AGENDA DATE: 1/6/2016
TITLE:
Title
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approve Plans and Certifications of Compliance required to receive CDBG Funds
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Letteri, Davis, and White
PRESENTER (S): None
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County has been awarded CDBG funding for the Oak Hill Sewer Phase II project and is proposing to submit an application for funding in March 2016 for a housing rehabilitation project in southern Albemarle County. The sewer project is expected to provide assistance to 20 homeowners if approved. Up to 25 properties are expected to receive assistance through the housing rehabilitation project if approved. The use of CDBG funds is considered a “federal action” which requires that the local governing body receiving the funds comply with a number of regulations. Requirements related to Equal Opportunity is a part of the County’s Personnel Policy Manual (P-21), and requirements for handicapped accessibility, including grievance procedures, were adopted in February 2009.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Operational Capacity: Ensure County Government’s ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION:
The following Plan and Certification are general requirements.
Local Business and Employment Plan - The County must approve a plan to designate the project area boundaries for the purpose of utilizing, to the greatest extent possible, businesses and lower-income residents located in the project area to carry out the CDBG-funded activities. The proposed Plan (Attachment A) designates the entire County as the project area and requires that the public be notified of this through publication of an advertisement in a local widely- circulated newspaper. While the Plan can cover any project, the ad soliciting Section 3 businesses and individuals is project-specific.
Fair Housing Certification - This certification (Attachment B) states that the County will take at least one action annually to affirmatively further fair housing. The action must be from a list of VDHCD-approved actions or must otherwise be approved by the VDHCD.
The following Certification is project-specific and two Plans are attached (Attachment C for Oak Hill Sewer Project and Attachment D for Southern Albemarle Housing Rehabilitation Project).
Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan Certification - These certifications state that the County will notify the public and advise the State in the event that a CDBG-funded activity will result in the demolition or conversion of residential units. Furthermore, should displacement occur, the County and/or the development owners will provide relocation assistance in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. The Oak Hill Sewer Project will not involve the demolition or conversion of residential units which result in displacement. The Southern Albemarle Housing Rehabilitation Project is not expected to cause permanent displacement, but may cause the need for temporary relocation. In the past, AHIP has worked with the families who had to relocate temporarily, and typically the affected individual has stayed with family members or friends. These are isolated cases when extensive work is necessary and are very infrequent. Any temporary relocation cost that may be necessary is grant eligible for funding.
BUDGET IMPACT: There are no budget impacts associated with the approval of these items. The cost of the required Local Business and Employment Plan advertisement is a CDBG grant-eligible expenditure, which is reimbursable upon the execution of the CDBG contract.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board: 1) approve and authorize the County Executive to execute the Local Business and Employment Plan (Attachment A); 2) authorize the County Executive to execute the Fair Housing Certification (Attachment B); and 3) authorize the County Executive to execute the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan Certifications (Attachments C and D).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Local Business and Employment Plan
B - Fair Housing Certification
C - Oak Hill Sewer Project Anti-displacement Certification
D - Southern Albemarle Housing Rehabilitation Project Anti-displacement Certification