CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: December 21, 2020 Action Required: Appropriation and Approval Presenter: Erin Atak, Grants Coordinator Staff Contacts: Erin Atak, Grants Coordinator Title: CDBG/HOME Minor Action Plan Amendment FY2020-2021 and Appropriation of CDBG 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood funds. Background: This agenda item includes a minor action plan amendment, and corrected budget for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program for the City of Charlottesville, received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Discussion: On March 14, 2017, the City’s Planning Commission held a public hearing for the proposed FY2017-2018 CDBG and HOME Budget Allocations. All proposed projects for the CDBG program underwent an extensive review by the CDBG/HOME Task force as a result of an RFP process. The 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood recommended several projects to improve the streetscape and pedestrian safety along the 10th and Page Corridor within the 10th and Page Neighborhood. As part of the Taskforce discussions, the following priorities were set: 1) Pedestrian improvements at the 10th ST NW and West St Intersection; 2) Pedestrian improvements at the 10th St NW & Page St intersections; 3) Beautification efforts at 8th Street and Hardy Drive; and 4) Lighting improvements on the west end (dead end) of Page Street. A second public hearing was held on July 17, 2017 for the approval and appropriation of the CDBG and HOME Budget for FY17-18. City Council received recommendations for the expenditure of funds from the CDBG Taskforce, and the 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood Taskforce, and approved allocation of funds for the 10th and Page Pedestrian Safety and accessibility improvement project at $282,000.31. Funds were proposed to improve an area located at the corner of 8th ST NW and Hardy Drive which serves as the entry point into the 10th and Page Neighborhood by creating a passive neighborhood park and enhancing the aesthetic and safety of the area. The project consists of drainage and grading work, installation of benches, a guardrail, green infrastructure (planting of trees and plants), removal or architectural barriers with ADA improvements to enhance pedestrian accessibility, and the project involves acquisition of property adjacent to the project site. Per the City’s CDBG Contingency Plan dated September 18, 2019, the 10th and Page Priority 1 Project has commenced. The Park project has completed the following improvements: 100% of the park walls and stairs, 100% of the stormwater construction, 80% of the sidewalk and concrete plaza work, and most of the site grading. Remaining work to be done includes final grading, trees, landscaping, installation of bench and chess boards, and addition of the guardrail. Per HUD 24 CFR 570.902(a) the City’s 10th and Page budget requires minor modifications to remain within timeliness compliance to allow for final park completion work. All budgetary changes require a 2020-2021 Action Plan amendment. Community Engagement: All 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood Meetings were held publicly and noticed. A public hearing was held for the CDBG and HOME FY17-18 Budget on May 1st 2017. There were no comments provided by the public. The Action Plan was advertised for a thirty-day comment period (March 26th – April 26th 2020) before being sent to HUD for approval. The Action Plan was sent to Charlottesville Neighborhood community members for comment. The Housing Directors Council had an opportunity to make comments on the Action Plan virtually during the thirty-day comment period. Comments received from Housing Directors were incorporated into the Action Plan. HUD approved the Action Plan on August 14, 2020. In accordance with the CDBG/HOME Citizen Participation Plan, staff reviewed and made changes to the new CDBG and HOME budget. A minor Action Plan Amendment will be submitted for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The minor Action Plan Amendment was advertised for five days under the covid-19 public notice waiver between December 14 and December 18, 2020. The full action plan can be viewed on the City Website through the following link. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: Approval of this agenda item aligns directly with Council’s vision for Charlottesville to have Economic Sustainability, A Center for Lifelong Learning, Quality Housing Opportunities for All, and A Connected Community. It contributes to variety of Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives including: Goal 1: Inclusive, Self-sufficient Community; Goal 3: Beautiful Environment; Goal 4: Strong, Diversified Economy; and Goal 5: Responsive Organization. Budgetary Impact: Proposed CDBG projects will be carried out using only the funds to be received by the City of Charlottesville from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the City's CDBG program. There will be no impact to the City of Charlottesville budget. The minor modification to the 10th and Page budget will affect the 2020-2021 Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood funding. CDBG funds awarded by HUD for the fiscal year FY22-23 will supplant the transfer of funds from Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood budget to the 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood budget. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the CDBG budgets, as well as approval of the minor 2020-2021 Action Plan Amendment of the 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan. Alternatives: 2 No alternatives are proposed. Attachments: Appropriation for CDBG funds – 10th and Page Resolution for CDBG funds – Ridge Street Resolution for Minor 2020-2021 Action Plan Amendment 3 APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE’S 2020-2021 CDBG 10TH AND PAGE PRIORITY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville has been advised of the approval by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the 2020-2021 fiscal year in the total amount of $432,303 that includes the new entitlement from HUD, dated October 22, 2020; WHEREAS, City Council has received recommendations for the expenditure of funds from the 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood Taskforce, CDBG/HOME Taskforce, the SAT; and has conducted a public hearing thereon as provided by law; WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville must carry out its program in a timely manner, as measured by the rate of expenditure of funds from the grantee’s line of credit (LOC) in accordance to 24 CFR 570.902(a); BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia, that the sums hereinafter set forth are hereby appropriated from funds received from the aforesaid grant to the following individual expenditure accounts in the Community Development Block Grant Funds for the respective purposes set forth; provided, however, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to transfer funds between among such individual accounts as circumstances may require, to the extent permitted by applicable federal grant regulations. Priority Neighborhood Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood $85,830.95 Priority Neighborhood 10th and Page Priority Neighborhood $116,053.17 Program Income CDBG Program Income $17,952.83 4 Expenditures Program Amount Fund Internal G/L Account order/Cost center Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood $85,830.95 218 1900361 530670 10th and Page Priority $134,006 218 P-0001-05-19 530670 Neighborhood Revenue Program Amount Fund WBS Element G/L Account Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood $85,830.95 218 P-0001 HUD 431110 IDIS Drawdown 10th and Page Priority $116,053.17 218 P-0001 HUD 431110 Neighborhood IDIS Drawdown CDBG Program Income $17,952.83 218 P-0001-05-19 451070 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amounts so appropriated as grants to other public agencies and private non-profit, charitable organizations (subrecipients) are for the sole purpose stated. The City Manager is authorized to enter into agreements with those agencies and organizations as he may deem advisable to ensure that the grants are expended for the intended purposes, and in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations; and The City Manager, the Directors of Finance or Neighborhood Development Services, and staff are authorized to establish administrative procedures and provide for mutual assistance in the execution of the programs. Approved by Council December 21, 2020 Kyna Thomas, CMC Clerk of Council 5 RESOLUTION THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE’S 2022-2023 CDBG RIDGE STREET PRIORITY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville is an U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development entitlement community and is provided Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) formula based grants each year to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons; WHEREAS, City Council on December 21, 2020, approved for a minor budgetary modification to the 2020-2021 Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood Budget to remain within HUD 24 CFR 570.902(a) timeliness compliance rule and to allow for final completion work at the 10th and Page neighborhood park; BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia, that a portion of the 2022-2023 CDBG sums totaling $116,053.17, hereinafter set forth are appropriated to supplant the budget transfer from the 2020-2021 Ridge Street Priority Neighborhood budget; provided, however, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to transfer funds between among such individual accounts as circumstances may require, to the extent permitted by applicable federal grant regulations. Approved by Council December 21, 2020 Kyna Thomas, CMC Clerk of Council 6 RESOLUTION Approval of FY 2020-2021 Minor Annual Action Plan Amendment BE IT RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council hereby approves the FY 2020 - 2021 Minor Action Plan Amendment of the 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan. The corrected CDBG budget will be added into the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan. No changes to the HOME budget will be made at this time. Approved by Council December 21, 2020 Kyna Thomas, CMC Clerk of Council 7