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PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR 2015 THROUGH 2019 AND THE FORTY-FIRST YEAR NORMAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) APPLICATION WHICH INCLUDES THE 2015 HOME PROGRAM TOTALING $1,040,525 TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
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BACKGROUND: The 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan reflects a comprehensive planning approach to identify and address the needs of low-to-moderate income residents of Norman. Incorporated in the plan are a community profile of needs, goals and objectives related to housing, homeless persons, community development (including facilities, infrastructure, public services, and economic development), public and assisted housing needs, and other issues including fair housing and lead-based paint; and a strategic plan to address those needs. The Consolidated Plan was unanimously recommended for approval by the Community Development Policy Committee on March 4, 2015.
The one-year Action Plan for the 41stt Year Community Development Block Grant Program ($744,314) and the 2015 HOME Program ($296,211) includes the proposed use of funds with references to the Five-Year Consolidated Plan Objectives and expected performance outcomes, and totals $1,040,525.
DISCUSSION: The Action Plan for 2015 is based upon research which utilized existing documents, and the recommendations of the Community Development Policy Committee as a result of a formal citizen participation process. This process included multiple interactions with interested parties and also opportunities for citizen participation from the general public. These interactions included neighborhood meetings for the five target neighborhoods where specific neighborhood needs were discussed as well as overall community development activities; multiple individual and focus group meetings where specific information regarding public services, public facilities, housing, homelessness, and economic development/anti-poverty were discussed; in September 2014 the annual Community Dialogue on housing and community development needs was held where issues that affect low and moderate income citizens were discussed in addition to the election of Policy Committee Representatives. The CDBG Policy Committee meetings included an extensive review of the previous Consolidated Plan’s Goals and Objectives and discussed the information that was assembled from the Community Dialogue, neighborhood meetings and focus groups. Utilizing the information that was compiled from this extensive citizen participation process the CDBG Policy Committee unanimously approved the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and First Year Action Plan.
The CDBG and HOME projects for 2015 include housing rehabilitation and related housing projects at $750,543 and funding of public services including transportation at $111,500. The housing related projects include assistance for Community Housing Development Organization activities to develop affordable housing and to provide tenant-based rental assistance in conjunction with the ZERO: 2016 Program. HUD allows up to 15% of a CDBG proposal for public services, and this grant proposal designated 14.98% for public services (including mass transportation). All projects are listed in the attached 2015 Action Plan.
A thirty-day comment period on the proposed Action Plan ends on May 11th. Upon approval, the Five Year Consolidated Plan 2015-2019 and the 2015-2016 Action Plan will be forwarded to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for review. Funds will be available July 1, 2015.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the Five Year Consolidated Plan 2015-2019 and the Forty-First Year Community Development Block Grant Program and the 2015 HOME Program are recommended as proposed.