Public Hearing Scheduled for Community Development Block Grant

The city of Glendora has announced a public hearing to consider the adoption of a Five-Year Consolidation Plan for Housing and Urban Development funding.

The hearing is scheduled during the next City Council Meeting on May 14 at 7 p.m.

City officials expect the city to receive an estimated $167,550 annually in CDBG funds for 2013-14; less than had been allocated to Glendora in years past. In 2012-13 alone, the city received $197,000.

However, the city reported it has $338,938 in unspent funds from the two previous years, consisting of $114,875 from the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program, $213,855 from the Business Assistance Program and $10,208 in grants to local service organizations that declined their allocations.

Last year, Glendora reported a total of $282,845 with residuals.

Some of these unspent funds will be redistributed to provide bathroom remodeling at Finkbiner Park to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and curb ramp improvements citywide, officials said.

The city created a Five-Year Consolidated Plan describing its goals and objectives for implementing the HUD funding and refines that plan by publishing One-Year Action Plans.

Glendora officials outlined five areas of priority in the city: affordable housing, fair housing, infrastructure and public facilities, economic and human development and administration and planning.

The city reportedly identified these needs through community outreach efforts and consultation meetings, officials said. Data was also collected from the total 10 participants in the housing and community development needs survey.

The city claims it will not be able to provide direct assistance for affordable housing during the next five years and has no resources to apply to this need. Officials consider this a top priority and coordinate with public and private sector entities to address the issue.

For fair housing, the quantifiable five-year goal is to administer aid to 100 households (20 annually), officials said.

Officials will seek to provide upgrades to three public facilities and two infrastructure projects, as well as comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act to improve public facilities.

Funding will be provided to improve commercial facade for at least five businesses over five years while assisting in fostering job growth for low and moderate income areas.

The city will provide no more than 20 percent of the annual CDBG funding for administrative and planning activities.

As far as the previous Five-Year Plan is concerned, officials said that most of its goals were either met, or exceeded in 2008-13.

The city reportedly aided 938 households through its Housing Programs, exceeding the goal of 759.  The city exceeded its goal of 400households in the senior category by providing assistance to 434.

General aid was provided by the Glendora Reads Literacy program to 327, exceeding the goal of 200. The city helped 137 in the disabled category; the goal was 200. Only 83 were helped in the youth category when the goal was 200.

Every year, Glendora participates in the Community Development Block Grant, which is allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant funds a variety of projects to benefit low and moderate-income residents, eliminate slum and blight and meet urgent community needs, officials said.

If approved, the Five-Year Plan would begin July 1, 2013.

Hard copies of the Five-Year Consolidation Plan and 2013-14 Action Plan are available for viewing at Glendora City Hall City Clerk's Office and Planning Department, Glendora Public Library and the La Fetra Senior Center.

To view the Five-Year Consolidated Plan, 2013-14 Action plan and related documents, click here.