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Home My WebLink About0228.093.. .... .... - ~ . . , , , .. -r,;", .,/ . . . April a. 1993 THE HONOP~BLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, California Atten~ion: Finance Committee 1993-1994 COMMUNITY' DEVELOP!1ENT BLOCK GRA."'lT FL~DING ~ECOMMEbDATIONS Members of the Council: :REPORT IN BRIEF This repJrt presents the reccmmendations of city staff for the expenditure of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the 1993-1994 program year. Funding applications and allocation recommendations by staff and the Citizens Advisory committee {CACj are summarized on Attachment A. Attachment B is an analysis of the specific funding requests and staff comments req~rdi~q funding recommendations. Attachment C contains the report and recommendations of the CAe. The City of Palo Alto receives funds annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an entitlement city under the CDBC Program, aIJtr.orized by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 r as amended. The primary objective of the Act is "the development of viable urban cOlDllr.mities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income." Ht,;n Regulations In the aggregate, at least 7D percent of CDBG funds must be spent on activities Which are of benefit to low and very-low income persons. Additionally, one of three national objectives must be met in order for a project to he eligible: CMR:228:9) ., I r. ' , , ' ... -----~--------------.-----------~----~ '-~ ;;t~~~:---:. ~ 11¢'2: ~~f't'tI;: 1) 2) 3 ) lI_ctiviti-es a>hich are of benefi~ to 101..' and very 1o,"" income persons; Activities lo'hich aid in the preve~ltion or elimination of slums or blight; or Activities which meet other community develop~ent needs having a particular urgency or posing a serious and immediate threa't to the health or larelfare of the community. Palo Alto has typically expended all of its CDSC funds en activities which benefit low a.nd very Ie..., income persons~ The most recent HUD income d~t.a for Santa Clara county define a family of four with an anmlal income of $38,OOG as lot,{ income (6£ percent of Santa Clara county ~edian income). and ~ith an annual inccme of $28,850 as very lo~ ... income (50 percoe-nt of santa Clara county median income). Available Funds The total funds available for allocation for the 1993-1994 program year are $971,035. The annual entitlement grant from HUD will be $700,000, an increase of 9 percent over 1992-1993 funding level of $640~OOO. In addition to the grant, the follo ...... ing funds are available for allocation: $150,000 -Program income. Program income is defined as income directly generated from the use af CDBG funds. The main sources o~ funds are from payments of principal and interest on loans made ...... ith CDBG funds and rental income in excess of expenses on property acquired or improved with CDSG funds~ $121,035 -reallocation of grant funds previously allocdted~ but unspent: $22,700 Landbank (01005) -balance remaining after the purchase of the Plum Tree Apartments by the Palo Alto Housing Corporation $60,295 New Housing Development (01022) - balance remaining c3fter the paY1l1ent of relocation exp~n~~s for tenants of Plum Tree Apartments $32,200 Housing Related Costs (DIC42) -balance unspent fr,:..m 1991/92 program year CMR:22S:93 ~/a/9' P:\(;MR'.CDBG Page .2 • - Funding Activities $5,640 Senior Home Repair (01006) -b~lance remaini.l")g from the 1991/92 progrant }~ear The m~jority of CDBG funds are to be used for capital projects such as ne .. ll-.ousing, land acqu.isitioTI j re.location, a.cchit.ectural barrier remo'lal j site clearance" ec"::!nomic development, or other similar a~tivities. Two other categories of funding, public Service and program Administration, are also allo' .. e:d. Fur.di:;:g in the "'Public Service" category is limited to a n:.aximun'l of 15 percent of the annual grant plus 15 percent of estimated program income fro~ the current year {1992j93). The maxi~um funding in this category is estimated to be $127,500 based on program income projections of $150,000. MProgram AdministratiQn H is limited LO 20 percent of the annual grant amount plus 20 percent of estimated program inCOJlIe for the follo~inq year (1993/94). Program income fer the 1993/94 year has been estimated to be $100jOOO. Therefore, a maximum of $160,000 can be spent on overall program adrni.ni:stration~ The contract with Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing (MCFH), as well as a portion oi the City of Palo Alto expenses, is counted in this category. City staff time spent on specific capita! projects may be considerea a "project deliveryW expense, and not subject to the 20 percent limitation. Citizen ParticIpation Federal regulations require that citizens receive information on a community's proposed CDBG program in a mann~r which provides for timely citizen exa~inationJ appraisal, e~d comment. To ado~ess this requirement, the Palo Alto city Council adopted a Citizen Participation Plan on .a.ugust 23, 1979, establishing a fifteen member Citizens Advisory committee (CAe). In accordance ..... ith this plan, new committee members were appointed by the May·or in February 1993. This YEar's CAe ruember9 includ~d: Chri~tine Shambora, Chair; Margaret Feuer, Vice-chair; Trina LoverchecK, Human Relations commiSsion Liaison; Craig Barney, Beverly Clayton, Leonard Ely II!, Hargot Goldberg, C. Bruce Hamilto~, Barbara Harley, virginia Lee, Jeanne London, Janet OWens, Carla Schneiderman, Helen Tao, and Margaret ·roar. Suzanne Richards served as City staff liaison from the Department of Pl~nning and community Enviro~~ent. Public meetings were held on February 17 and 24, March J, S, 10, 17 and 18, 1993 at CUbberley Community Canter. staff and the CAe reviewed funding applications, interviewed representatives of applicant agencies, and made site visits to some of the proposed CMR:228:93 r.\C1IfJ.\CD9G 4/8/93 Page 3 - projects ir. ordar to re.ach cansensu.s-on the-ir recommendaticns to Council. The CDBG Program has undergone subst~n~i~l internal ch~~ges over the past year ~s the result of complian~o concerns r~ised in HUD aUditing rapcrts. On July 1, 1992, responsibility for the CDBG program ~as consolidated in the Oepartment of Plannin9 and Community Enviro~ent. A senior planner ~as added t~ the COSG staff in Octobe:r 199:3, to identify ana establish programs and. upport<Jnities "with "1o'hich to increase the slJpply of affordabl.e housing in Palo Alto. In response to a July E, 1992 Council action, and in order to reduce and/or eliminate the number of agencies join'tly f\,mded by the C~ner-al Fund and COeG, a new funding process "",as implemented. On November 18, 1992, human service providers were informed that nonprofit agencies applying for public service grants from t~e city would be considered for funding 'from either the City's l!\.man service Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) or fro~ the CDBG program, but not both. Since beneficiaries of COBG funds must be primarily lo~ inc~me, age.ncies providing homeless and housing-related services .... ere directed to apply for CD8G funds. Because of staff time requirements to administer projects, agencies w~re strongly encouraged to submit capital proposals which requested a ~ini'rn\Jr.t of $20,000. Additionally, due to the n~~ber of previcus contracts ~hat have not been completed and the limited &taff time available to administer contracts, staff ha~ encoura;ed limiting the number of contracts. The intent of these changes ~as to create the most equitable and eff~cient system of allocation and administration of the funds available to the City for community development and the provision of human services. Funding ApplicatiPD...§. Requests for proposals for funding wen;_ distributed to an extended list of area nonprofit agencies. A notice announcing the availability of funding applications ."..as pUblished in the Palo Alto Weekly on December 9, 19~2. Nineteen proposals ~ere receive;:d by the february 5, 1993 deadline, one of .. -rhieh 'Was later 'Withdrawn. The city proposal for funds to relocate the senior Center activitie.s during the seismic retrofit project .. -as withdra ... ·n ""her< CMR:228:91 P:'oCMJl'·rollU "L 4/8/93 Page -4 - . ~,: . . _....:. .. ·~:~~·;~-r - it .. "as decided tha't the project ""Quld probably not be initiated durinq the 1993-94 CDBG funding year. Proposal Beyie~ criteria All funding applications were screened and revie'io'ed by staff for compliance ~ith federal regulations and pToject eligibility. Additionally, ether factors considered in the staff and c~c recommendatiorts were: the urgency of the proj~ct, the effect of ~ delay of the project on th~ s2rvices provided, the number of low income Palo Alto residents served, ~hether or not the request increased the services provided or the number of clients served, ~he~her or not the services were duplicated by ether agencies. the agency's previous performance experience and 3nticipated capacity to carry out the program or project I and the availability of other funding sources to the applicant. Funding Recom:ml:ndatiQ.D.§. City staff and the CAe did not rea~h agreement on all of the funGing recommendations p~oposed to Cou~cil. ~o sep~rate reports are attached ~hich discuss the merits of the individual applications l as well as the issues relating to the disparate recommendations. The t.o major areas in ~hich staff ana the CAe had differing opinions on the expenditure of funds revolved around the palo Alto Housing Corporation's. (PABC) proposal for operational expenses for housing services, and the city's Information Resources Department's request for capital fund$ for Citywide accessibility improvements required by the Americans with Di •• bilities Act (ADA). Due to the maximum cap of 15 percent on expenditures in the puhlic s~rvice cate90r~, adjusting for differing recommendations on the PJL~C proposal created differing recc~~endations for all agencies in the c~tegorl. If the Finance Committee does not fcllo~ the staff funding recommendation for the PARe proposal, staff wvuld recommend that the CAe recommendations pe folioved in this category. In the housing anct community developme~t capital projects category, the staff recommendation for funding of the ADA proposal necessitated diff~ring recommen<1ations on the proposals for the City's Housing uevelopment Fund and the Lytton Gardens proposal for power assisted doo~s. If the Finance co~~ittee does not wish to reco~end approval of funding for the city's ADA improveme:1ts from CDBG fllnds~ staff ",'Quld recommend that the CAe recommendations be fOllowed in this cdt€gor:t~ also. om: 22&:93 r '.00: 'CO.!J(; L 4jSf93 Page 5 .. .. Recommendations Staff recommends that thE::: Finaonce Committee recommend to the City Council approval of thE' follo'wo'ing: 1. The fundiI1g allocations as recommended by staff in 1I.ttacnment B be ir,cluded in the 199)-1994 Community Development Elock Grant program. 2. Staff be authorized to submit to Hli'D, by the May 31, 1993 deadline, the "Final Stateme~t" applica~ion document which outlines the proposed Pal? Alto 1993-1994 CDBG prc~ram and includes the required certifications. 3. Th~ City Manager, on behalf of the city, be authorized to e.xecute. the HOO application and any other necessar'j documents to sff~ct the application, and to otherwise bind the City with respElct to the application. Respectfully submitted, KENNETH SC~REIBER Director, Community Planning and Environment cc: Citizens Advisory committee Members Applicant Agencies Attachments: CMR:228:9J 1'. \CV.RICD1lG "AM Chart IfB" Narrative ""e" N2!lrrative Projects recommended for funding by Staff and the CAe Staff recommendations CAe reco~~endations 4/8/93 Page 6 : . ., I '. :\ , t I I ~ ~ ("l ~ I M ~ > .' CDnG 199311994 FUNDING RECOMMENDAll0NS funding Agency ({<quest Category; f!!b~"!ke Urban Ministry 55,000 raJo Alto Housing COrp:lra(ion 39,600 Innovative Housing 15,000 Catholic Charities 13,894 Emergency Housing Consortium 19,800 Subtot.I (Max, funding $127,500) Category: AdLnlniS.!"!I1!o.n Mid-Peninsula Citizens for Fair Homing 25,640 City of Palo Alto 178,300 Category; JIQu,sinelCul1i1J!1 Pr~ Peninsula Children~ Center 55,000 - Stevenson House 50,000 Miramonte Mental Health I 20,000 r IV[(,"fI,'!IJ1(1It<,)5'r kr", Total City .itndlng 92-93/ Project D<:s<riptlon I!!Iftl CUX [uDding W.J 50,500 28,000 W,OOO 13,489 10,000 15,000 17R,300 I'~ Play equipment Decking and fire alarm Group home rehabilitation 93-94 Citizens Committ .. Rft'.Qmmendatlon 55,000 33,606 15,000 13,894 10,000 127,~OO 17.500 178,300 55,000 50,000 20.000 , 'i. ,r~~m~." r .1 , .. ' "',;,' ,-"" ~(';d';';:::' . ".1 .. " .. . ';{':;i~,~~i.!:' ':;!;:\~,' , ',', "'<',' .. ~':'-';\, ,!j. 9}-94 sr.1T Rf('Cl'rnm~ndaUo ... 5J,OOO 38,000 I 12,306 ~ 13,894 10,300 I 127,~ 17,500 178,300 55,000 50,000 20,000 >. . ,S·-,..,~-:j;.'...--' ,"-_., I r l : I t ! t I Agen<y Categury; .If.mJsil1gJCapitill !'!:!!i\'l1~ Coo, Lylton I aod II Senior Coorc;tinating Counci1 City of Palo Alto City of raio Ailo Senior Coordinating Council Urban Ministry Palo Alto Housing Corporation Pac',flc Art League Total 1993/94 A vailabltt FlUIds (irant $700,000 Prog. 'ncome 150.000 Reallocation ..ill.ill.l $971,035 t' \V[l'i'_i'IHI'JII:,),~'r ~u·"" Funding Request 56,618 10,000 - 450,000 100,000 )0,000 35.850 2:5,000 23,410 .. ' '"'' ."-I . -~" 1 '!~~~$¥?Ai\\!>,:,.;:, ;;, ',1""',' .""'/\"'" , " , , -. _', -~(,~ ',;: ''t,'' J, , , Total City 93·94 Cltlzeas F'.ndlng 92-931 CommItt .. 93-94 SIB« Project Desc:rlptlon Recommeuda&n Recollimendation . ' .. l'rlI.Jm.~JI Power doors 56,618 -_ .. " Senior home repair IO,O(J() 10,000 . Housing development 456,177 412,735 ADA improvements ... 100.000 Seniol' center rehabilitation '" '" Kitchen e.quipmcnt ._-", Rental rehahilitation .,' --- Accessibility improvements .. , .. , I 971,035 971,035 I _I .,~~r> -~~,,-~,;:\ '.~' ',-.". :{'. J' ~-;------- - STAFF R~COXMENOAT~ONS All COSt:; funding applications received b:t-the City are s-w: .. ~arized below. The recoremendatior.s are those of staff. Ho",-ever, for ease of review, the funding amolJnts recommended bi' the citizens Advisory Committee (CAe) ar~ also included. Please see Attachment C for the CAe comments. Funding in the public service category is li~jted to a maximum levft! of $127,500. The Human Service Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) will be recommending an overall cost of living increase of three percent (3%) for agencies receiving 1993/94 General Fund support. PUBLrc SERVICE APrLZCATIONB 1. URBAN M!NISTRY -SEPVrCES FOR THE HOMELESS 1993J94 Reg-uest 1992j93 Funding LeYel CAe Recommendation Statt Recommendation 55~DOO 50,500 55,000 53,000 This ~gency provides emergency assistance and advocacy for the local homeless I!Ind very loW' incot!1e popUlation. These services include: staffing of the drop-in center, emergency groceries; prepared mealsi clothing, personal hygiene supplies; distribution of bus passes; case management; money management counseling and payeeship program, administration of the rotating church shelter program, Hotel de ZiT'.k; telephone and lllail services; job referra1s and day labor opportunities. Agency serveQ approximately 4200 u!'lduplicated individuals in various progra1!'. components during the 1991/92, and provided 5,50D person nights of shelter. Recommendation: Staff recommendation represents a five percent increase over t;.e prior year's funding level. These important services axe not duplicated by an)" ather agef1.cy. 2. PALO ALTO HOUSING CORPORATION -HOUSING SERVICES 1993/94 Request 1992/93 Funding Level CAe Recommendation Staff Re~~mrnendatiQn 1 39,600 28,000 33,306 38 r OOO ArrACHMENT B "' t : - The PAHC request is to f· .. lnd t.he follo· ... inq cat.egories of affordable housing services: information and referral for seekers ot housinq options; applications for available housing su'bsidies or programs which benefit low income tenants; counselinq and assistance far tenants of subsidized units at risk of conversion to market rate under, the Low Income Housing Preservat i~n and R~sident Homeownership Act {LIHPRHA); production and distribution of a Housing Assistance Directory; administration of sales and resales of units in the Below Market Rate (BMR) program for CDBG income eligible applicants. Fi.ecol!i.ll:lendation: !n re$ponse to RUD audit findings in 1991, numerous changes. ha·."e :been :made to the funding and contract:J31 relationship betw-een the City and PARe for housing services. City staff has ~orked closely ~ith F~~C to more clearly define and "traok the various services provided b}~ PAHC which are eligible for COSG funding. staff believes the recommended funding level is equitable based upon the services provided and the increase in the nU1r.ber of services propos~d. During last year's COIlG process, PAMC ""·dS encouraged by staff and the CAC to increase their outreach to the community. They have responded 'With proposals to create an affordable housing directory arid to eh~and th~ir services to counsel residents of existing HU~ projects at risk of conversion to market rate units~ staff recorur.end~ fundir.g at a level .... rhich .,ill make it possible to deliver-the. services described as well as build the capacity of the agency to develop ~ore afford~ble housing. The services proposed are a key ele~ent in the City's overall low income housing network of services~ and are not duplicated by any other agency4 3. INNOVATIVE HOUSING -SHk~ED HOUSING COu~SELING 1993/94 Request 1992/93 Funding Level CA= Reco~~endatian Staff Recommendation 15,000 10,000 15,000 12,305 This agency provides affordable housing to ve.ry 10'N and 10-": income Palo ~lto residents by facilitating shared housing arrangements and supportive services~ Special case manaqement services are provided 't:.O help residents achieve independence and master critical life skills such as effective parenting, personal goal setting, time c.r~d money ·management, and d i sputa resolution. The primary focus of t.he agency is or. single parent families headed by women r many of whom have been homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless. During the 1991/92 program year, agency served a total of 227 adults 3nd children ~n 20 supportive shared houses~ Recommendation: The recorr~e~ded funding represents an increase of 23\; over the-previous funding level. This increase is 2 "L - justified based on the increas€d need for a~d cost of the provision of th~ supportive services. This an effective homelessness prevention program whicn fosters self-sufficiency and ~ecurity. These essential services are not duplicated by any other agency. 4. CATHOLIC CHARITIES -LONG-TERM CARE OMBT..:USY..A.."l' PF.OGRAM 1993/94 Request 1992/93 Funding Level CAe Recommendation Staff Recommendation 13,S94 13,489 13,894 13,894 catholic Charities provides free ombudsrean services (confidential advocacy and complaint investigation) to the approximately 950 residents of Palo }o_lto's five nursing facilities and nine rEsidential care facilities serving the frail elderly. 7rained staff and community VOlUT'.teers maintain a prese.nce in the long term care facilities and advocate on behalf of residents. In fiscal year 1991-92, a total of 51 cases ~ere opened and investigat-ed. Recommendation: Request fro~ agency represer.ts a three percent increase over the previous funding level. Full funding is recom:mended. 5. EMERGENCY HOUSING CONSORTIUM (ERe) -SHELTER SERVICES 1993/94 Request 1992/93 FUnding Level CAe Recommendation Staff RQco~endation 19,300 10,000 10,000 10,300 Agency provides temporary shelter and emergency supportive services for homeless i:-,dividua ls and fa.:1ilies throughout Santa Clara County. EHC anticipates that 67 unduplicated individuals .... ith a -last significant address" fro", Palo Alto will be served by the program in fiscal year 1993/94. EHe rUr,s three perlr'.anent shelters, feur -wint~r shelters l three transitional housing programs, a homeless youth program, and a farm for the homeless. Recommendation: Although the agency's capacity for providing accurate data on the number of Palo Alto residents served could be irnprov.ed, the actual services provided are necessary, essential and unduplicated. The agency is encouraged to continue ~orkinq closely with local nonprofits serving the homeless to provide integrated services. The staff recommendation represents a three percent increase over the prior year's funding level. 3 - CDS a PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION 6. MID-PENINSULA CITIZENS FOR FAIR HOUSING (MCFH) -BIR HOUSING SERVICES 1993/94 Requ'@st 1992/93 Funding Leve\ CAC Reco~~endation Staff Recomm~ndation 25,640 15,000 17,500 17~500 MCFH provides information, advocacy, individual counseling, complaint investigation, and legal referral services for vi-:.tirr:s of housing discrimination. During the 1991/92 program ygar, agency investigated 16 cases of housing discrimination in Palo Alto. The proposal for 1993/94 ~nticipates 15 cases. Recommendation: Fair housing services ar.e a required element of the CDBG program and are therefore inclGded in the program administration portion of eligible activities rather than in the public service category. This year, staff requested that MCFH include in th~ir proposal a request for funds to coordinate an educational seminar on fair housing practices to be presented to local apartment managers~ The staf; recommendation reflects a three perc£:nt increase over last year's funding level and an additional $2,000 to cocrdinate the fair housing seminar~ 7. CITY OF PALO ALTO -COBG PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION 1993{94 Request 1992/93 Funding Level CAC Recommendation Staff Recommendation 178,300 178,300 178,300 178,300 The City is requesting funding for a portion of the costs of administering the CDBG program. ~his includes planni~g, implementation, monitoring, compliance and reporting f'-lnctions. Recommendation: Full fundi:-,g is reccmmend~d. HOOSING AND CAPITAL PROJECTS 8. PENINSULA CHILDREN'S CENTER (PCC) -Pi..AYGROlTND RENOVATION Regtlest CAe Recorr~endation staff Reco~~endation 55,000 !::l5,GOO 55,000 PCC, located at 3860 Middlefield Road i~ Palo Alto; serves the special education and mental health needs of child::-en and adolescents with severe enotional or behavioral di~orders. 4 '~~l ,:,; Proposal: Th~ proposal is to renovate the facility's aging playground area. For ma~y of these children, this playground area is their only opportunity to participate in outdoor, recreational activities. The facility i~ used by over 45 children en a daily basis. Recommendation: Due to the degree equipment and the Staff recommends full funding of the proposal. of disability of SO!l1P-of the chi:i.dren~ t_h~ area gets mere than its share of very hard use. 9. STEVENSON HOUSE -FIRE ALARM AND DECKING REPAIR Request CAe Recommendation Staff Recommendation 50,000 50,000 50,000 stl!l"venson house, 455 E. Charleston Ave. in Palo Alto, is a resicentiCll community providing affordable housing to 135 1010.' income senior adults. Proposal: The first project is to upgrade the existing fire alarm syste~1 ~riginally installed in 1962 ($30,000). The upgrade consists of tying the alarm into the central medical alarm monitoring system, and installing visual and audible alarms in compliance t,,'ith specifications in }-~DA requirements. The second portion o~ the request is for replacereent of the valkway surfaces ($20,000). ~5,OOO in CDSG funds were previously allocated to Stevenson HOuse in fiscal year 1991/92 to patch and repair the walkway surr~ces. These funds were not expended as it was subsequently determined that replacing the surface w~s a more suitable solution. Replacement is estimated to cost $25~OOO in total. Recommendation: Full (unding is recommended~ Completion of both projects will result in a safer environnent fer the elderly residents~ 10. MIRAMONTE MENTAL HEALTH -GROUP HOME RENOvATIONS Request CAC Recommendation Staff Reco~endation 20,000 20,000 20,000 Agency provides treatment, support and rehabilitation services for people whc have been affected by serious psychiatric disabilities. Programs include counsaling/ caSE management, residential treatment, housing, supported employment, social activities and peer su~port. Proposal: This proposal is to renovate a group home located at 835 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto so that it can comfortably serve six, r~ther than four; adults with disabilities. 5 'L - - " Recommendation: St.aff recot!'.mends full funding as completion of this project ~ill increase the total number of housing units available for this very ~~lnerable population. ll~ COHMUNIT¥ HOUSING. INC. -POWER ASSIST DOORS FOR LYTTON I & II Request CAe RecQ~mendation Staff Recommer.dation 56 I 618 5/5,618 -0- Lytton I and 11 ara lo~ income senior housing complexes located at 656 Lytton Avenue and 649 University AVenue in Palo Alto. Combined, these facilities provide 318 u~its of affordable housing to 35? seniors. Propo3al: The request is to provide ease of access and exit for elderly residents by installing power assist door opening hardware on twenty two (22) doors throughout the facilities. safety and fire regulations require that many of the doors be larger and heavier than normal residence doors, creating difficulties for resieents. espe~ially those in walkers and whee.lchairs. Recommendation: Staff supports this request. but cannot recommend fU:1ding due to the limited resources available. If the. project is nat funded this year, staff would encourage CHI to reapply for funding in the next CDBG funding q.rcle. 12. SENIOR COOP~INATrNG COUNCIL -ROME REPAIR SUBSIDIES Request CAe Recommendation Staff Recommendation 10.000 lOr 000 10 t OOO This program provides subsidized home repair services to Palo Alto homeow~ers who are 60 years of age or older. The program enables seniors to re!!",ain in their own he,mes as long as possible, and helps to maintain the quality of the existing housing stock within palo Alto. Recommendation: Recommendation is for full funding for ~his important pre-gram \oo'hich addresse$ the health r safety and housing needs of low income senior homeowners. 13. CITY OF PALO ALTO -HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND Request C~C Reco~endaticn Staff Recorumendation F ',CMll'.cUBG,AT9 6 450,000 456,117 412,735 ~'~\'.' - ~-~-~--------------- .: ;." .. >, -', >~~l .. 'l'he purpose of the Housing Development Fund is to create a pool of funds avail&ble on an ongoing basis to utiliz.e ... ·h€n necessary to actively facilitate the development, rehabilitation and preservation ot 10. income, multifamil)' housing. Funds cou.ld be used for predevelopment expens~s, acquisition of land or existing bu.ilc.ings, rehabilitation costs, relocation, or ot.her CDBG eligible expenses. Housing developl'!1er.t opportur.ities come .... p throughou~ tr.e year, and due to the nature of the real estate market, often require a quiCk response. The City yill administer the fund and «ork closely ~ith locally active nonpro:it housing developers and supportive housing providers Vr. project proposals in order to increase the supply of affordable hOllsin9 in palo Alto. ~he Housing Development Fund ~ill include funds from several sources, primarily COSG, housing reserve anj HOME funds. Staff will return to Council for approval for funding of specitic projects from the Fund. Recommendation: Recol":'.mendation is for funding at the Ir.aA':imurn ~mount possible. The lack ot affordable housing has been cited :PY almost all nonprofit agencies providing various supportive services as the most fundamental problem facing the lower income, at-risk. population. over the past twenty-five years, lG09 units of subsidized housing have been created in Palo Alto. Of those units, 818, or 81 percent ... ere created in t.he first half of that period from 1968 to 1980. Since 19$1 only 191 units of subsidized housing have been add&d to the local stock of affordable housing. Funds are currently needed for several projects which are being proc~ssed or are under consideration: Barker Hotel, Tamarack Court, new-dO\\lnto ..... n SRO, preservation of the Arastradero Park Apartments, and the Tower Well site. 14. CITY OF PALO ALTO -AMERICANS WlTH DrS~BILrTIES ACT (ADA) COMPLIANCE CITYWIDE INTERIOR ROUTE MODIFICATIONS Request CAe Recommendation Staff Recommendation 100,000 -0- 1DO,OOO Title II of the AD}>, requires governmental entities to make all public facilities accessible a:nd usable by people .... ·i th disabilities. On September 14, 1992 Council approved a Transition Plan ,,'hich identified and prioriti'2.ed required modifications to city facilities. The Plan was to be implemented in three stages: 1) arrival at the facility -parking, passenger loading, and exterior routes 1992/93; 2) access to a program - building entrances, interior routes, doors, r~om and spaces, stairs, elevators, 1993/94; and 3) accessibility and usability of public amenities -restroorns, public telephones, dr:n~Ln9 fountains, 1994{35. This proposal requests funding for a portion of the anticipated 1993/94 interior route u.odifications which are expected to total $145,000. 7 ·L - • RecoItUO.~:r.dation: Because th.e beneficiaries of this project would be paople ~ith disabilities, it is one of the fe~ Capital Improvement Projects (elF) ~hich are eligible tor COBG funding. Funding of this project ""ith CDSG funds would enable th'9 City to expend scarce CIP funds on other projects such as parks, or deferred maintenance. 15. SENIOR COORD1NATING Cot}NClt.. -\'SkCK BUILDINC rt REMODEL Request CAC Recommendation Staff Recommendation 30,000 -0- -0- The Senior Coordinating Council, loca~ed at 450 Bryant street in Pale Alto, provides an at'ray of services and programs for local seniors. Proposal: This proposal requests funds to renovate. a s:nall outbuilding located at the back of the Senior Center property. ':i.'he space is curre_!ltly underutilized as a ..... ood ..... orking and repair shop. Plans call for converting the area to a roultipurpcse exercise stUdio, classroom and meeting room. Recommendation: Funding is not recommended at this time. Althouqh this project has Derit~ it does not have the same urgency as some of t~e other projects proposed, 16. URBAN MINISTRY -KITCHEN EQUIPMENT Request CAC Recommendation Staff Recommendation 35,350 -0- -0- The. Urban JoIinistry of Palo Alto serves the hungry and homeless ~ith a prepared Meal Program and through The Food Closet. The Food Closet provides individuals in need with an emergency t .... o day supply of groceries. This ope.rC',tion has been condUcted at All Saints Episcopal Church I 425 Hzmilton Avenue. in Palo Alto for the past 1.6 years.. Additionally, tne Thursday Mec.l Progra~ is served from the All saints site. Proposal: This proposal is to purchase kitchen equipment for refrigeration, cooking and s.erving food for the Food Closet and Meal Program in conjunction ~ith a major remodeling project at All Saints. Recorn...'"O.e!"ldation: Although this is a very ... ·crth .... hile project, funding cannot be recommended based on the complexities created by using federal money for improvements to a churCh facility~ 'I'he eqUipment will be shared by the church and 'Will not be used exclusively by the Urban Ministrj'. Staff has had numerous discussion with RUD Qffi~ials regarding this project, and have 8 ';: , i - ------.---------- ra<:ached the concl'Josion that it · .... auld be extremely difficult for this project to gain HUD approv~l. 17. PALO ALTO HOUSING CORPORATION -CURTNER RENTAL rtEHABILITATION Req'Uest CAe Recommendation Staff Recommendation 25,000 -0- -0- In 1985, the Palo Alto Housing Corporation acquired the rental property locate~ at 300-J10 Curtner Avenue in Palo Alto. The property consists of a single family home and an apartment building serving a total of 22 CDSG income eligible residents. project: draina"e area due This proposal is to replacs an inoperable storm system and to repair deteriorating paving in the to age and .... ater collect.ion and flooding. parking Recommendation: staff does not recQmmend funding at this time. In July of 1992, t.he city of Palo Alto made available to PAHe $70,000 in federal rental rehabilitation funds to renovate the recently acquired Plum Tree propel"ty~ Since these funds have not yet been expended~ it would seem reasonable to -,,;ait -,J.ntil this project is ccmpleted prior to allocating more rehabilitation funds. 18. PACIFIC ART L£AGUE -ACCESSIBILITY RENOVATIONS Request CAe Recommendation Staff Recommendation 2'3,410 -0- -0- Thp. Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona street in Pa 10 A1 to, is a non profit arts educational organization vhich encourages and supports neW" and established artists by cond'.Jcting classes and workshops and ~xhibiting tbeir ~ork. They provid~ special outreach art programs for area children ... 'ho are economically disadvantaged, abused, or have serious disacilities. Proposal: The request is for funds to renovate portions of the first floor to make one of the restroorns and more of the exits accessible to users who are disabled or elderly. Recommendation: staff is supportive of this project, but funding is not recol'lU1lended at this time due to the limited amount of funds available. "~~1'{:~ , -" March 25,10/.)3 Attention: Finance Committee THE HONORABLE em' COU;-'iCfL Palo Alto, California 1993-1994 Conununi.t:y Development .Btock Gr~t (CDBG) Program Citizens' Advisory Commit1e-e (CAe) Funding Recommendations :Members of the CC)undl: Below are the CAe funding recomme.ndations fc.r the 1993··94 CnBG program year, .&after considerable diSCUS.'iiOD and deliberation, the committee decided to recommend .funding f)f thirteen of the eighte€n projects subr.1it1ed (one of whh.:b was withdra ..... n). They <tS"e: E..ll.blir Sen'ice Vrban J..!i.n.istry Palo Alto H()using Corp (Admin) Innovative Housing Catholi:::: Charities Emcrgency Housing c.on~ortlum CDSG-__ :r.r9.&UilllAdmtnistratiQ~ Mld-peninsula. Citizens for Fair Housing Cit)' uf Palo .Alto kQmm.~~ment __ ~_d Hpusing Capital ProJe_cT§: Peninsula Children's Center Stevenson House ~Hra.,:l1onte .... rental Health COl1ununity Housln:l;. mc Senior Coordinaung (ouncH City of Pajo AJto Homeless Services Housing Services Shar-ed Housing Services Long-term Care Ombudsman Shelter & Homeless Sen-ices Fair acusing Services Program .<\dministration Playground Hre Marm & Side", a1ks R.-;:ntal Rehab Project Po,-.-er DC{lrS SubsidLzed H0me Repairs. !'\ew Housing Development Fund $ 55P;XJ 33,606 15,(0) 13,894 10,CO) $ 17.500 178,300 $ 55,())) 50.CeQ 20ft):) 56,618 10'(00 456,117 $971,035 The folJov.ing js. a brief dJs.cussion of ea.::h of the committee's recommendations. CATEGORY; PUBLIC SERVICE L 5S5,0C() CAC Comments: The committee reC'onuT"lends full ftlndin~ for the l'rban ~ .. :5nistry because they provide undupLtcated M:,rdC'E'S to very 10Yl' incume-and homeless individuals in. Palo Alto in a highly visible. efflCient and eHecuve manner. Other CDBC applicants. havE' indjcared that thE' t"rban ~Ijnbtr) is their connertlon to th~ A IT ACHMEl'.'T C homeless c'.Jlnmunity which demonstrateo;; the imponanc't of lhe t"rban ~linb~ry's pres~nce in the comml!n.ity. 2. PALO ALTO HOLlSL"-iG CO\{P()R\ 1'10."\ CAe Comt:lents: The committee 3('k...1o ..... 1edges rh.1t P . .\.H( has pta)'ed .all ~mportam role i.!l development of housing f,x 10\,'" in(~ome lndl\."iduals and f;!..ffiLlies .in Palo Alto. 1'her,= has been a demonstrated irnpro\,'.:ment in docurni;nration of me level of serv"ic€s provided and th€ peopte served by PAHC. Gi\icn the \'acane), rate in Palo Alto for 1m .. ' income housing (5%), there is a qUE-stion as. to '[he efficacy of providing counseling se.l'"vices wh~n the mandat~ 15 to develop housing. The COlflIT'JUec also bt""Uev.es that the commurutv could b€ better served if somE of the services were done in <:ombination \vith other'orga.ni7ations. 3. IXNOVATIVE HOl'SIXG $I5.CO:! c"c Conunents~ ThE' conunittee. s.upports the efforts on the pan of IH to continue to provide transitional housing v¥ith s~lf-sufficienC} as i{s goal. :!\'ot only is the shared housing concept unlqUE', but also the sbarc--d hoc sing experiem~e ~rves to provlde a support netYwork for those individuals and single-par-enl famllies at risk. 4. CATHOilC CHARITIES S13.8'>4 G.4.C Comments: This.is a case of undupi~[ated $en'lces of an organiz8.tion serving a very \,uIner-able population. The use of volunteers pennirs th,=m to increase the number of clients and services pr0vided in the [(}mmuni~". The committee .... llolehearted1y supports that effort. 5. $10.(0) CAe Ccmments: The committee .... ants to ('on tinue to support EHC efforts to leveragE' a contribution by Palo .~t:) \vhiie recO£fJ.izing that not a large number of homele:'.s individuals ar.:-docu.-nentE'd as using th":'lr services. CDBG PROGRAM ADMINISTlV.TION 1. ~lJD-PEX!NSl;lA CITIZENS fOR FAIR HOl'SLNG $17,SCX] CAe Comll'.ents: In recognition of the imPW\l"d Dutreach E'ffDrt~ by ~1CHI, the cormnittee is recommending more Ulan n-.iCE: the a .... nount recr)mmended la~t year and has included an additional $2,000 in suppon of the planned swnrner workshop for pcoperty managers and o .... nen. 2. en, OF PALO Ai TO S178.3(X) CAe Com ... nenrs: The comminee supports the use of CDBG funds for the management of the CDBG program and recommends. the full amount reque:'.tl'd. 2 '.j I I 1 - COMMUNiTY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING CAPITAL FRO]ECTS 1. PENL,\;SULA CHILDRES'S CEi\TER SS5,COO CAe Conunent:!l: The cOmmittee ts re("ornmending full fu.nding of this p.roj€Ct ...... ith tbe sino:e.re bope that the pee \o\i..ll con~id('r u~lng a portion of the fua:ds for the .acquisition of new playground equipment in lieu 0f new sod. The playground repres~nts a qualiry of life issue fcr tJH?s.e chl1dren; they have no other opp..1nunir: for playground inreraction as theS.(' are not t:hHdren 'who can function independently in the community. 2, STEVENSOI' HOUSE S50,OOJ CAe Comments: The conunittee recommends fWlding tv.'o project .... The application this year is for a fire alarm system at $30,000 "",hich is a serjou~ need at Stevenson House due to the aging ~pui.atiQn and the conf1guration of the ·building .... Repair of the w..u.I0A'3}'s 'o\'aS funded ~'O years ago and it has since been decided tbat replacement of the ..... alk .... ays would be more appropriate, The rotal fmandal need for S:dev.alk replacement 1s 52S,()C(), $S,OC() of which ""as pre\oiously funded. Tb,erefore, the committee recammends funding of the additional S20,(()Q needed to complete the project. 3, MIRAHO~'TE ~fE',"TAlIlE"Lrd SZQ,OOJ CAe Comments: Miramonte's application to convert the building on Middlefield to housing will result in addttional huusL'1g being added for a population that othen .... ise will 1:Je largely underserved and is. at risk of homeless ness. 4. COW,1VJ\TIY HOUSING, I'-ic. $56,618 CAe Comments: The conunittee i~ re{"om:nending fuli funding of th.is projen because it addresses a serious safet} hsue. A..lt!1ough corruninee members ha\'E' serious concerns about the finandal viability of CHI, the c,x.'lrrUUeE" as a whole dCk""S nut want tD pena.Jize the eld,er)y residents (;f iynon Gardens. complex. Howe\er, appro\'a1 of futu~ applications may be affected u.nless then· is improvement in finanCial r.ep;:xting pr,xedures as re.commended by CHls outside audit_ors. s, SE\lOF. COORDlNA TING COL'NelL SIO,OOJ CAe Comments: The subsidLzed senior home repair program provides a valuable service in rerms of hoelping etderly pe<JpIe remain i~"l their hames. and it appears that S10,00) repre&ents rh€ actual amuunt used for sub!.idy purposes based an dara from the last tVI'o years. Therf."fore, the committee recommends full funding. 3 .. _-------,.-;... - . errY OF PALO .\1.10 S,-J.5CJ, 11 i CAe Comme.ots.: The conunii',('t"", aftef Judging tho:-mefl!." of each of t~,e fh e propos.,lh in the City's request, prioritized them as [oIJo .... '$: L 2. 3. 4.&5. Tamarack Coun The new SRO project The Bark,,:r Hotel AIastradero Par;':: & Tovver \'\"e!l sire 1. Tamarack Court" rx;spi!e the ARB ruling, t11l ... project \\-as. unanimously fi:lYDred by the committee and given top priority. The cc,mmil!ee befieves that this project offers the b€st chancE' for immediate r.oU5!ng for a cn:-lcalJ} underserved population. A sepa:-2te letter je;, being seat to the Planning Comrllission from the Ci\C in suppon of this projec L 2. Ih.f....p.;:.~y5.R<2.DL<llen. D€ve!oprnent of an SRO ...... a:; deterw..ined to be of extrem~ importance by the (ommiITI';-e. The: comIT'Jnee agrees '""ith the CumprehenSi\'e Housing Affoniabiliry Strat€g)' (eHAS) llJat this H'pn":>enls rhr;-h!ghest priority housing ne-ed in the (on1Il1ur'1..ity. 3. The Bar~er Hrug],. Tbe commh"tee 15 conce:med that L'1e pllrchas.e ptice for L'1e Barker H-8tel has e~a1ated dramatically since the project , .. :as flfSt L'ltroduc€d in 1992 (the 1992 purchase p:rice had been stated as t.'f-te lCW.oef of $1.6 million Of the appraised value). Tbe price incre:ase SE'ems incom:s',ent in \"iew of gt:~erally declining real estate vaIue~. The committee belie .... es that tbe 21l1ount of money req uired both tr.) purchase and upgrade the proper!) are prohibitive and make the in\'est.r!lent extn·mely f'xp,"nsive per unit 2,nd for the number of pe:r~ns housed. The co:nmirtc'{' recognizes that lhe Earku sen'€s a special clientele. However, the committee feels ~tJongty that there is a need to focus E'ff()rts on more cos.t efieniv€ projects in the future. 4.&5. &,,~.strader() Park anquLo. ...... er WetLr,j~, The comminee encourages the city to pursue any special Hli'D fundmg availahk as it relates. w the Aras.tradero Park complex. Thoe Citizens Advisory Commlno:::e would tike tD take thi .. OP~Y,Xlunjry to e"\.pres~ concern to the Coun("il about 1:\ .. '0 is:!>ues which ~urfa.c-ed during the cour!:K' of CDEG committee meetings in February and !\'Iarch. • The conunittee members realize rhat the crear-lon of the Cit) 's :-"eVl. Hous.ing Development FUnd ...... as the necessary re::'l1lt of F-ll:D requirements. relativE' h:I the management of CnBG fUi1d~" Last year the comm':'Hc:e inl€'T\"iew,,:d individual project app!i{"ants tbereb.Y gaining a bpner undefSotanding of th~ propo5.".is.. 'Vith the struclure: of tbe t\ew HCll1Si.r..g Deyeloprnent Fund this is no longer the case. COn5E'quently. the cc.'mmlnE":: feeis it ha.s lost thE' 0PVJrtunity for in depth aSSE'ss.mel1t and 0\ ersight c~-Ipabilil)' regarding potcntia.l projects. In the future, the conuniuE'e would lIke to see this interview process. reinstated. • The comntittee f€€'1s \'l'f) sTrongly th.:n due 10 the critkaJ shortage of 10,\ income housing in this. community, CDBG funds, \\ith fC'\\ E'.v:eptiom. ~hould be 4 .. ,. \ uso::d for hou.sing de .... elopmC'nt. The pnmary purpose of the HC)'...!sing ;md Conummiry [)e'iE'!CJpr.'l.ent An of 197.:1 ; .. the "dl.."'o..,lr)prr.Cnl of viable urb.tn commuruti{:'s by prodding decent housing and a suitJ.ble ii~'jng er:vironmem and expa.'l.ding eronomi( opponunitie:s, prin<.:ipajJy for pt:'n.ot"s of ]c'w and m()derare iocom{'." L'S€ of funds by the di:)' for capit..':lJ improvement pr(~jE(IS such as the Senkr CentH Seismic t:pgrat1E' and Cit) facilit) ADA Compljal1'::E-, wrJle technic~lly eligible for C(1BG fundi!1g. are Cljl:nter to the spirit of the act and the housing needs. of this community. Sinn' the City cannot be expeued to develop housing out of the dey's general funds. the (ommi!tee sLrongly urges the Council to s.upport U'SE' of CDBG monies, along ..... ith orher leveraged f<.Ln.jL'"'.g (e.g .. HOME funds) for-housing purpo~s 2rrd use of CIP funding for the city"s seis.n1i{ upgr."dlflg and ADA (Dmplian(e. Respectfully subm.itted. CHRISTINE SHA\IBORA Chairperson Citizens' Ad'llisory Committee CDBG Program 5 }.lA.RG . .;.RET FEUER \·lce-Chairperson Citizens' Advisory Cnmmine€ CDBG Pmgram •