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Agenda Report
April 3, 2023
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: William K. htuang, Director of Housing
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: SUBMITTAL OF PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN (2023) TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City of Pasadena (the "City"), as Successor Agency to the Pasadena Community Development Commission, after a public hearing:
1) Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines per 15061 (b )(3),the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and
2) Approve the City's Public Housing Agency Annual Plan (2023), as attached to this report, and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents regarding its submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
BACKGROUND:
It is an annual requirement for the City of Pasadena ("City") to submit the Public Housing Agency Annual Plan ("Annual Plan") to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("hlUD") in order to remain eligible for funding for the Housing Choice Voucher ("HCV") program, commonly known as Section 8. The Annual Plan, along with the Five-Year Plan, make up the Public Housing Agency Plan ("PHA Plan").
The PHA Plan consists of a hlUD template and required attachments, the most significant of which is the Administrative Plan. The Administrative Plan lays out the policies and procedures of the rental assistance programs. The PHA Plan utilizes a required format and is not a broader plan to address housing issues.
The current Five-Year Plan covers the period of 2020-2025 and was adopted by City Council on October 5, 2020. The Annual Plan 2023 describes the City's progress on MEETING OF.04/03/2023AGENDA ITEM NO..
11 Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2023 April 3, 2023
goals that were set in the current Five-Year Plan, as well as any significant amendments or modifications to policies or procedures for the HCV program.
The HCV program administered by the City of Pasadena Housing Department ("CoPHD", the name used by HDD to identify the City's public housing agency) provides housing assistance to approximately 1 ,400 very low and low-income households. This represents assistance for approximately two and a half percent (2.5%) of the households residing within the City of Pasadena. For the current fiscal year 2023, the total federal appropriation for the HCV Program is approximately $18.5 million.
ANNUAL PLAN OVERVIEW:
The Annual Plan 2023 describes the progress made on the goals and objectives set in the current Five-Year Plan. Progress on goals and selected objectives include the following:
GOALS:OBJECTIVES:PROGRESS:
Improve the availability of
safe, decent, and
affordable housing.
Strengthen outreach to the
landlord community.
Increase the availability of
rental vouchers by
applying for special needs
vouchers when available.
Increase housing choice
by monitoring of the
payment standards in
relation to average rents
within the City.
Landlord incentives
secured 56 units for new or
continuing HCV
participants, brought 15
new landlords to program.
Awarded 17 Fair Share
Housing Choice Vouchers
Increased payment
standard for rental
vouchers, lowering rent
burden for participating
families.
Promote fair housing and
equal opportunity.
Provide training to
employees, owners, and
residents through
workshops and mailers.
Two virtual workshops are
scheduled for March and
April 2023 for Pasadena
landlords in partnership
with the Housing Rights
Center.
Ensure effective
operations and program
management.
Utilize technology to
improve program access.
Developed application
portals for rental
assistance programs for
people experiencing
homelessness to facilitate
application submittal.
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2023
April 3, 2023
A draft copy of the Annual Plan 2023 is attached. Section D of the Annual Plan 2023 does not contain any data because it is not required yet. It is a new section as of the previous year's Annual Plan 2022 reporting format and will be used to document strategies and actions to meet the goals outlined in the PHAs' Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH). However, HDD has not yet provided guidance on the development of an AFH, and has not required its submittal. Thus, the CoPHD is not required to complete this section.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The PHA Plan 2023 advances Policy HE-3.6 in the City's Housing Element (2021- 2029), which calls for the City to "support the provision of rental assistance for residents earning lower incomes, including persons with special needs consistent with City preference and priority categories and fair housing law." The Annual Plan 2023 is also in agreement with the following City-approved program plans and documents:
• Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2020-2024)
• Rental Assistance Program Policies & Procedures
PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENTS:
The Annual Plan 2023 was reviewed by the Resident Advisory Board (RAB) at its meeting of March 4, 2023. The RAB, which is comprised of Section 8 HCV Program participants, recommended that the Annual Plan 2023 be approved by the City Council.
Copies of the Annual Plan 2023 have been made available to the general public on the Housing Department website for a public review and comment period beginning February 21, 2023 through the present, as required by HDD. Public notices of the City public hearing were posted on the Housing Department website on March 1, 2023, and published in the Pasadena Journal on March 9, 2023.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "common sense" provision of CEQA, as it will not have a potentially significant environmental effect and therefore falls under the "common sense" exemption.
Submission of Public Housing Agency Annual Plan 2023
April 3, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT:
Submission of the Annual Plan 2023 will have no direct fiscal impact on the General Fund.
Its submission will ensure compliance with htUD-stipulated regulations for the City's receipt of federal funds in excess of $18.5 million to administer and provide HCV rental subsidies.
Respectfujly submitted,
\1
^TWILLIAM K. HUANG
Director of Housing
Department of Housing
Prepared,by:
.^
Anne Lansing
Housing Assistance Officer
Approved by:
^L^-
iUEfMARQUEZMIGUETMARQUEZ
City Manager
ATTACHMENT: PHA Annual Plan (2023)