Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Study Session - Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan
End
From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Michael Son, Housing Specialist
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
None.
BACKGROUND
The City of Westminster receives annual allocations of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds support housing and community development activities benefiting low- and moderate-income households. To receive these funds, the City must adopt a five-year Consolidated Plan outlining its needs, priorities, and strategies for housing and community development. Opportunities to provide input on the draft Consolidated Plan will be made available in March 2025 before City Council’s consideration for adoption in May 2025.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan builds upon several planning documents and reports, including the FY 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, the 2021-2029 Housing Element, Orange County’s Housing Choice Voucher Report, 2024 Orange County Point In Time Summary, 2016 General Plan and Parks and Facilities Master Plan. The Consolidated Plan provides a framework to address key community needs, including housing affordability, homelessness prevention, infrastructure improvements, and economic development.
The City is currently developing this plan through a combination of the most current statistical data available, consultation with key stakeholders, and citizen participation. Public engagement included a community needs assessment survey, stakeholder workshop and community workshop. These efforts identified five key areas of priority for the next five years:
1. Priority Housing Needs - The Needs Assessment supports activities that will assist with housing cost burden and rehabilitation of substandard housing due to age and lack of maintenance.
2. Priority Community Services - With the growing number of both elderly and homeless persons in Westminster, as well as low- and moderate-income persons in general, additional public services related to persons with disabilities, anti-crime, health services, homeless services, and transport services were the most important to community members. These needs were determined by the public via the Community Needs Survey, comments received at a Stakeholder Workshop with various public service and housing providers, and staff input based on local knowledge.
3. Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Community Facilities - The Community Needs Survey indicated that parks and recreation facilities were the most important community facilities compared to other community facilities.
4. Priority Infrastructure Improvements - Identified needs include pavement, sidewalk, curb, gutter, and storm drain reconstruction in the City’s low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The City’s Pavement Management System (PMS) describes specific low- and moderate-income neighborhoods for which CDBG funds will be requested over the FY 2025/26 - 2029/30 Consolidated Plan. Sidewalk improvements and street and alley improvements were ranked most important by community members.
5. Planning for Housing and Community Development Needs (Planning and Administration) -This category is reserved for administrative activities under both the CDBG and HOME programs.
To assist with the preparation of the Consolidated Plan, the City has engaged Veronica Tam and Associates, Inc. (VTA), a consulting firm specializing in housing planning and community development. VTA has extensive experience in preparing Consolidated Plans, Action Plans, and related housing reports for jurisdictions across California, including but not limited to for the cities of Alhambra, Costa Mesa, Long Beach and County of Orange. Their expertise ensures that Westminster’s Consolidated Plan aligns with HUD requirements while addressing the City’s unique needs and priorities.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no Fiscal Impact to the General Fund. However, the City’s ability to implement the Consolidated Plan is contingent on the availability of CDBG and HOME funds. The plan serves as the basis for the annual funding applications submitted to HUD. The exact allocation for FY 2025-2029 will be determined based on federal funding levels and HUD formula-based calculations for CDBG and HOME funds.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The FY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan provides a strategic framework for addressing Westminster’s housing and community development needs. By leveraging CDBG and HOME funds, the City aims to support affordable housing, essential public services, and infrastructure improvements, ensuring long-term benefits for the community.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, Interim City Manager