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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 6316.. ... ,, .. . . RESOLUTION NO. 6316 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THB CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING TH.E 1985-1988 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PLAN AND CITIZEN PAaTICIPATION PLAN WHEREAS, the Palo Al to Com.rnuni ty Development Block Grant ( CDBG) Program is entering a new three year phase of the Federal program (1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-~8): and WHEREAS, the City desires to revise and extend for three years the 1982-85 CDBG Plan approved by the City Council on August 17, 1981; and WH~RBAS, the Cjty approved a CDBG Citizen Participation Plan (the Plan) on August 23, 197q; and WHEREAS, the City desires to update the Citizen Participation Plan by making sevP.ral amendments; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE: SECTION l. The Counci 1 of the City of Palo Al to approves the Community Developm&nt Block Grant 1985-1988 Plan attached hereto as Exhibit A and the Citizen Participation Plan attached hereto as Exhibit B. SECTION 2. The Counc i 1 finds that this is not a proj i:::ct; the re- fore, no environmental assessment is required. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: October 1 t 1984 AYES: Bechtel, Cobb, Fletcher, Klein, Levy, Renzel, Sutorius, Woolley NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Witherspoon OVED AS TO~~ City Attorney Direc or of Planning and Community Environment . . . ..... EXHIBIT A PALO ALTO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PLAN-NEEDS, STRATEGIES A~D FUNDING GOALS AND PROPOSAL SELECTION CRITERIA 1985-1988 Introduction The Col'l\'1l.ln1ty Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is entering into a new three-year phase ot the federal program. Over the last ten years of the program, Palo Alto has been allocated approximately $6.1 million for housing and comroonity development projects directly benefiting low and moderate income persons (see Table I). For the 1984-85 Program Year Palo Alto received $611,000, although this level of funding could be reduced in the future. Annua11y, the City receives 10-15 pro~osa1s for funding but this level f s expected to increase in the next few years. The CDBG Program has provided funds to increase the supply of affordable housing, i~rove the condition of existing housing, reduce the level of discrimination in housing, and construct and i111>rove col'llf!llnity facilities for handicapped/disabled persons, senior citizens, and others. Through the support for these projects and services the CDBG program has f111>roved the quality of lffe for persons lfvf~g and working in Palo Alto. The Plan The purpose of this plan is to provide a framework for the Citizen's Advisory Committee. Staff, and City Council fn making funding recommendations and decisions on COBG projects over the next three program years (1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88). The plan establishes a funding allocation goal of 801 for housing related acthitfes, 151 fc·r community facilities and improvements, and 51 for administration. Ar. additional purpose of the Plan is to serve as a guide to prospective applicants in ~electing projects and preparing proposals. The Plan fs divided into two primary sections. Section One sets forth the major housing and community development needs fn Palo Alto-that can be addressed by the CDBG Program. Attachment 1 lists the sources of information used in establishing the needs. Specific strategies are suggested to address each need. This Section also establishes a funding goal for the main categories. '.he plan places eq>hasi s on funding projects directed toward the housing needs of 1~ and moderate income persons living in Palo Alto. Section Two contains a set of criteria to be used fn selecting proposals for funding. SECTlON ONE Needs, Strategies, and Funding Goals During the first ten years of the CDBG Program. housing has been the top priority for funding. Allocations for housing related projects include housing supply. rehabilitation. discrimination, and emergency housing {see Table I). Of the $6.1 million of CDBG funds allocated to the program during the first ten years, $5.3 million or 87S, has been allocated to housing related projects. In the ten years of the program, the amount of funds alloc&ted to Housing has varied from 76t to lOOS. -1- .. •' ~ ; I This high level of commitment to housing should continue. The recently adopted 1985-2000 Housfng Element of the Palo Alto Col!llrehensive Plan e111>hasizes tne critical housin9 problems in the City. Two of the major objectives included in the Housing Element are to maintain a diversity of housing opportunitfes in Palo Alto and to increase the supply of housing, especially for persons of low and moderate fncome. Thfs e111>hasis is consistent with the needs identified by the Human Relations Commission in makinq thefr recommendations for Human Service Funding. These needs identify support services to single-parent households, support services to the di~abled, and housing services to families, as the highest priority needs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the State Department of Ho~sfng and Conrnunity Devel~pment, and the Association of Bay Area Governments ~ABAG). each have comlll?nded the City on its high level of CDBG commitment to housing and encouraged the City to continue this commitment. The second priority for funding is for com!IX.lnity-wide facilities and iq>rovements. During the fir3t ten years of the program, over $641,000 has been allocated to this category. whf~h is lli of the total al1ocatfon {see Table I}. Tyofcal com111Jnity-wide facilities and improvements include construction or rehabilitation of buildings providing services for handicappedidisabled persons and senior citizens. There is a continuing need to assist comnllnity organ1zat1ons in making capital improvements to their facilities. This need is especially i111;>ortant with respect to Palo Alto•s senior population, physically and/or developmentally disabled population, and child care eligible population. An increase in Palo Alto 1 s Senior population and female head-of-household population from.1970-1980 was identified in 1980 U.S. Census da~a. The final category of funding is for the administrati~n of the program. Administration funds have been allocated for the last three years and have averaged JS ($21,900) of the total allocation for each of those years. These funds are used to plan for and implement the program. A minimal amount of funds may have to be set aside out of the total allocation for the CDBG Contingency account ff the existing account becomes depleted. This amount, at the maximum, would be 3-5: of the CDBG allocation. Funding Goals The plan establishes goals for allocating CDBG funds among the three main catego~ies. The funding goals are not intended to be rigid. but rather serve as guidelines consistent with the need. The funding goals are: Housins Commun1ty Facilities & I~rovements Admf n~tration SOS of CDBG Al1ocatfon lSZ of CDBG A11oct1on SZ of CDBG Allocation Outlined below are the specfffc needs, followed by the strategies of the three main categories. The individual need categories are not in any order or priority. -2- ,, . ,. 1. HOUSING (~llocatfon Goal: SOS of COBG Allocat1on) Housing Supply Increase the number of housing units affordable to 1ow and moderate income persons, including rental units for families. senior citfzens, and ~andicapped/disabled persons. 1. Acquire suitable parcels through landbanking. 2. Site improvements for assisted housing. 3. Acquire housing to be rented to low and moderate income persons. 4. Support housing development corporations and other organizations working toward the pro~isf on of affordable housing. Housing Rehabilitation Services & Financing -Owner Occupied Assist lower income households in meeting the high cost of rehabilitation financing which limits their ability to make necessary home i111>rovements and repairs without financial assistance. There is a special need to assist senior citizens and single-parent homeowners with rehabilitation services and financing. 1. Provide below-market-rate home rehabilitation financing to low and moderate income hcmeowners. 2. Provide home rehabilitation services to low and moderate income homecwners. Housing Rehabilitation Services & Financing -Multi-Famili Housing Assist sponsors of non-~·! ofit and subsidized rental housing developments for low and moderate income persons with necessary maintenance and repair costs that cannot be reasonably paid for out of their on-going budget. Palo Alto currently .has over 900 assisted housing units. 1. Provide below-market-rate financing or grants for rehab111tatfon, repair, or iqirovement of existing l'll.llti-family rental housing for low and moderate income persons. 2. Provide rehabilitation services to el1gfble low and moderate income housing developments. Housing D1scr1m1natfon and Other ~ousing Services Reduce or e11minata discrimination in housing based on race. religion. sex. family size and status. disabilities. aye or any other arbitrary factor. Education programs. counsel1ng. referral. and legal assistance servf ces are necessary. 1, Fund fair housing services which assist persons who have experienced d1scriminatfon in housing. -3- ... , 2. Fund housing programs providing tenant/landlord and housing servf ces to persons experiencing housing conflicts. Emergency Housing Acquisition and Improvement Assist spons~rs of temporary or interim housing facilities serving the needs of low and moderate income battered persons, distressed juveniles, handicapped/dfsabled persons, and others serving a variety of individuals. 1. Fund agencies and organization~ seeking to acquire emergency housing facf lities. 2. Provide be1ow-market-rate financing or grants for rehabilitation of emergency housing. 3. Provide rehabilitation services to eligible emergency housing projects. 4. Provide relocation assistance to persons displaced from housing. 11. COMMUNITY-WIDE FACILITIES & IMPROVEMENTS (Allocation Goa': 15% of CDBG Allocation) Facilities for the Handfcapped/Oisabled Persons Increase the accessfbilf ty of facilities serving handicapped/disabled persons, fn both public and private developments. Additionally. assist organizations in providing new or i~roved facilities to serve the specific needs of the handicapped/disabled population 1n the community. 1. Provide funds to remove architectural barriers from buildings and major intersections throughout the City. 2. Provide funds to aid in the construction or acquisition of facilities serving handicapped/disabled persons. 3. Provide below-market-rate financing or grants to improve existing facilities serving handicapped/disabled persons. 4. Provide rehabilitation services to eligible facilities serving handicapped/disabled persons. Child Care Facilities Assist non-profit and community based organizations in providing adequate ch~ld care facilities serving lower-fncome families. 1. Provf de funds for the construction or acquisition of child care facilities serving low and moderate income persons. 2. Provide belcw-market-rate ffnancing or grants to improve existing chfld care facilities. 3. Provide rehabilitation services to eligfble child care facilities. -4- III. Administration (Allocation Goal: SS of CDBG Allocation) Provide necessary funds to pay for plannfng and implementation of the CDBG program. and to pay for necessary overhead costs. SECT ION TWO Proposal Selection Cr·f teria Proposals for CDBG funding are evaluated according to the following set of criteria. Each of the first five items are not weighted or prioritized, although Item 1 must first be satisfied before further proposal review. The last criteria is an overall evaluation to determine if the recommended program satisfies the established funding goals. 1. Proposal Eligibility The proposal l'rt.lst be e1f gible according to Federal regulations established for the CDBG program (Staff and Dept. of Housing & Urban Development decision). 2. Need Verification There should be reliable data that v~riffes the need for the project or activity proposed. 3. Feasibility The applicant rrt1st have the capability to ifl1)lement the project or activity in a timely manner with the available resources. 4. Cost/Benefit Analysis There sho~ld be eviaence that the iq,act upon identified need of the project or activity justifies the potential cost incurred. 5. Long-Range Funding Implications There should be information available which ~ndicates the long-range implications of funding a ne\11 activity or increasing the level of funding for an existing activity. 6. Overall Program Evaluation The re~ommended COBG Program should meet the established needs and funding goals included in the Needs, Strategies and Funding Goals section of this plan. -5- Part of lnree Year 1985-1988 CDBG Plan C11;1 of Palo Alto C01111Unf ty De•e1opah!nt Block Grant PrograM May 1, 1984 Relocation Plan The Palo Alto Co"1111Unfty Development Block Grant (CD9G) Program includes activities which generally do not displace residents. In fact, no CDBG project or activity which caused displacement or relocation has been funded since 1979. In the case, however, that any dfsplacenient may occur, the following policies are established. This plan fs designed to clarify relocation obligations incurred as a direct result of act1vftfes funded through the CDBG Program. The policies apply only to those actfvftfes not covered by the Federal Uniform Relocation Act. The intent of the policies is to m1nfmfze displacement of persons from their homes and to mitigate the adverse effects of displacement on low-and.moderate-income persons. Displacef'tent means the involuntary movement, except temporary relocation. of a household f~om a dwelling unit. DISPLACEMENT OF HOUSEHOLDS FROM RENTAL UNITS In the case of rental unfts, these policies shall not apply to tenants who connence occupancy after a notice of impending project fs made to all resfdents. ff they are provided adequate notice of the fmp~ndfng project. ThesL policies also do not apply to tenants whose tenancy fs ten11inated for serious or repeated v~olotions of the tenns of a lease, applicable Fe~eral or State law or other just c&~se. Every attempt will be ma~e to avoid the necessity for displacement. In the event that displacewent is unavoidable, the following shall apply: a) Tenant households will receive written notice at lease 60 days prior to df spl ac~nt. bl General advisory services will be provided by the Planning Department or Housing Improve'llent Program staff, as apprc-prfate. c) On behalf of each household, a customary and usual fee may be paid upon the approval of the City Manager or his designee tn a ren~al agency to assist the household to obtain suf tab1 e replacement housing. d) Each household may receive relocation assist~nce fn the form of reasonable moving expenses plus replacement housing payments approved by the City Manager or his des1g~ee, or other arrangement agreeable -6- •, to the 1essee and City or property owner. Replacement housing payments should cover the difference fn cost between current rent paid and the rent charged for a comparable unit, wh1ch should meet health and safety stan~~rds. In no case shall the relocation assistance exceed the equiv&lent of two-months rent per household for a comparable unit whfch meets health and safety standards. e) If tenant 1s dislocated because of the rehabilitation of his or her unit, the dislocated household wfll be given ff rst opportunfty to reoccupy the rehabflftated unit, if feasible. TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF HOUSEHOLDS FROM RENTAL UNITS In the event a project requires the temporary relocation of tenant households, the fo1low1ng shall apply: al Tenant households will receive written notice at least 30 days prior to temporary relocation unless relocation results from an emergency situation. b) General advisory services will be provided hy the Planning Department or the Housfng Improvement Program staff. as ap~ropriate. c) The tenant household wf l1 secure suitable temporary :iousing wf th approv&l and assistance to staff. d) Relocation assistance for each household shall be provided in the form of reasonable moving expenses and payment of increases 1n naonthly housf ng costs as approved by the City ;4anager or his desf gnee, or other arrangement satisfactory to the lessee and City or property owner. · e) The temporary re 1 oca ti on period sha 11 not exceed two months. TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF OWNER-OCCUPIED UNITS In the event that a property owner must vacate a dwelling unft tefflporarfly (mfnfmum 15 days) fn order to allow a construction procedure to take place, the following shall apply: a) General advisory services will be provided by the Planning Department or the Housfng Improvement Program staff, as appropriate. b) All costs incurred for temporary relocation as a result of a Housing Improvement Program project remain the responsibility of the property owner and may be financed as a part of the Rehabilitation Loan. -7- ... ATTACHMENT 1 Sources of Informatfo~ Used f n Developing Needs, Strategies, and Fundf ng Goals Statement Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan and 1985-2000 Housing Element at the Comprehensive Plan Palo Alto Citizens Advisory Committee Comments on Needs/Priorities Palo Alto CDBG App11cations {Three Year Plan and Housing Ass1stance Plan) Palo Alto Human Services Funding and tleeds Analysis CDBG Program Federa 1 Statuatory Provisions CDBG Program Federal Regulations State Department of HCD Comments on Housing Eler , .. t and CDBG Application Association of Bay Area Governments Comments on CDBG Application Department of Housing & Urban Development Comments on CDBG App!1cation 1970 U.S. Census, 1975 Special Census, 1980 U.S. Census -8- • Introduction EXHIBIT B COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN A primary aspect of the Hou~ing and Corm1Unity Development Act, as required by 24 CFR Part 570, Sub-part D, Section 570.303, fs the provision of adequate opportunity for citizens, particularly those who will be affected by the program. to participate in an advisory role in planning, implementing, and assessing the program. On August 23, 1979, the City Council ado~ted a citizen participation component consisting of a permanent City-wide commi~tee which will be advisory to the staff in fulfilling the citizen participation requirements. Citizen involvement will apply to present as well as future activities. All aspects of the Citizen PartiLipatfon Plan will be open to the general public. The Citizens' Advisory Committee will review the Citizen Part1cfpation Plan with input from the general public. The Plan will be updated as needed. ~bjectf ves of the Plan 1. To involve citizens in the planning, implementing and assessing of the program by encouraging the submission of views and proposals. 2. To include low and 1 .. oderate income persons_ members of minority groups, residents of areas where funds wil1 be spent, the elderly, the handicapped, the business ColJlfllJnity and civic groups within the citizen participation plan. 3. To make information about the Col!ITIUnity Development programs available. 4. To provide technical assistance such as social and demographic data~ .;ost estimates and local ordinance information to neighborhood groups and organizations so that they may participate in the program process. Components of the Plan 1. The Housing and Coml!l.lnfty Development Citizens' Advisory Corrrnittee a. Me~.bership: The Housing and ComfllJnity Development Citizens' Advisory Committee is advisory to staff. Each nember 1s tenure on the Committee is for two years. Members may serve more than one term. The Committee has fifteen lll!mbers, including nfne members from agencies who represent persons of low and moderate income~ members of minority groups. the elderly. ha11dic~pped and business comn1mfty. Eight of the nine agency members will be appointed by the Mayor from nominations made by any coanunity non-profit organizations oriented toward the goals of the CDBG Plan. T~e ninth agency member will be a representative of the Human Relations Commission. -9- .. Sfx members from the general public wf 11 be appointed by the nine agency members. b. Functions: The Committee will assist in the identification of community development and housing needs and the setting of priorities. They ~ill be involved in developing the three year Conmunity Development Plan 1 the Annual Community Development Plan, the Housing Assistance Plan. and programming of funds and amendments to the plan. To this end, the Committee will solicit and evaluate proposals to be submitted to the Planning Department. The Committee will have an advisory role in the implementatfon of the program by acting as a condiJft to further define citizen needs and reco1M1endfng project criteria. They will also have an advisory role in policy decisions regarding program implementation. The Committee will assess projects and activities to determine if the objectives of the Conmunity Development Plan are being met. In addition, Coll'lllittee members will be informed of implementation strategies and the progress of planned activities. Process: The Committee will hold periodic meetings to carry out the above functions. These meetings will be held in January. February, and March, generally in City Hall. Information on the ColTIJM.lnity Development Block Grant Program will be available at the meetings. The general public, neighborhood groups and private agencies will be encouraged to submit their views, comments, and project proposals to the Committee. The meetf~gs will be open to the public. All applicants submitting their proposals wf 11 be encouraged to attend the meeting at which their proposal is to be reviewed by the Conmittee. During the application development stage of the program, special notices of the meetings will be made in the Peninsula Times Tribune and other appropriate local publications. All recoi11Dendat1ons, comments, assessments and proposals from the Committee ~ill be recorded and forwarded to the City to~ncil for their review. The Committee will aid in the dissemination of information about the Block Grant Program and will aid in soliciting comments and views from the general public. -10- 2. City Counci 1 a. The City Council sets policy, priorities, and approves the overall Coml'lllnity Development Slock Grant Program. b. The City Council will hold two public hearings prior to the submission of the application to HUD After the Committee and City staff have t·eviewed proposals and made their recommendations to the City Council, two public hearings ~ill be held, one before the Finance and Public Works Co111T1ittee and the second before the full City Council. The public hearings will be he1d to obtain views from citizens ~n the performance of the program ~nd to obtain views on the proposed program for the coming year. c. The City Council will also hold one public hearing thirty to sixty days prior to the start of planning for the next year's program in order to review the program's performance and progr·ess. d. Actions of the City Council will direct the implementation of CDBG projects. 3. General Public a. The general public may participate in the various stages of the program by attending the Citizens' Advisory Committee meetings and the City Council public hearings. They can also express their views and comments directly to the: Planning staff. At any time citizens may submit views concerning Palo Alto's performance in the program to the HUD Area Office, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36003, Ninth Floor, San Francisco CA 94102. Citizens can avail themselves of the Community Development fnformatfon in the Planning Department, 5th Floor, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto CA 94301. 4. City Staff Report a. The Department of Planning and Community Environment has primary responsibility for the administration and coordination of the CoR'llllnity Development Block Grant Program. b. The Planning staff is responsible for daily administration and/or coordination of the program. (329-2170 or 329-2441) c. At the beginning of the planning process for the program. the Planning staff will provide the Citizens' Advisory Committee and the general public with the fo11owing information: the total amount of block grant funds ava11able, the range of activities that may be undertaken, the previously funded actfvities, the process that will be followed fn drawing up and approving the local application, the schedule of meetings and hearings, the role of the citizens in the program and a summary of other program requf rements. -11- • ... The Three-Year and Annual CDBG program will a1so be publicized and distributed. Proposed activities will be described fn sufff c1ent detail, including locatfon, to allow citizens to determine the degree to which they may t.e affected. Citizens will also be provided information on the proposed amount of funds to be ~sed for activities benefiting low and 1110derate income persons, and a plan for minimizing displacement of persons and assisting those displaced. d. The Planning staff will maintain the Citizen Participation Plan, the proposed and approved application and the annual performance report in addition to the program records, documents and other information (as required by federal regulations) within the Planning Department for public view during normal working hours (weekdays 8 a.m. -5 p.m.). These documents include contracting procedures, environmental policies. fair housing and other equal opportunity requirements. and relocation provisions. e. Technical assistance will also be provided by the staff to citizen groups and groups of low and moderate income and neighborhood groups request;ng such assistance so that they may adequately participate in the Planning, implementing and assessing of the program. Program information will be provided in all assisted housing developments, neighborhood service centers aud other public facilities where residents can learn of such programs. f. The staff will solicit particfpation from groups who are concerned with the program and may provide information in a bf lingual fashion whenever a significant number of residents do not speak English as their primary language. g. Periodically, reports will be p~esented to the Citizens' Advisory Co1T111f ttee as to the progress of each project and activity to access if objectives are being ac~ieved. Citizens will be encouraged to submit views and comments concerning the program. All views and proposals will be forwarded to the Citizens' Advisory Cormi1ttee. Minutes of their meetings wf 11 be sent to all applicants in addition to a separate response addressing specific proposals submitted by applicants. h. The staff shall receive all complaints concerning the program, make a written response to all correspondents within fifteen working days, and relay coq:ilaints and responses to the Committee at the next meeting. 1. The staff will schedule all required public hearings and arrange for the Citizens' Advisory ColTlllittee meetings. Notice of the time, place and agenda of the public hearings will be made ten days prior to the hearing and will be fn the non-legal section of the Peninsula Times-Tribune. In addition, a schedule of meetings of the Citizens' Advisory Committee wi11 be publis11ed in the non-legal section of the Peninsula Times-Tribune at ler:st ten (10) days prior to the first meeting. Records of all public hearings are kept in the Planning Department, 5th Floor, Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto CA 94301. -12-