HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5d. Consideration of HRC recommended priorities for 2022-23 CDBG and GIA Programs Item 5d
Department: Community Development
Cost Center: 4007
For Agenda of: 11/16/2021
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Owen Goode, Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION’S
RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES FOR THE 2022-23 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AND GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAMS
RECOMMENDATION
As recommended by the Human Relations Commission, approve the Community
Development Block Grant and Grants-in-Aid funding priorities for the 2022-23 funding
year.
DISCUSSION
The City’s annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Grants-in-Aid (GIA)
review programs provide 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
tasked with recommending to Council funding priorities and recommendations for both
grant programs.
Background
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.
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Item 5d
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 6,
2021 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. Responses were incorporated into the development of funding
priorities for both grant programs. Minutes from this meeting can be found in
Attachment A.
2. Council Priority Setting: Council sets CDBG and GIA funding priorities which is
scheduled for the November 16, 2021 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 tentatively scheduled for December 1, 2021. The
hearing for the GIA program is tentatively scheduled on May 4, 2022.
4. City Council Approval of Final Recommendations: City Council will review and
approve final funding recommendations for both CDBG programs. The Council will
hold a public hearing for CDBG funding decisions, which is tentatively scheduled for
the March 1, 2022 City Council meeting. Final funding allocations for the GIA program
is tentatively scheduled for City Council review in July/August 2022.
HRC Recommended CDBG and GIA Funding Priorities for Program Year 2022-23
After hearing and reviewing public testimony, the HRC reviewed the previously adopted
2021 CDBG and GIA funding priorities and decided to make a few adjustments for this
(2022-23) grant cycle. The HRC recommended to continue with the same ranked
Community Development Block Grant Priorities. It is important to distinguish the HRC’s
recommended funding priorities for CDBG are ranked whereas the recommendation for
GIA includes one main area of importance and non-ranked objectives:
HRC
Community
Needs
Workshop
Council Priority
Setting
HRC Funding
Hearings
Council Review
and Funding
Approval
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Item 5d
Community Development Block Grant (ranked)
HRC Recommended to Maintain Funding Priorities for 2022-23 Cycle
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).
Grants-in-Aid (not ranked)
Previous Priorities HRC Recommended Funding Priorities
for 2022-23 Cycle
Main Priority: Homeless prevention,
including affordable and alternative
housing, supportive services and
transitional housing
Non-ranked Objectives:
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
Non-ranked Objectives:
Hunger and malnutrition prevention
Supportive physical and mental health
services for those in need
Services for seniors, veterans and/or
people with disabilities in need
Supportive, developmental, and care
services for children and youth in need
Services encouraging diversity, equity,
and inclusivity in marginalized
communities including language access
2022-23 GIA Application Criteria and Diversity Equity and Inclusion
During the Community Needs Workshop, the HRC received comments from non-profit
service providers regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic and related-economic
constrains, especially regarding potentially disproportionate impacts to vulnerable
communities. HRC incorporated this feedback into the Funding Criteria during their review
of the 2022-23 GIA Application. Additionally, staff reported that additional one -time
funding specific to DEI needs will be made available tentatively in the Spring of 2022.
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Item 5d
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 2022 and GIA funding
recommendations in July 2022.
Policy Context
The ongoing Regional Engagement and Grant Management section in the 2021-23
Housing and Homelessness Major City Goal states that CDBG and GIA grant funding
should prioritize homelessness related funding opportunities. The City’s Housing Element
also indicates several programs throughout the document to help facilitate affordable
housing through various grant programs.
Public Engagement
Staff reached out to previous applicants of the GIA program by providing flyers for the
Community Needs Workshop to remind organizations to join for the annual workshop. In
order to broaden public outreach, consistent with City community engagement practices,
staff worked with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Task Force consultant to retrieve
additional contact information for organizations that may not have applied for funds in the
past.
CONCURRENCE
Community Development Staff will continue to monitor applications and maintain
communication at the County level for CDBG requirements and timelines. CDD staff will
continue to provide updates to the public to ensure that organizations have opportunities
to apply for funding.
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: Yes
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Item 5d
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $150,000 $150,000 $0
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. The City allocated $150,000 annually to the GIA program within the 2019 -
21 Financial Plan and again for the 2021-2023 Financial Plan. Establishing priorities has
no immediate fiscal impact but will be helpful in allocating the CDBG and GIA funding
according to City priorities.
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 additi on of time
could delay funding approval for projects.
ATTACHMENTS
A – Minutes of the 10/6/2021 HRC Community Needs Workshop
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Minutes
Human Relations Commission
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
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 6, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. via teleconference, by Chair Dusty Colyer-Worth.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Stephanie Carlotti, Jesse Grothaus, Megan Souza,
Taryn Warrecker, Vice Chair Angie Kasprzak, and Chair Dusty Colyer-Worth
Absent: Commissioner Emily Rosten
Staff & Guests: Michael Codron, Community Development Director; Owen Goode, Assistant
Planner; Megan Wilbanks, Deputy City Clerk
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 1, 2021.
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WARRECKER, SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER SOUZA, 6-0-1 (Commissioner Carlotti abstained, Commissioner Rosten
absent) to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission
of September 1, 2021.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
2.2021 Community Needs Workshop
Assistant Planner Owen Goode presented an overview of the Community Development Block
Grant and Grants-in-Aid processes and timelines, which highlighted key dates for the
applicants. He 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
2022-23 grant cycle.
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 6, 2021
Page 2
Public Comments:
Bernadette Bernardi - Literacy for Life
Courtney Haile - RACE Matters
Jenny Luciano - Big Brothers Big Sisters
Sister Theresa Harpin - Restorative Partners
Noha Kolkailah - Peace Academy
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: By consensus, the Human Relations Commission received public comments
on current community health and human services needs in San Luis Obispo.
3.2021-22 Funding Priorities
Public Comments:
Riley Smith - 2-1-1
Bernadette Bernardi - Literacy for Life
Jenny Luciano - Big Brothers Big Sisters
Emily Hansen
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GROTHAUS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
WARRECKER, 6-0-1 (Commissioner Rosten absent) to forward the following funding
priorities for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Grants-in-Aid (GIA)
programs to the City Council for approval (added language shown in red):
GIA Funding Priorities
Main Priority:
Homelessness 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, veterans and/or people
with disabilities in need
•Supportive, development, and care services
for children and youth in need
•Services encouraging Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusivity in marginalized communities,
including access to language services
CDGB 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.Promote accessibility and/or removal of
architectural barriers for the disabled and
elderly.
4.Enhance economic development (to
include seismic, low and moderate income
jobs).
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City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 6, 2021
Page 3
STAFF & COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS
4.Staff Updates
Assistant Planner Owen Goode informed the Commission that staff has administered most of
the GIA checks for the last cycle to grant recipients. The outstanding checks are awaiting
signatures by the recipients on the final contract, once those contracts are executed, staff can
release the remainder of the checks. Any questions should be directed to Owen Goode at
ogoode@slocity.org or (805) 781-7576.
Community Development Director Michael Codron informed the Commission that, with the
adoption of the new Financial Plan, City Council approved a new position in the Community
Development Department, a Code Enforcement Technician. The program is geared toward
safe housing outreach and education. Expectations for the position are that they focus on
landlord-tenant outreach to improve relationships, prevent evictions, and provide education
both on campus and off as it relates to safe housing. A conditional offer of employment has
been accepted and the new staff member will join the department in the coming weeks.
5.Commissioner Updates
Vice Chair Kasperzak provided information about weekly Landlord-Tenant Clinics offered by
the SLO Legal Assistance Foundation at the San Luis Obispo Superior Court and Paso Robles
Superior Court. The clinic is offered Monday through Friday at 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm. For
more information, visit their website at https://slolaf.org/what-we-do/landlord-tenant-clinic/ or
call (805) 548-0797.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Colyer-Worth adjourned the meeting at 6:23 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 5:00 p.m., via
teleconference.
APPROVED BY THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: 11/03/2021
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