2015/04/29 Council Agenda Packet

Staff Report for Community'Development Block Grant, HOME, and Housing Trust Funds— 2060 The Citizen's Committee for Housing and Community Development reviewed proposals for the expenditure of the City of Everett's Community Development Block Grant program and other available funding. Public hearings were held on November 12, 2014, November 18, 2014, November 19, 2014 and November 20, 2014 at various locations for needs assessment. The Committee studied each proposal and interviewed each proponent. Four meetings and eight hours of interviews took place, concluding on February 25, 2015. Another meeting and public hearing was held on March 4, 2015 for comments concerning the Committee's recommendation to City Council. The Committee spent additional hours at home reviewing the proposals. The City's 2015 Community Development Block Grant is $834,904 which is about a 0.3% reduction from the $837,407 received in 2014. The Committee recommends funding public services at the maximum allowed by HUD, fifteen percent of the grant. Fifteen percent of $834,904 is $125,236. The Committee recommends using the remaining 85% of the 2014 CDBG award, $709,668 for eligible non- public service projects. There are also Housing Trust 2060, HOME, and CHIP revolving loan rehabilitation funds available for projects. The Committee recommends using $157,917 in Housing Trust 2060 funds for funding homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and another housing program. The Committee recommends using $1,079,744 in 2014 HOME and prior years reallocated HOME funding for first time homebuyers and the rehabilitation / acquisition of low-income apartments. The total amount proposed for CDBG non-public service, HOME, and 2060 Housing Trust Fund projects is $2,072,567. If the Department of Housing and Urban Development reduces or increases the CDBG and/or HOME allocations, each affected item will be reduced or increased by a percentage equal to the increase or decrease, including the Community Housing Improvement Program and Community Development Block Grant Administration. The Annual Action Plan and the Consolidated Plan were available for public comment for 30 days commencing March 24, 2015 and ending on April 24, 2015. The Consolidated Plan continues past policies of the 2010 to 2014 Consolidated Plan. It also updates information on the City of Everett with the most recent available data. Each one of the members of the Committee provided a valuable contribution to this recommendation. This group was very dedicated while performing this difficult task. Staff congratulates the Committee for a job well done and thanks them for their time and effort. Participating Committee members were: Gregg Elder, Rick Dorris, David Simpson, Kaye Phinney, Greg Campbell, Peter Sontra, Bruce Overstreet, Graham Anderson, and Tim Knopf. 10