Community Development

Responsibilities

The City of Battle Creek’s Community Development Division supports neighborhoods by administering federal programs and coordinating planning efforts. It administers the Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership formula grant programs. It also coordinates, in partnership with other local agencies, federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) competitive grant funds. 
 

Public Comment Periods and Public Hearings

CITY OF BATTLE CREEK
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
AND 5 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
REGARDING THE SECOND SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2019-2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

(Link to DRAFT Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan)

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the City of Battle Creek has prepared a Draft Second Substantial Amendment to 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Battle Creek Citizen Participation Plan.

On March 27, 2020 the United States Congress passed The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748). The bill provided HUD $5 billion of Community Development Block Grant—Corona Virus (CDBG-CV) funds to disseminate to States and Participating Jurisdictions to rapidly respond to COVID-19 and the economic and housing impacts caused by it, including rental assistance and the expansion of community health facilities and shelters. To date, the City of Battle Creek has received $1,004,976 of these CDBG-CV funds and previously allocated $729,344 to activities via a substantial amendment adopted by the Commission on May 15, 2020.

The second substantial amendment allocates an additional $215,025 to eligible activities.

A Substantial Amendment to the FY 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan is required to allocate additional funds, and usually a thirty (30) day public comment period is required. However, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has waived this requirement provided that no less than five (5) days are provided for public comments on each substantial amendment.

The CDBG-CV funds allocated under the CARES Act may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The proposed activities meet the following National Objectives as required by CDBG regulations:

· Benefit low-and-moderate income persons.

· Meet an urgent need.

DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT  

To effectively address the significant impact that COVID-19 has had on Battle Creek homeless and renter populations, the City of Battle Creek proposes the following new projects and project changes to its 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan:

General Administration (CDBG-CV) $142,166 (increased from $91,534)

Homeless Shelter Operating Costs $135,393

Housing Case Management $105,000 (increased from $80,000)

The City will use these projects to provide support and assistance to Battle Creek residents adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that are at risk of losing their housing or have a need to be re-housed.

In compliance with the City’s approved Citizen Participation Plan and the Consolidated Plan implementing regulation 24 CFR 91.105, this notice is being published to make citizens aware that a formal 7 calendar day comment period beginning on April 30, 2021 and ending on May 6, 2021 on the City of Battle Creek’s Amended 2019-2020 Action Plan, and the revised proposed CDBG expenditures. This document can be viewed on the City website at https://www.battlecreekmi.gov/181. Members of the public may submit a comment by emailing Chris Lussier at cplussier@battlecreekmi.gov or by writing the comment on paper, placing it in an envelope addressed to Community Development Division by 12:00 am (midnight) on Thursday, May 6, 2021 into the blue freestanding drop box located in the drive-up lane to the Northeast of City’s Hall’s main entrance.

The City will hold a public hearing to receive citizen comments concerning the Draft Amended 2019-2020 Action Plan on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. during the City Commission Meeting. The meeting will take place electronically through Zoom, which is Enterprise Video Conferencing, due to

the COVID-19 Pandemic, current rates of infection in Calhoun County, gathering limitations in Emergency Orders issued under the Public Health Code, and the determination that the personal health of members of the public or the public body would be at risk if the meeting were held in person, as permitted by the Open Meetings Act (OMA) based upon the October 15, 2020 Extension of the Declaration of Local Emergency by Calhoun County Board of Commissioners.

Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in to the Zoom meeting at the following telephone number: 312-626-6799. The caller will be prompted to enter the meeting ID number: 993 5594 9198

The caller will be placed into a virtual “waiting room” until it is their time to speak during public comment.

Members of the public may watch the entirety of the city commission meeting live by one of three methods:

Visit AccessVision: http://accessvision.tv/live-17,

Watch AccessVision on Comcast 17/917 or AT&T 99 on cable TV.

Watch on the City’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CerealCityMichigan

Members of the public may also email a public comment, which is compliant with the rules of public comment to be read at the meeting to City Clerk Victoria Houser cityclerk@battlecreekmi.gov; or by writing the question or comment on paper, placing it in an envelope addressed to the Battle Creek City Commission by 12:00 pm (noon) on Tuesday, May , 2021 into the blue freestanding drop box located in the drive-up lane to the Northeast of City’s Hall’s main entrance. The question or comment, if compliant with the City Commission meeting rules set out in Battle Creek Ordinance, 212.02(XVII), will be read aloud at the meeting during public comment.

The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as closed captioning for the hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following:

Battle Creek City Clerk

Battle Creek, MI 49016

(269) 966-3378 (Voice)

(269) 966-3348 (TDD)

Questions concerning this matter may be directed to the City Manager’s office, at 966-3378.

_____________________

2021 Annual Action Plan Available for Review and Public Comment

DRAFT 2021 Annual Action Plan

A formal thirty (30) calendar day comment period on the draft 2021 Annual Action Plan, including the proposed use of funds, will commence on April 2, 2021 and conclude on May 3, 2021.

As part of the City of Battle Creek’s Citizen Participation process, the City will hold a formal public hearing on the draft 2021 Annual Action Plan including the Proposed Use of Funds on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 7:00 P.M. during the City Commission Meeting.

Under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, the City of Battle Creek is required to prepare a plan that describes how the City will allocate Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds to meet the needs of low and moderate income persons of Battle Creek. 

To that end, an Annual Action Plan is completed annually to describe the activities that will be undertaken to address the needs identified in the current 5-Year Consolidated Plan.  The Annual Action Plan also serves as an application for Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds.   

 The City of Battle Creek has prepared a draft 2021 Annual Action Plan.  The Annual Action Plan describes the activities that will take place during the 2021-22 Program Year (July-June).  The draft Annual Action Plan will be made available to the public on Friday, April 2, 2021. 

The public hearing will take place electronically through Zoom, which is Enterprise Video Conferencing, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, current rates of infection in Calhoun County, gathering limitations in Emergency Orders issued under the Public Health Code, and the determination that the personal health of members of the public or the public body would be at risk if the meeting were held in person, as permitted by the Open Meetings Act (OMA) based upon the October 15, 2020 Extension of the Declaration of Local Emergency by Calhoun County Board of Commissioners.

Members of the public may participate in the meeting by calling in to the Zoom meeting at the following telephone number: 312-626-6799. The caller will be prompted to enter the meeting ID number: 974 4116 1532 

The caller will be placed into a virtual “waiting room” until it is their time to speak during public comment. 

Members of the public may watch the entirety of the city commission meeting live by one of three methods: Either Facebook Live or through AccessVision on cable or online. To watch: 

Visit AccessVision:  http://accessvision.tv/live-17, or click the Live 17 tab at the top of AccessVision’s home page. 

Watch AccessVision on Comcast 17/917 or AT&T 99 on cable TV. 

Watch on the City’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/CerealCityMichigan 

Members of the public may also email a public comment, which is compliant with the rules of public comment to be read at the meeting to City Clerk Victoria Houser cityclerk@battlecreekmi.gov; or by writing the question or comment on paper, placing it in an envelope addressed to the Battle Creek City Commission by 12:00 pm (noon) on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 into the blue freestanding Drop Box located in the drive-up lane to the Northeast of City’s Hall’s main entrance. The question or comment, if compliant with the City Commission meeting rules set out in Battle Creek Ordinance, 212.02(XVII), will be read aloud at the meeting during public comment.   

 

 

Consolidated Plan

Every 5 years, the City of Battle Creek is required to create a Consolidated Plan that describes how the city will allocate Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income persons in Battle Creek. The 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan is attached.