2010-2014 Consolidated Plan - City of Champaign

homeless populations. The City continues to create partnerships with other agencies to enhance theirability to address community needs and expand the benefits of the CDBG and HOME programs. Anevaluation of past performance is summarized annually in the Annual Action Plans and the ConsolidatedAnnual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPER). During the previous Consolidated Plan period (FY2005/06 through FY 2008/09), HUD noted the following during the annual review:• The City became certified as a HUD Credit Counseling agency and has expanded the creditcounseling services it provides to reach households and address a wider array of topics. The City hasbegun to develop workshops geared to neighborhood associations dealing with issues of credit,predatory lending, and other household financial concerns. We commend the City for going over andbeyond their responsibilities to promote self-sufficiency and encourage homeownership opportunities.• The City of Champaign staff continues to work with the Community Reinvestment Group to improvehomeownership opportunities for minority households… working collaboratively with variousstakeholders, 111 attendees received information at eight workshops at the Annual Housing Fair. Weare impressed by the City’s determination to expand public knowledge of fair housing issues andeventually increase minority access to private loan funding.• In Ashland Park, the City consented to waive some of the normal development costs includingbuilding permit fees, to encourage the private developer to build affordable, visitable single-familyhomes. To reduce the cost of the homes the City agreed to refund a portion of its property taxes forthe first five years, after initial occupancy by income-eligible buyers. We congratulate the City andthe partnerships developed. This project has been an excellent example of affordable housing builtentirely by the private sector.• In the FY 2007-08 CAPER, the City provided “before” and “after” pictures of many of their completedprojects. There were also a number of colorful maps illustrating the location of proposed andcompleted projects. We applaud the City’s efforts to go the extra mile by providing a visualdemonstration of the results of in-kind labor and money contributions made by various stakeholders.• The City underwent an extensive process to solicit public input into housing and communitydevelopment needs and to develop the strategies to address them. The City encouraged local citizenparticipation in a variety of ways i.e. City website, City Government channel, public hearings, publicannouncements/legal notices, and public library materials. Close examination revealed the Cityaddressed inquiries almost immediately. We are very impressed with the City’s successful strides toencourage local citizen input and response.• One of the City’s outcome measures includes… “add minority and/or women owned contractors tothe approved contractor list”… 1 minority contractor received certification in FY 07/08. The lack ofminority and/or women owned contractors on the Champaign approved – contractor’s list concernedus. The City indicated… it “will continue to recruit minority and women owned businesses for futureopportunities.” We appreciate the City for taking active measures to incorporate minority and/orwomen owned contractors on the Champaign – approved contractor’s list.• The City continues to present a well organized, detailed Consolidated Annual Performance andEvaluation Report (CAPER). The table of contents is parallel to the contents within the report. Thereare pictures throughout the report demonstrating the progress and conditions of the City. The chartsand maps are colorful and an added incentive. When comments or concerns were noted by citizens,staff took the comments into careful consideration, provided a response, and in some cases, addedinformation to the CAPER to clarify the activities and responses that were questioned.xiiExecutive Summary