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The City of Burlington, through its Community & Economic Development
Office, strongly encourages public involvement in the Consolidated Plan process
and use of Consolidated Development Block Grant money. This Citizen
Participation Plan outlines the City's policies and procedures regarding public
involvement, as required by 24 CFR Part 91.105.
The Citizen Participation Plan, together with the Consolidated Plan, any
substantial amendments to the either Plan, and the annual performance reports on
the progress of the Consolidated Plan, are available at the Community &
Economic Development Office, on its website, and at the Fletcher Free Library.
This Plan, together with all other materials relating to the City's CDBG and
HOME programs, are available in alternative formats for persons with
disabilities. For information, contact the Community & Economic Development
Office at 865-7144 or 865-7142 TTY.
1. A Citizen Advisory Board will make recommendations each year to the Mayor
and City Council on the allocation of CDBG funds.
2. The Board will include:
- One elected representative from each of the City’s seven
Neighborhood
Planning Assemblies.
- One representative from the United Way of Chittenden County
- One representative of the State of Vermont
- Two representatives from low-income
neighborhood associations
- Three representatives of the City of Burlington appointed by
the Mayor, including one tenant living in public housing or
subsidized housing. In appointing representatives, the Mayor
will attempt to ensure to the fullest extent possible that the
Board represents the existing diversity of the community.
3. The members of the City Council Community Development & Neighborhood
Revitalization Committee will serve as ex officio members of the Board.
1. Each year, the City will set aside 5% of its total annual CDBG entitlement
allocation to fund a Neighborhood Development Grants program. The program will
fund eligible local physical development projects. Project proposals must be
submitted through one of the City's Neighborhood Planning Assemblies.
2. A Neighborhood Grants Board will review applications and make
recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on the allocation of Neighborhood
Development Grants funds.
3. The Neighborhood Grants Board will include:
- One Steering Committee representative from each of the Neighborhood
Planning Assemblies, and
- Two mayoral appointees.
1. The City will hold at least two public hearings during the year to obtain
citizen's views about housing and community development needs, development of
proposed activities and review of program performance. At least one public
hearing will be held to obtain the views of citizens on housing and community
development needs (including priority nonhousing community development needs)
before the Consolidated Plan is published for comment.
2. The City will ensure adequate public notice before each public hearing,
with sufficient information published about the subject of the hearing to permit
informed comment. Public hearings will be announced in the newspaper, on public
access television and by posting flyers around the city. Citizens will be
notified of the public hearings at least two weeks before they are held.
3. Advanced public notice will also be given of all public meetings relating
to the Consolidated Plan and performance progress, such as those of the Citizen
Advisory Board and Neighborhood Planning Assemblies.
4. The City will hold all public hearings at times and locations convenient
to potential and actual beneficiaries, and accommodations will be made for
people with disabilities. All hearings will be held in accessible locations, and
sign language interpreters will be made available upon advance request.
5. The City will provide interpretation services for non-English speaking
residents at public hearings upon advance request, provided such services are
available in the community.
1. The City, through CEDO, will make a concerted effort to notify citizens,
agencies and organizations of the development of the consolidated plan and the
availability of CDBG funds through mailings, postings and public notices in the
newspaper. In addition, CEDO will notify the Steering Committees of the City's
Neighborhood Planning Assemblies.
2. CEDO will conduct workshops at various and convenient times to inform and
educate citizens on the development of the Consolidated Plan and the
availability of funds. CEDO will provide technical assistance to all applicants,
with special efforts to assist the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies in the
development of applications for funding - particularly those Neighborhood
Planning Assemblies which are predominately
low and moderate income
neighborhoods. Citizens, through the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies, will be
encouraged to discuss the various activities funded by CDBG and HOME grants, and
other Federal HUD programs.
3. Before the City adopts the 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 and the range of
activities that may be undertaken, including the estimated amount that will
benefit persons of low and moderate income.
4. The City will publish its proposed Consolidated Plan for review and
comment. The City will publish a newspaper summary describing the contents and
purpose of the Consolidated Plan and listing the locations where the entire plan
may be examined. The entire plan will be made available for review and
examination at the Community & Economic Development Office and at the
Fletcher Free Library.
5. The City will receive and consider comments on the proposed Consolidated
Plan for 30 days before preparing the final Consolidated Plan.
1. The City will amend its approved Consolidated Plan whenever it makes one
of the following decisions:
- To make a substantial amendment in allocation priorities or a substantial
amendment in the method of distribution of funds;
- To carry out an activity,
using funds from any program covered by the Consolidated Plan (including program
income) not previously described in the action plan; or
- To substantially
amend the purpose, scope, location or beneficiaries of an activity.
2. "Substantial amendment" is defined as a change in a planned or
actual activity proposed after the official adoption of the Consolidated Plan
that affects 10% or more of the City of Burlington's current annual allocation
of CDBG or HOME funds.
3. Substantial amendments to the approved Consolidated Plan must be
authorized by the Mayor and the Board of Finance, and will be made public by
postings and public notices in the newspaper.
4. The City will receive and consider comments on substantial amendments to
the Consolidated Plan for 30 days before implementing those amendments.
1. The City will prepare a performance report each year on the progress of
the Consolidated Plan in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department
of Housing & Urban Development.
2. Citizens will be afforded notice of the performance report through
posting, public access television and newspapers. The performance report will be
available at CEDO and at the Fletcher Free Library for review, and will be
mailed to all members of the Citizen Advisory Board who request a copy.
3. The City will receive and consider comments on the performance report for
15 days before the report is submitted to HUD.
1. The City, through CEDO, will provide citizens, public agencies and other
interested parties with reasonable and timely access to information and records
relating to the City's Consolidated Plan and the City's use of funds under the
CDBG and HOME programs during the preceding five years.
2. The City, through CEDO, will regularly communicate with citizens and
applicants for CDBG funds (and particularly with the Neighborhood Planning
Assemblies) regarding the progress of the Consolidated Plan. Neighborhood
Planning Assembly representatives of the Citizen Advisory Board will be
encouraged to communicate with the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies on the
progress of the Advisory Board.
1. The City will consider any comments or views of citizens received in
writing, or orally at public hearing, in preparing this Citizen Participation
Plan, the final Consolidated Plan, substantial amendments to either Plan, and
the annual performance reports. A summary of these comments or views will be
attached to the Citizen Participation Plan, the final Consolidated Plan,
substantial amendment or performance report.
2. The City, through CEDO, will respond to written complaints received by
CEDO relating to the Consolidated Plan, any amendments to the Plan, and the
annual performance reports. Upon request, CEDO will transcribe oral complaints
for signature by the complaining person or organization. Where practicable, CEDO
will respond to complaints within 15 working days of receiving the written
complaint.
The City will minimize displacement of persons (families, individuals,
businesses, nonprofit organization and farms) and will assist any persons
displaced as a result of projects assisted with CDBG and/or HOME funds in
accordance with the City of Burlington's Housing Initiatives Program -
Anti-Displacement & Relocation Policy. That policy is available upon request
from CEDO.
Page last updated May 13, 2003
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