HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 5.A 09/16/2019DATE: September 16, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
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FROM: Sue Castellucci, Housing Administrator
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to Receive Comments on the 2018-2019 Proposed Consolidated
Annual Performance Evaluation Plan (CAPER) and Adoption of a Resolution
Approving the Community Development Block Grant 2018-2019 Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and Authorizing the City
Manager to Submit the CAPER as Required by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council conduct a Public Hearing to Receive Comments on the
2018-2019 Proposed Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Plan (CAPER) and Adopt a
Resolution Approving the Community Development Block Grant 2018-2019 Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and Authorizing the City Manager to
Submit the CAPER as Required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
BACKGROUND
The primary objective of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the
development of "viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living
environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate
income." The CAPER is a report card that documents how well the City has met its goals for
helping low-income households in Petaluma with federal funding distributed under the CDBG
program.
CDBG regulations require that the public be given a 15 -day period to review the CAPER and
provide comments prior to approval by the City Council. A public notice announcing the
availability of the CAPER was published in the Argus Courier on August 29, 2019, and copies of
the CAPER were made available on the City's website. Any written comments or questions are
responded to by staff and are included in the CAPER when it is submitted to HUD. The public
comment period began on August 29, 2019 and will conclude on September 13, 2019.
DISCUSSION
In Fiscal Year 2018-2019, the City received $342,825 in CDBG entitlement funds from HUD.
In November 2018, the 2018-2019 Action Plan was amended to allocate program income
received in the amount $203,400 from the sale of one of the City's first time homebuyer
properties for a total of CDBG funds of $546,225 to be allocated during fiscal year 2018-2019.
CDBG funds allow the City to carry out housing and community development programs that are
targeted to primarily low-income households. Projects included housing rehabilitation through
Rebuilding Together, rehabilitation of two of the City's affordable housing properties; and
funding for the North Bay Children's Center Garden of Eatin' program, and Petaluma People
Services Center's Meals on Wheels program.
The 2018-2019 CAPER outlines how the City of Petaluma met the needs and objectives outlined
in the 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan and the 2018-2019 Action Plan. The Consolidated Plan
identifies five goals to address the City's housing and community development needs between
Fiscal Years 2015-2020 as follows:
• Improve housing opportunities by preserving existing affordable housing
• Provide housing and services to the low-income populations, including but not limited to,
children, seniors, and special needs population (homeless, disabled, etc.)
• Increase the supply of affordable housing
• Promote housing opportunities for homeownership
• Improve accessibility in public facilities and infrastructure
The City made progress in achieving its goals during 2018-2019 with the following CDBG
accomplishments:
• Low income persons received services through a Meals on Wheels program.
Outcome — 265 persons were provided access to quality public services. (Goal —
Providing services to the low-income community)
• Single-family dwellings occupied by low-income households were rehabilitated using
CDBG funds allocated to Rebuilding Together. All of the units housed senior and
disabled households.
Outcome: 39 households were provided rehabilitated housing. (Goal — Improving
housing opportunities by preserving existing affordable housing)
• Three housing units leased by COTS were rehabilitated using CDBG funds allocated to
Rebuilding Together for their permanent supportive housing program. (Goals —
Improving housing opportunities by preserving existing affordable housing)
• Three affordable housing units were rehabilitated at the Round Walk Village Apartments,
preserving affordable housing.
• Seven units at PEP Housing's Daniel Drive property were rehabilitated preserving
affordable housing.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
A public notice announcing the availability of the CAPER funds was published in the Argus
Courier on August 29, 2019, and copies of the CAPER were made available on the City's
website. Any written comments or questions are responded to by staff and are included in the
CAPER when it is submitted to HUD. The public comment period began on August 29, 2019
2
and will conclude on September 14, 2019. To date, no comments were received and were
responded to.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The CDBG Program is fiscally self-sustaining. All administrative, project, and program
expenditures are covered by the entitlement revenues.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Draft 2018-2019 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report
3
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA
APPROVING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT 2018-2019
CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT
(CAPER) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE CAPER AS
REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is an entitlement community under the jurisdiction of
the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block
Grant Program (CDBG); and
WHEREAS, as a condition of funding, HUD requires recipient jurisdictions to prepare a
one year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to report on how
well the City has met its goals for helping low-income residents of Petaluma with federal
funding distributed under the CDBG program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma allocated funds in the amount of $342,825 for Fiscal
Year 2018-2019; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the 2018-2019 Action Plan was approved by City Council
on November 5, 2018, proposed that unexpended funds in the amount of $203,400 be allocated
to projects that prioritize the preservation of affordable housing in our community; and
WHEREAS, all projects and programs which are proposed for funding address one or
more of the national objectives of the CDBG program and the priorities of the City's 2015-2020
Consolidated Plan; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was noticed on August 29, 2019 and a public hearing was
conducted on September M, 2019 to hear comments from the community on the draft 2018-2019
CAPER and the City Council found the draft CAPER to be consistent with the Consolidated
Plan; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Petaluma City Council as follows:
1. The Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
(CAPER) is hereby approved; and
2. The City Manager, or her designee, is authorized to submit the 2018-2019 CAPER as
required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
0
ATTACHMENT #2
• z •
Consolidated Annual Performance
And Evaluation Report (CAPER)
Fiscal Year 2018-2019
Prepared By:
City of Petaluma
Housing Division
11 English Street, Petaluma, CA
5
,n'm�1 1 -
CR -05 - Goals and Outcomes...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
CR -15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a) .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
CR -20 - Affordable Housing 91.520(b)....................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
CR -25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c) ... Error! Bookmark not
defined.
CR -30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j) .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
CR -35 - Other Actions 91.220(j) -(k); 91.320(i) -(j) ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
CR -40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230 ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
CR -45 - CDBG 91.520(c).............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
9-
CR -05 - Goals and Outcomes
Progress the jurisdiction has made in carrying out its strategic plan and its action plan.
91.520(a)
This could be an overview that includes major initiatives and highlights that were proposed and
executed throughout the program year.
The fourth-year (2018-2019) Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
(CAPER) outlines how the City of Petaluma (City) met the needs and objectives outlined in the
2015-2020 Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan) and the 2018-2019 Action Plan. Both reports
can be found on the City's website: http://www.cityofpetaluma.net.
The Consolidated Plan identifies five (5) goals to address the City's housing and community
development needs between Fiscal Year 2015-2020:
• Improve housing opportunities by preserving existing affordable housing
• Provide housing and services to the low-income populations, including but not limited to,
children, seniors and special needs population (homeless, disabled, etc)
• Increase the supply of affordable housing
• Promote housing opportunities for homeownership
• Improve accessibility in public facilities and infrastructure
Based on the findings of the Consolidated Plan, the City has prioritized its CDBG funds and
local funding sources, for affordable housing purposes and services for the low-income
community. In 2018-2019, the City received an grant allocation of $342,798 in CDBG funds. In
November of 2018, the City of Petaluma amended is 2018-2019 Action Plan due to unexpended
funds from program income that were not allocated with the 2018-2019 Annual Action Plan
which was approved by City Council on May 7, 2018. With the small allocation, the City
focused on improving housing opportunities and preserving existing affordable housing, as well
as providing services to seniors and children. The City has met their 2018-2019 goals by
preserving affordable housing and providing services to the low-income population. Using
$458,000 of other Housing Funds, the City was able to provide services for the low-income
community such as rental assistance, after school programs, homeless programs, preservation of
existing affordable housing and our fair housing program as well as some pre -development funds
for a proposed 54 unit affordable senior/veterans development.
The City made progress in achieving its goals during 2018-2019 with the following CDBG
accomplishments:
Low-income persons received services through a Meals on Wheels program using
CDBG funds. Outcome — 265 persons were provided access to quality public services.
7
(Goal — Providing services to the low-income community)
® 100% of the activities funded with CDBG funds supported low-income households
® Single-family dwellings occupied by low-income households were rehabilitated using
CDBG funds. Most of these units housed elderly and disabled individuals. Outcome: 39
households were provided decent housing. (Goal — Improving housing opportunities by
preserving existing affordable housing)
® Three permanent supportive houses leased to COTS were rehabilitated using CDBG
funds by Rebuilding Together. 8 persons were provided decent housing by preserving
existing housing. (Goal #1 — Improving housing opportunities by preserving existing
affordable housing and Goal #2 - Provide housing and services to the low income
populations, including but not limited to children, seniors and special needs populations
(homeless,disabled, etc)
• Seven units of senior affordable housing were rehabilitated using CDBG funds which
provided decent housing by preserving existing housing (Goal #1 — Improving housing
opportunities by preserving existing affordable housing)
• Three units of family affordable rents were rehabilitated using CDBG funds which
provided decent housing by preserving existing housing.
Other Housing accomplishments using City funds are included in Attachment #1.
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Assess how the jurisdiction's use of funds, particularly CDBG, addresses the priorities and
specific objectives identified in the plan, giving special attention to the highest priority
activities identified.
All funds expended from the CDBG Programs were used to address the goals and objectives
identified in the City's 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan and the FY 2018-2019 Action Plan. The
City has prioritized its CDBG funds and local funding sources for affordable housing purposes,
as noted in the summary of accomplishments provided in the introduction to this section. Due to
the small amount of funds received, the City has focused its priorities on rehabilitation of single
family homeownership units which preserve affordable units through our Rebuilding Together
Petaluma program. This year with the program income, Petaluma was able to preserve 10
affordable multi -family rental units in two of our older properties. Another priority is providing
service to seniors. This is accomplished utilizing CDBG funds for Petaluma People Services
Center's Meals on Wheels program. The City's ability to respond to increasingly difficult
housing issues is currently constrained by reductions to funding sources and by the loss of tax
increment funding with the dissolution of statewide redevelopment agencies. Without an annual
source of funds, it will be difficult for the City to produce new affordable units as we have done
in the past.
However, the City has encouraged developers of new projects to provide on-site units. There are
three proposed projects that will include new rental and for -sale units for the low-income
community in our City. Unfortunately, there have been delays in completing a 150 -rent unit
development, which included 23 affordable units as part of an inclusionary requirement of the
developer. These affordable rental units have been delayed but should be rented in the 2019-
2020 fiscal year as the property management company is beginning to lease the apartments as of
August of 2019. Another development for homeownership units is currently under construction
where there will be 25 below-market units for first time homebuyers with re -sale price
restrictions and affordability restrictions using the land trust model. Projected completion date
for the BMR homeowner units is December 2019.
11
CR -10 - Racial and Ethnic composition of families assisted
Describe the families assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of families assisted).
91.520(a)
Table 2 — Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds
Narrative
The prepopulated accomplishment data provided for by IDIS has been replaced as it was not
consistent with the accomplishments reported by the City. The CDBG program is, for the most
part, serving low-income households of a minority racial and ethnic make-up that is similar to
the proportion of the low-income household in these categories for the City of Petaluma.
However, low-income White households are served at a higher proportion than their percentage
that is indicated in the 2010 Census. White households make up 80% of the low -population
according to the census data, but were 95% of the households served by CDBG funds. This
difference can be explained by the demographics of the senior population in Petaluma, which is
mostly Caucasian. The other racial categories were within the 2010 Census data for their
categories.
12
CDBG
White
261
Black or African American
10
Asian
4
American Indian or American Native
1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0
Total
276
Hispanic
23
Not Hispanic
253
Table 2 — Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds
Narrative
The prepopulated accomplishment data provided for by IDIS has been replaced as it was not
consistent with the accomplishments reported by the City. The CDBG program is, for the most
part, serving low-income households of a minority racial and ethnic make-up that is similar to
the proportion of the low-income household in these categories for the City of Petaluma.
However, low-income White households are served at a higher proportion than their percentage
that is indicated in the 2010 Census. White households make up 80% of the low -population
according to the census data, but were 95% of the households served by CDBG funds. This
difference can be explained by the demographics of the senior population in Petaluma, which is
mostly Caucasian. The other racial categories were within the 2010 Census data for their
categories.
12
CR -15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a)
Identifv the resources made available
Source of Funds
Source
Resources Made
Available
Amount Expended
During Program
Year
CDBG
CDBG
360,900
357,552
HOME
HOME
HOPWA
HOPWA
ESG
ESG
Other Program
Income
Other -Program
Income
203,400
203,400
Table 3 - Resources Made Available
Narrative
In 2018-2019, the City received $342,825 in CDBG funds which was added to the balance of
funds fiom prior CDBG allocations of $18,075 for a total of resources made available for FY
2018-2019 of $360,900. The default amount of $1,300,000 which was taken from IDIS is an
estimate of resources made available over the five year Consolidation Plan period. The correct
amount of resources made available in FY 2018-2019 is $342,825. The amount expended during
the Program Year 2018-2019 was $357,552.
Identify the ueoLlraphic distribution and location of investments
Target Area
Planned Percentage
of Allocation
Actual Percentage of
Allocation
Narrative
Description
Table 4 — Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments
Narrative
The funds that are allocated to the City are available city-wide with no priority assigned to
geographic regions. Instead funds are allocated to organizations that provide low-income
households with housing and supportive services. On an annual basis, the City prioritizes the use
of its CDBG funding for the development of affordable housing (including preservation and
conservation) that serve low-income households and to address services for the low-income
community such as Meals on Wheels.
13
Leveraging
Explain how federal funds leveraged additional resources (private, state and local funds),
including a description of how matching requirements were satisfied, as well as how any
publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that were used to address
the needs identified in the plan.
Petaluma must use other non-CDBG resources to address the City's priorities because the City's
CDBG entitlement is a modest one. It is vital that those funds are maximally leveraged by other
resources available to serve low and moderate -income residents. The City has two other
Housing funds, the In -Lieu Housing Fund and the Commercial Linkage Housing Fund, which
receive income from commercial and residential development. The total balance in both of those
Housing Funds is $4,005,755. Future income in both of these Housing funds is not guaranteed
as it depends on the fees paid on residential and commercial development.
With the shortage of funds, the City which owns several properties, leases them to nonprofit
providers for a $1.00 a year to be used for housing and services for the homeless population
which addresses the needs identified in the Consolidated Plan to provide housing and services to
the low income populations, including but not limited to, children, seniors and special needs
population (homeless, disabled, etc.). The City leases 4 properties to the Committee on the
Shelterless for their supportive housing program and 1 property to the Veterans Resources for
their supportive program for veterans.
Regarding public services funding, the nonprofit agencies put together a number of private and
public sources of funding in order to delivery program services.
14
CR -20 -Affordable Housing 91.520(b)
Evaluation of the jurisdiction's progress in providing affordable housing, including the
number and types of families served, the number of extremely low-income, low-income,
moderate -income, and middle-income persons served.
Table 5 — Number of Households
One -Year Goal
Actual
Number of Homeless households to be
provided affordable housing units
2
2
Number of Non -Homeless households to
be provided affordable housing units
57
49
Number of Special -Needs households to
be provided affordable housing units
0
0
Total
59
51
Table 5 — Number of Households
Table 6 — Number of Households Supported
Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting
these goals.
Funds were awarded for rehabilitating and estimated 45 homeowner units through Rebuilding
Together Petaluma's rehabilitation program during FY 18-19. Rebuilding Together rehabilitated
39 homeowner units. Rebuilding Together also rehabilitated 2 units that are used by the
Committee on the Shelterless for their permanent supportive program. Using other Housing
funds, the City was able to rehabilitate 33 affordable housing rental units. Overall, the City
made significant progress in achieving its goals during 2018-2019.
15
One -Year Goal
Actual
Number of households supported through
Rental Assistance
0
0
Number of households supported through
The Production of New Units
0
0
Number of households supported through
Rehab of Existing Units
59
51
Number of households supported through
Acquisition of Existing Units
0
0
Total
59
51
Table 6 — Number of Households Supported
Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting
these goals.
Funds were awarded for rehabilitating and estimated 45 homeowner units through Rebuilding
Together Petaluma's rehabilitation program during FY 18-19. Rebuilding Together rehabilitated
39 homeowner units. Rebuilding Together also rehabilitated 2 units that are used by the
Committee on the Shelterless for their permanent supportive program. Using other Housing
funds, the City was able to rehabilitate 33 affordable housing rental units. Overall, the City
made significant progress in achieving its goals during 2018-2019.
15
Discuss how these outcomes will impact future annual action plans.
Future annual action plans should not be impacted due to the type of programs funded with
CDBG funds. The majority of CDBG funds are used to preserve housing for the low income
community and are completed during the fiscal year that funds were allocated. It can be difficult
to estimate the City's one year goals for specific activities.
The City's major problem in meeting affordable housing needs is the reduction to state, federal
and local resources. The City is hopeful that additional mechanisms and resources through State
sponsored programs, will allow it to meet future affordable housing goals. The City has
prioritized its CDBG funds for the preservation of affordable housing during the upcoming FY
2019-2020.
Include the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate -income persons
served by each activity where information on income by family size is required to
determine the eligibility of the activity.
Number of Households Served
CDBG Actual
HOME Actual
Extremely Low-income
150
0
Low-income
166
0
Moderate -income
0
0
Total
316
0
Table 7 — Number of Households Served
Narrative Information
There were 22 extremely low-income homeowner households which benefitted from the
rehabilitation program with 20 of those households were senior households. For the low-income
households, there were 15 low income homeowners that benefitted from Rebuilding Together
Petaluma's rehabilitation program.
The City is also working with a non-profit developer to provide 54 rental units for seniors and
veterans. This project is expected to be completed by FY 2020-2021 if funding is allocated to
the project.
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CR -25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c)
Evaluate the jurisdiction's progress in meeting its specific objectives for reducing and
ending homelessness through:
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their
individual needs
The Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC) is the lead agency for the
Sonoma County Continuum of Care (CofC) and hosts its planning process. In 2018, the
homeless agency underwent a re -organization. The City, the CDC and the City of Santa Rosa,
the three HUD entitlement jurisdictions in Sonoma County, jointly provide funds to the CofC,
which is now HOME Sonoma County and each jurisdiction has one or more seats on its
governing body. The CofC's 10 -Year Homeless Action Plan, most recently updated in 2014,
and its annual submissions to HUD reflect the demographics, needs, and available shelter,
housing and services in all three HUD entitlement jurisdictions in order to provide a cohesive
homeless services system throughout the County.
Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons
In 2018-2019 the City used $80,000 of local housing funds for homeless services through the
Committee on the Shelterless at the Mary Isaak Center, a homeless shelter with a multi -service
day center offering showers, laundry, telephone, mail, information and referrals, a 100 -bed
shelter providing meals and employment services as well as case management. Our CDBG grant
is too small to be used for homeless services. The City owns 4 properties that are leased to the
Committee on the Shelterless to be used for housing for the homeless. At the Mary Isaak Center,
Petaluma's homeless shelter there are 34 beds for transitional housing needs for the homeless
population. The City of Petaluma also provided property where the Committee on the
Shelterless operates its Family Homeless Shelter which provides shelter and services for 18
homeless families.
As reported in the 2019 Sonoma County Homeless Point -In -Time and Survey, the number of
people experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County has decreased by 2% fiom 2018. The total
of number of people experiencing homelessness in 2019 was 2,951. The number experiencing
their first homeless episode declined from a high of 45% in 2011 (following the recession) to
30% in 2019, suggesting that fewer people had fallen into homelessness recently.
Continuum of Care funds were used to administer the Countywide Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS), launch the Countywide Coordinated Entry program, and for
numerous Continuum of Care Rental Assistance programs.
IN
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially
extremely low-income individuals and families and those who are: likely to become
homeless after being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care
(such as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities,
and corrections programs and institutions); and, receiving assistance from public or
private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or
youth needs
The CofC's discharge planning efforts are outlined in greater detail in the Consolidated Plan and
include ongoing coordination with various Sonoma County departments, such as Division of
Family, Youth, and Children Services, Behavioral Health, and Sonoma County Probation, and
the grassroots Health Care for the Homeless Collaborative staffed by the Sonoma County Task
Force for the Homeless.
Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families,
families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the
transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of
time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless
individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and
families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again
One of the greatest barriers to preventing and ending homelessness in Petaluma and Sonoma
County is the shortage of affordable housing. Petaluma, being a small jurisdiction, is committed
to preserving and rehabilitating the affordable housing we do have and working with both non-
profit and for-profit developers in the construction of affordable units when the opportunity
arises.
CR -30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j)
Actions taken to address the needs of public housing
The City does not own or operate public housing units. There are currently 389 Section
vouchers that have been issued through the Sonoma County Housing Authority for persons
living in Petaluma.
Actions taken to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in
management and participate in homeownership
When there are homeownership opportunities, notification is placed in the local newspaper
reaching out to all First Time Homebuyers.
Actions taken to provide assistance to troubled PHAs
Not Applicable
19
CR -35 - Other Actions 91.220(j) -(k); 91.320(i) -(j)
Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as
barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning
ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the
return on residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i)
Petaluma ensures compliance with the Fedreal Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for all new housing construction projects. This includes that, at a
minimum, five percent of the total dwelling units shall be made accessible for persons with
mobility impairments.
Potential constraints to housing development in Petaluma may include infrastructure, residential
development impact fees, land use, growth management, zoning ordinance provisions; etc. A
detailed analysis of these potential barriers is detailed in the 2015-2023 Housing Element
adopted in December 2014.
Some of Petaluma's strategy for removing the barriers to affordable housing is:
• The City is committed to an efficient development application process to alleviate some
of these constraints by meeting with potential developers in a preliminary meeting at the
Development Review Committee where staff from different departments meets to discuss
what can be done to get the proposed development through the planning process which
can expedite the process.
• The City of Petaluma reviews their development impact fees on an annual basis and
recently reduced or combined several fees in 2013.
• In Petaluma, we have extended the service of our transit schedule to accommodate
evening ridership to improve our transit options. The Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit
system became operational in the fall of 2017. Over the past year, it has been very
successful in attracting the community to utilize their service.
• The City of Petaluma adopted an inclusionary housing ordinance in September of 2018 to
require all residential developments with 5 or more units to build on-site affordable units
in the development.
• The City also reduce the parking requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units in June of
2019.
Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
One of the primary obstacles to meeting underserved needs of residents is the availability of
funding. Changes to tax credit scoring and the limited amount of state housing funds coupled
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with the loss of Low and Moderate Income Housing funds as a result of the dissolution of state-
wide redevelopment agencies has impacted the City's ability to implement its goals. While the
City actively seeks additional funding opportunities and will continue to do so, its ability to
address underserved needs depends largely on the availability of additional resources.
Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.3200)
The County of Sonoma has implemented the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program
(CLPP), funded through the State Department of Health Services, which employs a team of
health professionals, who provide services to parents, healthcare providers, and the general
public. The team is comprised of Registered Environmental Specialists, Public Health Nurses,
and Health Educators. The CLPP program provides services in two major ways —1) case
management and source identification for lead poisoned children and 2) outreach and education
to the community and targeted groups.
The City works closely with our non-profit agency, Rebuilding Together Petaluma, who is
instrumental in the rehabilitation of the majority of the City's housing units with CDBG funds.
LBP hazard notices are distributed to the owners of the rehabilitated properties warning them of
the hazards of LBP. All units rehabilitated with CDBG funds are owned by disabled seniors.
Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty -level families. 91.220(k); 91.3200)
The City hopes to reduce the number of poverty -level individuals by targeting, CDBG and local
funds to projects that will provide affordable housing units and related services to foster self-
sufficiency. The city does not have the resources or the capacity to increase income of poverty
level persons, although the City does act to reduce housing costs for these individuals with other
city funds through a rental assistance program and through services that reduce household costs.
In 2018-2019 the City used $26,000 local housing funds for rental assistance.
Actions taken to develop institutional structure. 91.220(k); 91.3200)
The City of Petaluma's Housing Division will administer all of the activities specifically
identified in the Consolidated Plan. The city works closely with other housing -related
organizations and service providers in the City to ensure that the housing needs of City residents
are addressed to the best ability of the network of such providers given available resources.
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The working relationships between the Housing Division and other City departments are strong
and facilitative. Due to the City's relatively small size, communication is typically direct and
immediate. As a result, gaps in program or service delivery are typically not the result of poor
institutional structure or lack of intergovernmental cooperation, but rather due to lack of
available resources.
The City encourages collaboration between housing provides and service agencies with the
intention of fostering development of more supportive housing options throughout the City. In
FY 18-19, the City continued to participate in the ongoing Continuum of Care planning process,
which facilitates increased collaboration among the City, the County of Sonoma, the City of
Santa Rosa, the County Departments of Health and Human Services and virtually all housing and
homeless service providers throughout Sonoma County. Continuum of Care meetings have
served and continue to serve as an instrumental force in forging new connections and working
relationships with several different participants as well as responding to the Homeless
Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act requirements of
reducing the length of homeless episodes, reducing returns to homelessness, and increasing
participant incomes. The homeless system of care in Sonoma County is being restructured to
better serve the homeless population in Sonoma County and to respond to HUD regulations.
Actions taken to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social
service agencies. 91.220(k); 91.3200)
The City has on-going interaction with many public and private entities to further the objectives
set form in the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. The City relies on private non-profit
organizations as well as for-profit developers to build and acquire, develop, and rehabilitate
affordable units. In 2017-2018, the City worked closely with these for-profit developers and was
able to acquire construction of 25 new affordable housing homeowner units in a market -rate
development. Construction has begun on the development and the new first-time homebuyer
units should be completed sometime in 2019. The City also relies on the non-profit service
sector to provide emergency shelter, transitional and special needs housing. The City will
continue to support these organizations and their activities as funding allows.
Identify actions taken to overcome the effects of any impediments identified in the
jurisdictions analysis of impediments to fair housing choice. 91.520(a)
In response to Sonoma County's 2011 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report
the City uses its local Housing funds to support programs that improve the conditions of
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affordable housing for lower income persons. In addition the City annually allocates Housing
funds toward a county -wide Fair Housing program. Petaluma People Services Center was the
Fair Housing service provider for Petaluma in 2018-2019. Their program is designed to counter
violations under state landlord -tenant law in addition to discriminatory practices under both state
and federal fair housing statutes. PPSC provides housing counseling and landlord -tenant
mediation and provided 13 landlord trainings to the housing industry in Sonoma County.
PPSC reported contact with 475 people during the FY 2018-2019. The majority of the the
complaints were landlord -tenant issues. The agency opened 289 cases in FY 18-19 where there
were signs of fair housing discrimination, additional help with accommodations were needed
and/or evictions. Of the open cases, 86 were from tenants; 45 seniors, 9 veterans, 28 Female
Head of Household, 40 have physical disabilities and 28 reported that they were living with
mental disabilities. PPSC is actively working with HUD on one Fair Housing case in Petaluma.
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CR -40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230
Describe the standards and procedures used to monitor activities carried out in
furtherance of the plan and used to ensure long-term compliance with requirements of the
programs involved, including minority business outreach and the comprehensive planning
requirements
The Housing and Block Grant Division regularly monitors CDBG funded activities to ensure that
all projects and programs are administered in compliance with applicable regulations and to
ensure that those accomplishments are addressing the priorities established in the Consolidated
Plan.
Subreceipients: The majority of funding will be allocated to nonprofit subrecipients. The
subreceipient will enter into an agreement with the City detailing program requirements,
applicable statutes and regulations, and references to the provision of OMB circulars containing
federal cost principles, audit and uniform administrative requirements.
Technical Assistance: The City will conduct a mandatory orientation session in which all
subreceipients will receive updated information pertaining to their funded activities and
throughout the year, city staff will provide additional technical assistance through one-on-one
contacts with the subreceipient agencies. Staff conducts a desktop review of the financials and
program records of each subrecipient annually. Housing staff communicates on a regular basis
with the nonprofits utilizing CDBG funds. On-site monitoring visits are done as needed.
Reporting: Subreceipients of CDBG funds will be required to submit quarterly reports to the
City. Each of the quarterly reports must provide information regarding the subreceipient's
activities, beneficiaries, and accomplishments. This information is entered into HUD's
Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS). The staff will then review and monitor
the reports for compliance with all applicable federal and local regulations, goals and objectives.
Performance Measurement System: Utilizing HUD's system of measuring goals and objectives,
the staff is measuring milestones of success for meeting the needs of the community's low and
moderate income and minority residents.
Citizen Participation Plan 91.105(d); 91.115(d)
Describe the efforts to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to
comment on performance reports.
To ensure that all citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties have the opportunity to
review and comment on performance reports on housing and community development activites
and the use of CDBG funds public notices are placed in the local newspaper. A draft of the
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Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is made available for public
review for 15 days prior to submission to HUD. A notice is published in the local newspaper
and the draft is posted on the City's Housing webpage and posted with the City Clerk. Hard
copies are made available in the Housing Division office. The draft CAPER is also distributed
via email to interested parties and no -cost copies of the documents are provided to interested
citizens that do not have internet access, upon request.
The City has made provisions to provide bilingual translators and signing or captioning services
for the hearing impaired upon request. The sites utilized for all public meetings/hearings are
ADA compliant and within proximity to public transportation. The City's website is also
available in Spanish.
The City's public comment period for the draft 2018-2019 CAPER will run from August 29
2019 through September 14, 2019.
CR -45 - CDBG 91.520(c)
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction's program objectives
and indications of how the jurisdiction would change its programs as a result of its
experiences.
There were no changes in Petaluma's program objectives during FY 18-19.
Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
grants?
No
[BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year.
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CR -45 - CDBG 91.520(c)
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction's program objectives
and indications of how the jurisdiction would change its programs as a result of its
experiences.
There were no changes in Petaluma's program objectives during FY 18-19.
Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
grants?
No
[BEDI grantees] Describe accomplishments and program outcomes during the last year.
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Additional Housing Accomplishments
Accomplishments using other Housing Funds:
• The Fair Housing Program, funded through the City's Housing Fund, was able to assist
more than 475 in Petaluma. (Goal — Providing services to the low-income community)
They had multiple education and training seminars for apartment owners and housing
management. This is a mandated activity from HUD. PPSC opened 289 cases in FY 18-
19, 86 of those were tenant households seeking help with housing discrimination,
reasonable accommodations and/or evictions. There was an increase in both landlord
and tenant request for information with over 1,327 calls for information. (Goal —
providing services to the low-income community)
• 75 households, most of them with children, were provided with rental assistance from
Petaluma People Services Center so they could keep their housing. (Goal — Providing
services to the low-income community)
• The Boys & Girls Club's provided supportive services through their after-school program
which served 120 low income youth at 3 of Petaluma's affordable housing complexes.
(Goal — Providing services to the low-income community)
• A total of 496 people, with 175 of that total children, were provided with emergency
shelter and programs through services provided by the Committee on the Shelterless
such as their emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and family
shelter. (Goal — Providing services to the low-income community — special needs
population; homeless, disabled, etc.)
• 8 veterans were serviced through programs and housing with the Committee on the
Shelterless (Goal — Providing services to the low-income community — special needs
population, homeless, disabled, etc.)
• Two of our First Time Homebuyer properties was able to be preserved by using the
Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County to restrict sales affordability in perpetuity.
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