R-79-240 - 10/11/1979WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Round Rock desires for
citizens to participate in the development of an application for Community
Development funds; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Act of 1975, requires that
a Citizen Participation Plan be adopted by communities applying for Com-
munity Development- funds,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: #
Section 1. That this body hereby approves and adopts the
Citizen Participation Plan'for the City of Round Rock, Texas.
Passed and approved this g day of &i f12rh , 1979.
CITY OF ROU,NND� ROCK, TEXAS
ATTEST:
RESOLUTION ADOPTING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.
A II1 ,/ J
JO E LAND, City Secretary
RESOLUTION NO./e
CITYrOF ROUND ROCK
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION PLAN
HOW CITIZENS WILL PARTICIPATE
Recognizing the validity and value of citizen input into the political and
governmental process, the plan has been structured to provide adequate op-
portunity for each and every resident to participate in an advisory capacity
through an established process. Such participation shall include involvement
in all three stages of community development:
Planning
-- Implementation
Assessment & Evaluation
To insure and encourage a high level of citizen participation, the city pledges
to provide to its residents:
PURPOSE OF PLAN
To provide a local process which permits citizens likely
to be affected by community development and housing activities,
including low and moderate income persons, to articulate needs,
express preferences about proposed activities, assist in the se-
lection of priorities and otherwise participate in the develop-
ment of the application (for CD funds), and have individual and
other complaints answered in a timely and responsive manner.
Adequate program information for decision making.
Public hearings and forums for discussion of issues in accordance
with state and federal laws, inclusive of civil rights statutes.
Opportunity for assessing and evaluating program success and failure.
ACCESS OF INFORMATION
All residents and other concerned parties shall be given full and complete_
access to all information pertaining to the city's Community Development
Program with one exception. No information compiled on an individual's fin-
ancial or social position shall be publicly divulged or made available to
other than city staff, city councilmen and federal officials acting in an
official capacity, an officer of the court or the duly authorized agent of the
of the individual in question. All such information shall be available for:
review at the.Round Rock City Hall, 214 E. Main, during 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Copies of requested data may be
made available on request at a nominal charge and on 24 hour notice.
SCOPE OF PARTICIPATION
All attempts will be made to provide for an equitable balance of income levels
on the Commissions, Boards, and Committees. Where merited, the city council
may appoint or charge to be formulated a special task force for specific project
and questions of concern. -
*Equitable balance herein refers to a committee membership ratio similar to
city -wide income composition ratios.
DISCRIMINATION
This plan prohibits discrimination in the citizen participation process based
on income level, age, sex, health and /or ethnic origin. Charges of discrimina
tion;in' any of the above areas relating to the Community Development Program
should be forwarded to the 'city manager. Should satisfactory response not be
received, the complainant should then present his or her case to the city
council. Should unsatisfactory response occur at the city council, the com-
plainant should address his or her concern to the director Of the -area
office „ or— to :the Equal Opportunity Division of the H.U.D. area office.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
In addition to publishing notices of public hearings and meetings, the city
will provide appropriate press releases for inclusion in local papers and shall
provide speakers knowledgeable on local community development programs to ad-
dress civic clubs, schools, churches, and other local citizen interest groups.
In addition, special notices of public meetings will be mailed to any of the
above groups indicating interest in such materials.
AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT
Citizens will be encouraged and provided an opportunity to participate in all
aspects of the local community development effort including but not linited,to:
Establishment of community and project priorities.
Setting of housing goals and establishment of a viable housing
assistance plan.
Development of the annual Community Development Program.
Preparation of grant request and program applications.
Assessment of performance and preparation of performance
reports.
Development of program amendments and selection of local option
activities.
SUBMISSION OF VIEWS AND PROPOSALS
-Lockr -Any resident may at any time address a view or proposal to the city.
When possible, it is encouraged but not mandatory that such submission
be written. The submission should be made to the city manager who will
provide a staff response within fifteen (15) working days.
When requested the Director of Planning and Community Development will
present the submission to the Planning Commission within thirty (30)
working days for discussion. The Planning Commission will review sub-
mission and staff response and forward its recommendations to the city
council for final conclusion. In no case shall the full processing of
an issue exceed 45 days.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The city under this plan shall provide to any citizen or citizen interest group
sufficient technical assistance on request to enable the interested party to
fully participate in the program. Such assistance shall be requested in writ -
ting through the city manager's and /or his designee's office during normal
business hours and shall include:
Adequate information - The city shall provide for full public access
to program information and affjrmative efforts to make adequate •
information available to citizens, especially to those of low- and
moderate- income and to those residing in lower- income or blighted
neighborhoods.
(1) At the time the applicant begins planning for the next program-
,
- year, the following program information shall be provided to citizens:
a. The total amount of community development block grant
funds available to the city for community development and
housing activities, including planning and administrative
activities.
b. The range of activities that may be undertaken with these
funds and the kind of activities previously funded in the
community.
c. The processes to be followed in drawing up and approving
the local application and the schedule of meetings and
hearings.
d. The role of citizens in the program, as provided under this
$ection ekve /o Arc�m r
e. A summary of other important program requirements.
(2) The city shall, provide for full and timely "disclosure of its program
records and information consistent with applicable State and Local laws
regarding personal privacy and obligations of confidentiality. Documents
relevant to the program shall be made available at the city's office
during normal working hours for citizen review upon request (either
written or oral). Such documents include the following:
a. All mailings and promotional material,
b. Records of hearings,
c. All key documents, including all prior applications,
letters of approval, grant agreements, the citizen
participation plan, performance reports, evalution ,
reports, other reports required by HUD, and the proposed
. and approved application for the current year, -
d. Copies of the regulations and issuances governing the .
program, and
e. Documents regarding other important program requirements,
such as contracting procedures, environmental policies,
fair housing and other equal opportunity requirements,
relocation provisions and the A -95 review process.
(3) When the application is submitted to HUD upon of - •
clearinghouse reviews, the city shall publish a notice in a newspaper
of general circulation stating that the application has been submitted
and is available to interested parties upon request and describing the
requirements on citizen objections to applications.
(4) The city shall make copies of the citizen participation plan, the
proposed and approved application, and the annual performance report
. - available at,location, and the annual performance report available at
locations conveniently located for persons affected by the program and
•accessible to the handicapped.
PUBLIC,HEARINGS -
The city shall hold presubmission public hearings prior to the "submission
of grant applications and at least one performance hearings
Notices shall comply with state law and:
Be published in easily readable type.
Be published in non -legal section of paper
Be published in a paper of general circulation.
Be published 3 days prior to hearing.
Shall include date, time, place, procedures and topics to be
discussed.
BILINGUAL ASSISTANCE
Public notices will be prepared in Spanish and English.
PROGRAM CHANGES
The citizen participation process involves residents in all program amend-
ments, changes in program beneficiaries, changes in the location of approved
activities and in the selection of contingency and local option activities.
Public hearings are held on all amendments submitted to HUD forl'approval.
(Sec. 570.312)
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