Title
Amendment to Consolidated Plan's Citizen Participation Plan
Description
Request City Council approval to amend the Consolidated Plan's Citizen Participation Plan.
Report
Summary
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires jurisdictions receiving significant HUD entitlement program funds to develop a Consolidated Plan and adopt a Citizen Participation Plan. While the primary purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to describe the strategies and priorities to utilize federal entitlement funds allocated to the City through the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, and Emergency Solutions Grants programs, the purpose of the Citizen Participation Plan is to set forth the policies and procedures for citizens’ involvement in the development and administration of the Consolidated Plan.
The Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) is proposing to update the current Citizen Participation Plan, adopted in 1996 and amended in 2010, 2018, and 2020, to provide clarification on the City's citizen outreach and engagement processes pertaining to the development of and amendments to the City's Consolidated Plan. The Citizen Participation Plan outlines the public participation process, which includes a public hearing and comment period, transparency of the planning process and access to the draft plan, instructions to guide the public’s submission of comments and standards for the City’s response, and procedures for continuity of participation throughout all stages of the plan’s development. All these components ensure residents who are interested in or impacted by the plan have an opportunity to participate in the process.
The proposed amended plan (Attachment A) includes the following items:
- Clarification of what is an Amendment versus a Substantial Amendment;
- Clarification of the Citizen Participation Plan amendment process;
- Addition of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 (NSP3) grant; and
- Text updates to align with current HUD guidance and regulatory language.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was heard at the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee on Oct. 6, 2021.
Public Outreach
The City of Phoenix’s Citizen Participation Plan for HUD requires that a draft of the amendment be posted for a 30-day public comment period and one public hearing be conducted. A virtual public hearing was held on Sept. 14, 2021, with invitations and the public notice distributed through NSD's grants distribution list, posted on the department's social media account and officially noticed in multiple publications of general circulation.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Neighborhood Services Department.