Residents Identify Community Priorities

Residents talked about what they felt were priorities for Grand Terrace's housing and community development needs during a public assessment meeting Oct. 20. As the city's Department of Community Development works with San Bernardino County to identify various community development priorities, affordable housing needs and factors that shape equal access to housing, Grand Terrace residents were asked to give their input on these needs for possible incorporation into the county's 5-Year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan and its Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. Interim Assistant City Manager Emily Wong led the meeting. Residents at the Oct. 20 meeting identified four priorities for Grand Terrace to be submitted to the county for review: 1. Infrastructure improvements, including expanded and/or extended improvements to streets; 2. Public Services, including youth program funding, after-school enrichment programs, trade-training skills and job placement, code enforcement and public safety; 3. Public Facilities, including maintenance of existing facilities and building new youth facilities; and 4. Home Rehabilitation, including handyman programs for seniors and general home rehabilitation for Grand Terrace homeowners. The city is still in the process of gathering input from residents, sharing what they feel the community's needs are, explained Wong. Residents may complete an online survey designed to receive public comment at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SanBernardinoCounty. This survey will remain open until 5 p.m. Nov. 17. The 5-year Consolidated Plan and Action Plan will identify community development and housing needs in 11 communities throughout San Bernardino County. Once these needs are identified, the county will develop a strategic plan to try and meet these needs, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide annual funding for these needs. "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires each entitlement jurisdiction to submit a five year consolidated plan and analysis of impediments to equal housing," said Wong. "We are a small city and do not receive funds directly from HUD. We participate in the county's consortium," said Wong. The 5-Year Consolidated Plan also serves as a funding application for federal entitlement programs including three major sources of funding: community development block grants (CDBG), HOME investment partnerships (HOME) and emergency solutions grants (ESG), while creating strategies to target federal resources in areas with the greatest concentrations of poverty and blight, Wong explained Oct. 20 using a powerpoint presentation. Communities can use these grants in several ways, including for public services like employment and public safety; funding for public facilities, streets, parks and homeless shelters or group homes; and for homeowner rehabilitation and financial assistance to low/moderate income families, Wong explained. An analysis of impediments to fair housing choice, required by HUD for all CDBG grantees, includes data gathering, identification and recommending action, Wong explained. The funding is provided by HUD, and communities annually receive an allocation of various grant monies as the action plan is updated yearly in compliance with the overall strategic plan, Wong explained. The city will also be soliciting applications from service providers seeking funding for their projects according to specified guidelines, explained Wong. These applications are expected to be available on the city's website in the coming weeks, she shared. "We want to make sure we are responsive to the needs of the community and it's important to solicit their input," said Wong. Public comment will be taken on draft versions of the plan, which will be posted online at www.grandterrace-ca.gov beginning February 2015.