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DATE: |
October 19, 2021 |
13 |
SUBJECT
Title
NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:
COMMUNITY INPUT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 ANNUAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT; AUTHORIZATION FOR A HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION AND PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County), as a recipient of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement program funding, is required to develop a five-year Consolidated Plan for long term planning purposes and is also required to develop an Annual Plan in the spring of each year to identify specific projects to be funded during the upcoming fiscal year. Administered by the Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS), funds from four federal entitlement programs including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) support a wide variety of housing and community development activities in the region.
During the development of the Annual Plan, the County opens a public comment period and holds a public meeting within its jurisdiction to obtain resident input as part of the Needs Assessment Stage. As an entitlement grantee, HCDS must hold two public hearings per year to receive citizens’ views and respond to proposals and questions in two different stages of the program year, which HUD statutorily requires. Today’s hearing serves as the first hearing of the program year. It provides an opportunity for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) to receive public comment, guiding the draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Annual Plan development.
In addition, today's action requests the Board’s approval for the issuance of a competitive solicitation to procure housing and services related to the HOPWA program for FY 2023-2024 through FY 2027-28. As one of the County's entitlement programs, services provided through the HOPWA program include housing operation subsidies, on-site case management, nutrition delivery, and other supportive services.
Today’s actions support the County’s Live Well San Diego vision by ensuring low-income residents have access to suitable living environments and enhancing the quality of life for residents by encouraging decent and affordable housing. Today’s action also supports the Board’s Framework for Our Future by targeting key priorities by investing in historically disadvantaged communities and creating parks and green spaces. The Annual Plan Strategy serves as a public record that lays out the Board’s priorities and furthering the Board’s movement towards government transparency.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activities in question may have a significant effect on the environment, and that it is therefore exempt from CEQA review.
2. Hold this public hearing to receive public input on housing and community development needs and approve the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Plan Strategy.
3. In In accordance with Section 401, Article XXIII of the County Administrative Code authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a Competitive Solicitation for the procurement of housing and services related to the implementation of the FY 2023-24 through FY 2027-28 HOPWA program, and upon successful negotiations and determination of a fair and reasonable price, award contracts for an initial term of one year with up to four option years and up to an additional six months if needed, and to amend the contracts as needed to reflect changes to services and funding, subject to the approval of the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency, and following the completion of environmental processing as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and associated release of funds, as applicable.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego (County) is an entitlement jurisdiction from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As an entitlement jurisdiction, Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services must hold community forums in eligible jurisdictions. This process ensures voices from the community, including low-income and historically underrepresented residents, can express their community's needs. Every five years, the County develops a Consolidated Plan that identifies the priorities and needs of the community. Forums for the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan are held throughout the San Diego County unincorporated area, including Borrego Springs, Campo, Fallbrook, Julian, and Lincoln Acres, as well as in central San Diego County. The input and data collected from the community forums guide the County on how to utilize its entitlement funds best equitably. The Annual Plan Strategy aligned to key Consolidated Plan goals prioritizing affordable housing, homelessness, community infrastructure, and housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Data collected during the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan found that approximately 61% of low-income households in the County's jurisdiction are housing-cost burdened. Nearly 40% of all household’s experience housing problems, such as overcrowding or nonfunctional utilities. Data found that 13,643 residents are living with HIV/AIDS in San Diego County. There are about 15 new cases for every 100,000 people every year. Additionally, approximately a quarter of San Diego County's population with a disability live under 125% of the Federal Poverty line. Furthermore, feedback through community workshops, stakeholder consultations, public comment periods, and formal public hearings all identified affordable housing and homeless and supportive services as the top two priorities.
The FY 2022-23 Annual Plan Strategy outline the County's priorities on how it plans to use its entitlement programs to narrow the gap in housing and services for these populations. Today's actions ensure compliance with federal requirements that will allow the County to continue utilizing more than $11.7 million annually for historically vulnerable populations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are not included in the Fiscal Year 2021-23 Operational Plan in the Health & Human Services Agency. If approved, recommendation #3 will result in estimated annual costs and revenue of $5 million to $6 million beginning in Fiscal Year 2023-24. The funding source is federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HOPWA grant program. Funds will be incorporated into future operational plans. There is no fiscal impact associated with recommendations #1 and #2. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
Projects that are funded through the Annual Plan process will positively impact the business community, as some of the recommended projects involve construction that will be implemented by private firms selected through competitive bid processes.
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
As a recipient of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement grant funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program funds, the County of San Diego (County) is required to develop a five-year Consolidated Plan and Annual Plans for long term planning purposes.
Consolidated Plan
The Consolidated Plan is developed from community member’s input. Health and Human Services Agency, Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) holds ten community meetings every five years capturing the top needs of the community. The Consolidated Plan describes community needs, services that address those needs, and goals established to address identified unmet needs. Additionally, it sets funding priorities to be addressed by projects recommended in the related Annual Plans. The Consolidated Plan’s geographic focus is the jurisdiction within the San Diego County Consortium, which includes the “Urban County” and the “HOME Consortium.” The Urban County is composed of the San Diego County unincorporated area and the CDBG and ESG participating cities of Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach. The HOME Consortium is composed of the Urban County and the HOME participating cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Mesa, San Marcos, Santee, and Vista. The current five-year Consolidated Plan covering the period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025, was approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) on April 7, 2020 (2).
Annual Plan
As required subcomponent of the Consolidated Plan, the County must develop Annual Plans for each of the five years covered under the Consolidated Plan. Each year’s Annual Plan identifies specific projects to be funded in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) through the four entitlement programs, based on that year’s program allocations. The FY 2022-23 Annual Plan will represent the third year of the FY 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. The current Annual Plan covering the period of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, was approved by the Board on March 16, 2021 (10).
Plan Development, Needs Assessment Stage and Comment Period
The County’s Citizen Participation Plan requires that the County hold two public hearings during the two different stages of development of the Annual Plan. The first hearing must be held during the Needs Assessment Stage. At this stage, the County opens a comment period and holds a public hearing to elicit comments from the public regarding the preparation of the Annual Plan. The public has this opportunity to provide input on the County’s federal entitlement programs. This stage is usually scheduled to occur between August and December. Today’s hearing provides an opportunity for the Board to receive public comment which will guide the development of the draft FY 2022-2023 Annual Plan.
In addition to community input, each Board office was sent a survey on August 3, 2021. Each office was individually asked to rank the following categories: Homelessness, Affordable Housing, and Community Infrastructure. The survey identified specific eligible activities under each category. After seeking this input from the community and each individual Board office, HCDS staff anticipates prioritizing projects in the following order:
1. Homelessness
2. Affordable Housing
3. Community Infrastructure
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input during the second comment period and public hearing, which will occur later in the Annual Plan development stage, between March and April 2022, to consider specific funding recommendations outlined in the Draft Annual Plan. Notices for both public hearings are published in local newspapers at least 30 days prior to each scheduled public hearing and notices by mail are sent to interested citizens and groups.
Current Noticing and Public Comments
The County of San Diego Consortium Program Year 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and FY 2022-23 Annual Plan Strategy document (Attachment A) provides the range of eligible activities that may be undertaken in broad categories as they relate to the adopted Consolidated Plan goals. On September 17, 2021, public notices were published in the San Diego Union Tribune, Voice and Viewpoint, El Latino, Tagalog and Vietnamese newspapers announcing the 30-day public review of the San Diego County Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Plans Strategy and requesting community comments on priority needs. The comment period is open from September 17, 2021, until October 19, 2021. Comments received during the public comment period up to the time of docket are included in Attachment B. Comments received during the comment period and public hearing will be considered and, if appropriate, will be included in the Consolidated and Annual Plan development process.
HOPWA FY 2023-24 through FY 2027-28 Competitive Solicitation
Today’s action authorizes the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to issue a Competitive Solicitation for the procurement of housing and housing related services for FY 2023-24 through FY 2027-28 HOPWA program. HOPWA funds will be used for housing and housing related services such as short-term rental, mortgage and utility assistance, tenant-based rental assistance, meal delivery, and referral services for persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Once awarded, HOPWA contracts will have an initial term of one year with up to four, one-year renewal options and up to an additional six months, if needed. In addition, authority is requested to amend the HOPWA contracts, as needed, to reflect changes to services and funding, subject to approval of the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines provides that “…CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” The proposed actions involve receipt of public input on housing and community development needs for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Plan Strategy. Additionally, the proposed action authorizes the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a Competitive Solicitation for the procurement of housing and services related to the implementation of FY 2023-24 through FY 2027-28 HOPWA program, award and amend contracts, as needed, to reflect changes to services and funding as approved by the Agency Director of Health and Human Services Agency, and as required by HUD, following completion of environmental processing and HUD release of funds, if applicable. Any future actions that may develop because of this procurement solicitation for housing and services related to the implementation of the FY 2023-24 through FY 2027-28 HOPWA program would require CEQA and NEPA compliance prior to implementation, pursuant to the state CEQA Guidelines and 24 CFR Part 58 Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities regulations, as applicable. Therefore, the proposed actions are exempt from CEQA review, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the state CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that the actions will not have a significant effect on the environment.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to hold a public hearing and receive public comment on the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Plan Strategy and to authorize the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a Competitive Solicitation for the procurement of HOPWA services, support the Operational Excellence Strategic Initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan by leveraging federal funds with private, County, State, and other federal program funds to enhance communities and bring services to County residents in need. The services to be provided during Fiscal Year 2022-23 support the Live Well San Diego indicators of increasing the quality of life for residents in San Diego County and providing assistance to vulnerable populations.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - County of San Diego Consortium Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Plan Annual Plan Strategy
Attachment B - Summary of Public Comments