FROM:
Housing
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing and Adoption of Updated Citizen Participation Plan for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Grants
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the draft Citizen Participation Plan
End
COUNCIL GOALS:
• Increase citizen involvement by seeking community input.
• Concentrate on Inter-governmental relations by pursuing financial participation from county, state and federal governments.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Fontana receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year. To continue receiving these funds, the City must prepare and update periodically a Citizen Participation Plan (CPP). This document sets forth the City’s policies and procedures for providing citizens and other interested parties with opportunities to participate in an advisory role in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs.
The City has previously developed the following procedures for adopting its CPP:
A. Plan Review and Comment
The draft CPP shall be made available for public review for a 30-day period. The CPP shall be provided in a format accessible to persons with disabilities upon request. The CPP will encourage comment and participation by minority and non-English speakers. Publication of the plan will be advertised in Spanish and translation services will be available upon request in accordance with the City’s Language Access Plan (LAP). Written comments will be accepted by the Housing Department’s staff during the public review period. A summary of all written comments received, or oral comments provided during the public hearing as well as the City’s responses will be attached to the CPP prior to submission to HUD.
B. Public Hearing
The City Council shall conduct a public hearing to accept public comments on the draft CPP. The City Council may approve or reject the CPP.
C. Submittal to HUD
The CPP must be approved as a stand-alone planning document. The City shall submit to HUD: the approved document, a summary of all written comments and those received during the public hearing as well as the City’s responses, and proof of compliance with the minimum 30-day public review and comment period requirement. A summary of any comments or views not accepted and the reasons therefore shall be supplied to HUD.
As part of the five-year planning cycle for CDBG, HOME, and ESG programs, the CPP was reviewed by staff and updated to be compliant with any new regulations that may have implemented since the last revision. All revisions to the previously adopted CPP were administrative in nature.
In compliance with federal regulations and the City’s adopted CPP, the Notice of Public Hearing and notice of availability of the aforementioned draft document was published in the Press Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun and the El Chicano on February 20, 2025.
The draft documents were made available for public review and comment from February 24, 2025 through March 25, 2024 at the Library and multiple locations at City buildings. Additionally, it was posted on the City’s website. The Public Hearing scheduled for March 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. provides another opportunity for public input. Any and all comments received during the process (at public meetings and/or in writing) with respect to a particular draft document will be incorporated into the final draft document, as applicable, prior to submission to HUD.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Fiscal Impact.
MOTION:
Approve Staff Recommendation.