1. 1 CDBG Citizen Participation For Grant Administrators

2. 2 CDBG Citizen Participation Required by Section 104(a)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act and by regulations at 24 CFR 570.486(a)(6) Vitally important to the success of CDBG- funded activities undertaken by local governments Compliance reduces the number of legal challenges and citizen complaints against the local government recipient

3. 3 Citizen Participation – Federal regulatory requirements Local governments must provide citizens with reasonable advance notice of and opportunity to comment on proposed activities in an application to the state For grants already made, the same opportunities must be provided for activities proposed to be added, deleted or substantially changed from the local government’s application to the state

4. 4 Citizen Participation Plan The primary goal is to provide citizens-- especially low and moderate income citizens of the community where CDBG-funded activities will take place-- an opportunity to participate in an advisory role in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the programs and projects.

5. 5 Citizen Participation Plan - continued Items to be included: –Detail the public hearing requirements –Identify the Citizen Participation Coordinator along with the duties and responsibilities –Specify the date the plan was adopted –Policy for providing technical assistance to the community so that they will become knowledgeable about the CDBG program and can contribute some ideas to solving some of the community’s needs

6. 6 Citizen Participation Plan - continued –Policy for making available programmatic information to citizens during all phases of the CDBG project as well as records on past use of CDBG funds –Policy for citizens providing comments on the Citizen Participation Plan and amendments –Policy for providing citizens an opportunity to comment on performance reports for project activities

7. 7 Citizen Participation Plan - continued –Policy for encouraging citizens to participate in an advisory role in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the project –Procedures for comments, objections, and complaints –Program income re-use plan

8. 8 Public Hearing Requirements When and Why –Two public hearings are required by law –Reasonable notice must be provided –Must be held at two separate phases of the project –Both must be held prior to application to the state

9. 9 Public Hearings - continued –If a formal amendment to the project is to be submitted, another public hearing (with requisite notice) may be required

10. 10 Public Hearing Notification Notice must be published at least twice on different days in a newspaper of daily circulation The first notice must be published no less than two weeks prior to the date of the public hearing Applicants must make every effort to inform those who might not be reached through the newspaper

11. 11 Public Hearing Notification continued Advertisements must state that accommodations for disabled or non- English speaking residents will be made available upon advance request Applicants must take appropriate affirmative actions to make the scheduling known to low and moderate-income residents

12. 12 Required Public Hearing Documentation Copies of the notices must be included as part of the application along with an Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper Local governments must document the notification and results of public hearings through the following: –Copy of advertisement/notice –Minutes of public hearing –List of attendees

13. 13 Public Hearing Content Information that should be made available at public hearings: –Goals and objectives of the CDBG program –The total amount of CDBG funds available –Community development and housing needs –Proposed activities for project and amount to be requested for project –The proposed amount of funds to be used to benefit low-and moderate-income people –Whether any persons will be displaced as a result of the proposed activities

14. 14 Citizen Participation Plan vs Public Hearings The two are not the same –Hearings are simply a component of the Plan –Hearings are the culmination of the Plan Doing one is not doing the other

15. 15 Citizen Participation Sample Documents Provide Sample Public Notices, Affidavits of Publication, Sample Program Income Plans and Citizen Participation Plans