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APPROVE CONTRACT WITH BAE URBAN ECONOMICS TO PREPARE THE CITY’S 2020-2025 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AS A STANDARD REQUIREMENT FOR RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council by motion:
1. Authorize a contract in the amount of $96,100 from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to BAE Urban Economics for consulting service to prepare the City’s 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan as a standard requirement from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to receive Federal funding; and
2. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to take necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the motion.
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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 submit an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). An AI describes a community's fair housing needs and provides strategies to address those needs.
In October, the City published a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a firm to assist in the preparation of the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan for submission to HUD. The City received two proposals and after thorough review of the proposals, staff selected BAE Urban Economics (BAE). Staff recommends approval of a contract in the amount of $96,100 with BAE to prepare the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan.
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 community-wide 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 October 2018, City staff prepared an RFP seeking a firm to assist in the preparation of the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan for submission to HUD. Two qualified proponents responded to the RFP. The vendor was selected based on its experience in the preparation of similar documents, knowledge of HUD requirements and local community, and ability to meet the deadlines set in the RFP. A staff selection committee evaluated and scored each proposal and BAE was selected as the Consultant to prepare the Consolidated Plan.
Present Situation
BAE completed the City’s 2015-2020 HUD Consolidated Plan and was selected to prepare a market analysis that was used as a background resource for the City’s 2040 General Plan Update. BAE is familiar with the City’s wide array of challenges including significant affordable housing needs.
In the prior Consolidated Plan process, BAE conducted a thorough analysis using the Consolidated Plan Template and HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) Maps, as well as other supplemental sources. BAE conducted numerous consultations with local housing advocates and service providers to identify the community needs and brainstormed potential solutions.
BAE has experience developing an AI in accordance with HUD’s Fair Housing Planning Guide. Its experience includes documenting the community’s fair housing issues and identifying barriers to fair housing choice. BAE has demonstrated its ability to leverage existing data from the Housing Element and other existing resources identify goals, policies, and programs to further fair housing choices that are compatible with the City’s existing policy framework.
Staff recommends approval of a contract, included as Attachment A, in the amount of $96,100 with BAE to prepare the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
No General Fund dollars will be used for this project. The contract will be paid with $96,100 of CDBG funds, which is a HUD eligible activity. Sufficient funds are available in Account No. 062-8523-640 (CDBG Program Revolving Loan Fund) to provide the $96,100 for the contract with BAE.
Attachment A - Professional Services Agreement