Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Development Customer Services Director
Reviewed By
AMZ
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving the Interim Village Manager and the Development Customer Services Director as the Village’s Certifying Officers for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Electronic Reporting System for Environmental Reviews Required for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects
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Overview
Overview
As an Entitlement Community, the Village of Oak Park receives an annual CDBG grant allocation from HUD and uses the funds for a variety of locally-determined projects. HUD requires the Village to designate a Certifying Officer. The Village of Oak Park’s Formal Delegation of Certifying Officer of Village Manager Cara Pavlicek and Director of Development Customer Services Tammie Grossman dated August 13, 2018 expired with the prior Village President’s term. Previously, a formal delegation by way of a letter signed by the Village President was accepted by HUD. A new HUD ruling requires that Interim Village Manager Lisa Shelley and Director of Development Customer Services Tammie Grossman be delegated as certifying officers by a resolution adopted by the Village Board.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the Village.
Background
As an Entitlement Community, the Village of Oak Park receives an annual CDBG grant allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and uses the funds for a variety of locally-determined projects. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 24 C.F.R. Part 58, “Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities”, Environmental Review of Non-Exempt projects is a requirement prior to the release of HUD’s Authority to Use Grant Funds.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Office of Environment and Energy (OEE) developed the HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS), which is a web-based system for Responsible Entities, such as Oak Park, to prepare and manage their Environmental Review Records (ERR). HEROS streamlines the environmental review process by replacing the existing paper-based process with a comprehensive web-based system.
HUD requires the Certifying Official (or designee) of the Responsible Entity to sign various Environmental Review documents. The Certifying Officer is defined by HUD as the Chief Elected Official of the government. The Chief Elected Official (Village President) may delegate this authority through a formal delegation. Oak Park Development Customer Services staff deemed it essential to the time efficiency of the Environmental Review process to designate the Village Manager and Director of Development Customer Services as certifying officers. The Village of Oak Park’s formal delegation dated August 13, 2018, expired as a result of the prior Village President’s term expiration. Previously, HUD accepted the formal delegation by way of letter form signed by the Village Board President. However, per a recent ruling by HUD’s Community Planning and Development Director, a Village Board resolution is now required for the updated formal delegation of the Village’s certifying officers.
Alternatives
Not adopt the Resolution.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A