Title
Joint resolution regarding Lake County’s participation in a consortium-wide application for Regional Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP 2) funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
Staff Summary
• On February 17, 2009 Congress passed and the President signed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 which contained many different methods of Economic Stimulus packages.
• One such element was the announcement of $1.93 billion in CDBG NSP 2 funds that would be awarded under a nation-wide competitive application process along with updated and revised NSP 2 program requirements for the acquisition of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed upon properties that can be acquired, rehabilitated, and sold/rented as affordable housing for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families in areas of greatest need (as determined by HUD).
• Lake County Staff worked cooperatively with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and the Metropolitan Planning Council on a Consortium-wide Regional NSP 2 application describing its need for these funds, the housing programs it would institute, and the mechanisms with which it will meet the funding requirements of the Consortium-wide Regional NSP 2 Program.
• The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning will be the lead entity acting in a representative capacity for all members of the Consortium for purposes of making an application to HUD for potential NSP 2 funding and for carrying out the Consortium-wide Regional NSP 2 Program.
• Approval of the joint resolution by the County Board is needed on July 14th for submission to HUD on or before July 17th.
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made available through a nation-wide competitive application process over $1.93 billion dollars under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP 2) for the acquisition of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed upon properties that can be acquired, rehabilitated, and sold/rented as affordable housing for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families in areas of greatest need (as determined by HUD); and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board had previously approved the 2005 - 2009 Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan on March 8, 2005 and had previously approved the 2008 Annual Action Plan on March 11, 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board had previously approved an amendment to its 2008 Annual Action Plan on October 14, 2008 and November 18, 2008 regarding the original Neighborhood Stabilization Program award of $4,600,800; and
WHEREAS, HUD rules and regulations for the NSP 2 Program were issued on May 4, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Lake County Staff will need to continue development and refinement of the NSP 2 application that supplements the original amendment to the 2008 Annual Action Plan meeting the prescribed Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 requirements; and
WHEREAS, there is a relatively short timeframe in which to develop this amendment meeting the prescribed NSP 2 program requirements; and
WHEREAS, the July 14th County Board meeting is the only County Board meeting prior to the July 17th submission deadline; and
WHEREAS, under the prescribed Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 requirements the County’s 2005 - 2009 Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan and its 2008 Action Plan must be amended (at a later date) for Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds (if awarded); and
WHEREAS, Lake County would need to present its submitted NSP 2 application to a future Affordable Housing Commission meeting and a future Community Development Commission meeting; and
WHEREAS, (if funded) the Lake County Board will need to adopt a second Resolution to accept, appropriate, and execute contracts with those entities designated to be recipients of NSP 2 funds; and
WHEREAS, Lake County staff, with the assistance of Community Development Staff from the Cities of North Chicago and Waukegan, Staff from the Affordable Housing Corporation, and the entitlement staff of Cook County (excluding Chicago), DuPage County, Will County, and the entitlement Staff of Aurora, Berwyn, Cicero, Elgin, and Joliet will work cooperatively with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Metro Mayors Caucus, and the Metropolitan Planning Council on a Consortium-wide Regional NSP 2 application describing its need for these funds, the housing programs it would institute, and the mechanism with which it will meet the funding requirements of the Consortium-wide Regional NSP 2 Program; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning will be the lead entity acting in a representative capacity for all members of the Consortium for purposes of making an application to HUD for potential NSP 2 funding and for carrying out the Consortium-wide Regional NSP 2 Program; and
WHEREAS, the NSP 2 application must be submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development on or before July 17, 2009.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Chairman of the Lake County Board or her designee is hereby authorized to execute the necessary documents to participate in a nation-wide competitive application process and submit a Consortium-wide application for Regional Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds in the amount of an additional $4,600,800 dollars for the acquisition of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed upon properties that can be acquired, rehabilitated, and sold/rented as affordable housing for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families in areas of greatest need (as determined by HUD).
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois on this 14th day of July, A.D., 2009.