AGENDA DATE: 4/17/2019
TITLE:
Title
Community Development Block Grant
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approve Plans and Certifications of Compliance to receive CDBG Funds
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, White, Graham, Pethia
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County received a CDBG Planning Grant to support preliminary design work for the redevelopment of the Southwood Mobile Home Park. The grant requires that the County complete a number of actions necessary to apply for and receive a future CDBG construction grant. The use of CDBG funds is considered a “federal action,” which requires that the local governing body receiving the funds adopt and comply with several regulations, both general assurances and those specific to the proposed project.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Operational Capacity: Ensure County Government’s ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: The following Plans and Certifications are general requirements.
Non-Discrimination Policy - The County has adopted a policy on Equal Opportunity which can be found in the County’s Personnel Policy Manual (P-21). Attachment A is a certification consistent with the County’s current policy that it will not discriminate against the listed protected classes.
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 B) 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 will be project-specific.
Fair Housing Certification - This certification (Attachment C) 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.
Section 504 Complaint Procedures - The County has previously adopted and published the County’s intent to comply with Section 504 regarding handicapped accessibility. The Director of Human Resources is designated as the Section 504 Coordinator. The County is also required to have a procedure for any complaint related to Section 504. Attachment D is a revised complaint procedure which identifies responsibilities by positions rather than specific individuals. As noted, this procedure is specific to federally-funded housing and community development programs.
The following Certification is project-specific but cannot be completed until the project design is completed and the impact on existing residential units is known. It is being provided for information only at this time.
Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan Certification (Attachment E) - This certification states 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.
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 the Local Business and Employment Plan (Attachment B) and the Section 504 Complaint Procedure (Attachment D); and 2) authorize the County Executive to execute the Non-Discrimination Policy (Attachment A), the Local Business and Employment Plan (Attachment B), and the Fair Housing Certification (Attachment C).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Non-Discrimination Policy
B - Local Business and Employment Plan
C - Fair Housing Certification
D - Section 504 Complaint Procedure
E - Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan