2013 1:00:00 PM

Monday, May 13, 2013 1:00 PM
City Council Chambers, Legislative Building, 745 Fourth St, Sparks, NV

Public Hearing and Action Items Unrelated to Planning and Zoning: 7.1

Title: Public Hearing, consideration and possible approval of the FY 2013/14 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Consortium Annual Action Plan

Petitioner/Presenter: Community Services Department/George T. Graham, Housing Specialist

Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the 2013/14 Annual Action Plan and proposed project funding allocations

Financial Impact: $1,047,319 ($545,181 in new CDBG entitlement funding plus $502,138 in funds from previous years that will be reprogrammed or carried forward)

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief: This agenda item asks the City Council to approve for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development the City’s Program Year 2013/14 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Consortium activities.

Background: The City of Sparks is an Entitlement Community under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. As an Entitlement Community, the City receives a direct allocation of CDBG funding each program year. In addition to the CDBG program, the City of Sparks partners with the City of Reno and Washoe County in the Washoe County HOME Consortium (WCHC). Via the WCHC, the three jurisdictions also receive an annual allocation of HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding. The guidelines for these formula grant programs outline three basic goals of decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities. As part of the annual application process for CDBG funds, an Action Plan is prepared by the City of Sparks, with information provided by the City of Reno for the WCHC, describing the proposed activities to be funded with CDBG and HOME dollars. The Annual Action Plan also identifies the process through which the jurisdictions, along with Washoe County, allocate and distribute funding, along with information regarding other funding resources available for those programs. HUD has informed the City of Sparks that for federal fiscal year 2013/14 the City has been allocated $545,181 in new CDBG funding. In addition, this Action Plan provides for carry-over or reprogramming approximately $502,138 in unspent funds from the current and previous program years. Attached is a draft copy of the 2013/14 Annual Action Plan. The public comment period began on April 12th and concludes on May 13th, at which time all comments will be reviewed and incorporated where appropriate. The Annual Action Plan will be submitted on May 15, 2013 to HUD for review and approval. Additional copies of this Annual Action Plan may be obtained from, and public comments are to be submitted to, the Housing Specialist, George Graham, at 431 Prater Way, Sparks, NV 89431 or via email to ggraham@cityofsparks.us

Analysis: The Action Plan serves as the application for CDBG Entitlement Communities such as the City of Sparks. The 2013/14 Annual Action Plan outlines the activities the City of Sparks plans to undertake in Program Year 4 (FY 2013/14) of the City’s Consolidated Plan for the 2010-2014 period, leveraging CDBG funding to address housing needs, public services and homelessness prevention under the objectives of a suitable living environment and decent housing. The 2013/14 Action Plan allocates a total of $1,047,319. This includes $545,181 in new CDBG entitlement funding plus $502,138 in unspent funds from previous years that will be reprogrammed or used to fund previously approved activities ,as follows: Activities to be funded from New CDBG Allocation for FY 2013/14: •$ 126,473 for Planning and Administrative activities including; Planning and Administration, Housing Rehab Administration, Fair Housing and Continuum of Care. •$ 81,777 to support operation of the Community Assistance Center (Homeless Shelters). •$ 50,000 for the City administered Emergency Repair Grant Program (ERG). Previously approved activities to be funded with carry-over funds: •$95,000 for the City administered Single Family, Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program. •$188,000 for Community Assistance Center Facility Improvements. Activity to be funded with a combination of new and reprogrammed funds: •$506,069 for Pedestrian Improvements in a project area whose boundaries are Pyramid Way on the west, Prater Way to the north, 4th Street to the east and Victorian Avenue on the south. Of this amount, approximately $286,931 is new funding and $219,138 is from previous years. The Washoe County HOME Consortium’s (WCHC) proposed projects include a pre-planning of a new multi-family apartment development – Sage Apartments – proposed for a site at the intersection of 4th and Wright Way in Sparks. This project is intended to serve households with incomes at or below 40 percent of the area median income. Each project presented within the Action Plan meets the community’s needs as presented in the five year Consolidated Plan. To date, city staff has not received any public comment on the Consolidated Plan or Annual Action Plan.

Alternatives: Alternatives to all or part of the staff recommendation include: 1. Reducing or increasing the allocations for one or more of the activities. 2. Eliminating one or more activities.

Recommended Motion: I move to approve the proposed project funding allocations and to submit the Program Year 4, Fiscal Year 2013/14 Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Attached Files:

Sparks DRAFT 4th year action plan.pdf

Previous Item

Next Item

Return To Meeting