Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorization to accept and appropriate funding for a State of California Housing and Community Development Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant for the City of Visalia’s Housing Element update in an amount to not exceed $241,000.00.
body
Deadline for Action: 5/16/2022
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, brandon.smith@visalia.city <mailto:brandon.smith@visalia.city>, (559) 713-4636 Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>, (559)713-4025
Department Recommendation:
City staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City of Visalia Community Development Department to accept and appropriate funding for a State of California Department of Housing and Community Development Regional Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant in an amount not to exceed $241,000.00 for the preparation and adoption of the 2023-2031 6th Cycle Housing Element Update.
The REAP grant will be combined with the $155,000 allocated with the LEAP grant which has already been awarded to the City of Visalia. These combined grants will be used to hire a consultant to help prepare and adopt Visalia’s 6th Cycle Housing Element update.
Summary:
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the release of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) as part of the Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program (REAP). Fresno Council of Governments received a local government planning support grant and executed an agreement with the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development on behalf of the eight regional planning agencies within the San Joaquin Valley (the “COGs”) to provide local jurisdictions with grant funding for technical assistance, preparation and adoption of planning documents, and process improvements to accelerate housing production and facilitate compliance to implement the sixth cycle of the Regional Housing Need Assessment. Tulare County Council of Governments (TCAG) has received is allocation and is suballocating the balance of said grant funds to the County of Tulare and to each of the Cities within Tulare County to carry out the purposes of the grant. The City of Visalia’s allocation for REAP will not exceed $241,000. The REAP grant will be combined with the $155,000 allocated with the LEAP grant awarded to Visalia. These combined grants will be used to hire a consultant to help prepare and adopt Visalia’s 6th Cycle Housing Element update.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia is currently circulating a “Request for Proposal” requesting proposals from qualified professional consultants to prepare a comprehensive “6th Cycle” Housing Element update. Staff has also attended 6th Cycle Housing Element update webinars to evaluate new mandates that are required with the “6th Cycle” update. Based on information staff received related to the cost associated with, and the complexity and state mandates required with the 6th Cycle Housing Element update, staff engaged TGAC staff to see if REAP funds were available for Visalia that could be used to help with the potential cost associated with the preparation and adoption of the 6th Cycle Housing Element update.
TCAG staff informed City staff that REAP funding was available for Visalia. The maximum amount identified by TCAG staff is up to $241,000. The REAP grant, combined with the LEAP grant funds identified for the Housing Element update (i.e., $155,000) should provide City staff with the necessary funds to attract proposals from qualified professional consultants to help the City of Visalia prepare a comprehensive “6th Cycle” Housing Element update.
Based on future estimated RHNA allocation housing units for the City of Visalia, and the opening of the City’s Tier 2 Urban Growth Boundary in July 2021, the City will need to ensure that our urban growth boundaries provide adequate land uses to facilitate our housing needs. The City’s physical growth has been occurring under Growth Tier I since the adoption of the General Plan Update in 2014, and with the opening of Tier II, capacity for additional housing needs is critical to enabling more land for various affordability levels to be developed within the City.
The housing element will:
• Identify and analyze the current and projected housing needs for all economic segments of the community.
• Evaluate the current and potential constraints to meeting those needs.
• Inventory and assess availability of land suitable for residential use.
• Establish a series of goals, objectives, policies and programs aimed at responding to housing needs, and housing opportunities.
Visalia is seeking to have the housing element adopted prior to December 2023 deadline.
Fiscal Impact:
Staff is requesting to appropriate up to a maximum of $241,000.00 from the General Fund to fund the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update. The REAP grant does not require matching funds. The REAP grant provides an additional secure source of funding to help in the preparation and adoption of the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update (6th Cycle).
Prior Council Action:
On January 4, 2021, the City Council approved Resolution No. 2020-70, authorizing the Community Development Department to submit a grant proposal under the LEAP Planning Grants Program. The approval also authorized staff to appropriate grant funds. The staff report associated with this action is included as an attachment.
On April 4, 2022, the City Council moved to authorize the City of Visalia Community Development Department to accept and appropriate funding for a State of California Housing and Community Development LEAP grant in the amount of $246,000 for various community development activities.
Alternatives: Deny the REAP funding for the Housing Element.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City of Visalia Community Development Department to accept and appropriate funding for a State of California Housing and Community Development REAP grant in an amount to not exceed $241,000 for the 6th Cycle Housing Element update.
end
Environmental Assessment Status: None.
CEQA Review: No CEQA is required for the grant acceptance.
Attachments:
1. TULARE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS SERVICES AGREEMENT “Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program”