2020-R-05 - CDBG Citizen Participation Plan RESOLUTION#2020-R-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATER,
FLORIDA ADOPTING A POLICY RELATING TO CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN
THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM;
DEFINING AN ACTION PLAN; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,the City Council of the City of Edgewater desires to establish a plan supporting
citizen's participation in the City's Community Development Block grants, and
WHEREAS,the City Council of the City of Edgewater recognize the need to adopt an action plan to
implement such goals;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EDGEWATER,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS:
THE CITY OF EDGEWATER,FLORIDA
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
In keeping with the provisions of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as
amended, 24 CFR 570.431 and Department of Economic Opportunity(DEO) Rule 73C-23, the City
of Edgewater, Florida hereby establishes a Citizen Participation Plan.
1. OVERALL GOAL
The purpose of this plan is to provide the citizens of the City of Edgewater with an adequate
opportunity for meaningful involvement on a continuing basis and for participation in the
planning, development, implementation, and assessment of the City of Edgewater's
Community Development Block Grant Program.
II. OBJECTIVES
A. To increase interchange of information between CDBG Staff and the local
citizens concerning community development and related concerns.
B. To heighten public awareness as to the purpose and function of the CDBG
Program and the types of assistance available, especially among low/moderate
income residents of CDBG target areas.
C. To increase community participation in program planning and
implementation and thereby create local support for CDBG goals.
D. To allow affected or potentially affected citizens to directly assist in shaping
and guiding the program's impact upon their neighborhood as well as the community
at large.
III. CONSISTENCY
This Citizen Participation Plan is consistent with the requirements in Section 508 of
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 which amends Section
104(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 24 CFR 570.4312 and
DEO Rule 73C-23. Within the context of the City's Community Development Block Grant
program, this Plan supersedes all other Citizen Participation Plans utilized by the City of
Edgewater, Florida. This Plan sets forth the procedures for citizen participation that shall be
utilized during each stage of the Community Development Block Grant process and upon its
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adoption by the City of Edgewater City Council shall remain in effect until otherwise
amended.
IV. OVERVIEW
A. Citizen participation is a vital element in the preparation of a method by
which community involvement will be solicited and maintained throughout the entire
Community Development Block Grant process. The City of Edgewater, Florida shall
strive to ensure such participation by utilizing the public hearing process and by
appointing a Citizens Advisory Task Force committee.
B. It shall be the policy of the City of Edgewater that the effectiveness of citizen
participation in the planning, development, implementation, and assessment of the
Community Development Block Grant process be analyzed during the public
hearings and other called meetings and amendments to the Plan made when
necessary.
V. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Since the purpose of this plan is to provide the citizens of the City of Edgewater,Florida with
an adequate opportunity for meaningful involvement in the planning, implementation, and
evaluation of the City's Community Development Block Grant process, it shall be the City's
policy to solicit, and respond in a timely manner to, the views and proposals of all citizens,
particularly low and moderate income persons, members of minority groups, and residents of
blighted areas where the potential exists for the undertaking of CDBG eligible activities.
Upon adoption of this Plan,the following technical requirements shall govern this process:
A. Public Hearings
1. To ensure adequate notice of public hearings,all notices shall be
printed in the non-legal section of a newspaper of general circulation in the
City no less than five (5) days and no more than twenty (20) days prior to
each public hearing held at any stage of the Community Development Block
Grant process.
2. When deemed appropriate,the City may also post notices of such
hearings in not less than two public places. The posting of notices may only
supplement publication of public hearing notices. A news article located in a
conspicuous place in the newspaper may be considered as sufficient printed
notice to fulfill this requirement. The City may also utilize additional means
(personal contact, radio, etc.)to the maximum extent possible to reach target
groups identified above when this is necessary. A minimum of two public
hearings will be held before the City of Edgewater City Council to provide
the greatest access for citizen participation in developing CDBG applications.
3. Because of the size of the City, and the centrality of the City Hall, this
requirement will generally be satisfied by holding the hearings at the City of
Edgewater City Hall.
4. If it is determined the City of Edgewater has a known concentration of non-
English speaking residents;the services of a translator will be obtained in the
event a significant number of residents of a target area do not speak English
and request such services. Notices shall include information concerning the
handicapped.
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A. Citizens Advisory Task Force Committee
1. The City may establish a Citizens Advisory Task Force committee for all
CDBG projects other than economic development projects, which shall
consist of no less than five(5)nor more than seven(7)members appointed by
the City of Edgewater City Council in a manner, which will ensure substantial
representation of low and moderate income persons and minorities.
Committee members shall serve two(2)year terms.
2. The Citizens Advisory Task Force committee shall serve as a focal point or
liaison between the City and its constituents in regard to CDBG project
development and implementation. The Committee shall have the following
duties and responsibilities:
a. Disseminate information concerning eligible activities,proposed
projects,and the status of current projects.
b. Coordinate various groups which choose to participate in the
implementation of community development activities.
C. Review written comments assessing the implementation of the CDBG
program.
d. Monitor the overall implementation of the CDBG program and
review program status with administrative personnel on a quarterly
basis or more frequently if deemed necessary.
e. Monitor the citizen participation process and propose such
amendments as may be necessary to this Participation Plan.
3. The Citizen Advisory Task Force committee shall be a tool through which
program progress can be analyzed and proposed amendments discussed, if
applicable.
C. Access to Records
1. The City of Edgewater shall maintain a complete project file on its
Community Development Block Grant program(s) which shall be available
for public inspection during regular office hours in the City Clerk's office.
This file shall include but not be limited to the following:
a. Citizens Participation Plan
b. Community Development Plan
C. Community Development Block Grant Application
d. Program Amendments
e. Environmental Review Record
f. Financial Status
g. Fair Housing Ordinance
h. Equal Opportunity Requirements
I. Policies and Procedures Governing Beneficiary Eligibility
J. Performance Assessment Report
k. Written Comments and City's Response
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2. Generally,the project file is available for review by any citizen or
group; however, in no case will disclosure be made of any program
participant's financial status.
D. Technical Assistance
The program staff shall provide technical assistance to citizens' committees
and groups and interested persons in the citizen participation process. This technical
assistance shall focus on increasing public access to participating in the Community
Development Block Grant decision making process through the Citizens Advisory
Committee and ensuring that this participation is meaningful. Technical assistance
will also be utilized to foster an understanding of program requirements; i.e., equal
opportunity,relocation,environmental policies,beneficiary eligibility, etc.
E. Grievances
1. All grievances regarding individual decisions made as a part of the
implementation of the Community Development Block Grant program shall
be submitted, in writing to the Program Administrator. If a person feels that
his/her complaint has not been sufficiently addressed by the Program
Administrator's response, an appeal may be made to the Citizens Advisory
Task Force committee.
2. If a response satisfactorily to the aggrieved is not issued by the
Committee, an appeal may be made to the City of Edgewater City Council.
At any point, the aggrieved may register a written complaint with the Florida
Department of Economic Opportunity, 107 East Madison Street, MSC-400
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-6508. All written complaints registered at the
local level shall have a written response from the Administrator, Committee,
or the City Council within fifteen (15) days of the lodging of said complaint.
A file of all grievances and responses shall be maintained and available for
public inspection. In the event the aggrieved has exhausted all appeals
without a decision satisfactory to himself/herself, he/she may pursue other
legal channels in an attempt to achieve satisfaction.
F. Amendment
The amendment of this Plan shall follow all citizen participation requirements
delineated in the Section Post Approval Requirements and applicable technical
provisions. Such amendments shall require adoption by the City of Edgewater City
Council prior to becoming effective.
G. Authority
No part of this participation Plan shall be construed to restrict the responsibility and
authority of the elected officials of the City of Edgewater, Florida, in the
development and implementation of any Community Development Block Grant
program. Rather it is a vehicle through which the elected officials of the City of
Edgewater can assure citizen input prior to their decision making process.
CITIZEN PARTCIPATION IN EACH STAGE OF THE CDBG PROGRAM
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I. APPLICATION STAGE
The objective of citizen participation at this stage is to provide meaningful community-wide
citizen input into the decision making process during the consideration of priorities and of
options associated with the development and submission of the application. The following
requirements will be met during the application stage and certified to in the body of the
application:
A. Review of the Citizen Participation Plan
B. Presentation of the City's Community Development Plan.
Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as revised, has as
its primary objective, the development of viable urban communities by providing
decent housing, suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities,
principally for persons of low and moderate incomes. Consistent with these
objectives, the City of Edgewater will develop a Community Development Plan that
identifies the community development and housing needs and specifies both short
and long term community development objectives to meet the established needs.
C. Public Hearings
A minimum of two(2)public hearings will be held before the City of Edgewater City
Council during this stage. The purpose of the first public hearing is to access
community needs and problems in an effort to determine the most pressing needs of
the community and to solicit citizen input as to the ranking of said needs. The
purpose of the second hearing is to present for public comment and review the
program of activities that the City has selected for the application as best suited to
meet these needs. The City may determine that more than two (2) public hearings
during the application stage are desirable and thus hold extra hearings. All such
hearings shall be governed by the requirements as set forth herein. The following
information will be presented to the public at each public hearing during this stage:
1. The range of activities that may be undertaken with CDBG funds,the
kinds of activities previously funded; if any, and the progress made with
respect to those activities.
2. An overview of the CDBG program to include analysis of DEO rating
process and discussion of applicable grant ceilings.
3. Discussion of the competitive nature of the CDBG process and the
likelihood that more applications will be submitted to DEO than can
be funded.
4. The process to be followed in soliciting and responding to the views and
proposals of citizens in a timely manner.
5. Discussion of the role of the Citizen Advisory Task Force.
11. POST APPROVAL STAGE
A. The City shall assure continuing citizen participation throughout the life of the
Community Development Block Grant program, particularly when considering
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amendments to the program. The City shall conduct at least one (1) public hearing,
in accordance with the requirements of such hearings, during the grant amendment
process.
B. The involvement of citizens in the amendment process is felt to be
essential. To ensure adequate citizen participation during the conduct of the program,
the following requirements for amendments will be met:
1. A minimum of one (1) public hearing will be held prior to the
submission of any amendment that involves the reduction of beneficiaries and
require formal approval by DEO according to the provisions of this Plan.
2. Citizens will be involved in amendments not requiring formal
DEO approval,budget revisions,and local changes in the CDBG
Program. Such changes will be presented for review to the Citizen's
Advisory Committee in a meeting of such Committee which shall be open to
the public.
3. The City shall attempt to involve citizens residing in the target
area(s)affected by any amendment or revision in the development
of such amendment or revision. This shall be accomplished
through the dissemination of information on such program
changes to the affected residents.
III. ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE
Citizens of the City of Edgewater will be provided opportunities to comment on the
implementation of the City's CDBG program and to assess the performance of the City in
meeting its community development goals and objectives. Continual community assessment
of the effectiveness of the program is considered essential to the success of a CDBG
program. In order to ensure this involvement,the City will utilize the following approaches:
A. The Citizen Advisory Task Force,established in accordance with this Plan,
will function as the focal point of the evaluation and assessment process. This group
will continually provide the City and its staff with feedback on the effectiveness of
the program and suggest changes, if applicable.
B. The public hearing process will be used to ensure community-wide
participation in the evaluation of the program.
C. Written comments on the program will be received at any time during the life
of the program. All written comments will be presented to the Citizen Advisory Task
Force for their review and responses by the appropriate party within fifteen(15)days.
IV. CITIZEN COMMENT TO DEO
Persons may comment to DEO at any time concerning the City of Edgewater's failure to
comply with the citizen participation requirements as set forth in this Plan.
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During the April 6, 2020 Council Meeting under Item 5 - APPROVAL OR
CHANGES/MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA, a Motion by Councilwoman Power with
Second by Councilwoman Yaney was made to continue this public hearing to a date and time
certain of May 4, 2020 at 6:00 pm. The vote on this resolution on April 6, 2020 was as follows:
AYE NAY
Mayor Mike Thomas EXCUSED
Councilwoman Christine Power X
Councilwoman Kimberly Yaney X
Councilwoman Megan O'Keefe X
Councilman Gary Conroy X
Due to the continuing "State of Emergency" situation and since Resolutions do not need to
be advertised, this has been placed on the June 1St Council Agenda.
After Motion by1' -., �� X.�c,� f , with Second by
r-ac�Jt.e�t�rneks O-e—s, the vote on this resolution held on June 1, 2020 was as
follows:
AYE NAY
Mayor Mike Thomas \V
Councilwoman Christine Power
Councilwoman Kimberly Klein-Yaney
Councilwoman Megan O'Keefe `v
Councilman Gary Conroy
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PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 1 st day of June, 2020.
ATTEST CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY EDGE TE I
i
��. B -
Robin L.Matusick Mike omas
City Clerk/Paralegal r
For the use and reliance only by the City of Approved by the City Council of the City of
Edgewater, Florida. Approved as to form and Edgewater at during the Council meeting held
legality by: Aaron R. Wolfe,Esquire on the 1 st day of June, 2020 under Agenda
City Attorney Item 8 G:►
Doran,Sims,Wolfe,Ciocchetti&Yoon .T
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