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Home My WebLink About09/15/21 CC AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING – 3:30 p.m. WORKSHOPS Item 3a. Economic Development Strategic Plan (All Wards) Over the past year, staff have worked with a consultant to engage the City Council, community leaders and stakeholders in developing a Market Analysis and Economic Development Strategy. The Economic Development Strategy will set forth goals and objectives for real estate development; business retention, expansion and attraction; marketing; various enhanced economic development incentives to enhance City competitiveness; infrastructure improvements and other capacity building issues; possible resources and partnerships, Economic Development staffing and organizational structure. The Strategy will provide a nexus between City goals like supporting business growth and job creation with specific action items that can be implemented by staff; this will create a focused effort with informed and effective tasks that will make the most impact, maximizing City staff time, department resources and taxpayer dollars. Staff recommends adoption of the Economic Development Strategic Plan. CLOSED SESSION Items 4.a. Various Items (All Wards) REGULAR MEETING – 5:15 p.m. WORKSHOPS Item 6a. Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee Update (All Wards) Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee (KBBC) members, Chairperson Paul Yanez, Jenifer VanAlstein, John Enriquez, and Ray Scott will provide an update about KBBC’s 20th anniversary as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. The presentation will highlight some accomplishments and debut a promotional anniversary logo and video. CONSENT CALENDAR – MISCELLLANEOUS Item 8ag. State and Federal COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program (All Wards) The City of Bakersfield has partnered with the Housing Authority of County of Kern to administer rental assistance to residents that experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic are unable to pay for rent and utilities and are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing stability. On January 29th, 2021, through the passage of Senate Bill 91, $13,621,468.10 in State Emergency Rental Assistance (SRA-1) was designated for the City of Bakersfield. On March 11, 2021, in response to additional economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law establishing the second round of the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA2). The City of Bakersfield’s allocation of the federal ERA-2 program is $9,037,138.60. Staff recommends the appropriation of $13,621,468.10 SRA-1 grant funds and the $9,037,138 in ERA-2 grant funds to the Economic and Community Development Department Operating Budget. Item 8ah. Cat Spay and Neuter Voucher Program (All Wards) In partnership with Critters Without Litters, Inc., the City currently allocates $40,000 annually for 1,000 vouchers in the amount of $40 to defray the costs of the dog procedures. Since 2014, over 5,600 vouchers (approximately 80 percent of vouchers issued) have been redeemed by City residents. This program has been one of several tools the City has utilized to humanely and effectively control the pet population within the region. Based on feedback from local animal care professionals, City staff has been evaluating opportunities to expand the voucher program to include spay and neuter services for cats. The objective is to reduce cat intakes into local shelters and rescues by lowering the financial burden for these types of services and subsequently lower the number of stray cats and/or unplanned litters. Therefore, staff is recommending an appropriation of $25,000 in available General Fund balance (non-Public Safety and Vital Services Measure) to the Police Department General Fund Operating Budget for the implementation of the low cost cat voucher program which will provide up to 1,000 vouchers annually in the amount of $25 to cover the cat procedures. CONSENT CALENDAR – PUBLIC SAFETY AND VITAL SERVICES MEASURE Item 8k. 6 th Street Apartments Affordable Housing Development (Ward 1) The City of Bakersfield supports affordable housing development by providing gap financing to projects that need a subsidy to operate at rents affordable to low- income households. This financing enables developers to build quality, affordable housing, which in turn reduces rental cost to families in our community who spend a disproportionately high amount of their income on housing. Currently, the City of Bakersfield allocates funding through multiple sources, including the Public Safety and Vital Services (PSVS) program to support affordable housing. Funds are used to close a project’s financing gap and increase the projects competitiveness for other funding sources. Housing Authority of the County of Kern (HACK) is requesting $1,000,000 in PSVS funds to support 6th Street Apartments, an affordable housing project for extremely low-income households, including individuals experiencing homelessness, in central Bakersfield. The proposed 1.47-acre project site is located south of the intersection of 6th Street and M Street and 6th Street and N Street. HACK proposes to develop 40 one- bedroom units on the property. The property will include a manager’s unit, a common area, outdoor amenities, and a community room for residents. Staff recommends the allocation of up to $1,000,000 in PSVS funds towards the construction of the project. Item 8an-ao. Economic Opportunity Area Incentive Program Grants (Ward 2) The Economic Opportunity Area (EOA) Incentive Program offers incentives to encourage business growth and redevelopment with financial assistance, such as grants and development assistance, for a business within an EOA or a business planning to open or expand within an EOA. The EOA Incentive Program was created to encourage the redevelopment of a vacant property or buildings with grants for site and building improvements, business expansion or moving costs, development fees, or costs of required public improvement projects. Staff are recommending the approval of an agreement for the issuance of EOA funds to two businesses: 1326 H Street - The City has received an application from Digvijay Singh for their location at 1326 H Street within the Downtown EOA. In 2021, after several years of neglect from previous management, new ownership took possession of the building and is looking to revitalize the building so that it matches and enhances the local area with an opportunity to become a landmark in the downtown hub. Mr. Singh is now requesting $49,700 in EOA funding for a site improvement and rehabilitation grant to cover the costs replacing the HVAC system, repair roof damage, and secure the on-site dumpster to deter illegal dumping; all which are eligible costs within the EOA Program Guidelines. 623 Sumner Street - The City has received an application from Kalpesh R. Patel for their location at 623 Sumner Street within the Old Town Kern EOA. Mr. Patel is requesting grant funds to improve the building façade including: new front doors and new roll up doors for security; removing outdated exterior items including awnings, roof line foam, and stonework; and paint entire structure to create an aesthetically uniform frontage to enhance property value and deter vandalizing in the area. All are eligible costs within the EOA Program Guidelines. cc: Department Heads Approved: Chris Huot, Assistant City Manager City Manager’s File Prepared: Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager City Clerk’s File News Media File