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Item 15 Staff Report Adopt Resolution Approving Revised Housing Conservation Program GuidelinesCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT DATE: July 31, 1996 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: TOWN MANAGER SUBJECT: MEETING DATE: 08/05/96 ITEM NO. / ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING REVISED HOUSING CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution approving revised Housing Conservation Program Guidelines. BACKGROUND: The Town's housing goal is to provide adequate housing for Town citizens, regardless of age, income, race, or ethnic background. The Town encourages conservation and construction of housing adequate for future populations and replacement needs consistent with environmental limitations and in proper relationship to community facilities, open space and transportation. The Housing Conservation Program (HCP), managed by the Community Services Department for twenty years, contributes to the Town's overall housing goal by providing low interest loans and grants to income eligible property owners for home rehabilitation purposes. In this manner, the Town preserves existing housing stock and promotes safe housing for Town residents. The Town's Housing Conservation Program is funded entirely by federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies. DISCUSSION: Revised Housing Conservation Program Guidelines were approved in April, 1996. Revised Guidelines increased the maximum loan amount that can be approved by the Town's Loan Review Conunittee for Owner -Occupied Loans from $35,000 to $50,000. The Loan Review Committee, appointed by the Town Manager, assures appropriate use of funds by applying the HCP Guidelines when evaluating loan and grant applications; it also determines loan/grant terms and conditions. Although the cap is sufficient to allow for completion of basic rehabilitation projects, Staff has since determined that the cap is too low to allow for major rehabilitation projects. Major rehabilitation is sometimes necessary in older homes, especially if maintenance has been deferred due to income limitations. Older homes also require a greater investment of funds to assure compliance with current housing code. It is therefore recommended that the Loan Review Committee be provided the ability to approve loans up to $80,000. The higher cap will better accommodate the program requirement that rehab loans be sufficient to eliminate all substandard conditions within a housing unit. It will also provide for unexpected contingencies that may arise as work progresses. The Loan Review Committee will continue to review work write-ups for all projects over $35,000. PREPARED BY: Regina A. F s Director Reviewed by: jAttorney �l\� ce Revised: 7/31/96 11:42 am Reformatted: 10/23/95 PAGE 2 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING REVISED HOUSING CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES July 31, 1996 CONCLUSION: Increasing the maximum loan limit increases the Loan Review Committee's flexibility in meeting the community's desire to allow residents the ability to stay in the Town. Without the program, families and seniors would be faced with living in unsafe housing or selling their homes and relocating. Connections to schools, churches, doctors and other vital community resources would be severed. The Housing Conservation Program affords long-term residents the opportunity to remain part of the Los Gatos community. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS: This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required. FISCAL IMPACT: The HCP is funded completely with federal CDBG monies received through the annual CDBG allocation process. The Town's General Fund is not impacted by HCP loan and grant activity and cannot benefit from savings in the Housing Conservation Program. CDBG funds designated for home rehab loans are deposited into the Town's Revolving Loan Fund, as are payments made by HCP clients. The Revolving Loan Fund has a balance of $102,264 as of 6/30/96 (#005-0116-68; Pentamation Account 218-10555). In addition, the Town has accumulated $135,966 in CDBG "line -of -credit" grant funds designated for Housing Rehab Loans. These funds, coupled with $34,500 in annual loan payment receipts and approximately $20,000 in loan payoffs, would allow the Town to issue HCP loans and grants totaling $292,730 during FY 96-97. Program activity has increased during the Summer months: two loan applications have been received and two more are anticipated. The recently incorporated Safety Grant Component will be marketed in August. In keeping with FY 96-97 Workload and Performance Indicators, eight total loans and grants amounting to approximately $200,000 are projected for income eligible Los Gatos residents in FY 96-97. RAF:bcb:tl CSD28:A:\guide.rev Attachments: 1. Draft Resolution Distribution: Charlie Chew, Santa Clara County, Housing and Community Development Program 1735 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95112 ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING HOUSING CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION 1996-47 WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos has a Housing Conservation Program allowing it to provide Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded low interest loans and grants to income eligible property owners for home rehabilitation purposes; and WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos desires to revise the guidelines which govern the Housing Conservation Program; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: (1) increase the maximum loan amount that may be approved by the Town's Loan Review Committee for Owner -Occupied loans to $100,000, to allow for major rehabilitation projects; and (2) all other Policies and Procedures of the Housing Conservation Guidelines adopted under Resolution 1996-47, except as herein amended, remain in full force and effect. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the 5th day of August, 1996 by the following vote: COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA csd08:A:1RESOS1080596. RESOLUTION 1996-97 RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING HOUSING CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION 1996-47 WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos has a Housing Conservation Program allowing it to provide Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded low interest loans and grants to income eligible property owners for home rehabilitation purposes; and WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos desires to revise the guidelines which govern the Housing Conservation Program; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: (1) increase the maximum loan amount that may be approved by the Town's Loan Review Committee for Owner -Occupied loans to $80,000, to allow for major rehabilitation projects; and (2) all other Policies and Procedures of the Housing Conservation Guidelines adopted under Resolution 1996-47, except as herein amended, remain in full force and effect. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the 5th day of August, 1996 by the following vote: COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SIGNED: /s/ Randy Attaway MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: /s/ Marian V. Cosgrove CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA CSD08:A:\RESOS\080596. August 5, 1996 Los Gatos, California AMICUS BRIEF/HILLSBORO PROPERTIES/CITY OF ROHNERT PARK (13B.01) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council authorize the Town Attorney to include the Town of Los Gatos as an amicus curiae in the case of Hillsboro Properties v. City of Rohnert Park, Appellate Court Case C-93-1723, at no cost to the Town. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. AMICUS BRIEF/SUTER/CITY OF LAFAYETTE (13C.01) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council authorize the Town Attorney to include the Town of Los Gatos as an amicus curiae in the case of Suter, et al. v. City of Lafayette, Appellate Court Case 1CIVA073743, at no cost to the Town. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES/RESOLUTION 1996-96 (14.44) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1996-96 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ADOPTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE LOS GATOS DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. HOUSING CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES/RESOLUTION 1996-97 (15.19) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1996-97 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING HOUSING CONSERVATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION 1996-47. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. ELECTRONIC BANKING SERVICES/BANK OF THE WEST/RESOLUTION 1996-98 (16.06) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1996-98 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BANK OF THE WEST FOR ELECTRONIC BANKING SERVICES. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. COMPUTER NETWORK CONSULTING/EDGE INFORMATION/RESOLUTION 1996-99 (17.28) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1996-99 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH EDGE INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR COMPUTER NETWORK CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM COMPUTER NETWORK UPGRADE PROJECT. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. COMPUTER SYSTEM/HEWLETT PACKARD SERVICE/POLICE/RESOLUTION 1996-100 (18.09) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1996-100 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH HEWLETT PACKARD FOR SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE LOS GATOS POLICE DEPARTMENT. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. O'Laughlin absent. TC: D8: MM080596 3