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

where Publish notice online/in 8  document is available newspaper of general circulation CAPER Upon publication, will 15 Calendar Days prior to Prior to submission to contain the summary of the Public Hearing/Meeting HUD. Publish notice contents, purpose, online/in newspaper of duration of public general circulation comment period, list of locations where document is available Table 1 Technical Assistance The City will provide technical assistance to groups representative of persons of low and moderate income that request assistance in developing CDBG proposals for funding assistance under any of the programs covered by the consolidated plan. The level and type of assistance appropriate will be determined by the City based on its ability to provide or arrange for such assistance, the cost of providing such assistance and other relevant factors. Assistance will be provided in a reasonable and timely manner during normal office hours or after hours upon appointment. Public Information and Records The adopted CPP, ConPlan, AAP, CAPER, and substantial amendments will be available at the Growth Management Department located in the City Hall annex at 105 Miracle Strip Parkway SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL during regular office hours. All proposed and final plans will be available free upon request. All information of the preceding 5 years related to the CDBG program, will be made available through a public information request submitted to the city clerk located at City Hall, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL. Special communication aids can be made available to persons upon request. The City shall provide reasonable and timely access to such requests. Disaster/ Emergency events There have been situations that occur where the City experiences a natural disaster or emergency. Examples of these include major hurricanes and the 2020 COVID-19 virus pandemic. In these situations, either the Okaloosa County Health Department, the City of Fort Walton Beach Mayor, the Governor of the State of Florida, and/or the President of the United States declared that emergency conditions existed. These events are not predictable as to when they will occur or what will be their impact on City residents, businesses, and/or the community resources. Events that qualify as a type of disaster or emergency would not constitute a substantial change, and thereby waive requirements for formal adoption of an amendment to the associated City’s Citizen Participation Plan. In the event of a local, state, or federal disaster or emergency declaration, the City may fund new activities and/or the reprogram funds, including canceling activities, to meet needs resulting from said disaster or emergency. Therefore, the City may utilize CDBG funds to meet these needs with a five (5) day public notice and comment period instead of a thirty ( 30) day public comment period, which is otherwise required for substantial amendments. Virtual public meetings and hearings may be used to fulfill applicable public hearing requirements instead of in-person. Real-time responses and accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency will be made available to the extent practicable. 9 Citizen Grievance Process Complaints of CPP, ConPlan, AAP, CAPER, and substantial amendments All complaints shall be provided in writing. A written response shall be provided within fifteen ( 15) working days from the date of receipt of the complaint. Complaints of substandard workmanship and complaints of discrimination in housing and or HUD assisted contracts: The city shall enforce nondiscrimination practices in program policy, procedure or performance and to assure quality workmanship. The initial effort to resolve such complaints shall be the responsibility of the Growth Management Department Director. The Director shall collect pertinent information necessary to assess the validity of the complaint and after meeting with the complainant, he/she shall render an administrative decision regarding the complaint. The decision shall be rendered in writing within fifteen ( 15) days of the date of the receipt of the written complaint. b) If this fails to resolve the complaint or related issues, the complainant may file an appeal to the City Manager. The determination by the city manager will be the final decision at the local level. Either party may seek judicial remedy or appeal the decision to HUD, Jacksonville Office at the following address: US Department of Housing and Urban Development Jacksonville Office Charles E. Bennett Federal Building 400 W. Bay Street, Suite 1015 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: (904) 232-2627 10