In order to comply with the Community Development Block Grant Program, citizens participation plan requirements for citizen participation in the planning, implementation and assessment of its community development block grant (CDBG) program for which the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funds to the city under the CDBG Entitlement Program for projects which benefit low and moderate income persons, aid in the elimination or prevention of slums and blights or projects of urgent need, a Citizens Advisory Board for the Community Development Block Grant Activities is created to advise the City Council.

(a)

The Board shall be composed of five members. All members shall be residents of the city and all will be appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. As of November 30, 2023, the current term of all members of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board shall be terminated. At the first regular meeting of City Council in the month of December, 2023, City Council shall appoint the members of the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board. Of the members first appointed, three shall serve for terms of two years, and two for terms of one year. Thereafter, the term of office for each member shall be two years. Terms of office shall commence immediately following the December appointment, with terms thereafter commencing on December 1 each year and terminating on November 30 of the calendar year in which the term expires. Members may serve no more than two consecutive terms. Any member that has not served a full term, whose term shall be terminated on November 30, 2023, may be appointed for a maximum of two additional terms. Any member of the Board may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the City Council. Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board, the city shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, within 30 days after the vacancy occurs.

(b)

Whenever possible, at least one member of the Board shall be selected from the following community segments:

(1)

Elderly (over 65 years of age);

(2)

Handicapped;

(3)

Clergy;

(4)

Low or moderate income families; and/or

(5)

Minority families.

(Ord. 84-23, § 2, 10-18-2023)

Members of the Citizens Advisory Board for Community Development Block Grant Activities shall not receive a salary or compensation for their services, but may receive such travel and other expenses, while on official business for the city, as are made available by the City Council for these purposes.

A majority vote of the Citizens Advisory Board for Community Development Block Grant Activities shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; in the event a vacancy occurs, the Development Block Grant Activities Board may continue to meet so long as there is a quorum.

At its first meeting, the Board members shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from among its members to serve for one year.

The Board shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order. The Board shall keep minutes of its meetings and records of all its transactions and deliberations. The City Clerk's office shall provide a recording secretary to act as a clerk to the Citizens Advisory Board for Community Development Block Grant Activities for the recordation of minutes and records of all activities of the Board. The minutes and records shall be filed in the appropriate office of the City Clerk and shall be public records. All meetings of the Citizens Advisory Board for Community Development Block Grant Activities shall be open to the public.

The Citizens Advisory Board for Community Development Block Grant Activities shall hold at least one public meeting each month of the year unless there is no business to transact by the day before the regular meeting date. The Board shall also meet at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as may be determined by a majority of the Board.

(a)

The Citizens Advisory Board for the Community Development Block Grant Activities shall have the power and duty to:

(1)

Solicit and encourage citizen participation and community organization involvement in the CDBG Program and the recommendation of priorities to the City Council;

(2)

Disseminate general block grant information to provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to information and records relating to the proposed use and actual use of CDBG funds;

(3)

Provide technical assistance to those groups representative of persons with low and moderate income that request assistance in developing proposals for the use of CDBG funds;

(4)

Hold public hearings to obtain citizen views and to respond to proposals and questions at the various stages of the Community Development Program, including at least the development of needs, the review of proposed activities and review of program performance, after adequate notice, at times and locations convenient to potential or actual beneficiaries and with accommodation for the handicapped;

(5)

Prepare progress reports to the City Council as necessary on development needs, proposed activities and program performance; and

(6)

In the event significant numbers of non-English speaking residents can reasonably be expected at public hearings, the Board shall utilize the service of a translator(s).

(b)

In conducting its work, the Citizens Advisory Board for the Community Development Block Grant Activities may call upon the City Manager for staff assistance in compiling reports, obtaining reports or other information relevant to its powers and duties. The Board may also request, from time to time, any other assistance it may need from the city staff consistent with its powers and duties.

(c)

After the Board has assembled all the information it deems appropriate to make a written report to the City Council on any phase of the Community Development Block Grant Program, it shall prepare a written report which shall be approved by the Board at an advertised public hearing. The hearing for the approval of any such report by the Board shall be advertised at least ten days prior to the hearing. The Board shall adopt its report by resolution.

The City Council may appropriate funds for fees and expenses necessary to conduct the work of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Community Development Block Grant Activities. To accomplish the purposes and activities authorized by this chapter, the Board, with the approval of the City Council and in accordance with fiscal practices of the city, is authorized to expend sums appropriated by the City Council for fees and expenses necessary to conduct the work authorized by this chapter.

(Ord. 71-88, 7-11-1988)