CC Resolution No. 1025 1832
RESOLUTION NO. 1025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS, ADOPTING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION PLAN AS REQUIRED FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.
WHEREAS, citizen participation is vital to decisions
involving the Community Development Block Grant funds; and
WHEREAS, the City of Baytown seeks to secure citizen opinion
and comment before any final decision is made concerning the
Community Development Block Grant funds; and
WHEREAS, a City of Baytown Community Development Citizen
Participation Plan has been developed to address these needs; NOW
THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS :
Section 1 : That the City of Baytown Community Development
Citizen Participation Plan attached as Exhibit "A" is hereby
adopted.
Section 2: This resolution shall take effect immediately
from and after its passage by the City Council of the City of
Baytown.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative vote of the
City Council of the City of Baytown, this the 25th day of August ,
1988.
MMY J HN , DIayor Pro Tempore
ATTEST: f
EILEEN P. HALL, City Clerk
RANDALL B. STRONG, City rney
C :1 :12:2
1833
City of Baytown
Community Development
Citizen Participation Plan
Citizen Participation has always been a very important part of any decision
that involves Community Development Block Grant Funds. The City of Baytown
has actively pursued citizen opinion and comment before any final decision
is made concerning these funds. Detailed below is the City of Baytown's
Citizen Participation Plan which should enhance further citizen
participation.
In order to receive input from the citizens of Baytown the Community
Development Advisory Committee will be utilized to make recommendations and
hear citizen proposals. The Community Development Advisory Committee is
made up of nine City Council appointed citizens. This committee is ac-
tively involved in planning and reviewing proposals pesented by various
agencies and citizens of Baytown. The Community Development Advisory
Committee, will meet quarterly to review Community Development progress,
hear citizen proposals and suggestions; and to hold public hearings. This
committee will hold public hearings and make general funding recommend-
ations to City Council for the proposed C.D.B.G. budget.
The City of Baytown, has a neighborhood civic association or neighborhood
watch program in almost every subdivision in Baytown. As the C.D. Office
prepares it's proposed C.D.B.G. budget for the upcoming fiscal year these
organizations will be contacted by mail. They will be advised of the
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EXHIMT
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upcoming public hearings and the amount of C.D.B.G. funds available,
eligible types of projects and asked for comments on how these funds should
be spent for better neighborhoods. They will also be advised to notify
their members. This notice will also inform the organizational leaders of
the Community Development Office's hours and their addresses, should anyone
in their neighborhood care to make comments. A notice similar to that sent
to the civic association or neighborhood watch programs will also be placed
in the Baytown Sun. These notices described above should make most of the
citizens of Baytown aware of C.D.B.G. funds, and how to comment about them.
Any meeting or public hearing concerning upcoming C.D.B.G. fund proposals
will be posted and advertised in advance of each meeting. A notice of
a public hearing or public meeting will be posted at City Hall 72 hours
prior to the proposed meeting. This notice will include the proposed
budget. An announcement of the meeting and proposed budget will also be
advertized in the Baytown Sun in advance of the meeting.
The Community Development office offers technical assistance and advice
whenever it is requested. Any letters or notices will state this fact and
advise anyone seeking technical assistance to contact the Community
Development Office. Staff is available to meet with all groups and explain
the program and guidelines.
The City of Baytown Community Development Advisory Committee will conduct
2 public hearings before approval of C.D.B.G. funds by City Council.
At least one of these meetings will be held in a low and moderate income
neighborhood in a building that is handicapped accessible. At these meet-
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ings the Community Development Advisory Committee will present a review of
past C.D.B.G. expenditures along with proposed program categories for the
next fiscal year. The Community Development Advisory Committee will also
accept proposals and questions on any Community Development Activity. Sum-
maries of all public hearings will be provided to City Council before
approval of C.D.B.G. funds.
Any written complaint or grievance received in the Community Development
office will be acted upon immediately. The complaint will be investigated
and a reply will be prepared and returned within 15 working days of receiv-
ing the complaint. A copy of the complaint and response will be forwarded
to the Director of Planning and Traffic. Should the complaining party not
be satisfied with the Community Development Office's response they may
appeal to the Director. The Director will review the facts and make a
decision based on his investigation. Should the complaining party disagree
with the Planning and Traffic Director's decision they may appeal to City
Council.
Any notice of public hearing or letters that advise citizens of upcoming
meetings will be published in English and Spanish. A list of available
interpreters has been obtained and will be used as necessary. The Com-
munity Development Staff will have an interpreter present at all public
hearings and meetings involving federal funds. For languages other than
Spanish, the Community Development Staff will make every effort to have an
interpreter present at public hearings and meetings, as necessary. This
procedure will insure the views and proposals of all non english speaking
citizens of Baytown will be considered when preparing the Community
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Development Budget.
The City of Baytown strongly encourages citizen participation in this
program. Any citizen proposal is thoroughly reviewed and considered before
final decisions are made. In the past many of the projects undertaken by
the Community Development Office were as a direct result of citizen's
proposals. This excellent citizen participation and interaction will
continue in the future to enhance the efforts of the Community Development
Office. The Community Development staff retains the right of final decis-
ions on all projects and funding categories submitted to City Council
within federal and funding guidelines.
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EXHIBIT A