Report Prepared by: Mark Hamilton, Housing Program Supervisor, Housing Division, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution Approving the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Program Year 2018 - 2019
REPORT IN BRIEF
Review and approve Housing Division activities as reported in the 2018-2019 Program Year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Adopting Resolution 2019-60, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, approving the 2018-2019 Program Year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or the Assistant City Manager to execute and, if necessary, make minor modifications to, the above-referenced items and all associated documents as attached to this report; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as specified by Council; or,
3. Deny the request completely; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by Council; or,
5. Continue item to a future Council meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 405, 409, and 411 et seq., and Pursuant to 24 CFR 91.520 (Performance Reports) et seq. [CAPER will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)].
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2018-19 City of Merced Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
Staff is requesting that the Council consider approving the 2018-2019 CAPER.
The CAPER describes the results of the activities and accomplishments identified in the 2018 HUD Annual Action Plan. The CAPER is generally viewed as a report card for how the City performed in executing its previous year’s Annual Action Plan and how the Annual Action Plan followed the current five-year (2015-2020) Consolidated Plan. It also catalogs additional activities funded through the Housing Division.
The City used a variety of funding sources with differing guidelines to achieve the community’s housing goals. Accordingly, the Housing Division used the following grant funding sources during the last fiscal year:
1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - Federal
2. HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) - Federal
3. Program Income (generated from loan payoffs and property resale that originated from Federal and State funding sources)
The common goal of these programs is to make Merced a more livable community for all of its citizens. Significant resources are used to assist people in enjoying decent, safe, and affordable housing. Other community development efforts target community-wide public safety, youth programs, recreation, public facilities, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization.
Each fiscal year, the Annual Action Plan outlines activities and programs, provides descriptions with goals and funding, and sets desired outcomes. At the end of each year, the CAPER gives an overview of these programs with results of actual funds spent and goals met. In addition, the CAPER provides staff an opportunity to highlight changes and improvements to the program that occurred over the course of the fiscal year.
Some of the program’s notable accomplishments from the 2018-19 year include:
1. The Housing Division invested over $2,345,300 towards Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program Activities.
2. With funds from the City, Merced Rescue Mission and Sierra Saving Grace were able to purchase and rehabilitate a total of four units and, subsequently, rent them to at-risk or low-income tenants.
3. With funding assistance to the Merced Rescue Mission for operating costs of the Warming Center, the City was able to help 185 men, women, and children sleep warm and dry last winter. Combined, these individuals used the Warming Center’s services 308 times.
4. Lead paint was abated in three homes in the City as part of the combined efforts of both the Homeowner-Occupied Rehabilitation and the Lead Paint Remediation Programs overseen by Habitat for Humanity - Stanislaus County. A total of eight homes were tested for lead paint hazards between both programs, for a remediation success rate of over 37 percent.
5. Habitat for Humanity - During the past year, Stanislaus County completed and closed out two ongoing owner-occupied residential rehabilitation projects and began construction on another, and currently is working with approximately five homeowners at various stages of the screening application process.
6. The Housing Division was able to fund a combined total of thirteen projects and public services programs.
7. In total, CDBG public service assistance benefitted approximately 10,172 individuals within the Merced Community.
8. Sidewalk improvements funded with CDBG dollars benefitted approximately 5,070 residents in the neighborhoods where the work was completed.
9. Funding resources were provided to 134 households and individuals in the form of rental deposits and other housing-related advocacy, while helping them to avoid becoming homeless.
10. Achieving HUD’s timeliness goal percentage (to be lower than 1.5%) for an entitlement community. The City of Merced met and surpassed the goal with a percentage of 1.32%.
History and Past Actions
Each year, the City of Merced prepares an Annual Action Plan for submission to HUD.
The framework for the Annual Action Plan finds its roots in the City of Merced 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is a five-year planning document, outlining the City’s strategy for pursuing Federal, State, and local resources in order to meet the housing and community development needs of low- and moderate-income residents.
On a yearly basis, the City Council is asked to approve the submission of its HUD Annual Action Plans after holding public hearings. The 2018 HUD Annual Plan was adopted by the City Council in June 2018 and amended in October 2018.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed for approval of the 2018-19 CAPER.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft FY 2018-19 CAPER
2. Presentation
3. Draft Resolution