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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArrowhead Grove {tNAR ` _G Consent Item mCity of San Bernardino `o. Request for Council Action NEED IN�9 Date: February 21, 2017 To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members From: Mark Scott, City Manager Xwe By: Mark Persico, AICP, Community Development Director Oliver Mujica, Planning Division Manager Subject: Housing Related Parks Program Grant Application for Arrowhead Grove (formerly known as Waterman Gardens) Recommendation Adopt Resolution approving submission of a grant application for the Housing Related Parks Program (HRP Program) for Arrowhead Grove (formerly known as Waterman Gardens). Background Recently, HCD announced through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that applications are being accepted under the HRP Program (HRPP). The NOFA is for approximately $35 million from the passage of Proposition 1C, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006. The HRPP is designed to award grant funds to local governments that approve housing for lower-income households and are in compliance with State of California housing element law. The HRPP is a non-competitive grant program. Funds awarded are calculated on a per- bedroom basis for each newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated residential unit that is affordable to very low-income or low-income households. Eligible units that received a building permit or certificate of occupancy during the designated program years of January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016, qualify for the HRPP. Applicants may receive $750 to $2,400 per bedroom for very low-income units or $500 to $2,200 per bedroom for low-income units. The range for each income group is due to bonus awards that factor in location, type of park project, and specific area designations. The maximum allocation is achieved by focusing grant funds on a park project that is located in a park-deficient, low-income neighborhood. Analysis For the designated program years noted, staff has identified 62 affordable housing units consisting of 129 bedrooms that will qualify for the HRPP. These units are part of Olive Meadow at Arrowhead Grove (formerly known as Waterman Gardens Redevelopment Phase 1), which is currently being constructed by National Community Renaissance. Considering these affordable housing units, their location, and household income restrictions, staff anticipates the application will be for approximately $305,600. The estimated HRPP award amount of $305,600 is based on the affordable units provided by Olive Meadow and requires that the funds will be spent on a park project that supports development located within a park-deficient, low-income neighborhood. Applications are due by February 23, 2017. If awarded HRPP funding, staff proposes to utilize the funds to support the development of a public park network and community resource center to meet the needs of residents, students, employees and neighbors in and around Arrowhead Grove, and the E. Neal Roberts Elementary and Sierra High School campus. According to the California State Parks database there are 0.02 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents surrounding Olive Meadow which is well below the City requirement of 5 acres per 1,000 residents required by the General Plan Open Space Element. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that roughly 75 percent of residents in the same census tract as Olive Meadow are considered to be low or moderate income which also qualified the City for additional funding. Based on these statistics, the HRPP funds would greatly benefit an underserved neighborhood and should be used to plan for parks and open space in the vicinity of Arrowhead Grove. This second HRPP application will build on the activities proposed in the initial 2015 HRPP application. The 2015 HRPP application — that totaled $398,200 and which the Council approved receipt of funds November 7, 2016 — included the preparation of a comprehensive parks, open space and landscape design plan for the Waterman Gardens redevelopment site and E. Neal Roberts school campus, and allocated funds for pre-development activities necessary to adapt a former Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino maintenance building located at 660 E. Orange Street into a community resource center that will serve as a neighborhood hub. Modeled after Magnolia Place Community Initiative (http://magnoliaplacela.org/) the community resource center is envisioned to be a multi-purpose facility that hosts a wide variety of vital services, trainings and classes, youth programs, sports & recreational activities, and other community events. The community resource center would also offer recreational amenities including outdoor sports facilities available to the public. Funds from the 2016 HRPP grant will be used to physically refurbish the exterior of maintenance warehouse building located at 660 E Orange Street and begin interior improvements to allow residents to begin utilizing the center. It is expected that the HRPP grant funds awarded to the City can be leveraged to raise additional funding from private organizations and entities to complete any remaining improvements necessary to make the center operational. The HRPP application indicates that grant award announcements will be made no later than June 30, 2017. Any HRP Program funds awarded would need to be expended within 24 months of the award. Fiscal Impact The City could receive up to $305,600 in grant funds, which will be passed through to National Core. There is no match required for this grant, but there are minor administrative costs associated with filing the grant and executing the various agreements. National Core will be required to execute a separate sub-recipient agreement with the City if the grant is awarded. It should be noted, that neither the initial grant award nor the second grant application, commit the City to maintaining the improvements. The neighborhood community centers are available to local residents and maintained by National Core. Conclusion If the grant is received, it will allow construction of additional parks and recreational opportunities within the housing complex. Attachments Attachment 1 Resolution Attachment 2 HRP Grant Application (partial application package only) Ward: 1 Synopsis of Previous Council Actions: