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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: May 6, 2009 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: Community Development CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Cynthia McCormick, Assistant Planner DIRECTOR: John Livingstone
SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM THE HOUSING TRUST OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
FOR FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 09/10
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct Staff Accordingly.
REPORT SUMMARY:
The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County (“Housing Trust”) is requesting $25,000 to support
affordable housing in the City of Saratoga and Santa Clara County.
DISCUSSION:
The Housing Trust is a non-profit community-based organization. The Housing Trust supports
affordable housing in Santa Clara County through loans and grants to qualified first-time
homebuyers and to developers of affordable multifamily and special-needs rental housing and
housing for the homeless.
In 2001, the City of Saratoga contributed $25,000 to the Housing Trust. The Housing Trust has
indicated that four (4) Saratoga residents received a total of $26,000 in first-time homebuyer
funds from the Housing Trust since 2001. In 2003, the City committed $25,000 in funding to the
Housing Trust but was unable to grant the funding due to a conflict of interest with a former
Councilmember who had provided pro bono accounting services to the Housing Trust.
The Housing Trust has received fiscal year 08/09 commitments for funding from the Cities of San
Jose, Santa Clara, Monte Sereno, and Mountain View. The Housing Trust is also requesting fiscal
year 09/10 funds from other cities in Santa Clara County including the City of Saratoga
(Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND:
The City of Saratoga’s proposed 2007-2012 Housing Element includes a number of policies
intended to accommodate the City's fair share of the Bay Area regional housing needs, pursuant
to AB 2634 (Statutes of 2006). For example, Policy Action 4-5.3 calls for cooperation with local
housing trust and non-profit agencies to provide housing opportunities for lower income
households.
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FISCAL IMPACTS:
Funding for this item will be accommodated in the fiscal year 09/10 budget.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City of Saratoga may be the only city not contributing funds towards the Housing Trust goals
to supports affordable housing in Saratoga and throughout Santa Clara County.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The Council could deny the request.
FOLLOW UP ACTION:
Direct the City Manger to disburse funds to the Housing Trust including any conditions for how
the money should be spent.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Notice of this meeting was properly posted.
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter from the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County