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 (PY) of the approved Five-Year Consolidated Plan (FYs 2020-2024). 

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, which is used to assist in the development of affordable housing projects in the region.  The guidelines for these formula grant programs outline three basic goals:

1. Decent housing,
2. Suitable living environment and
3. Expanded economic opportunities. 

The City of Sparks has prepared an Annual Action Plan (AAP) as part of the Federal application process for CDBG funds.  This AAP includes information provided by the City of Reno with CDBG and HOME Partnership dollars (the City of Reno is the Lead Agency for the WCHC, and the City of Sparks and Washoe County are Participating Jurisdictions).  The Annual Action Plan (AAP) also identifies the process through which the jurisdictions allocate and distribute funding, along with information regarding other funding resources available for those programs.

Attached is the “Final Draft” of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan (FY’s 2020-2024) and Annual Action Plan (AAP)” FY 2020-2021 (see “Exhibit – 01”).  This submission is referred to as the “Final Draft” until such time that HUD approves the submission in the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS).

HUD has advised the City of Sparks that the CDBG allocation for FY 2020-2021 will be $684,439.

Additionally, in accordance with the CDBG Application process, HUD requires consultation and a public comment period with the served community.  The 30-day public comment period began April 8, 2020 with advertisement of the CP and AAP in the Reno Gazette Journal and concludes on May 11, 2020 at the commencement of the City Council meeting; at which time all public comments will be accumulated and incorporated into the “Final Draft” of the AAP.  In addition, a community meeting soliciting public comment was held via Zoom due to COVID 19 concerns on April 22, 2020.

The attached Five-Year Consolidated Plan was originally scheduled to be submitted to HUD by May 15, 2020 for Fiscal Years 2020-2024.  However, as a result of the COVID-19 emergency, and the allocation of supplemental funding in the Corona Virus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the deadline for submittal of the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan has been extended by HUD to August 15, 2020.

The Five-Year CP and AAP FY 2020-2021 serves as the application for CDBG Entitlement Communities such as the City of Sparks.  The CDBG 2020-2021 AAP outlines the activities the City of Sparks plans to commence in PY One (FY 2020-2021) of the City’s 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan.  The AAP leverages CDBG funding to address housing needs, public services and homelessness prevention under the objectives of a suitable living environment and decent housing.  The 2020/2021 AAP allocates $684,439 in new CDBG entitlement funds:

Activities to be funded from new CDBG Allocation for FY 2020/2021:

+          Up to $25,000 to support Fair Housing activities.  The City of Sparks and the City of Reno combine resources (i. e. $25,000/each) to obtain the professional services of Silver State Fair Housing Council for implementation of the ‘Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing’ (AFFH) as required by HUD.

+          UP to $19,000 for support of Northern Nevada Continuum of Care (NNCoC) activities, to end homelessness as required by HUD.

+          Up to $154,070.80 for support of Planning and Administration activities, which includes the salary of staff involved in preparation and implementation of the planning grant.

+          Up to $90,064.05 for support of the Community Assistance Center activities (Men’s Homeless Shelter) as well as the planned Northern Nevada Adult Mental Services (NNAMHS) Campus for women, children, family and seniors.

+          Up to $90,000 for support of the Housing Rehabilitation Administration activities to support implementation of the planning grant.

+          Up to $236,304.15 of new grant funding for support of Pedestrian Improvements activities of curb, paving, and sidewalk replacement of typical Pedestrian Improvement.  The area of D Street and north to Oddie Boulevard is the defined area of Pedestrian Improvement for FY 2020/2021 (see Exhibit – 02).

+          Up to $50,000 of new grant funds to support the implementation of Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Deferred Loan Program activities,

+          Up to $20,000 for implementation of the Housing Rehabilitation Emergency Repair Grant Program.  The activities consist of rectifying health, life and safety issue of qualifying homeowners.

Each project presented within the Action Plan meets the community’s needs as presented and approved in the five-year Consolidated Plan.

1. Continue this agenda item to the June 22, 2020 City Council meeting.
2. Approve the proposed funding allocations as listed in the AAP. A subsequent amendment would be required to use CDBG funding for COVID-19 expenditures.
3. Reduce or increase the allocations for one or more of the activities.
4. Eliminate one or more of the activities.

I move to continue this agenda item to the June 22, 2020 City Council meeting.