Explanation
BACKGROUND: The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan combine 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. This plan represents a continuing commitment to provide decent housing, suitable living environments and expanded economic opportunities over the five-year period. Ord#2162-2019 adopted and authorized the submission of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. The City of Columbus, Grants Management Division is responsible for completing and submitting the Annual Action Plan to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ord#2345-2020 was approved December 14, 2020 to adopt the proposed 2021 Annual Action Plan to allow the City to plan for and incur pre-award costs associated with the anticipated 2021 HUD award allocations. Ord#2469-2020 was approved to appropriate a portion of the CDBG award contingent upon the passage of Ord#2345-2020.
On March 9, 2021 the City of Columbus received the award letter detailing the 2021 HUD allocations for each grant program. HUD has directed the Grants Management Division to submit the 2021 Annual Action Plan once the actual award allocations have been determined. The purpose of this ordinance is to adopt the 2021 HUD Final Annual Action Plan; to authorize Grants Management to submit the 2021 Annual Action with the U.S. Department of HUD, and to appropriate $72,500 from the unappropriated balance of 2021 CDBG grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City expects to receive about $13 million in annual grant resources for the four programs listed above. The detailed award letter is attached to this ordinance. Ord#2469-2020 authorized the appropriation of $3,783,500 in CDBG funds. This ordinance will appropriate another $72,500 from the unappropriated balance. The Grants Management Division will submit future legislation to authorize appropriations or expenditures of the remaining unappropriated funds.
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to ensure the timely submission of the Annual Action Plan and allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City’s accounting system as soon as possible to incur pre-award costs.
Title
To adopt the 2021 HUD Final Action Plan which implements the second year of the five-year "Consolidated Plan" for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs; and to authorize the filing of the Annual Action Plan with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; to authorize the appropriation of $72,500.00 from the unappropriated balance of the CDBG fund, 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 has filed a five-year Consolidated Plan application 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 a one-year "Action Plan" including a detailed proposal for the various programs covered under the plan; and
WHEREAS, the City has received the 2021 annual entitlement award from the U.S. Department of HUD for the CDBG program for the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate a portion these funds from HUD for the administrative support of the CDBG program; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the filing of the aforesaid plan application and complete the public comment process within the deadline established by HUD; to allow the city of Columbus to incur pre-award costs necessary for efficient and timely performance and to prevent the interruption of services thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, Therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the City of Columbus hereby adopts the recommended 2021 HUD Final Action Plan.
SECTION 2: That the application for said plan as provided for in the federal statutes authorizing the Consolidated Plan programs is hereby adopted, and that the Mayor, acting on behalf of the City of Columbus, is hereby authorized and directed to file such application with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
SECTION 3: That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the sum of $72,500.00 is appropriated in Fund 2248 Community Development Block Grant Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4: That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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.