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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 7573RESOLUTION NO. 7573 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA ADOPTING POLICIES CONCERNING NON- DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND DISPLACEMENT AND TENANT ASSISTANCE TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RENTAL REHABILITATION GRANT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the City of Azusa has received a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Rental Rehabilitation Grant Program; and WHEREAS, the purpose of this grant is to rehabilitate substandard rental dwelling units, thereby increasing the supply of standard housing units affordable to lower income families; and WHEREAS, the City must adopt policies and procedures to ensure that housing rehabilitated under the program will be affirmatively marketed in accordance with various fair housing, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination statutes; and WHEREAS, the City must adopt policies and procedures to provide assistance to households which might be displaced as a result of rehabilitation activities, although no displacement is anticipated. WHEREAS, the City has prepared a Non -Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit "A", and a Displacement and Tenant Assistance Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit "B". NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Azusa does resolve as follows: SECTION 1. The City of Azusa hereby adopts the Non -Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit "A", and the Displacement and Tenant Assistance Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit "B". These policies shall be utilized in conjunction with the City's grant under the Rental Rehabilitation Grant Program. SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution. CITY OF AZUSA 1 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was` duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 1st day of October, 1984, by the following vote of the. Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: CRUZ, COOK, CAMARENA, LATTA, MOSES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE CITY L RK W EXH113IT "A" Non -Discrimination and Equal Opportunity The City of Azusa will comply with affirmative fair housing marketing requirements when advertising the availability of rehabilitated units to solicit applications from persons of all ethnic, racial and gender groups. The City of Azusa will comply with the following procedures, requirements, and assessment criteria: (1) Written material on Federal Fair Housing Laws will be distributed to owners/tenants. All advertisements and/or public announcements regarding the program will include the Equal Housing Opportunity logo. (2) Each owner assisted through the Rental Rehabilitation Program must act to affirmatively further fair housing. This shall include, but not be limited to, the following: a. Listing available units with the Section 8 Existing Marketing Section of the Housing Authority/Community Development Commission; b. Attempting to fill vacant units with families who are active certificate holders through the Section 8 program or who are applicants on the waiting list for Section 8 Certificates/Vouchers; C. Using the Equal Housing Opportunity logo in any newspaper advertisement, or written communication to community groups, organizations, agencies or other community contacts. (3) To inform and solicit applications from those persons in the housing market area least likely to apply for the unit, property owners will utilize various community contacts to advertise unit availability. (4) Copies of all written material regarding vacant units for rent will be kept by the Housing Authority/Community Development Commission and owners. Records will be kept of applications received in response to available vacancies. (5) The Housing Authority will periodically review affirmative marketing efforts made by owners to ensure compliance with Equal Housing Opportunity provisions. Where an owner has failed to follow affirmative marketing requirements, appropriate actions, available under program regulations and/or applicable laws, will be taken to enforce conformity. Owners will be encouraged to comply with provisions of affirmative marketing of the units for no less than seven years after the completion date of rehabilitation of all units in the project. 0 6 DISPLACEMENT AND TENANT ASSISTANCE POLICY The City of Azusa hereby adopts a written Tenant Assistance Policy concerning displacement, relocation assistance, and other assistance to tenants who reside or will reside in projects to be rehabilitated under the Rental Rehabilitation Grant Program. This Tenant Assistance Policy includes a statement of non-discrimination; a statement of the methods of administration that will prevent displacement of persons because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; and a statement of individual rights under the Federal Housing Law. Displacement Displacement results if a lower income family is forced to move permanently from a project as a direct consequence of rehabilitation activity under this program. The City of Azusa does not anticipate displacement of tenant households and will prioritize projects which avoid displacement. If displacement occurs, displaced households will have an opportunity to apply for housing assistance through the Rental Rehabilitation Grant Program without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex or national origin. No tenant shall be considered displaced if the tenant has been offered a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling unit in the project at an affordable rent as defined at 24 CFR Part 511.10(h)(B). Relocation Assistance In the unlikely event that displacement occurs, the City will meet its relocation responsibilities through the use of its staff and consultants, supplemented by assistance from local realtors, social agencies, and civic organizations. Relocation assistance shall be made available to all displaced households in accordance with provisions of the non-discrimination and equal opportunity requirements of Federal Fair Housing Laws. It is the City's objective that all displaced tenants be relocated with a minimum of hardship in accommodations which are decent, safe, sanitary, and suitable to their individual needs; located in areas not less desirable than their current location in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities; and reasonably accessible to their places of employment; and priced within their financial means. The City anticipates no relocations, and will handle those which result from implementation of this program in an individual, case-by-case manner. Services provided to eligible displacees shall include, but not be limited to: - Providing information on project activities, rights, benefits, and options open to them. Families will be advised of their individual rights under the Federal Fair Housing Laws and provided with fact sheets on Equal Housing opportunities. - Maintaining liaison between displacees and agencies or firms with resources to assist them. C 0 Locating, inspection, and evaluating accommodations for displacees. Qualified families residing in units to be rehabilitated will be advised of housing assistance available under the program and offered an opportunity to apply for a Section 8 Existing Certificate/Voucher to seek housing within all cities of the Housing Authorities/Community Development Commission's jurisdiction. Tenants will be provided with information on minimum housing quality standards under the Section 8 Existing Program, guidelines on inspecting units in meeting these standards, occupancy standards and Fair Market Rent limitations. Assisting displacees in obtaining financing. Assisting displacees in securing priority consideration for Section 8, public housing, or other housing assistance programs. Making referrals to appropriate social, community, and welfare agencies. - Assisting eligible displacees to prepare claims for all relocation assistance payments to which they may be entitled. - Keeping records, maintaining files, and coordinating all relocation activities. Providing all displaced tenants with written notice of this policy, the types of services available to them, and the amount of relocation assistance benefits for which they may be eligible. (Payments will be those established by State and Federal guidelines.) City staff and consultants will be available to answer questions and provide information, and by their early involvement see that relocation proceeds with a minimum of hardship.