HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 8504
City of Palo Alto (ID # 8504)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 11/6/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: CAPER for the CDBG Program for FY 2017
Title: Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for
the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for Fiscal Year
2017
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
Background
The preparation and submittal of a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
(CAPER) is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for
the receipt of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The attached
document, Attachment A, was submitted to HUD on September 27, 2017, following the
required 15-day public review period. It is being provided to the Council for informational
purposes only.
Discussion
This CAPER represents the second year of the City’s Five-Year Consolidated plan covering the
period 2015-2020 and summarizes the accomplishments under the CDBG program for the
period July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. As required, the CAPER consists of specific program
narratives, an assessment of annual performance, and an assessment of progress toward
meeting goals and objectives contained in the Consolidated Plan.
Finally, this CAPER summary report is intended to inform the public on how the CDBG funds
administered by the City of Palo Alto during the 2017 Fiscal Year have been expended and
describes the extent to which the purposes of the grant program have been carried out. The
amount funded to specific activities is reported the year they are funded. However, due to the
City of Palo Alto Page 2
nature of certain projects, it is common for projects to overlap program years.
Accomplishments are reported when the project has been completed and in some cases when
the units become occupied.
Summary of Accomplishments
CDBG funds were used for public services and economic development activities. Palo Alto has
five primary CDBG program activity areas in which to allocate funds: Public Services, Planning
and Administration, Economic Development, Housing, and Public Facilities. Funds were
allocated in accordance with the goals and objectives set forth in the 2015-2020 Consolidated
Plan, available online at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/59739.
The major accomplishments include the following:
Continued implementation of the Workforce Development Program which led to 31
previously unemployed individuals reentering the workforce;
Assisted 16 individuals in investigating their fair housing complaints; and
Continued successful partnerships with five public service providers.
The CAPER, Attachment A, provides a detailed description of the various programs and project
accomplishments within the fiscal year.
Resource Impact
The total investment of CDBG funds in Palo Alto approved for Fiscal Year 2017 was $754,418.
Of this amount, $76,619 was directed to public service activities, $290,723 for Economic
Development, $278,825 for housing rehabilitation, $30,941 for Fair Housing Services, and
$77,310 was allocated for administration activities.
Environmental Review
For purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), this action itself is not a project; therefore, no environmental impact
assessment is necessary. Prior to commitment or release of funds for each of the proposed
projects, staff will carry out the required environmental reviews or assessments and certify that
the review procedures under CEQA, HUD, and NEPA regulations have been satisfied for each
particular project.
Attachments:
Fiscal Year 2016-17 CAPER (PDF)
FY 2016 - 17
CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE
AND EVALUATION REPORT
July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017
Public Review and Comment Period: August 28, 2017 – September 12, 2017
Erum Maqbool, CDBG Staff Specialist
Department of Planning and Community Environment
250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
T: 650-329-2660 E: erum.maqbool@cityofpaloalto.org
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Table of Contents
CR-05 - Goals and Outcomes ..............................................................................................................4
Progress made in carrying out strategic plan and action plan. 91.520(a) ........................................... 4
Comparison of the proposed versus actual outcomes for each outcome measure submitted with
the consolidated plan 91.520(g) ................................................................................................... 4
Assess how the jurisdiction’s use of funds addresses the priorities and specific objectives identified
in the plan...................................................................................................................................... 5
CR-10 - Racial and Ethnic composition of families assisted...................................................................6
Describe the families assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of families assisted). 91.520(a) 6
CR-15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a) .....................................................................................7
Identify the resources made available .................................................................................................. 7
Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments ....................................................... 7
Leveraging ............................................................................................................................................. 7
CR-20 - Affordable Housing 91.520(b) ............................................................................................... 10
Evaluation of the jurisdiction's progress in providing affordable housing. ........................................ 10
Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting these
goals. ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Discuss how these outcomes will impact future annual action plans. ............................................... 11
Include the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons served
by each activity. ........................................................................................................................... 11
CR-25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c) ................................ 12
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing needs .............. 12
Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons ................. 12
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless ........................................... 13
Helping homeless persons .................................................................................................................. 13
CR-30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j) ....................................................................................... 15
Actions taken to address the needs of public housing ....................................................................... 15
Actions taken to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in .......................... 15
Actions taken to provide assistance to troubled PHAs ....................................................................... 15
CR-35 - Other Actions 91.220(j)-(k); 91.320(i)-(j) ................................................................................ 16
Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers
to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances,
building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on
residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i) .............................................................................. 16
Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)................ 17
Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) ........................................... 17
Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty-level families. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) ........................ 18
Actions taken to develop institutional structure. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)............................................... 20
Actions taken to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service
agencies. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) ..................................................................................................... 20
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Identify actions taken to overcome the effects of any impediments identified in the jurisdictions
analysis of impediments to fair housing choice. 91.520(a) ........................................................ 20
CR-40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230 .............................................................................................. 21
Describe the standards and procedures used to monitor activities carried out in furtherance of the
plan and used to ensure long-term compliance with requirements of the programs involved,
including minority business outreach and the comprehensive planning requirements ............ 21
Citizen Participation Plan 91.105(d); 91.115(d) .................................................................................. 21
Describe the efforts to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to comment on
performance reports. .................................................................................................................. 21
CR-45 - CDBG 91.520(c) .................................................................................................................... 22
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction’s program objectives and
indications of how the jurisdiction would change its programs as a result of its experiences... 22
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative grants ........................................................................ 22
[BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year. .............. 22
Table of Figures
Table 1 – Accomplishments – Program Year & Strategic Plan to Date ...................................................... 4-5
Table 2 – Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds ...................................... 6
Table 3 – Resources Made Available ............................................................................................................ 7
Table 4 – Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments ................................................ 7
Table 6 – Number of Households ............................................................................................................... 10
Table 7 – Number of Households Supported.............................................................................................. 10
Table 8 – Number of Persons Served .......................................................................................................... 11
APPENDICES
A - Public Hearing Notice
B - IDIS Reports
C - Public Comments
D - Section 3 Report
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CR-05 - Goals and Outcomes
Progress the jurisdiction has made in carrying out its strategic plan and its action plan.
91.520(a)
This could be an overview that includes major initiatives and highlights that were proposed and
executed throughout the program year.
Comparison of the proposed versus actual outcomes for each outcome measure submitted
with the consolidated plan and explain, if applicable, why progress was not made toward
meeting goals and objectives. 91.520(g)
Categories, priority levels, funding sources and amounts, outcomes/objectives, goal outcome indicators,
units of measure, targets, actual outcomes/outputs, and percentage completed for each of the
grantee’s program year goals.
Table 1 – Accomplishments – Program Year & Strategic Plan to Date
Goal Category Source /
Amount
Indicator Unit of
Measure
Expected
–
Strategic
Plan
Actual –
Strategic
Plan
Percent
Complete
Expected
– Program
Year
Actual –
Program
Year
Percent
Complete
Affordable
Housing
Affordable
Housing
CDBG:
$278,825
Rental units
rehabilitated
Household
Housing
Unit
300 60 20.00% 156 156 100%
Economic
Development
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG:
$ 290,723
Jobs
created/retai
ned
Jobs 125 31 24.80% 30 31 103.33%
Fair Housing
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG:
$32,016
Public service
activities
other than
Low/Moderat
e Income
Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 100 21 21.00% 15 16 106.66%
Homelessness Homeless CDBG:
$22,983
Public service
activities
other than
Low/Moderat
e Income
Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 0 151 0.00% 131 151 86.75%
Homelessness Homeless CDBG:
$35,592
Public service
activities for
Low/Moderat
e Income
Housing
Benefit
Household
s Assisted 2500 554 22.16% 400 554 138.5%
Strengthen
Neighborhood
s
Non-
Homeless
Special
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG: $
Public Facility
or
Infrastructure
Activities
other than
Low/Moderat
e Income
Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 500 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Strengthen
Neighborhood
s
Non-
Homeless
Special
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development
CDBG:
$18,044
Public service
activities
other than
Low/Moderat
e Income
Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 2500 478
19.12% 486 753
154.93%
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Assess how the jurisdiction’s use of funds, particularly CDBG, addresses the priorities and
specific objectives identified in the plan, giving special attention to the highest priority
activities identified.
The City of Palo Alto was able to achieve many of its goals outlined in the 2016 Action Plan and
2015-2020 Consolidated Plan. In total, the City’s CDBG program assisted 1401 persons access
needed services. Of these persons, nine hundred fifty two (952) were extremely low-income,
fifty-six (56) were very low-income, two hundred and eleven (211) were low-income and one
hundred and eighty two (182) were moderate income.
The City’s subrecipient (Mid-Peninsula Housing Corporation) received $392,368 in FY2015-16
and $278,825 in FY 2016-17 for a total CDBG loan of $671,193. Mid-Peninsula Housing
Corporation who was awarded a CDBG loan for $278,825 to rehabilitate 156 affordable rental
units at Palo Alto Gardens for low income households in FY 2016/17 encountered unexpected
issues involving the approvals. As a result, the project was delayed. However, the City worked
diligently with Mid Pen over the last year to ensure that the project moved forward in a timely
fashion and met its goal of providing 156 rehabilitated rental affordable housing units.
Rehabilitation work began at Palo Alto Gardens in December 2016 and is expected to be
completed in the summers of 2017.
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CR-10 - Racial and Ethnic composition of families assisted
Describe the families assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of families assisted).
91.520(a)
Table 2 – Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds
Narrative
The City of Palo Alto’s CDBG funded programs and services served a diverse population and
provided needed resources to those residents most in need. Sixty percent (60%) were White,
eighteen percent (18%) were African American, and ten percent (10%) were Asian. Twenty
percent (20%) of all the clients served were Hispanic.
CDBG
White 844
Black or African American 249
Asian 136
American Indian or American Native 49
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 13
American Indian and Black 8
Black and White 5
American Indian and White 22
Asian and White 2
Other, multi-racial 73
Total 1401
Hispanic 274
Not Hispanic 1,127
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CR-15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a)
Identify the resources made available
Table 3 – Resources Made Available
Source of Funds Source Resources Made
Available
Amount Expended
During Program Year
CDBG HUD $1,625,402 $1,085,654.76
Narrative
See discussion below.
Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments
Table 4 – Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments
Target Area Planned Percentage
of Allocation
Actual Percentage of
Allocation
Narrative
Description
N/A N/A N/A See below
Narrative
The City considers the provisions of all types of housing assistance on a citywide basis
consistent with the policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Palo Alto does not have specific target
areas for housing activities; instead the City attempts to provide housing affordable to lower-
income persons throughout the City.
Minority concentration includes areas in the City where the concentration of racial and ethnic
minority population is 10% or higher than their total citywide representation. There are only a
few areas that are considered to have a concentration of minority populations or low-income
residents in Palo Alto. The CDBG Program defines low-income concentration as any census
block group where 51% or more residents earn 80% of MFI or less. An exception exists for a
jurisdiction that does not have any areas meeting this definition, such as Palo Alto, which
includes the highest quartile of all areas in the City in terms of degree of concentration, is used.
However, Palo Alto does not qualify activities under the LMI area benefit category.
Leveraging
Explain how federal funds leveraged additional resources (private, state and local funds),
including a description of how matching requirements were satisfied, as well as how any
publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that were used to address the
needs identified in the plan.
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Palo Alto leverages federal and private housing funds to the greatest extent feasible consistent
with the goals identified in the 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan. Moreover, the City continues to
encourage non-profit organizations to seek other local, state, and federal funding for both
housing and non-housing community development activities.
HSRAP
The City of Palo Alto provided $ 884,672 General Funds during fiscal year 2016/2017 to address
primary human service needs in the community. These funds include multi-year agreements
with others allocated by HSRAP and administered by the Office of Human Services in the
Community Services Department. Funded projects addressed the Human Relations
Commission’s priority needs in the following categories: early child care and education, youth
programs, senior nutrition and social services, homelessness, and basic needs such as health
care and mental health.
HOUSING IN-LIEU
The City of Palo Alto maintains a local housing fund consisting of two sub-funds: the
“Commercial Housing Fund” and the “Residential Housing Fund.” Palo Alto, under Chapter
16.65 of the Municipal Code, requires commercial and industrial development projects to pay a
housing mitigation fee. The fees are deposited in the “Commercial Housing Fund”, and the
accumulated fees and interest earned on the fund are made available for the creation of new
low and moderate-income housing units under the “Affordable Housing Fund Guidelines”
adopted by the City Council. As of June 30, 2017, the Commercial Housing Fund had an
available balance of approximately $6,073,316.
Pursuant to Program H-3.1.2, the Below Market Rate Program of the City’s Housing Element,
Palo Alto collects housing in-lieu fees from residential development when it is infeasible to
provide below market rate units on-site. These fees, along with interest earnings of the Fund
and other miscellaneous revenues related to housing, are placed in a special fund; “the
Residential Housing Fund”. This fund is used to provide funding for acquisition or rehabilitation
of low and moderate-income housing, but may also be used for assistance to new housing
construction projects. As of June 30, 2017, the Residential Housing fund had an available
balance of approximately $6,367,042.
These are the only local sources of funding and subsidies available for affordable housing within
the City. They are used to provide matching funds, pay for expenses which exceed HUD income
and cost limits, to fund the cost of features and amenities classified as ineligible under federal
housing programs, pre-development expenses, feasibility studies, site acquisition, and other
similar purposes.
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CR-20 - Affordable Housing 91.520(b)
Evaluation of the jurisdiction's progress in providing affordable housing, including the
number and types of families served, the number of extremely low-income, low-income,
moderate-income, and middle-income persons served.
Table 5 – Number of Households
One-Year Goal Actual
Number of homeless households to
be provided affordable housing
units
0 0
Number of non-homeless
households to be provided
affordable housing units
0 0
Number of special-needs
households to be provided
affordable housing units
156 156
Total 156 156
Table 6 – Number of Households Supported
One-Year Goal Actual
Number of households
supported through rental
assistance
0 0
Number of households
supported through the
production of new units
0 0
Number of households
supported through the rehab
of existing units
156 156
Number of households
supported through the
acquisition of existing units
0 0
Total 156 156
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Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting
these goals.
In fiscal year 2015/16, the City of Palo Alto provided a CDBG rehabilitation loan in the amount
of $278,825 to Mid-Peninsula Housing Corporation (Mid Pen) of the rehabilitation of 156 units
at Palo Alto Gardens. Due to a number of factors outside of the City’s control involving
subordination of the CDBG loan and Mid Pen’s requirements to obtain investor approval, the
project was delayed. The City worked in partnership with Mid Pen to expedite the loan process
so work could begin. Work on the project began in December 2016 and is expected to be
completed in the summers of 2017.
Discuss how these outcomes will impact future annual action plans.
As discussed previously, the rehabilitation work at Palo Alto Gardens began in December 2016
and is expected to be completed in the summers of 2017. The FY 2016/17 CAPER includes 156
units from the Palo Alto Gardens rehabilitation project that were detailed in the 2015 Annual
Action Plan. The City anticipate meeting all of its goal highlighted in the 2015-2020
Consolidated Plan despite not meeting last year’s annual goal.
Include the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons
served by each activity where information on income by family size is required to determine
the eligibility of the activity.
Table 7 – Number of Persons Served
Number of Persons Served CDBG Actual HOME Actual
Extremely Low-income 952 0
Very Low-income 56 0
Low-income 211 0
Moderate-income 182 0
Total 1401 0
Narrative Information
In total, the City’s CDBG program provided programs and services to 1401 persons. Nine
hundred fifty two (952) of these persons were extremely low-income, fifty-six (56) were very
low-income, two hundred and eleven (211) were low-income, and one hundred and eighty two
(182) were moderate income.
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CR-25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c)
Evaluate the jurisdiction’s progress in meeting its specific objectives for reducing and ending
homelessness through:
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their
individual needs
The City’s entitlement amount for FY 2016/2017 was $441,253. The City had $100,000 in
program income and $ 213,165 in uncommitted funds from previous years. In total, the City
provided $754,418 in direct CDBG funding and $ 884,672 in HSRAP funding. The following
details the accomplishments of the CDBG funded subrecipients targeted to benefit persons who
are low income, homeless, or at risk of homelessness.
Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons
LIFEMOVES
OPPORTUNITY CENTER
CDBG: $35,592
The Opportunity Services Center continued to provide services to homeless individuals and
those at-risk of becoming homeless. Services include drop-in services, showers and laundry
facilities, lockers, light snacks, information and referral, transportation assistance, a clothes
closet, medical and psychiatric screening and referral, inter-faith chaplaincy, and fellowship. In
addition, the Hotel de Zink program along with the Breaking Bread Program continued with the
operation. During the program year, the Opportunity Center served 554 unduplicated
individuals. 415 unduplicated individuals received case management, housing/job search,
referral and mentoring services; and 6,842 shelter nights were provided.
PALO ALTO HOUSING CORPORATION
DOWNTOWN SRO HOTEL COUNSELING
CDBG: $24,861.00
Palo Alto Housing Corporation provided one-on-one counseling, case management, and
educational activities at Alma Place and Barker Hotel. The one-on-one sessions provided by the
Resident Service Coordinator affords a systematic manner of addressing a diversity of issues
these residents face. During the program year there was an increase in demand for more in-
depth support counseling services to address mental health and emotional health issues. The
SRO Resident Services Coordinator works closely with residents with severe mental health
issues to ensure compliance with treatment guidelines and to reduce the risk of relapse. PAHC
continued to expand the health and wellness program by collaborating with other non-profit
organizations to host a health and resource fair. The goal of the event was to provide
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information and resources on topics of the areas of health care, counseling, transportation
programs, social services, and food programs. During the program year, nutrition and fitness
coaching services were initiated to provide residents with information, guidance and support as
to how to develop an exercise and plan programs in order to improve their health and quality
of life. Finally, Palo Alto Housing Corporation staff has continued to serve as a partner with the
City’s Pilot Microenterprise Assistance Program. Two of the MAP grantees currently live at
Alma Place.
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely
low-income individuals and families and those who are: likely to become homeless after
being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as health care
facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections
programs and institutions); and, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that
address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or youth needs
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
CDBG: $5,012.00
During the program year 383 unduplicated residents were contacted within the Palo Alto Long
term care residences in Lytton Gardens Health Care Center, Lytton Gardens Residential Care for
the Elderly and Palo Alto Nursing Center. A total of 56 complaints were received and
investigated.
DOWNTOWN STREETS INC.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
CDBG: $290,723.00
During the program year DST was able to continue their success rate and introduced a number
of new programs into the existing Workforce Development Program. A total of 31 participants
enrolled in the program and were placed in a variety of employment opportunities.
Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families
with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to
permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that
individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals
and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were
recently homeless from becoming homeless again
YWCA SILICON VALLEY
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
CDBG: $8,020
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The YWCA Support Network Program provides domestic violence support services including
counseling, case management, crisis counseling, and legal assistance. During the program year
the Support Network Program provided 10 unduplicated clients with counseling, therapy
and/or legal advocacy services. Crisis Counselors provided crisis line assistance to 49 individuals
receiving crisis counseling services. Additionally, the Domestic Violence Program was able to
provide 2 unduplicated Palo Alto resident with emergency shelter, including basic needs
(food/clothing) and comprehensive case management services.
SILICON VALLEY INDEPENDENT LEARNING CENTER
HOUSING & EMERGENCY SERVICES
CDBG: $5,012
During the program year, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) conducted extensive
outreach in Palo Alto which resulted in 99 persons having improved accessibility to decent
affordable housing. In addition, SVILC provided 153 people with information and referral
services and 68 people with disabilities were given Housing Search training through a housing
workshop at the Palo Alto Opportunity Services Center. SVILC will continue to reach out to
other organizations, businesses and non-profits in Palo Alto to ensure the word continues to
spread that SVILC is a valuable resource for Palo Alto residents with disabilities.
PROJECT SENTINEL
FAIR HOUSING SERVICES
CDBG: $30,941
During the program year, Project Sentinel provided community education and outreach
regarding fair housing law and practices, investigation, counseling and legal referral for victims
of housing discrimination, and analyses for City staff and officials regarding fair housing
practices. In total, 16 fair housing complaints were investigated by Project Sentinel. 19
residents were provided individual consultation relating to specific fair housing questions and
131 individuals were assisted through outreach and presentations.
CITY OF PALO ALTO
PILOT MAP
CDBG: $1,314.08
The Microenterprise Assistance Program provided access to new opportunities to improve the
economic self-sufficiency of LMI families and individuals. The program built on the foundation
of entrepreneurship and empowered clients by increasing their economic literacy, business
skills, self-esteem, and personal behavior appropriate to the workplace. In total, one MAP
participant was assisted in FY 2016/17.
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CR-30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j)
Actions taken to address the needs of public housing
Not applicable. The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara (HACSC) owns and manages
four public housing units, which are all located in the City of Santa Clara.
Actions taken to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in
management and participate in homeownership
While the majority of their units have been converted to affordable housing stock, HACSC is
proactive in incorporating resident input into the agency’s policy-making process. An equitable
and transparent policy-making process that includes the opinions of residents is achieved
through the involvement of two tenant commissioners, one being a senior citizen, on the
HACSC board.
HACSC has been a MTW agency since 2008. In this time the agency has developed 31 MTW
activities. The vast majority of its successful initiatives have been aimed at reducing
administrative inefficiencies, which in turn opens up more resources for programs aimed at LMI
families.
As mentioned previously, there are no public housing facilities in the City of Palo Alto.
Actions taken to provide assistance to troubled PHAs
Not applicable.
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CR-35 - Other Actions 91.220(j)-(k); 91.320(i)-(j)
Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as
barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning
ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the
return on residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i)
The City of Palo Alto has undertaken a number of actions to eliminate barriers to the
development of affordable housing including participation in a county-wide effort to provide
additional affordable housing units; programs in the 2014-2023 Housing Element Update to
increase the supply of affordable housing; and the development impact fees for housing.
Housing Trust Silicon Valley (Housing Trust)
The Housing Trust, formerly the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Clara County (HTSCC), was created
to provide additional financial resources to address the County’s affordable housing deficit.
The Housing Trust’s mission is to make Silicon Valley a more affordable place to live. Loans and
grants are issued to increase the supply of affordable housing, assist first-time home buyers,
prevent homelessness and stabilize neighborhoods. Palo Alto was among the contributors
during its founding and has continued to allocate funding. A provision was added to ensure the
City’s funds be used exclusively for qualifying affordable housing projects within the City of Palo
Alto. The most recent included $200,000 from the City’s Residential Housing Fund for Fiscal
Year 2014/2015.
Participation in the Housing Trust has increased the available housing funding for a number of
Palo Alto Projects as summarized in the table below. In addition, the Housing Trust has
invested over $100,000 assisting 16 households to purchase homes in Palo Alto through its first-
time homebuyer program.
Project Name Number of Units HTSCC Loan Amount Leveraged Amount
Opportunity Center 89 $650,000 $20,050,000
Oak Court
Apartments
53 $400,000 $19,700,000
Alta Torre 56 $689,439 $18,110,561
Tree House 35 $500,000 $11,016,525
Alma Street 50 $500,000 $28,536,801
801 Alma 50 $500,000 $30,000,000*
Total 333 $2,739,439 $127,413,887
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*Estimated Amount
Adjustments or Improvements to Affordable Housing Strategies
2015-2023 Housing Element Update: The Palo Alto Housing Element, which is part of the City’s
Comprehensive Plan is the chief policy document describing the City’s housing needs and the
policies and programs the City will use to meet those needs. The 2015-2023 Housing Element
Update has been certified by the California State Department of Housing and Community
Development.
Development Impact Fees for Housing: The City’s impact fees are comprised of four categories:
Housing, traffic, community facilities, and Parkland dedication. The City recently completed
Nexus Studies for Residential and Commercial Development. The studies served as a basis for
an update to both residential and non-residential housing fees and became effective on June
19, 2017. The housing fee for non-residential development is $20.37 per square foot for retail
and hotel uses. The fee for commercial uses increased to $30 per square foot. The fee rate
applies to all net new commercial square footage on a site. Full payment is required at building
permit issuance with some exemptions including hospitals and convalescent facilities, private
education facilities, public facilities and private clubs, lodges and fraternal organizations.
Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The City’s CDBG program diligently works with other purveyors of funding to provide the most
value per dollar. This is actualized by partnering with other City resources such as HSRAP and
leveraging dollars invested in site acquisition for low-income housing with a multitude of other
funding sources. However, Palo Alto is at a disadvantage in removing or eliminating obstacles
to meeting underserved needs due to the consistently shrinking amount of CDBG funds
available in recent years. To address this, the City supplements its CDBG funding with other
resources and funds, such as:
The City’s Human Service Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) provides approximately $
884,672 from the General Fund in support of human services. The HSRAP funds, in
conjunction with the CDBG public service funds, are distributed to local non-profit agencies.
The Palo Alto Commercial Housing Fund is used primarily to increase the number of new
affordable housing units for Palo Alto’s work force. It is funded with mitigation fees required
from developers of commercial and industrial projects.
The Palo Alto Residential Housing Fund is funded with mitigation fees provided under Palo
Alto’s BMR housing program from residential developers and money from other
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miscellaneous sources, such as proceeds from the sale or lease of City property.
The City’s Below Market Rate Emergency Fund was authorized in 2002 to provide funding
on an ongoing basis for loans to BMR owners for special assessment loans and for
rehabilitation and preservation of the City’s stock of BMR ownership units.
HOME Program funds are available on an annual competitive basis through the State of
California HOME program, and the County’s HOME Consortium.
Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
Lead poisoning can cause permanent damage to the brain and many other organs, and can
result in reduced intelligence and behavioral problems in young children. More than 80,000
children younger than 6 years old living in the United States have lead in their blood that is
above the level of concern set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A
significant number of these children are in families of low income and are living in old homes
with heavy concentration of lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust and soil in the
environment.
The City’s housing and CDBG staff provide information and referral to property owners,
developers, and non-profit organizations rehabilitating older housing about lead-based paint
hazards. There is no information that indicates lower income households are more likely to be
exposed to lead paint hazards in Palo Alto than are families in the general population. The
City’s 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan has a more detailed discussion of lead based paint in the
City. Any house to be rehabilitated with City financial assistance is required to be inspected for
the existence of lead paint and lead paint hazards. The City will provide financial assistance for
the abatement of such hazards in units rehabilitated with City funding.
Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty-level families. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The City, in its continuing effort to reduce poverty, prioritized funding agencies that provide
direct assistance to the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless. In FY 2016-2017,
these programs included the following:
The Microenterprise Assistance Program provided access to new opportunities to improve the
economic self-sufficiency of LMI families and individuals. The program built on the foundation
of entrepreneurship and empowered clients by increasing their economic literacy, business
skills, self-esteem, and personal behavior appropriate to the workplace.
The Workforce Development Program provided a transition from unemployment and homelessness to
regular employment and housing through case management, job training, mentoring, housing, and
transportation assistance.
- Downtown Streets Team is a nonprofit in the City that works to reduce homelessness
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through a “work first” model. Downtown Streets Team utilized their community
connections to provide training and job opportunities to homeless people, specifically in the
downtown area. The Downtown Streets Team has helped over 687 team members maintain
employment for 90 days or more and housed 737 individuals, including 539 team
memberssince its inception.. The Downtown Streets Team has initiatives in Palo Alto,
Sunnyvale, San Jose, and San Rafael.
Actions taken to develop institutional structure. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The City is striving to improve intergovernmental and private sector cooperation to synergize
efforts and resources and develop new revenues for community service needs and the
production of affordable housing. Collaborative efforts include:
Regular quarterly meetings between entitlement jurisdictions at the CDBG Coordinators
Meeting and Regional Housing Working Group
Joint jurisdiction Request for Proposals and project review committees
Coordination on project management for projects funded by multiple jurisdictions
HOME Consortium between member jurisdictions for affordable housing projects
Recent examples include the effort by the County to create a regional affordable housing fund,
using former redevelopment funds that could be returned to the County to use for affordable
housing.
Another effort underway involves the possible use of former redevelopment funds to create a
Countywide pool for homeless shelters and transitional housing. These interactions among
agencies generate cohesive discussion and forums for bridging funding and service gaps on a
regional scale.
Actions taken to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service
agencies. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
The City benefits from a strong jurisdiction and region-wide network of housing and community
development partners, such as the County and the CoC. To improve intergovernmental and
private sector cooperation, the City will continue to participate with other local jurisdictions
and developers in sharing information and resources.
In addition to the actions listed above, the City will continue to coordinate with the City’s
human services funding efforts to comprehensively address community needs.
Identify actions taken to overcome the effects of any impediments identified in the
jurisdictions analysis of impediments to fair housing choice. 91.520(a)
The City makes every effort to affirmatively further fair housing in compliance with the adopted
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Analysis of Impediments. During Fiscal Year 2016/2017, the City continued to support actions
to affirmatively further fair housing through a subrecipient agreement with Project Sentinel, a
non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals with housing problems discussed in
detail below. The following is a list of actions taken to affirmatively further fair housing:
HCD has certified the City’s 2015-2023 Housing Element update
The City targeted the majority of its CDBG and local housing funds to increasing and
preserving the supply of affordable housing
The Office of Human Services regularly met with the County of Santa Clara Housing
Authority to place homeless individuals with section 8 vouchers
Affordable housing information and referral services were provided by the Office of
Human Services
During Fiscal Year 2016/2017, the City continued to support actions to affirmatively further fair
housing choice through a subrecipient agreement with Project Sentinel, a non-profit
organization dedicated to assisting individuals with housing problems. Project Sentinel
responded to and investigated 16 cases of housing discrimination in Palo Alto during the fiscal
year.
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CR-40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230
Describe the standards and procedures used to monitor activities carried out in furtherance
of the plan and used to ensure long-term compliance with requirements of the programs
involved, including minority business outreach and the comprehensive planning
requirements
Under the CDBG Program, the City conducts desk reviews and on-site monitoring of
subrecipients. Last year the City completed on-site monitoring of four non-profit organizations.
Since the City operates under a two-year funding cycle there are some subrecipients that
receive funding for two years and are only required to have one on-site monitoring during this
time. Typically, subrecipients who have had trouble implementing projects or have been
identified as having compliance issues in a previous monitoring are selected for the annual
monitoring. There were no major deficiencies identified during the previous monitoring. The
City will be conducting on-site monitoring of three subrecipients in the next two to three
months consistent with the Subrecipient Monitoring Plan.
Citizen Participation Plan 91.105(d); 91.115(d)
Describe the efforts to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to
comment on performance reports.
A notice regarding the availability of the draft CAPER was emailed to interested organization
and persons. In addition, a notice informing the public of the availability of the CAPER was
published in the Palo Alto Weekly on August 25, 2017. The notice was also displayed on the
City’s website during the public review period.
The draft CAPER was available for public review and comment for a 15-day period, beginning
August 28, 2017 and concluding on September 12, 2017. Copies of the draft report were
available at the City’s Planning Department reception desk, the Development Center, and on
the CDBG website. Finally, the Human Relations Commission held a public hearing on Thursday,
September 14, 2017 to take public comment and discuss the CAPER. The City Council will
receive a copy of the final CAPER along with any public comments received in early November.
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CR-45 - CDBG 91.520(c)
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction’s program objectives
and indications of how the jurisdiction would change its programs as a result of its
experiences.
Not applicable.
Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
grants?
Not applicable.
[BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year.
Not applicable.
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