Updated May 3, 2016

 

Background:

The purpose of the Action Plan is to identify and assess local unmet flood recovery and resiliency planning needs, to develop strategies and identify resources where possible aimed at addressing those needs. The Action Plan also identifies the manner in which federal CDBG‐DR Funds sub‐allocated to the Collaborative from the State Department of Local Affairs are proposed to be expended through the Action Plan.

Please click on the links below to view the draft plan.

Draft Partial Action Plan - English

Plan de Acción Parcial (borrador) - español

You may also view the Unmet Needs Assessment

Proposed Activities

Infrastructure and Public Facilities

After reviewing the unmet needs of the county, the Collaborative agreed to set aside up to $49,355,459 (78%) of the $63,276,230 allocated to Boulder County by the State for the purpose of Infrastructure projects. The activities below include those activities that are eligible for Infrastructure funding.

Priority Minimum Threshold Projects

Each Participating Entity and the Special Districts as one group, will receive $250,000 to use as a match for FEMA and other federally funded Public Assistance projects or for other high priority Infrastructure projects that are determined to be CDBG‐DR eligible. The total amount allocated to this activity is $2,250,000.

Eligible Applicants – Participating Entities, and the Special Districts as a whole
Priorities – None
Maximum Grant Amount – $250,000
National Objective – LMI and Urgent Need
Activity Amount – $2,250,000

Priority Infrastructure Projects

The remaining funds ($47,105,459) will be allocated to CDBG‐DR‐eligible infrastructure projects submitted by Participating Entities and Special Districts to the Collaborative. Each Participating Entity and interested Special District will be asked to submit to the Committee an application for their highest‐priority infrastructure projects. The Collaborative will review priority applications for CDBG‐DR eligibility and other CDBG‐DR requirements. If there is sufficient funding and the overall low‐to‐moderate income requirement can be met, first priority projects will be approved. If the low‐to moderate income requirement cannot be met and/or monies are available, the Collaborative will consider funding the second priority projects, and then third priority, and so on. Those projects that benefit low‐to moderate income residents will be given priority.

Housing that is located within a floodway or a floodplain may be purchased as a “buyout” activity under this Infrastructure category intended to reduce risk of future flood impacts to homeowners. Once housing is purchased through the buyout program, the property must be cleared of all structures and placed into open space for perpetuity. In Boulder County, high risk housing is also located in areas that are not in a mapped floodplain but are at high risk of flood, landslide or mudslide or pose other health/safety issues. The properties may be purchased through an acquisition activity under this funding category. The Collaborative may consider the use of financial incentives to enable households whose property is in a location inappropriate for safe rebuilding of an occupied structure to relocate, and to encourage the property owner whose property is unsafe for habitation to resettle in Boulder County.

Upon approval by the Collaborative, the Lead Agency will send to the State a description of each project including citation for eligibility, justification of connection to the disaster, national objective, and so on. All projects will meet the requirements of the March 5, 2013 Federal Register Notice, Section VI (A)(2), 78 FR 14329.

Eligible Applicants – Participating Entities, Special Districts
Priorities – Local priority Infrastructure projects, with priority given to low‐to‐moderate income benefit
Maximum Grant Amount – None
National Objective – LMI, LMA and Urgent Need
Activity Amount – Up to $47,105,459

Housing Construction Projects

The Collaborative has and continues to have as its highest priority project for new housing construction a replacement housing project in Lyons. This development is estimated to replace about 70 housing units lost by the flood in Lyons. The Collaborative also supports the funding of a housing project in Boulder called Spark West which was approved for second round DR funding as a result of a first round project submission.

While the Collaborative understands the Boulder County area’s need for additional affordable rental housing in order to address its shortage in this area, CDBG‐DR funds are first needed to provide the funding to repair housing so that it is safe, to get families and individuals displaced by the flood back into their homes through the Home Rehab and Home Access programs, and also to resettle residents by buying homes damaged or impacted by the flood under the buyout and acquisition program so the families can move on and into new permanent housing situations.

Eligible Projects –Lyons and Spark West developments
Maximum Award Amount – $4 million for Lyons, $1.7 million for Spark West
National Objective – LMI
Activity Amount – Funding will be administered by the Colorado Division of Housing using $5.7 million from Boulder County’s sub‐allocation.

Household Assistance Programs

Temporary Rental Assistance

The Collaborative will allocate $250,000 in funds for a Temporary Rental Assistance program for renters and homeowner households that experienced a direct impact from the flood. The determination of assistance will be based on documentation of rent reasonableness and will be for a maximum of two years or $25,000 in assistance, whichever is less, not to exceed the term of the CDBG‐DR funding. Permanent relocation assistance will be undertaken in conformance with the Uniform Relocation Act which requires 42 months of rental assistance and other compliance requirements, when applicable. The national objective to be met with this program is low‐to moderate income (LMI).
Eligible Applicants – Boulder County Housing and Human Services will administer this program countywide.

Eligibility Criteria – Renters and owners who were directly impacted and are considered low‐to‐moderate income in accordance with HUD’s most recent income limits. Evidence of flood‐related displacement must be documented by the applicant.

Priorities – Eligible households that are at or below 30% AMI, and persons with disabilities, seniors and those who resided in modular homes or manufactured housing units (MHUs).
Maximum Award Amount – $25,000, or 24 months of assistance
National Objective – LMI
Activity Amount – $250,000; unexpended amounts in this activity could be allocated to other Household Assistance programs in Boulder County.

Down Payment Assistance

Many residents lost their homes (single family or manufactured/modular homes) due to the flood. In order to assist these residents, $1,000,000 is allocated to fund a Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program to assist these residents to purchase a primary residence that meets the minimum Housing Quality Standards and which must not be located in a FEMA designated high‐risk area, such as a floodplain. Properties purchased with assistance must be located in Boulder County. The national objective to be met through this program is benefit to low‐and‐ moderate income persons (LMI).
Eligible Applicants – The City of Longmont Housing and Community Investment Division will administer this program countywide.

Eligibility Criteria – Residents who were directly impacted by the flood and whose total household incomes are less than 80% AMI
Priorities – Priority will be given to residents previously residing in damaged or destroyed manufactured housing.
Additional Eligibility Criteria – First‐time homebuyers must successfully complete a CHFA‐approved homeownership education/counseling program and provide a copy of the completion certification to the DPA program to be eligible for Down Payment Assistance. All households regardless of homeowner status must complete a prepurchase
housing counseling appointment in order to be eligible to receive Down Payment Assistance.

Maximum Award Amount – $50,000
National Objective – LMI
Activity Amount – $1,000,000; unexpended amounts in this activity may be allocated to other Household Assistance programs in Boulder County.

Housing Rehabilitation, Single Family Owner Occupied and Rental

Housing was significantly impacted by the 2013 floods. In order to assist homeowners and landlords to bring back their units or relocate homes from a vulnerable location in a floodplain to a permanent location outside of the floodplain, $3,750,000 will be made available for this activity. Single Family Units and rental properties with 1‐4 units that suffered direct flood damage are eligible under this program.

Rehabilitation includes renovations necessary for the home to meet the HUD CPD Green Building Retrofit Checklist, and the City of Longmont’s and Boulder County’s Single Family Rehabilitation Standards to be used and met respectively in their communities. Assistance to refinance existing indebtedness secured by a property being rehabilitated with CDBG‐DR funds and in accordance with 24 CFR 570.202(b)(3) and OMB Circular A‐87 C.1.a may also be eligible.

Rehabilitation will only be allowed inside the floodplain if the unit after rehabilitation will become eligible for the NFIP and can attain building permits. A property will not be suitable for rehabilitation when the cost to repair the damage exceeds 50% of the pre-flood county appraised value, on a per‐house basis. Rehabilitation of non‐substantially damaged residential buildings must follow the guidelines specified in the HUD CDP Green Building Retrofit Checklist. Structures that exceed 50% of the flood county appraised value, on a per unit basis, will be reconstructed.

Relocation of single family and modular homes from a vulnerable area to a permanent location outside the floodplains is also an eligible activity under this program. The home to be moved must be in a stable condition in order to participate in this program. These programs will meet the national objectives of low‐to‐moderate income and urgent need.

Both LMI households and non‐LMI households are eligible for Housing Rehabilitation loans or grants. However, 75% of funds are reserved for eligible LMI applicants, and 25% will be available for eligible applicants above the LMI limits. Any household above 80% AMI must qualify under urgent need.

Administering Entities – Boulder County will use $2,000,000 to administer this program for all jurisdictions outside of Longmont; Longmont’s Housing and Community Investment Division will use $1,750,000 to administer this program for Longmont residents.
Eligible Applicants – Homeowners and landlords who were directly or indirectly impacted by the floods. The homeowner must be the owner of record. Only rental properties with 1‐4 units that suffered direct flood damage are eligible for rehabilitation.
Priorities – Efforts will be made to give priority to serving those with disabilities, seniors, those who resided in manufactured housing units that were damaged or destroyed, or low‐to‐moderate income households that have complete applications.
Maximum Award Amount – $100,000
National Objective – Urgent Need and LMI
Activity Amount – $3,750,000; unexpended amounts in this activity may be allocated to other Household Assistance programs in Boulder County.

Clearance and Demolition

The floods left some areas with damage to residential structures that have been abandoned, cannot be restored, or may be in high‐risk flood hazard areas. These unsound structures pose health and safety risks to the surrounding community and must be removed in order to promote comprehensive recovery. Applications may be made on behalf of communities that had significant, localized damage and destruction that will require them to acquire several deteriorated buildings located in a slum/blight area for demolition and clearance.

Eligible Applicants – Boulder County will administer $220,771 of funding for this program countywide.
Eligibility Criteria – Structures that were damaged or destroyed by the flood and pose a health or safety risk.
Priority – None
Maximum Award Amount – $50,000
National Objectives – Removal of Slum & Blight, Urgent Need, LMA
Activity Amount – $220,771; unexpended amounts in this activity may be allocated to other Household Assistance programs in Boulder County.

Home Access Program

The floods caused damage to many privately owned roads, bridges and culverts, which have not been repaired due to lack of resources or have substandard or temporary access. $2,000,000 will be set aside to assist homeowners who still do not have access to their homes or evacuation routes, that have only temporary access, or that are eligible for reimbursement for repair of their home access. Bridges, roads and culverts that provide access to single homes or more than one home are eligible under this activity. Both LMI households and non‐LMI households are eligible for Home Access grants. However, 51% of funds are reserved for eligible LMI applicants, and up to 49% will be available for eligible applicants above the LMI limits who qualify under urgent need.

Administering Entities – Boulder County will administer this program countywide.
Eligibility Criteria – Applicant households must demonstrate that their private road, bridge or culvert access was directly damaged by the floods and provides sole access to the target homes.
Priorities – Residents displaced or living in hazardous situations due to lack of access to their homes
Maximum Grant Amount – $500,000 per target area
Activity Amount – $3,000,000; unexpended amounts in this activity may be allocated to other Household Assistance programs in Boulder County.
National Objective – LMI or Urgent Need

Administration

Up to 3% in addition to the total sub‐allocation or up to $1,898,286, will be set‐aside and used for general program administration to cover costs for oversight of the sub‐allocation distribution process, financial oversight of sub‐grants to participating jurisdictions, monitoring, and other administrative expenses.

Up to 20% of each project will be set‐aside for the individual jurisdictions to use from that project’s funding for direct project administration and delivery.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Kathy Fedler, Housing & Community Investment Manager.