Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2025-14 Adopting the Citizen Participation Plan for the Community Development Block Grant — reading text

City of Fort Walton Beach Citizen Participation Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Citizen Participation Plan .............................................................................................................................. 3 Encouragement of Participation and Consultation .......................................................................................3 Definitions ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Consultation .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Citizens Advisory Committee ........................................................................................................................ 5 Consolidated Planning Process ..................................................................................................................... 5 5-Year Planning Process ............................................................................................................................ 5 Annual Planning Process ............................................................................................................................... 6 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) ............................................................. 6 Amendments to Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan ........................................................................ 7 Substantial Amendments .......................................................................................................................... 7 Minor Amendments .................................................................................................................................. 7 Public Notices, Comment Periods, and Hearings .......................................................................................... 8 Public Notices ............................................................................................................................................8 Summary of Notice, Comment and Hearing Timeliness ............................................................................... 8 Technical Assistance ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Public Information and Records .................................................................................................................... 9 Disaster/Emergency events ..........................................................................................................................9 Citizen Grievance Process ........................................................................................................................... 10 2 Introduction Pursuant to Section 104(a)(3) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, this Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) is hereby adopted to ensure that the citizens of Fort Walton Beach, FL, particularly persons of low and moderate income residing in slum and blight areas and in areas in which Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG) funds are proposed to be used, are provided the opportunity and encouraged to participate in the planning and implementation of CDBG funded activities. The City of Fort Walton Beach's ( City) intent for its CDBG program is to meet the identified needs of low- and moderate-income residents and to provide a more desirable living environment for all residents within the City. Due to limited resources, it is impossible for the City to identify all the needs of our residents and/or fund all the programs / activities necessary to meet those needs. Therefore, the City must rely on a coordinated effort among private citizens, social service providers and other governmental agencies to assist in addressing the needs of the residents of the City. To encourage citizen participation, in the identification of community needs and appropriate measures to address them, the City has adopted the following Citizen Participation Plan. Citizen Participation Plan The City is required to adopt and follow a CPP that sets forth the policies and procedures for, and encourages citizen participation and consultation in the development, revision, implementation and amendment of the Consolidated Plan ( ConPlan),the Annual Action Plans ( AAP), and the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). Encouragement of Participation and Consultation The CPP is designed to encourage participation of all residents and stakeholders: Low- and moderate-income persons; Public/assisted housing residents, including their resident boards/councils/corporations; Minorities, non-English speakers, as well as persons with disabilities; Residents of predominantly low- and moderate-income neighborhoods; Residents of designated revitalization and/or slum/blighted areas; Residents of areas where CDBG funds are proposed to be used; Local and regional institutions, Continuums of Care, Businesses and developers, and Public, Private and nonprofit organizations, including philanthropic community-based and faith-based organizations. Definitions For purposes of the CDBG program, the following definitions will apply: Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG): A grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD). This grant allots money to cities and counties for housing rehabilitation, affordable housing assistance, community services, and community development activities (including community facilities and economic development). 3 Annual Action Plan ( AAP): An Annual Action Plan is prepared during each year of the 5-year Consolidated Plan and specifies the amount of funding the City members anticipate receiving from HUD and describes the activities to be undertaken with those funds to address needs and priorities outlined in the Consolidated Plan. Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH): Assessment required by HUD under the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. The AFH is an analysis of fair housing data, issues, and contributing factors in a local government jurisdiction and/or region and identification of fair housing goals and priorities for the jurisdiction and/or region. Local governments will strive to include local public housing agencies in the preparation of the AFH. Consolidated Plan (ConPlan): The Consolidated Plan is a five-year planning document for the CDBG programs as required by 24 CFR Part 91. The Consolidated Plan must contain a housing and community development needs assessment, a five-year strategic plan to address the needs identified, and a one-year annual action plan to identify specific activities and planned use of CDBG funds. Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report ( CAPER): The CAPER is an annual report summarizing the progress in implementing the Consolidated Plan. Median Family Income (MFI): HUD surveys major metropolitan areas annually to develop an index of median family income by household size. Low- and Moderate-Income Households (LMI): Low and moderate income means family or household annual income less than the Section 8 Low Income Limit, generally 80 percent of the area median income, as established by HUD. Low- and Moderate-Income Neighborhood: Generally defined as a census tract(s) or block group(s) in which a minimum of fifty-one percent ( 51%) of the residents have an income not exceeding eighty percent (80%) of the area median family income. Slum and Blighted Area: An area that meets the definition of a slum, blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating area under State or local law, typically identified as Redevelopment Project Areas, or where a substantial number of deteriorating or dilapidated buildings or improvements are present throughout the area. Program Year: The Program Year utilized by the City is October 1 through September 30. Public Hearings/Meetings: Public hearings/meetings will be held to obtain views and respond to proposals/comments of all citizens, public agencies, potential/actual beneficiaries and other interested parties. Together, the hearings/meetings must address the public’s feedback on housing and community development needs, development of proposed activities and review of program performance. A minimum of two public hearings/meetings at different stages of the program year will be held. Public hearings/meetings will be held for proposed documents including the CPP, ConPlan, AAP, the CAPER and any substantial amendments or revisions to these documents. Notice of the time, date, locations, and purpose of the meetings will be publicized in a newspaper of general circulation. 4 Consultation When preparing the ConPlan, the City will meet with other public and private agencies to consult in the preparation of these documents. These meetings will include agencies that provide: Public and assisted housing; Health services; Social services ( including those focusing on services to children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, and homeless persons); Community-based and regionally based organizations that represent protected class members; Organizations that enforce fair housing laws; Other local and regional institutions; Broadband internet service providers and organizations engaged in narrowing the digital divide; and Agencies whose primary responsibilities include the management of flood prone areas, public land/water resources, and emergency management agencies. Citizens Advisory Committee The Citizen Advisory Committee ( CAC) shall consist of five members. The committee shall designate one of its members to be chairperson and vice-chairperson for each calendar year. Members shall be residents of the City and 3 members shall represent low/mod income, minority property owners. The Members shall be responsible for recruiting and/or replacement of members. Members shall be appointed by a majority vote of the members present. The CAC shall be advisory to the CDBG staff. The CAC will: Provide input on the needs of low- and moderate-income residents in the City. Provide input on the City housing and community development needs. Establish priorities relating to these needs. Review proposals to allocate the CDBG funds and make recommendations to the City Council. Revise, as necessary,