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HEARING: Health and Human Services Agency, Community Services Division, recommending the Board conduct a public hearing to:
1) Receive and accept the final product of an Exterior Housing Conditions Study conducted under 2009-2010 Community Development Block Grant, General Allocation Planning and Technical Assistance Standard Agreement 09-PTAE-6497; and
2) Authorize submittal of said study to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development to satisfy grant requirements. (Est. Time: 20 Min.)
FUNDING: Federal CDBG Grant Funds and County General Fund.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: Federal Community Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance Allocation funds were awarded in an amount up to $35,000, with required County matching funds in an amount up to $1,750 from the Health & Human Services Agency Budget (General Fund), approved by Resolution 234-2009.
Background: The Housing Element of the County's General Plan was adopted on April 21, 2009, and provides a framework for the County to address the housing needs of residents in the unincorporated areas of the County through 2013.
The policies under Goal HO-2 of the Housing Element focus on maintaining community character and preserving housing stock through the continuation of County housing programs, effective code enforcement, and investigation of new funding sources. The policies under Goal HO-3 of the Housing Element focus on preserving the affordable housing stock through continued maintenance, preservation, and rehabilitation of the existing affordable housing.
Specifically, Housing Element Implementation Measure HO-35 directs the County to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations to assist in funding an Exterior Housing Conditions Study (Housing Study) for residential units in the unincorporated areas of El Dorado County. To assist the County in meeting the goals of the Housing Element, a Housing Study will help identify current needs that could be addressed through the submittal of future applications to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for funding to be awarded under the CDBG and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs.
Following a public hearing on October 20, 2009 (Legistar File 09-1301, Agenda item number 20), the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 234-2009 authorizing the County to submit an application for a CDBG Planning and Technical Assistance (PTA) allocation to obtain a consultant to perform an Exterior Housing Conditions Study in the unincorporated areas of the County.
The grant was awarded on November 5, 2007, and the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency, acting as the Director of Human Services, signed Standard Agreement 09-PTAE-6497 following review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management. HCD executed the Standard Agreement on June 23, 2010. A Request for Proposal was issued by the County to procure a consultant to conduct the Housing Study. On March 31, 2011, the County executed Agreement for Services 420-S1110 with BAE Urban Economics, Inc., a California Corporation, doing business as Bay Area Economics (BAE) to conduct said study.
The results of the Housing Study will help the County's direct marketing efforts to low-income households, defined as those earning 80 percent or less of the area median income, who could benefit most from housing rehabilitation and other County programs. A responsive housing rehabilitation program will enable the County to meet the goals of the General Plan Housing Element policies and measures that direct the County to provide quality residential environments for all income levels and to conserve the County's current stock of affordable housing.
Reason for Recommendation: The planning activity funded by the CDBG PTA grant has been accomplished with the completion of the Housing Study by BAE. The attached Staff Report (Attachment A) provides a summary of the results of the study. A complete copy of the study is also attached (Attachment B).
HCD requires that the Board of Supervisors, as the governing board, conduct a public hearing to advise the public of grant accomplishments and accept the final product of the grant. Following Board acceptance, staff will submit the final product to HCD and close out the grant when it expires on June 30, 2012. The final product will be posted on the County's website and available to interested organizations and individuals for review.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Health and Human Services Agency staff to submit final product to HCD to close out the 09-PTAG-6497 CDBG PTA grant.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, 642-7275
Concurrences: N/A