Loading...
R-95-854 e e . e e CITY OF CLERMONT RESOLUTION NO. 854 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CITIZENS PARTICIPATION PLAN. WHEREAS, Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 provides Block Grant funds to local communities for community development activities designed to provide a decent housing supply and create a sound, healthy living environment. Toward that end, an important element of the local community development program is citizen participation. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Clermont, as follows: 1. A Citizens Advisory Task Force, CA TF for Community Development is estab- lished and is the basic advisory group for all matters pertaining to community development program planning and application preparation. The CA TF is composed of 7 members appointed by the Mayor and City Council. Included on the committee is a substantial representation from low and moderate income groups and minority groups likely to be affected by program activities. Representatives of the business community and representatives of community organizations with interest in community development related activities are also appointed. This committee meets with the Community Development Director, and special emergency meetings being called as necessary. (1) Seven days written notification will be given for regular meetings. (2) Five days written notification will be given for special meetings. (3) Forty- eight hour telephone notification will be given for emergency meetings. Proposals, comments, and requests by individuals and other community organizations should be channeled through the CA TF for consideration. This does not, however, preclude contact with the Mayor, Council Persons, and staff by persons and organizations who are not on the CA TF. The CA TF should act as a clearing house for citizen input and information. . e B. . e e CITY OF CLERMONT RESOLUTION NO. 854 Page 2 This will ensure an orderly planning process and provide equal access for all persons and organizations to the planning process. In addition to the foregoing, the Community Development Department shall issue news releases regarding program planning and activities, invite the press to all meetings, give informative talks to various civic clubs inviting comments and recommend- ations, send letters to Churches in Project Areas requesting participation and letters, to major Civic Clubs throughout the city inviting comments and suggestions. The Community Development Staff shall make door to door contact in Project Areas to obtain citizen input from persons unable to attend public meetings. 2. Citizens shall be involved as stated above in the regular ongoing program as well as in the development of the Citizens Participation Plan, an the Annual Community Development program. This involvement shall be through the use of advertised public meetings, planned public hearings, and meetings of the Citizens Advisory Task Force, as well as applications, program implementa- tion, and program assessment. The CA TF shall develop plans to get suggestions from citizens. Publicity shall be given in time to develop programs and requests for suggestions through; news releases, attendance of meetings by media representatives, talks to civic groups and churches, personal contracts and local neighborhood meetings. The citizen participation process is outlined in the following step procedures. The specific dates and timing of each step should be determined on an annual basis. A. The first public hearing shall be held by the City Council with proper advertisement and notification. The Citizens Advisory Task Force shall be invited to be present at the City Council Public Hearing to listen to the citizens' comments. Based upon the citizens' comments and other considerations, the City Council shall direct the Community Development staff to prepare a draft application in one or more of the available categories. The City Council direction may be specific enough to direct the Community Development staff to one or more possible project areas. . e . e e CITY OF CLERMONT RESOLUTION NO. 854 Page 3 C. The Community Development staff shall proceed with door to door surveys to determine each project areas's eligibility and based upon these findings shall prepare a draft application. D. The Citizens Advisory Task Force shall review the draft application and recommend the draft application along with any changes they request to the City Council. E. The Second Public Hearing shall be held by the City Council with proper advertisement and notification. The purpose of the Second Public Hearing will be to present the draft application including Citizens Advisory Task Force recommended changes for public review and comment. After the Public Hearing is completed the City Council shall direct any changes and recommend a final version of the application for submission to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). F. City Council Development staff shall make the required changes and submit the document to DCA. Additional Requirements: A. The Community Development staff shall answer complaints in a timely and responsive manner and shall make every reasonable effort to provide written responses within 15 working days. B. The Community Development Department shall provide appropriate technical assistance to (1) Citizen organizations, so they may adequately participate in planning, implementing, and assessing the program and (2) groups of low and moderate income persons and groups of residents of blighted neighborhoods which request assistance in developing proposals and statements of views. Such requests shall be made to the office of Community Development, City of Clermont P.O. Box 120219, Clermont, FL 34712-0219 Telephone: (904) 394-4081. C. The Community Development Department shall provide full public access to program information. · · F. · e e CITY OF CLERMONT RESOLUTION NO. 854 Page 4 D. Prior to planning for the next program year, the following program information shall be provided to citizens: The total amount of CDBG funds available for all phases of the program. The range of activities that may be undertaken with these funds and the kinds of activities previously funded in the community. The processes to be followed in drawing up and approving the local application and the schedule of meetings and hearings. The role of citizens in the program. A summary of other program requirements including contracting procedures, environmental policies, fair housing and other equal opportunity requirements. E. The Community Development Department shall provide for disclosure of its program records and information consistent with applicable state and local laws regarding personal privacy and confidentiality. Documents relevant to the program shall be made available during normal working hours for citizen review upon oral or written requests. These documents include: records of hearings; all prior applications; all letters of approval; all grant agreements; the Citizen Participation Plan; all performance reports; all evaluation reports; other reports required by DCA; the proposed and approved application for the current year; copies of the regulations and issuances governing the program; and, documents regarding other important program requirements such as contracting procedures, environmental policies, fair housing and other equal opportunity requirements and relocation provisions. When the application is submitted to DCA upon completion of CA TF reviews and Council approval, Community Development shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation stating that the application has been submitted and is available to interested parties upon request and describing the requirements on citizen objections to applications. DCA will consider objections on the following grounds: The applicants description of needs and objectives is plainly inconsistent with available facts and data; or the activities to be undertaken are plainly inappropriate to meeting the needs and objectives identified by the applicant; or the application does not comply with the · · · e e CITY OF CLERMONT RESOLUTION NO. 854 Page 5 requirements of this Part of other applicable law; or the application proposes activities which are otherwise ineligible under the Part. G. Community Development shall make copies of the Citizen Participation Plan, the proposed and approved application, and the annual performance report available at locations convenient to the public and accessible to the handicapped. At this time newspaper advertisement shall state time and location they will be available to the public. H. Between 5 and 14 days prior to each public hearing Community Development shall publish a notice in the non-legal section of newspapers of general circulation, which indicates the date, time, place and topics to be considered, and procedures of Public Hearing. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide notices to other media outlets. I. Public hearings will be held at convenient times and locations which permit broad participation, particularly by low and moderate income persons, residents of blighted neighborhoods and handicapped citizens. Adequate opportunity is provided to ensure full participation during the hearings. Citizens shall be given the opportunity to assess and comment on all aspects of program performance on a continuous basis and their comments are included in the Performance Assessment Report submission. K. The Annual Performance Report is made available to citizens at no charge and public notice of the availability of the report is made at the time it is submitted to DCA. L. At this time, based on available data, there is not a significant number of bi-lingual persons within the corporate limits of the City of Clermont. When the number of non-English speaking constituents becomes significant, language interpreter opportunities will be provided. M. The citizen participation process involves residents in all program amendments which involve changes in program beneficiaries, changes in the location of approved activities, major budget shifts between approved activities, the ~oo1¿~ CITY OF CLERMONT c=+ / þ= - J~ph E. Va Attest: DONE AND RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA THIS 14TH DAY OF MARCH, 1995. selection of contingency and local option activities , and changes in the Citizens Participation Plan. Citizens will be involved through public hearings at the Citizens Advisory Task Force meetings, and recommendation and comment at the City Council, meetings during review and action. NO. 854 Page 6 RESOLUTION CITY OF CLERMONT e e . . .