HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-19-2016 Item 06 - Authorize A Grant Application for the Housing Related Parks Program
Meeting Date: 1/19/2016
FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Jenny Wiseman, Planning Technician
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE HOUSING RELATED
PARKS PROGRAM.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution (Attachment A) authorizing staff to apply to the California State Department
of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for $288,650 of Housing Related Parks (Parks)
Grant program funds to be applied towards the Sinsheimer Park Playground Renovation project.
DISCUSSION
Background
On October 26, 2015, HCD released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Housing
Related Parks (Parks) Grant program. The NOFA included $30 million in new funds for the
Parks program. This program is designed to encourage the development of lower income
housing. The Parks Grant program makes awards to eligible jurisdictions, on a per -bedroom
basis for each extremely-low, very-low and low income affordable residential units with
documented building permits or a certificate of occupancy issued during the designated program
period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015. The Parks Grant program provides funds
for eligible parks and recreation projects that benefit the community and add to the quality of
life; grants are awarded on a non-competitive basis. The Parks Grant program guidelines are
available for review in the Council Reading File.
The City had five affordable housing projects that qualified during the designated program
period. One eligible housing project was South Hills Crossing, located at 313 South Street,
which includes 42 extremely-low, very-low and low income affordable units ranging from one to
three-bedrooms. Another eligible housing project was Moylan Terrace, an 81 unit development
with 16 very-low and low income units. The remaining qualifying projects included Habitat for
Humanity’s three single family homes on Rockview, Transitions Mental Health’s eight
affordable transitional dwelling units, and eight affordable units located at 3229/3239 Broad.
Funding Amount Requested
The grant requires the applicants to meet a minimum grant amount of $75,000. The City has
exceeded the minimum $75,000 threshold requirement and will be applying for $288,650. HCD
supplies a formula and chart to calculate the total award amount, which is based upon the
affordability level and number of bedrooms constructed in each of the eligible projects. HCD
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also offers four opportunities to collect bonus awards, including:
1. Infill projects;
2. Projects in conformance with the Regional Blueprint Plan;
3. Projects located within a park deficient community; and
4. Projects located within a disadvantage community.
The HCD chart used for calculation of the potential award is shown below:
Qualifying Park Project
The Parks Grant funds must be used for creation or rehabilitation of parks and recreation
facilities that meet the program guideline eligibility requirements. Staff recommends applying
the grant funds toward the Sinsheimer Park Playground Renovation (“Playground”) project. The
Playground project, which is identified in the 2013-15 Capital Improvement Plan of the Financial
Plan (page 3-395 through 3-398), includes complete renovation and expansion of the playground
area. Amenities include new multi-level play equipment, protective surfacing, accessible
walkways, picnic tables, benches, new irrigation, trees, and drought tolerant plantings. The new
accessible walkways will allow access to the upper play area as well as the second level of the
play “tower” structure and the hillside embankment. Additionally, the project will include
improvements to the restroom facilities to bring them into compliance with current accessibility
regulations. The preliminary estimate of construction costs is approximately $795,000. Applying
for the Parks Grant makes sense because renovation or rehabilitation of a playground meets the
Project Identifier from
Project Summary
Sheet
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Bonus Awards TOTAL A B C D E F G
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3229/3239 Broad 8 12 11 $6,000 Yes Yes No Yes $13,800 $19,800
Transitions Mental
Health (1306 Nipomo) 8 8 8 $6,000 Yes Yes Yes Yes $13,200 $19,200
South Hills Crossing 5 28 9 12 64 19 95 $69,500 Yes Yes No Yes $109,250 $178,750
Moylan Terrace 2 14 6 28 32 $17,000 Yes Yes No Yes $36,800 $53,800
3208 Rockview 1 3 3 $2,250 Yes Yes No Yes $3,450 $5,700
3210 Rockview 1 3 3 $2.250 Yes Yes No Yes $3,450 $5,700
3212 Rockview 1 3 3 $2,250 Yes Yes No Yes $3,450 $5,700
TOTAL 5 41 31 12 85 59 156 $105,250 $183,400 $288,650
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eligibility requirements and since the total project cost of $799,000 exceeds the estimated grant
amount of $288,650, the grant will be fully expended.
Consistency with Grant Management Policy
The City has adopted a grant management policy to insure that new grant projects are consistent
with City goals and that there are sufficient resources to administer funds awarded through new
grant programs. A copy of the City’s Grant Management Policy is available in the Council
Reading File. In this case, staff recommends that the grant funds be applied to an existing Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) project, the Sinsheimer Park Playground Renovation project. This
project was first identified as one of Council’s 2013-15 Financial Plan goals for infrastructure
maintenance and the construction documents are nearly complete. Therefore, the proposed new
grant program applied to this existing CIP project would not create a substantial new work load,
is consistent with City goals, and the full grant amount can be expended almost immediately
upon receipt.
City Manager or Assistant City Manager to Execute Program Related Documents
The attached resolution provides the City Manager or the Assistant City Manager (or authorized
designee) with the necessary authority to execute program related documents, including an
application, standard agreement and any amendments thereto (Attachment A, Draft Resolution).
To implement the program after award, the Director of Public Works is also specifically
authorized to submit payment requests, provide status updates, and provide program/project
closeout documents to facilitate program implementation.
FISCAL IMPACTS
The Parks Grant program can be administered using staff resources already programmed for the
Sinsheimer Park Playground Renovation project and, therefore; the program is not expected to
impact the General Fund staffing costs. In fact, applying the Parks Grant to the Sinsheimer Park
Playground Renovation project may allow General Funds currently programmed for the project
to be used for other playground or park maintenance projects. Any unused funding at the end of
the project will be returned to the Playground Master Account for use on future park projects.
CONCURRENCES
The Sinsheimer Park Playground Renovation was approved by the Parks and Recreation
Commission at its April 1, 2015 meeting. The Public Works Department concurs with the use of
Parks Grant funds to offset General Fund dollars for the playground renovation.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not apply for the grant. The Council could direct staff to not apply for the grant. Staff
does not recommend this alternative. The City should take advantage of all available
grant resources to supplement the General Fund revenues which will help accomplish
City goals and objectives.
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2. Choose a different qualifying park. The Council may propose a different qualifying park
project instead of applying the grant to the Sinsheimer Park Playground Renovation
project. Other qualifying park projects could include park maintenance projects currently
programed such as sport court resurfacing and bleacher replacements at Santa Rosa Park
and Meadow Park. Staff does not recommend applying the grant to these other park
maintenance projects as these projects are smaller in scale and may not require the full
amount of the grant.
Attachments:
a - Resolution Authorizing Housing Related Parks Grant Application
Council Reading File - City of San Luis Obispo Grant Management Policy
Council Reading File - 2015 Housing Related Parks Program Guidelines
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. XXXX(2016 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION IN THE
AMOUNT OF $288,650 TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR HOUSING RELATED
PARKS PROGRAM FUNDS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR PARK UPGRADES AT
SINSHEIMER PARK
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo, a charter city and municipal corporation,
wishes to apply for and receive an allocation of funds through the Housing Related Parks (Parks)
Grant program; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Housing and Community Development
(hereinafter referred to as “HCD”) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (“NOFA”) for the
Parks Grant program established by Chapter 8, Sections 50700 through 50704.5 of Part 2 of
Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code (the “statute”). Pursuant to the statute, HCD is
authorized to approve funding allocation utilizing monies made available by the State legislature
to the Parks Grant program, subject to the terms and conditions of the Parks Grant program
Guidelines adopted as amended by HCD on October 26, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo wishes to submit an application to obtain from
HCD an allocation of Parks Grant program funds in the amount of $288,650; and
WHEREAS, HCD is authorized to approve funding allocations for the Parks Grant
program, subject to the terms and conditions of the NOFA, Program Guidelines, Application
Package, and Standard Agreement; and
WHEREAS, at the time of application, the City of San Luis Obispo has a General Plan
Housing Element that is certified by HCD; and
WHEREAS, at the time of the application, the City of San Luis Obispo has a General
Plan in conformance with the Regional Blueprint Plan as required by HCD.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. Application. The City of San Luis Obispo shall submit to HCD an
application to participate in the Parks Grant program in response to the NOFA issued on October
26, 2015, which will request financial assistance to help in the purchase and installation of new
multi-level play equipment, protective surfacing, accessible walkways, and other related park
improvements at Sinsheimer Park.
SECTION 2. Eligible Activities. If the application for funding is approved, the City of
San Luis Obispo hereby agrees to use the Parks Grant program funds for eligible activities in the
manner presented in the application as approved by HCD and in accordance with program
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Resolution No. (2016 Series) Page 2
Guidelines as cited above. The City of San Luis Obispo may also execute any and all other
instruments necessary or required by HCD for participation in the Parks Grant program.
SECTION 3. Authorization. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager or
the Assistant City Manager to execute in the name of the City of San Luis Obispo, the
application, the Standard Agreement, and all other documents required by HCD for participation
in the Parks Grant program, and any amendments thereto. In addition, the City Council hereby
authorizes the Director of Public Works to submit payment requests, provide status updates and
provide program/project closeout documents to facilitate program implementation.
Upon motion of , seconded by , and on the
following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this ______ day of________ 2016.
____________________________________
Mayor Jan Marx
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Traci R. McGinley, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________________
Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
______________________________
Traci R. McGinley, MMC
City Clerk
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