REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL December 11, 2014 FROM: MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO, Director Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department BY: IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Grant Writer KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department SUBJECT ..Title RESOLUTION - Authorizing execution of State of California Department of Housing and Community Development Standard Agreement for Housing-Related Parks Program grant (Districts 3, 5, & 7) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) Adopt the attached resolution authorizing execution of State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Standard Agreement for Housing-Related Parks Program (Proposition 1C) grant funds for rehabilitation and recreation improvements at Radio, Holmes, and Pilibos Parks; and 2) Authorize the PARCS Director or designee to sign all necessary documents to implement the grant, subject to prior approval as to form by the City Attorney's Office. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department submitted a Housing-Related Parks Program grant application in response to the October 2, 2013, Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) provided for by the passage of Proposition 1C (Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006). The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded $1,486,425 in Housing-Related Parks Program funds to the City of Fresno and has requested that this amount be included in the resolution. BACKGROUND The State's Housing-Related Parks Program is designed to encourage cities and counties to develop new low-income housing by rewarding those jurisdictions that create affordable housing, with program funds. The Housing-Related Parks Program is a non-competitive no-match grant with funds available based on building permits for residential units, and substantial rehabilitation of affordable housing completed from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013. On October 2, 2013, the HCD issued an NOFA for the 2013 funding round. On January 9, 2014 the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the application submittal and subsequent participation in the Program to complete the following park improvements: * Radio Park (2233 N. First Street) - Public restroom, picnic tables, safety lighting, irrigation and sidewalk improvements; * Holmes Park (212 S. First Street) - New splash park equipment, new gym floor, bleachers, irrigation/turf, court resurfacing, restrooms, safety lighting, landscaping, and parking lot improvements; * Pilibos Park (4945 E. Lane) - Soccer field improvements that include grading, new irrigation system, reseeding, bleachers, concrete repairs, fencing, and tree planting. The three parks are located in community areas with less than three (3) acres of usable parkland per 1,000 residents. Holmes and Pilibos Parks are located in disadvantaged "Park Deficient Communities" where at least 51 percent of residents are of low or moderate-income levels. Both Holmes and Radio Parks are adjacent to newly constructed low income housing units. The targeted park deficient sites allowed the City of Fresno to obtain the maximum amount of funds available under the grant application. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Staff will return to Council with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination for the park projects before contracts are awarded. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered because this Resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the City's General Fund. The program funds have been included in the 2014/2015 budget and the State will reimburse the City for expenditures upon submittal of the attached resolution. Attachment: Resolution