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Federal Citizen Participation Requirements <br />for Local Government Applicants to the State CDBG Program <br />Federal Reaulations 24 CFR 570.486 (a <br />(a) Citizen participation requirements of a unit of general local government. Each unit of general local <br />government shall meet the following requirements as required by the state at Sec. 91.115(e) of this <br />title. <br />(1) Provide for and encourage citizen participation, particularly by low and moderate income persons <br />who reside in slum or blighted areas and areas in which CDBG funds are proposed to be used; <br />(2) Ensure that citizens will be given reasonable and timely access to local meetings, information, <br />and records relating to the unit of local government's proposed and actual use of CDBG funds; <br />(3) Furnish citizens information, including but not limited to: <br />(i) The amount of CDBG funds expected to be made available for the current fiscal year <br />(including the grant and anticipated program income); <br />(ii) The range of activities that may be undertaken with the CDBG funds; <br />(iii) The estimated amount of the CDBG funds proposed to be used for activities that will meet <br />the national objective of benefit to low and moderate income persons; and <br />(iv) The proposed CDBG activities likely to result in displacement and the unit of general local <br />government's anti -displacement and relocation plans required under Sec. 570.488. <br />(4) Provide technical assistance to groups representative of persons of low and moderate income <br />that request assistance in developing proposals in accordance with the procedures developed by <br />the state. Such assistance need not include providing funds to such groups; <br />(5) Provide for a minimum of two public hearings, each at a different stage of the program, for the <br />purpose of obtaining citizens' views and responding to proposals and questions. Together the <br />hearings must cover community development and housing needs, development of proposed <br />activities and a review of program performance. The public hearings to cover community <br />development and housing needs must be held before submission of an application to the state. <br />There must be reasonable notice of the hearings and they must be held at times and locations <br />convenient to potential or actual beneficiaries, with accommodations for the handicapped. Public <br />hearings shall be conducted in a manner to meet the needs of non-English speaking residents <br />where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can reasonably be expected to <br />participate; <br />(6) Provide citizens with reasonable advance notice of, and opportunity to comment on, proposed <br />activities in an application to the state and, for grants already made, activities which are proposed <br />to be added, deleted or substantially changed from the unit of general local government's <br />application to the state. Substantially changed means changes made in terms of purpose, scope, <br />location or beneficiaries as defined by criteria established by the state. <br />(7) Provide citizens the address, phone number, and times for submitting complaints and grievances, <br />and provide timely written answers to written complaints and grievances, within 15 working days <br />where practicable. <br />53 <br />