2011 2:00:00 PM

Monday, September 26, 2011 2:00 PM
Legislative Building, 745 4th Street, Sparks, NV

Public Hearing and Action Items Unrelated to Planning and Zoning: 7.2

Title: Public hearing and possible approval of the Consolidated Plan Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Program Year 2010 for the City of Sparks (for possible action).

Petitioner/Presenter: Community Services/Armando Ornelas, City Planner

Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve submission of the CAPER for Program Year 2010 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Financial Impact: None - this is a required report

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

Agenda Item Brief: The CAPER provides a report on how the City of Sparks, along with the City of Reno and Washoe County, expended HUD funding (CDBG, HOME) and of the jurisdictions’ community development and affordable housing activities during the 2010 program year (2010-11 local government fiscal year).

Background: Attached is a draft copy of the Program Year (PY) 2010 Consolidated Plan Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the City of Sparks. Each year, the City of Sparks must prepare and submit a CAPER to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Submission of the CAPER is a condition of receiving federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program funding (Sparks receives the latter as a member of the Washoe County HOME Consortium). The City of Sparks must conduct a 15-day public comment period, hold at least one public hearing and submit this report to HUD by September 30. The CAPER provides an overview of how Sparks, Reno, and Washoe County expended HUD funding (CDBG, HOME) and of the jurisdictions’ community development and affordable housing accomplishments during the 2010 program year (2010-11 local government fiscal year). More specifically, the document is intended to provide a brief description of the jurisdictions’ HUD funded programs, including a listing of the projects undertaken during the last year, the amount of funding expended, a review of the accomplishments achieved using grant and other funds, and serve generally as an assessment of progress made toward the jurisdictions’ goals as specified in the Consolidated Plan. The CAPER is a programmatic review and done in addition to the City’s annual financial audit.

Analysis: In Program Year 2010, the City of Sparks allocated the maximum of 15%, or $101,862, of its CDBG entitlement towards funding area non-profit agencies providing public services to low- and moderate-income (LMI) families and individuals. The City allocated this funding through its participation with the City of Reno and Washoe County in the Washoe County Human Services Consortium (WCHSC). City of Sparks funding was allocated to: Washoe Legal Services “Homeless Prevention Project”: $38,887 in Sparks CDBG, providing legal advocacy to low-income individuals and families to obtain/preserve access to affordable and decent housing. A total of 128 individuals, including Sparks residents, were assisted with these funds. HAWC Community Health Center “Dental Access for Uninsured Children”: $31,553 in Sparks CDBG funding to provide oral health care for 163 uninsured children, including 37 Sparks residents. Family Promise of Reno/Sparks “Interfaith Hospitality Network”: $9,457 in Sparks CDBG funds to provide emergency housing and meals for families with children. A total of 52 individuals were assisted with these funds. St. Mary’s Foundation “Kids to Seniors Korner”: $14,381 in Sparks CDBG funding to link children, families and senior citizens with direct services and community resources. The program also provides health screenings and immunizations. The program assisted 5,660 persons including 1,136 Sparks residents. In its Annual Action Plan for PY 2010, Sparks also allocated CDBG funds in the amount of $401,405 toward pedestrian improvements in west Sparks. Of this amount, $219,512 has been expended or committed with the balance reserved for a future capital project. The project undertaken during PY 2010 is on Plymouth Way from 16th to 18th Streets and on the 1900 block of Zephyr Way. The work performed under this activity primarily consisted of: removing and replacing concrete curb, gutter and sidewalks; installing accessibility ramps and driveway approaches; resurfacing of the streets; and, new crosswalks and signs. This project area was selected based upon the location in low-income area, meeting the LMI area benefit under the suitable living environment objective and availability/accessibility outcome. The City of Sparks also allocated $230,000 for its Single Familiy, Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Home Loan and Emergency grant programs. Of this amount, approximately $112,766 was expended and a total of fifteen households were assisted – four with deferred loans and eleven with emergency grants. The precipitous decline in housing values has made it difficult for many households in interested in the City’s loan program to qualify as they lack sufficient equity in their homes to meet the program’s loan-to-value standard, though there has been a recent surge in applications. CDBG planning and administration funds in the amount of $7,952 were provided in support of the Reno Area Alliance for the Homeless (RAAH) work for the homeless Continuum of Care planning and funding process. Finally, $15,000 in administrative funding was provided to Silver State Fair Housing Council to further Fair Housing efforts throughout the community. CDBG regulations require a minimum 15 day public comment period for the CAPER, and the City’s HUD-approved Citizen Participation Plan requires a public hearing. Notices announcing the availability of the CAPER were published on September 12th in the Sparks Tribune and on September 13th in the Reno Gazette-Journal. The public comment period began on September 13 and will close on September 27; any public comment received at this hearing and during that time frame will be taken into consideration.

Alternatives: The City Council may provide direction on changes to the CAPER. The CAPER must be submitted by September 30th, however, as it is a condition of receiving CDBG funding.

Recommended Motion: I move to approve submittal of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Program Year 2010 for the City of Sparks to HUD.

Attached Files:

PY2010 CAPER draft 9-12-11.pdf

PR 26 CDBG_Financial_Summary_Report.pdf

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