Town of Cary : Community Development Block Grant
Citizen Participation Plan
Introduction
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a federally funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Town of Cary principally to benefit low and moderate-income (LMI) citizens in the Town. To put this funding source to the most appropriate uses, the Town is required to gather participation with citizens, including minorities, non-English-speaking persons, LMI residents, persons with disabilities, advocates for senior, disabled, illiterate, homeless, and other low-income populations, whom the CDBG is designed to serve. This participation is used in the Town’s development of its five year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for use of CDBG funds. For a summary of the eligible uses and national objectives of the CDBG program, citizens should consult the Town’s web site, www.townofcary.org, under Community Development Block Grant.
The Town of Cary recognizes the importance of using extensive citizen participation, especially for low and moderate income residents during the development of its CDBG Consolidated and Annual Action Plans, substantial amendments to the Plans, and in CDBG performance reports to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These plans are available for citizen review and comments. Upon request, this plan and other CDBG documents is made available in a format accessible to persons with disabilities.
The Processes for Consulting our Citizens
The Town of Cary takes the following steps in the administration of its CDBG program:
1. The Process forInforming Citizens
The Town of Cary encourages citizen participation throughout the process of developing CDBG plans, assessing housing and community development needs, and developing particular CDBG project proposals. In particular, participation by low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents of project service areas, residents of assisted housing developments, and residents of slum and blight neighborhoods are encouraged. The Town also informs the Wake County Housing Authority about CDBG activities it plans to undertake.
To meet these objectives, the Town informs citizens of public hearings and other meetings and provides opportunities for participation in CDBG program development through at least two of the following methods:
a. Advertisement in The Cary News and Raleigh News and Observer (the required public meetings and hearings are announced using this method and at least one other method);
b. Advertisement through Town web site and local radio and/or television stations, including the Spanish-language media;
c. Distribution of English/Spanish flyers in Town buildings, the Cary library, LMI areas, and in the proposed service area(s);
d. Announcements at local community organization meetings; and,
e. Announcements through local churches, non-profit organizations serving LMI residents, disabled, non-English-speaking, and other participating entities (stores and businesses) located in LMI and proposed project areas.
The Town keeps on file documentation of how it met the above requirement in its CDBG files for verification.
2. Information to be Made Available
Cary citizens are provided with reasonable and timely access to meetings, information, and records relating to the Town's proposed and actual use of CDBG funds. Meetings are held and conducted according to the requirements established for public hearings cited below (#5).
CDBG-related information and records are available to interested citizens with the same availability and in the same manner as the public hearing advertisements. At a minimum, before the Consolidated or Annual Action Plans are adopted, the Town provides citizens with information concerning the amount of funds available (including program income, when applicable) for proposed activities and the range of activities that may be undertaken, including the estimated amount to be used for activities that will benefit low and moderate-income residents, and the proposed CDBG activities likely to result in displacement, if any.
The Town's Consolidated and Annual Action Plan, substantial amendments to the Plans, and annual performance reports are available at the Cary Planning Department, on the Town of Cary web site, and at the Cary public library. A summary of the Consolidated and Annual Action Plans are published in one or more newspapers and reasonable numbers of free copies of the Plans are made available to citizens and groups that request them.
3. Consultations with Groups Serving the Intended Beneficiaries
The Town of Cary includes consultations with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and other organizations in the development of its CDBG Consolidated and Annual Action Plans. It is the policy of the Town to conduct one or more meetings with such entities to determine Cary’s housing and community development needs, gaps in services, missing services, or services provided by organizations where Town participation will benefit low and moderate income residents. Participation in these meetings also helps in the prioritization of needs to guide future CDBG projects.
4. Providing Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is provided to groups representative of low and moderate income that request such assistance in developing proposals for use of CDBG funds with the level and type of assistance to be determined by the Town. The name, address, and telephone number of the Town's CDBG contact person(s) is available upon request and announced at all public meetings held on the CDBG program.
5. Consolidatedand Annual ActionPlanPublic Hearings
At least two public hearings are held during the CDBG Consolidated and Annual Action Plan development period and annually after that. One hearing is held early in the Plan development process to identify the Town's community development and housing needs. Citizen comments and views on priority community development needs are sought at this first hearing each year.
Also addressed in one or both hearings is the range of eligible project types funded through the CDBG program, the amount of money available, the proposed activities the Town is proposing for funding, and the estimated amount that will benefit LMI persons.
A second hearing is held for public review and comment on the final draft of the CDBG Consolidated and Annual Action Plan. A minimum of thirty days is provided to receive citizen comments about the Plans. The Town considers all comments received and attach a summary of them to the final Plan, including the project suggestions that were not accepted and reasons why they were not.
These hearings are held after adequate notice (newspaper advertisement at least seven days prior to the hearing and at least one other type of announcement (see # 1 above), at times and locations convenient to the citizens, and with accommodation for the physically challenged. Both public hearings are held within eight weeks of the Plan submission deadline of May in each year. The two hearings at a minimum are held one week apart. Files are maintained containing documentary evidence that the hearings were held and of the comments and suggestions received.
In the case of substantial amendments to the Consolidated or Annual Action Plans (where activities are to be added, deleted, or substantially changed in terms of purpose, scope, location, or beneficiaries), the Town provides its citizens with an opportunity for comment on such changes through a public hearing, after the Town has informed citizens of the changes at least seven days prior to the hearing. A minimum of thirty days is made available to receive citizen comments about any substantial amendments to the Plans, and a summary of these comments are included (including views not accepted and the reasons why they were not accepted) in the amended Plans.
6. Performance Reports
HUD requires the Town to submit an annual performancereport to them within ninety days of the completion of a program year. The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, or CAPER, is due to HUD at the end of September in each year. Cary provides a minimum of fifteen days for Cary citizens to provide comments on the performance reports prior to their submissions to HUD.
7. Complaint Process
The Town provides in the public hearing notices, the locations, phone numbers, and times for submitting complaints, grievances, and other suggestions regarding the Consolidated and Annual Action Plans, its substantial amendments, and performance reports. The Town also provides timely written responses to written complaints, grievances, and suggestions within 15 working days where practicable.
8. Accommodating Non-English-Speaking Residents
Where an estimated 5 percent or more of public hearing participants are expected to be non‑English speaking residents, the Town will take reasonable measures to accommodate their needs. Census data on the proposed project area and on the Town as a whole are analyzed to determine if this provision applies in a particular instance. Meeting this provision usually means having printed material available in the non‑English language(s) and/or retaining the services of an interpreter(s) for CDBG-related meetings and public hearings. The Town also takes appropriate actions to accommodate the needs of persons with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments who wish to participate in the CDBG program public comment processes described above.
Access to Records
The Town of Cary provides reasonable and timely access to citizens, public agencies, and other organizations who desire to review the Town’s records on its Consolidated and Annual Action Plans and its use of CDBG funds.
Minimizing Displacement
In the expenditure of its CDBG funds, the Town of Cary takes measures to minimize the displacement of LMI families that may result from its activities. When this is unavoidable on a temporary or permanent basis, federal law (the “Uniform Act”) is followed. Normally, this involves payments to the displaced families to help with the needed relocation and the difference between current rent and the new rent at a comparable dwelling. A more detailed description of the Town’s efforts to minimize displacement and provide payment when such is unavoidable is be included in the Town’s Consolidated Plan.
Disclaimer
None of the foregoing may be construed to restrict the responsibility or authority of the Town of Cary in the development and execution of its Community Development Block Grant program.