REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, City Manager
JERRY DYER, Mayor
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: TIM A. ORMAN, Chief of Staff to the Mayor
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the acquisition of The Ambassador Inn, a 56-room motel at 1804 E. Olive Avenue, Fresno, California (APN 449-231-11), to provide temporary shelter and prevent COVID-19 among individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Fresno:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines
2. Approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Shaileshkunar C. Patel and Kalpanaben N. Patel in the amount of $3,304,000.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of CEQA guidelines, approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement in the amount of $3,304,000 using American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign all necessary documents to open and complete escrow on the property.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In connection with the Council's December 9, 2021, approval of the Administration's request to apply for Homekey funding, this item will result in the City's purchase and renovation of the Ambassador Inn to be used as a temporary emergency shelter. The Administration recommends allocating $3,304,000 of ARPA funds appropriated by Council for affordable housing development on December 9, 2021, to acquire the Property. If the City's Homekey funding application is approved by the State, the $3,304,000 in ARPA funds used for acquisition of the property will be reimbursed.
BACKGROUND
The Ambassador Inn is located along the Parkway Drive Corridor. This area of Fresno is a densely populated strip of motels visible along Highway 99, with a hist...
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