Title
2015-20 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Amendment CARES Act Amendment (Ordinance S-49106)
Description
Request City Council approval of an Amendment to the 2015-20 Consolidated Plan's 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to include the third award of Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) funds in the amount of $155,938, and approval to take all necessary actions and execute all documents and agreements required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136, enacted March 27, 2020, for the specific purpose of preventing, preparing for, and responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept and the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix received two rounds of CARES Act ESG-CV funding to help Phoenix residents, businesses, and neighborhoods prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since May 2020, the City Council has authorized the Human Services Department (HSD) to implement multiple programs by allocating the CARES Act ESG-CV funds to provide services and support to people experiencing homelessness.
The 2015-20 Consolidated Plan's 2019 Annual Action Plan defines how the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds will be used to address the priorities and goals outlined in the five-year Consolidated Plan.
The amendment to the 2015-20 Consolidated Plan and 2019-20 Annual Action Plan includes an allocation of ESG-CV funds in the amount of $155,938 authorized by the CARES Act to support the City's effort to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19. HUD recaptured these funds from other entitlement agencies who did not meet expenditure deadlines and reallocated these funds to the City of Phoenix to further respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Impact
These programs are funded by HUD through the CARES Act. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On May 6, 2020, the City Council authorized a Substantial Amendment to the 2015-20 Consolidated Plan's 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to include the first release of allocations and waivers authorized by the CARES Act.
On Feb. 17, 2021, the City Council authorized a Substantial Amendment to the 2015-20 Consolidated Plan's 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to include the second release of allocations and waivers authorized by the CARES Act.
On Dec. 1, 2021, the City Council authorized a Substantial Amendment to the 2015-20 Consolidated Plan's 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to include the reallocation of $6 million in CARES Act CDBG funding.
On Jun. 15,2022, the City Council authorized an Amendment to the 2015-20 Consolidated Plan's 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to amend the first allocation of CARES Act CDBG funding.
Public Outreach
As part of the CARES Act, HUD approved an expedited public outreach process to allow flexibility to institute more streamlined requirements to address immediate needs relative to COVID-19. The HUD abbreviated process includes the following:
- The reduction of a 30-day public comment period and the implementation of a public comment period of no less than five days in an effort to expedite the Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment process and allow the City to respond as quickly as possible to the immediate needs in the community; and
- The elimination of the in-person public hearings and the implementation of virtual public hearings when: National and/or local health authorities recommend social distancing and limiting public gatherings for public health reasons; and virtual hearings provide reasonable notification and access for citizens in accordance with Phoenix certifications, timely responses from local officials to all citizen questions and issues, and public access to all questions and responses.
The comment period for this amendment is from Oct. 19 through Oct. 25, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Gina Montes and Alan Stephenson and the Neighborhood Services and the Human Services departments.