REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 09/20/2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
SUBJECT:
Title
2022-2023 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
End
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve and authorize staff to submit the 2022-2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report is a federally mandated informational assessment of activities implemented with Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships grant funds to address the needs of low- and moderate-income residents. This report covers the period between July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. As required, the report has been made available to the public prior to the City’s consideration.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council:
a. Receive, approve, and file the 2022-2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report.
b. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to submit the report to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Federal regulations require the City of Corona to prepare an annual report called the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The 2022-2023 CAPER contains a summary of activities implemented by the City and its community partners under the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships grant funds from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, as approved in the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan, to address the needs of low- and moderate-income residents.
Submission of the 2022-2023 CAPER marks the completion of the third year in the current Five-Year Consolidated Action planning cycle that covers July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025.
ANALYSIS:
For the 2022-2023 program year, the City received $1,140,645 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $535,448 of HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) grant funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which were combined in the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan with $62,355 of unexpended prior year CDBG funds. This investment of CDBG and HOME funds was a catalyst for positive change in the community. The following highlights the activities implemented by the City and its community partners during the completed program year.
1. Fair housing services to Corona residents. Funds allocated: $33,121.
The Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc. provides fair housing outreach, education, and enforcement activities, including landlord-tenant matters. In partnership with the City, Fair Housing Council assisted 1,341 Corona residents.
2. Code Compliance inspections to bring housing units into compliance. Funds allocated: $100,000.
The City’s Code Compliance team brought 283 housing units into compliance with local and state codes to ensure safe housing is provided to low-moderate income residents of the CDBG Target Areas.
3. Special Needs services for Peppermint Ridge residents. Funds allocated: $27,595.
Peppermint Ridge provided skilled nursing services for 20 adults who have developmental and intellectual disabilities.
4. Miscellaneous Services for 233 low- and moderate-income residents.
• The ABC Hopes [Dis] Abilities and Life Skills Support Program provided services to 60 low-income residents. Funds allocated: $27,595.
• The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire provided mentoring to 16 youths. Funds allocated: $27,595.
• The Starting Over Path to Seed program assisted 143 residents to start back on the road to self-sufficiency. Funds allocated: $27,595.
• The Voices for Children Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA Program) assisted 14 youths during the program year. Funds allocated: $27,595.
The program and projects listed below are ongoing activities funded under the CDBG and HOME Programs in action plans prior to this 2022-2023 program year. These updates are included in the report because progress activities occurred during this reporting year.
1. Affordable housing preservation and rehabilitation assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners.
The City’s Residential Rehabilitation Program completed projects of approximately $25,000 each for low-moderate income owners of single-family homes. The total investment of federal funds under this program was $50,000.
2. Phase I Homeless Shelter Rehabilitation planning and construction.
Phase 1 of the rehabilitation that used CDBG funds was completed and reported in the 2021-2022 CAPER. During this program year, Phase 2 of the improvement project was completed, and the shelter opened for services on May 31, 2023. The total investment of federal funds under this project was $1,003,459.
3. The 2021-2022 Corona Senior Center Rehabilitation Project made significant strides and is currently in the final stages of the design phase with an anticipated date to bid, award the project, and complete construction during the upcoming 2023-2024 program year. The total allocated federal funds for this project is $714,229
In addition to the City’s normal CDBG and HOME programs, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizing $2.2 trillion in a variety of stimulus measures to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City received a special allocation of $1,670,542 of CDBG funds under the CARES Act, referred to in the CAPER as “CDBG-CV” funds. The City Council allocated these funds to prevent eviction and foreclosure for low- and moderate-income residents experiencing negative economic impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The City Council also authorized a portion of these funds to implement a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Grants for Businesses program that provides $5,000 grant assistance to Corona businesses to purchase PPE necessary to protect public and employee health in accordance with federal and state guidelines.
The following accomplishments track all progress made since the inception of the CDBG-CV programs.
1. Emergency Housing Needs Assistance - Rental: 120 households assisted.
2. Emergency Housing Needs Assistance - Mortgage: 23 households assisted.
3. Provided Personal Protective Equipment Grants to Businesses: 8 business assisted.
Citizen Participation
HUD regulations require the 2022-2023 CAPER to be made available to citizens for public comment. Accordingly, a public notice was published in the Sentinel Weekly News on September 15, 2023, inviting the public to review and comment from September 15, 2023, through October 2, 2023. A hard copy of the CAPER was also available at the City Clerk’s Office, Corona Public Library, Community Services Department, and online on the City’s CDBG webpage.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the approval and submission of the 2022-2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
There is no environmental impact associated with the approval and submission of the 2022-2023 CAPER of the report to HUD. This action is exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act and does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY: FRANK PEREZ, CDBG CONSULTANT & CYNTHIA LARA, COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, INTERIM COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - 2022-2023 CAPER
2. Exhibit 2 - Public Notice (English and Spanish)