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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Approving the Third Substantial Amendment to the CDBG 2019/20 Annual Action Plan RESOLUTION NO. 21-054 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE THIRD SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE CDBG 2019/20 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, in response to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)notified the City of Ames that it will receive a special allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) funds in the amount of$354,515 to be used to prevent,prepare for,and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic;and, WHEREAS, the allocation was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); and, WHEREAS,on September 11,2020,HUD notified the City that it will receive a third special allocation round of CDBG-CV funds in the amount of$356,455 authorized by the CARES Act to again be used to prevent,prepare for, and respond to COVID-19; and, WHEREAS,both rounds of the CARES Act funds are only available for"eligible activities" meeting the national objectives of the CDBG-CV program and responding to the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19; and, WHEREAS,to expedite implementation of this funding,the typical 30-day public comment process has been reduced to a five-day comment period by HUD,and the comment period began on Thursday, January 21, 2021, and ended on January 25, 2021; and, WHEREAS, staff initially sought public input in April from citizens within the community, private for-profit enterprises,and not-for-profit organizations regarding the distribution of CARES funding; and, WHEREAS, after considering the public input and conversations with human services agencies,financial institutions,the local housing trust fund,utility companies,medical institutions, other entitlement communities, and past CDBG programming, staff proposed and City Council approved utilizing the first round of funding to accomplish three programs: Rent, Mortgage, and Utilities Relief Assistance; and, WHEREAS, to date, round one funds have assisted approximately 104 households and approximately $335,510 has been distributed as follows: 1)Rent Assistance, 49 households; 2) Mortgage Assistance,six households;and,3)Utilities Assistance,49 households(44 renters and five homeowners); and, WHEREAS,there are approximately 25-35 households that have applied for assistance and more inquiries occurring every day from both landlords and tenants; and, WHEREAS,staff was recently contacted by various human services agencies inquiring if the City program would continue due to the on-going need of households in the community;therefore, staff is proposing to continue the implementation of the above programs with the third round of CDBG CARES (COVID-19) funding from HUD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the Third Substantial Amendment to the CDBG 2019/20 Annual Action Plan that incorporates a third special allocation of CDBG CARES Act funding in the amount of$356,455 to continue implementing the COVID-19 Rent,Mortgage,and Utilities Relief Assistance Programs,and approve the submittal of the Action Plan to HUD for its approval on or by January 31, 2021 is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 26th day of January, 2021. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Junck Seconded by: Beatty-Hansen Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26th day of January, 2021.