A. General Information Grantee Name County of Sacramento CDBG-R Contact Person Geoffrey Ross Title Program Manager, Housing & Community Development Address Line 1 Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency Address Line 2 630 I Street City, State, Zip Code Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone 916.440.1322 Fax 916.447.2261 Email Address gross@shra.org Authorized Official (if different from Contact Person) La Shelle Dozier Title Executive Director Address Line 1 Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency Address Line 2 630 I Street City, State, Zip Code Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone 916.440.1319 Fax Email Address Web Address where this Form is Posted www.shra.org CDBG-R Amount $1,567,415 B. Citizen Participation and Public Comment 1. Briefly describe how the grantee followed its citizen participation plan regarding this proposed Substantial Amendment (limit 250 words). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the regulations for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) containing significant one-time funding of $1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program for Recovery activities (CDBG-R) on Wednesday, May 6, 2009. The regulations require grantees to submit a Substantial Amendment to their Action Plan that further amends the Consolidated Plan to the local HUD field office no later than Friday, June 5, 2009. The Substantial Amendment outlines the Recovery activities the jurisdiction will undertake with the CDBG-R funds to address priority needs and objectives. HUD will notify grantees no later than July 20, 2009 of approval or disapproval of the Amendment. To expedite the process and to ensure CDBG-R grants are awarded in a timely manner, while preserving a reasonable citizen participation process, HUD reduced the normal public comment period from 30 days to 7 days. Draft copies of the Substantial Amendment to the 2009 Action Plan which further amends the 2008- 12 Consolidated Plan detailing the proposed Recovery activities under the CDBG- R Program are displayed for public comment on the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) web site located at www.shra.org. The public notice was published in the Sacramento Bee and Daily Recorder on May 19,2009, seven days prior to the scheduled public hearing on Tuesday, June 2,2009, at 10:00 a.m. Public comments are also received by SHRA’s Housing and Community Development Department. 2. Provide the appropriate response regarding this Substantial Amendment by checking one of the following options: Grantee did not receive public comments. Grantee received and accepted all public comments. Grantee received public comments and did not accept one or more of the comments. 3. Provide a summary of the public comments regarding this Substantial Amendment. Include a summary of any comments or views not accepted and the reasons for non-acceptance. No comments received to date. C. Use of CDBG-R Funds 1. Description of Activities to be undertaken with CDBG-R funds: Homeless Prevention Under the guidelines of CDBG-R, 15 percent of the funds can be used for public service activities. In accordance with the 2008-12 Consolidated Plan goals and per the CDBG-R guidelines, it is proposed that $235,000 in CDBG-R public service dollars be used to support homeless prevention activities and services for the homeless. On May 13, 2009 the County Board of Supervisors approved homeless prevention activites under the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) Substantial Amendment to the 2009 Action Plan and 2008-12 Consolidated Plan to address the need to take proactive steps to assist those directly affected by the recession. According to the current 2008-12 Consolidated Plan and the 2009 Action Plan all existing funds, public and private, will continue to be utilized for the jurisdiction’s current and proposed Continuum of Care programs. Any new funding will be directed to accomplish the proposed goals of the Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness as appropriate. In the County of Sacramento twenty (20) private and public agencies offer homeless prevention services that include mortgage assistance, rental assistance, and utility assistance. Many more private and public agencies within the county offer counseling and advocacy services to assist individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless. The funding for these services come from a combination of Federal, state, local, and private sources. Infrastructure Improvements As a condition of funding, HUD strongly urges grantees to use CDBG-R funds for hard development costs associated with infrastructure activities. In accordance with the 2008-12 Consolidated Plan goals and the intent of CDBG-R program, it is proposed that: . $1,332,415 in CDBG-R funds to the 2008 Auburn Boulevard Streetscape project to expedite the design and construction of infrastructure and road improvements. The Auburn Boulevard Streetscape project is an existing project supported with annual CDBG entitllement funds. CDBG-R is intended to invest in transportation and/or other infrastructure projects that will provide a long-term economic benefit. CDBG-R specifically recommends grantees identify activities previouly approved to receive funding from its regular 2009 CDBG allocation and consider whether activities could be accelerated by being funded with CDBG-R. The Auburn Boulevard project meets this requirement. The Auburn Boulevard Streetscape project meets the intent of CDBG-R funds for hard development costs that invest in transportation, environmental protection, or other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. Streetscape improvements expedited by the use of CDBG-R funds will continue to reposition Auburn Boulevard for new businesses to relocate as well as foster a more pedestrian and bike friendly thoroughfare in a low- and moderate-income area. 2. Description of how the distribution and uses of CDBG-R funds will meet the requirement of Title XXII of Division A and Section 1602 of the Recovery Act: Under ARRA, recipients shall give priority to projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days of the grant agreement. One hundred percent of the funds ($1.55 million) must be spent by September 30, 2012. CDBG-R is intended to invest in economic development, housing, infrastructure and other public facility activities that will quickly spur furhter economic investment, increased energy efficiency, and job creation or retention, as well as provide a long-term economic benefit. CDBG-R specifically recommends grantees identify activities previouly approved to receive funding and consider whether activities could be accelerated by being funded with CDBG-R. The projects listed above are consistent with the goals and objectives of both ARRA and the approved City of Sacramento 2008-12 Consolidated Plan. 3. Description of how the use of CDBG-R funds for the activities will maximize job creation and economic benefit in relation to the CDBG-R funds obligated, and will address the Recovery Act by: preserving and creating jobs and promoting economic recovery; assisting those most impacted by the recession; providing investment needed to increase economic efficiency; investing in transportation, environmental protection or other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; or fostering energy independence. The Auburn Boulevard Streetscape project uses CDBG-R funds to preserve and create jobs in the building/construction industry, which is particularly impacted by the economic recession, by expediting the development of a catalyst project integral to the success of larger area. Such a catalyst project both directly employs individuals and will lead to future employment as development continues and new businesses and residents move into the project area. The Auburn Boulevard Streetscape project provides investments needed to increase economic efficiency and investments in transportation that will provide long-term economic benefits. Streetscape projects typically also create additional benefits of improved mobility, which reduce travel time for commutes, reduce congestion by providing an opportunity for alternative modes of transit that equate to less energy use and air pollution. Homeless prevention activities meet the intent of the CDBG-R funds by utilizing the public service component to assist those most impacted by the recession. CDBG-R public service funds provide an additional opportuntity for longer lasting system improvements, shifting from a system organized around shelter to one centered on prevention and housing stability. HUD encourages a coordinated process with central intake and communtiy wide tools to assess the individual’s risk of homelessness and housing needs. 4. Description of the activities that will be carried out with CDBG-R funds that promote energy conservation, smart growth, green building technologies or reduced pollution emissions: The Auburn Boulevard Streetscape project meets the intent of CDBG-R funds by expediting the process installing needed infrastructure improvements that will reposition Auburn Boulevard for new businesses to relocate as well as foster a more pedestrian and bike friendly thoroughfare in a low- and moderate-income area.