Public Notice - Intent to Substantially Amend the City's Five-Year Consolidated Plan (FY 2025 - FY 2029) and Annual Action Plan (FY 2025) and Request to Participate in Public Comment Periods, Public Meetings on October 8th and November 12th, and Public He

Public Notice - Intent to Substantially Amend the City's Five-Year Consolidated Plan (FY 2025 - FY 2029) and Annual Action Plan (FY 2025) and Request to Participate in Public Comment Periods, Public Meetings on October 8th and November 12th, and Public Hearings on October 21st and December 2nd, 2025 The City of Tulare (City) developed a five-year Consolidated Plan (ConPlan) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 – FY 2029/30 and Annual Action Plan (AAP) for FY 2025/26 between November 2024 and June 2025. The Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan establish a place-based, market-driven strategy for decisions about how federal and state grant funds will be allocated to address community development, housing, and social service needs. The City's planned projects for the next five years reflect the needs and market realities uncovered in the ConPlan, both through data collection and input from community stakeholders and residents. And, the AAP described how the City intends to invest its CDBG funds to meet the ConPlan's priorities to address housing and community development needs over a twelve-month period. City of Tulare receives an award of CDBG funds annually, and beginning in FY 2025, the City will receive federal HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds directly from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City must evaluate the HOME Program and seek input from residents, local organizations and other stakeholders on how to utilize HOME funds to achieve ConPlan and AAP goals in a compliant and effective manner. The City of Tulare, upon adoption of a substantial amendment to the ConPlan and AAP, will become a participating jurisdiction (PJ) under the HOME Program and have an opportunity annually to allocate CDBG and HOME funds to activities and projects that achieve ConPlan goals. The first element of a substantial amendment requires the incorporation of HOME funds within the ConPlan. Through consultation, the City will recommend a five-year spending plan involving HOME activities and/or projects that address ConPlan goals and needs. For reference, the Strategic Plan developed as part of the new ConPlan called for projects to be undertaken from FY 2025 to 2029 that address one or more of the following needs / goals: 1. Preserve and Expand Affordable Housing Opportunities 2. Revitalize Communities 3. Enhance Public Services The City will receive input, evaluated options, and present proposed HOME activities and/or projects that address one or more the forementioned ConPlan strategic plan goals. The second part of a substantial amendment involves a reprogramming of CDBG funds as well as an obligation of forthcoming HOME funds to support existing and/or establish new eligible activities in FY 2025. The current AAP included four activities under the CDBG Program. The selection of activities and formation of budgets in this AAP was informed by an open and competitive Request for Proposals process in March 2025, the size of a 2025 CDBG allocation from HUD, and the balance of 2024 CDBG funds to reprogram. HUD notified the City of Tulare on May 14th, 2025, of the opportunity to become a PJ and receive HOME funds on a yearly basis. As such, the City will evaluate eligible uses of HOME funds and expand the ConPlan and AAP to include an obligation of HOME funds to particular HOME eligible activities and/or projects across the five-year ConPlan cycle and during the current fiscal year. Current Activites and Allocations within the FY 2025 Annual Action Plan Activity Type / Name, Allocation Amount, Federal Program Source Public Infrastructure and Facilities Improvements, $302,000, CDBG Services for People Experiencing Homelessness, $106,000, CDBG Affordable Housing Preservation, $250,000, CDBG Program Administration and Planning, $142,000, CDBG Subtotal of $800,000 of CDBG funds To be determined (1 or more HOME activities), $500,000, HOME Grand total of $1,300,000, CDBG and HOME City staff will consult residents, local organizations, and other stakeholders and examine eligible activities and projects under the HOME Program in order to recommend one or more uses in FY 2025 for an allocation of HOME funds in the amount of $500,000. Any proposed HOME activities and projects must adhere to federal regulations and align with the goals of the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan. The City estimates that HUD will award about $360,000 in HOME funds annually to the City as a PJ. As such, the City will propose and approve activities and projects with an anticipated $1,800,000 in HOME funds over FY 2025 to FY 2029. Substantial Amendment and Citizen Participation: The City, per the terms of its 2025-2029 Citizen Participation Plan, will amend its approved Consolidated Plan or Annual Action Plan whenever a decision is made to propose substantial change in allocation priorities. A substantial amendment to the ConPlan or AAP may include 1 or more the following factors: 1) Addition of an activity not initially identified in the ConPlan or Action Plan; 2) A change in excess of 25% of an activity's original approved budget; and, 3) A change in the purpose, scope, location or beneficiaries of an activity. The City contends that all three factors are present and necessitate a substantial amendment to the ConPlan and AAP. Residents and other stakeholders will be notified via two formal public notice publications, a press release, and local marketing of forthcoming public comment periods, public meetings, and public hearings. These elements are meant to improve the public's awareness and facilitate input. For more details on public participation requirements with a substantial amendment, please see the Citizen Participation Plan available on the City's website at - https://www.tulare.ca.gov/government/departments/community-development/housing-grants-services/reports Public Comment Periods: Members of the public are invited to submit comments about the City's intent to amend its ConPlan and AAP to incorporate HOME funds and reprogram unutilized CDBG funds to City staff via email at nbrar@tulare.ca.gov, by phone at (559) 684-4222, in person or by mail to 411 East Kern Avenue, Tulare, CA 93274. All public notices and future draft documents relating to a substantial amendment to the ConPlan and AAP will be available on the Community Development Department's website identified previously. Paper copies will be available at the Tulare Public Library located at 491 North 'M' Street in Tulare, CA 93274, and at the Permit Technician window on the first floor of City Hall (411 East Kern Avenue). Comments will be accepted between October 2nd and December 2nd, 2025. This exceeds the 30-day standard and permits input during planning and review phases of developing a substantial amendment. Public Meeting/Public Hearing: Members of the public, particularly residents of the City of Tulare, are invited to participate in two (2) public meetings and two (2) public hearings to receive presentations and offer feedback on the City's plan to amend the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan and FY 2025 AAP. These meetings and hearings will vary in their focus, progressing from building awareness of the HOME Program and substantial amendment process to the review of proposed HOME activities and/or projects in FY 2025 and through the FY 2025-2029 ConPlan. Public Meetings – Wednesday, October 8th and November 12th, 2025 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. In-person: Tulare Public Library, 'Charter' meeting room, 491 North 'M' Street in Tulare, CA. Virtual: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWZiv2o7do1JY0OvGe1_aw Public Hearings - Tuesday, October 21st, 2025 and Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, at 7:00 PM. In-Person: Tulare Public Library, Council Chamber, 491 North 'M' Street in Tulare, CA 93274. View online: https://www.youtube.com/@cityoftulare3805 A summary of public comments received will be added to the ConPlan and AAP public participation appendices. For additional information or to request accessible arrangements, please contact Alexis Costales, Housing and Grants Manager, via email at acostales@tulare.ca.gov, by phone at (559) 684-4224, in person or by mail to 411 East Kern Avenue, Tulare, CA 93274. Notice Published on October 3rd, 2025 October 3 2025 LYRK0380647