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Home My WebLink About4.04 Housing Parks Grant 2015 Program Year Application STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK File #430-10 CITY COUNCIL DATE:January 19, 2016 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager SUBJECT: Housing Related Parks Grant 2015 Program Year Application Prepared by Kim Obstfeld, Housing Specialist EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The California Department of Housing and Community Development Housing-Related Parks (HRP) Program provides non-competitive grant funding for parks and recreation facilities to cities that develop housing that is affordable to very low- and low-income households. City staff is preparing an application for the 2015 designated program year, seeking funds to improve the Dublin Sports Grounds. The application must include a City Council resolution supporting the application and naming an authorized person to execute grant-related documents if funds are awarded. FINANCIAL IMPACT: If approved, this grant would provide up to $241,025 in parks funding to support improvements to the Dublin Sports Grounds. The Dublin Sports Grounds Renovation project (CIP#PK0416) is identified as a project in the 2014-2019 Capital Improvement Program to be funded in part by existing funds in the amount of $599,025 from previous HRP Program grant awards. RECOMMENDATION: Resolution Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Authorizing an Application for Housing-Related Parks Grant Funds for the 2015 Designated Program Year. Submitted By Reviewed By Community Development Director Assistant City Manager DESCRIPTION: The Housing-Related Parks (HRP) Program is a grant program funded through Proposition 1C and administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The HRP Program is intended to reward local governments that facilitate the development of housing for lower-income households and are in compliance with State Housing Element law by providing grant funds to create or rehabilitate parks and/or recreational facilities. Cities are ITEM NO. 4.4 Page 1 of 3 provided significant additional money for directing grant funds toward facilities that serve park deficient areas. Applying HRP Program funds toward the Dublin Sports Grounds will allow the City to maximize the award amount. Approximately $30 million is available statewide for the 2015 funding round. Staff’s preliminary analysis of HRP Program guidelines and criteria showed that the City is eligible for approximately $233,500 in HRP Program funds, based on having achieved substantial compliance in the certification of the City’s Housing Element, the timely submittal of Housing Element annual reports, and the issuance of building permits for 73 affordable units during the eligible time period. This amount may be increased to $241,025 at the discretion of HCD related to making significant progress in meeting the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation. The application is due February 4, 2016. It is expected that award recipients will be announced in June 2016. Funds must be spent within two years of the date of the award announcement. Eligible Affordable Units Funds are awarded by formula and on a per-bedroom basis for each residential unit affordable to very low- and low-income households permitted during the designated time period. For the 2015 program year, the application may include units permitted from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015. However, this application may not include units that were counted during previous funding cycles. Dublin applied for and was granted funding under the HRP Program in 2011 and 2014, and thus has already received credit for many affordable units permitted during this time period. The City permitted 73 units eligible for funding for this 2015 program year application. These units provide a total of 135 bedrooms. Units are located in the Eden Housing veteran’s apartment development (currently under construction) and in restricted second units in Schaefer Ranch and Calabria. Parks Project – Dublin Sports Grounds Staff recommends that the 2015 HRP Program grant funds be used to improve the Dublin Sports Grounds. The Dublin Sports Grounds is in an area that meets the HRP Program definition of “park-deficient,” in that there are fewer than three acres of usable park space per 1,000 residents. Grant funds awarded in previous applications, totaling $599,025, are also designated for use on this improvement project. If the 2015 application amount is funded in full, the HRP Program funds available to improve the Dublin Sports Grounds will total $840,050. Proposed improvements include an improved drainage system, new turf for soccer, lacrosse, and baseball fields, new site furnishings, playground and plaza improvements, upgraded concession and restroom buildings, new scoreboards, improved fencing and pathways, improvements for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and upgrades to the planting irrigation system. The City is currently updating the master plan and cost estimate for improvements at the Dublin Sports Grounds. The HRP Program grant will be used to fund pre- construction work including design and engineering as well as physical site improvements. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: Not applicable. Page 2 of 3 ATTACHMENTS: 1.Resolution Authorizing an Application for Housing-Related Parks Grant Funds for the 2015 Designated Program Year Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. XX - 16 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN * * * * * * * * * * * AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR HOUSING-RELATED PARKS GRANT FUNDS FOR THE 2015 DESIGNATED PROGRAM YEAR WHEREAS, a guiding policy of the Open Space Element of the City of Dublin General Plan is to maintain and improve existing outdoor facilities in conformance with the recommendations of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan; and WHEREAS, a goal of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan is to provide planning for asset allocation, services management, and funding for the existing parks and facilities while developing a thorough list of the recreational needs of the Dublin community and an action to implement this goal is to explore and identify new funding sources for maintenance and operations of proposed facilities; and WHEREAS, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) dated October 26, 2015, under its Housing-Related Parks (HRP) Program; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin desires to apply for a HRP Program grant and submit the 2015 designated program year application package released by HCD; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin has met eligibility criteria through compliance with California housing element law and the development of 73 units affordable to lower-income households; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin has identified the need for funds to improve the Dublin Sports Grounds, a facility serving a park-deficient area; and WHEREAS, HCD is authorized to approve funding allocations for the HRP Program, subject to the terms and conditions of the NOFA, program guidelines, application package, and standard agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin takes the following actions: 1. Application Submittal. City staff is hereby authorized and directed to apply for and submit to HCD the HRP Program application package released October 2015 for the 2015 designated program year for $241,025. 2. Agreement with HCD. If the application is approved, the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to enter into, execute, and deliver a State of California standard agreement, and any and all other documents required or deemed necessary or appropriate to secure the HRP Program grant from HCD and all amendments thereto (collectively, the “HRP Grant Documents”). 3. Terms, Conditions, and Use of Funds. The City shall be subject to the terms and conditions as specified in the HRP Grant Documents. Funds are to be used for allowable capital asset project expenditures to be identified in the standard ATTACHMENT 1 agreement. The application in full is incorporated as part of the standard agreement. Any and all activities funded, information provided, and timelines represented in the application are enforceable through the standard agreement. The City hereby agrees to use the funds for eligible capital asset(s) in the manner presented in the application as approved by HCD and in accordance with the NOFA, program guidelines, and application package. 4. Staff Authorization. The City Manager is authorized to execute the HRP Program application package and the HRP Grant Documents in the name of the City of Dublin as required by HCD for participation in the HRP Program. th PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 19 day of January, 2016, by the following vote: AYES : NOES : ABSENT : ABSTAIN : ______________________________ Mayor ATTEST : _________________________________ City Clerk ATTACHMENT 1