HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem III - Citizen Participation Plan 2020_J
Oshkosh CITY OF OSHKOSH
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
The City of Oshkosh receives an annual entitlement of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing and
community development activities to assist low to moderate income persons. In accordance with HUD
regulation 24 CFR 91.105, the City is required to adopt a Citizen Participation Plan that sets forth the
City's policies and procedures for citizen participation in the creation of a 5-Year Consolidated Plan
(Consolidated Plan) that addresses affordable housing and community development needs, submit an
Annual Action Plan (Annual Plan) to outline spending and activities for the corresponding program
years, a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to evaluate the City's
accomplishments and use of CDBG funds and an Analysis of Impediments / Assessment of Fair
Housing Plan.
Objectives
The Citizen Participation Plan provides for and encourages citizens to participate in the development
of the Consolidated Plan, any substantial amendments to the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans,
the performance report (CAPER) and the Fair Housing Plan. This Plan is designed to solicit views and
recommendations from the community, organizations and other interested parties, encourage
participation by low and moderate income persons, and to incorporate their views and
recommendations in the decision making process. Actions will be taken to encourage participation of
all citizens, including minorities and non-English speaking persons, as well as persons with disabilities.
The City of Oshkosh encourages collaboration with the Oshkosh/Winnebago County Housing
Authority and the residents of public and assisted housing developments during the process of
developing and implementing the Consolidated Plan, along with other low-income residents of
targeted revitalization areas in which the developments are located. The City strives to provide
information to the Oshkosh/Winnebago County Housing Authority about consolidated plan activities
related to its developments and surrounding communities.
Development of Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans and Analysis of impediments / Assessment
of Fair Housing Plan
Before the City adopts a consolidated plan, the City will make available to citizens, public agencies,
and other interested parties information that includes the amount of assistance the City expects to
receive (including grant funds and program income) and the range of activities that will be undertaken,
including the estimated amount that will benefit persons of low and moderate income. The city will
make a concerted effort to notify residents, social service providers, non-profit organizations,
community and faith based organizations, and other interested parties of the development of the
Consolidated and Annual Plans, and Fair Housing Plan through electronic mail, online postings and
notices in the local newspaper.
During project development, it is the City's goal to minimize displacement of persons and to assist any
person displaced. During redevelopment or rehabilitation projects, the City will work with citizens and
property owners to present assistance available during the displacement period. Depending on the
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nature and scope of the project, this information will be made available in written and/or oral formats.
City staff will be available to meet with those being displaced to continue any necessary discussion.
The City of Oshkosh will publish a summary of the proposed Plans and Fair Housing Plan which
describes the contents and purpose of the Plan(s) and/or Fair housing Plan and include a list of
locations where they may be examined. The Plan(s) and/or Fair Housing Plan will be available for
review at the Community Development Department (215 Church Avenue, Room 201), and online at
www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us on the Economic Development web page. In addition, the City will provide a
reasonable number of free copies of the plan to citizens and groups that request it. The notice will
include information on the public hearing including location, date, and time.
The notice published in the local newspaper will initiate citizen review comment periods.
Consolidated Plan or Amendments and Analysis of Impediments/Assessment of
Fair Housing: a 30-day period to receive comments from citizens and interested
parties.
Annual Action Plan and Performance Report: a 15 day period to receive comments
from citizens and interested parties.
During the preparation of the Plans, the City of Oshkosh will consider any comments or views
received at public hearings or by other means. A summary of these comments or views, and a
summary of any comments or views not accepted and the reasons therefore, will be attached as an
appendix to the Plans.
Amendments to the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans and Analysis of Impediments/
Assessment of Fair Housing. The City of Oshkosh will amend the consolidated plan if, during the
program year, it is decided not to carry out an activity described in the annual action plan, propose a
new project, or to substantially change the purpose, scope, location, or beneficiaries of an activity. For
purposes of this Plan, the criteria for substantial is defined to be an action which changes a project
category by an amount equal to or in excess of twenty percent (20%) of the current entitlement grant,
or if the location of a project is changed in a manner that would deprive persons originally included of
specific benefits. A public hearing to amend the Plans would be held before the Common Council.
Citizen comment period shall be as noted above.
During the preparation of substantial amendments to the consolidated plan, the City will consider any
comments or views received at public hearings or by other means. A summary of these comments or
views, and a summary of any comments or views not accepted and the reasons therefore, will be
attached as an appendix to the Plans.
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER is due to HUD
within 90 days of the end of the program year. The City of Oshkosh's program year ends April 30;
therefore, the performance report is due to HUD by the end of July. Thus, this review period will
typically be conducted during July.
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A comment period of not less than 15 days will be published in the local newspaper. Copies of the
report will be available for review at the Community Development Department and online at
www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us on the Economic Development web page. Comments or views of citizens will
be accepted in both written and oral formats. A summary of these comments or views will be attached
to the CAPER and submitted to HUD.
Public Hearings. The City will hold a minimum of two public hearings each year to obtain citizens
views regarding housing and community development needs, proposed allocation of CDBG funds,
strategies and actions taken to affirmatively further fair housing and review program performance.
Notice will be provided a minimum of 10 days in advance of the public hearing and published in the
local newspaper.
The hearings will address housing and community development needs, development of proposed
activities, and review of program performance. Public hearings and meeting locations shall be
accessible to those with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for those with
disabilities or in need of interpreters upon advance request by contacting the Community Development
Department.
Access to Information and Records. Any citizen, organization or interested party may submit written
requests for information regarding the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, Fair Housing Plan and
CAPER, including the City's use of funds under the CDBG program and the benefit to low and
moderate income persons. These Plans will be available for public review at the Community
Development Office (215 Church Avenue, Room 201), and on the City's website,
www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us on the Economic Development web page. The City will, upon request, make
available these documents in a form accessible to persons with disabilities.
Technical Assistance. Upon request and where applicable, technical assistance will be provided to
groups representative of persons of low and moderate income that request such assistance in
developing proposals for funding assistance under any of the programs covered by the consolidated
plan. The assistance need not include the provision of funds to the groups.
Comment and Complaint Process. The City will consider any comments from citizens received in
writing or orally at public hearings in preparing this Citizen Participation Plan, the Consolidated Plan,
Annual Action Plans, CAPERS, Fair Housing Plan and/or substantial amendments to these Plans. A
summary of all comments will be attached and submitted to HUD.
The City will respond to written complaints received relating to the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action
Plans, Fair Housing Plan, CAPERS and/or substantial amendments. Written complaints must describe
the objection and provide contact information of the complainant. The City will respond to complaints
within 15 working days of receiving the written complaint, acknowledging the letter and identifying a
plan of action, if necessary.
Approved by the Oshkosh Common Council , 2020
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