Attached is a draft copy of the Program Year (PY) 2013-14 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 whereby the City of Reno is the lead agency).

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, 2014.

The CAPER provides an overview of how the City of Sparks, City of Reno, and Washoe County expended HUD funding (CDBG, HOME) and of the jurisdictions’ community development and affordable housing accomplishments during the 2013-14 program 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.

The City of Sparks committed the maximum of 15%, or $81,777 of its PY 2013-14 CDBG allocation to provide funding support and supplement operation of the Community Assistance Center (homeless shelters) located in the City of Reno. The CAC includes shelters for men, women and families as well as a resource center. Total annual funding for the CAC provided by Reno, Sparks and Washoe County is approximately $1.5 million.

In PY 2013-14, the City allocated $145,000 of CDBG funding for its Single Family, Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Home Loan and Emergency Grant Programs. A total of $126,473 was expended during PY 2013-2014 for Planning and Administrative activities that included program administration of the housing rehabilitation programs to provide loans and grants to a total of sixteen (16) households assisted through these programs: six (6) with Single Family Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation loans and ten (10) with Emergency Grants. The local housing market has shown signs of rebounding in PY 2013-2014 and all indicators points to a lag of the national average but an increase in consumer confidence.

There continues to be a very strong interest in the City’s Emergency Repair Grant Program. The maximum grant allowable under this program is $2,500 per household. The applicant must meet the income guideline requirement of 60% or less of area median income. These grants may only be obtained when conditions in the home affect health and safety.

The City allocated CDBG funds in the amount of $286,931 for FY 2013-14 plus an additional $219,138 of reprogramed funds toward pedestrian improvements for a total community investment of $506,069. The project undertaken during PY 2013 was a continuation on 4th Street between Prater Way and Victorian Avenue and on the directly adjacent side street blocks to the east and west. The work performed under this activity primarily consisted of removing and replacing concrete curb, gutter and sidewalks, installing accessibility ramps, driveway approaches, and street repairs as necessary.

CDBG planning and administration funds in the amount of $81,777 were allocated in support of the Reno Area Alliance for the Homeless (RAAH) work for the homeless Continuum of Care planning and funding process.

Also, $15,000 in administrative funding was provided to Silver State Fair Housing Council to further Fair Housing efforts throughout the community, which is a HUD requirement.

The City of Sparks, Washoe County and Reno collectively comprise the Washoe County HOME Consortium, which uses HOME funds from HUD as well as other affordable housing funding sources to foster the development of affordable rental and for-sale housing. Highlights of the Consortium’s activities during PY 2013 include the following: Aspen Village Apartments, located at 1290 Sullivan Lane, Sparks, Nevada is a three-story, 43 unit elevator-accessible residence (16 one bedrooms and 27 two bedrooms). There are nine special needs units in the development for housing individuals and families affected with a permanent disability. Aspen Village incorporates renewable energy systems and all of the units will be affordable to residents at or below 40 percent of area median income. The project broke ground in February/2013 and was completed for occupancy in December, 2013.

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. A notice announcing the availability of the CAPER was published on September 6th in the Reno Gazette-Journal. The public comment period began on September 6 and will close on September 20; any public comment received at this hearing and during that time frame will be taken into consideration in the final CAPER.

The City Council may provide direction on changes to the CAPER. The CAPER must be submitted by September 30, 2014 as it is a condition of receiving CDBG funding allocation.

I move to approve submittal of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Program Year 2013-14 for the City of Sparks to HUD.