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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 05-C0310 0 RESOLUTION NO. 05-C31 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AND URGING CONGRESS TO RESTORE ITS FUNDING WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was enacted, and signed into law by President Gerald Ford, as the centerpiece of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; and WHEREAS, the CDBG program has as its primary objective "...the development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income;" and WHEREAS, the CDBG Program has considerable flexibility to allow communities to carry out activities that are tailored to their unique affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization needs; and WHEREAS, throughout its 30 -year history, the CDBG program has been a partnership among the federal, state and local governments, business, and the nonprofit sector which carry out activities that improve the lives and neighborhoods of low and moderate income families; and WHEREAS, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in FY 2004, CDBG provided funds for thousands of activities, assisting over 23 million persons and households through such activities as expanding homeownership activities, eliminating slums and blighting influences, improving infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, libraries, community centers, adult day care and after school care for children, homeless housing facilities, employment training, transportation services, crime awareness, and business and job creation; and WHEREAS, the City of Azusa has used CDBG funds since 1974, and has a current FY 2004/05 allocation of $731,966, used to fund its After School Program, its Sr. Nutrition Site Manager position, its Senior Referral and Case Management Program, the rehabilitation of this Slauson Park Restroom, its Downtown Streetscape Improvements, construction of the Pedestrian Breezeway, assistance to the homeless through Peregrinos' de Emaus and East San Gabriel Coalition for the Homeless, assistance and counseling to abused women and children through the YWCA -Wings program, its Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Program, and the after school tutoring program offered by Homework House; and WHEREAS, President Bush's FY 2006 budget proposes to completely eliminate the CDBG program; and WHEREAS, should such proposal be enacted, it would have a devastating effect on the City of Azusa's CDBG Program, including possible cuts in the senior nutrition and senior referral programs; deletion of the After School program; lack of funding for the Pedestrian Breezeway; cancellation of the Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Program; cancellation of non -profit -funded services for the homeless, abused, etc.; and payment of the remainder of the Section 108 Loan in the amount of $886,253 from the City's General Fund. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Azusa hereby calls on the Congress to preserve the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provide a FY 2006 funding of at least $4.7 billion overall, with no less than $4.35 billion in formula funding. WL.M IN COON T'IS MD SEIIiYGSV SAUSERVDMTOPG"IUTA 2M0 BWDED WC 0 0 SECTION 1. Authorize the Mayor to sign the letter(s) attached as Exhibit A and the Resolution, and direct staff to forward them to the appropriate legislative representatives. SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this resolution. PASSED AND APPROVED this O day of April, 2005. Mayor HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the 4" day of April, 2005, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, CARRILLO, ROCHA, HANKS, CHAGNON NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE City Clerk WMNM TIN CSD MS SL.NGV4'SAUSUI!DEKTDPLAPWIA.2W5EMBEDDEDW 0 0 EXHIBIT A CI MENTS AVOSMNGTAPERON� KTOPCITV NUNCIL`IMWRIL4,2R ,RNALMD RESO WC The Canyon City—Gateway to the American Dream Mayor's Office Phone Number (626) 812-5228 • Facsimile Number (626) 334-5464 VIA FAX -(202) 228-3954 April 5, 2005 The Honorable Diane Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-0504 Dear Senator Feinstein: We need your help in saving the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and restoring its funding. The Administration's FY06 budget proposes the total elimination of CDBG. In lieu of the long-standing CDBG program, the Administration is proposing the creation of a smaller program within the Department of Commerce that will focus mainly on economic development. CDBG has served communities for 30 years as a resource to help cities, counties, and States meet their community development, affordable housing, and economic development. The City of Azusa receives funding from Los Angeles County Community Development Commission to fund its CDBG projects. We have used these funds to provide homeless assistance, safety and counseling to abused women and children, single family housing rehabilitation, after school activities at low income area elementary schools, park and playground improvements, redevelopment of blighted areas, meals to senior citizen residents, and after school tutoring to our most at -risk children, to name a few. Activities such as these allow us to serve low and moderate income households and/or their neighborhoods in the following ways: • Over 700 low income residents have improved their homes and quality of life since 1991, using $3.5M in CDBG funds • 1,600 children per year take advantage of after school programs at the elementary level, allowing them to remain in a safe after- school environment • $2.9M in streetscape improvements to the blighted Downtown has aesthetically improved and area and is the impetus to attract new business and opportunity in this redevelopment project area • Annually, approximately 100 homeless persons are assisted with shelter, referrals, showers, food and clothing • Approximately 100 abused women and children annually are helped with counseling and safe house placements • With the funding of a senior nutrition manager, over 400 elderly residents were served 33,330 nutritious meals, and under our senior referral and case management program another 150 seniors are assisted with day-to-day life problems • Of the various non-profit organizations funded, Azusa's Homework House has performed fantastically in offering low income children an after school alternative in the form of tutoring, computer lab, and mentoring by local college student volunteers. Many have characterized CDBG as the best federal domestic program ever enacted because of its flexibility and adaptability in meeting the needs of a diverse America. I urge you to intercede with your colleagues and preserve and restore funding in FY 2006 for this vital program to at least $4.7 billion, with no less than $4.35 billion in formula funding. Attached is a copy of a resolution adopted by the City of Azusa City Council. Should you require further assistance, please feel free to contact my staff at (626) 812- 5102. Si_ncerely,_ _ Diane �t�]c.J� Mayor 213 East Foothill Boulevard • Azusa, California 91702-1395 The Canyon City—Gateway to the American Dream Mayor's Office Phone Number (626) 812-5228 • Facsimile Number (626) 334-5464 VIA FAR -(202) 224-9450 April 5, 2005 The Honorable Barbara Boxer United States Senate 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-0504 Dear Senator Boxer We need your help in saving the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and restoring its funding. The Administration's FY06 budget proposes the total elimination of CDBG. In lieu of the long-standing CDBG program, the Administration is proposing the creation of a smaller program within the Department of Commerce that will focus mainly on economic development. CDBG has served communities for 30 years as a resource to help cities, counties, and States meet their community development, affordable housing, and economic development. The City of Azusa receives funding from Los Angeles County Community Development Commission to fund its CDBG projects. We have used these funds to provide homeless assistance, safety and counseling to abused women and children, single family housing rehabilitation, atter school activities at low income area elementary schools, park and playground improvements, redevelopment of blighted areas, meals to senior citizen residents, and after school tutoring to our most at -risk children, to name a few. Activities such as these allow us to serve low and moderate income households and/or their neighborhoods in the following ways: • Over 700 low income residents have improved their homes and quality of life since 1991, using $3.5M in CDBG funds • 1,600 children per year take advantage of after school programs at the elementary level, allowing them to remain in a safe after- school environment • $2.9M in sneetscape improvements to the blighted Downtown has aesthetically improved and area and is the impetus to attract new business and opportunity in this redevelopment project area • Annually, approximately 100 homeless persons are assisted with shelter, referrals, showers, food and clothing • Approximately 100 abused women and children annually are helped with counseling and safe house placements • With the funding of a senior nutrition manager, over 400 elderly residents were served 33,330 nutritious meals, and under our senior referral and case management program, another 150 seniors are assisted with day-to-day life problems • Of the various non-profit organizations funded, Azusa's Homework House has performed fantastically in offering low income children an after school alternative in the form of tutoring, computer lab, and mentoring by local college student volunteers. Many have characterized CDBG as the best federal domestic program ever enacted because of its flexibility and adaptability in meeting the needs of a diverse America. I urge you to intercede with your colleagues and preserve and restore funding in FY 2006 for this vital program to at least $4.7 billion, with no less than $4.35 billion in formula funding. Attached is a copy of a resolution adopted by the City of Azusa City Council. Should you require further assistance, please feel free to contact my staff at (626) 812- 5102. Sincerely,_C,._ Diane Chagnon Mayor 213 East Foothill Boulevard 9 Azusa, California 91 702-1 395 The Canyon City—Gateway to the American Dream Mayor's Office Phone Number (626) 812-5228 • Facsimile Number (626) 334-5464 VIA FAX -(202) 225-5467 April 5, 2005 The Honorable Hilda Solis U.S. House of Representatives 1725 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative Solis: We need your help in saving the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and restoring its funding. The Administration's FY06 budget proposes the total elimination of CDBG. In lieu of the long-standing CDBG program, the Administration is proposing the creation of a smaller program within the Department of Commerce that will focus mainly on economic development. CDBG has served communities for 30 years as a resource to help cities, counties, and States meet their community development, affordable housing, and economic development. The City of Azusa receives funding from Los Angeles County Community Development Commission to fund its CDBG projects. We have used these funds to provide homeless assistance, safety and counseling to abused women and children, single family housing rehabilitation, after school activities at low income area elementary schools, park and playground improvements, redevelopment of blighted areas, meals to senior citizen residents, and after school tutoring to our most at -risk children, to name a few. Activities such as these allow us to serve low and moderate income households and/or their neighborhoods in the following ways: • Over 700 low income residents have improved their homes and quality of life since 1991, using $3.5M in CDBG funds • 1,600 children per year take advantage of after school programs at the elementary level, allowing them to remain in a safe after- school environment • $2.9M in streetscape improvements to the blighted Downtown has aesthetically improved and area and is the impetus to attract new business and opportunity in this redevelopment project area • Annually, approximately 100 homeless persons are assisted with shelter, referrals, showers, food and clothing • Approximately 100 abused women and children annually are helped with counseling and safe house placements • With the funding of a senior nutrition manager, over 400 elderly residents were served 33,330 nutritious meals, and under our senior referral and case management program, another 150 seniors are assisted with day-to-day life problems • Of the various non-profit organizations funded, Azusa's Homework House has performed fantastically in offering low income children an after school alternative in the form of tutoring, computer lab, and mentoring by local college student volunteers. Many have characterized CDBG as the best federal domestic program ever enacted because of its flexibility and adaptability in meeting the needs of a diverse America. I urge you to intercede with your colleagues and preserve and restore funding in FY 2006 for this vital program to at least $4.7 billion, with no less than $4.35 billion in formula funding. Attached is a copy of a resolution adopted by the City of Azusa City Council. Should you require further assistance, please feel free to contact my staff at (626) 812- 5102. Sincerely,_ 7V_ Diane Chagnon Mayor 213 East Foothill Boulevard • Azusa, California 91702-1395