REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JERRY DYER, Mayor
Office of Mayor & City Manager
BY: MATTHEW GRUNDY, Deputy Mayor
Office of Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions related to the One Fresno Housing Strategy:
1. ***RESOLUTION - Approving funding for the Central California Land Trust (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
2. Affirm the City Manager’s finding that the Central California Land Trust is uniquely qualified to develop a community land trust plan
3. Approve a State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Grant Agreement with Central California Land Trust for $222,500 to develop a community land trust plan.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of funding for the Central California Land Trust as recommended in the One Fresno Housing Strategy.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget planning cycle efforts, the Mayor proposed the allocation of $40 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support the execution of the City’s One Fresno Housing Strategy (Housing Strategy). This was affirmed by City Council in its adoption of the budget on June 30, 2022. Housing strategy recommendation #27 was titled “Partner with and build capacity of local Community Land Trust.”
The Central California Land Trust (CCLT) is a not-for-profit Community Land Trust. The CCLT aims to build capacity to develop a business plan that will focus on creating permanently affordable, community-controlled housing across Fresno neighborhoods.
Said business plan will focus on the creation of a scope of work that will provide key details regarding the CCLT’s housing acquisition priorities, financial partners, and capital plans along with clarity on its stewardship and asset management model. The plan will also articulate desired outcomes for future civic programmatic and funding partnership funding consideration. The attached Grant Agreement provides for the terms and conditions of the proposed eligible activities to be funded with State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF).
BACKGROUND
On December 9, 2021, the City Council elected to use a portion of the City’s SLFRF allocation to support the COVID-19 Public Health and Economic Response by addressing the impact on lower income households by using funds to help increase the supply of affordable housing and the creation of affordable housing, which is an eligible use of funds under the Act.
An intense four-month effort involved research, thought, and collaboration from a broad group of stakeholders, including City staff, Councilmembers, housing developers (for-profit and non-profit), housing advocates and individuals who care deeply about the present and future state of Fresno's housing.
The recommendations found within the Housing Strategy considered feedback from over 3,000 Fresnans who have formed our City's housing vision through public meetings and the crafting of various reports from 2017 to the present. At its unveiling, the comprehensive efforts were received well.
The housing component of the Housing Strategy called for a three-year investment of $101,645,000. The $40 million ARPA commitment was a key appropriation added to existing housing entitlement dollars to realize the Housing Strategy’s goal, and thereby make significant progress toward meeting Fresno’s housing needs. This Grant Agreement, in addition to others being considered by Council and those already implemented, account for 20 of the 47 total strategy recommendations.
What is key to realizing the desired outcomes of the Housing Strategy is its execution. The Administration firmly believes the Housing Strategy can serve as a powerful tool and roadmap to help the City make significant progress towards addressing its affordable housing and unhoused population challenges by fully executing its recommendations. The recommendations aim to create an environment that leads to the 3-year completion, rehabilitation, and preservation of 6,926 affordable, and 4,110 market-rate housing units.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA. Pursuant to the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Final Rule: Frequently Asked Questions published on July 27, 2022, NEPA does not apply to Treasury’s administration of the funds.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not used based upon conditions of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The source of funding for the agreement is American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding. An appropriation of $40 million dollars in ARPA funds was made as part of the adoption of the fiscal year 2023 City Budget. The General Fund is not impacted.
Attachments:
Resolution
Uniquely Qualified Memo
Agreement