Citizen Participation Plan Updates Summary May 7, 2020
Citizen Participation Plan UpdatesSummaryMay 7, 2020Note: This is a summary of the changes in the following pages the new updates are highlightedfor the ease of the reviewer to read.Page 3Added a paragraph to allow for virtual hearings in the event federal, state or localauthorities recommend social distancingPages 3 & 4Added language specifically in reference to the COVID-19 funding response with a HUDwaiver to provide for a 5 day review/comment period.Pages 4 & 5Added language specifically in reference to the COVID-19 funding response with a HUDwaiver to provide for a 5 day review/comment period.Page 7Added language specifically in reference to the COVID-19 funding response with a HUDwaiver to provide for a 5 day review/comment period.Page 8-10Added language for the the Citizen Participation requirements in the event of a disaster /emergencyPage 10Added language to the Urgent Needs section and describes activities the city could taketo address an event.Page 11Administrative Updates – this section was added to allow for grammatical or structuraledits that do not substantially change the scope of meaning along with coding or eligibilitydetermination of a project that does not change scope, location or beneficiaries.
REVIEW AND COMMENT NOTICECDBG and HOME ProgramsCitizen Participation Plan UpdatesThe Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) has been updated and is available for review by anyinterested party at the Fort Smith Webpage. The updated plan is accessible in a portabledocument file (pdf) by going to www.FortSmithAR.gov , at the top, click on Departments, then toDevelopment Services and then to Community Development; on the left side click on CommunityDev. Misc. Files.Updated information in the CPP is related to the CDBG-CV funds anticipated to be received bythe City of Fort Smith. Under a waiver from the U. S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment, the city is providing a 5 day review and comment notice.Written Comments concerning the Citizen Participation Plan will be submitted to: Matt Jennings(mjennings@fortsmithar.gov) or Candyce Gabucci (cgabucci@fortsmithar.gov), CommunityDevelopment Department, City of Fort Smith, P. O. Box 1908, Fort Smith, AR 72902 no later than4:00 p. m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020. Written comments received by that date will be submittedwith the Annual Action Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Fort Smith Citizen Participation PlanContentsFort Smith Citizen Participation Plan . 1Introduction . 1Encouraging Citizen Participation . 2Public Hearings and Meetings . 3Publication of Consolidated Plan Documents . 4Public Comments on the Draft Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans . 4Public Notice and Outreach . 5Technical Assistance. 5Amendments to the Consolidated Plan. 6Substantial Amendments . 6Citizen Participation in the Event of a Substantial Amendment . 7Complaints and Grievances . 7Timely Response to Complaints or Grievances . 7Activities Exempt from Substantial Amendment Citizen Participation Requirements . 8Disaster / Emergency Events . 8Responding to the COVIC-19 Pandemic. 9Urgent Needs . 10Availability of the Citizen Participation Plan . 11Administrative Updates . 11End of Fort Smith Citizen Participation Plan . 11IntroductionIn 1994, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new rules consolidatingthe planning, application, reporting and citizen participation processes of four formula grant programs:Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), EmergencyShelter Grants (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). The new single-planningprocess was intended to more comprehensively fulfill three basic goals: to provide decent housing, toprovide a suitable living environment and to expand economic opportunities.Provision of decent housing may involve assisting homeless persons in obtaining appropriate housing,retaining the affordable housing stock, increasing the availability of permanent affordable housing forlow-income households without discrimination, and / or increasing supportive housing to assist personswith special needs. Providing a suitable living environment might entail improving the safety and livabilityPage 1 of 11
of neighborhoods, including the provision of adequate public facilities; deconcentrating housingopportunities and revitalizing neighborhoods; restoring and preserving natural and physical features withhistoric, architectural, and aesthetic value; and conserving energy resources. Expanding economicopportunities can involve creation of accessible jobs, providing access resources for communitydevelopment, and assisting low-income persons to achieve self-sufficiency.The Consolidated Plan is actually a three-part planning process required by HUD. It comprises developinga five-year strategic plan, preparing annual action plans and submitting annually performance reports.These three parts are intended to furnish the framework whereby the City of Fort Smith can identify itshousing, homeless, community, and economic development needs, identify resources that will be tappedand actions to be taken that will address the needs, as well as look back and evaluate the City’s progresstoward achieving its strategic goals; completing these documents on time and in a manner that isacceptable to HUD ensures program funding.The precursor to the Consolidated Plan is the Citizen Participation Plan (CPP). The objectives of the CPPare to ensure that the citizens of Fort Smith, particularly persons of low-and moderate-income, personsliving in slum and blight areas, units of local government, housing agencies and other interested parties,are provided with the opportunity to participate in the planning and preparation of the Consolidated Plan,including amendments to the Consolidated Plan and the Annual Performance Report. In doing so, the CPPsets forth general policies and procedures for implementing and carrying out the Consolidated Planningprocess, such as how the Consolidated Plan will be developed, dates and milestones along which theprocess will proceed, and methods for citizens to offer the City of Fort Smith assistance and guidance inthe formulation of the Consolidated Plan. Furthermore, the provisions of the CPP fulfill statutory andregulatory requirements for citizen participation specified in the U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development’s rules for the Consolidated Plan, the HOME Investment Partnerships(HOME) Program, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the Emergency ShelterGrants (ESG) Program and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. In the Cityof Fort Smith, the Community Development Department administers CDBG and HOME InvestmentPartnership Act funds. The Community Development Department is the lead agency for developing theConsolidated Plan.In order to ensure maximum participation in the Consolidated Planning process among all populationsand needs groups, and in order to ensure that their issues and concerns are adequately addressed, theDirector of Community Development will follow the standards set forth in its adopted CPP duringdevelopment of its Consolidated Plan, Action Plan and Annual Performance Report.Encouraging Citizen ParticipationThe Consolidated Plan is designed to enumerate the City of Fort Smith’s overall strategy for coordinatingfederal and other housing and community development resources to provide decent housing, establishand maintain a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities, particularly for low-andmoderate-income persons.Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to provide input into all aspects of Fort Smith’sConsolidated Planning activities, from assessing needs to setting priorities through performanceevaluation. By following the CPP, numerous opportunities for citizens to contribute information, ideas andPage 2 of 11
opinions about ways to improve our neighborhoods, promote housing affordability and enhance thedelivery of public services to local residents will occur.The City of Fort Smith is committed to keeping all interested groups and individuals informed of eachphase of the Consolidated Planning process and of activities being proposed or undertaken under HUDformula grant programs. Opportunities to comment on or participate in planning communitydevelopment and affordable housing activities and projects will be publicized and disseminatedthroughout the City of Fort Smith.Public Hearings and MeetingsThe City will conduct at least two (2) public hearings to obtain citizens’ views and to respond to proposalsand questions. The hearings will take place at different stages of the Consolidated Planning process. Atleast one will occur prior to development of the Draft Plan and will be intended to solicit public inputregarding distinct issues, thereby aiding policy formation. At least one more will occur after the Draft Planhas been released for public review, allowing interested parties an opportunity to review the strategiesand how they were developed, designed and presented.Information about the time, location and subject of each hearing will be provided to citizens at least seven(7) calendar days in advance through adopted public notice and outreach procedures. This notificationwill be disseminated to local governments and other interested parties. Public notification of the hearingswill be published in the local newspaper. Community Development Department staff may also attendother meetings and conventions in the City of Fort Smith throughout the year, thereby providing anopportunity for additional public information on the Consolidated Plan.Every effort will be made to ensure the public hearings are inclusive. Hearings will be held at convenienttimes and locations and in places where people most affected by proposed activities can attend. TheDirector of Community Development will utilize hearing facilities that are accessible to persons withmobility impairments. If written notice is given at least seven (7) days before a hearing date, the City ofFort Smith will provide appropriate materials, equipment and interpreting services to facilitate theparticipation of non-English speaking persons and persons with visual and / or hearing impairments.Interpreters will be provided at public hearings where a significant number of non-English speakingresidents can be reasonably expected to participate. All public hearings and public meetings associatedwith the Consolidated Planning process will conform to applicable Arkansas open meeting laws.If virtual hearings are used, real-time responses and accommodation for persons with disabilitiesand/or with limited English proficiency will be made available to the greatest extent possible. Also, thevirtual hearing method will only be used in lieu of in-person hearing if national or local healthauthorities recommend social distancing and limit public gatherings for public health reasons.However, the Director of Community Development may, at its discretion, actively solicit input on housingand community development issues in during the course of the year with other forums, town hallmeetings and other venues, as they may present themselves.For CDBG-CV funding under PY 2019 and, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Actor CARES Act, and/or any additional funding granted in response to COVID-19 health crisis, the citymay provide a 5-day notice/comment period of a substantial amendment beginning May 9, 2020 asPage 3 of 11
allowed under a HUD waiver. This includes any new activities proposed. A public hearing is notrequired but documentation relative to substantial amendment activity planning applies.Publication of Consolidated Plan DocumentsThe Director of Community Development will publish the Draft Consolidated Plan for public review in amanner that affords citizens, public agencies and other interested parties a reasonable opportunity toexamine its contents and submit comments. The Draft Plan will be a complete document and shall include: The amount of assistance the City of Fort Smith expects to receive; and, The range of activities that may be undertaken, including the estimated amount that will benefit personsof low-and moderate-income.A succinct summary of the Draft Plan will be published in a newspaper of general circulation at thebeginning of the public comment period. The summary will describe the contents and purpose of theConsolidated Plan (including a summary of specific objectives) and include a list of the locations wherecopies of the entire proposed Consolidated Plan may be obtained or examined. The following are amongthe locations where copies of the public comment Draft Plan will be made available to inspections: Community Development Department located at 623 Garrison Ave.; Room 331 Public Library located at 3201 Rogers Avenue; and, Windsor, Dallas and Miller Branch Libraries City of Fort Smith’s website at www.fortsmithar.govCitizens and groups may obtain a reasonable number of free copies of the proposed Consolidated Plan bycontacting the Director of Community Development at (479) 784-2209 or the document may bedownloaded from the City’s website at www.fortsmithar.govPublic Comments on the Draft Consolidated Plan and Annual Action PlansThe City of Fort Smith’s Community Development Department, as lead agency, will receive commentsfrom citizens on its Draft Plan for a period not less than thirty (30) days prior to submission of theConsolidated Plan or Annual Action Plans to HUD. The Draft Annual Action Plan will be scheduled forrelease in April of each year.All comments or views of citizens received in writing during the thirty (30) day comment period will beconsidered in preparing the final Consolidated Plan. A summary of these comments or views and asummary of any comments or views not accepted and the reasons therefore shall be attached to the finalConsolidated Plan.The Director of Community Development will inform those on its mailing list of the availability of the finalPlan document and of any HUD comments on the Consolidated Plan.For CDBG-CV funding under PY 2019 and, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Actor CARES Act, and/or any additional funding granted in response to COVID-19 health crisis, the citymay provide a 5-day notice/comment period of a substantial amendment beginning May 9, 2020 asPage 4 of 11
allowed under a HUD waiver. This includes any new activities proposed. A public hearing is notrequired but documentation relative to substantial amendment activity planning applies.Public Notice and OutreachAn informed citizenry is critical to effective and responsive housing and community developmentprograms. Efforts to educate residents and empower their participation are an ongoing element of theConsolidated Planning process.As the fundamental means of notifying interested citizens about the Consolidated Plan and relatedactivities, such as the Annual Action Plan or the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report,the Director of Community Development will utilize advertisement notices in newspapers of generalcirculation. Such notices will be published at least seven (7) calendar days prior to public hearings. Allnotices will be written in plain, simple language and direct efforts will be undertaken to publish and / orpost information at locations that will elicit maximum low-and moderate-income and minorityparticipation.Public education and outreach will be facilitated through the use of Public Advertisements that describethe Consolidated Planning process, opportunities for citizen participation and available funding throughthe CDBG and HOME program; The City’s Consolidated Plan mailing list will likely include social serviceorganizations, local jurisdictions, low-income housing consumers, neighborhood groups, previousparticipants and commentators, and others expected to desire input on the Plan. This list is updatedperiodically and is available for inspection at the Community Development Department.For CDBG-CV funding under PY 2019 and, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Actor CARES Act, and/or any additional funding granted in response to COVID-19 health crisis, the citymay provide a 5-day notice/comment period of a substantial amendment beginning May 9, 2020 asallowed under a HUD waiver. This includes any new activities proposed. A public hearing is notrequired but documentation relative to substantial amendment activity planning applies.Technical AssistanceGroups or individuals interested in obtaining technical assistance to develop project proposals or applyingfor funding assistance through HUD formula grant programs covered by the Consolidated Plan maycontact the Director of Community Development. Such assistance may be of particular use to communitydevelopment organizations, non-profit service providers, and for-profit and non-profit housingdevelopment groups that serve or represent persons of low-and moderate-income. Pre-applicationworkshops offer basic program information and materials to potential project sponsors, and the Directorof Community Development will provide in-depth guidance and assistance to applicants and programparticipants on an on-going basis. Emphasis is placed on capacity development of community-basedorganizations.Page 5 of 11
Amendments to the Consolidated PlanPursuant to HUD regulations, an amendment to the Consolidated Plan is required whenever theJurisdiction determines to: Substantially change the allocation priorities or its method of distributing HUD formula grant funds; Utilize formula grant funds (including program income) to carry out activities not previously describedin the Action Plan; and, Change the purpose, scope, location or beneficiaries of an activity.Such changes, prior to their implementation, are reviewed under various federal or local requirements,particularly rules on procurement and / or policies on the allocation of
Citizen Participation Plan Updates . Summary . May 7, 2020 . Note: This is a summary of the changes in the following pages the new updates are highlighted for the ease of the reviewer to read. Page 3 Added a paragraph to allow for virtual hearings in the event federal, state or local authorities recommend social distancing
Performance Report, Citizen Participation Plan as required by HUD. Objectives of the Citizen Participation Plan . The CPP includes the following objectives and describes how each will be met to ensure federal regulatory compliance. Encourage citizen participation by providing residents with adequate information concerning:
Encouraging Citizen Participation In order to facilitate citizen participation requirements and to maximize citizen interaction in the development of the Consolidated Plan, substantial amendments to the Consolidated Plan and/or the annual action plan (AAP) and the performance report (CAPER), the State will take actions necessary to
2. Self-Assessment and Planning Tool: assess past citizen participation and consultation activities and create citizen participation and consultation priorities and goals 3. Citizen Participation and Consultation Activities: potential methods or approaches grantees can use to support outreach to the public and stakeholders 4.
however, each program will adhere to the citizen participation requirements outlined below. To meet the public participation requirements of the CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT grants, NCORR commits to the processes described below for citizen participation, complaints, appeals, and the public notice period. 2.0 below
Sherry Arnstein – Ladder of Citizen Participation Sherry Arnstein’s ladder of citizen participation, published in 1969 in the Journal of the American Plan-ning Association, is considered one of the classic and most inluential participation theories. Arnstein rests her theory on the declaration that citizen par
of citizen participation. Together, these constitutional and legislative provisions avail various platforms for citizen participation in devolved governance. Citizen participation is one of the national values and is also one of the principles of public service as articulated in the Constitution in Articles 10 (2,a) and Article 232 (1).
Toolkit: Citizen Participation in the Legislative Process 5 Citizen Participation Opportunities 24 In-person Activities 24 Citizen Participation Offices 25 Ad-hoc Meetings or Workshops with Civil Society Organizations 25 Institutional Bodies 26 Public Outreach 26 Town Hall Meetings 27 Focus Groups 27 Committee Hearings and Witness, Specialist or Interested Person’s
according to ASTM F 2213-06, ASTM F 2052-14 and ASTM F2119-07 Non-clinical testing of worst case scenario in a 3 T MRI system did not reveal any relevant torque or displace- ment of the construct for an experimentally measured local spatial gradient of the magnetic field of 5.4 T/m. The largest image artifact extended approximately 35 mm from the construct when scanned using the Gradient Echo .
