2012 2:00:00 PM

Monday, January 9, 2012 2:00 PM
Sparks Council Chambers, 745 4th Street, Sparks, NV 89431

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

Title: Public Hearing, consideration and possible approval of an amendment to the PY2011 Annual Action Plan (for U.S. HUD) to change the target project area for the Pedestrian Improvement activity and to add a new activity to provide for certain improvements to the Community Assistance Center in Reno

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

Recommendation: Approval of the PY2011 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan Amendment as presented by staff.

Financial Impact: Up to $476,207 but not net new costs (i.e., funds were previously approved)

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

Agenda Item Brief: This Action Plan amendment specifically addresses: (1) A change in the target area for the City’s Pedestrian Improvements activity from the previously identified streets (i.e., 7th Street between Oxford Avenue and Greenbrae Drive; Prospect Avenue and Oxford Avenues between 17th Street and Rock Blvd; and/or, Sbragia Way and Russell Way between Rock Blvd and 9th Street) to an new area bounded by Pyramid Way on the west, Prater Way to the north, 4th Street to the east and Victorian Avenue on the south; and (2) a new activity to provide for certain improvements at the Community Assistance Center (i.e., the homeless shelter facility) in Reno comprised of new electric gate and fencing, new lighting and cameras, and/or additional shade/seating structures for an amount of up to $188,000.

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 HOME Consortium. Through the HOME Consortium, 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, an Action Plan is prepared by the City of Sparks, with input from the City of Reno, describing the proposed activities to be funded with CDBG and HOME Consortium dollars. The Annual Action Plan also identifies the process in which the jurisdictions, along with Washoe County, allocate and distribute funding along with information regarding other funding resources available for those programs. Attached is a draft copy of the Program Year 2011 Action Plan Amendment. This amendment was available to the public for comment beginning December 10, 2011. The last day for public comment is January 9, 2012, at which time all comments will be provided to the City Council at the Public Hearing for this agenda item and reviewed and incorporated where appropriate into the Action Plan Amendment. The original Action Plan was approved by City Council on May 9, 2011, and has been submitted to, and approved by, HUD. This amendment will be incorporated into the year-end Consolidated Plan Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). As of the date of this staff report writing, no comments have been received, either for or against this amendment. Additional copies of the Action Plan, this Amendment and the related Consolidated Plan may be obtained from, and public comments are to be submitted to, Armando Ornelas, City Planner, at 431 Prater Way, Sparks, NV 89431.

Analysis: The Action Plan serves as the application process for CDBG Entitlement Communities, such as the City of Sparks. The Program Year 2011 Annual Action Plan outlines the activities the City of Sparks plans to undertake in Year 2 of the City’s Consolidated Plan for the 2010-2014 period, leveraging Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to address housing needs, public services and homelessness prevention under the objectives of a suitable living environment and decent housing. The Program Year 2011 Action Plan allocated an estimated $566,504 in new CDBG entitlement funding for four activities: Planning and Administrative activities including Fair Housing and the Continuum of Care; the City administered Single Family, Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Emergency Grant programs; pedestrian improvements; and to partially fund the provision of services for the homeless at the Community Assistance Center located in Reno. The following activity is affected by this Amendment to the Program Year 2011 Annual Action Plan: Priority need – Physical Improvements, Pedestrian Improvements: The City’s Strategic (Consolidated) Plan for Program Years 2010 to 2014, and the City’s original Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2011, designated eligible low/mod census tracts in a target area referred to as the West End for pedestrian improvements. As designated in those plans the area’s boundaries are Oddie Boulevard to the north, Pyramid Highway to the east, I-80 to the south and El Rancho Boulevard to the west. The next priority is projects located in qualifying low/mod census tracts outside of the West End, but located within either of the City’s redevelopment areas. Finally, projects in qualifying low/mod census tracts located in all other areas of the city are to be considered. The 2010 Census low and moderate (“low-mod”) income data released by HUD after submittal of the Program Year 2011 Annual Action Plan revealed that certain areas in west Sparks that qualified as low-mod income based on 2000 Census data no longer qualify as such. One such neighborhood was the area identified in the City’s original Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2011: 17th Street between Oxford Avenue and Greenbrae Drive; Prospect Avenue and Oxford Avenues between 17th Street and Rock Blvd; and Sbragia Way and Russell Way between Rock Blvd and 9th Street. Accordingly, the proposed Amendment designates a different area – one within Spark’s Redevelopment Area 1 – as the site for the City’s pedestrian improvements activity in Program Year 2011. This area’s boundaries are Pyramid Way on the west, Prater Way to the north, 4th Street to the east and Victorian Avenue on the south (see attached map). Approximately $208,227 in new (2011) CDBG funds is allocated for pedestrian improvements in FY 2011-12. The improvements may include, but are not limited to: removal of existing curb, gutter, sidewalk, retaining wall, landscaping, and fencing; construction of new curb, gutter, sidewalk, handicap ramps, fencing, concrete retaining wall; landscape and irrigation improvements; installation of new street lights; and all appurtenant work necessary to complete the project. 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. Priority need – Public Facilities and Improvements, Non-Permanent Shelter: In addition to amending the Pedestrian Improvements activity, this Action Plan Amendment proposes to add a new activity to its Program Year 2011 Action Plan: to utilize up to $188,000 to fund improvements at the Community Assistance Center (i.e., the homeless shelter facility) located on Record Street in Reno. This had previously been allocated for Community Assistance Center construction costs but remains unspent. The proposed improvements are: a new electric gate and fencing at the Evans Avenue entrance (west entrance/exit to the CAC); new lighting and cameras (pole-mounted) at the Evans Avenue entrance; new lighting and cameras (pole-mounted) in the day use area; and/or additional shade/seating structures. The proposed security gate and cameras are intended to protect the CAC facility and its clientele. Perimeter fencing and gates were installed on the campus in Spring 2009 at the request of the CAC’s clients and on-site human service providers. Since then there have been some vandalism, law enforcement and safety issues and concerns. It is also problematic in terms of maintaining a therapeutic environment that supports recovery, especially for families with young children. The proposed cameras and replacing the current rear manual gate with an electronic gate is expected to enable the CAC operator to significantly enhance security without additional security personnel, the cost of which would divert resources from the CAC’s other operational needs. The additional shade and seating structures that are proposed will improve the outdoor day use environment for the CAC’s clientele.

Alternatives: Revise or deny staff’s recommendation to amend the Action Plan as attached and outlined in the staff report.

Recommended Motion: I move to approve the PY2011 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan Amendment as presented by staff.

Attached Files:

Sparks PY2011 AP Amendment.doc

Ped Improvements Project Area.pdf

RGJ proof of publication action plan amendment.pdf

Tribune proof of publication action plan amendment.PDF

Sparks PY2011 AP Amendment.pdf

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