HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 Res 2021-04 We Will LiftSTAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
MEETING DATE: February 25, 2021
PREPARED BY: Jessica Gonzales, Senior Management Analyst
Eric Ceja, Principal Planner
REQUEST: Approve and Adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 Authorizing the City
Manager to Pledge Support on Behalf of the City of Palm Desert
for the Lift to Rise We Will Lift: Regional Housing and Economic
Opportunity Initiative
Recommendation
By Minute Motion, that the City Council,
1) Approve and adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 authorizing the City Manager
to pledge support on behalf of the City of Palm Desert for the Lift to Rise
We Will Lift: Regional Housing and Economic Opportunity initiative.
Strategic Plan
This request meets the objective of Priority 2 of the City’s Envision Palm Desert
Strategic Plan, as part of Land, Use, Housing and Open Space, is to facilitate
development of high quality housing for people of all income levels.
Executive Summary
Lift to Rise is a local collective impact organization based in Palm Desert working
toward a future where all Coachella Valley families are healthy, stable, and thriving.
Their work brings together community and institutional leaders to collaboratively solve
the underlying causes of poverty and inequality in the region. Lift to Rise is seeking
support for this shared, concrete, and forward-thinking plan and is seeking the City’s
support by taking the “We Will Lift” pledge.
Background Analysis
The We Will Lift: Regional Pledge for Housing and Opportunity is an opportunity for the
City to signal its support for this regional approach and plan to increasing housing
stability and economic mobility. In January 2020, Lift to Rise and its partners launched
an ambitious, two-year action plan that uplifts the Coachella Valley’s story, builds local
strength, and catalyzes change by:
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1. Advancing a community-valued pipeline of investable projects that will
result in 2,000 units of affordable housing in the next two years.
2. Working with city, county, and state governments to implement affordable
housing-friendly policies that will facilitate the planning, approval, and
construction of affordable housing units in the shared pipeline.
3. Driving a regional investment vehicle to invest in and catalyze the
development of affordable housing across the region.
4. Building pathways to economic mobility and security for residents
experiencing poverty.
By taking the pledge, the City will communicate its support for this shared, concrete,
and forward-thinking plan. The Pledge requests that a representative from the City is
assigned to work with the Housing CAN to align policies, practices, and resources in a
way that advances this plan, recognizing the following opportunities for alignment:
• Use our expertise to provide technical assistance to support
the implementation of the CAN’s priorities.
• Contribute detailed and up-to-date, publicly available information
on affordable housing projects and development opportunities to
the shared pipeline of projects.
• Comply fully with all state and federal housing rules/requirements.
• Provide opportunities and/or incentives for (and not unduly
constrain) affordable housing development in our community.
• Advance pro-affordable-housing policies in our communities,
including those that prioritize favorable zoning and land use,
decrease production timeframes, and reduce construction and
development costs.
• Collaborate with other jurisdictions and agencies to align policy
and remove barriers to affordable housing.
• Coordinate and align funding opportunities with the regional
fund to advance unit production.
• Express our support of the Coachella Valley Housing Catalyst
Fund and investments proposals (i.e. letter of support).
Lift to Rise is seeking a pledge from all 10 local jurisdictions and dozens of local
partners in an effort that will strengthen this regional effort by showing the strength and
depth of the region’s coordination and by:
• Helping attract and leverage regional investment (by coordinating and
organizing demand for capital)
• Increasing the scale of the impact of our investments
• Enabling jurisdictions to align city policy, practice, and resources with
regional effort, increasing efficiency and maximizing potency
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• Enhancing public understanding and opportunity fo r resident
participation
The attached resolution, if approved will authorize the City Manager to sign onto the
P ledge .
Fiscal Analysis
By pledging its support , the City of Palm Desert is committing to coordinating funding
opportunities with the Lift to Rise Regional Housing Catalyst Fund . Lift to Rise is also
requesting that a representative from the City be assigned to work with their Housing
CAN . Their Housing CAN meetings last approximately 1.5 hours and take place once a
month . Current ly , the Community Development Department staff , Eric Ceja Principal
Planner and Jessica Gonzales , Senior Management Analyst have been attendees at
these meetings .
There is no fiscal impact to the City in connection with the proposed request. There is
also no impact to the Genera l Fund .
LEGAL REVIEW DEPT . REV IEW FINANCIAL REVIEW ASSISTANT
CITY MANAGER
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Robert . Ryan Stendell Janet Moore Director of Community Andy Firestine
Hargreaves , Deve lopment Director of Finance Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
Inter im City Manager, Randy Synder : R~ Bynder
ATTACHMENTS :
1. Lift to Rise We Will Lift Pledge
2 . City Resolution No . 2021 -04
CITY COUNCILA,CTION
APPROVED __ V ____ DENTED------
RECEIVED ______ OTHER _____ _
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ABSENT: N:::e
ABSTAIN• ~Q Y)_!
VERIFIED BY: Bl /srs
Original on File with City Clerk's Office
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Attachment 1
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RESOLUTION NO. 2021-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
DESERT, CALIFORNIA EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'S
SUPPORT FOR HOUSING STABILITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY
FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF PALM DESERT AND SUPPORT FOR “WE
WILL LIFT,” A REGIONAL HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
INITIATIVE.
WHEREAS, one in two individuals in the Coachella Valley earn at or below 200%
of the federal poverty line,
WHEREAS, wages in the Coachella Valley are half of what they need to be to
afford the Fair Market Rent for a median two-bedroom apartment,
WHEREAS, more than half of Coachella Valley renters are housing cost burdened,
or paying more than 30% of their monthly incomes on rent, and one third of renters pay
more than half of their monthly incomes on rent,
WHEREAS, Lift to Rise is a local collective impact organization working to achieve
a future where all Coachella Valley families are healthy, stable, and thriving, and
WHEREAS, Lift to Rise and a cross-sector network of partners have developed a
plan to achieve increase housing stability and economic mobility by:
• Advancing a community-valued pipeline of investable projects that will
result in 2,000 units of affordable housing in the next two years,
• Implementing affordable housing friendly policies that will facilitate the
planning, approval, and construction of affordable housing units in the shared
pipeline,
• Driving a regional investment vehicle to invest in and catalyze the
development of affordable housing across the region,
• Building pathways to economic mobility and security for residents
experiencing poverty.
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert Envision Palm Desert Strategic Plan, goal is
to facilitate development of high quality housing for people of all income levels.
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert has a longstanding pursuit of affordable
housing and would provide expertise and opportunities to supporting the We Will Lift:
Regional Pledge for Housing and Opportunity.
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert will endeavor when feasible to participate in
the activities permissible to support the Pledge.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-04
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in order to support promoting
housing stability and economic mobility for all residents, the City Council members of
Palm Desert hereby pledge our support to a shared, concrete, and forward-thinking plan
and direct the City Manager to communicate this support by signing the We Will Lift:
Regional Pledge for Housing and Opportunity.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City
of Palm Desert held on this 25th day of February, 2021 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
KATHLEEN KELLY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
_________________________________________ GRACE L. ROCHA, ACTING CITY CLERK CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ROBERT W. HARGREAVES CITY ATTORNEY