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Since July 25, 2022, City staff has been diligently working with the regional HUD office <br /> in San Francisco to attempt to resolve and rectify the regulatory violation. Based on <br /> advice from HUD staff, the City initiated a waiver request of 24 CFR Part 58 on <br /> September 1, 2022. However, on December 12, 2022, HUD staff further advised the <br /> City that processing the waiver request could take up to 12 months to be processed <br /> (during which time Axis could not proceed with any further work on the project, without <br /> incurring additional program violations), or the City could reprogram CDBG funds for the <br /> project from acquisition to rehabilitation activities (e.g., building renovations). <br /> The City, after multiple discussions with Axis, retracted the waiver request because <br /> neither option was viable for Axis which confirmed that it would forego the CDBG funds <br /> allocated to the project. Continuing to pursue the waiver request would have resulted in <br /> more delays, since Axis had already halted all project-related activities since August <br /> 2022 while seeking resolution of the regulatory violation with HUD. Reprogramming the <br /> funds to rehabilitation would have significantly increased Axis' rehabilitation budget as <br /> the use of CDBG funds for the project would trigger Davis-Bacon prevailing wage and <br /> other federal labor requirements. Therefore, staff is recommending amendment to the <br /> Action Plan to re-program the $195,483 in CDBG funds to other eligible activities as <br /> discussed below. <br /> Ongoing Support for Axis Community Health <br /> The regulatory violation, while unintended, is extremely unfortunate. The City continues <br /> to strongly support Axis Community Health's programs, and particularly its current effort <br /> to meet community needs with the creation of a new dental services site for needful <br /> Tri-Valley residents. Staff recommends consideration be given as part of future Housing <br /> and Human Services Grant cycles, which allocate CDBG, HOME and City-derived funds <br /> to support a range of Tri-Valley organizations through funding for capital projects and <br /> housing and human services programs. For the Axis dental site, this would likely be <br /> considered in the FY 2024/25 cycle, which is when the clinic is anticipated to be open <br /> and could include funding for operational costs, potentially as an annual allocation over <br /> several years. <br /> Axis staff agrees with this approach, recognizing that the City's final allocations in future <br /> Action Plans and in the HHSG Grant Program will be based on the actual amount of <br /> CDBG and other funding, competing public service agency grant requests, budgetary <br /> constraints, and program requirements. <br /> Amended Action Plan <br /> In accordance with HUD requirements, the City prepares a Citizen Participation Plan to <br /> ensure Pleasanton residents have the opportunity to provide input and comment on the <br /> 5-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans that outline how the City plans to <br /> use CDBG funds. The Citizen Participation Plan also provides the following criteria for <br /> Substantial Amendments to the Action Plan: <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br />