Planning and Development Services Department
TO: David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM: Margene K. Swarts, Assistant Director, Development Services
CC: Scott McCullough, Director, Planning and Development Services
DATE: May 3, 2012
RE: CDBG/HOME Citizen Participation Plan Update
As part of the CDBG and HOME programs, the City is required to have a Citizen Participation Plan. The purpose of the plan is to encourage and insure full and proper citizen participation at all stages of the CDBG Consolidated Planning process and involve citizens in decisions that are made regarding the CDBG and HOME programs. The Citizen Participation Plan formally designates structures, procedures, roles and policies to be followed for program participation.
Staff presented the revised Citizen Participation Plan to the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) at their April 12, 2012 regular meeting. The CDAC had previously reviewed and discussed updates to the plan. The CDAC voted unanimously to forward the revised Plan to the City Commission for their review and approval.
The Citizen Participation Plan for the City was last updated in 2008 and has been updated previously through the years. Generally, updates to the Plan have occurred as a result of name changes to the department or other minor adjustments. The current recommended updates include guidance for CDBG-funded neighborhood associations on residency/property ownership requirements for board members and/or officers, as well as residency requirements for CDBG-paid coordinators. The plan also outlines the expectation that if a neighborhood association’s by-laws are updated, these must be provided to the Community Development Division within 90 days of approval. Other minor wording adjustments were made as well as updating the CDBG/HOME procedure calendar.