATEMENT, FISCAL YEAR 1991-92 DEPARTMENT: City Manager BACKGROUND For the period of July 1, 1988 through June 30, 1991, the City of Santa Clarita, has received a total CDBG grant allocation of $714,267, as a participating grantee in the Los Angeles Urban County program. In July of 1990, the Council directed staff to notify the County of Los Angeles, Community Development Commission (CDC) and the U. S. Department of Urban Development (HUD) of the City's desire to be excluded from the Los Angeles Urban County, CDBG program and its' intent to apply to become an Entitlement City beginning July 1, 1991. The City of Santa Clarita's anticipated grant allocation from HUD for fiscal year 1991=92 will be $463,000. Prior to applying to HUD for Entitlement status and receiving its annual CDBG grant, the City must comply with pre -submission requirements as regulated by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987. The following requirements will need to be completed by the City during the Spring of 1990: , - Development and implementation of a citizen participation plan to obtain the views of citizens on the City's housing and community development needs. - Submission of an interim Housing Assistance Plan. - Development of a final statement of community development objectives and projected use of funds. The deadline for submission of the City's approved final statement is June 1, 1991. To adhere to pre -admission requirements and commence the proposed citizen participation process for the CDBG program, staff has developed for Council review and approval community development objectives and a citizen participation plan (Attachment 1 and 2) which will be used as a basis to develop the City's final statement and proposed use of funds for the Community Development Black Grant program for fiscal year 1991-92. ?711 U " D Agenda Item: RECOMMENDATION Council to approve the City's Community Development Objectives and Citizen Participation Plan for the CDBG Program and direct staff to implement the plan and return to Council with a recommended program for CDBG funded projects and proposed funding levels. ATTACHMENTS Community Development Objectives - Attachment 1 Citizen Participation Plan - Attachment 2 ROD:793 ATTACHMENT ONE iCITY OF SANTA CLARITA • COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES The City of Santa Clarita's Community Development Objectives are derived from the City's draft general plan, currently in the final stages of completion and approval. For a new City like Santa Clarita, the general plan represents a blue print for the future of Santa Clarita, it is a combined vision of the future based on a solid foundation of community. participation, factual information and background. The Community Development objectives are flexible and short-term covering Community Development Block Grant Program, (CDBG) Fiscal year 1991-92, and provide a vehicle for achieving the primary national objective of the Housing and Community Development Act: "the development of viable urban communities, by providing dAcent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income." The City of Santa Clarita's (CDBG) program is designed to achieve this primary objective from beginning to end, from the inception of the planning process supported by a strong citizen participation program to the visible program activities undertaken with CDBG funds. The City also requires that each activity meet one of three. broad national objectives; as follows: 1. Benefit low and moderate income persons; 2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, and or 3. Meet the community development needs having a particular urgency. The following community development objectives provide the framework for the design and development of proposed program activities giving maximum priority to activities benefiting low and moderate income, persons and aiding in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight. I. Quality and Maintenance of Development To ensure that development in the City is consistent with the overall community character and that it contributes in a positive way toward the City's image. Promote the preservation and/or rehabilitation of older established centers, including downtown Newhall, Canyon Country, and Saugus, where appropriate. Enforce building and safety codes and regulations concerning the upgrade, rehabilitation, or removal of deteriorated and dilapidated buildings and sites. Encourage the upgrading of the strip of commercial development along San Fernando Road and portions of Lyons Ave. Continue to upgrade and contruct capital improvements such as landscaping, drainage, sidewalks, alleys, street lights, landscaping as needed to enhance the quality of the targeted neighborhoods. II. Housing Distribution and Maintenance and Provision for Affordable Housing To protect and enhance the integrity of existing residential neighborhoods. Focus housing rehabilitation efforts on deteriorating residential neighborhoods located in Newhall by providing financing for housing rehabilitation programs. Provide low and moderate income family and senior citizen households with housing opportunities by promoting types of development that can accommodate such households. III. Maintenance of Existing Affordable Housing To. maintain and improve the condition of the existing housing stock, particularlythe affordable portion of the housing stock, where feasible. Encourage the upkeep, maintenance, and rehabilitation of existing housing in the City. Provide improvements to residential structures to improve the health and safety of the building. Promote the maintenance of existing affordable housing throughout the City, including dwellings occupied by households utilizing Section 8 programs and other governmental and/or non-profithousing assistance programs. Promote increased awareness among property owners and residents of the importance of property maintenance for long term housing quality. Continue to utilize the City's code enforcement program to bring substandard units into compliance with City codes and to improve overall housing conditions. Enforce the State's Residential Conservation Law which denies state income tax benefits to owners of substandard dwelling units. Promote residential rehabilitation programs which provide financial and technical assistance to lower income property owners to enable correction of housing deficiencies which could not otherwise be undertaken. Maintain and enhance the quality.of residential neighborhoods. IV. Planning and Administration To administer and direct the Community Development Program in accordance with all current policies, and regulations. Develop an application for CDBG funds in conjunction with an approved Housing Assistance Plan (HAP). Provide reasonable administrative costs and charges related to planning and execution of community development and housing activities. Provide information and resources to residents of areas in which community development activities are to be implemented. Implement a program to effectively manage program activities and costs. Maintain an appropriate financial management system in accordance with federal and local requirements. Provide assistance for 'economic development planning activities within the City. V. Contingency Reprogram unused entitlement funds to augmentexisting ,programs or implement new programs. • ATTACHMENT 2 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN The City of Santa Clarita is committed to assuring the City is operating with the will of the public it serves and to provide a variety of forums for expressing the ideas, values and desires of the citizens of Santa Clarita. Through the City's participation process, citizens are included in decisions before they are made, allowing citizens to actually participate in the decision-making process. The City's Community Development Block Grant program has also an identified Citizen Participation plan as required by the Community Development Act:of 1987. It is completely designed to ensure full citizen participation. The plan emphasizes the need to provide citizens with adequate information and afford them the opportunity to give meaningful input. It encourages participation among persons of low and moderate income, and residents of slum and blighted areas, and allows for citizens to propose projects, as well as provides a means for the public to assess the performance of projects underway. The public participation process will include the listed integral components: Meetings The planning process for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program will encourage citizen involvement through several neighborhood meetings in the communities where residents of low/moderate income areas and/or slum and blighted areas reside. Residents will have.the opportunity to provide input for housing and community needs. Past CDBG program performance will be presented with information regarding the amount of available funds and types of eligible activities for the coming year. In addition to.receiving public input from residents of the City of Santa Clarita, meetings will be held with City departments and organizations who serve low and moderate income persons. Examples of organizations include: Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) Service Center, SCV Senior Center, Interfaith Council, St. Stephen's church and the Food Pantry, Migrant Education Program. A meeting with the City's two Chambers of Commerce will also be held to obtain views of the business community on the City's housing and community development needs. In accordance with the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, the City of Santa Clarita will hold two public hearings to fulfill its legal requirements. One will be held during the program planning process to receive input from citizens on housing and community development needs and past CDBG program performance. The other publichearingwill be held following the development of the proposed statement to recieve citizen input on proposed projects and funding levels. The approved docent will be sent to HUD ake City's adopted final statement for the Community Development Block Grant Program. Notification of Meetings To provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to meetings, public hearings, information and records relating to the purposes and actual uses of funds the City will use the following procedures: (a) Public notice concerning the CDBG program shall be provided in the following newspapers: The Newhall Signal, Daily News and E1 Echo. Public notice will be published at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. Public notices shall be made on the following: Two public hearings 1) Housing and Community Development Needs Identification and 2) Proposed Statement. The proposed statement, including the total amount of funds available and information on how citizens can provide comments or obtain additional information on the statement. City's submission of .the Final Statement to HUD including information to citizens on the abailability of the Final Statement for review. City's submission of the Grantee Performance Report (GPR)to HUD including information to citizens on the availability of the GPR. (b) A display ad, of a size and type_to draw the.attention of casual newspaper readers, will be published at least 10 days prior to the meetings. The ad will clearly state the date, time, and location of the meeting, the topics to be covered, and where reports and other written information may be obtained. (c) Flyers, of a size and type to draw the attention of passersby, will be distributed and posted in supermarkets and other bulletin boards, neighborhood organizations serving low income persons, and other gathering places in low and moderate income neighborhoods and in other areas where funds are proposed to be used. The notice will clearly state the date, time and location of the meeting, the topics to be covered, and where reports and other written information may be obtained. Where appropriate, the notices will be posted in Spanish and other non-English languages used by significant portions of the population. (d) Notices will0e placed in newsletters organizations serving low income persons. (e) Meetings will be held at times and places convenient for public attendance by low to moderate income residents. Translators will be available for any meeting where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can reasonably be expected to participate. Response by City to Complaints The City recognizes that despite making significant efforts at outreach and education there may be complaints.filed regarding the operation of the City's Community Development Block Grant Program. These concerns should be addressed to the following: City Manager's Office 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 300 City of Santa Clarita, CA 91355 A written response will be made by the City within 15 working days. If it should take longer to develop a response, the -City shall notify the correspondent in writing within.15 days of the time period needed to provide an answer. Displacement of Residents For the 17th Program Year (July 1, 1991 through June 30, 1992) the City of Santa Clarita does.not intend to displace any residents with CDBG funded activities.