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Last updated September 1, 2020 4
<br />Department of Housing and Community Development’s website. Hard copies, in reasonable numbers, will
<br />also be provided to citizens or groups upon request.
<br />ACCESS TO RECORDS: Orange County will provide residents of the community, public agencies, and other
<br />interested parties with reasonable and timely access to information and records regarding the Orange
<br />County Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, AFH, CAPER, and use of Federal funds during the most
<br />recent five‐year period.
<br />TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Orange County will provide technical assistance to groups representative of
<br />persons of low‐ and moderate‐income that request such assistance in (1) commenting on the
<br />Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, AFH, or CAPER or (2) in developing proposals for funding
<br />assistance under any of the Federal programs covered by the Consolidated Plan, with the level and type
<br />of assistance determined by the County.
<br />COMPLAINTS: At any time, residents may submit complaints related to the Consolidated Plan and any
<br />amendments, Annual Action Plan, AFH, or CAPER by telephone, mail, or email (see “Contact Information”
<br />section). The County will provide a written response to every written complaint that relates to the
<br />Consolidated Plan and any amendments, Annual Action Plan, AFH, or CAPER within 15 working days.
<br />WAIVERS TO CITIZEN PARTICIPATION CONSOLIDATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS DUE TO COVID‐19: In
<br />accordance with 24 CFR 5.110, HUD may, upon a determination of good cause and subject to statutory
<br />limitations, waive regulatory provisions. Additional regulatory waiver authority is provided in 24 CFR
<br />91.600. In December 2019, a new coronavirus known as COVID‐19 was first detected in Wuhan, People's
<br />Republic of China, causing outbreaks of the coronavirus disease that has now spread globally. In March
<br />2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and President Trump
<br />declared the outbreak a national emergency. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
<br />(CARES Act) makes available $5 billion in supplemental CDBG funding for grants to prevent, prepare for,
<br />and respond to coronavirus (CDBG‐CV grants). A memorandum dated April 9, 2020, from John Gibbs,
<br />Acting Assistant Secretary for HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), provides that
<br />grantees may amend citizen participation plans to incorporate certain waivers that establish expedited
<br />procedures to draft, propose, or amend consolidated plans and annual action plans with respect to
<br />CDBG‐CV grants and FY 2019 and 2020 grants. Specifically, the waivers authorize an accelerated public
<br />notice and comment period of five days; further, the five‐day period for comments on Consolidated Plans
<br />and amended citizen participation plans may run concurrently. The following waivers to Consolidated
<br />Plan and Action Plan requirements for CDBG‐CV grants and FY 2019 and 2020 grants have been
<br />authorized by HUD to expedite CDBG response to the coronavirus pandemic:
<br />1. Citizen Participation Public Comment Period: Given the need to expedite actions to respond to
<br />COVID‐19, HUD has waived 24 CFR 91.115(c)(2) and (i) in order to balance the need to respond
<br />quickly to the growing spread of COVID‐19 with the statutory requirement to provide reasonable
<br />notice and opportunity for citizens to comment on new Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans,
<br />and/or substantial amendments. The standard 30‐day minimum notice and comment period is
<br />waived, provided that no less than five days are allowed for public comments on each
<br />Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, or substantial amendment. This waiver is available
<br />through the end of calendar year 2020.
<br />2. Citizen Participation Reasonable Notice and Opportunity to Comment: In recognition that efforts
<br />to contain COVID‐19 require limiting public gatherings, such as those often used to obtain citizen
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