Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 Annual Action Plan - Draft City of Sebastian Annual Action Plan 1 August 15, 2019 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2019 Prepared by: Guardian CRM Inc City of Sebastian Annual Action Plan 2 August 15, 2019 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Sebastian Community Development Department is pleased to present the First Year Annual Action Plan for 2019. This plan addresses programs for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and identifies the first programmatic year specific objectives and outcomes. To provide a suitable living environment This includes improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods; increasing access to quality facilities and services; reducing the isolation of income groups within areas by de-concentrating housing opportunities and revitalizing deteriorating neighborhoods; restoring and preserving natural and physical features of special value for historical, architectural or aesthetic reasons; and conserving energy resources. To provide decent housing Included within this broad goal are the following: assist homeless persons in obtaining affordable housing; retain the affordable housing stock; increase the availability of permanent housing that is affordable to low and moderate income residents without discrimination; and increase supportive housing the includes structural features and services to enable persons with special needs to live in dignity. To expand economic opportunities Within this goal are creating jobs accessible to low and very low-income persons; providing access to credit for community development that promotes long term economic and social viability; and empowering low- income persons in federally assisted or public housing to achieve self sufficiency. II. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION This plan was created through consultation with various agencies and public hearings open to the public for comment on the needs of low- to moderate-income persons in the City. The City has not received any written comments relative to the CDBG program, and if any are received, they will be documented in future Action Plans. III. RESOURCES The City is slated to receive an allocation for the CDBG program for FY2019 of $123,674. Table 1: Funding Sources Funding Source Amount Community Development Block Grant $123,674.00 Utilizing CDBG funds will help leverage other funds, including monies from the tax increment financing district (Community Redevelopment Area) and other dedicated revenue funds for capital improvements. City of Sebastian Annual Action Plan 3 August 15, 2019 IV. ANNUAL OBJECTIVES During the first year, the City wishes to keep the program simpl e to meet the national objective of benefiting low to moderate income persons through housing and eliminating blighted/deteriorated public facilities. The goals and objectives to be carried out during the action plan period are indicated by placing a check in the following boxes: Objective Category Decent Housing Which includes: Objective Category: Suitable Living Environment Which includes: Objective Category: Expanded Economic Opportunities Which includes: assisting homeless persons obtain affordable housing improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods job creation and retention assisting persons at risk of becoming homeless eliminating blighting influences and the deterioration of property and facilities establishment, stabilization and expansion of small business (including micro- businesses) retaining the affordable housing stock increasing the access to quality public and private facilities the provision of public services concerned with employment increasing the availability of affordable permanent housing in standard condition to low-income and moderate-income families, particularly to members of disadvantaged minorities without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability reducing the isolation of income groups within areas through spatial deconcentration of housing opportunities for lower income persons and the revitalization of deteriorating neighborhoods the provision of jobs to low-income persons living in areas affected by those programs and activities under programs covered by the plan increasing the supply of supportive housing which includes structural features and services to enable persons with special needs (including persons with HIV/ADOS) to live in dignity and independence restoring and preserving properties of special historic, architectural, or aesthetic value availability of mortgage financing for low income persons at reasonable rates using non-discriminatory lending practices providing affordable housing that is accessible to job opportunities conserving energy resources and use of renewable energy sources access to capital and credit for development activities that promote the long-term economic social viability of the community City of Sebastian Annual Action Plan 4 August 15, 2019 Table 2: 2010 CDBG Activities The City of Sebastian’s Community Development Department staffs are the lead agency for the development and implementation of the Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan. The Staff, stakeholders, and the City Council itself have all worked in cooperation for the development of the plan. V. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES PROJECT 1 – PUBLIC FACILITIES, LMI AREA (CENSUS TRACTS OF 51% LMI) Sidewalk Repair/Replacement (North Central Avenue) 1. Description: Engineering design and construction of an ADA sidewalk. Replaces a blighted, crumbling downtown sidewalk. 2. National Objective: Slum and Blight Area 3. Completion Date: September 30, 2020 4. Outcome Indicator: Replace blighted sidewalk with new ADA sidewalk within Sebastian’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) 5. Outcome Statement: Eliminating blighting influences and the deterioration of property and facilities. Benefit to LMI Census Areas. PROJECT 2 – HOME REPAIR PROGRAM FOR VETERANS, ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED City Wide application for LMI Veterans, Elderly and the Disabled 1. Description: Provision of home rehabilitation work targeted for veterans. Home repairs may include rehabilitation to make the improvements for someone with disabilities. 2. Completion date: September 30, 2020 3. Service Area: City-wide 4. Outcome Indicator: Rehab Two LMI Households for Code, Safety and ADA needs 5. Outcome Statement: No major findings, and timely expenditure of funds. Benefit to two LMI households. VI. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION/ALLOCATION PRIORITIES To further the objectives of the grant, it is necessary to identify the location of neighborhoods by Block Groups where the majority of households are very low, low- or moderate- income households. The Block Groups that have a population where the percent of low- income households is greater than 50% are illustrated on the map below and are listed as:  Block Group 3 of Census Tract 508.08 (55.92% LMI)  Block Group 2 of Census Tract 508.06 (54.75% LMI)  Block Group 1 of Census Tract 508.08 (60.26% LMI)  Block Group 1 of Census Tract 508.06 (54.22% LMI)  Block Group 2 of Census Tract 508.05 (50.51% LMI) Activity Amount Sidewalk Repair/Replacement ADA CRA $50,000.00 Home Repair Program for Veterans, Elderly and Disabled $50,000.00 Administration $23,674.00 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2010 City of Sebastian Annual Action Plan 5 August 15, 2019 Refer to the Consolidated Plan Chapter 1 for census tract maps The CRA district qualifies as meeting the national objective of eliminating slum and blighted area as so designated by the City under Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. Therefore, CDBG funded activities would be eligible under the National Objective for those that “address slums and blight on an area basis” at 24 CFR, 570,208 (b) of the federal Regulations. Most of the CRA area also falls within Census Tracts that are greater than 50% LMI. VII. ANNUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS For the first year, the City has not established any goals relative to housing. Rather the City seeks to support the County’s use SHIP and other state funded programs developed through Housing Trust Funds for the provision of affordable housing. VIII. PUBLIC HOUSING The City will participate in any Public Housing needs assessment process to address needs and planned activities. IX. HOMELESS AND SPECIAL NEEDS The City of Sebastian does not receive public or private funds to address homeless needs. However, the City will provide technical assistance and staff support to the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council. X. BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING The City will continue to support Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code changes that address housing needs identified:  Regulatory barriers including zoning regulations and impact fees  Need for additional affordable housing units Strategies to remove these regulatory barriers include changing regulations to allocate density bonuses for developments that will build affordable units. Also, local municipalities may choose to refund impact fees and other fees like building permit fees. The Shimberg Center projects that over the next five, ten, fifteen years the need for housing, while affordable in Sebastian will continue to grow. The projected needs based upon households paying 50% or more of their income for housing costs. Refer to the Consolidated Plan Chapter 2 for Shimberg Center the projected affordable housing need. XI. OTHER ACTIONS Antipoverty strategy The City will coordinate with various agencies whenever possible for activities like employment outreach and training to respond to individuals and families. Lead Based Paint The City will continue to coordinate with the State Department of Health whenever to ensure that structures in the housing program (as applicable) with lead based painted are properly remediated. ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2010 City of Sebastian Annual Action Plan 6 August 15, 2019 XII. CDBG PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Of primary note, the City does not expect to generate or receive any program income from CDBG funded projects. There is not any program income received in a preceding year program. The City does not have a Section 108 loan. Surplus funds are not applicable in this annual action plan. There are no CDBG grant funds unexpended from a prior year. There is not income from float-funded activities. None of the projects listed in this action plan are categorized as “Urgent Need” per the HUD regulations. The City will ensure that over a three-year period, 70% of CDBG funds are utilized for activities that benefit low- and moderate- income persons.