REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 09/15/2021
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing to receive comments and file the 2020-2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
End
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report is a federally mandated informational assessment report 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, 2020 to June 30, 2021. As required, the report has been made available to the public prior to the public hearing. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the report will be submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council receive and file the 2020-2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and authorize the Community Services Director to submit the report to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Body
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Federal regulations require the City of Corona to prepare an annual report called the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. This report contains a summary of activities in connection with the City’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships program grants received from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The 2020-2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is an informational assessment report of activities implemented by the City and its community partners with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) grant funds from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 to address the needs of low- and moderate-income residents. Submission of this report marks the completion of the first year in the current Five-Year Consolidated Action planning cycle that covers July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025.
ANALYSIS:
For the 2021 program year, the City received $1,249,046 of CDBG funds and $496,877 of HOME funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which were combined in the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan with $292,706 of prior year unspent CDBG funds and $183,211 of unspent HOME funds for a total investment of $2,221,840. 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 recent completed fiscal year.
1. Affordable housing preservation and rehabilitation assistance to one low- and moderate-income homeowner.
The City’s Residential Rehabilitation Program completed one forgivable loan project of approximately $25,000 for a low-moderate income owners of a single-family home. Due to COVID-19, homeowners and contractors needed to remain socially-distant. As a result, program accomplishments are lower than normal.
2. Fair housing services to 2,015 residents.
The City of Corona provided financial support to the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc., which provides fair housing outreach, education, and enforcement activities, including landlord-tenant matters. The Fair Housing Council assisted 2,015 residents.
3. Homelessness prevention and assistance services to five residents.
The City of Corona provided funding to Community Connect and Inspire Life Skills Training in support of their on-going effort and service to prevent homelessness. The Inspiring Hope Program provided housing, living costs, training, and academic and life skills support to six former foster and at-risk homeless youths.
4. Code Enforcement inspections to bring 259 housing units into compliance.
The City’s Code Enforcement officers brought 259 housing units into compliance with local codes to ensure safe housing provided to low-moderate income residents, of the CDBG Target Areas.
5. Special Needs services for 106 residents.
The Peppermint Ridge Activity Center provided additional space for program activities for 81 adults that have developmental and intellectual disabilities. The Corona-Norco United Way provided family support service and counseling to 25 residents that are victims of domestic violence.
6. Services for 94 low- and moderate-income residents.
The Corona Norco United Way under their Children and Youth Success tutoring program provided services to 25 schoolchildren to help them succeed in the classroom. The Corona Norco YMCA provided a fine arts education program to 53 children of low- and moderate-income families. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire provided youth mentoring to 16 girls.
7. The Public Works Department substantially completed construction of the 2018-2019 CDBG Sidewalk Project.
8. Phase I Homeless Shelter Rehabilitation planning and construction.
To address homeless needs, the City focused on its Community Facilities goal in the Consolidated Plan by using CDBG funds to rehabilitate the City’s homeless shelter for use as a low-barrier emergency shelter. Phase 1 of the rehabilitation work that used CDBG funds is complete. Currently under design is Phase 2 improvement. Upon completion of Phase 2, the shelter will open.
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 that needed to purchase PPE necessary to implement social distancing requirements in accordance with federal and state guidelines to protect public and employee health.
During the 2021 fiscal year, the CDBG/Housing team implemented the rental and mortgage assistance programs as well as the business assistance program.
9. Emergency Housing Needs Assistance - Rental
This program provided short-term rental and utility assistance to 77 households (217 people) to provide economic relief or prevent shutoff during the pandemic.
10. Emergency Housing Needs Assistance - Mortgage
This program provided short-term mortgage and utility assistance to twelve households (38 people) to prevent eviction or shutoff during the pandemic.
11. Provided Personal Protective Equipment Grants to Businesses
This program issued eight business grants to pay for the cost of PPE necessary to implement social distancing requirements in accordance with Federal and state guidelines to protect public and employee health.
Citizen Participation
HUD regulations require the 2020-2021 CAPER to be made available to citizens for public comment and to be considered by the City Council at a public hearing. In accordance with HUD regulations, a public notice was published in the Sentinel Weekly News on September 1, 2021, inviting the public to comment on the CAPER. The draft CAPER was available for public review 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 submission of the City’s 2020-2021 CAPER to HUD.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is to review the 2020-2021 CAPER. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: CLINT WHITED, CDBG CONSULTANT & CYNTHIA LARA, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER II
REVIEWED BY: ANNE K. TURNER, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - 2020-2021 CAPER