City Council
MEETING DATE: 8/24/2016
TITLE:
Title
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY 2015-2016 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
End
FROM:
John A. Corella, P.E., City Engineer
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the FY 2015-2016 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for submittal to HUD.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The CAPER outlines the progress made toward achieving the goals documented in the 2015-2016 Annual Action Plan, and Administrative and Substantial Amendments. This CAPER is a self-evaluation of the City that describes how successful it was using CDBG funds allocated to programs and services to meet one or more of the National Objectives mandated by HUD: 1) Benefits to low and moderate-income persons; 2) Aid in the prevention and elimination of slums or blight; and 3) Meeting a particular urgent need because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs.
DISCUSSION:
The draft CAPER includes information regarding the amount of funds invested in projects and activities, descriptions of households assisted through the use of CDBG funds, actions taken to affirmatively further fair housing, and other information relevant to the status of grant funded projects administered by the City of Cathedral City which affect local housing and community development needs.
For FY 2015, the City utilized sub-recipients to provide senior, homeless, and fair housing services. In order to receive grant funding, these sub-recipients were required to enter into a written agreement with the City that included CDBG specific language that aligned these subrecipients to meet the goals of the City. After the agreements were initiated, the subrecipients were able to request reimbursement for work performed. All three subrecipients have fulfilled their contract obligations and met their goals.
The City programmed CDBG funding to rehabilitate and improve the pavement and install sidewalks on the south side of Ortega Road (Census Track 499.15) to provide a safe and efficient linkage on foot or by bike to and from Cathedral City High School. This area was identified as being deteriorated and in need of improvement. The rehabilitation of this street included new asphalt, striping, curb and gutter, sidewalk on the south side of the road, and lighted crosswalks. For this project, a combination of CDBG and Safe Route to School funding was used for the completion of this project. The City originally allocated $224,450 of the CDBG Public Improvement budget to rehabilitate the south side of Ortega. An Administrative Amendment- approved by Council- was prepared to increase funding for this activity by $40,000 to $264,450 from the unallocated float fund account. This project was completed in early 2016.
The City also planned on making sidewalk improvements on San Joaquin Drive located in the Dream Homes community. In 2014, the City evaluated San Joaquin Drive and it was identified as needing rehabilitation and installation of sidewalk for better walking circulation. CDBG funds were utilized for design costs and an improvement study to identify the challenges of relocating utilities, fences and mailboxes from the City’s right-of-way to install sidewalk. The design study and site surveying were completed and the costs to install sidewalks were determined.
However, new Census data reported for the 2015 fiscal year “disqualified” Census Tract 447.02 (Dream Homes) from being an eligible low and moderate income area. The 2015 Annual Action Plan was amended and the funds originally allocated for San Joaquin were reprogrammed to two new activities: Ortega North Sidewalk Design and ADA Ramp Improvements.
The engineering design for the proposed section of Ortega Road North was not part of the Safe Routes to School project due to limited funds. This segment on Ortega Road is unpaved and has no sidewalk, curb or gutter. CDBG funding will be used for the engineering design to install sidewalk that provides the proper elevation and drainage for this segment of Ortega Road. The installation of sidewalk would also provide residents and children with an additional safe path of travel for walking to and from the public school, the public library, the United States Post Office and to the new neighborhood park. A total of $12,000 was budgeted for the design. The actual construction for this proposed project will be programmed and included in a future Annual Action Plan.
Under the CDBG Program, ADA improvements meet a national objective and provide accessibility for people with disabilities. The City reprogrammed CDBG funding from the San Joaquin Sidewalk Improvements to fund the construction of ADA ramps along 30th Avenue, McCallum Way and Vista Chino. These ADA improvements will bring into compliance existing ADA ramps on portions of 30th Avenue, McCallum Way and Vista Chino. The City budgeted $105,512 for these improvements. Any floating or leftover funding will be programmed for the construction of more ADA ramps. This project will be completed in August 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Cathedral City’s annual HUD entitlement for FY 2015-16 was $526,093. Cathedral City has requested reimbursement for planning and administration, providing public services, and public improvements for a total of $381,483.78 with a remainder of $144,609.22 for projects outlined in the FY 2015-2016 Annual Action Plan and, subsequent, Administrative and Substantial Amendments. The remaining balance will be placed into a ‘floating fund’ to be reprogrammed to other CIP projects in FY 2016-2017.
ATTACHMENTS:
FY 2015-2016 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)