HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05 - HRC Priorities for 2021-22 Community Development Block Grant and Grants-in-Aid Programs
Department Name: Community Development
Cost Center: 4007
For Agenda of: November 17, 2020
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Cara Vereschagin, Housing Coordinator
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION’S
RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2021-22 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAMS
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Community Development Block Grant and Grants-in-Aid funding priorities for the
2021-22 funding year, as recommended by the Human Relations Commission.
DISCUSSION
The City’s annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Grants-in-Aid (GIA)
review method provides the City Council and the public with opportunities to provide early input
in the grant award process. Establishing funding priorities is the second step in the four-step
procedure, which helps to ensure an open, inclusive, and fair grant application process. The
Human Relations Commission (HRC) is the advisory body to the City Council on funding
priorities and recommendations for both grant programs.
CDBG and GIA Program Overview
The CDBG program is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The County of San Luis Obispo manages this grant and the final
funding decisions must be approved by the Board of Supervisors in the County’s annual Action
Plan. The funding is non-competitive, however, projects that are recommended for funding must
directly or indirectly benefit low-income persons. The City’s GIA program serves to provide
financial support to non-profit organizations that promote the economic and social well-being of
the citizens of San Luis Obispo. Programs requesting GIA funding must be tied explicitly to at
least one funding priority and must be compliant with the HRC’s Statement of Purpose and
Bylaws.
CDBG and GIA Project Decision Process
The four steps in the review process for both grant programs are as follows:
1. HRC “Community Needs Workshop”: The HRC hosted a public hearing on October 7, 2020
to inform the public about the upcoming CDBG and GIA funding cycles, how to apply for
grants, to hear community views on grant funding needs, and to develop funding priorities.
In addition, an Open City Hall online forum was available to those not able to attend the
workshop. Responses were incorporated into the development of funding priorities for both
grant programs. Minutes from this meeting can be found in Attachment A.
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2. Council Priority Setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities which is scheduled
for the November 17, 2020 meeting.
3. HRC Funding Recommendations Hearings: HRC will hold two separate public hearings to
finalize funding recommendations for both CDBG and GIA programs. The hearing for the
CDBG program is scheduled for December 2, 2020. The hearing for the GIA program is
scheduled for May 5, 2021.
4. City Council Approval of Final Recommendations: City Council will review and approve
final funding recommendations for both CDBG and GIA programs. The Council will hold a
public hearing for CDBG funding decisions, which is tentatively scheduled for the March 2,
2021 City Council meeting. Final funding allocations for the GIA program is tentatively
scheduled for City Council review in July/August 2021.
HRC Recommended CDBG and GIA Funding Priorities for Program Year 2021-22
After hearing and reviewing public testimony, the HRC reviewed the previously adopted 2020
CDBG and GIA funding priorities and decided to make a few adjustments for this grant cycle.
Specifically, the HRC recommended swapping the hierarchy of what were previously Priorities 3
and 4 for CDBG, and adding a priority around diversity, equity, and inclusion for GIA. All
changes are as displayed in the table below. Note that the HRC’s recommended funding
priorities for CDBG are ranked whereas the recommendation for GIA include one main area of
importance with other remaining, non-ranked objectives:
Community Development Block Grant (ranked)
Previous Priorities HRC Recommended Changes
1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter,
homelessness prevention and services.
2. Develop and enhance affordable housing
for low and very-low income persons.
3. Promote accessibility and/or removal of
architectural barriers for the disabled and
elderly.
4. Enhance economic development (to include
seismic retrofit, economic stability, low-
and moderate-income jobs).
1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter,
homelessness prevention and services.
2. Develop and enhance affordable housing for
low and very-low income persons.
3. Enhance economic development (to include
seismic retrofit, economic stability, low-
and moderate-income jobs).
4. Promote accessibility and/or removal of
architectural barriers for the disabled and
elderly.
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Grants-in-Aid (not-ranked)
Previous Priorities HRC Recommended Changes
Main Priority: Homeless prevention, including
affordable and alternative housing, supportive
services and transitional housing
Other Priorities:
• Hunger and malnutrition prevention
• Supportive physical and mental health
services for those in need
• Services for seniors and/or people with
disabilities in need
• Supportive and developmental services for
children and youth in need
Main Priority: Homeless prevention, including
affordable and alternative housing, supportive
services and transitional housing
Other Priorities:
• Hunger and malnutrition prevention
• Supportive physical and mental health
services for those in need
• Services for seniors and/or people with
disabilities in need
• Supportive and developmental services for
children and youth in need
• Services encouraging diversity, equity, and
inclusivity in marginalized communities
Expanded 2021-22 GIA Application Criteria
Additionally, during the Community Needs Workshop, the HRC received several concerns from
non-profit service providers regarding the acceptable list of eligible expenses for the upcoming
GIA program year. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and related-economic constrains,
service providers communicated financial deficits from funding sources that previously
supported general staffing costs, and urged the HRC to expand the use of GIA grant dollars to
provide funding for general operational expenses. In turn, the HRC incorporated this feedback
into the Funding Criteria during their review of the 2021-22 GIA Application, in order to sustain
existing long-term services within the community.
Next Steps
The next step in the CDBG and GIA program cycles is for the Council to consider the HRC’s
recommendations and to affirm or revise the City’s funding priorities. This step is important
because these priorities will guide the HRC’s actions during grant application review. These
priorities will also guide Council’s final funding decisions, when they consider CDBG funding
recommendations in March 2021 and GIA funding recommendations in July 2021.
Policy Context
Task 15 in the Ongoing Housing Production Programs section in the 2019-21 Housing Major
City Goal states that CDBG and GIA grant funding should be prioritized for housing production
available for lower income households. The City’s Housing Element also indicates several
programs throughout the document to help facilitate affordable housing through various grant
programs.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this
report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2021-22
Funding Identified: No
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing Cost
General Fund
State
Federal N/A
Fees
Other:
Total
Decisions made regarding priorities will affect how CDBG and GIA applications are evaluated
and chosen for support. The City receives CDBG funds through the County allotment and, while
this does not directly impact the General Fund, to the extent that projects can be funded through
CDBG, they are not otherwise requiring money from the City’s General Fund. CDBG grant
funds are only a fraction of the historic allocation as the Federal Government has significantly
reduced funding over the last 15 years.
The City has historically designated a portion of General Fund monies for the GIA program and
the priorities expressed by the Council will influence how those grants will be awarded. Because
of the timing with 2021-23 Financial Plan, no funding has yet been allocated to the GIA
program. The City allocated $150,000 annually to the GIA program within the 2019-21
Financial Plan. Establishing priorities has no immediate fiscal impact but is helpful in allocating
the CDBG and GIA funding regardless of the amount.
ALTERNATIVES
1. The Council may modify the proposed funding priorities.
2. The Council may continue consideration of the funding priorities. Direction should be
given to staff regarding additional information needed to make a decision on priorities. This
alternative is not recommended because the timelines for Advisory Body review and
application submittal are fairly structured and the addition of time could delay funding
approval for projects.
Attachments:
a - HRC Meeting Draft Minutes of 10/04/2020
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Draft Minutes
Human Relations Commission
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 5:00 a.m. via teleconference, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair
Campbell.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Renoda Campbell, Angie Kasprzak, Abe Lincoln, Emily
Rosten, Megan Souza
Absent: Commissioner Jeannette Richardson
Staff & Guests: Cara Vereschagin, Housing Coordinator; Dale Magee, Catalyst Consulting
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
--End of Public Comment--
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Consideration of Minutes of the Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting of
September 2, 2020.
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROSTEN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
SOUZA, 5-0-1 (Commissioner Richardson absent) to approve the minutes of the Regular
Meeting of the Human Relations Commission of September 2, 2020.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. 2020 Community Needs Workshop
Housing Coordinator Vereschagin presented an overview of the Community Development
Block Grant and Grants-in-Aid processes and timelines, which highlighted key dates for the
applicants. She also explained that the Workshop is intended to gather information from the
public, regarding health and human service needs in order to develop funding priorities for the
2021-22 grant cycle.
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subti tle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020
Page 2
Chair Campbell opened the public hearing.
Public Comments
• Cassandra Wagner – had concerns about allowable expenses for GIA; requested the
HRC allow general operating support, rather than programmatic expenses
• Jenny Luciano (Big Brothers Big Sisters) – requested funding priorities to be broad to
align with new funding coming out of the COVID-19 emergency relief; requested the
HRC to keep the youth services priority
• Sandra Gresham (Stand Strong) – thanked the HRC for continual support;
communicated almost half of their clients have been children
• Monique Tiller (RISE SLO County) – concerned about staffing costs; requested the
HRC allow general operating support, rather than programmatic expenses
• Teresa Tardiff (CASA) – thanked the City for many years of support;
--End of Public Comment—
Chair Campbell closed the public hearing.
No action was taken.
3. 2021-22 Funding Priorities
Housing Coordinator Vereschagin presented the previously adopted funding priorities for the CDBG
and GIA programs.
Chair Campbell opened the public hearing.
Public Comments
None.
--End of Public Comment—
After hearing the public testimony, the Commission agreed that they should expand the GIA
program to support general staffing and operational expenses, in response to the COVID-19
pandemic. Housing Coordinator Vereschagin communicated that the expansion would be
better folded into the “criteria” section of the application. Commissioners also communicated
their desire to create a priority around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Overall, the public
testimony also solidified that their work has been heading in a positive direction.
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KASPRZAK, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR
LINCOLN, 5-0-1 (Commissioner Richardson absent) to uphold the funding priorities
identified for the Grants-in-Aid program for the previous, 2020-21 year, with the addition of
adding a priority to include “services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in
marginalized communities” as written below:
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subti tle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020
Page 3
Grants in Aid (GIA) 2021-22 Funding Priorities
Main Priority:
· Homeless prevention including affordable and alternative housing, supportive services,
and transitional housing
Other Priorities:
· Hunger and malnutrition support
· Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
· Services for seniors and/ or people with disabilities in need
· Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need
· Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized communities
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SOUZA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
ROSTEN, 5-0-1 (Commissioner Richardson absent) to uphold the funding priorities identified
for the Community Development Block Grant program for the previous, 2020-21 year, with
the only edit to switch the ranked order previously identified Priorities #3 and #4, as listed
below:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2021-22 Funding Priorities
1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter, homelessness prevention and services.
2. Develop and enhance affordable housing for low and very-low income persons.
3. Enhance economic development (including seismic retrofit, economic stability, low and
moderate-income jobs)
4. Promote accessibility and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled and elderly.
BUSINESS ITEMS
4. Potential Strategic Thinking Session(s) for Future Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Grant Program Implementation
Chair Campbell opened up the discussion of holding a strategic planning/thinking session with the
HRC regarding the future implementation of City diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Dale
Magee, the City’s DEI Task Force facilitator, also spoke about the public’s expectation of ongoing
accountability for DEI coming down the pipeline. Ms. Magee also presented a preliminary scope for
the planning sessions.
Public Comments
None
--End of Public Comment—
ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR LINCOLN, SECOND BY CHAIR ROSTEN, 5-0-1
(Commissioner Richardson absent) to hold strategic thinking/planning session(s) regarding
the future implementation of City diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subti tle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020
Page 4
STAFF & COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS
5. Staff Updates
Housing Coordinator Vereschagin notified the Commission about an at-risk affordable housing
unit HASLO is working to preserve with 2019 CDBG funds.
6. Commissioner Updates
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Campbell adjourned the meeting at 6:26 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., via
teleconference.
APPROVED BY THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: XX/XX/2020
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