In response to a year of natural disasters that affected Jefferson City, staff from the Department of Planning and Protective Services are working to amend the city's Consolidated Action Plan.
On Thursday morning, interim neighborhood services planner Katrina Williams presented the planned amendment to the Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee. The proposal will be presented April 6 to the Jefferson City Council, and could be delivered to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as late as April 17.
Because Jefferson City receives annual federal funding from HUD's Community Development Block Grant Program, the city must create and maintain a five-year strategic plan for the use of the funds.
"The plan outlines priority needs and activities that we're going to undertake in that five-year period," Williams said. "Right now, that includes down payment assistance, minor home repairs, infrastructure, demolition and public services."
The funds go toward work throughout the city, but certain programs are focused on low- to moderate-income areas, Williams said.
In August 2019, the Jefferson City Council adopted the 2019-23 Consolidated Action Plan, which helps the city assess affordable housing and community development needs, evaluate market conditions and make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The plan allows the city to identify priorities and allocate CDBG funding accordingly.
After heavy flooding that affected much of the region and the May 22 EF-3 tornado that tore through the city, city staff identified a need to amend the plan and for the flexibility to use CDBG grant funds for disaster response and aid in long-term recovery.
"We're doing the amendment essentially because of the tornado," Williams said. "We want to have more flexibility in responding to the needs of the community post-tornado. So this is giving us more flexibility for pre-disaster planning and reallocation of those priorities in times that we receive a presidential disaster declaration."
The proposed amendment includes language addressing the following: pre-disaster planning and reallocation of priorities in times of presidential disaster declaration; supporting activities of community housing development organizations; and tax foreclosed housing.
Sonny Sanders, director of the Department of Planning and Protective Services, said this will allow for variety.
"Basically what we're trying to do is put more items in the plan so when the time comes - if the time comes - we have more variety of programs that we can decide to put the money into," Sanders said.
The city's CDBG budget will not be affected, Williams said. Currently the city has $340,000 available in the budget, and will soon receive their 2020 allocation.
The city is seeking public comments on the proposed amendment until 4 p.m. March 30. Williams said anytime an amendment to the plan is proposed, HUD requires a public comment period before the change can be made.
Written comments can be sent to [email protected] with the subject line "2019-2023 Consolidated Action Plan" or mailed to the Department of Planning and Protective Services, Neighborhood Services Division, at 320 E. McCarty St.
Physical copies of the proposed amendment can be found at City Hall, the offices of the Housing Authority (1040 Myrtle Ave.) and Missouri River Regional Library. It is also available on the city's website under "Community Development Block Grant Plans and Reports."