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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Packet 08-19-2021Housing and Redevelopment Authority 1 of 2 August 19, 2021 CITY OF PLYMOUTH AGENDA Regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority August 19, 2021, 7:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER 1.1 Instructions to Participate in the Virtual HRA Meeting 2. PUBLIC FORUM—Individuals may address the HRA about any item not contained on the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. If the full 15 minutes are not needed for the Forum, the HRA will continue with the agenda. The HRA will take no official action on items discussed at the Forum, with the exception of referral to staff for future report. 3. APPROVE AGENDA —HRA members may add items to the agenda for discussion purposes or staff direction only. The HRA will not normally take official action on items added to the agenda. 4. CONSENT AGENDA —These items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless HRA member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed elsewhere on the agenda. 4.1 Approve proposed HRA minutes Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 07-22-2021.docx 4.2 Accept Plymouth Towne Square monthly housing report PTS Monthly Report 4.3 Accept Vicksburg Crossing monthly housing report Vicksburg Crossing Monthly Report 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and Notice of Annual Citizen Participation Meetings Draft City of Plymouth 2020 CAPER Households Assisted Table 2020 Resolution 1 Housing and Redevelopment Authority 2 of 2 August 19, 2021 7. UPDATES 8. ADJOURNMENT 2 Regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority August 19, 2021 Agenda Number:1.1 To:Housing and Redevelopment Authority Prepared by:Tina Beckfeld Reviewed by:Steve Juetten, Executive Director of HRA Item:Instructions to Participate in the Virtual HRA Meeting 1. Action Requested: The Chair provides instructions for the public to participate in the meeting by phone or online. 2. Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising infection numbers it is not practical to conduct this Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting solely in-person. Therefore, this meeting will be conducted in-person and virtually (via Zoom webinar/conference call). Members of the HRA and staff will participate in this meeting via telephone/video conference and in-person. In-person Meeting Location Medicine Lake Room, City Hall 7 p.m. Watch the Meeting To attend the meeting virtually, register online via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c7YMvWsgTs2yzP-06OoECg Public Participation The public may address the HRA regarding an item on the agenda in-person or virtually via Zoom conferencing service at no cost to you. To request to speak virtually, members of the public must register online via Zoom prior to the start of the meeting and indicate via Zoom that they wish to provide public comment on an agenda item. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c7YMvWsgTs2yzP-06OoECg Public Comments Written comments: Comments may be submitted for inclusion in the HRA packet by emailing city staff at gdempsey@plymouthmn.gov. You may also request that comments of up to one page be read into the record. Speaking during the meeting: The public may address the HRA regarding an item on the agenda via Zoom conferencing service at no cost. Those who wish to speak must register online via Zoom and indicate that they wish to provide public comment on an agenda item. Register via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c7YMvWsgTs2yzP-06OoECg 3 Registration will remain open and be monitored for the duration of the meeting. 3. Budget Impact: N/A 4. Attachments: 4 Regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority August 19, 2021 Agenda Number:4.1 To:Housing and Redevelopment Authority Prepared by:Tina Beckfeld Reviewed by:Steve Juetten, Executive Director of HRA Item:Approve proposed HRA minutes 1. Action Requested: Approve the attached minutes from regular HRA meeting held on July 22, 2021. 2. Background: N/A 3. Budget Impact: NA 4. Attachments: Housing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 07-22-2021.docx 5 PROPOSED MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY July 22, 2021 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Soderberg, Commissioners Huddleston, Larson, Williams, and Peterson. STAFF PRESENT: HRA Executive Director Juetten, HRA Manager Barnes, Community Development Coordinator Hedblom, and Permit Technician Bast OTHERS PRESENT: Jody Boedigheimer of Grace Management ABSENT: Commissioners Kulaszewicz and Whitfield 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Soderberg called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Chair Soderberg opened the Public Forum. Ed Goldsmith of Outreach Development Corporation (ODC)noted there are two policies on the agenda to be discussed relating to affordable housing. He requested the HRA board not take action on the policies before his organization and others working in affordable housing such as Interfaith Outreach and People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM) have had a chance to meet with their constituents to gather input to provide comments on the proposals prior to City Council review. Chair Soderberg closed the Public Forum. 3. APPROVE AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Peterson, to approve the Agenda.Vote.5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 4. CONSENT AGENDA 4.1 Approve proposed minutes from June 24, 2021 4.2 Plymouth Towne Square. Accept monthly housing reports 4.3 Vicksburg Crossing. Accept monthly housing reports 4.4 Vicksburg Crossing - Bond Refunding 6 Proposed Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority July 22, 2021 Page 2 MOTION by Commissioner Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Larson, to approve the Consent Agenda. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Renter Protection Ordinance – Summary of other Metropolitan Communities Ordinances. HRA Manager Barnes gave an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Larson asked if there was any feedback from land or property owners. HRA Manager Barnes replied this was more of a fact-finding mission and staff has not reached out to owners or property managers yet. Commissioner Williams added it is appropriate to get opinions from all the stakeholders involved. Commissioner Williams inquired if this matter will be presented to the City Council. HRA Manager Barnes said the draft ordinance will be presented to the Council at a later date. Chair Soderberg agreed that asking stakeholders is important. She asked what the process would be to gather stakeholder input. HRA Manager Barnes replied staff would contact property managers and owners. He added it is important to reach out to the local non-profit organizations such as Interfaith Outreach, PRISM and MN Multi-Housing Association. Staff will also reach out to developers. Chair Soderberg inquired if the process would include a public forum or one-on-one meetings. HRA Manager Barnes responded that a notification would be sent out for either an in- person or virtual meeting allowing stakeholders to learn about the ordinance and provide comments. Written comments will also be accepted. Chair Soderberg asked what the timeline is. 7 Proposed Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority July 22, 2021 Page 3 HRA Manager Barnes responded the process will take 60-90 days. Staff will bring the compiled information to the Board in the fall so that adjustments could be made to the draft ordinance before it is presented to City Council. Commissioner Peterson questioned if the policy of a 90-day notice to tenants is a sufficient time allowance to find housing. HRA Manager Barnes responded that it is necessary to find a balance between the tenant needs and a business’ needs. 90-days is an often used time frame. Commissioner Peterson stated he is concerned people will not have enough time. Commissioner Peterson suggested having conversations with the non-profit organizations regarding the length of notice. Commissioner Larson inquired if HRA staff has researched beyond local policies. He asked if there was data available at a national or global level. HRA Manager Barnes responded staff has not conducted research into policies outside of local or regional context as it does not directly relate to Plymouth. Commissioner Williams requested to make a motion to provide staff with the necessary time needed to gather further stakeholder input. MOTION by Commissioner Larson, seconded by Commissioner Williams, to provide staff with the necessary time needed to obtain more information from stakeholders as it relates to the Renter Protection Ordinance policy.Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 6.2 Mixed Income Housing Policy – Summary of other Metropolitan Communities Policies. HRA Manager Jim Barnes gave an overview of the staff report. Chair Soderberg questioned why this policy only takes affect if the City provides a financial incentive to the project and does not include other triggering events such as zoning or Comprehensive Plan changes. HRA Manager Barnes responded that staff had internal conversations while drafting the policy and felt this was the correct triggering event for the City. Commissioner Larson requested more information from staff and to provide time for staff to gather input from stakeholders, similar to the tenant protection policy work. 8 Proposed Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority July 22, 2021 Page 4 Commissioner Peterson asked for more information about the policy in place in Edina. HRA Manager Barnes responded that in Edina a developer may choose not to include a percentage of affordable housing in a development and instead pay a fee per unit not built. He explained the money from the fees are used for other affordable housing initiatives. Chair Soderberg proposed the same motion as the tenant policy. Chair Soderberg asked if a public forum for both policies could be held on the same day. HRA Manager Barnes responded that is a possibility because there may be some stakeholders that are affected by both policies. Commissioner Larson suggested that staff also contact contractors and architects because they interact closely with developers and may be familiar with such policies. All agreed for staff to gather more information and present it to the board at the next meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Peterson, seconded by Commissioner Larson, to provide staff with the necessary time needed to obtain more information from stakeholders as it relates to the Mixed Income Housing Policy Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 6.3 HRA Funded Rehabilitation Loan Program – Replenish funding Community Development Coordinator Hedblom gave an overview of the staff report. MOTION by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Larson, to approve replenishing the funds in the HRA Funded Rehabilitation Loan Program. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 7. UPDATES Vicksburg Crossing windows Valor Place Just Deeds Cranberry Ridge The Element Four Seasons 8. ADJOURNMENT 9 Proposed Minutes Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority July 22, 2021 Page 5 MOTION by Chair Soderberg, with no objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. 10 Regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority August 19, 2021 Agenda Number:4.2 To:Housing and Redevelopment Authority Prepared by:Tina Beckfeld Reviewed by:Steve Juetten, Community Development Director Item:Accept Plymouth Towne Square monthly housing report 1. Action Requested: Accept attached Plymouth Towne Square monthly housing report. 2. Background: Plymouth Towne Square Monthly Report. 3. Budget Impact: NA 4. Attachments: PTS Monthly Report 11 12 13 Regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority August 19, 2021 Agenda Number:4.3 To:Housing and Redevelopment Authority Prepared by:Tina Beckfeld Reviewed by:Steve Juetten, Community Development Director Item:Accept Vicksburg Crossing monthly housing report 1. Action Requested: Accept attached Vicksburg Crossing monthly housing report. 2. Background: Accept Vicksburg Crossing monthly housing report. 3. Budget Impact: NA 4. Attachments: Vicksburg Crossing Monthly Report 14 15 16 Regular Housing and Redevelopment Authority August 19, 2021 Agenda Number:6.1 To:Dave Callister, City Manager Prepared by:Haily Hedblom, Community Development Coordinator Reviewed by:Jim Barnes, Housing Manager Item:2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and Notice of Annual Citizen Participation Meetings 1. Action Requested: Staff recommends that after considering any public comments, the Housing and Redevelopment Board of Commissioners adopt the attached resolution which recommends the City Council approve and submit the 2020 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 2. Background: The attached 2020 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) reviews the City of Plymouth’s accomplishments towards meeting the five-year goals defined in the Consolidated Plan, as required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for communities receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The 2020 program year began July 1, 2020 and ended June 30, 2021 and is the first grant period of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. The five-year goals of the Consolidated Plan are the quantitative unit goals for the Hennepin County Consortium, which includes Hennepin County, and the cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, and Plymouth. Based on Federal funding allocations, Plymouth is responsible for approximately nine percent of the Consortium’s goals. The City of Plymouth has used its allocations according to the directives given in the 2020 Annual Action Plan (a section of the five-year Consolidated Plan). Of the total estimated 2020 CDBG budget (2020 allocation of $295,170 and $40,000 in program income), $225,251 was used for homeowner occupied affordable housing projects, $25,000 was used for rehabilitation and physical improvements to affordable rental units in Plymouth, $60,000 was used for public service activities, $3,000 was used for fair housing activities, and $21,919 was allocated for the administration of the CDBG program. Plymouth received $111,907 in program income during the 2020 year that was reallocated back into the program. There was an estimated $107,337 in funding available via carryover from the 2019 program year. In June of 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $173,665 of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to the City of Plymouth. The CDBG CARES Act funding (CDBG-CV) prioritized the unique needs of low- and moderate-income persons and the development of partnerships between government and non-profit sectors. 17 CDBG-CV funds were used to support CDBG sub-grantees in serving low- and moderate-income residents affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The City assisted 13 households with residential rehabilitation loans and emergency small repair grants and one household with mortgage principal reduction, down payment and closing cost assistance to purchase their first home. Support of public services is seen as a high priority for the City of Plymouth. Through CDBG funds, Plymouth supported family, youth, and housing services for seniors, disabled, and low-income residents. A table of total households assisted through CDBG funds is attached. Hennepin County, as the lead agency responsible for the Consolidated Plan, has overall responsibility for the housing and community development needs profile which include elderly and physically disabled renters, physically disabled first time homebuyers, and housing for persons with special needs which targets frail elderly, chemically dependent, mentally ill, and persons with HIV/AIDS. While Plymouth did not contribute CDBG funding to the above listed activities, the City has worked with the Consortium to accomplish the goals set out in the five-year consolidated plan and annual action plan. The Consolidated Plan accomplishments also relate to the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and City housing goals. In the HRA’s 2020 Action Plan, which is required to measure compliance with the five-year Consolidated Plan goals, there are four result areas. In 2020, CDBG funded activities addressed all four of these strategies, which included: • Affordable Housing • Rehabilitation of Private Property • First Time Homebuyer Assistance • Public Services In the City’s Comprehensive Plan, there are 19 implementation strategies included in the Housing Plan. In 2020, CDBG funded activities addressed seven of these strategies, these included: • Financial Support and Technical Assistance for Maintenance and Development of Affordable Housing • Financial Support for Existing Low and Moderate Income Rental Housing • Long Term Affordability • Livability of Housing and Neighborhoods • Housing Conditions • Housing Maintenance • Fair Housing HUD requires at least two public meetings be held each year to provide opportunities for residents and interested representatives of local organizations to be involved in reviewing program activities, the local needs of low and moderate-income persons, and proposed uses for CDBG funds. In conjunction with Hennepin County, a public meeting will be advertised and held to review the 2020 CAPER in coordination with the Hennepin County Consortium on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Any comments received prior to or at that hearing will be submitted to HUD. A second meeting in the upcoming year will be a public hearing held by the Plymouth HRA in early 2022 to obtain public comment on proposed activities for CDBG funding in the 2022 program year. 18 3. Budget Impact: The 2020 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) does not have an impact on the HRA budget. 4. Attachments: Draft City of Plymouth 2020 CAPER Households Assisted Table 2020 Resolution 19 CAPER 1 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-05 - Goals and Outcomes Progress the jurisdiction has made in carrying out its strategic plan and its action plan. 91.520(a) This could be an overview that includes major initiatives and highlights that were proposed and executed throughout the program year. The City of Plymouth is a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds are allocated and expended for activities benefitting City of Plymouth residents. HUD requires a summary submission of the annual performance for the programs. The following is an overview of accomplishments for the most current reporting period of July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021. This is the first reporting period in the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan cycle. The City of Plymouth is one of three CDBG entitlement jurisdictions among 43 suburban communities within Hennepin County, and remains a part of the Hennepin County Consortium for the purposes of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The City of Plymouth has used its allocations according to the directives given in the 2020 Annual Action Plan. Of the total estimated 2020 CDBG budget (2020 allocation of $295,170 and $40,000 in program income), $225,251 was used for homeowner occupied affordable housing projects, $25,000 was used for rehabilitation and physical improvements to affordable rental units in Plymouth, $60,000 was used for public service activities, $3,000 was used for fair housing activities, and $21,919 was allocated for the administration of the CDBG program. Plymouth received $111,907 in program income during the 2020 year that was reallocated back into the program. There was an estimated $107,337 in funding available via carryover from the 2019 program year. In June of 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated$173,665 of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to the City of Plymouth. The CDBG CARES Act funding (CDBG-CV) prioritized the unique needs of low- and moderate-income persons and the development of partnerships between government and non-profit sectors. CDBG-CV funds were used to support CDBG subgrantees in serving low- and moderate-income residents affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. An additional allocation in the amount of $252,725 was granted to the City in late 2020. A summary of those activities is attached to this report (Table 3) and the total dollar amount of CV funds expended per goal in the 2020 program year is outlined in Table 2 as "Other". 20 CAPER 2 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) Comparison of the proposed versus actual outcomes for each outcome measure submitted with the consolidated plan and explain, if applicable, why progress was not made toward meeting goals and objectives. 91.520(g) Categories, priority levels, funding sources and amounts, outcomes/objectives, goal outcome indicators, units of measure, targets, actual outcomes/outputs, and percentage completed for each of the grantee’s program year goals. Goal Category Source / Amount Indicator Unit of Measure Expected – Strategic Plan Actual – Strategic Plan Percent Complete Expected – Program Year Actual – Program Year Percent Complete Administration Program Administration CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $5000 Other Other 0 0 Direct homebuyer assistance Affordable Housing CDBG: $ Direct Financial Assistance to Homebuyers Households Assisted 15 1 6.67%3 1 33.33% Emergency Services Non-Housing Community Development CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit Persons Assisted 10 0 0.00%0 0 Fair housing Fair Housing CDBG: $Other Other 0 0 21 CAPER 3 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) Homelessness prevention Non-Housing Community Development CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit Persons Assisted 40 31 77.50%21 31 147.62% Homeowner education Non-Housing Community Development CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit Persons Assisted 250 51 20.40%64 51 79.69% Homeowner rehabilitation assistance Affordable Housing CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Homeowner Housing Rehabilitated Household Housing Unit 35 13 37.14%9 13 144.44% Rental housing rehabilitation Affordable Housing Non-Homeless Special Needs CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Rental units rehabilitated Household Housing Unit 10 4 40.00%2 4 200.00% Rental housing rehabilitation Affordable Housing Non-Homeless Special Needs CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Homeowner Housing Rehabilitated Household Housing Unit 0 0 0 0 22 CAPER 4 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) Senior services Non-Housing Community Development CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit Persons Assisted 325 64 19.69%65 64 98.46% Tenant counseling Non-Housing Community Development CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit Persons Assisted 1250 178 14.24%537 178 33.15% Youth services Non-Housing Community Development CDBG: $ / CDBG- CV CARES Act: $ Public service activities other than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit Persons Assisted 500 31 6.20%65 31 47.69% Table 1 - Accomplishments – Program Year & Strategic Plan to Date Assess how the jurisdiction’s use of funds, particularly CDBG, addresses the priorities and specific objectives identified in the plan, giving special attention to the highest priority activities identified. The City of Plymouth has three high priority needs that are addressed within the Consolidated Plan: 1. Preserve and Create Single Family Homeownership; 2. Preserve and Create Rental Housing; 3. Education, Outreach and Services. The City of Plymouth has worked to address these goals in a variety of ways, including rehabilitation of single-family owner occupied properties as well as financial assistance to first time homebuyers in a competitive housing market. The City of Plymouth also met its annual goal of preserving multifamily rental opportunities by working closely with sub-grantees. Of the six sub-grantees working in Education, Outreach and Services, two met or exceeded their annual goals. 23 CAPER 5 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) 11 Plymouth families received homelessness prevention or emeregency assistance, and 20 families received direct rental assistance while pursuing an educational degree. In addition, the owner-occupied Home Rehabilitation Program assisted 7 homeowners with necessary home repairs and 6 households in need of emergency repairs. The City also met its goal of assisting in rehabilitating affordable rental homes for disabled individuals through the rehabilitation of 4 rental properties. The First Time Homebuyer Program helped one household purchase their first home in Plymouth. The program continues to receive interest from potential homebuyers and mortgage lenders, though it is challenging to find a Plymouth home affordable enough for buyers who meet CDBG income limits. Staff worked with lower-performing agencies throughout the year to identify issues that kept them from accomplishing their annual goals, as well as potential solutions to better serve residents of Plymouth. Many of the agencies who did not meet their goals were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in early March 2020 and the subsequent need to shift many of their programs to remote/virtual platforms. Staff will continue to assist sub-grantees with achieving their indicated goals through increased communication, annual monitorings, and research of 24 CAPER 6 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) additional programs applicable under federal guidelines that serve a need in the City. GOAL AGENCY CATEGORY FUNDING OUTCOME Lutheran Social Service Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $1,800 Personnel/technology expenses for virtual counseling sessions HOME Line Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $5,000 Serve 193 households through tenant hotline Homelessness prevention Interfaith Outreach Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $45,000 CV3: $50,000 Emergency rental assistance to 25 Households Homelessness prevention PRISM Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $45,000 CV3: $60,000 Personnel/technology expenses for new full-time staff, food shelf staff Senior services SCS Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $20,039 Technology service for Plymouth seniors; purchase PPE Youth services TreeHouse Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $11,826 Serve 22 at risk Plymouth teens Rental housing rehabilitation Hammer Residences Non-Housing Community Development CV1: $25,000 CV3: $55,000 PPE purchase; physical improvements to 13 Plymouth homes Rental housing rehabilitation Plymouth HRA Non-Housing Community Development CV3: $55,000 Physical improvements to HRA owned affordable housing Table 2 - Table 3 - Accomplishments - CDBG-CV (to date) 25 CAPER 7 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-10 - Racial and Ethnic composition of families assisted Describe the families assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of families assisted). 91.520(a) CDBG White 230 Black or African American 97 Asian 6 American Indian or American Native 0 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 Total 333 Hispanic 5 Not Hispanic 328 Table 3 – Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds Narrative The 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year population estimate, which is the most recent available, notes Plymouth's population as 79,785. 74.5% of Plymouth's population identified as white alone, 4.6% identified as Black or African-American, and 6.1% identified as Asian. Clearly the percentage of households identifying as Black or African American that were assisted with CDBG funds (29.1%) is much higher than the proportion of Black or African-American households in the City overall. The percentage of white identifying households assisted (69.1%) is slightly lower than the proportion of Plymouth's total population. The City of Plymouth actually served 373 households during the 2020 Program Year. Due to Table 2 excluding households identifying as multi-racial or other, 40 households were not able to be included in the total above. 26 CAPER 8 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a) Identify the resources made available Source of Funds Source Resources Made Available Amount Expended During Program Year CDBG public -federal 514,414 369,266 LIHTC public -federal 0 Section 8 public -federal 0 Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds public - local 0 Tax Increment Financing public -local 0 Other public -federal 173,665 173,665 Other public -local 173,665 173,665 Other public -state 173,665 173,665 Table 4 - Resources Made Available Narrative The City of Plymouth uses CDBG funding in addition to funding provided through the HRA Affordable Housing Account, Local HRA Tax Levies, and the City of Plymouth Economic Development Fund. CDBG is just one resource available for the City's continual upkeep and improvement of housing throughout the City. The HRA Tax Levy is utilized to assist in the subsidizng of rental housing for senior citizen households throughout the City's senior housing portfolio. The HRA also provided funding to assist residents with energy audits and potential home improvements along with architectural design consultations for older housing stock. Finally, the Plymouth Economic Development Fund is available to provide funding for activities that help to create jobs, increase business activities, and increase the tax base within the City. In June of 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $173,665 of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to the City of Plymouth. The CDBG CARES Act funding (CDBG-CV) prioritized the unique needs of low- and moderate-income persons and the development of partnerships between government and non-profit sectors. CDBG-CV funds were used to support CDBG subgrantees in serving low- and moderate-income residents affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. A summary of those activities is attached to this report. CDBG-CV funds made available in the 2020 program year are defined as 'other" in the table above. Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments Target Area Planned Percentage of Allocation Actual Percentage of Allocation Narrative Description City of Plymouth 100 100 Table 5 – Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments 27 CAPER 9 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) Narrative Plymouth CDBG-funded programs are available to low- and moderate-income households throughout the City and are not otherwise geographically targeted. All qualifying residents within the City of Plymouth are able to receive assistance through the programs. 28 CAPER 10 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) Leveraging Explain how federal funds leveraged additional resources (private, state and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements were satisfied, as well as how any publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that were used to address the needs identified in the plan. The City of Plymouth does not have any specific matching requirements associated with the CDBG program. The City uses funding from the HRA tax levy to assist with ongoing maintenance and upkeep of senior housing throughout the City. Plymouth also has an Economic Development Fund which has been used previously to provide loans that help stimulate business activities to create job growth and increase the local tax base. Additionally, the City has an HRA-funded Rehabilitation program which assists homeowners who may not be income- eligible for the CDBG-funded Rehabilitation program. The City works with the State of Minnesota's Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to provide low-cost home energy assessment that may aid in decreasing energy costs for homeowners. Due to an aging housing stock in Plymouth, the HRA also funds an Architectural Design Program which provides architectural guidance to homeowners looking to make additions or remodel their current homes. There is no publicly owned land or property in the City of Plymouth that was used to address needs identified in this plan. 29 CAPER 11 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-20 - Affordable Housing 91.520(b) Evaluation of the jurisdiction's progress in providing affordable housing, including the number and types of families served, the number of extremely low-income, low-income, moderate-income, and middle-income persons served. One-Year Goal Actual Number of Homeless households to be provided affordable housing units 0 0 Number of Non-Homeless households to be provided affordable housing units 0 0 Number of Special-Needs households to be provided affordable housing units 2 4 Total 2 4 Table 6 – Number of Households One-Year Goal Actual Number of households supported through Rental Assistance 21 31 Number of households supported through The Production of New Units 0 0 Number of households supported through Rehab of Existing Units 9 7 Number of households supported through Acquisition of Existing Units 3 1 Total 33 39 Table 7 – Number of Households Supported Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting these goals. The City of Plymouth is part of the larger Hennepin County HOME Consortium, which focuses on affordable goals for Hennepin County. Plymouth used all 2020 program year funds to assist households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI), as defined by HUD. Plymouth provides assistance to residents through both a homebuyer assistance program and rehabilitation assistance for current homeowners. Due to an aging housing stock, the Rehabilitation Program has been generally successful 30 CAPER 12 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) in meeting goals outlined in the Annual Action Plan. A tight housing market has made it more difficult for potential homebuyers to find properties available for purchase within the City of Plymouth. Hammer Residences, Inc. was a 2020 subrecipient of CDBG funds, and rehabilitated 4 of their rental housing units. Hammer's units are made available to disabled individuals who are typically low or extremely-low income. Finally, People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM) and Interfaith Outreach , both of whom were 2020 CDBG subrecipients, provided rental assistance to clients participating in their respective programs. Plymouth CDBG funds granted to PRISM help provide rental assistance to Plymouth families for the purpose of homelessness prevention. Interfaith Outreach provides rental assistance to families who have a head of household pursuing an educational degree. In the case of Interfaith Outreach, Plymouth CDBG funds go towards case management costs for those families. Discuss how these outcomes will impact future annual action plans. The City of Plymouth will continue to analyze economic trends that contribute to the relative successes of the First Time Homebuyer and Home Rehabilitation programs. At the same time, the City will continue to target outreach towards households that are in need of assistance and meet income requirements - as well as local and regional organizations that work with these households - in order to spread awareness of available funding. Overall, the City will monitor the programs and adjust future Annual Action Plans accordingly. Include the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons served by each activity where information on income by family size is required to determine the eligibility of the activity. Number of Households Served CDBG Actual HOME Actual Extremely Low-income 145 0 Low-income 110 0 Moderate-income 118 0 Total 373 0 Table 8 – Number of Households Served Narrative Information The median household income for a family of 4 in the the City of Plymouth during the 2020 program year was $103,400. The numbers in the table above are representative of populations that are part of Plymouth. The number of households assisted in the extremely low-income and low-income categories show people most in need of receiving assistance have increasingly had access to resources. The City CDBG program assists residents with extremely-low, low- and moderate-incomes at or below 80% AMI. 31 CAPER 13 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c) Evaluate the jurisdiction’s progress in meeting its specific objectives for reducing and ending homelessness through: Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs The City of Plymouth is part of the Hennepin County Consortium and when presented with someone needing access to services to reduce or end homelessness, would refer them to our network of social service agencies as well as Hennepin County. The accomplishments stated within this objective are those of the Hennepin County Consortium. St. Stephens Human Services (SSHS) operates a five-person street outreach team in Minneapolis that conducts initial engagement, harm minimization, and connection to services for people who are unsheltered. It conducts assessments and refers people directly to housing through the Continuum of Care’s (CoC) Coordinated Entry System (CES). Hennepin County’s Healthcare for the Homeless staff regularly accompany the outreach team to provide healthcare directly to those unsheltered or living outdoors. SSHS also has one additional outreach worker permanently based in the downtown library where large numbers of people experiencing homelessness convene during the day time. In fall of 2017 the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) launched a new two- person outreach program targeted towards Native Americans with Substance Use Disorders who are unsheltered with linkages to a new low-barrier housing program for the same target population. Youth-specific outreach workers are organized through a consortium of youth serving agencies and focus on identification and quick connection to services for youth who are unsheltered, particularly through the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC). The YOC hosts 20-30 different agencies and services in a single downtown location. Similarly, Catholic Charities operates the Adult Opportunity Center, a drop-in center offering an array of services to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness, including assessment for CES, employment training and, again, healthcare services. Hennepin operates a single point of entry into the shelter system for those who would otherwise go unsheltered, the Adult Shelter Connect (ASC). The ASC staff operate out of a well-publicized fixed location where they conduct the initial ESG assessment for all those seeking shelter, provide orientation to the shelter system, and make bed reservations at any of the adult shelters with capacity. The system maximizes utility of every bed in the system, thereby avoiding unsheltered nights wherever possible. An after-hours telephone service ensures that all unclaimed reservations can be re-allocated to those still in need of shelter. Singles and families in shelter are also assessed with the VI-SPDAT and placed on the priority list for homeless-specific rapid rehousing, transitional housing, or permanent supportive housing. People 32 CAPER 14 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) fleeing domestic violence are assessed through the county’s “front door” and placed on the priority list. Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons The City of Plymouth works with the network of services that Hennepin County has available through the following: Hennepin County has a “shelter all” family policy which guarantees shelter beds for any family experiencing homelessness. The shelter capacity for families expands as need demands. Families are assessed for Coordinated Entry within one week of shelter entry and referred to Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, or Permanent Supportive Housing as appropriate. For singles, Hennepin County’s Adult Shelter Connect provides a central intake and referral to shelter and the ability of shelter guests to “reserve” a bed each night, ensuring that they have a safe place to sleep. Youth can use the ASC to access non-age-specific shelter, or can enter youth-designated shelters directly. This system works across five different providers and has allowed for greater specialization of shelter usage, particularly in transferring those guests in need of greater supports to shelters that offer more intensive case management. Hennepin CoC has used the data gathered from the central intake to right-size the singles shelter bed inventory in terms of both number and types of beds in order to best meet the needs of single adults experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County. For example, since 2017, we converted a 50 bed winter shelter to a year-round shelter to increase capacity during the summer months, particularly for women and couples as the shelter specializes in serving these groups. Secondly, the funding for a 180 bed 24- hour shelter was converted in order to reduce barriers to entry, particularly in relation to financial cost to guests, increase utilization and allow more vulnerable folks to benefit from 24-hour shelter. The CoC tracks length of stay in shelter and identifies people to be assessed with the VI-SPDAT through a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data report. Shelter workers, or a contracted assessor, then completes assessments on single adults and place them on the priority list through CES. In addition, the City of Plymouth continues to work with a network of social service providers such as Interfaith Outreach and PRISM to assist persons experiencing homelessness or needing emergency shelter. Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low-income individuals and families and those who are: likely to become homeless after being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections programs and institutions); and, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or youth needs 33 CAPER 15 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) The City of Plymouth works with People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM) and Interfaith Outreach as well as other social service agencies to address homeless issues. PRISM offers help with temporary housing assistance and payments in order to prevent homelessness for a small window of time. Interfaith Outreach's Project Success similarly offers rental assistance to families whose head of households is pursuing an educational degree. With any situation, when presented to the City of Plymouth, the issue would be addressed by any means possible as well as using Hennepin County's assistance and programs. As part of the County Consortium, the City of Plymouth has access to the following resources: To the extent possible, people who are not literally homeless are first directed to “non-homeless” resources to assist in housing stability. Hennepin County offers emergency assistance for rent or utility bill arrears to keep people in their current housing. The county uses state dollars from Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) for people needing additional financial assistance, supportive services, and case management. FHPAP resources are targeted to households with the greatest risk of homelessness using a targeting tool based on local and national resources. Hennepin County’s Housing Stability office works with county staff to identify and develop mainstream- funded housing opportunities for people being discharged from institutions. The County operates the “Hennepin Housing Key” which is an on-line resource of openings in specialized housing for people with disabilities or those experiencing homelessness. The Key, when fully implemented, will include up to 14,000 housing units with current availability. County and community case managers are using the Key to find housing for people exiting treatment or care or for County clients who need to move. Hennepin County is currently partnered with local foundations to increase and improve our efforts to prevent homelessness. This has included an eviction prevention pilot, a shelter diversion program for families who could avoid a shelter stay by returning to their housing situation for a short period of time if they have assistance to find a more stable home, and flexible homeless prevention funding. The next phase is a community-wide visioning process to develop centralized access for coordinated homeless prevention resources. Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again For all populations, the focus is on making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Hennepin CoC was using the VI-F-SPDAT to assess people’s vulnerability and need for supports to end a person’s homelessness. Families (including young families) experiencing homelessness are assessed via the VI-F- SPDAT within a week of shelter entry. Single adults are assessed via the VI-SPDAT, and youth with the TAY-SPDAT, with the goal of assessing within 14 days of shelter entry. 34 CAPER 16 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) All households are offered Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, or Transitional Housing services, or identified as able to self-resolve, based on their vulnerability and program vacancies. The focus in shelter is on making the experience as brief as possible, but with sufficient supports in place upon housing to make a recurrence of homelessness rare. The Rapid Rehousing program has flexible rental and social service supports, so that supports can continue up to two years, as needed by the household. Although Hennepin CoC was one of the original developers of Rapid Rehousing, the CoC continues to innovate applications of rapid rehousing to expedite exits to and retention of permanent housing, including methods such as Critical Time Intervention, shared housing, and progressive engagement, including using rapid rehousing as a bridge to permanent supportive housing. A by-name list has been established for anyone who has stayed longer than a year in shelter and therefore may be experiencing chronic homelessness (‘the Chronic Index’). This list is used to target case management from the PATH-funded Hennepin County Homeless Access team and for bi-weekly case conferencing. Since adopting this approach in July 2017, 288 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness have been housed, with about a 6% return to shelter rate. In 2018, Hennepin County launched two new programs to expedite exit from shelter. One program helps families to develop housing plans, ameliorate housing barriers such as open warrants and criminal records, and collect documentation needed for housing applications. Another program offers light-touch assistance to singles needing only minimal support to access housing opportunities. Finally, the Hennepin CoC uses state funds to support an intensive homeless prevention services for families that have been in shelter more than two times in the last two years. This program effectively reduces returns to shelter for these families. The CoC also targets all homeless prevention resources to households with past periods of homelessness. The number of families experiencing homelessness, as measured in the PIT has dropped year-on-year since 2014 achieving a cumulative reduction of more than 40 percent. The City of Plymouth has access to these services and refers anyone needing help to the above services and to the extent possible, follows up to ensure the proper assistance was provided. 35 CAPER 17 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j) Actions taken to address the needs of public housing The City of Plymouth has no federal public housing within its jurisdiction. The Plymouth HRA does administer approximately 375 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). HCV's provide federal rent subsidies for low-income individuals and families in privately owned, existing market-rate housing. The funding from HUD is paid directly to the owner of the property. Actions taken to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership The City of Plymouth does not have any public housing within its jurisdiction, however, the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) has two resident advisory boards -one for its HCV program and the other for the locally financed 99-unit subsidized senior housing development. The HCV Resident Advisory committee advises the HRA on policy development and review. The senior development - Plymouth Towne Square - has a residents' council which advises the HRA on management and resident services. Actions taken to provide assistance to troubled PHAs The Plymouth HRA administers the HCV Program and has been given the designation of a High Performing PHA. 36 CAPER 18 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-35 - Other Actions 91.220(j)-(k); 91.320(i)-(j) Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i) The City does not face any significant negative effects due to public policies within the community. There are, however, state and/or federal regulations and taxing policies that may have a negative impact on the provision of affordable housing. The City collaborates with other public entities whenever possible to identify and mitigate policies, as well as other barriers to affordable housing. When partnering with developers and developments that encourage affordable housing, the City looks to assist in funding with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and by working with the developers to mitigate costs and potential land issues that may arise. Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) The City of Plymouth continues to look for different ways to assist with affordable housing needs. Plymouth provides financial assistance to rehabilitate low- and moderate-income owner-occupied units, as well as downpayment, closing cost, homebuyer counseling and education assistance for income- qualifying households. Additionally, Plymouth has a locally funded Rehabilitation Loan program to aid homeowners who do not qualify for CDBG funding but wish to rehabilitate their home. The City assists in funding the Center for Energy and Environment's Home Energy Squad program, which allows Plymouth homeowners to receive an energy audit for lower cost than normally offered by local utility companies. This audit helps discover energy conservation and efficiency options, while also providing hoemowners with energy efficient products such as CFL lightbulbs and programmable thermostats. In 2017, the City approved the preliminary plat and site plan for the Cranberry Ridge development, which will provide 45 affordable units at or below 60% AMI and will be made available to Housing Choice Voucher clients. Of the 45 units, 10 will be set aside for clients at or below 30% AMI. The development will receive financial assistance in the amount of $527,000 from pooled Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. Additionally, $250,000 of fees were waived associated with the project. The Metropolitan Council has also awarded the project an additional 10 project based vouchers. The project is currently underway with an anticipated opening in the spring of 2022. In early 2020, the City approved the PUDA for the Element. This development will have 61 units, all of which will be made available to households at or below 60% AMI. Four of the units will be held for households at or below 30% AMI. The development is also receiving Tax Increment Financing in the amount of $459,000, four Housing Choice Vouchers, and financial assistance from the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority in the amount of $241,000 to assist with fees. The project is currently 37 CAPER 19 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) under construction and will begin occupancy in the summer of 2022. Finally, in August of 2020, the Plymouth Housing and Redevlopment Authority (HRA) purchased a .62 acre parcel to construct a twinhome that will provide affordable and stable housing for veterans and their families who are either experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The twinhome, named Valor Place, is currently under construction and will welcome its first tenants in fall of 2021. Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) As part of the City's Rental Housing Licensing Program, all rental properties in the City are inspected at least every three years. The inspector has satisfied HUD's Risk Assessment Course and is a Certified Risk Assessor. All participants in the City's Housing Choice Voucher program that reside in housing built before 1978 receive copies of the EPA brochure "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home". All program participants in the City's Rehabilitation and First Time Homebuyer programs are also given the EPA brochure, regardless of the year their home was built. The Plymouth HRA has incorporated procedures in the guidelines for all federally-funded programs in order to meet the requirements of federal Lead-Based Paint (LBP) regulations. Discussion of the LBP requirements occurs at any initial meetings with HRA staff, and all files require a Certification of Receipt of LBP regulations form signed by the applicant. All homes built prior to 1978 with deteriorated paint surfaces that may require lead hazard reduction work receive lead testing. Plymouth HRA contracts with a certified Risk Assessor to perform the needed tests to identify and clear lead hazard risks. Clearance reports are issued to all homeowners who had work done disturbing painted surfaces, and a copy is kept by the HRA in the homeowner's file. Since 2004, Hennepin County has taken a comprehensive approach to preventing childhood lead poisoning, including community outreach and education, in-home education visits, lead risk assessments, lead hazard reduction, and contractor training. Hennepin County is currently administering a 2017 HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes grant in the amount of $3.4 million to continue the program through 2021. Since 2003, the lead grant programs have completed over 4,700 lead hazard reduction projects. Hennepin County also recently received a grant award from the Centers for Disease Control. which will allow the County to increase outreach and education, especially to the most at-risk populations and geographies through mini-grants to community partners already serving those at-risk populations. These grants demonstrate the County's continued efforts to provide affordable and safe housing to its residents while working toward the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning. The funds may be used throughout Hennepin County. Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty-level families. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) Whenever possible, the City of Plymouth works diligently through its programs to identify and assist individuals and families at or below the poverty level. Collaboration with Public Safety and the Plymouth Housing Inspector helps identify homeowners and/or renters who may be in need of additional services. 38 CAPER 20 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) Through an established network of relationships with social service agencies, the City refers clients to appropriate areas and assists with CDBG resources when applicable. There are also programs offered through the City of Plymouth, the Plymouth HRA and local non-profits that assist individuals and families experiencing poverty. PRISM and Interfaith Outreach are local organizations that help assist Plymouth residents at risk of or experiencing homelessness. HOME Line offers legal assistance to tenants engaged in rental disputes with their landlord or property manager. TreeHouse works with youth of the community to provide in- and after-school programming, and Senior Community Services assists low- and moderate-income senior homeowners with necessary home maintenance. As a member of the Hennepin County Consortium, Plymouth works closely with case managers from Hennepin County to alert the County whenever an individual in the jurisdiction may need additional assistance. The upcoming Cranberry Ridge development will provide 45 units of affordable housing at or below 60% AMI. 10 of those units will be set aside for families at or below 30% AMI (extremely low income levels). The Element development will provide 61 units of affordable housing at or below 60% AMI. Four of those units will be held for households at or below 30% AMI. Actions taken to develop institutional structure. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) The City of Plymouth continues to coordinate with other institutions in the delivery of housing and community development programs. Whenever possible, the Plymouth HRA leverages CDBG funds with other state and local programming. The City coordinates with Hennepin County to deliver Healthy Homes grant funding to help with lead-based paint hazard reduction in conjunction with the CDBG Rehabilitation Loan Program. Minnesota Housing is also a resource recommended to potential homebuyers and current homeowners seeking to make home improvements. The City also offers two programs to all homeowners for the explicit purpose of addressing specific needs in aging homes. The first is the Home Energy Squad program, which is a collaboration between the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) and the Plymouth HRA to provide home energy audits to homeowners at a reduced cost. The HRA also funds the Architectural Design Program, which subsidizes the cost of having a qualified architect give remodeling advice to homeowners seeking to make improvements to their aging (30+ years old) homes. Actions taken to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) The City of Plymouth has developed and maintained a strong collaborative relationship with other social service agencies and housing providers. Specifically, the city works with People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM), Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH), Habitat for Humanity, the Housing Justice Center, Outreach Development Corporation (ODC) and Interfaith Outreach. All First Time Homebuyer loan receipients are required to attend HUD-approved homebuyer workshops presented by Home Stretch accredited workshops. Completing these required programs provides first 39 CAPER 21 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) time buyers with the information and education necessary to purchase a home. Identify actions taken to overcome the effects of any impediments identified in the jurisdictions analysis of impediments to fair housing choice. 91.520(a) The City of Plymouth is a member of the Fair Housing Implementation Council (FHIC) established in 2002 to coordinate regional efforts to comply with obligations affirmatively furthering fair housing throughout the Twin Cities Metropolitan housing market area. During the 2020 program year, the FHIC continued to address recommendations brought forth in the Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI). The FHIC initiates activities that are designed to stop discrimination and promote integration. Such activities are a response to the 2001 AI, funded by participating metropolitan jurisdictions. The City of Plymouth has been an active member of this council, designating time and resources to ensure fair housing for all people - not only within the jurisdiction, but also the broader metropolitan area. Per the recommendations of the AI, Plymouth has worked as part of the Hennepin County Consortium. The Consortium provided funding to the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) in order to study displacement of lower income and people of color in the suburbs specifically. Additional resources have gone to Fair Housing training for staff and potential decisionmakers in entitlement communities, as well as to work on Fair Housing trainings in a variety of languages. The City of Plymouth specifically has worked to address items in the AI recommendations targeting Plymouth and other entitlement jurisdictions. Plymouth continues to be an active member of the FHIC, including distributing the recent RFQ to suburban-focused agencies in order to advance additional community engagement in the suburbs. Plymouth annually monitors subrecipients for compliance with Fair Housing guidelines, as well as requiring reports on client demographics on a quarterly basis. Plymouth provides vouchers for renters through the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and subsequently follows all guidelines of Fair Housing as required by the Section 8 and HCV programs. The City encourages landlords to accept vouchers whenever possible to assist with more affordable housing options. The City also adopted a Fair Housing Policy in 2018. Staff continually monitors new state legislation to ensure programs are in compliance with existing and new statutes. The HRA continues to provide funding for rehabilitation and acquisition of existing affordable housing to assist low- and moderate-income households with the maintenance and purchase of homes within Plymouth. Finally, the Plymouth Community Development department employs a Housing Inspector who works as an intermediary between public safety, non-profit and assistance agencies, tenants and citizens. 40 CAPER 22 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230 Describe the standards and procedures used to monitor activities carried out in furtherance of the plan and used to ensure long-term compliance with requirements of the programs involved, including minority business outreach and the comprehensive planning requirements Contracts are executed with all organizations implementing activities identified in the Consolidated Plan. The Plymouth HRA is responsible for contract administration and compliance, and has experience monitoring federal programs through CDBG grants in previous years. Monitoring is an ongoing process, incorporating six areas of activity: Funding Agreement - For each program or project funded through consolidated plan resources, the applicant will be required to enter into a funding agreement covering at least the following items: Schedule for project implementation. Financial management of program funds and required matching funds. Compliance with related federal regulations. Appropriate long-term affordability/access requirements. Schedules for project compliance documentation. Repayment requirements for noncompliance. The funding agreement provides a basis for assessing the development and tracking implementation of funded activities. Provisions of the agreement serve as a benchmark that is reviewed for compliance. Appropriate remedial actions are taken and evaluated in a timely manner. Compliance with the terms of the agreement is required prior to approving any request for funding. On-Site Visitation - Within each program year, Plymouth HRA staff consults with representatives from each community organization receiving a CDBG funding allocation. This visit includes an in-depth review of project procedures and other regulations and reporting requirements, including those pertaining to HUD. Periodically thereafter, staff may schedule an on-site monitoring to review program operation and ensure file compliance. The frequency and depth of those visits depends upon the perceived risk involved with each project. Document Review -The documents submitted with reimbursement requests are reviewed for completeness and accuracy. When a problem is discovered, HRA staff discusses the issue(s) with project staff to correct the situation and ensure the problem is understood. Reimbursement does not occur until all requirements are met. If subsequent problems are encountered, the project receives a "high- risk" status, and more frequent on-site monitoring is required. Performance Report -The completion of the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) is used to ensure program/project completion. If a significant discrepancy between goals and 41 CAPER 23 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) performance is found, additional consultation occurs. A lack of progress in meeting indicated goals may harm the applicant's chances for future funding if they are unable to comply with regulations. Timeliness - Timeliness is a requirement of the monitoring process. All applications require a schedule for the expenditure of funds. If a project is found to be falling behind on expenditures, they are contacted regarding the problem to develop an adjusted timeline. Evaluation - Continued evaluation of the monitoring process for the City of Plymouth is performed to ensure project/program compliance. Citizen Participation Plan 91.105(d); 91.115(d) Describe the efforts to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to comment on performance reports. The Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) will hold a public comment period on the 2020 CAPER from August 13-27, 2021. The HRA Board of Commissioners will consider comments made when formulating their recommendations for the Plymouth City Council meeting schedule for August 24, 2021. Notice of the public comment period will be posted in the local newspaper on August 12, 2021, and a draft copy of this plan will be made available for review on that date. Hennepin County also holds a public hearing on behalf of the County Consortium. This report will be submitted to Hennepin County prior to the comment period for the Consortium CAPER. Finally and in addition to this CAPER, the following reports are available to the public and have been previously submitted to HUD at this point: 2020-2024 Hennepin County Consortium Consolidated Plan 2021 City of Plymouth Annual Action Plan Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (2020) 42 CAPER 24 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021) CR-45 - CDBG 91.520(c) Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction’s program objectives and indications of how the jurisdiction would change its programs as a result of its experiences. The City of Plymouth has used the resources made available to assist homeowners in a variety of ways throughout the program year. Plymouth staff continually monitors and keeps in close contact with sub- grantees to ensure all stated Action Plan goals are met. In addition, staff conducts outreach with new potential sub-grantees throughout the year to ensure that presently unmet goals are accounted for in annual and long-term planning. Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grants? No [BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year. 43 Table A. Plymouth CDBG Program – 2020 Households Assisted HRA Programs Total Households Assisted Assisted w/ CDBG-CV Housing Rehabilitation Program Housing rehabilitation loans & small repair grants 13 0 First Time Homebuyer Program First time homebuyer loans 1 0 Affordable Rental Housing Rehabilitation (Hammer Residences) Assist rehabilitation of housing for developmentally disabled adults 4 4 Fair Housing Activities Further fair housing n/a n/a Public Service Programs Total Households Assisted Assisted w/ CDBG-CV Lutheran Social Service Homeownership education, foreclosure prevention education, reverse mortgage counseling 51 23 HOME Line Tenant hotline 178 64 Interfaith Outreach Homelessness prevention 20 25 People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM) Homelessness prevention 11 11 Senior Community Services (SCS) Home maintenance for seniors 64 124 TreeHouse Youth counseling 31 62 CDBG: 373 CDBG-CV: 313 TOTAL 686 44 CITY OF PLYMOUTH HRA RESOLUTION 2021-14 A RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND SUBMISSION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding allocation of $295,170 for CDBG fiscal year 2020; and WHEREAS, submission of a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is required in order for grant receipients to report on their accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals; and WHEREAS, on August 12, 2021, the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority opened a fifteen day public comment to allow interested parties to express their opinion; and WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Plymouth, MN has reviewed the program activities and accomplishments from the 2020 program year, which lasted from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, and determined those activities and accomplisments to be an appropriate use of Community Development Block Grant funds in accordance with federal guidelines and the City’s HUD approved Consolidated Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA, that it hereby recommends that the City Council approve submission of the 2020 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report - covering the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 - to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Approved this 19th day of August, 2021 by the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority. _________________________________ Michelle Soderberg, Chair _________________________________ Steve Juetten, Executive Director 45