For City Council Meeting of December 10, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: G. Michael Milhiser, Interim City Manager
AUTHOR: Colby Cataldi, Director of Community Development
Title
Request City Council to Adopt Resolution No. 8310, Approving the Execution of an Agreement to Receive Funding From the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant Program of 2021 in the Amount of $193,000.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Find the project exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15378; and,
2. Approve Resolution No. 8310 (Exhibit A), approving the execution of an agreement to receive funding from the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant Program of 2021.
BACKGROUND
The Regional Early Action Planning (REAP 2.0) grant program, established in 2019 by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), provides grant funding for planning activities to accelerate housing production. REAP Grants of 2021 expand the program for planning and implementation investments that support infill development to confront the statewide housing affordability crisis.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Programs to Accelerate Transformative Housing (PATH) is a REAP 2.0 grant program suitable for infill development established by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The program objectives are to facilitate the development of the housing supply, choice and affordability; affirmatively further fair housing; and reduce vehicle miles traveled. Further, all residential development must be in areas meeting the definition for “In-fill” provided in the REAP 2.0 state guidelines.
SCAG awarded the City a grant of $193,000 to implement the “Catalytic Housing Initiative for Downtown Rialto” to accelerate the development of affordable housing on public and private land. No matching contribution is required of the City with awarding of the grant. The work performed under this grant will help identify underutilized sites near transit, analyze site-specific constraints and solutions for utilities, locate financing, and promote residential mixed-use development. The project will include the issuing of up to three Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the development of infill sites during the project expenditure period.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Receiving grant funds is not a project as defined by CEQA.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This activity is consistent with Goal 5-2 (Housing Availability and Production), which is to “promote and encourage housing development that adequately meets the needs of all socioeconomic segments of the community and region.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Upon acceptance of the REAP 2.0 grant, staff will request an increase in a revenue and corresponding appropriation of $193,000. The grant is dispersed on a reimbursement basis and no matching funds are required. The City will submit an invoice to HCD on a quarterly basis for reimbursement.