RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO
APPROVING THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO TWOYEAR AGREEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES IN EAST PALO ALTO,
NUESTRA CASA, AND YOUTH FOR COMMUNITY ACTION FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $580,000
WHEREAS, on October 16, 2018, the City Council approved the Five-Year Affordable Housing Strategy (“Strategy”) for the City of East Palo Alto (“City”); and WHEREAS, a key item included in the Strategy was future issuance of a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to identify an organization(s) to provide Measure O related services to the Community; and
WHEREAS, on July 5, 2022, City Council directed staff to issue an RFP for AntiDisplacement Services and City staff issued the RFP on August 1, 2022; and WHEREAS, on August 26, 2022, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (“CLSEPA”) & Nuestra Casa, and Youth United for Community Action (“YUCA”), submitted proposals for eviction defense, case management, tenant education & outreach services; and
WHEREAS, on October 12, 2022, the Rent Stabilization Board expressed its support for City staff’s recommendation to use the monies collected from penalty fees to cover the cost of eviction defense services for East Palo Alto residents; and WHEREAS, the Rent Stabilization Program has collected approximately $314,000 in penalties from property owners who have failed to substantially comply with the requirements of the City’s Rent Stabilization ordinances during the last four fiscal years; and
WHEREAS, protecting tenants from improper evictions is a stated purpose of the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinances and the total cost of the proposed eviction defense services under the anti-displacement services contract for the first year is $116,000; WHEREAS, Measure O, approved in November 2016 to levy a business license tax, is a general tax with revenue deposited in the general fund and there is sufficient revenue to pay for the agreements for anti-displacement services since they meet several of the objectives of Measure O;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO HEREBY:
1. Authorizes the City Manager to enter into two-year agreements, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with CLSEPA and Nuestra Casa for an amount not to exceed $426,788 ($213,394 each year) and with YUCA for an amount not to exceed $133,196 ($66,598 each year.); and
2. Appropriates $116,000 from the Rent Stabilization Program Fund for eviction defense services to be provided by CLSEPA; and $164,000 from the General Fund Reserve for other services to be provided by CLSEPA, Nuestra Casa, and YUCA in the first year of the contract, with funds for the second year of the agreements to be included in the FY2023-24 Rent Stabilization Program and General Fund budgets.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of November 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_______________________
Ruben Abrica, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________ ____________________________
James Colin, City Clerk Valerie J. Armento, City Attorney