Annual Action Plan
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AP-38 Project Summary
Project Summary Information
Annual Action Plan
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1 Project Name Section 108 Loan repayment
Target Area
Goals Supported Economic Development
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Funding :
Description Planned loan repayment under Section 108. City used funds to construct a new downtown parking garage to spur on development and job creation. the project will fall under 19F-Planned Repayments of Section 108 Loans.
Target Date 6/30/2024
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
Location Description N/A
Planned Activities N/A
2 Project Name Youth Center Staffing
Target Area
Goals Supported Public Services
Needs Addressed Public Services
Funding :
Description Funding will be used to provide recreational classes for local youth at the City's community center. These funds are critical to providing staffing and services to operate the facility. The classes provide an opportunity for youth to participate in a variety of sports, games, and arts & crafts activities in a safe environment. The project will fall under 05D-Youth Services that will meet an LMC National Objective. The public services objective will be to provide such services to 300 low-income youth who live in the City.
Target Date 6/30/2024
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
300 low income youth within the City
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Location Description 30 Maple Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95076 Planned Activities Funding for Parks and Community services staff at the Gene Hoularis Waldo Rodriguez Youth Center, which provides recreational services to approximately 100 youth each day. The Youth Center provides a variety of recreational and neighborhood services programs that benefit the City's youth. the recreational programs will focus on, sports, games, arts & crafts, and other learning programs.
3 Project Name Targeted Code Enforcement
Target Area
Goals Supported Affordable Housing
Needs Addressed Affordable Housing
Funding :
Description The proposed funding will be used to operate a code enforcement program in target areas throughout the City. this activity will fall under matrix code 15-Code Enforcement and will meet the LMA National Objective-570.202 (C), focusing on geographic areas that are predominantly residential, benefit low to moderate income households and areas that are known to have deteriorated or deteriorating conditions. CDBG funds will be used for actual time of various staff involved in code enforcement in specific target areas, as well as legal costs for compliance enforcement. Logs will be maintained to track activities under the Program and to determine if the program is successful in arresting the decline in low-income neighborhoods.
Target Date 6/30/2023
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
50 households that are in code violation located in identified areas which represent the most deteriorated neighborhoods.
Location Description Eligible Targeted block groups located within the City limits that are primarily residential low/mod income areas with deteriorated or deteriorating.
Planned Activities To address and inspect illegal and unsafe construction, substandard housing and property maintenance issues throughout the City. In addition, City staff will hold community educational trainings and presentations in low-income areas to ensure that real properties do not reach a state of deterioration or disrepair.
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4 Project Name Administration and Planning
Target Area
Goals Supported Economic Development
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Funding :
Description Planning administration and management of CDBG Program. Oversight will include reporting, expenditure tracking., IDIS entry, action plan development, citizen aprticipation, program guidelines, etc Target Date 6/30/2024
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
N/A
Location Description N/A
Planned Activities Planning administration and management of CDBG Program. 5 Project Name Micro-Enterprise Business Technical Assistance Target Area
Goals Supported Economic Development
Needs Addressed Economic Development
Funding :
Description In order to strengthen local entrepreneurship in Watsonville, the City will provide funds to a non-profit to manage the Plaza Vigil program that focuses on providing micro enterprise technical assistance to Watsonville business start-ups and entrepreneurs. The technical assistance will be provided to low-income persons who self-certify their income falls below 80% AMI and that their business has less that 5 total persons. The activity will fall under 18C-ED Micro-Enterprise and will accomplish LMCMC National Objective.
Target Date 6/30/2024
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
50 businesses will receive technical assistance
Location Description 23 E Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
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Planned Activities
6 Project Name City of Watsonville Rehabilitation Program Target Area
Goals Supported Affordable Housing
Needs Addressed Affordable Housing
Funding :
Description City of Watsonville Rehabilitation Program
Target Date 6/30/2024
Estimate the number
and type of families
that will benefit from
the proposed activities
6 low income households
Location Description
Planned Activities
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AP-50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f)
Description of the geographic areas of the entitlement (including areas of low-income and minority concentration) where assistance will be directed Not applicable. Entitlement funding will be distributed citywide, as eligible.
Geographic Distribution
Target Area Percentage of Funds
Table 8 - Geographic Distribution
Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically Not applicable.
Discussion
Not applicable.
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Affordable Housing
AP-55 Affordable Housing – 91.220(g)
Introduction
The City currently operates First Time Homebuyer, Housing Rehabilitation and Inclusionary Housing Programs, all of which are designed to further the affordable housing needs of the community. Funding for these Programs is provided by multiple funding sources including HOME, CDBG, CalHome and Inclusionary Housing in-lieu fees.
While there are only a few direct services located in Watsonville, the City will continue to work with the Continuum of Care and other agencies that provide direct supportive services.
One Year Goals for the Number of Households to be Supported Homeless 0
Non-Homeless 3
Special-Needs 0
Total 3
Table 9 - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Requirement One Year Goals for the Number of Households Supported Through Rental Assistance 0
The Production of New Units 0
Rehab of Existing Units 3
Acquisition of Existing Units 0
Total 3
Table 10 - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Type Discussion
Ongoing rental assistance is provided through the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County. In addition, funding constraints at the local, State and Federal levels have limited the funding available to accomplish some of the goals such as developing and acquiring housing. Consequently, Watsonville relies on private developers, non-profits, public housing and social service agencies to provide the majority of affordable housing and assists mainly through its development process.
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AP-60 Public Housing – 91.220(h)
Introduction
The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz (HACSC) offers tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) that can be used in Watsonville. The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including singlefamily homes, townhouses and apartments. HACSC also offers Project Based Vouchers (PBVs), which are allocated to specific units, and have been utilized to fully develop and occupy two projects in Watsonville, at the Pippin Orchard Apartments and Pajaro Valley Shelter Services. HACSC’s non-profit affiliate, New Horizons Housing and Development, Inc. also owns affordable units in Watsonville.
Actions planned during the next year to address the needs to public housing The HACSC has issued a request for proposals for Project Based Vouchers (PBV). The Request for Proposals (RFP) is typically published on an ongoing basis to provide interested parties in the community with the opportunity to request Project Based Vouchers. The HACSC has conditionally approved Project Based Vouchers for 37 units in Eden Housing’s Tabasa Gardens development project at 1482 Freedom Blvd, 43 units for MidPen’s Miles Lane development, 37 units for MidPen’s Pippin Phase II development, and 78 units for Shangri-La’s 1620 West Beach Street Homekey development project in Watsonville.
The commitment of Project Based Vouchers is often vital to the successful financing of an affordable housing development. The HACSC invites affordable housing development though the PBV RFP process as published on their website.
Actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership
Public housing residents participate in a Resident Advisory Board that meets annually to review and discuss proposed changes to the Housing Authority’s Agency Plan.
The HACSC administers a Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program for Housing Choice Voucher program participants, through which FSS families establish a self-sufficiency goal. As the household makes progress toward their goal, and their income increases, HACSC puts the increase in their portion of rent into an escrow account on their behalf. When the family achieves the goal, they receive all of the money in the escrow account. Some families in this program have established a goal of homeownership and have used their escrow money towards the down payment of a home.
If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial assistance will be provided or other assistance
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Not applicable. The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz is designated by HUD as a High Performer.
Discussion
The HACSC will continue to offer Housing Choice Vouchers and manage the affordable units in Watsonville owned by New Horizons Affordable Housing and Development Inc. HACSC will continue to provide additional programs and services including security deposit assistance, landlord signing bonuses and a landlord risk mitigation program.
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AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities – 91.220(i) Introduction
The City of Watsonville is part of the Homeless Action Partnership (HAP) is a broad-based, communitywide action team, which has met every two months since 1996 to implement a Continuum of Care (CoC) strategy for resolving homelessness. The HAP’s vision is that all Santa Cruz County residents will have the stable housing and appropriate services they need to live in dignity and reach their highest potential. Its mission is to develop and implement a coordinated system of housing and services for preventing and ending homelessness in Santa Cruz County. A CoC strategy organizes and delivers housing and services to meet the specific needs of homeless people as they move from the streets to stable housing and maximize self-sufficiency. A CoC strategy includes housing and services for a variety of homeless subgroups, including families, chronically homeless, seriously mentally ill, chronic substances abusers, veterans, persons with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, and unaccompanied youth
Describe the jurisdictions one-year goals and actions for reducing and ending homelessness including
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs
The City of Watsonville has several short term goals for addressing homelessness over the next program year. These include; The vision of the strategic plan is that the diverse residents of Santa Cruz County will have access to safe, stable housing, residents will have incomes to support their well-being, and will have access to culturally competent services empowering them to meet their basic needs and lead dignified lives.
Our mission is to prevent, dramatically reduce, and eventually end homelessness and its impact on communities throughout Santa Cruz County by implementing effective programs and strategies, by working collaboratively to increase key resources and change systems to better meet the needs of diverse homeless sub-populations, and by engaging all persons and organizations needed to work together for these purposes.
The most recent information available for the Santa Cruz County Point-in-Time (PIT) count was conducted February 28, 2022, and is as follows. Enumeration teams consisting of approximately 75 local volunteers canvassed the entire County of Santa Cruz to directly observe persons in non-shelter, non-service, public locations. Local shelters and institutions reported their occupancy for the night prior to the count, to insure that all homeless individuals and families both sheltered and unsheltered , were counted. Individual needs were assessed via a full year of extensive community participation and feedback from over 250 stakeholders, including people who have experienced homelessness themselves. At the very core of these strategic priorities is the intent to use the evidence-based
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Vulnerability Index and Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT)1 to match individuals and families to the most appropriate housing and service intervention available. In this way, residents experiencing the longest-term, chronic homelessness – often the most visible – will be prioritized for services. As our Continuum of Care partnership evolves, we are moving to Implementing and operating a single coordinated entry system that will place homelessness data and data systems, including CoC-wide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) into one secure database accessible by all of the CoC partners. This will make it even more possible to make any door – the right door” for accessing services in our community.
Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons The CoC’s goal is to limit the stay in transitional and emergency shelter and back into housing as quickly as possible, discharge planning as way to prevent homelessness among persons leaving other systems of care, and emergency shelter and transitional housing as an interim housing solution pending the availability of suitable permanent housing. Under the Ten Year Plan, community members:
• Delivered extensive prevention and rapid rehousing services (including financial assistance and housing stabilization services) through the federal HPRP, state administered Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), federal CalWORKS Housing Support Program, federal Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, and County and City sources (that target senior and medically frail persons). Through a $4 million HPRP grant alone, 14 agencies collaborated to serve 885 households (2,053 persons), 83% of whom retained or obtained permanent housing.45 Coordinated strategically with representative from the Foster Care, Mental Health, Public Health, and Corrections systems to implement protocols to avoid discharging people to homelessness and to help prevent institutional recidivism. • Developed new emergency shelter programs to cope with influx of persons newly homeless, including the 90-bed Rebele Family Shelter, 46-bed Paul Lee Loft Shelter for adults, and 12-bed Paget Center for homeless veterans, while maintaining a sizable preexisting stock of emergency shelter and transitional housing, serving varied populations and subpopulations such as families, adults, seriously mentally ill, persons with drug or alcohol issues, emancipating foster youth, persons with HIV/AIDS, and farm workers.
• Piloted nationally recognized, innovative models of permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing chronic homelessness with serious mental illness and substance addictions, including the 13-bed Nuevo Sol project, 33-bed MATCH project, and 36-bed Shelter Plus Care program.
• Emphasized housing the most medically vulnerable persons as part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign, succeeded in housing more 200 from this population, and the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz created 120 Housing Choice Voucher preference slots for program participants.
Our short tem goals (one to three years) are to 1. Establish a countywide steering committee of
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representatives of the key partners serving families to develop a method for identifying families most in need of prevention services. 2. Target 10% of the permanent supportive housing beds and 50% of the rapid rehousing beds proposed above to families to meet the relative need. 3. Provide the new rapid rehousing programs in collaboration with existing family interim housing to assure a continuum of services. 4. Sustain existing family (and domestic violence) shelters to meet the scale of need (including for woman only and women with children). Coordinate common lengths of stay, self-sufficiency goals and outcomes among all family shelters. 5. Working with coordinated entry, develop a common policies and a shared family waiting list, making appropriate housing interventions, based on severity of need. 6.
Link children experiencing homelessness and their families to the County Office of Education Students in Transition Program. 7. Advocate for a “limited local preference” for families experiencing homelessness who are on the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again
The Continuum of Care (CoC) is working on obtaining more permanent, supportive housing in our community by marketing and educating property and complex owners that subsidized housing is such a bad thing as some have stereotyped it to be. The monthly rent is guaranteed and supportive services such as budgeting and health care are often packaged with the voucher. This action should free up more transitional housing and make more emergency shelter available.
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low-income individuals and families and those who are: being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections programs and institutions); or, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or youth needs.
Community resources for people recently released from mental and physical health institutions are The Santa Cruz County Mental Health Team with services that include Coordinated Care Treatment Teams for Older Adults Team, a Recovery Team (26 and above)that provides coordinated care to individuals with chronic mental illnesses with severe functional impairments, a South County Adult (SCA) Team that provides coordinated care to mental health patients living in Watsonville and the southern areas of Santa Cruz County who are in need of case management, medication services and therapy, and a Transition Age Youth (TAY) Team (Youth 18-25)that will coordinate care to young adults with a major mental illness who are in need of case management, medication services, therapy as well as vocational
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and educational supports.
Also serving this targeted population is The Homeless Persons Health Project (HPHP) provides services throughout Santa Cruz County to homeless or marginally housed youth, adults, and families with children.
The Recuperative Care Center (RCC) is operated through a partnership between HSC and the County Homeless Persons’ Health Project (HPHP), with the support and investment of Dominican Hospital/Dignity Health, Watsonville Community Hospital, Central California Alliance for Health, Hospice of Santa Cruz, the County Health Services Agency, and the Health Improvement Partnership.
Discussion
The City of Watsonville will continue to participate in the Santa Cruz County Continuum of Care (CoC) to find ways to assist homeless persons, especially chronically homeless individuals and families, veterans and their families and unaccompanied youth. The City will use a combination of federal, state, and local resources to rapidly re-house and stabilize homeless individuals, especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families and unaccompanied youth.
The City of Watsonville will work with local service providers, housing authorities, and the Veterans Administration via the CoC to secure housing assistance for the homeless in Santa Cruz County.
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AP-75 Barriers to affordable housing – 91.220(j)
Introduction:
Many factors can impact development and affect affordable housing such as market conditions, environmental/physical constraints, government codes, and budgetary limitations. Watsonville is committed to finding ways to alleviate these constraints and address the needs of the community as previously discussed and outlined below.
Actions it planned to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment
Barriers such as those discussed previously are considered and addressed in the City’s Housing Element and General Plan, which the City is currently in the process of updating. Programs such as the First Time Homebuyer and Housing Rehabilitation Programs will continue to be offered and the City will continue to operate its Inclusionary Housing Program to provide and preserve affordable housing. Code enforcement activities will continue to be carried out to eliminate blight, which can affect investment, depress property values and impact the quality of life in a neighborhood.
In addition, the City has and will continue to seek out funding available for programs that support affordable housing and/or to assist with costs associated with development of affordable housing.
Financial and non-financial support will continue to be provided to other programs, developers and governmental agencies involved in affordable housing and supportive services. Watsonville has and will continue to actively participate with other agencies and organizations in programs and policies that could affect the housing or the quality of life in Watsonville.
Discussion:
Watsonville’s budgetary constraints, which is further affected by decisions and issues at the state and national 13, have limited the funding available to address local housing and infrastructure needs and supportive services. Consequently, the City has had to look for other ways of addressing the housing needs of the community.
As part of the City Council’s Strategic Plan, Housing is one of the Council’s top priorities, including expanding quality housing opportunities, preserving existing affordable housing for Watsonville residents, and reviewing housing and land use policies that maximize development potential. Areas of focus include community education and outreach, Affordable and low income units and rental housing, workforce housing opportunities, and homeownership assistance.
The City of Watsonville still faces a number of challenges in addressing local housing needs.
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These include diminishing affordability in northern Santa Cruz County jurisdictions that increases the demand for lower-cost housing in Watsonville. This market demand increases housing prices, resulting in overpayment and overcrowding for Watsonville residents.
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AP-85 Other Actions – 91.220(k)
Introduction:
The greatest obstacle to meeting any underserved need is the lack of sufficient funding, including:
• Limited availability of funding from federal, state and other sources • Limited availability of developable land
• High cost of housing and provisions in the area, which increases the difficulty of meeting affordable housing needs; and
• Reduced or frozen funding from the state, and other sources due to inadequate state revenue Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs Most of the obstacles identified above are beyond the control of the City of Watsonville. The reduction in State and Federal funding limits the City’s ability to address needs, however, staff actively seeks to leverage any funding to the extent possible and continue to lobby State and Federal agencies to provide adequate funding. The limited availability of land is caused by County actions, however we continue to seek opportunities to address needs by utilizing infill strategies. The high cost of housing is directly attributable to the artificial limits on housing growth that are placed on the City by the County and State, but the City is seeking to maximize the available opportunities to increase the supply of housing.
In addition to exploring potential updates to the City's infill policies in order to allow higher densities in transit corridors, the City is proposing an Expanded Urban Service Line in its 2030 General Plan. If the Plan is approved, it could potentially allow annexation of additional buildable land to the City limits.
The City is committed to finding new ways to fund these activities through leveraging the existing available funds and by seeking to implement other special tax districts to deal with blight and poverty issues.
The City will continue to work with non-profit housing and service providers to collaborate on improving awareness and expansion of available resources to address the needs of the homeless population.
Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing Low to 0% interest loans will continue to be offered through the City’s First Time Homebuyer and Housing Rehabilitation Programs. These Programs provide gap financing to make it more affordable for low income individuals to purchase a home and financial/technical assistance to low income homeowners or homeowners who rent to low income households make repairs to an existing home.
The City’s Economic Development efforts have resulted in a substantial increase in jobs in Watsonville in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Economic Development program includes business retention, expansion, attraction and gardening efforts. While the City is constrained by a lack of developable land,
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the City has been able to find users for nearly all of the existing opportunity sites, and are actively working to rehabilitate and increase job density in areas that have underutilized spaces. The City also works with local partner agencies like the El Pájaro Community Development Corporation, the Small Business Development Center and the Workforce Investment Board to provide education, job training, incubation/acceleration and other efforts to ensure the workforce is properly trained and prepared to take new jobs as they become available. Staff also works closely with the local community college, universities and other institutions of higher learning to identify potential new business development opportunities, and to coordinate existing workforce needs.
Targeted Code enforcement is another important tool in preserving and maintaining the quality of existing housing. Inspection and monitoring efforts provided by an active Targeted Code Enforcement Program to ensure a safe and healthy environment and reduce the cost burdens that can impact affordability, especially when combined with other housing assistance programs.
The City will continue to look for opportunities to assist developers, non-profits, and other providers in preserving and constructing affordable housing to meet the needs of the community. Currently, the City’s main affordable housing resource is its Inclusionary Housing Program. This Program either collects an in-lieu fee for new construction or requires a percentage of new housing construction (7 or more units) be restricted for purchase or rent by low to above moderate income households at affordable prices. The income limits for this Program are based on 70% of the AMI. The fees collected are used to further affordable housing goals.
Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards
All applicants assisted through the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program will be provided information on lead based paint. If the unit was built prior to 1978, it will be tested for LBP and any hazards will be abated. Contractors working with the Program will be required to obtain EPA Lead-Safe Certification and use safe work practices when performing work on pre-1978 units.
In addition, those homes purchased using the City’s First Time Homebuyer or through the Inclusionary Housing Programs will be inspected as part of the application process and any lead based paint hazards that are found will be required to be abated prior to funding approval.
Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families The City of Watsonville will support various public service programs, both with CDBG funding and its own General Fund, to provide essential services aimed at helping to reduce the number of poverty-level families, including supporting programs that meet the critical needs of family, such as food and medical care.
Actions planned to develop institutional structure
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One of the Institutional gaps identified was that not all services are located in the City of Watsonville. As a result, residents must travel to receive some services. The City will continue to work with service providers to offer services in Watsonville, and will support those programs that do so. New applicants for Social Service Grant funding are required to complete a Focus Watsonville addendum that specifically seeks to identify services and resources provided in Watsonville, including:
• What percentage of this grant will be used for Watsonville residents? • How many unduplicated clients were from Watsonville last year? • Do you have a Watsonville office?
• What is the number of your Watsonville Staff?
• How many of Watsonville staff speak Spanish?
• Race / Ethnicity of Watsonville staff and clients
• Briefly describe your accomplishments in Watsonville in the past 12 months • Specify how you coordinate with other agencies to provide services in Watsonville.
A regional online and telephone referral service called 2-1-1 offers a comprehensive listing of services in the County.
Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies
To ensure an environment of mutual cooperation is an important goal of Watsonville. City efforts to support local agencies, other jurisdictions, developers and providers of housing and supportive services will continue to involve participation on various boards, at various meetings and events as well as project collaborations. Opportunities to encourage and assist affordable housing efforts will continue to be pursued through improved development procedures, assistance and cooperation.
The City will continue to work closely with its nonprofit housing providers such as Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County, Habitat for Humanity and nurture relationships with for profit developers such as MidPen Housing, Eden Housing to help meet the affordable housing needs of City residents. This includes work being done on the Miles Lane Apartment project, Freedom Blvd Apartment project, and Airport Blvd single family dwelling units, and other housing project that are still in the plan review process.
The City will continue to work with Community Action Board finding affordable rental assistance.
As part of HAP, the City works collaboratively with multiple agencies including the CoC to identify the needs of the homeless population of Watsonville and to work towards solutions and identifying possible funding sources. As detailed in AP-65, this will be an ongoing collaboration.
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Discussion:
The City of Watsonville will continue to support providers of housing and supportive services utilizing all available resources to meet the needs of its residents and businesses. Many of the obstacles limiting the City's ability to meet these needs are beyond the City's control such as limited funding, lack of developable land, and government regulations imposed by the County and State. However, the City continues to actively pursue opportunities to expand available resources and identify other means of addressing the needs of its community.
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Program Specific Requirements
AP-90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.220(l)(1,2,4)
Introduction:
The City of Watsonville will follow all HUD regulations in the implementation of programs and activities in the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan concerning the use of program income, forms of investment, and overall low- and moderate-income benefit for the CDBG program.
The following provides additional information about the CDBG program income and program requirements.
Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included projects to be carried out.
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1)
Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included in projects to be carried out.
1. The total amount of program income that will have been received before the start of the next program year and that has not yet been reprogrammed 80,000
2. The amount of proceeds from section 108 loan guarantees that will be used during the year to address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the grantee's strategic plan. 0
3. The amount of surplus funds from urban renewal settlements 0
4. The amount of any grant funds returned to the line of credit for which the planned use has not been included in a prior statement or plan 0
5. The amount of income from float-funded activities 0
Total Program Income: 80,000
Other CDBG Requirements
1. The amount of urgent need activities 0
2. The estimated percentage of CDBG funds that will be used for activities that benefit persons of low and moderate income.Overall Benefit - A consecutive period of one, two or three years may be used to determine that a minimum overall benefit of 70% of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of low and moderate income. Specify the years covered that include this Annual Action Plan. 100.00%
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This Action Plan is being designated as year four of a one-year overall benefit period consisting of 2023.
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City of Watsonville
Community Development
Department
Federal Program established in 1974
City became an Entitlement Jurisdiction in
1994
Consolidated Plan
An Assessment of the housing and community
development needs,
A strategic plan for addressing those needs, and
An annual Action Plan that outlines how the CDBG funds will be used each year
Benefit Low- to Moderate-Income Persons or
Households
• at or below 80% of County median income
Prevent or Eliminate Slum and Blight
Serve Urgent Community Need
◦ Natural Disaster Recovery, urgent public health
measures
Affordable Housing:
Rehabilitation of housing and other buildings
Public facilities and infrastructure:
◦ Construction and improvements of public utility
systems, sidewalks, streets, neighborhood centers
Public Services (within limits 15% cap)
Economic development and job
creation/retention
Purchase, construction, or reconstruction of
buildings for the general conduct of government
Equipment, operating and maintenance expenses
Political activities
Grants to businesses
Subsistence or welfare-type grants to an
individual or family, and
Construction of new housing by local
governments
At least 70% of CDBG expenditures must
“principally benefit” low- and moderateincome persons (overall benefit) ALL CDBG expenditures must address at least
one of the national objectives:
◦ Benefit Low- and Moderate-Income persons
◦ Prevention or Elimination of Slum and Blight
◦ Urgent Community Needs
Affordable Housing
Economic Development
Public Services
Public Facilities
Funds Amount
2023 Entitlement Grant $663,290
Program Income (2023 Estimated
Receipts)
$ 80,000
2022 Unused Funds (for reappropriation)$100,000
Total available $843,290
Activity Summary Amount
Public Services
(Statutory limit: 15% of total)
$113,120
Code Enforcement $100,000
Economic Development $50,000
Public Facilities (Ramsay Park) $100,000
Sec. 108 Loan Repayment $167,705
Planning and Administration
(Statutory limit: 20% of total)
$148,658
Housing Rehabilitation Program $163,807
Total $843,290
Staff recommends that following the public
hearing, the City Council adopt a Resolution to
approve the submittal of the 2023-2024 Annual
Action Plan
4/20/2023 9:38:51 PM
C:\Program Files\eSCRIBE\TEMP\21384853506\21384853506,,,Report - New Sister City Policy .docx Agenda Report
MEETING DATE: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
TO: City Council
FROM: CITY CLERK ORTIZ
THROUGH: CITY MANAGER MENDEZ
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING NEW COUNCIL SISTER CITY POLICY IN THE
CITY OF WATSONVILLE
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution rescinding Resolution No. 161-18 (CM), adopted on October 9, 2018, which established the Sister City Policy, and replace with a resolution approving an updated Sister City Policy.
BACKGROUND:
In 1986, the City of Watsonville established its first Sister City partnership with KawakamiMura, Japan. Since then, the City added five additional cities to the program and found the need to establish a policy to manage the increase in partnerships. In 2018, the City Council approved a policy to manage the process for establishing existing and new sister city affiliations. One additional partnership was created after the policy was established.
DISCUSSION:
Following the example of Sister Cities International, which was created at President Eisenhower’s 1956 White House conference on citizen diplomacy, the City endeavored to create a program to create connections between people in Watsonville. President Eisenhower envisioned an organization that could be the hub of peace and prosperity by creating bonds between people from different cities around the world. By forming these relationships, President Eisenhower reasoned that people of different cultures could celebrate and appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts.
The purpose of the proposed Sister City Policy is to update the existing Policy to provide more flexibility on how the City interacts with sister cities. The criteria for Watsonville to participate in sister city relationships is and will continue to be based on promoting peace, understanding, and prosperity through people-to-people relationships, cultural understanding, cultural exchange, and sharing arts, education, trade, agricultural practices and customs. The update to the Policy will clarify incentives for establishing new
4/20/2023 9:38:51 PM
C:\Program Files\eSCRIBE\TEMP\21384853506\21384853506,,,Report - New Sister City Policy .docx partnerships, update language to lessen the burden of costs for the committees overseeing the partnerships, and allow the City to use City funds to support the partnerships.
The City has established a total of 7 sister city partnerships:
1. 1986 – Kawakami-Mura, Japan
2. 2006 - Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
3. 2013 - San Pedro Masahuat, Department of La Paz, Republic of El Salvador
4. 2017 - Tangancícuaro Michoacán, México
5. 2018 - Municipality of Jocotepec, Jalisco, Mexico
6. 2018 – Cavtat, Konavle, Croatia
7. 2021 – Velas, Sáo Jorge Island, Azore Islands, Portugal STRATEGIC PLAN:
This program is consistent with the Strategic Plan Goal 5. Community Engagement and Well-Being.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
To be identified in the City’s budget process.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The Council could decline to change the existing policy or rescind the existing policy with no replacement.
ATTACHMENTS AND/OR REFERENCES (If any):
None.
Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 04/25/23 1
RESOLUTION NO. (CM)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WATSONVILLE RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 161-18 (CM) AND
ADOPTING RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING NEW SISTER CITY POLICY
IN THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the residents of the City of Watsonville to promote peace, understanding, and prosperity through people-to-people relationships, cultural understanding, cultural exchange, and sharing arts, education, trade, agricultural practices and customs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA, AS FOLLOWS:
That the Council hereby establishes the following Sister-City Policy to be followed by staff and members of the Council until changed or terminated.
1. That a sister city relationship shall be established and may be terminated only by Council resolution.
2. That the establishment of sister city relationships be based on identifying ties or commonalities in size, population, business/trade/industry, history, representative ethnic groups, culture societal goals, and education.
3. That a sister city relationship may be established only when the Council finds that an identified local, organized sponsoring group of individuals agree to promote and manage the relationship, demonstrate the capacity to be and remain the primary means of communication between cities and local agencies and remain financially responsible for costs throughout the period of the sister city relationship.
Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 04/25/23 2
4. That the sister city relationship shall be terminated by Council if the sponsoring committee dissolves or is inactive for an excessive period of time, and the Council has not identified another sponsoring committee to resume the duties of the original committee.
5. That the sponsoring group shall organize and actively participate in bilateral meaningful mutual meetings or exchange visits with the sister city.
6. That a request for sister city relationship shall be approved only upon demonstrated good cause, supported by a written document describing the benefits to such a relationship by the sponsoring committee and a request from the proposed sister city for a partnership.
7. That each sponsoring group shall be primarily responsible for all costs of a visit to the sister city, including, but not limited to accommodations, meals, tours, and travel.
8. That designated City funds shall be used for sister city expenses, including but not limited to gifts, transportation, lodging, or travel related meals if the Committee is unable to accommodate all costs and only upon approval by the City Manager.
9. That sister city funds from the City shall be appropriated in the City budget process.
10. That use of Council travel funds for sister city purposes be consistent with the Training, Conference, and Meeting Reimbursement policy as set forth in the Council Protocols.
Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 04/25/23 3
11. That the Council encourages that fundraising occur through a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable corporation and that the public be encouraged to participate in and contribute to promote cultural and economic relationships with sister cities.
12. That each member of a sister city delegation shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the Political Reform Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, particularly Chapter 9.5 (Ethics) of Division 61 and in particular, Section 18944 “Payments Made to an Agency for Use by Agency Officials.”
13. That each member of a sister city delegation shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the Political Reform Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, particularly Chapter 9.5 (Ethics) of Division 62 and in particular, Section 18950.1 “Exception: Payments for Travel Made in Conjunction with Official Agency Business.”
14. That each member shall also comply, to the extent applicable, with Watsonville’s Election Campaign Contribution Control Ordinance found in Chapter 6 of Title 1 of the Watsonville Municipal Code.
15. That the City Clerk shall be notified at least two months in advance of any planned visit to Watsonville by a sister city delegation to best accommodate visitors and travelers.
16. That the City Clerk shall be notified at least two months in advance of any planned visit to the sister City. The sponsoring committee shall submit to the City Clerk within fifteen (15) days an itemized report of all expenses incurred and source of payment related to the sister city event.
1 2 California Code of Regulations 18930 et seq
2 ibid
Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 04/25/23 4
17. That any delegation from the City to a sister city include the Mayor and up to two additional Council Members.
18. That if the Mayor declines to participate in the visit, then the Mayor Pro Tempore represent the City’s delegation. Two additional Council members may be designated as part of the delegation, in order of seniority (time served on Council and if there is a tie, then in alphabetical order by last name). If the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tempore) or Council member is unable or otherwise declines to attend, then the next senior Council member (determined in the same manner) becomes eligible. A Council member who has visited a sister city within the last twenty-four months (measured back from the date of the proposed new visit) may not be included in a second visit to a sister city until twenty-four months have passed since the return, unless no other Council Member is able to participate.
19. That members of the official sister-city delegation shall be designated only in this way.
20. That the formation of a sister city relationship shall not imply or express approval or disapproval of the politics or government practices of elected or appointed officials, policies, cultural practices, or conduct of the sister community, which may run contrary to the politics, policies, cultural practices, or actions of the City of Watsonville or the Council.
21. That participants in sister city exchanges may express their personal First Amendment political, cultural, religious, or other beliefs while participating in sister city programs, however sister city relationships and activities are intended to be nonpartisan, non-denominational, and inclusive of all races, cultures and ethnicities.
Reso No. (CM)
Meeting Date: 04/25/23 5
22. That the members of an official City of Watsonville delegation are encouraged to have robust, informed discussions while travelling and participating as part of the sister city program however no member of the delegation may speak for the City or the Council unless and except through resolution or motion at a noticed public meeting.
23. That the City Clerk shall be responsible for the direction, management, or administration of sister city activities.
********************************************
Sister City Policy
April 25, 2023
Recommended Action:
• Adopt a resolution rescinding Resolution No. 161-18 (CM), adopted on October 9, 2018, which established the Sister City Policy, and replace with a resolution approving an updated Sister City Policy.
BACKGROUND
• In 1986, the City of Watsonville established its first Sister City partnership with Kawakami-Mura, Japan. Since then, the City added five additional cities to the program and found the need to establish a policy to manage the increase in partnerships.
• In 2018, the City Council approved a policy to manage the process for establishing existing and new sister city affiliations. One additional partnership was created after the policy was established.
Sister Cities
• Kawakami-Mura, Japan
(Established 11/12/86)
• Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China (Established 8/31/06)
• San Pedro Masahuat, Department of La Paz, Republic of El Salvador (Established 7/2/13)
• Tangancícuaro, Michoacán, México
(Established 11/28/17)
• Municipality of Jocotepec, Jalisco, Mexico
(Established 7/10/18)
• Cavtat, Konavle, Croatia
(Established 9/11/18)
• Velas, Sáo Jorge Island, Azore Islands Portugal
(Established 12/14/21)
PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLICY
1. Clarify the merits for which a sister city partnership may be established. -Ties or commonalities in size, population, business/trade/industry, history, representative ethnic groups, culture societal goals, and education.
2. Enable City to work with new committees (if previous dissolved or inactive) to resume sister city activities.
3. Remove all language prohibiting the City from using City funds for sister city interactions.
Sister City Policy Requirements (Cont.)
4. Identify funds during the budget process for sister city activities.
5. Allow use of travel funds for sister city activities if consistent with the Training, Conference, and Meeting Reimbursement policy as set forth in the Council Protocols.
6. Clarify eligibility for participating in a delegation from the City to sister city.
City Clerk’s Office
275 Main Street, Suite 400
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 768-3040
[email protected]
Land Use Policy Social Policy
Budget Policy
Other:
Rev. 04/05/2023
Submittal - Completed by requesting City Council Member(s) and returned to the City Manager on or before the Council Meeting.
Date:
Classification - Implication Mode of Response
Department: Referral Lead:
Council Meeting Date:
Request Title:
Council Report Presentation
Motion Resolution
Ordinance Proclamation
Other:
Purpose - Please be specific, highlight the goal of your request.
Submitted:
Assignment - By the City Manager
Watsonville City Council
Request for New Agenda Item
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Land Use Policy Social Policy
Budget Policy
Other:
Rev. 04/05/2023
Submittal - Completed by requesting City Council Member(s) and returned to the City Manager on or before the Council Meeting.
Date:
Classification - Implication Mode of Response
Department: Referral Lead:
Council Meeting Date:
Request Title:
Council Report Presentation
Motion Resolution
Ordinance Proclamation
Other:
Purpose - Please be specific, highlight the goal of your request.
Submitted:
Assignment - By the City Manager
Watsonville City Council
Request for New Agenda Item
I
□ □ □ □
□ □ □
□ □ □
□
Land Use Policy Social Policy
Budget Policy
Other:
Rev. 04/05/2023
Submittal - Completed by requesting City Council Member(s) and returned to the City Manager on or before the Council Meeting.
Date:
Classification - Implication Mode of Response
Department: Referral Lead:
Council Meeting Date:
Request Title:
Council Report Presentation
Motion Resolution
Ordinance Proclamation
Other:
Purpose - Please be specific, highlight the goal of your request.
Submitted:
Assignment - By the City Manager
Watsonville City Council
Request for New Agenda Item
I
□ □ □ □
□ □ □
□ □ □
□
Land Use Policy Social Policy
Budget Policy
Other:
Rev. 04/05/2023
Submittal - Completed by requesting City Council Member(s) and returned to the City Manager on or before the Council Meeting.
Date:
Classification - Implication Mode of Response
Department: Referral Lead:
Council Meeting Date:
Request Title:
Council Report Presentation
Motion Resolution
Ordinance Proclamation
Other:
Purpose - Please be specific, highlight the goal of your request.
Submitted:
Assignment - By the City Manager
Watsonville City Council
Request for New Agenda Item
I
□ □ □ □
□ □ □
□ □ □
□
Land Use Policy Social Policy
Budget Policy
Other:
Rev. 04/05/2023
Submittal - Completed by requesting City Council Member(s) and returned to the City Manager on or before the Council Meeting.
Date:
Classification - Implication Mode of Response
Department: Referral Lead:
Council Meeting Date:
Request Title:
Council Report Presentation
Motion Resolution
Ordinance Proclamation
Other:
Purpose - Please be specific, highlight the goal of your request.
Submitted:
Assignment - By the City Manager
Watsonville City Council
Request for New Agenda Item
I
□ □ □ □
□ □ □
□ □ □
□
Land Use Policy Social Policy
Budget Policy
Other:
Rev. 04/05/2023
Submittal - Completed by requesting City Council Member(s) and returned to the City Manager on or before the Council Meeting.
Date:
Classification - Implication Mode of Response
Department: Referral Lead:
Council Meeting Date:
Request Title:
Council Report Presentation
Motion Resolution
Ordinance Proclamation
Other:
Purpose - Please be specific, highlight the goal of your request.
Submitted:
Assignment - By the City Manager
Watsonville City Council
Request for New Agenda Item
I
□ □ □ □
□ □ □
□ □ □
□