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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 85-29 ORDINANCE NO. 410�9 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN AMENDED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: That the Community Development Plan of the City of Beaumont, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" , be, and the same is hereby , adopted. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the ��, day of 1985. Mayor - THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS Prepared by Polk C. Curtiss, Jr. , CDBG Senior Planner Community Development Block Grant Program Planning Department City of Beaumont, Texas March 1984 11-�5-z1 Exhibit A TABLE OF CONTENTS - Page I. Purpose of the Community Development Plan. . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. Goals and Objectives of the Community 1 Development Program. . .-.. . .-.-.,. . ...I. III. Standards of Participation. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 IV. Scope of Participation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Communitywide Participants. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . ... . .. 4 Neighborhood Level Participants. . 5 VI. Procedure for Submission of Views and Proposals by Citizens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. 7 VII. Complaints Procedure. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . 7 VIII. Consideration of Objections to Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds Submitted to HUD. . . . . . . . . 8 IX. Technical Assistance to be Available. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 8 X. Description of Adequate Information. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . 9 XI. Public Hearing Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . 10 XII. Procedure for Contingency and Local•Option 11 XIII. Program Amendments. . 11 XIV. Schedule for CDBG 1984 Program Year.. . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. 12 XV. Ordinance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .z .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS Purpose of the Community Development Plan (C. D. Plan). The major purpose of the Community Development Plan presented here is to provide citizens and 'city officials alike with knowledge of the process in which citizens may become involved in planning, implementation, and assessment of the Community Development Block Grant program. The provisions 'of-the plan apply to all- ongoing CDBG activities at the time of plan adoption as well as all future CDBG activities. The plan will remain in effect until all activities are completed or a new plan is adopted. Nothing in the Community Development Plan should be contrued as restricting the authority of the City in development or execution of the CDBG program nor its responsibility to do so. Goals and Objectives of the Community Development Program 1. Community Needs The major needs of Beaumont's neighborhoodsthat have been affected by blight and deterioration are public facility improvements and housing preservation and rehabilitation. Public facilities in need of improvements in these neighborhoods are streets, water and sewer lines, storm drainage, and parks. Housing preservation and rehabilitation activities needed include code enforcement, demolition and clearance of dilapidated structures, and rehabilitation loans to assist families who �. otherwise could not find funds to repair their property. Neighborhoods (census tracts) that have high percentage of housing in need of rehabilitation and demolition correspond to those neighborhoods with higher percentages of minority residents and low and moderate income households. 2. Housing Needs There is a need to expand housing opportunities for low and moderate income households. In addition to improving housing options for low and moderate income households through rehabilitation loans, rent subsidies and construction of assisted housing, there is also a need to expand housing opportunities by allowing construction of modular housing units and a more orderly placing of mobile housing units by revising the city zoning ordinance that provides resource for those persons (often minorities and low income persons) who feel that they have been discriminated against in regard to housing. The existence of this ordinance needs to be publicized. 3. Community Development Short and Long Term Objectives R r The overall objective of the _Community Development_ Block_Grant Program for the City of'- -Beaumont Texas -is the development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate incomes in the Community Development Strategy Area (CT#'s_7, g,- -9 10, 1-S_,-_17, I-8, 22 - 23-,`and parts of 19 and 20). In order to attain the overall objective of the Community Development Block Grant Program, the following are short-term objectives: o Elimination of..slums 'a nd blight' and the .prevention - of blighting influences in the Community Development Strategy Area. o Elimination of conditions which are detrimental to health, safety, and public welfare in the C. D. Strategy Area. o Conservation and expansion of the City's housing stock. o Expansion and improvement of the quantity and quality of community services available for lower income residents of the City. o Restoration and preservation of properties of special value to the City of Beaumont for historic, architectural and esthetic reasons. In addition to the short-term objectives of the Community Development Program, several long-term objectives were developed and are listed below: o A more rational utilization of land and other natural resources in the Community Development Strategy Area. o Reduction of the isolation of income groups within communities and promotions of an increase of the diversity of neighborhoods within the city. o Alleviation of physical and economic distress through stimulation of private investment. The achievement of both the short and long term objectives should allow the city to obtain the overall goal of the Community Development Block Grant Program. Standards of Participation The following standards will apply to the Beaumont Community Development Plan. : 2 1. All aspects of citizen participation" will- be conducted in an open- manner, with aecess for all interested persons. 2. There will be involvement of low and moderate income person, members of minority groups, residents of- area-s- where a significant amount of activity is- proposed or ongoing, the elderly, the handicapped, the business community, and civic groups who are concerned about 'the program. 3. The City will make reasonable efforts to ensure that citizens or citizen organizations are continually involved throughout all stages of the CDBG-program. 4. Citizens will be provided adequate and timely information, to enable them to be meaningfully involved in important decisions at various stages of the CDBG program. 5. All citizens, especially low and moderate income persons and residents of blighted neighborhoods, will be encouraged to submit their views and proposals concerning the CDBG program. 6. The City will provide for, in this Community Development Plan a process for citizen participation at the communitywide level and at the neighborhood level in areas where significant CDBG activity is proposed or ongoing. Scope of Participation Citizens will be involved in all stages of the CDBG Program. Citizens will specifically participate in the following areas: 1. Proposed Statement - planning activities including Final Statement of Community Development Objectives, Projected Use of Funds, and any related amendments or changes to the above. 2. Program implementation - at a minimum, citizens will ` participate in an advisory role to Council and City staff in policy decision regarding program implementation. Self-held: activities and program operations conducted by neighborhood organizations will be encouraged as well. 3. Assessment of performance - Citizens and citizen organizations will be given an opportunity to assess and submit comments on all aspects of the City's CDBG performance including the performance of the City's grantees and contractors. They also will be requested to assess whether objectives of the program have been achieved through the activities and projects czrried out. Comments from citizens and the City's responses to them i must be included in the City's annual CDBG Performance Report. E 3 Process of Participation The process of participation and the participants involved are described as follows: 1. Communitywide :Participants c; a. Community Development Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) The communitywide citizen participation process will be strur,tured around the existing Citizen Advisory-Committee-.(CAC). Currently, the CAC has 21 members, appointed to 2 year terms. The Mayor and members of Council each appoint 3 persons. To ensure that there is "substantial" representation of low and moderate income citizens and members of minority groups on the committee, the Mayor and Council will consider income and minority status when choosing subsequent members. The elderly, the handicapped, the business community, and civic groups who are concerned about the program are also groups that will be considered when choosing members of the CAC. There may be a representative/liaison from any neighborhood association. Representatives will be selected by their associations and only serve as representatives to the CAC (representative/liaison for the neighborhood will not be allowed to vote). The Community Development Senior Director or his/her designee will serve as non—voting secretary of the CAC, recording and preparing minutes of all meetings. Minutes of a previous meeting will be available at the next meeting for approval by the Citizens Advisory Committee. The City Council will select a chairman and vice—chairman. The _ Executive Committee will meet with the CDBG staff prior to formal hearings to help disseminate information to other CAC members. The CAC may delegate decision making authority to the Executive Committee if it so desires. If necessary, subcommittees or task forces may be established by the CAC to study specific issues or plans to advise the CAC. The subcommittees' chairman and members (4 to 6) will be appointed by the CAC chairman. Duties and responsibilities of the CAC will be as follows: 1. To act as an advisory board to the City Council and the City Manager. 2. To recommend objectives to the city for the Community Development Block Grant Program. 3. To assist the City Council and City Manager's staff in planning for a continuing program of Community Development. 4 4. To met as required by the chairman of the committee or the secretary with regular public meetings' to be held not less than once every calender quarter and additional meetings will -be left to the discretion of the Chairman of the CAC. 5. To keep the City Council and the City Manager's staff informed of.. :current -:trends .and.:to:xecommend changes and improvements to the local CDBG Program. 6. To consider proposals and recommendations made by neighborhood associations in regard to- programs for their neighborhoods before -making final recommendations -for the community as a whole. - 7. To study the needs of eligible areas of the City and make recommendations to the City Council for its physical development. b. City Council The City Council is the final decision-making authority for the Community development Program. The City Council is advised by the CAC, and the City Manager concerning the CDBG program. All Council meetings are open public hearings. c. Loan Advisory Board The Loan Advisory Board is an entity peculiar' to the Rehabilitation Loan Program. It has 5 members who are appointed by the City Council for 2 year terms. This board will be responsible for making determination on all rehabilitation loans. Loan Advisory Board meetings will be held as the case loan dictates. Due to the confidential nature of the information disclosed at these meetings, the board meetings will not be open to the public; however, weekly, quarterly, and annual status reports will be available to the public. Status reports will be submitted to the CAC members. d. Residents of the Community Ali citizens in Beaumont may be a part of the citizen participation process. Any interested persons may come to any public hearing and may submit views and proposals for consideration by the City Council, the CAC and the City Manager and his staff. 2. Ieighborhood Level Participants a. Neighborhood Associations The primary neighborhood level participant in the neighborhood will '- be neighborhooa associations. CDBG staff will meet with the representative committees of the y individual associations. These meetings will offer the committee members 5 a change to discuss specific neighborhood problems, comment on how effective the CDBG program is and offer suggestions as to how the program might be improved or how the neighborhoods' priorities- have changed. The CDBG staff will keep each committee:_inf­ormed, on the status of the program and discuss any problems the staff has encountered in program implementation. Responsibilities of the neighborhood associations will be: 1. To act as an advisory board to the Citizens Advisor Committee. 2. To recommend objectives to the city for the CDBG program in their neighborhood. 3. To meet as required by the chairman of the association with meetings held as he or she deems necessary. 4. To keep the Citizen's Advisory Committee, City Council and the City Manager's staff informed of current trends and to recommend changes and improvements which will update the neighborhood plan. b. Neighborhood Residents Residents of neighborhood strategy areas may also become involved in the CDBG program outside the confines of structured meetings through ' self-help projects for their neighborhoods that do not necessarily require CDBG funds but supplement formal CDBG activities in the area. Self-help projects will be encouraged; by the City and the CAC. Residents of neighborhoods that are not strategy areas may become involved in citizen participation through public hearings, organization of neighborhood associations to represent them, and self-help projects for their neighborhood. As is true for any citizen in Beaumont, any individual resident of any neighborhood may submit views or proposals concerning the CDBG Program to the City for consideration. The Beaumont CDBG program year runs from July 13 to the next July 12. Briefly, the major participants will interact as follows: The CAC will continue to function as the community's advisory body to Cour.c; il and City staff concerning CDBG matters. The CAC will consider neighborhood associations ' , and citizens' recommendations and proposals when advising City Council and staff. The CAC and all citizens will rely on CDBG staff to provide accurate and timely or "adequate information" throughout the CDBG program. Neighborhood associations and all City residents may make recommendations, complaints, and statements at appropriate times to CDBG staff, the CAC, and to City Council concerning the CDBG program. The public hearing and citizen participation process timetable will be established each year by the City Council. All public hearings will be advertised in the non-legal section of the Beaumont Enterprise-Journal 10 days prior to the hearing. Neighborhood associations will be # 6 responsible for scheduling additional meetings throughout the program year as they see fit. Special me etingls of the CAC and the neighborhood committees and/or assoc a!:ions "will'�be�`i old through the year as situations warrant. . Procedure for Submission of Views and Proposals by Citizens All citizens in Beaumont may submit to the City, views and proposals concerning the CDBG program. Views and proposals my abe submitted: I. Directly to the city during the planning period (January --Play) at -public -hearings on the CDBG Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds. 2. To recognized neighborhood association committees and the Citizen Advisory Committee. 3. At neighborhood and other meetings if scheduled by the city prior to formal public hearings. 4. At formal public hearings. These views and proposals will be reviewed and considered by the City and reasonable effort made to provide responses within fifteen (15) working days. Written responses will be provided for written proposals and will state the reasons for action taken on the proposal by the City. Whenever possible, responses will be provided prior to the final hearing on the CDBG Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds. A deadline for submission of views and proposals in regard to planning for the next fiscal year and performance during the previous year is set every program year,proposals concerning day to day program implementation will be accepted anytime within this planning period. Submission of views and proposals will be encouraged through publicity about meetings and through public service announcements concerning the CDBG program. All information distributed about the CDBG program will include a byline requesting submission of views and proposals by citizens . The information will be made available to low and moderate income persons, minorities, and residents of blighted areas through neighborhood associations, special notices, radio and television ' publicity. Citizen viers or proposals pertinent to performance will be included in the annual Performance Report. Complaints Procedure Citizens who have complaints about the CDBG program should register their complaint directly to the City CDBG staff either during working hours or at neighborhood meetings and public hearings. Complaints should be in written form if at all possible. The city will make every reasonable effort to provide written responses to all complaints within fifteen (15) working days. : 7 If a citizen does not feel that his or her complaint has been answered adequately or a satisfactory solution found, he or she should come before the CAC and present there case. Individual activities or programs under the CDBG program amy require a separate and more specific complaint procedure that will replace the process described here. This is particulrly true of the rehabilitation loan program where a complaint procedure is outlined in the Rehabilit- ation Loan Program Handbook. If other activities require a special complaint procedure, it will be described in a handbook made available to citizens. Otherwise, the procedure described above should be followed. Consideration of Objections to Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds Submitted to HUD Anyone wishing to object to approval of the Beaumont CDBG Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds by HUD may do so through the HUD Regional Office in Fort Worth (Address: Mr. Victor C. Hancock, Director - Community Planning and Development Division - Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Office - P. 0. Box 2905 - Fort Worth, Texas 76113). HUD will only consider objections made on the following grounds: I. The City's description of needs and objectives is plainly inconsistent with available facts and data. 2. The activities to be undertaken are plainly inappropriate to meet the needs and objectives identified by the City. 3. The Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds does not comply with the requirements of the CDBG Program or other applicable law. 4. The Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds proposes activities which are otherwise ineligible under the CDBG program regulations. Such objections should include which requirements were not met and the data and facts which the objectors 'rely on. HUD will consider objections submitted at an time but t objections should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of the notice stating Beaumont has submitted its CDBG Final Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds. Technical Assistance to be Available City staff will also provide information and advice or referrals to groups of low and moderate income persons and groups of residents of blighted neighborhoods who request assistance in developing proposals and statements of views if possible. 3 Pdeighborhaod:.organizations:_will .be. responsible :fQr maintaining their own schedule -of_ meetings and -activities. City staff will refer neighborhood groups to-appropriate public or private entities if the group is interested in assistance in organizing an association or carrying out CDBG activities. Description of :Adequate Information _ -_.Citiz.ens .in .B.eaumont .will be provided with full-access to, CDBG program information and ."special efforts" will be made to inform low and moderate income, persons and -residents -of -blighted neighborhoods. These "special efforts" will consist of placing notices where these persons will see them, informing neighborhood associations in these particular areas, and putting publicity in local newspaper and on local television and radio. Specific information to be made available to citizens is outlined in the following paragraphs. As soon as CDBG staff begins planning for the upcoming funding year, citizens will be provided with the following information: 1. The amount of CDBG funds available for all activities. 2. Eligible activities that may be undertaken and what has been done with past funds. 3. Processes for preparing CDBG Statement of Objectives & Projected Use of Funds and schedule of meetings. 4. The role of citizens as described in the CD Plan. S. Summary of any other requirements. The CDBG staff will always keep on file, at their main office, copies of the following key documents for citizens to review: 1. All mailing and promotional materials pertaining to CDBG. 2. Records of hearings pertaining to CDBG. 3. Prior applications, letters of approval, grant agreements, prior Community Development Citizen Participation Plan, - performance reports, evaluation reports, other HUD required reports, (i. e. Environment Review Record) and proposed and final statement for the current year. # 4. Copies of regulations and issuances governing the program. S. Documents regarding other program requirements, such as contracting procedures, environmental policies, fair housing a and other equal opportunity requirements and relocation provisions. 9 6 Status reports of all activities. 7 _0ther .pertinent information. When the CDBG Final :.Statement is submitted to .HUD,_the .City will publish :a notice in -a--newspaper of general circulation (Beaumont Enterprise-Journal) stating that the Final Statement of Objectives and Projectea Use :af funds .has been- submitted and is available to interested parties upon request and also describing the requirements on citizen objections-to.-,the Final.=Statement. The-CDBG-.staff-will make:copies°of :the Community Development Plan, the Proposed and Final Statement; and the Annual Performance Report available at locations convenient for persons affected by the program and accessible to the handicapped. - Probable locations will include but not be limited to field offices established in or near neighborhood strategy areas, the home of a member (secretary) of the representative committee of each of the neighborhood associations, any community center established with CDBG funds including the multi-purpose- senior center, the public library or any other location that is convenient to persons affected by the CDBG program. Public Hearing Requirements Public Hearings will be held throughout the various stages of the CDBG program under various formats. For example, any item that requires City Council approval (including the CDBG Statement and Budget) will be discussed at a "public hearing" or open city council meeting. The CAC will meet in open public session. Neighborhood association meetings will be open to anyone and CDBG staff meetings.with neighborhood association committee members, will also be open to the public. For public hearings held by the City concerning the CDBG, the program must meet the following guidelines: I. The City will hold one official public hearing by the City Council prior to submission of the CDS G Proposed Statement of Community Development Objectives and Projected Use of Funds. a. To obtain views and proposals of citizens at the initial stage of development on Community Development and housing needs and priorities and to obtain comments on the City's �- CDBG performance. _ b. To obtain views of citizens on the proposed statement prior to submission of the Final Statement to HUD. 2. The City CDBG staff will hold with the City Council an a additional public hearing 30 to 60 days prior to the start of planning for the next program year to review program progress and performance (performance hearings) . 3. Notice for public hearings will be published 10 days prior a 3 10 to each public hearing in the "non—legal, easily readable section of the -Beaumont Enterprise and Journal. Notice must the date, time, place, procedures of be made o t rovidevnotices'id d: 'Reasonable effect will ere hearing andpto ics to be �cons to` newspapers and periodicals _ serving low—moderate income neighborhoods. The City will also use public 'service'radio and television announcements to widely publicize the hearings. Procedure for Contingency and Local Option Activities If the City sets aside funds in its application for contingencies and/or local option activities or identifies activities in the statement that could replace any activities disapproved by HUD, citizens will be involved in selection of such activities. Recommendations will be requested from the neighborhood associations in the areas where the activity is planned and also from the CAC. These recommendations will be considered by the City before selecting an activity. Program Amendments If any amendment to the CDBG program is proposed (except for disaster activities) citizens will participate in the decision. For amendmends that require prior HUD approval (listed under 570.312 of March 1, 1978 Federal Register) formal public hearings will be held. This plan is subject to amendment at any time by the City Council. 4 SCHEDULE FOR ''COMMUNITY ;DEVELOPMENT -BLOCK GRANT 1984 PROGRAM YEAR The following schedule is proposed for preparation of the 1984 CDBG Statement of Objectives and Projected Use of Funds: Thursday, February 2nd. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .Public Hearing - West Tabernacle Baptist Church. The first of four Public Hearings held in neighborhoods to solicit citizens comments on CDBG Funded activities that are completed and additional projects. Tuesday, February 7th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Public Hearing #2 St. John's Missionary Baptist Church. Thursday, February 9th. . . . . . .. .. .. . . . ..Public Hearing X63 Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Tuesday, February 14th. . . . . .. . . . . . .. .. .Public Hearing #4 City Hall - Council Chambers. Friday, February 24th. .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .Deadline for submitting proposals for use of CDBG Funds. Wednesday, February 29th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grant Application (CDBG Statement) Subcommittee submits recommendation to CAC. Tuesday, March 20th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .City Council Workshop on CDBG proposed statement for FY 84-85 (CAC's recommendation submitted). Tuesday, March 27th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .City Council conducts Public Hearing on CDBG proposed Statement of Projected Use of Funds (1984) Council Resolution. Saturday & Sunday. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Publish 1984 CDBG Statement of March 31st & April 1st Objectives and Projected Use of Funds. Monday, April 6th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Submit 1984 CDBG Statement to HUD. f 0��,�' 12 March 15, 1985 Council Letter 352. Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council Subject: Adopting Community Development Plan The City Council adopted the original CDBG Community Development Plan on March 23, 1982 - Ordinance #82-29. Since the time of adoption, statutory changes in the regulations governing the CDBG Program have required additional information to be included in the Community Development Plan. The changes in the regulations required the City to include community and housing needs and short-term and long-term objectives of the CDBG program in the Community Development Plan. The CDBG Citizens ` Advisory Committee (CAC) reviewed the proposed Community Development Plan during their quarterly meeting held on February 27, 1985. The CAC voted unanimously to recommend to City Council the adoption of the new Community Development Plan. It is recommended that this ordinance be adopted. Karl Nollenberger City Manager