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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2012-02-27 #FBACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: SUMMARY OF REQUEST: AGENDA STAFF REPORT DATE: February 27, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council THRU: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager FROM: Mark H. Persico, AICP, Director of Development Services SUBJECT: CITY ELECTION REGARDING HOUSING DUTIES AB 26 provides that cities may elect to retain the housing assets and functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency. Based upon the following analysis, staff recommends that the City Council not elect to retain the housing assets and functions previously performed by the Seal Beach Redevelopment Agency. As previously reported, the Supreme Court largely upheld AB 26 (which provides for the windup and dissolution of redevelopment agencies), invalidated AB 27 (which provided for an alternative voluntary redevelopment program), and held that AB 26 may be severed from AB 27 and enforced independently. The Supreme Court generally revised the effective dates and deadlines for performance of obligations in Part 1.85 (the dissolution provisions) arising before May 1, 2012 to take effect four months later. As a result of the Supreme Court's decision, on February 1, 2012, all redevelopment agencies, including the Seal Beach Redevelopment Agency, were dissolved. Health and Safety Code Section 34176(a) authorizes a city that created a redevelopment agency to elect to retain the housing assets and functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency. If a city elects to retain the responsibility for performing housing functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency, Section 34176(a), as adopted, provides that all rights, powers, duties, and obligations, excluding any amounts on deposit in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund, shall be transferred to the City. Health and Safety Code Section 34176(b), as adopted, provides that if a city does not elect 'to retain the responsibility for performing housing functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency, all rights, powers, assets, liabilities, duties, and obligations associated with the housing activities of the redevelopment agency, excluding any amounts on deposit in the Low and Agenda Item F Moderate Income Housing Fund, shall be transferred as follows: (1) where there is no local housing authority in the territorial jurisdiction of the former redevelopment agency, to the Department of Housing and Community Development; (2) where there is one local housing authoring in the territorial jurisdiction of the former redevelopment agency, to that local housing authority; and (3) where there is more than one local housing authority in the territorial jurisdiction of the former redevelopment agency, to the local housing authority selected by the city that authorized the creation of the redevelopment agency. Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) is a division within Orange County Community Services and is in the territorial jurisdiction of the former Redevelopment Agency. Health and Safety 34176(c) provides that the entity assuming the housing functions formerly performed by the redevelopment agency may enforce affordability covenants and perform related activities pursuant to applicable provisions of the Redevelopment Law, including, but not limited to, Health and Safety Code Section 33418. The Agency did not own any housing assets. As listed in the Five Year Implementation Plan (2009- 2014), the Agency had the following programs: 1. Mobile home park rental assistance program - $180,000 annually 2. Housing rehabilitation loan and grant program - $120,000 annually These two programs cost the former Agency approximately $300,000 annually. Without revenue from the redevelopment project area, those costs would be borne by the City. Staff does not believe the General Fund can or should absorb these costs. Additionally, the rental subsidy is listed as an enforceable obligation on the successor agency's initial draft Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS). But it is uncertain whether the state will consider the rental subsidy an enforceable obligation or a housing function. In any event, we do not recommend that the City use General Fund money to pay the annual subsidy. In addition, redevelopment funds were used for the administrative costs associated with administering the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for housing rehabilitation in Leisure World to install bathroom improvements that improved disabled access within the bathrooms. The City has received an average of almost $200,000 annually for the bathroom improvement program. This week we received notification that the Leisure World program will be funded again. While we do not know the exact funding level, we anticipate the funding will be approximately $170,000, which will become available in October. The cost to administer this program is approximately $60,000 for FY 2012 -13. However, due to AB 26, the City cannot use existing redevelopment funds, the $250,000 administrative costs fund, or future tax increment to pay such costs. Nonetheless, staff will be recommending that the City continue participating in this program, and that the City Council include the costs and expenses in the FY 2012 -13 budget. Page 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There will be no new environmental impact associated with the decision outlined above. LEGAL ANALYSIS: The City Attorney has reviewed and approved as to form. FINANCIAL IMPACT: AB 26 does not appear to authorize a funding mechanism for performing housing functions previously performed by the Redevelopment Agency. The $250,000 administrative costs authorized by AB 26 cannot be used for such functions. Thus, if the City Council were to elect to assume the housing duties and functions of the Redevelopment Agency, the City would continue the Housing Rehabilitation loan and grant program at a cost of approximately $120,000 annually. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 6225 electing not to retain the housing assets and functions previously performed by the Seal Beach Redevelopment Agency. SUBMITTED BY: NOTED AND APPROVED: .,—----) Mark H. Persico, AICP, . Ingram, City anger Director of Development Services Attachments: A. Resolution No. 6225 Page 3 RESOLUTION NUMBER 6225 A RESOLUTION OF THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL MAKING AN ELECTION IN CONNECTION WITH HOUSING ASSETS AND FUNCTIONS UNDER PART 1.85 OF DIVISION 24 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE AND TAKING CERTAIN ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH RECITALS: A. AB X1 26 and AB X1 27 were signed by the Governor of California on June 29, 2011, making certain changes to the Community Redevelopment Law (Part 1 (commencing with Section 33000) of Division 24 of the California Health and Safety Code) (the "Redevelopment Law "), including adding Part 1.8 (commencing with Section 34161) ( "Part 1.8 ") and Part 1.85 (commencing with Section 34170) ( "Part 1.85 "). B. The California Redevelopment Association and League of California Cities filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Califomia ( Califomia Redevelopment Association, et al. v. Matosantos, et al. (Case No. S194861)) alleging that AB X1 26 and AB X1 27 are unconstitutional. On December 29, 2011, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in the Matosantos case, largely upholding AB X1 26, invalidating AB X1 27, and holding that AB X1 26 may be severed from AB X1 27 and enforced independently. C. The Supreme Court generally revised the effective dates and deadlines for performance of obligations in Part 1.85 arising before May 1, 2012, to take effect four months later. D. As a result of the Supreme Court's decision, the Seal Beach Redevelopment Agency ( "Redevelopment Agency "), a redevelopment agency in the City of Seal Beach ( "City "), created pursuant to the Redevelopment Law, was dissolved pursuant to Part 1.85 on February 1, 2012. E. Health and Safety Code Section 34176(a) authorizes a city that created a redevelopment agency to elect to retain the housing assets and functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency. Pursuant to Section 34176(a), if a city elects to retain the responsibility for performing housing functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency, all rights, powers, duties, and obligations, excluding any amounts on deposit in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund, shall be transferred to the City. F. Health and Safety Code Section 34176(b) provides that if a city does not elect to retain the responsibility for performing housing functions previously performed by the redevelopment agency, all rights, powers, assets, liabilities, duties, and obligations associated with the housing activities of the redevelopment agency, excluding any amounts in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund, shall be transferred as follows: (1) where there is no local housing authority in the territorial jurisdiction of the former redevelopment agency, to the Department of Housing and Community Development; (2) where there is one local housing authoring in the territorial jurisdiction of the former redevelopment agency, to that local housing authority; and (3) where there is more than one local housing authority in the territorial jurisdiction of the former redevelopment agency, to the local housing authority selected by the city that authorized the creation of the redevelopment agency. G. The Orange County Housing Authority is in the territorial jurisdiction of the former Redevelopment Agency. Resolution Number 6225 H. Health and Safety 34176(c) provides that the entity assuming the housing functions formerly performed by the redevelopment agency may enforce affordability covenants and perform related activities pursuant to applicable provisions of the Redevelopment Law, including, but not limited to, Health and Safety Code Section 33418. I. The City Council desires to adopt this resolution in connection with the housing assets and functions previously performed by the Redevelopment Agency. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES, RESOLVES, AND ORDERS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are a substantive part of this Resolution. Section 2. This Resolution is adopted pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 34176. Section 3. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 34176(b), the City Council hereby elects for the City not to retain the responsibility for performing housing functions previously performed by the Redevelopment Agency, and hereby determines that all of the assets, as allowed by law, and all rights, powers, assets, liabilities, duties, and obligations associated with the housing activities of the Redevelopment Agency shall be transferred to the Orange County Housing Authority. Section 4. The officers and staff of the City are hereby authorized and directed, jointly and severally, to make all notifications of the Council's election, as set forth in Section 3 hereof, as deemed necessary or advisable and to execute all documents and take all actions which they may deem necessary or advisable to effectuate this Resolution, and any such actions previously taken by such officers and staff are hereby ratified and confirmed. Section 5. The adoption of this Resolution is not intended to and shall not constitute a waiver by the City of any right the City may have to challenge the legality of all or any portion of AB X1 26 through administrative or judicial proceedings. Section 6. This Resolution has been reviewed with respect to applicability of the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA "), the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 15000 et seq., hereafter the "Guidelines "), and the City's environmental guidelines. The City Council has determined that this Resolution is not a "project" for purposes of CEQA, as that term is defined by Guidelines Section 15378, because this Resolution is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment. (Guidelines Section 15378(b) (5)). Section 7. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. (Intentionally Left Blank) Resolution Number 6225 PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 27th day of February , 2012 by the following vote: AYES: Council Members NOES: Council Members ABSENT: Council Members ABSTAIN: Council Members ATTEST: City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS CITY OF SEAL BEACH } I, Linda Devine, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the original copy of Resolution Number 6225 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 27th day of February , 2012. City Clerk Mayor