Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Development Customer Services Director
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving the 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
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Resolution represents the Delegation of Certifying Officers for the environmental review, decision-making, and action responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 24 C.F.R. Part 58, Environmental Review procedures for entities assuming U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Environmental responsibilities.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Approve the Resolution authorizing the Village President to delegate Kevin Jackson, Village Manager, and Tammie Grossman, Development Customer Services Department Director, to carry out the responsibilities of Certifying Officer, as required by HUD.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact on 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. 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 these documents. The Certifying Officer is defined by HUD as the Chief Elected Official of the government. The Chief Elected Official (Village Board 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 Village Management as Certifying Officers. The Village of Oak Park’s Formal Delegation dated August 13, 2018, has expired due to the prior Chief Elected Official’s term expiration. Previously, HUD accepted the formal delegation by way of a 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 Certifying Officer.
Alternatives
N/A
Previous Board Action
On September 20, 2021, the Village Board approved Interim Village Manager, Lisa Shelley and on August 18, 2018, the Village Board approved Cara Pavlicek as the Village’s Certifying Officer 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.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
After the Board approves the Resolution, the authorized Certifying Officers may carry out HUD Environmental responsibilities until the current Village Board President’s term expires.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
NA