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HomeMy WebLinkAbout25-136 RESOLUTION NO. 25-136 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA,AMENDING THE COUNTY'S CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN AS REQUIRED BY 24 CFR § 91.105; PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH UPDATED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) REQUIREMENTS;AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)requires all jurisdictions receiving Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) funds to adopt a Citizen Participation Plan(CPP) in accordance with 24 CFR Part 91; and WHEREAS, on March 21, 1995,the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, adopted a Citizen Participation Plan through Resolution No. 95-100 to guide public involvement in the development of the County's Consolidated Plan and related HUD- funded activities; and WHEREAS, HUD issued a final rule on July 16, 2015, with an effective date of August 17, 2015, amending 24 CFR § 91.105 to enhance citizen participation requirements, including provisions for consultation with public housing agencies and broadband providers,participation by persons with limited English proficiency, and access for persons with disabilities; and WHEREAS,jurisdictions with CPPs adopted prior to August 17, 2015, are required to formally amend their plans to comply with the revised HUD regulations; and WHEREAS, St. Lucie County has updated its Citizen Participation Plan to incorporate all applicable changes as required by federal law. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, as follows: Section 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference. Section 2. The Board hereby adopts the amended Citizen Participation Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit A, which supersedes and replaces the original plan adopted on March 21, 1995, and brings the County into compliance with the revised requirements set forth in 24 CFR § 91.105, including but not limited to: • Enhanced access and participation for persons with limited English proficiency; • Reasonable accommodations and formats accessible to persons with disabilities; • Consultation with public housing agencies and agencies that manage broadband access; • Updated definitions and thresholds for substantial amendments; • Expanded procedures for public comment and complaint response. Section 3. The County Administrator, or designee, is authorized to take all administrative actions necessary to implement the provisions of the amended Citizen Participation Plan and to ensure continued compliance with federal requirements for HUD-funded programs. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption. After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows: Commissioner Jamie Fowler, AYE Chair Commissioner Larry Leet,Vice Chair AYE Commissioner James Clasby AYE Commissioner Erin Lowry AYE Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of July 2025. 4 GOMM/a.� ATTEST: ?� �� oy BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIOERS v J : A trio ST LUCIE COUNTY,FLORIDA jam * * el,II CouNr4. BY- DEPUTY CLERK C li A 1 APPROVED AS TO CORRECTNESS AND FORM: COUNTY TT EY Exhibit A St. Lucie County Citizen Participation Plan Prepared in accordance with 24 CFR Part 91, 24 CFR 570.302, and 24 CFR 570.304 I. Purpose The purpose of this Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) is to encourage and ensure the involvement of citizens—particularly low- and moderate-income residents, minorities, non-English speakers, persons with disabilities, and residents of blighted neighborhoods— in the planning, development, implementation, and assessment of the County's Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, any substantial amendments to the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans, and the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). II.Applicable Programs This plan applies to activities funded through: • The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program • The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) III. Encouraging Participation St. Lucie County shall take the following steps to foster participation: • Provide for and encourage citizen participation,with particular emphasis on low- and moderate-income persons, residents of slum and blighted areas, and residents of areas where funds are proposed to be used. • Encourage the participation of all county residents, including minorities, non- English speaking persons, and persons with disabilities, by providing translation and accommodation services upon request. • Encourage the involvement of local and regional institutions, Continuums of Care, nonprofit and private agencies, and other public agencies. • Encourage the participation of residents of public and assisted housing developments,with consultation from local public housing agencies. The County will every effort to provide the agencies with information about furthering fair housing strategy and consolidated plan activities related to its developments and surrounding communities. IV. Public Meetings and Hearings The County shall hold at least two public hearings each program year: Exhibit A 1. One during the development of the Consolidated or Annual Action Plan before the proposed plan is published for comment. 2. One during the review of program performance (CAPER). Public hearings will be: • Held at times and locations convenient to potential and actual beneficiaries. • Physically accessible to persons with disabilities. • The County will make accommodations for the attendance of persons with disabilities who notify the County at least two business days prior to the public hearing, and identify the accommodations needed, whether hearing,visual or other. Upon receipt of request, the County will make an effort to provide the following services: an interpreter and audio equipment for the hearing impaired; a reader to review printed materials with the sight impaired, and a foreign language interpreter for non-English speaking residents. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the Human Resources Department at (772) 462-1546, HumanResources@stlucieco.org or TDD (772) 462- 1428 • Announced with at least 14 calendar days' notice through public notices published in local newspapers, posted on the County's website, and distributed to stakeholder mailing lists. V. Public Access to Information The County will provide the public with reasonable and timely access to: • Any HUD-provided data and any other supplemental information the County plans to incorporate into its consolidated plan. This may include a link to HUD's website where data can be readily assessed. • All records relating to the Consolidated Plan,Annual Action Plans, and CAPER; • Information about the amount of assistance the County expects to receive, proposed activities, and estimated benefit to low-and moderate-income persons. All plans and substantial amendments will be available for public review for a minimum of 30 days,with CAPERs available for a 15-day review period before submission to HUD. VI. Public Comment Process The County will provide citizens with opportunities to comment: Exhibit A • On the draft Consolidated Plan,Annual Action Plan, and CAPER. • On any proposed substantial amendment to an approved plan. The County will publish the proposed Consolidated Plan/Annual Plan, or a reasonable summary thereof, in the newspaper and post it on the County's website.The publication will be at the beginning, or during, a 30-day public comment period during which the public hearing on the proposed plan will also be held.The publication will describe the contents and purpose of the proposed Plan, the amount of funds expected to serve low-and moderate-income persons, and the location where the entire document is available for review.A reasonable number of free copies of the Plan or portions thereof will be available to citizens or groups that request it. During this 30-day period, the County will receive comments on the proposed plan(s). Comments will be accepted in writing(including by email), or in person during public hearings. The County will consider all comments and attach a summary of those comments and the County's responses when submitting the final document to HUD. The CAPER will be published for comment for 15 days prior to submission. Copies of the CAPER will be made available upon request. During this period,the County will receive comments on the proposed CAPER in writing or in person during public hearing.The County will consider all comments and attach a summary of those comments and the County's responses when submitting the final document to HUD. VII. Substantial Amendments A substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan or Annual Action Plan is defined as: • A change in the use of funds from one eligible activity to another, • A change in the location or scope of a previously approved activity that significantly affects beneficiaries, • A change in the amount of funding allocated to a project by more than 25%. Such amendments will be subject to a 30-day public comment period with public notice prior to implementation or submission to HUD.The County will publish the proposed amendment, or reasonable summary thereof, in the newspaper and/or post it on the County's website. Hardcopies will also be available. Comments on proposed amendments will be accepted in writing(including by email) and or in person during public hearings, if any. The County will consider all comments and attach a summary of those comments and the County's responses when submitting the final document to HUD. Exhibit A VIII. Complaints The County will provide a written response to all written complaints related to the Citizen Participation Plan, Consolidated Plan,Annual Action Plan, or CAPER within 15 working days of receipt,where practicable. IX.Availability of the Citizen Participation Plan The Citizen Participation Plan shall be: • Made available to the public upon request. • Posted on the County's website. • Available in accessible formats to persons with disabilities and in languages other than English upon request. The Citizen Participation Plan may be updated and amended as necessary.Any changes will be made public and subject to a 15-day comment period. X.Technical Assistance Upon request,technical assistance will be provided to groups representative of low-and moderate-income persons who are interested in developing proposals for funding assistance under any program covered by the consolidated plan, with the level and type of assistance to be determined by the County. Technical assistance may be requested in writing and should be addressed to the Community Services Department by emailing comm_info@stlucieco.org. All requests should specify the name of the group or organization as well as a contact person, the nature of technical assistance requested, immediate problems and the reason for the request. The County will supply reasonable assistance by telephone, meetings, U.S. mail, and workshops, in the form of staff presentations, informational handouts, or other short- term efforts. XI. Displacement and Relocation The County does not anticipate funding any activities that will displace any residents or businesses. If an involuntary displacement should occur, the County will follow all applicable requirements set forth by the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act(URA), section 104(d)of the Housing and Community Development Act, and any other required state and federal regulations.