title
APPROVE CONTRACT WITH GROW AMERICA TO PREPARE THE CITY’S 2025-2029 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES AS A STANDARD REQUIREMENT FOR RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize by motion:
1. A contract in the amount of $140,000 from a combination of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Asset Fund (LMIHF) funds to Grow America for consulting services to prepare the City’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and associated activities as a standard requirement from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive Federal funding; and
2. The execution of the Standard Agreement substantially similar in form to Attachment A.
It is also recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the motion.
body
Summary
As a recipient of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, the City is required to prepare a five-year master plan, known as the Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan identifies the priority needs within a community and establishes the goals and objectives that the grantee, the City, hopes to accomplish during the five-year period using HUD funds.
Along with the Consolidated Plan, HUD requires the City to undertake planning activities related to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH). Federal statute requires the City of Stockton to proactively take meaningful actions to overcome patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice, and eliminate disparities in opportunities, and foster inclusive communities free from discrimination. Additional activities that the City is required to undertake to continue receiving federal funding from HUD includes: the preparation of a Language Access Plan (LAP); developing a Section 3 Plan to provide training, employment, contracting, and other economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons; and reviewing and updating the City’s Citizen Participation Plan (CPP).
In March 2024, the City published a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify and select a firm to assist in the preparation of the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, and associated planning activities, for submission to HUD. The City received four proposals and after thorough review of the proposals, staff selected Grow America. Staff recommends approval of a contract in the amount of $140,000 with Grow America to prepare the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Consolidated Plan is designed to help local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs, evaluate market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a communitywide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from HUD’s formula block grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program.
The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. HUD requires grantees like the City to report on accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
In March 2024, City staff prepared an RFP seeking a firm to assist in the preparation of the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and other federal mandated planning activities for submission to HUD. Four proponents responded to the RFP. The vendor was selected based on its experience in the preparation of similar documents, knowledge of HUD requirements and the local community, and ability to meet the deadlines set in the RFP. A staff selection committee evaluated and scored each proposal and Grow America was selected as the Consultant to prepare the Consolidated Plan and first-year Annual Action Plan, undertake planning activities related to AFFH requirements, develop a LAP, develop a Section 3 Plan, and advise on updates to the City’s Citizen Participation Plan.
Present Situation
The City’s current Consolidated Plan sunsets at the end of Fiscal Year 2025. In order to continue to receive federal funds from HUD, the City must complete a new Consolidated Plan covering the years 2025-2029. As part of the development of the new Consolidated Plan, the City will need to undertake additional planning activities that are required by HUD, and which complement and support the analysis of community needs. In addition to developing the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and first-year Annual Action Plan, Grow America will be tasked with undertaking activities as part of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requirements, which involves data gathering and analysis to identify fair housing priorities and goals. The consultant will also be required to conduct the HUD-required four-factor analysis to development a Language Access Plan (LAP); conduct activities required for the development of a Section 3 Plan; and advise on updates to the City’s existing Citizen Participation Plan.
Grow America was selected due to their extensive experience and knowledge of a broad range of HUD programs and planning activities. As part of the activities to be conducted by Grow America, there will be extensive stakeholder and community engagement throughout the process. This will include designing and deploying a citizen survey, virtual one-on-one consultations with local stakeholders, and virtual community meetings. In addition, City staff will conduct in-person meetings to ensure the community is informed of the process and provided opportunities to solicit in-person feedback.
Staff recommends approval of a Standard Agreement, substantially similar in form to Attachment A, in the amount of $140,000 with Grow America to prepare the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, first-year Annual Action Plan, and associated planning activities.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
No General Fund dollars will be used for this project. Sufficient funds have been budgeted, and are available, in FY 2024-25, to support this work. The contract with Grow America will be paid with CDBG, HOME and LMIHF funds, as follows:
Attachment A - Standard Agreement