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CC - (1) Consideration of the Community Development Block Grant Fund Allocation for Fiscal Year 2019/2020; (2) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Filing of the Application for Funding; and (3) Approval of a Reimbursable Contract with the County of Los Angeles Concerning Culver City’s Allocation.
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Meeting Date: December 10, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Glenn Heald/Community Development
Todd Tipton/Community Development
Phone Number: 310-253-5752
310-253-5783
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: 11/29/2017
Public Notification: Posted at City Hall (11/02/18); (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/05/18); Published in the Culver City News (11/15/18).
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director (11/21/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019/2020; (2) adopt a resolution authorizing the filing of the FY 2019/2020 application for funding from the CDBG program (Attachment No. 1); and (3) approve a CDBG Reimbursable Contract with the County of Los Angeles (County) concerning Culver City’s FY 2019/2020 CDBG Allocation.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The 1974 Federal Housing Act authorized the allocation of block grants to eligible applicant municipalities nationwide to be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons, subject to program regulations and eligibility criteria (Attachment No. 2). The CDBG program is administered by the Community Development Commission (CDC) of the County.
Culver City participates in the CDBG program as a member of the Los Angeles Urban County Entitlement and, to date, has completed forty-four (44) application cycles totaling over $12 million in funds (Attachment No. 3, i).
CDBG funding for FY 2019/2020 is anticipated to be approximately $190,000. The actual amount of FY 2019/2020 funding will be determined by the County in March 2019 after remittance of the City’s CDBG application (Attachment No. 3, ii).
In past years CDBG funds were used for a variety of purposes, but due to the continuous tightening of CDBG program requirements and Culver City’s demographics, CDBG funds may currently be used only for sidewalk and curb ramp repairs, projects serving the elderly and disabled, and administering social services and programs.
The Advisory Committee met on November 15, 2018, to consider potential projects and to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding use of available FY 2019/2020 CDBG funds and voted to recommend to the City Council that available CDBG funding for FY 2019/2020 be allocated in the order prioritized below.
Ongoing Public Service Projects
Priority No. 1: Disability and Social Services Specialist Salary (~$28,000)
CDBG rules allow for up to fifteen percent (15%) of the total available CDBG funds to be allocated for funding salaries of eligible public service staff positions. The Disability and Social Services Specialist (DSS) position in the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department has been partially funded with CDBG funds for the past thirty-two years. The DSS assists residents with disabilities by identifying, implementing, conducting and facilitating available community resources and services. Funding the DSS position to the maximum amount allowed by CDBG rules is supported and recommended by the CDBG Advisory Committee, the Disability Advisory Committee, and the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department.
The Advisory Committee recommends that if the actual CDBG funding amount is more or less than the amount anticipated, the maximum permissible amount (15% of total CDBG funding) shall be allocated to the DSS position. The remaining amount shall be allocated to the capital improvement projects.
Proposed Capital Improvement Project(s)
Priority No. 2: Curb Ramp Upgrade Project (~$162,000)
The City is required to upgrade curb ramps to meet current ADA standards whenever the City overlays or resurfaces an adjacent roadway. This proposed project will upgrade curb ramps that are not compliant with current ADA standards at the following locations:
1. Overland Avenue at Washington Boulevard (3 ramps)
2. Overland Avenue at Palm Court (2 ramps)
3. Overland Avenue at Culver Boulevard (3 ramps)
4. Overland Avenue at Barman Avenue (1 ramp)
5. Overland Avenue at Braddock Avenue (3 ramps)
6. Overland Avenue at Garfield Avenue (2 ramps)
7. Overland Avenue at Franklin Avenue (4 ramps)
8. Overland Avenue at Farragut Avenue (2 ramps)
9. Overland Avenue at Ocean Drive (2 ramps)
10. Overland Avenue at Virginia Avenue (4 ramps)
11. Replace sidewalk on Overland Avenue between Washington Boulevard and Farragut Avenue where excessive slopes do not meet ADA requirements.
This project is anticipated to cost a total of approximately $162,000. If approved, unexpended CDBG funds currently on account will be added to the available FY 2019/2020 funds to meet the total project costs.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The use of CDBG funding reduces the demand on the General Fund in a dollar-for-dollar amount. Funding for the DSS position will be supplemented by the General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution authorizing the City’s FY 2019/2020 CDBG application.
2. CDBG Funding Eligibility Requirements.
3. Notes.
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Allocate funding for the proposed FY 2019/2020 CDBG projects; and,
2. Adopt a resolution authorizing the filing of the FY 2019/2020 application for funding from the CDBG Program, including all certifications; and,
3. Designate the City Manager as the authorized City official to execute and file all documents pertaining to the CDBG program, including making minor adjustments to project funding to address the actual FY 2019/2020 CDBG Allocation; and,
4. Approve the CDBG Reimbursable Contract with the County of Los Angeles concerning Culver City’s FY 2019/2020 CDBG Allocation; and,
5. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
6. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.