AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent Agenda
SUBJECT:
Title
A Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Erie Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with Weld County for the CDBG Entitlement Program
Body
DEPARTMENT: Administration
PRESENTER: Malcolm Fleming, Town Administrator
TIME ESTIMATE: Consent
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL INFORMATION: N/A
Cost as Recommended:
Balance Available:
Budget Line Item Number:
New Appropriation Required:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Approve the Resolution on the Intergovernmental Agreement with Weld County for the CDBG Entitlement Program.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Weld County is pursuing CDBG Entitlement status with the Federal Government. Under Entitlement status, the County believes it will be eligible for as much as $1 million annually to be used for a wide range of local housing and community development activities and programs, primarily to benefit low and moderate income households. Funding can be used for, among other things, housing rehabilitation, as well as water and sewer projects, and community center improvements. Housing rehabilitation projects are funded without a matching requirement.
For Erie to be included in Weld County’s annual requests to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for CDBG Program funds, CDBG regulations require Erie and Weld County enter into a cooperation agreement wherein Erie authorizes and agrees to cooperate with Weld County to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities within the boundaries of Erie, as may be approved by Erie.
Because there are many small towns in Weld County with higher levels of low and moderate income households, funding through Weld County’s CDBG program will be very competitive. Also, as noted above, the CDBG funding must be used primarily to benefit low and moderate income households. However, the boundaries of a project area can be clearly defined to fit this criterion by completing a simple survey of the area to determine the household income levels above or below the relevant point. If 60% are below the current amount for low and moderate income, that area is eligible. Using this approach, certain areas of Erie, including Old Town, may qualify.
Securing CDBG funding could make it possible to improve the quality of affordable housing in these areas, while ensuring the housing remains affordable. It may also be possible to secure through the CDBG program funding for some infrastructure improvements needed in Old Town, or improvements needed at the Erie Community Center, which serves all Erie households.
For these reasons, staff recommends approving the IGA with Weld County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Letter from Weld County Board of County Commissioners Chair
3. Flyer on CDBG Urban County Entitlement
4. IGA