Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus receives annual grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Every five (5) years, the City of Columbus, Department of Finance and Management, Grants Management Section is responsible for completing and submitting a Consolidated Plan to HUD. Consolidated Plans are designed to assess the affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions serves as the framework for identifying housing and community development priorities that align and focus the funding received from HUD. The City’s Draft 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan combines into a single submission the planning and application aspects of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs, and represents the City’s commitment to delivering these programs over the five-year period.
In addition, each year, the Grants Management Section is responsible for completing and submitting Annual Action Plans to HUD. Annual Action Plans identify projects and establish budgets for the City’s HUD grant programs, and summarize annual efforts for consultation, citizen participation, and anticipated outcomes. HUD has not announced the 2025 grant allocations; therefore this legislation contains a Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan Summary with estimated funding amounts based on historic figures. The final plan will be adjusted to match the actual allocations upon receipt of notices of awards. The Fiscal Year 2025 allocations are expected to be announced in spring 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City expects to receive approximately $15 million in grant awards for the four programs listed above. This legislation authorizes the Mayor to accept those grant awards and enter into grant agreements with HUD. City Departments managing these awards will submit future legislation to authorize both the appropriation and expenditure of those funds.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to adopt the Draft 2025 Consolidated Plan and Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan, authorize the acceptance of 2025 HUD Community Planning and Development grant awards, and authorize the filing of the final FY 2025 Annual Action Plan with HUD so that the Department of Finance and Management can appropriate funds, execute agreements, and complete other necessary steps prior to the commencement of the Fiscal Year on January 1, 2025 to comply with federal requirements.
Title
To adopt the Draft 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and the Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan for the CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA programs; to authorize the acceptance of 2025 HUD Community Planning and Development grant awards; to authorize the filing of the final 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and final FY 2025 Annual Action Plan with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, under the provisions as set forth in the various federal statutes authorizing the above programs, the City of Columbus must file a five-year Consolidated Plan with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to be used for community development activities; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Consolidated Plan, the City is required to submit one-year Annual Action Plans detailing the various projects to be funded under the plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus receives formula grants on an annual basis from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Community Planning and Development for the CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA programs; and
WHEREAS, the Grants Management Section conducted a public input process in compliance with the City of Columbus Citizen Participation Plan, including hosting two public meetings and providing separate fifteen day and thirty day public comment periods, and received more than 21 emailed comments and more than 100 survey responses from the public; and
WHEREAS, upon announcement of the final FY 2025 award allocations from HUD the project budgets contained in the Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan may be adjusted and the final FY 2025 Annual Action Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management to adopt the Draft 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan for the CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA programs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to adopt the Draft 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan, authorize the acceptance of 2025 HUD Community Planning and Development grant awards, and authorize the filing of the final 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and final FY 2025 Annual Action Plan with HUD so that the Department of Finance and Management can appropriate funds, execute agreements, and complete other necessary steps prior to the commencement of the Fiscal Year on January 1, 2025 to comply with federal requirements, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and Now, Therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the City of Columbus hereby adopts the Draft 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan.
SECTION 2: That the Department of Finance and Management may revise the Draft FY 2025 Annual Action Plan’s project budgets and upon notices of awards will submit a final FY 2025 Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
SECTION 3: That the Mayor, acting on behalf of the City of Columbus, is hereby authorized to adopt the final FY 2025 Annual Action Plan, enter into grant agreements with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and accept the Fiscal Year 2025 estimated combined $15,000,000 in funds for the CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA grant programs.
SECTION 4: That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.