R2000-22 AUTHORIZING CITY OF DECATUR - CONSOLIDATED PLAN

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. , City of Decatur, Illinois Consolidated Plan 2000 -2004 MANAGING THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN PROCESS The City of Decatur receives two types of funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD): Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) and HOME funds. Day to day operations are overseen by the City Manager, while ultimate decisions based on programming and funding are determined by the Mayor and City Council. The Neighborhood Services Division is charged with administering programs and making recommendations to the City Council for official action. Planning and Administration The Neighborhood Services Staff is charged with the development and submission of the Consolidated Plan in consultation with Neighborhood Renewal,Neighborhood Advocacy and Neighborhood Standards sections of the Neighborhood Services Division of the City of Decatur. There are nine members of the Neighborhood Services staff whose salaries are paid with CDBG funds and one staff salary is paid with HOME funds. There are three program specialists, one administrator, one manager, one neighborhood advocate,two construction and rehabilitation specialists, and two neighborhood service officers who are paid with the City of Decatur's entitlement funds. The Neighborhood Services staff is also responsible for coordinating the process and finalizing the document based on public comments and review. The Neighborhood Renewal section administers programs and monitors subrecipient activities. Staff has consulted with the appropriate state, county, and municipal agencies to ensure that the Consolidated Plan is a comprehensive document of housing and community needs in the City of Decatur. Communiry Consultation Staff conducted six public hearings, inviting the general public, citizens, elected officials, agencies and service providers, to solicit comments and concerns from the community. These meetings were held early during the process to ensure public participation in the preparation of the Consolidated Plan. Public meetings were scheduled at different locations and at various times to accommodate citizens' work schedules and other obligations. Meetings were held at the Decatur Civic Center, Main Street Church of the Living God, Decatur Housing Authority, and the Decatur Public Library. The public meetings began in October 1999 and concluded in the month of February 2000. Although several social service agencies were represented during the agency meeting, staff also met individually with those who could not attend or with those who had questions regarding the process. Staff consulted and gathered information from agencies and service providers that deal with issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, health care, mental and physical disabilities, and human services. Service providers offered changes, additions, or comments which were incorporated into the Consolidated Plan (See Public Hearing AgendalMinutes - Appendix D) Staff also consulted with the Decatur Housing Authority(DHA) on housing strategy, needs, fair housing impediments, and the Near North/Hope VI project. This consultation allowed for ❖ Page - 1