Title
Lee's Summit 2018-19 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan
Body
Issue/Request:
In 1994, Lee's Summit was designated as an Entitlement Community under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which gives the City the authority to administer the grant in our community. An annual grant is awarded to the City to support local programs and projects primarily benefitting low-to-moderate income persons and households. The grant distribution aims to achieve priority goals and objectives as established in the City Consolidated Plan, a five-year strategic plan for the grant program. In 2017-18 program year, the City was awarded $354,769.00 grant funds and the 2018-19 grant amount has not been announced by HUD as of today. For the purpose of local planning and process, HUD instructed grantees to use last year's grant amount as an estimate for the upcoming year's grant.
The City is required to adopt an annual action plan for each program year that summarizes local actions to be taken to address specific needs of the community's low-to-moderate income persons. The Action Plan also includes CDBG funding distributions to provide financial support for local services and public housing provider to carry out activities that meet priority needs of the community as identified in the Consolidated Plan. The draft Action Plan presented here has been prepared through a public process, which includes a press release, a pre-application orientation for the prospective applicants, staff evaluation and prioritization of the applications, staff funding allocation recommendations and the drafting of the Action Plan. In addition to the assumed $354,769.00 grant fund to be awarded by HUD, a surplus fund in the amount of $17,337.80 from prior years' CDBG activities is also recommended to be reallocated to the next year's program.
Following the public hearing, there will be a 30-day public comment period before Council adoption.
Recommendation
Recommendation: Staff recommends that CEDC approve a recommendation for approval of the attached Lee's Summit 2018-19 CDBG Action Plan by the full City Coucil by ordinance.