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September 15, 2003 Page 252 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN CABARRUS COUNTY This plan describes how Cabarrus County will involve citizens in the planning, implementation and assessment of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Program. The CDBG Program provides funds to local governments on a competitive basis. The funds must be used for projects which benefit low-and-moderate-income persons and aids in the provision of employment opportunities. The program is intended to assist governments in undertaking economic development programs. The regulations give ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of the program to local elected officials and also requires that citizens be given an opportunity to serve in key advisory roles to these elected officials. ADVISORY COMMITTEE To insure that local residents are given a full opportunity to participate in the program, a CDBG Economic Recovery Grant Committee will be established to function in an advisory capacity to the governing board regarding program design, implementation and assessment. This ten (10) member committee comprised of elected or appointed representatives from each jurisdiction. Members will be appointed by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. Of particular interest is obtaining representation of low-and moderate-income persons, members of minority groups, the elderly and handicapped. SCOPE OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION citizens will be involved in all stages of the CDBG program, including application, program implementation, amendments, closeout, assessment of performance and design of changes in the Plan. There will be three (3) general mechanisms for their involvement: (1) the Advisory Committee; (2) public hearings and ad hoc community meetings; and (3) individual citizen efforts in the form of comments, complaints or inquiries submitted directly to the Program Administrator or the consultant who is administering the program. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION Citizen participation in program implementation will occur primarily through consultation with the Advisory Committee. They will be asked to review and comment on specific guidelines for approved projects. They will also meet to review any program amendments, budget revisions and other program modifications. All such changes will be discussed and their comments considered prior to action being taken. These meetings will be held on an as-needed basis. If program amendments require DOC approval, a public hearing will be held on the amendment. Citizens may also be involved in implementation of projects requiring citizen participation. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT Program assessment activities by citizens will occur in a variety of ways. A performance hearing will be held thirty (30) to sixty (60) days prior to the start of planning for the next program year. The Advisory Committee will be asked to provide citizen commentary for any grant related report and to review that report prior to its submission. As part of the orientation to the program offered at the public hearing, citizens will be invited to submit comments on all aspects of program performance through the program year. Complaints should be submitted in writing to the CDBG Administrator, P.O. Box 707, Concord, NC 28026. A response will be given within ten (10) calendar days. If the response is unsatisfactory and the citizen is still dissatisfied, he/she should write to the Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance, P.O. Box 12600, Raleigh, N.C. 27605-2600 requesting an investigation of the problem. Program staff will also be available during normal business hours to respond to citizen inquiries. The Citizen Participation Plan will be subject to annual review and proposed revisions by the Advisory Committee to occur in the period between the performance hearing and the first public hearing on the subsequent year's application. Technical assistance will be provided to citizen organizations and groups of low/moderate income persons or target area residents upon request. Such assistance will support citizen efforts to develop proposals, define policy and organize for the implementation of the program. It is expected that such assistance will be provided directly to the Advisory Committee in response to their request. Assistance could be provided in the form of local expert presentations, information handouts, research of a specific issue or other short- term efforts. Public Information: A public information effort will be undertaken to promote citizen participation. These efforts will include: Public Notice of all public hearings will be published in the non-legal section of the newspaper at least ten (10) days before the hearing. These notices will indicate the date, time, location and topic to be considered. The notices will also be made available in the form of press releases as a