AGENDA DATE: 11/4/2020
TITLE:
Title
Southwood Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Certifications
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, Filardo, Rapp, Pethia
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County has been awarded $1 million in CDBG funds to support infrastructure work in Phase 1 of the Southwood redevelopment project. The use of CDBG funds is considered a “federal action,” which requires the local governing body receiving the funds to adopt and comply with several regulations, both general assurances and those specific to the proposed project.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations: Ensure County Government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: The following Plans and Certifications are general requirements of the CDBG grant.
Non-Discrimination Policy (Attachment A) - 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 (Attachment B) - 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 (Attachment C) - This certification states the County will take at least one action annually to affirmatively further fair housing. The action must be from a list of Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (VDHCD)-approved actions or must otherwise be approved by the VDHCD.
Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan Certification (Attachment D) - This certification states the County will notify the public and advise the State in the event 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. An Anti-displacement and Resident Relocation Assistance Plan has been developed for the Southwood Phase 1 project and submitted to VDHCD for review.
Section 504 Complaint Procedures (Attachment E) - 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 E 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.
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) authorize the County Executive to execute the Non-Discrimination Policy (Attachment A)
2) the Local Business and Employment Plan (Attachment B)
3) the Fair Housing Certification (Attachment C)
4) the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Certification (Attachment D)
5) approve the Section 504 Complaint Procedure (Attachment E)
ATTACHMENTS:
Att. A - Non-Discrimination Policy
Att. B - Local Business and Employment Plan
Att. C - Fair Housing Certification
Att. D - Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan
Att. E - Section 504 Complaint Procedure