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HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-11 Staff Report - Resolution Authorizing CalHome Program Grant ApplicationCalHome Program Grant Application November 15, 2021 Page 1 CONSENT ITEM E-11 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: NICO DE ANDA-SCAIA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER DATE: NOVEMBER 15, 2021 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CALHOME GRANT PROGRAM BACKGROUND: The CalHome Program is authorized by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 50650) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the State Health and Safety Code. Additionally, Proposition 1C, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Funds Act of 2006, provides funding for CalHome mortgage assistance for low, or very low-income first-time homebuyers and owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for low, or very low-income homeowners (0 to 80% of Median Family Income). The CalHome application is a competitive application process rated and ranked by HCD to determine the grant recipients. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council take the following action: 1)Approve the attached Resolution No. 2021-C54 authorizing the submission of an application to HCD for funding under the CalHome Program. ANALYSIS: The City of Azusa wishes to submit an application for funding under the CalHome Program with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The CalHome Program was established with the intent of enabling low and very low-income households to become or remain homeowners. Through this program, HCD grant funds are awarded to local public agencies and nonprofit developers, who then assist individual first-time homebuyers through deferred-payment loans for down payment assistance, home rehabilitation, homebuyer counseling, self-help mortgage assistance, technical assistance, among other services. Assistance APPROVED CITY COUNCIL 11/15/2021 CalHome Program Grant Application November 15, 2021 Page 2 to individual households is in the form of deferred-payment loans payable on sale or transfer of the property, or at maturity. If awarded, these funds will provide low interest (0 to 3%, determined by City Council at a future date) deferred payment loans to seniors, persons with a disability, and families of low to moderate-income who are fist-time homebuyers in need of down payment assistance, or who own and occupy their homes and need financial assistance to make repairs and improvements. This program is a reimbursable program with no matching funds required to participate. In order to submit an application for the CalHome Grant Program, a City Council Resolution authorizing submittal to HCD is required. In addition, the City has engaged Global Urban Strategies, Inc., a consulting firm based out of Alhambra, for grant writing services and expertise associated with applying for the CalHome Grant Program. Global Urban Strategies, Inc. specializes in applying for, and administering CalHome Grant Program funds, and as a partner with the City is therefore able to maximize the City’s point-allocation and competitiveness for said funds. This time-sensitive item requires City Council action to allow for timely submission of the CalHome Program application to HCD. To remain eligible to apply for CalHome funds, the City Council must approve the application submitted before the application deadline of November 22, 2021. If awarded CalHome grant funds, Staff will return to City Council for further direction regarding next steps, including but not limited to the acceptance of grant funds and formal agreement through HCD; approval of a professional services agreement for CalHome program grant administration services (to be paid through the CalHome administrative grant allocation); and establishment of local program guidelines and interest rates. FISCAL IMPACT: The cost for professional services with Global Urban Strategies, Inc. associated with grant- writing and applying to the CalHome Grant Program is $5,000, and therefore falls under the City Manager’s expenditure threshold for approval authority. These funds will be budgeted from the City Manager’s Department Account #6399. If the City is awarded CalHome grant funds, Staff will return with further fiscal impact analysis related to fund disbursement, budget allocation, and grant administration services. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Nico De Anda-Scaia Sergio Gonzalez Deputy City Manager City Manager Attachments: 1) Authorizing Resolution No. 2021-C54 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-C54 A RESOLUTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR FUNDING UNDER THE CALHOME PROGRAM; THE EXECUTION OF A STANDARD AGREEMENT IF SELECTED FOR SUCH FUNDING AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO; AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CALHOME PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the city of Azusa, a municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of California, wishes to apply for and receive an allocation of funds through the CalHome Program; and WHEREAS, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (hereinafter referred to as “HCD”) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (“NOFA”) on September 21, 2021, for the CalHome program established by Chapter 84, Statutes of 2000 (SB 1656 Alarcon), and codified in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 50650) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code (the “statute”). Pursuant to the statute, HCD is authorized to approve funding allocations utilizing monies made available by the State Legislature to the CalHome program, subject to the terms and conditions of the statute and the CalHome Program Regulations adopted by HCD in April 2004; and WHEREAS, the City of Azusa wishes to submit an application to obtain from HCD an allocation of CalHome Funds in the amount of Four Million Eight Hundred Six Thousand ($4,806,000.00) but no more than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00); and WHEREAS, the City of Azusa, upon the award of said grant funding, wishes to enter into a Professional Service Agreement with Global Urban Strategies, Inc. for the Administration of the CalHome Program (including loan servicing, monitoring, Homebuyer Education, and submittal of reimbursement requests), program eligibility and vetting of applicants; and WHEREAS, Global Urban Strategies, Inc. has extensive experience administering various state and federally funded programs including the CalHome Program and will be compensated directly from the administration fees allocated by the program. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Attachment 1 SECTION 1. The City of Azusa shall submit to HCD an application to participate in the CalHome Program in response to the NOFA issued on September 21, 2021, which will request a funding allocation for the following activities: A. First Time Homebuyers Program in the amount of Two Million Six Hundred Forty- Six Thousand dollars ($2,646,000.00); and B. Owner Occupied Rehabilitation in the amount of Two Million One Hundred Sixty Thousand dollars ($2,160,000.00). All activities will be conducted within the boundaries of the City of Azusa, CA. SECTION 2. If the application for funding is approved, the City of Azusa hereby agrees to use the CalHome funds for eligible activities in the manner presented in the application as approved by HCD and in accordance with program regulations cited above. 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 of Azusa acknowledges and agrees that it may be required to execute any and all other instruments necessary or required by HCD for participating in the CalHome Program. SECTION 3. The City Council of the City of Azusa authorizes the City Manager or his designee, to execute in the name of the City of Azusa the application, the Standard Agreement, and any subsequent amendments or modifications thereto, as well as any other documents required by HCD for participation in the CalHome Program, and any amendments thereto. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall attest and certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions, and it shall become effective immediately upon its approval. The City Council hereby finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into the body of this Resolution by this reference. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of November, 2021. ____________________________________ Robert Gonzales Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF AZUSA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2021-C54 was duly adopted by the City Council, at a regular meeting of said Agency held on the 15th day of November 2021, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ___________________________________ Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________________ Best, Best & Krieger, LLP City Attorney