HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-28 Housing PACKET
Ashland Housing Commission
Regular Meeting Agenda
th
Wednesday, September 28 2011: 4:30 – 6:30pm
Council Chambers – 1175 East Main Street
1. (4:30) Approval of Minutes (5 min)
nd
June 22 2011
2. (4:35) Public Forum (5 min)
3.(4:40)Buildable Lands Inventory Presentation (30 min)
Brandon Goldman-Long Range Planner
4. (5.10) Preservation Projects Letter (15 min)
Barbara Barassa
5.(5:25)Trust Fund Financing (15 min)
James Dills
6.(5:40) Clay Street/Chitwood Options update (15 min)
Regina Ayars
7. (5:55) CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report(CAPER)(15 Min)
Review and approval
8.(6:10)Liaison Reports discussion (10 min)
Liaison Reports
Council (Mike Morris)
Staff(Linda Reid)
General Announcements
th
9.(6:20)October 26, 2011 MeetingAgenda Items (5 min)
CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report Presentation
Commissioner items suggested(5 min)
Quorum Check – Commissioners not available to attend upcoming regular meetings
should declare their expected absence.
10.(6.25)Upcoming Events and Meetings
Homeless Task Force Meeting- October 18, 2011: 10:30-12:00: Housing Authority
Conference Room 2231 Table Rock Road, Medford
Homeless Ad-Hoc committee update October 4, 2011-7PM Council Chambers
Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting
4:30-6:30 PM; October 26, 2011
11. (6:30) Adjournment
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the
Community Development office at 541-488-5305 (TTY phone is 1-800-735-2900). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will
enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting(28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES
June 22, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Vice ChairRichard Billin called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers located at 1175 East
Main St. Ashland, OR 97520.
Commissioners Present:Council Liaison
Nikki PonsMike Morris
Ben Scott
Barb Barasa
Staff Present:
Richard BillinLinda Reid, Housing Specialist
James Dills Carolyn Schwendener, Account Clerk
Commissioners Absent:
Jody Waters
Regina Ayars, excused
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
th
Barasa/Pons m/s to approve the minutes of the April 27, 2011 regular Housing Commission meeting. Voice Vote:
All Ayes, minutes were approved as presented.
th,
Dills/Barasa m/s to approve the minutes of the May 25 2011 Housing Commission meeting. Voice Vote: All
Ayes, minutes were approved as presented.
PUBLIC FORUM
No one spoke
PEDESTRIAN PLACES PROJECT
Brandon Goldman, City Senior Planner, gave a presentation of the Transportation System Plan that Pubic Works is
currently working on. Goldman wanted to update the Housing Commission on how this project could impact
Housing. The overall objectives of the project is to promote higher transit use as well as provide alternative means
of transportation looking at specific projects for enhancing the Transportation System City wide.
Goldman explained that a Pedestrian Place is defined as a location in which you can live and work, where there is
a concentration of pedestrian activity and where people generally congregate. These places are generally located
at areas where transit is available allowing people to get around without a car.
The three pedestrian connections the Transportation Commission is looking at are;
Walker Avenue and Ashland Street
Tolman Creek Road and Ashland Street
N. Mountain Avenue and E. Main Street
The Planning Department is looking at this plan in a broader way. How can these parcels be developed and how
will this fit into Housing.
1
MANUFACTURED DWELLINGS AND PARKS
Goldman was available as a resource to answer any Planning questions that the Commissioners might have
regarding the current Land Use Code for Manufactured Homes. There are two different areas to look at regarding
Manufactured Dwellings.
Manufactured homes that sit on individual lots in an R-2 and R-3 Multi-family Zone are permitted though subject to
some criteria such as size, materials, skirting around the base, potential for dormers, pitch of roof, garage etc. The
Ordinance also discusses putting the homes on property that is in relatively level zones and compatible with
neighborhood Single Family Homes. Manufactured Homes are not permitted in Historic Districts and must meet
State Building Codes.
The other land use Code pertaining to Manufactured Homes addresses the creation of new Manufactured Home
Parks. A subdivision where multiple units are constructed on one parent parcel are required to go through an
outline plan review approval that eventually gets reviewed by the Planning Commission.
The Commissioners wondered if it would be feasible to use the remaining Clay Street property for affordable
Manufactured Homes. The main issue with this is density. It would make more sense to build two story units which
would accomplish more units per acre then Manufactured Homes could.
CLAY STREET OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL
Reid said the staff is looking for a recommendation from the Housing Commission from the list below or a new one
that the Commission would like to make.
Land bank, keep it until such time that the market turns around and the City could sell it.
Sell the land for Market Value
Solicit a proposal for an affordable/mixed-income development.
Goldman acknowledged at the last Planning Commission meeting Groundworks, formerly RVCDC, withdrew their
application for the development of the 14,000 square foot property at the end of Chitwood Lane. The project was
going to be five affordable Housing units in which the Housing Commission initially recommended through a
Request for Qualification process (RFQ). The decision to not move forward was due to a number of reasons;
contentious planning application process with the surrounding neighborhood and appraisal value just to name two.
Basically the price Groundworks would pay to build the units is higher then the appraised value of the finished units.
Groundworks Board Members made the decision to focus on existing developments to make sure they go forward
with those projects. They did not want the responsibility of the Chitwood property along with the current projects
which have already exceeded budget.
The Commissioners discussed the process of issuing an RFP. Since there are a limited number of affordable
Housing providers it was suggested to contact each possible applicant before issuing an RFP to confirm they are
not too busy to take on another project.
Barasa/Pons m/s to issue a Request for Proposal to City Council for the Chitwood property.
After a discussion the Commissioners made an amendment to the motion.
Billin/Barasa m/s that the Commission issue a Request for Proposal for the Chitwood Property with the perimeters
that they be ownership or rental units at 120 and below AMI. Voice Vote: All Ayes, motion passed unanimously.
Scott/Dill m/s that the Commission issue a RFP for the Clay Street Property with the same parameters as the
Chitwood proposal. Voice Vote: All Ayes, motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND UPDATES
Liaison Reports
Council – Morris reported that Council is still working on the Budget and Land Use appeals.
2
Parks– No report
School Board –No reports
Planning – The next Planning Commission meeting will be a joint meeting with the Transportation
Commission and RVTD to discuss different modes of transportation, shuttles, express routes, rail, cable
cars, etc.
Transportation – No report
SOU- No report
Staff – Reid reported that today was Project Homeless Connect. Though quite a few less attended then
last year it was considered successful. About 270 people were served. Reid said all went well and
expected television news coverage this evening as well as an article in today’s paper. The organizers did
purchase bus passes to give out but pets are not allowed on RVTD busses which may have created a
problem for some attendees.
Ashland Community Land Trust will be having their ribbon cutting ceremony for the Bridge Street project
next week and everyone is invited to attend.
It was suggested to add a section on the agenda for Commissioner announcements. Scott made an
announcement about a project called Clean Energy Works Oregon. It was started in the Portland area as a
low cost loan program to help people with energy efficiency upgrades such as windows and insulation. The
program offers cash rebates ahead of time with no fees, closing costs or deposits. In our area it is financed
through Southern Oregon Credit Union.
JUNE 22, 2011 MEETING AGENDA ITEMS
Barasa will bring the letter she wrote regarding vulnerable properties to the next meeting for review and approval.
Dills has prepared a rough draft for the Housing Trust Fund and will email it to the Commissioners
Goldman might be available to speak about the Buildable Lands Inventory preliminary draft.
Quorum Check – Billin will be gone
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
Homeless Task Force Meeting – July 19, 2011: 10:30-12:00 Housing Authority Conference Room 2231, Table
Rock Rd, Medford
Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting
4:30-6:30 PM; July 27, 2011, Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Schwendener
3
CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE
EVALUATION REPORT
(CAPER)
Program year 2010
(July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011)
Date of Report August 19, 2011
Prepared for:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
By:
The City of Ashland
Department of Community Development
Planning Division
Ashland, Oregon
One Year Use of Funds
CAPER for CDBG Funds
2010-2011 Program Year
City of Ashland 2010 Program Year
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
Executive Summary
The City of Ashland is an entitlement jurisdiction, receiving an annual allocation of Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). As a recipient of CDBG funds, the City is required to prepare a five-year
strategic plan that identifies housing and community needs, prioritizes these needs, identifies
resources to address the needs, and establishes annual goals and objectives to meet the
identified needs. This five year plan is known as the Consolidated Plan.
The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to outline a strategy for the City to follow in using CDBG
funding to achieve the goals of the CDBG program, “to develop viable urban communities by
providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic
opportunities principally for low- and moderate-income persons.” This Consolidated Annual
Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) Addresses the goals identified in the 2010-2014
Consolidated Plan which was approved in April of 2010.
Each year the City is required to provide the public and HUD with an assessment of its
accomplishments toward meeting the priority goals outlined in the Five Year Consolidated Plan.
This annual assessment is known as the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation
Report (CAPER).
This document provides a review and evaluation of the City of Ashland’s progress toward
meeting the annual goals and outcomes as outlined in the Action Plan for the Fiscal Year 2010-
2011 as well as the larger five year goals of the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan. The CDBG fiscal
stth
year begins July 1 and ends on June 30, this report will summarize the City’s accomplishments
for that time period.
During FY 2010 the City of Ashland continued working toward meeting its homeless, at-risk and
special needs priorities for supportive services through activities such as the rehabilitation of a
single family housing units for use as a respite care center for peoples with developmental
disabilities and emergency rent and utility funding for low-income households at risk of
homelessness. During FY 2010 the City continued to work toward affirmatively furthering fair
housing through by partnering with the City of Medford in support of the Fair Housing Council of
Oregon to provide education and outreach to Ashland residents and to Social Service
organizations that provide services to low and moderate income households. The tables that
follow provide a comprehensive overview of the Consolidated Plans 5 year goals and the City’s
progress toward attaining those goals.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 2
Priority Housing Needs/Investment Plan Table
(Table 2A)
5-Yr.Yr. 1 Yr. 2 Yr. 3 Yr. 4 Yr. 5
Priority Need
GoalGoalGoalGoalGoalGoal
Plan/ActPlan/Act Plan/ActPlan/ActPlan/ActPlan/Act
Renters
0 - 30 of MFI
10 2/0
31 - 50% of MFI
10 2/2
51 - 80% of MFI
30 6/0
Owners
0 - 30 of MFI
0 0/0
31 - 50 of MFI
5 1/0
51 - 80% of MFI
12 1/0
Homeless*
100 20/0
Individuals
50 10/0
Families
Non-Homeless
Special Needs
5 1/0
Elderly
5 1/0
Frail Elderly
2 1/0
Severe Mental Illness
1 1/0
Physical Disability
1 1/0
Developmental Disability
0 0/0
Alcohol or Drug Abuse
0 0/0
HIV/AIDS
0 0/0
Victims of Domestic Violence
14 5
Total (Sec. 215
and other)
Total Sec. 215
50 10/2
215 Renter
17 3/0
215 Owner
* Homeless individuals and families assisted with transitional and permanent housing
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 3
Priority Housing Activities/Investment Plan Table
(Table 2A)
5-Yr.Yr. 1 Yr. 2 Yr. 3 Yr. 4 Yr. 5
Priority Need
GoalGoalGoalGoalGoalGoal
Plan/ActPlan/ActPlan/ActPlan/ActPlan/Act
Plan/Act
CDBG
Acquisition of existing rental units 40 10/2
Production of new rental units 10 2/0
Rehabilitation of existing rental units 2 2/2
Rental assistance 0 0/0
Acquisition of existing owner units 0 0/0
Production of new owner units 14 4/0
Rehabilitation of existing owner units 3 1/2
Homeownership assistance 15 0/0
Other
Condo-0 0/0
Conversion/Other
ARU (Accessory 0 0/0
Residential Unit)
General Fund (SDC &
0 0/0
Comm. Dev. fee
Waiver
Production of new
0 0/0
rental units
HOME/LIHTC
0 0/0
Affordable
Homeownership or
Rental Total
0/0
Rental Only Total
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 4
Annual Housing Completion Goals
(Table 3B)
Grantee Name: City of Ashland Expected Annual Actual Annual Resources used during the period
Number of Units Number of Units
Program Year: 2008 To Be Completed Completed
CDBG HOME ESGHOPWA
BENEFICIARY GOALS
(Sec. 215 Only)
Homeless households 0 0
Non-homeless households 22 6 X
Special needs households 0 0
22 6
Total Sec. 215 Beneficiaries*
RENTAL GOALS
(Sec. 215 Only)
Acquisition of existing units 0 0
Production of new units 14 0
Rehabilitation of existing units 0 0
Rental Assistance 0 0
14 0
Total Sec. 215 Affordable Rental
HOME OWNER GOALS
(Sec. 215 Only)
Acquisition of existing units 0 0
Production of new units 8 6 X
Rehabilitation of existing units 0 2 X
Homebuyer Assistance 0 0
8 8 X
Total Sec. 215 Affordable Owner
COMBINED RENTAL AND
OWNER GOALS (Sec. 215 Only)
Acquisition of existing units 0 0
Production of new units 22 6 X
Rehabilitation of existing units 0 2
Rental Assistance 0 0
Homebuyer Assistance 0 0
Combined Total Sec. 215 Goals* 22 8 X
OVERALL HOUSING GOALS
(Sec. 215 + Other Affordable Housing)
Annual Rental Housing Goal 14 0
Annual Owner Housing Goal 8 8 X
Total Overall Housing Goal 22 8 X
* The total amounts for "Combined Total Sec. 215 Goals" and "Total Sec. 215 Beneficiary Goals" should be the same number.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 5
Priority Community Development Activities
(Table 2B)
5-Yr.Yr. 1 Yr. 2 Yr. 3 Yr. 4 Yr. 5
Priority Need
GoalGoalGoalGoalGoalGoal
Plan/ActPlan/Act Plan/ActPlan/ActPlan/ActPlan/Act
Acquisition of Real Property 0
Disposition 0
Clearance and Demolition 0
Clearance of Contaminated Sites 0
Code Enforcement 0
Public Facility (General) 0
Senior Centers 0
Handicapped Centers 0
Homeless Facilities 0
Youth Centers 0
Neighborhood Facilities 0
Child Care Centers 0
Health Facilities 0
Mental Health Facilities 0
Parks and/or Recreation Facilities 0
Parking Facilities 0
Tree Planting 0
Fire Stations/Equipment 0
Abused/Neglected Children Facilities 0
Asbestos Removal 0
Non-Residential Historic Preservation 0
Other Public Facility Needs 0
Infrastructure (General) 0
Water/Sewer Improvements 0
Street Improvements 10,000 2,000/0
Sidewalks 10,000 2,000/0
Solid Waste Disposal Improvements 0
Flood Drainage Improvements 0
Other Infrastructure 0
Public Services (General) 0
Senior Services 10 2
Handicapped Services 4 0
Legal Services 0
Youth Services 10 0
Child Care Services 0
Transportation Services 0
Substance Abuse Services 0
Employment/Training Services 0
Health Services 0
Lead Hazard Screening 0
Crime Awareness 0
Fair Housing Activities 10 0
Tenant Landlord Counseling 0
Other Services 0
Economic Development (General) 0
C/I Land Acquisition/Disposition 0
C/I Infrastructure Development 0
C/I Building Acq/Const/Rehab 0
Other C/I 0
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 6
ED Assistance to For-Profit
ED Technical Assistance
Micro-enterprise Assistance
Other
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 7
OUTCOME PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS
(Table 1C, 2C, 3A)
Availability/Accessibility of Decent Housing (DH-1)
Specific Objective Source of Year Performance Expected Actual Percent
Funds Indicators Number Number Achieved
CDBG/Other
1
Number of
DH
Provide assistance to non- / 0200%
CDBG2010 400
homeless, or
1.1
profit organizations that 150
General 2011
households at risk
assist the homeless and Individual
Fund2012
that have received
those at risk of becoming Private2013 s and
services to
homeless, provide 2014 persons
improve health,
transition assistance to the per year*
safety, provide
homeless and help prevent
counseling, or
homelessness. (*These goals
improve
are established for the Medford-
conditions and
Ashland & Jackson County
assistance to
Continuum of Care region.)
homeless
populations that
enable them to be
self sufficient.
MULTI-750 400
YEAR
GOAL
Number of
DH
Encourage development of CDBG 2010 500 %
individuals with
1.2
transitional and supportive General 2011 3
special needs
housing for extremely low Fund 2012 2
that have
and low-income special Private 2013 2
received services
needs populations. 2014 2
designed to
improve health
safety, general
welfare, and self
reliance.
MULTI-14 0 0%
YEAR
GOAL
Number of
DH
Provide assistance to non-CDBG2010 000%
group homes or
1.3
profit organizations that General 2011 0
other supportive
provide support services Fund2012 1
housing
for extremely low and low-Private2013 0
developed for
income special needs 2014 0
the elderly,
populations.
individuals with
special needs.
MULTI-1 0 100%
YEAR
GOAL
Affordability of Decent Housing (DH-2)
1
This number reflects the combined total of homeless and at-risk individuals served through the one day Project homeless connect
event as well as through the CDBG funded St. Vincent De Paul Home Visitation Program.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 8
2
Number of new
DH
Encourage the acquisition 2 / 0100 %
CDBG2010 2
rental units
2.1
and construction of 2
General 2011
affordable to, and
affordable rental housing. Fund2012 2
occupied by,
Private2013 2
lower-income
2014 2
households
MULTI- 10 2 0%
YEAR
GOAL
DH
Encourage the acquisition CDBG2010 Number of new 20 / 0 100 %
2.2
and construction of General 2011 for purchase 2
affordable housing by Fund2012 housing units 2
private developers. Private2013 created by 2
2014private 2
developers that
are affordable
to, and
occupied by
lower-income
households.
MULTI- 10
YEAR
GOAL
Sustainability of Decent Housing (DH-3)
3
DH
52 / 040 %
Support the acquisition CDBG 2010 Number of
3.1
and development of General 2011 existing or new 50 / 00 %
affordable rental housing Fund 2012 housing units 50 / 0 0 %
units through a sustainable Private 2013 that have been 50 / 00 %
program, which retains the Federal 2014 secured as 50 / 00 %
units as affordable in affordable
perpetuity, such as a land through deed
trust. restrictions
recorded on
the property
MULTI-25 2 0%
YEAR
GOAL
4
DH
Support Acquisition and CDBG 2010 Number of 40/7100 %
3.2
2011 existing or new 2
development of affordable
2012 housing units 5
ownership housing units
through a sustainable 2013 that have been 2
program which retains the 2014 secured as 1
units as affordable in affordable
perpetuity, such as a land through deed
trust restrictions
recorded on
the property
2
ACLT completed the development of 2 new rental units on Bridge Street during program year 2010.
3
See footnote #1 above.
4
Groundworks completed 7 of the 15 proposed new ownership units in the Rice Park development in the 2010 program year. These
units were developed to meet a City planning requirement and have no CDBG funding in them.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 9
MULTI-
14 7 100%
YEAR
GOAL
5
Number of
DH
Retain existing affordable CDBG2010 13100 %
housing units
3.3
housing, rental and General 2011 1
occupied by low
ownership, by supporting Fund 2012 1
income
rehabilitation programs State 2013 0
households that
which recapture the Federal 2014 0
have been
rehabilitation costs for Private
rehabilitated
further use in Ashland. Fund
MULTI-3 3 100%
YEAR
GOAL
Number of existing
DH
Retain existing affordable CDBG2010 10
housing units that
3.4
housing, rental and General 2011 10
have been
ownership, by supporting Fund 2012 10
rehabilitated and
rehabilitation programs 2013 5
retained as
using a sustainable 2014 5
affordable through
program which retains the
deed restrictions
units as affordable in
recorded on the
perpetuity.
property.
MULTI-2 0%
YEAR
GOAL
Availability/Accessibility of Suitable Living Environment (SL-1)
6
SL
Accessibility-Availability CDBG2010 Number of 20 60/1171100%
7
1.1
of improved public General 2011 households 20
infrastructure serving low-Fund2012 benefiting from 20
moderate income persons 2013 new or enhanced 20
2014 city sidewalks. 20
MULTI-100 1230 100 %
YEAR
GOAL
Affordability of Suitable Living Environment (SL-2)
8
SL
Construct new sidewalks 2010 Linear feet of 2,000 0/2065 100%
2.1
on existing streets in 2011 sidewalk 2,000
extremely low-, low- and 2012 completed in 2,000
moderate income 2013 qualified low-2,000
neighborhoods. 2014 income Census 2,000
block groups.
MULTI-10,000 2065 100%
YEAR
GOAL
Sustainability of Suitable Living Environment (SL-3)
5
Three homeowner rehab projects were completed in PY 2010 utilizing revolving loan fund repayments.
6
Residents of Snowberry brook who will benefit from the CDBG funded sidewalk improvements.
7
# of residents of census block groups 001900-1,002000-1, and 001800-1 divided by the average household size (2.14). These
improvements were funded through the City’s general fund.
8
Linear feet of sidewalk improved or installed in low-income census block groups funded by the City’s general fund.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 10
9
SL
Install Wheel chair ramps 2010 Number of wheel 11/23
3.1
in existing sidewalks. 2011 chair ramps 1
2012 installed in 1
2013 existing 1
2014 sidewalks. 1
MULTI-5
YEAR
GOAL
9
City General Funds paid for the installation or upgrade of 11- wheelchair ramps in census track 1900 blockgoup 1, 8- wheelchair
ramps in tract 2100 blockgroup 2, and 5 in tract 2000 blockgroup 1 all of which qualify as low income census block groups
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 11
Availability/Accessibility of Economic Opportunity (EO-1)
Actual
Specific Objective Source Year Performance Expected Percent
Number
of Funds Indicators Number Achieved
CDBG/
Other
EO
No goals identified 2010
1.1
2011
2012
2013
2014
MULTI-
YEAR GOAL
Affordability of Economic Opportunity (EO-2)
EO
No goals identified 2010
%
2.1
2011
%
2012 %
2013 %
2014 %
MULTI- %
YEAR
GOAL
Sustainability of Economic Opportunity (EO-3)
EO
No goals identified 2010 %
3.1
2011 %
2012 %
2013 %
2014 %
MULTI- %
YEAR
GOAL
Neighborhood Revitalization (NR-1)
NR
No goals identified 2010 %
1.1
2011 %
2012 %
2013 %
2014 %
MULTI- %
YEAR
GOAL
Other (O-1)
O
No goals identified 2010 %
1.1
2011 %
2012 %
2013 %
2014 %
MULTI- %
YEAR
GOAL
Other (O-2)
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 12
O
No goals identified 2010 %
2.1
2011 %
2012 %
2013 %
2014 %
MULTI- %
YEAR
GOAL
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 13
OUTCOME PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS
Table 1C
Summary of Specific Homeless/Special Needs Objectives
#
Specific Objectives Sources of Performance Expected Actual Outcome/
Funds Indicators Number Number Objective*
Homeless Objectives
Special Needs Objectives
Other Objectives
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 14
*Outcome/Objective Codes
Availability/Accessibility Affordability Sustainability
Decent Housing DH-1 DH-2 DH-3
Suitable Living Environment SL-1 SL-2 SL-3
Economic Opportunity EO-1 EO-2 EO-3
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 15
OUTCOME PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS
Table 2C
Summary of Specific Housing/Community Development Objectives
#
Specific Objectives Sources of Performance Expected Actual Outcome/
Funds Indicators Number Number Objective*
Rental Housing
Owner Housing
Community Development
Infrastructure
Public Facilities
Public Services
Economic Development
Neighborhood Revitalization/Other
*Outcome/Objective Codes
Availability/Accessibility Affordability Sustainability
DH-1 DH-2 DH-3
Decent Housing
SL-1 SL-2 SL-3
Suitable Living Environment
EO-1 EO-2 EO-3
Economic Opportunity
Table 3A -- Summary of Specific Annual Objectives
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 16
#
Specific Annual Objectives Sources of Performance Expected Actual Outcome/
Funds Indicators Number Number Objective*
Rental Housing
Owner Housing
Homeless
Special Needs
Community Development
Infrastructure
Public Facilities
Public Services
Economic Development
Neighborhood Revitalization/Other
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 17
*Outcome/Objective Codes
Availability/Accessibility Affordability Sustainability
DH-1 DH-2 DH-3
Decent Housing
SL-1 SL-2 SL-3
Suitable Living Environment
EO-1 EO-2 EO-3
Economic Opportunity
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 18
I. Summary of Resources and Distribution of Funds
The City of Ashland utilized Community Development Block Grant funds to assist in furthering
the goals and objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan. For Fiscal Year 2010 the City
received $224,545 in CDBG funding. The City also utilized carryover funds in the amount of
$2,370 in unallocated CDBG funds from the 2009 program year. Lastly, the City has a revolving
loan fund balance of $96.21 in Housing Rehabilitation loan repayments. See table 1.1 below.
In the 2010 program year the City of Ashland awarded funds to; Ashland Supportive Housing
$110,861 in CDBG funds for to rehabilitate a housing unit to be used as a respite home for
peoples with disabilities, $30,000 to St. Vincent De Paul home Visitation Program provide
emergency rent and energy assistance to avoid homelessness, and lastly $27,623 to provide
audible signals added to existing cross walks to assist the sight impaired.
In Program Year 2010, the City drew down $424,683, in Community Development Block Grant
Funds.
Table 1.1
Agency/Organization Funds Program Income Funds Expended Funds Expended Remaining
CommittedFY 2009in FY 2009in FY 2010Balance
2009 HAJC Award $165,367.00 $122,427.13$42,939.87$0
Ashland Supportive
Housing $110,861.00 $110,861.00$0
St. Vincent De Paul $30,000 $29,275.26$724.74
Public Works-ADA $27,623 $27,623.00
City of Ashland
(Admin 2010) $44,909.00 $42,378.55$2,530.45*
CDBG Fund total $378,760.00 $122,427.13$225,454.68$30,878.19
Revolving Loan Fund $32,801.00 $13,944.20$200.00$46,448.99$96.21
CDBG-Recovery Act $55,622.00 $7,108.00$39,539.21$8,974.79
Total $411,561.00 $13,944.20$122,627.13$271,903.67$30,974.40
*Funds returned to HUD, due to General Fund discrepancy
A) Geographic Distribution of Expenditures
The City of Ashland is a relatively small community both in population and incorporated area.
Ashland is 4.4 miles long and 1.7 miles wide and comprises seven census tracks and 20 block
groups. Of those 20 block groups 8 qualify as Low- to Moderate- Income area benefit block
groups. There are no areas that fall under HUD’s definition of racial or minority concentrations
within the City. The 2000 Census estimated that the 92% of Ashland’s populations is White
alone. The City of Ashland does not have any designated Revitalization Neighborhoods nor
does the City have any areas that qualify as being affected by slum or blight conditions. The city
did not target any CDBG funds to a designated area.
II. Narrative Statement
A) Assessment of Three to Five Year Goals and Objectives
In April of 2010, the City of Ashland adopted the Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2010-2014).
Fourteen priorities (goals) are identified in the Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The priorities are
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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not ranked in order of importance.Each project/activity, which was undertaken during Fiscal
Year 2010-2014, is listed and discussed under the relevant priority.
This assessment provided in this CAPER covers the 2010 Program year (July 1, 2010-June 30,
2011).
For the 2010 Program year the City had very little progress to report on the three to five year
Consolidated Plan Goals. Two projects, one of which will provide a total of 15 homeownership
units and 60 rental units for low to moderate income households were completed in the 2010
Program year. One of these projects, the 60 unit rental development utilized CDBG funding for
public facilities improvements. This project will require reporting in the 2011 program year with
regard to beneficiary information before being closed out in IDIS. Please see tables 2A, 1C, 2C,
and 3A for details.
B) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
a. In the 2010 Program year the City undertook several activities to affirmatively Further
Fair Housing. The City continued its support to the Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO),
working with that organization in partnership with the City of Medford to provide education and
outreach through trainings targeted to real estate professionals, and social service providers.
b. In the 2008 Program year, the City of Ashland Contracted with the Fair Housing
Council of Oregon to undertake an update of the City’s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Choice (AI). The final draft of the AI was completed in September of 2009. In the updated City
of Ashland AI the Fair Housing Council of Oregon identified several impediments to fair housing
choice. Many of the recommendations were in line with activities that the city was currently
undertaking, and some of the recommendations the City has begun to work toward
implementing. The City of Ashland Housing Commission has completed a review and
recommended revisions to the City’s local Fair Housing Ordinance which will be presented to the
City Council for adoption during the 2011 program year.
The Fair Housing Council identified 15 impediments to Fair Housing Choice in the City of
Ashland’s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. In Program year 2009 the City
initiated action on nine of those impediments. In Program Year 2010 the City continued its work
on those activities as well as ongoing education and outreach efforts through targeted trainings.
Though the City is far from accomplishing the goals laid out in the AI, the City is committed to
affirmatively furthering fair housing and continuing to work with community partners, citizens, and
other jurisdictions on implementing the recommendations included in the AI. The City will report
further activities and accomplishments on the goals noted above as well as the remaining
unaddressed goals in successive CAPER’s.
C) Affordable Housing
Progress on the Consolidated Plan goals 1.1 and 1.2, the development of affordable rental and
homeownership housing; had throughout the period covered by the 2005-2009 Consolidated
Plan been hampered by the high cost of land in the City of Ashland. Though this has been a
considerable barrier to providers of affordable housing in the Jackson County area, the recent
economic downturn has served to slow the pace of market rate development in Ashland allowing
opportunities for more affordable housing development. The City met its Consolidated Plan
goals for affordable ownership housing and for the development of rental housing for the
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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previous five year period. For the current five year period beginning in program year 2010, the
City is on track with the goals for affordable rental, ownership and long term deed restricted
units.
In the 2008 and 2009 program years the City of Ashland partnered with the Housing Authority of
Jackson County to jointly acquire a 10 acre property. The City traded 1.7 million in land, and
$720,000 in cash, the Housing Authority paid 1.2 million for a total purchase price of 3.6 million.
The direct contribution from the city toward the land purchased for the Housing Authority
development was $160,000. The development was completed in the spring of 2010 and fully
leased at that time as well. The completion of this project allowed the City to meet the goal of
developing 55 new affordable rental units which was identified in the previous five year
consolidated plan. However since the activity was not completed until PY 2010, the
accomplishment data for that activity will be counted in this CAPER.
The City has also met and exceeded Decent Housing goal 3.3 for ownership housing
rehabilitation primarily utilizing CDBG program income and CDBG-Recovery act funds.
During the 2010 Program year the City continued to work with Rogue Valley Community
Development Corporation on the completion of seven of the self help homeownership units.
Each of these units is deed restricted to remain affordable through the SDC deferral program for
a period of 30 years, through the annexation ordinance for a period of 60 years, and through the
Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation’s (RVCDC) land lease for a period of 99
years. These first seven units received their certificates of occupancy in units are not expected
to be completed until fall of 2010, at that time, the construction of 8 more mutual self help
homeownership units will begin construction.
The City of Ashland does not directly develop or manage affordable housing. The City of Ashland
has prioritized the provision of affordable housing to be the highest priority need in the
Consolidated Plan. Over the years the City of Ashland has developed a number of programs,
incentives, and regulations in an effort to promote the development of affordable housing.
Specifically; the City provides a density bonus to developers who construct affordable rental and
ownership units, the City defers the System Development Charges (SDCs) for affordable rental
and single family homes so long as they remain “affordable” for a period of 30 years. The
maximum rent limit set by HUD can not be exceeded, nor can the housing units be sold outside
the program during this period, (a change in the SDC waiver program instituted in 2005 was to
eliminate the ability to “buy-out” of the program by paying off past SDCs), lastly, the City added
language to the zone change, annexation, and condominium conversion ordinances that
provides for a percentage of affordability under certain circumstances. The funding source for
these activities is the City of Ashland’s General fund for administration of the City sponsored
affordable housing program and foregoing collection of System Development Charges and
applicable Community Development and Engineering fees.
The City continues to examine and initiate new and innovated programs to promote, develop,
and retain affordable housing.
Worst Case Needs
The City of Ashland has undertaken many steps to try and meet the needs of low-income renters
with severe cost burden, to address substandard housing and to lessen or alleviate instances of
involuntary displacement. Specifically, the City has worked with the Housing Authority of
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CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Jackson County on the completion of a large scale affordable rental housing project. The
Housing Authority currently provides approximately 100 housing choice vouchers to residents in
the City of Ashland, these vouchers help to alleviate severe cost burden to some Ashland
renters. The City of Ashland Housing Commission has listed as one ofthat body’s top priorities
the preservation of expiring use HUD subsidized rental complexes.
In an effort to reduce the number of households living in substandard housing, the City awarded
homeowner rehabilitation program funds to the Housing Authority of Jackson County over three
grant years, 1997, 1998, and 2000. Loan repayment proceeds from prior year’s home owner
rehabilitation projects are put into a revolving loan fund to complete more homeowner
rehabilitation projects. In program year 2010 loan repayments proceeds from prior year’s payoff
in the amount of $46,448.99, were utilized to complete repairs on three more owner occupied
units. Two of the projects leveraged funds from the City’s energy efficiency program funded with
CDBG recovery act dollars.
In 2009 the City was the recipient of $55,622 in Community Development Block Grant Recovery
Act (CDBG-R) funds. The City council allocated these funds to complete weatherization and
energy efficiency upgrades on housing units occupied by low-income homeowners. These funds
were leveraged with other available funds on a case by case basis to help further the grant funds
and complete needed repairs, weatherization, and energy efficiency upgrades. There are four
programs which could be used to leverage funds with the CDBG-R funds; USDA’s Rural
Development Department offers low interest loans of up to $20,000 to complete needed repairs
to owner occupied homes, and up to $7,500 in grant funds to repair the homes of owner
occupants who are 62 years old and older, the City of Ashland Homeowner repair program that
is detailed in the paragraph above, Access, Inc.’s low-income weatherization program, which
provides weatherization measures such as insulation, window replacement and roof repairs on
mobile homes, manufactured homes and single family residences,( this program has senior and
disabled preference) and the City of Ashland’s Conservation program which offers a zero percent
interest 60 month loan of up to $7,500 for owner occupied units repaid through utility bill or a City
incentives. The City makes referrals to Rural Development or the Housing Authority for
homeowner repair needs or to ACCESS, Inc. in an effort to leverage CDBG-R funds and assist
those populations within the City with the least ability to pay for needed repairs and energy
efficiency upgrades. Although the intent of the CDBG-R program is to promote energy efficiency
measures, lower utility expenses for low income residents and work toward community wide
energy conservation allowing the City to meet the tier two energy goals of reducing the City’s
overall energy use as well as, the larger goal of preserving affordable housing units and making
health and safety improvements is also being met. Detailed outcomes for this program are
reported in section F, Leveraged resources.
The city passed a tenants rights ordinance in 2007 in an effort to protect the basic rights of
tenants living in multi-family residential units who may be displaced or affected by the conversion
of existing multi-family rental housing into for purchase housing. The ordinance requires
property owners to notice tenants about the conversion and of the tenant’s right to relocation
assistance if certain conditions are not met. The City of Ashland follows all federal regulations
regarding relocation when carrying out CDBG activities. The City recognizes the continued need
for affordable housing for city residents, and will continue to seek out and prioritize opportunities
to develop, maintain, and preserve affordable rental and ownership housing to meet the needs of
very low, low, and moderate income households.
City of Ashland
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During the 2008 and 2009 Program year the City’s CDBG funding went toward assisting the
Jackson County Housing Authority in completing a large scale affordable housing development,
the first multifamily housing development built by the Housing Authority in Ashland ever, and the
first new affordable multifamily development in the past 20 years. This 60 unit development
known as Snowberry Brook was completed and leased in the spring of 2011. The new
development includes three fully accessible units that meet the section 504 building code for
ADA accessibility, and one hearing impaired unit. All 14 of the ground floor flats were designed
and built to be ADA adaptable. And 43 of the units were designed and built to be “visitable” units
for people in wheelchairs providing 36” exterior and restroom doors. Similarly, a portion of the
funding awarded to the Housing Authority for public facilities improvements provided for the
installation of 3,250 linear feet of new sidewalk on newly developed interior streets and on
previously unimproved public right of way along a major collector roadway completing the
connection between two existing sidewalks between two arterial transportation routes. Lastly,
the grant funds paid for the installation of 13 new wheel chair ramps further increasing ADA
accessibility.
D) Continuum of Care
Consolidated Plan goals aimed at serving homeless and special needs populations are currently
on track primarily due to the efforts of the Jackson County Homeless Task Force’s (HTF) annual
Project Homeless Connect event as well activities undertaken by the Society of St. Vincent De
Paul to keep people in their homes. City staff is an active member of the Homeless Task Force,
a subcommittee of the Continuum Care, and continues to work toward creating more resources
for local and regional homeless and at-risk populations.
Program year 2010 was the third year that the HTF organized a Project Homeless Connect
Event. In the 2009 program year the City of Ashland in partnership with the many other
individual members and organizations of the Homeless Task Force put on the second annual
nd
Project Homeless Connect Event. The one day event took place on Wednesday, June 22, at
the Medford Armory. The purpose of the event was to connect the homeless population of the
Rogue Valley to service providers, government agencies and community resources. The Project
Homeless Connect event serves as an opportunity for individual community members to
welcome those experiencing homelessness back into the community through volunteerism and
recognition. The event provided a hot meal and resources for approximately 325 people. Many
of the agencies who participated reported that they have had follow ups from the event. Services
ranged from free haircuts, dental, mental and medical health services, veterinary services, to
hygiene kits, food baskets and hot lunch. Attendance at this year’s event was down when
compared with the attendance from the two previous years, from a high of 547 in 2010 to 325 in
2011. Despite the low turnout participants, volunteers, and service providers felt that the event
was very successful.
Jackson County’s Ten Year Plan to end Homelessness was adopted by the Jackson County
rd
Commissioners on June 3 2009. Paul Carlson, HUD Region X, Regional Coordinator of the
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Robert Franco from the U.S. Interagency Council on
Homelessness, and Karen Clearwater, from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
spoke at the event in support of the Ten Year Plan. The Jackson County Ten Year Plan to end
homelessness is available on the Jackson County Website at:
http://www.co.jackson.or.us/files/10-Year_Plan_to_End_Homelessness.pdf The City of Ashland
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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continues to contribute to a coordinated effort to serve the Homeless populations and those at
risk of homelessness
As mentioned the City is on track to meet the Consolidated Plan Goals of assisting 150 persons
annually by providing assistance to non-profit organizations that assist the homeless and those
at risk of becoming homeless, by providing transition assistance to the homeless and helping to
prevent homelessness.However, due to the Housing Program Specialist’s continued
involvement in the Homeless Task Force in general and more specifically the time spent on the
planning and participation in the Project Homeless Connect Events, the number of persons
benefiting from this activity will be counted as contributing toward this goal during the 2010
Program Year and in subsequent years. The activities undertaken by the Housing Program
Specialist to this end will be divided between CDBG administrative costs and City General Fund
as part of the City’s Housing Program. For all other activities undertaken in the 2010 program
year to assist homeless and special needs populations the City primarily looked to the general
fund and non-CDBG funds to fulfill these goals. Please see Outcome and Performance
Measures table for details.
The City directs over $100,000 in general fund dollars to safety net services each year. Awards
to selected service providers are made on a two year cycle, with recipients receiving the full
st
award amount on July 1, of each year. Therefore the award indicated in the table below is an
annual allocation and the recipient ultimately receives twice the amount listed. Several homeless
service providers, low income health care, and essential continuum of care services are funded
each year. In the 2010 program year the “Social Service Grants awarded totaled $120,342.
Given the relatively small size of the award requests, the use of the City’s General Fund grant
awards enables these non-profits to direct the award to services with a minimal amount of grant
administration costs.
The City has not directed funds specifically toward addressing the needs of persons with special
needs that may require supportive housing (such as persons with HIV/AIDs) preferring instead to
target funding and staff time to serving the needs of all populations experiencing or at risk of
homelessness. If an affordable housing provider applied for CDBG funds to support the
development of permanent supportive or transitional housing for those experiencing
homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or living with a disease that necessitated supportive
housing that application would meet several of the City’s priority goals for CDBG. Currently
providers of affordable housing and services that target such populations express concerns
about ongoing funding for staffing and other operational costs that the City alone could not
provide. City staff and members of the Jackson County Homeless Task Force continue to
monitor new and existing funding sources to better serve this population. However staff and the
task force have yet to identify any suitable new resources.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Table 1.2
Ashland Social Service Grants FY 2010, FY 2011
Awarded
Annual allocation
Organization (2 year disbursement = award below x 2)
ACCESS, Inc. 5,700
CASA of Jackson County, Inc. 2,000
Center for Non-Profit Legal services 6,039
Children’s Dental Clinic 3,285
Community Health Center 35,000
Community Works-Dunn House 15,270
Community Works-Sexual Assault Victims Services 2,600
Community Works-Helpline 10,250
Community Works-Street Outreach 8,000
Help Now! (low income legal assistance) 1,133
Jackson County Children’s Advocacy Center 4,000
Jackson County S.A.R.T. 2,480
Mediation Works 2,100
Ontrack, Inc. 3,000
Pathway Enterprises, Inc. 3,120
Planned Parenthood of South West 4,000
RV Manor-Senior Volunteer Program 2,000
RV Manor-Foster Grandparent Program 1,500
SOASTC 1,200
S. Ore. Child Study and Treatment Center 2,815
Southern Oregon Drug Awareness 1,500
WinterSpring Center for living with grief and loss 1,350
$ 120,342
Total Awarded
($240,682 over two years)
E) Other Actions
a. Actions to Address Obstacles to meeting Underserved Needs
No specific actions were taken during 2010 that are not identified elsewhere in the Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. The 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan does not identify
specific underserved populations, however, since the loss of Interfaith Care Community of
Ashland, the only local service provider for the homeless population, the Ashland Housing
Commission has made it a goal to explore opportunities to be more proactive in assisting the
Homeless Community. In 2009 the City of Ashland City Council articulated goals relating to
homelessness; “facilitate efforts to address homelessness by; replacing services previously
provided by ICCA, Developing and emergency shelter for minors, better connection services
available in Jackson County to Ashland’s homeless, and ensuring \[that\] Jackson County’s 10
Year Plan addresses the specific issues faced in Ashland. To that end the City Council has
appointed a 10 person ad hoc advisory committee to explore community oriented solutions to the
homeless issue and to advise the council on what the City can do to reduce homelessness
locally and regionally. Lastly, in the 2010 Program year the City of Ashland awarded funds to St.
Vincent De Paul’s home visitation program to support their ongoing efforts to prevent
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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homelessness. These activities are reported elsewhere in this document.
The City’s continued involvement in the Jackson County Homeless Task Force is also
instrumental in assessing the needs and resources of homeless populations. Similarly, the City’s
support for local providers of services to low income, at risk, disabled, homeless, and elderly
populations through the Social Service grant program funded out of the City’s general fund helps
to offset the lack of resources and helps to support local providers of services to those
populations. See table 1.2 above for details.
b. Foster and Maintain Affordable Housing
As mentioned previously the City of Ashland worked with the Housing Authority of Jackson
County to complete a 60 unit affordable rental housing development. The City is also working
with Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation on a project that will create 15 new
affordable homeownership units though no city funds have contributed to that project thus far. In
the 2010 program year the City also saw the completion of a new two unit complex built on land
originally purchased with CDBG funds.
An Affordable Housing Committee was formed in 1990 and reconvened in 1994 to search for
ways to provide economical housing in Ashland. In 1995 a formal Housing Commission was
formed. The Housing Commission has endeavored to create policies that will allow additional
housing opportunities for low- and moderate- income Ashland households.
The City of Ashland Housing Commission continues to explore opportunities to promote the
protection of the City’s HUD expiring use units, researching funding sources for the newly
established City of Ashland Affordable Housing Trust Fund, as well as working toward finding
new resources to serve the City’s homeless populations.
c. Eliminate barriers to affordable housing
Goal 4 of the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan looks at examining and taking steps toward
eliminating barriers to affordable housing, to that end the Housing Commission, the Planning
Commission, and the City Council held a joint meeting to open a dialog between city officials,
community members, and developers of affordable housing. The joint meeting took place in
September 2008. Barriers to affordable housing and what steps can be taken to overcome such
barriers and promote the development of affordable and multi-family housing within the City were
examined and discussed. Several viable ideas came out of that joint meeting and continue to be
explored by the City. The City continues to consider the potential impacts to affordable housing
that changes in the Ashland Land Use Ordinance may have, as well as to look at ways that the
ALUO need to be updated in order to promote affordable housing and housing types. One such
issue is the ALUO’s requirements for manufactured housing in single family zones. Staff is
looking at updating the requirements to make it easier for landowners to place manufacture
home units on single family lots by removing outdated language that does not account for the
changes and energy efficiency measure that manufactured housing has undergone since the
code was originally adopted. Changing this ordinance will better allow low- and moderate
income individual’s better access to USDA loan programs for manufactured homes.
d. Overcome gaps in institutional structure and enhance coordination.
City of Ashland Staff will continue to provide staff support to the City of Ashland Housing
Commission including a Housing Program Specialist, which will help provide institutional
structure as well as to examine and implement opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation.
City of Ashland
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The City will also continue to be an active participant with the Southern Oregon Housing
Resource Center to maintain and promote further regional coordination and partnership in
housing and community development related activities. Ashland will continue to work with the
Jackson County Continuum of Care’s Homeless Task force to address the development of
affordable housing and resources for homeless and at risk populations at a regional level. Staff
will further outreach efforts with those entities and organizations that offer resources to Ashland
residents.
e. Improve Public housing and resident initiatives
The Housing Authority of Jackson County operates all Public Housing Units in Jackson County.
In 2006 HAJC filed for disposition of all of their public housing units, three of which were in the
City of Ashland. Consequently there are no Public Housing Units within the City of Ashland.
f. Evaluate and reduce lead-based Paint hazards.
Outside of Staff time, the City did not use CDBG funds for this activity during PY 2010. The City
will ensure that lead testing and clearance is completed on any federally funded project involving
a structure built prior to 1979.
g. Ensure compliance with program and comprehensive planning
requirements.
HUD has established specific requirements for implementation of the Consolidated Plan. The
City of Ashland has made every effort to ensure that it is in compliance with these
comprehensive planning requirements. Requirements include holding public hearings, allowing
for adequate periods to receive public comments, and ensuring proper public notification of these
and other actions. The City continues to make every effort to comply with all regulations that
govern the CDBG program.
h. Reduce the number of persons living below the poverty level.
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 requires communities to include in their
Consolidated Plan a description of an anti-poverty strategy. The City of Ashland has limited
resources for addressing the issues involved in reducing poverty and improving the self-
sufficiency of low-income residents. Affordable housing is one of the factors directly related to
poverty that the City of Ashland does have some ability to influence, and the related goals are
covered in the Housing Goals section. In addition, the City supports housing, social service, and
economic development programs targeted at the continuum of care needs of the homeless.
In another effort to address poverty within Ashland, during 2001-2002 the City of Ashland passed
a Living Wage Ordinance. This ordinance requires that employees of the City, or employers
receiving financial assistance or business from the City in excess of approximately $15,000
(adjusts annually) must pay a minimum of $12.96 per hour (adjusted annually) to employees
engaged in work related to the City project or service contract. The City of Ashland operates a
variety of funding and other assistance programs which, together, strategically address the goals
of reducing poverty and improving the self-sufficiency of low-income residents. The activities
undertaken in conjunction with this anti-poverty strategy can be separated into two primary areas
of effort: human services programs targeted at the continuum of care needs; and affordable
housing programs. The City of Ashland provides funding to agencies that address the needs of
low income and homeless residents through a Social Service Grant program. The goal of this
program is to improve living conditions and self sufficiency for residents by meeting such basic
needs as food, shelter, clothing, counseling and basic health care. The goal is carried out by
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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providing funds in excess of $100,000 every year to various area agencies whose focus meets
one or more of these targeted needs.
The Social Service Grant program is funded entirely with general fund dollars from the City of
Ashland budget. The award process is coordinated with the City of Medford and the United Way
of Jackson County. Local agencies and organizations providing continuum of care activities in
the Rogue Valley coordinate their applications through a Community Services Consortium. The
coordination of services and related funding requests through the consortium attempts to insure
that the broad range of needs is met without overlap or duplication of service. The second
element of the City’s anti-poverty strategy targets the development and retention of affordable
housing. The City of Ashland has made a serious effort to address the issues of housing
affordability.
In 2009-10 the Mayor and City Council identified the goal of creating and implementing and
Economic Development Strategy that would incorporate the four objectives:
o Diversifying the economic base of the community
o Supporting the creation and growth of businesses that use and provide local and
regional products.
o Increasing the number of family wage jobs in the community
o Leveraging the strengths of Ashland’s tourism and repeat visitors.
In July 2011 the Council adopted the economic development strategy in an effort to provide
higher wage jobs and economic stability to the Ashland area.
F) Leveraging Resources
While the City itself did not use CDBG funds to leverage other public and private resources, local
non-profits have reported the CDBG funds to be essential in obtaining private donations and
other public and private grants.
With regard to projects funded in PY 2010 the total amount leveraged totals $116,052.49.
Ashland Supportive Housing’s Respite home project provided $30,194 in organizational
matching funds and leveraged $2,700 in funding from other sources. The Society of St. Vincent
De Pau’s Home Visitation Program provided $31,000 in organizational matching funds and
leveraged $6,000 funding from other sources. Lastly, Recovery Act funds received by the City
through the Community Development Block Grant program which the City used to provide
energy efficiency upgrades for low-income homeowners in conjunction with the City’s
Conservation loan and rebate program leveraged $36,715 from other funding sources.
Specifically, $20,758 in CDBG funding from the Homeowner repair program repayments, $7,500
in Senior Grant home repair funds from USDA Rural Development, $2,550 in participant
contributions, and $5,907 in City of Ashland Conservation loan funds.
G) Citizen Comments
The availability of the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the
th
use of 2010 CDBG funds was advertised in the September 192011, edition of the Ashland
Daily Tidings (advertisement enclosed) and was posted continuously on the City of Ashland web
thth
site from September 15, 2011 through September 30, 2011 for public comment. Additionally
th
the Housing Commission reviewed the CAPER at their September 28 Regular meeting to hold
a public hearing and obtain comments. No comments had been received as of 3:00 PM
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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th
September 27 2011. The 2010 CAPER document remains archived on the City website.
(www.ashland.or.us/cdbgcaper2010)
H) Self Evaluation
a. Impact of Activities on Identified Needs
The City of Ashland Five-Year Consolidated Plan for 2010-2014 includes a list of 14 “Goals” of
the community. These goals demonstrate that the highest priority need is the provision of
affordable housing. To this end, 65% of the yearly CDBG allocation is directed to this highest
priority need. Homelessness and the provision of social services to low and extremely low
income households were also identified as a critical need and thus the City maintains a 15% set
aside for such activities. Administration of the program utilizes the remaining 20%. Outside of
the CDBG Program the City allocates over $100,000 per year of general funds to address social
services, $250,000-300,000 per year to support alternative transportation (goal 11), and over
$100,000 annually to economic development although only a limited percentage (approximately
$2,000-5,000) of this program can clearly be seen to increase economic opportunities to low
income residents.
Ashland is a small-city with limited resources; it is unlikely that each of the fourteen identified
goals can be addressed in any single program year. Furthermore, while Ashland experiences a
broad range of needs similar to larger communities, the resources and services available to
assist low- to moderate-income people in the Rogue Valley is limited and comparable to rural
areas.
In recent years the City of Ashland has been very proactive in its approach to tackling the
problem of providing affordable rental housing and home-ownership opportunities for low-income
households. Through the elimination of regulatory barriers to affordable housing, the imposition
of new regulations that promote affordable housing (see Goal 4), and the establishment of an
Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City continues to look to new and innovative ways to
promote, protect and support affordable housing. The City of Ashland continues to offer System
Development Charge deferrals for new units affordable to low-moderate income households
thereby reducing development costs for affordable housing projects. The City of Ashland is the
only city in Jackson County to offer this kind of incentive.
Another priority need which the City has had difficulties addressing is assisting individuals in the
transition from homelessness to permanent housing situations. Local non-profit agencies, which
provide assistance and homeless prevention services, report that the population of homeless
individuals in Ashland and in the Rogue Valley is rapidly increasing. Since the loss of the City’s
only organization providing direct services to homeless populations in 2007, the Ashland City
Council adopted an Emergency Shelter Resolution in an attempt to provide a resource for the
City’s homeless population in extreme weather (see goal # 6). The City will assist in endeavors
to develop transitional housing within the city, and would entertain using CDBG funds in
supporting an organization that offered emergency and transitional housing. Currently an Ad
Hoc Subcommittee appointed by the Council in 2010 is exploring proposals submitted by
community members and organizations that serve homeless or at risk populations to propose
options to the City Council on programs (which will include shelter options) that the City could
support. These proposals are scheduled to go before the Council in September 2011. The
outcomes of these efforts will be reported more thoroughly in the 2011 CAPER.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 29
In comparing the outcomes proposed in the 2010-2014 Consolidated plan with the actual
outcomes for this program year, staff sees that the majority of the outcomes have been met,
such as the number of new rental units, services to homeless populations, and rehabilitation
projects
b. Barriers to Fulfilling Strategies
The most obvious barriers to addressing the Priority Needs of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan
are a lack of resources and the high cost of housing in the Ashland Community. Due to the
current economic climate housing prices have declined throughout the country. This is true of
Ashland as well, though the decrease in property values in the Ashland market has been nominal
by comparison. The situation has, however, allowed more opportunities for local and regional
developers of affordable housing. The median home price in Ashland in June of 2011 was
$272,000, which is still quite high when compared with Jackson County at $166,000. Property
values in Ashland increased more rapidly than the in rest of the state and Jackson County during
the housing boom (increasing on an average of over 20% over the past 5 years) and have
maintained their values despite the economic downturn.
Ashland’s CDBG allocation has decreased annually in recent years, though Recovery Act funds
and the Obama Administration’s commitment to fully fund the CDBG program has bucked this
trend. Future projections imply that further reductions are possible or even the elimination of
entitlement community status. The loss of Federal support for affordable housing places an
increasing burden on small communities to address the goals established in the Consolidated
Plan with local regulatory controls or local commitment of funding. Although Ashland continues
to promote affordable housing through direct financial support and the establishment of
regulatory incentives and controls, limited resources and limitations on the extent of regulation
allowable under state law reduce options for the City.
c. Improvements
The City of Ashland ranked the Priority Needs of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan for 2010-2014
to help address identified needs with the limited resources available for social services and
Capital Improvement in the Rogue Valley. Specifically this ranking directs the majority of
available CDBG funds to the highest priority need, the provision of affordable housing.
I) Monitoring
Each Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year the City reviews each CDBG
activity that was underway and ranks the sub-recipient’s risk factors by assigning points for each
of the rating criteria on the form provided. The designated points on the rating form are
established to prove a means of quantifying a Risk Factor and are useful as tools in determining
the extent of monitoring for a given activity. Other factors, as deemed relevant by the City of
Ashland, can be used in establishing a higher or lower risk factor than the numerical rating
system. A CDBG monitoring visit may consist of an on-site monitoring or a desk monitoring. All
CDBG grantees will be monitored once prior to a contract being administratively closed. The
areas monitored may include:
The CDBG staff objectives for monitoring are to determine if grantees are:
Carrying out their CDBG-funded activities as described in their contracts (as modified or
amended);
Carrying out the program or project in a timely manner in accordance with the scheduled
included in the CDBG contract;
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Charging costs to the program or project which are eligible under applicable regulations;
Complying with other applicable laws, regulations and terms of the CDBG contract;
Conducting the program in a manner which minimizes the opportunity for fraud, waste
and mismanagement; and
Have a continuing capacity to carry out the approved program or project.
Overall management system, record keeping and progress in activities.
When a grantee is found to be out of compliance, CDBG staff will identify a specific period of
time in which compliance should be achieved. Usually the grantee will have 30 days to correct
deficiencies. Copies of supporting documentation demonstrating that corrective action has been
taken will be required. Additional time for corrective action may be allowed on a case by case
basis. Failure by the grantee to correct deficiencies may result in funds being withheld and
possible restrictions on future grants.
For the 2010 Program year CDBG staff completed the risk analysis worksheet for the three sub-
recipients with open activities. A summary of the monitoring and the cumulative numeric ranking
based on the CDBG program risk analysis worksheet is provided for each recipient. As part of
the City's annual CDBG Monitoring Program a Risk Analysis was completed in September of
2011 in which the CDBG programs exposure, effectiveness and efficiency was evaluated. None
of the sub-recipients of CDBG funds were categorized as 'High Risk' through this analysis. The
City elected to conduct monitoring visits with three recipients that had active CDBG funded
projects as part of our monitoring strategy for this program year as is outlined more fully below.
1.)Housing Authority of Jackson County (HAJC): Staff conducted a risk analysis of in
July of 2009. The Housing Authority of Jackson County was found to be “Low Risk”
receiving a score of 29. City staff will conduct an on-site monitoring during the 2011
Program Year prior to closeout of both the 2008 and 2009 grant agreements.
2.)Ashland Supportive Housing (ASH): Staff is scheduled to conduct an on-site
monitoring of this project in the 2011 Program Year.
3.)St. Vincent De Paul-Home Visitation Program: Staff is scheduled to conduct an on-
site monitoring of this project in the 2011 Program Year.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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III CDBG Program Narrative
The activities undertaken as described in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation
Report (CAPER) were consistent with the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan and the 2010 Action
Plan.
The table below shows the projects awarded CDBG funds in Program Year 2010:
CDBG Funded Projects for Program Year 2009
Project ID Recipient Activity Name Location CDBG Households
Organization Funds or Persons
Assisted
Annually
$44,909
CDBGcity wide city wide
2010-1 City of
AshlandAdministration
(Consolidated
Plan Goal 14)
2010-2 $110,861 416 Special
AshlandRehabilitation of a 1016 Clark Street
Needs Clients
(Consolidated
Supportivehousing unit to be
Annually
Plan Goal 8.1
Housingused as a respite
and8.2)
home for peoples
with disabilities
2010-3
$30,000 620 Low-
St. Vincent Home Visitation City wide
(Consolidated
Income
De Paul Program
Plan Goal
Households
6.1)
2010-4 $27,623 2,379 peoples
City of ADADowntown on
(Consolidatedwith disabilities
AshlandImprovements-East Main and
Plan Goal #7) reside in
Public Works Audible signals Lithia Way
Ashland (2000
Department added to existing between Hellman
rd
Census)
cross walks to and 3 Street.
assist the sight
impaired
Unallocated
$13,522
To be rolled
Grant
over into the
2011 program
year
Assessment of Relationship of CDBG funds to Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: To increase the supply of affordable rental housing for extremely low-,
low- and moderate-income families. Where possible, give funding
priority to those projects that will provide benefits to residents with the
lowest incomes.
Action to meet priority and time-line
st
The City issued an RFP on January 1 2010. The City received two applications in response to
th
this RFP. At a public hearing held on April 20, 2010, the Ashland City Council directed the City
to award $110,861 in Capital improvement funds to Ashland Supportive Housing to rehabilitate a
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 32
housing unit to be used as a respite home for peoples with disabilities, $30,000 to St. Vincent De
Paul to provide emergency rental and utility assistance to low-income families facing eviction or
shut offs, and $27,623 to the City’s Public Works Department for the installation of ADA
crosswalk signals to aid the sight impaired.
These projects will assist the city in meeting several of the goals and outcomes identified in the
2010-2014 Consolidated Plan. Specifically Goals 8.1 and 8.2; Encourage the development of
transitional and supportive housing for extremely low- and low-income special needs populations
and to provide assistance to non-profit organizations that provide support services for extremely
low- and low-income special needs populations. Goal 6.1 to provide assistance to non-profit
organizations that assist the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, provide transition
assistance to the homeless and help prevent homelessness. Goal7; to provide safe and
convenient access to alternative transportation routes,and Outcomes;Decent Housing 1.1, 1.2
and 1.3 SL 1.1: Accessibility-Availability of improved public infrastructure serving low-moderate
income persons.
Housing Authority of Jackson County (HAJC)
Established in 1969, the Housing Authority of Jackson County is the regional provider of HUD
Housing Choice Voucher Program, as well as a variety of other state and federally funded rental
programs that serve low to moderate income families. Currently the Housing Authority provides
housing and related services to 2,243 households in Jackson County. Their mission is:To
provide, develop and preserve decent, safe and affordable housing to families and individuals
while coordinating efforts toward self-sufficiency.
HAJC Snowberry Brook
The Housing Authority of Jackson County was
awarded $345,000 in CDBG funds in Program Year
2008 and $165,367 in Program Year 2009 to
complete public facilities improvements in support of
an affordable housing development. The Snowberry
Brook project is was completed in spring of 2011.
The 60 unit development is affordable to households
earning 60% of the Area Median Income and below.
It is the first Earth Advantage certified multi-family
project completed in the City of Ashland. Snowberry
Brook is also the first new large scale affordable
rental housing development built in the City in over
two decades is the first multi-family property built by
the Housing Authority in Ashland.
The Housing Authority was awarded over 11 Million
in Consolidated Funding Cycle (CFC) grant funds
from Oregon Housing and Community Services
(OHCS) to build Snowberry Brook. These funds had
a direct economic impact on employment.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Ashland Community Land Trust (ACLT)
Ashland Community Land Trust was established in 1998 in an effort to help address Ashland’s
growing affordable housing crisis.The purpose of the land trust is to create and sustain long-
term affordable housing in the city limits of Ashland for low and moderate-income families. The
land trust acquires and holds land, while the improvements are sold or rented to the low-income
residents. ACLT consists of a six member volunteer board that works to create new affordable
housing units that are deed restricted through a land trust model to insure long term affordability.
In the 13 years that the land trust has been in existence they have been able to create and
maintain 16 units of affordable deed restricted housing. Their housing portfolio consists of a
variety of housing types, from single family ownership units to multifamily rental apartment units.
ACLT Bridge Street
ACLT purchased the
property located at 404
and 408 Bridge Street
with $328,800 in CDBG
funds during the 2006
program year. The
purchase of the
property was
completed on October
12, 2006. Originally the
development of the two
ownership units was
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 34
planned to be collaboration between ACLT and Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity, however,
Habitat was unable to undertake the project at this time, so ACLT decided to move forward with
the project on their own. Utilizing the expertise of the all volunteer board ACLT was able to
finance, design, and complete the two units without the assistance of a partner agency as all of
their other projects had utilized in the past. Through the planning and financing process staff
worked with ACLT to facilitate the completion of the project. ACLT hosted a ribbon cutting
ceremony on the completed unit in June at that time both new units had been leased. Currently
all four units were being utilized as rental units due to the economic pressures of the currently
housing market, though ACLT would like to offer them for sale in the future.
Goal 2: To increase the homeownership opportunities for extremely low-, low-
and moderate-income households. Where possible, give funding priority
to those projects that will provide benefits to residents with the lowest
incomes.
The development of affordable home ownership opportunities for low- and extremely low- income
households is a high priority for the City of Ashland. In 2007 the City sold surplus City owned
property, the proceeds from the sale of this property was applied to the goal of addressing
Ashland’s Housing needs.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of surplus City property have been applied to the
purchase of a .32 acre portion of a 2 acre property owned by the Ashland Parks Department
located on upper Clay street at the terminus of Chitwood Lane. In late 2007 the City of Ashland
issued a Request for Qualifications for a qualified affordable housing developer to develop five
affordable housing units for homeownership. Rogue Valley Community Development
Corporation (RVCDC) was chosen. RVCDC worked on developing a plan for the Chitwood
property until June of 2010 when that agency decided to withdraw their application citing lack of
qualified homeowner’s for the project and high construction cost. The City of Ashland City
Council voted to transfer the property back to the parks department to be used for park purposes
in exchange for the original purchase price to be dedicated to the Affordable Housing Trust fund
to further future affordable housing development.
Groundworks formerly Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation
(RVCDC)
Groundworks formerly RVCDC received two prior CDBG awards which resulted in the acquisition
of Property during the 2004 CDBG Program Year. Combined the two properties allowed RVCDC
to development 15 affordable ownership units in cooperation with the USDA Rural Development
Mutual Self Help Program. Through the Mutual Self-help homeownership program homebuyers
contributed a significant amount of “sweat equity” to the project in order to lower the purchase
price to below $120,000 per unit.
Groundworks – Rice Park.
Most recently Groundworks was gifted an acre of land
located off of Nevada Street in association with an
annexation to develop a “green” net zero energy
subdivision. The donation of land to RVCDC was
completed in order to comply with a condition of approval of
the annexation that land sufficient to accommodate 25% of
the units as affordable housing be dedicated to an
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 35
affordable housing provider.
Though no CDBG funds were
contributed to this project,
considerable staff time
assisted in compiling an
environmental Assessment
and in working with that
organization to execute deed
restrictions to maintain long
term affordability. The City
deferred $53,923.36 in SDC’s
for the seven units currently
under construction and will
defer approximately $61,626
in SDC’s for the next eight units to be constructed for an approximate total of $115,549 in
System Development deferrals for all 15 units, further the City council authorized an additional
$38,295.00 in Community Development and Engineering fee waivers, for a cumulative city
contribution of approximately $153,844 in non-collected fees to assist in buying down the overall
cost of development. This contribution allowed Groundworks to further reduce the purchase price
of each unit by approximately $10,000. As with the two previously completed projects within the
City, (2001 Siskiyou Blvd in 2005, and 795 Park Street in 2008) Groundworks has partnered with
USDA’s Self-Help Program to obtain low-interest construction loans for the home-owner/builders
to develop the six units intended for this site. All units were made affordable to households
earning less than 80% Area median income. Homebuyers also utilized USDA low interest home
loans to further reduce the housing cost burden.
Affordable Housing Program
The City of Ashland continues to offer incentives to non-profit and for-profit developers,
community development corporations, and public housing authorities to encourage the
development of new affordable housing options. The City also continues to look for ways to
create new regulations or amend existing regulations that serve to promote, protect, and
maintain the City’s affordable housing stock. These incentives and regulations are detailed
below.
In 2005-2006 the City passed a resolution (res 2006-13) that established Ashland’s Affordable
Housing Guidelines as well as the thresholds for a waiver of Community Development fees, and
Engineering Services fees for eligible affordable units that are voluntarily provided. These fees
amount to 1.85% of a projects valuation. T
he automatic waiver of these fees for voluntarily provided affordable unit’s amounts to a direct
subsidy from the City in the average amount of approximately $1500 - $2500 per unit.
This program allows the deferral of SDCs for any affordable unit targeted to ownership
households earning less than 80% the Area Median Income (AMI), or rental households earning
60% AMI or less. A total of 70 households are currently participating in the program. During the
2010 program year one project received SDC deferrals. ACLT’s two unit development on Bridge
Street received $13,100 in deferred system development costs and an additional $4,625 in
deferred Community Development and Engineering fees.
Density Bonus Program
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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The City of Ashland offers a density bonus for the voluntary inclusion of affordable housing within
a subdivision or multifamily development. No new developments have been applied for which
utilized this incentive during the 2010-2011 Program year.
Condominium Conversions
The City allows for the conversion of rental units to saleable units on a sliding scale, where the
larger the complex the more rental units must be retained. In cases where an owner wishes to
exceed this limitation to create more market rate ownership units the City then requires the
provision of affordable housing. The City considers units that are required to be affordable to be
added to our inventory only upon the recording of deed restrictions on the property. The
Affordable Housing Program parameters under resolution 2006-13 establish that rental units
required to be affordable following a condominium conversion shall be available to households
earning 80% AMI for a minimum of 30 years. The land use ordinance regulating the conversion
of apartments to condominiums was amended in 2007 and was primarily intended to preserve a
decreasing supply of rental apartments.
The time period between the initial approval for conversion of an apartment complex into
condominiums, and the actual recording of a condominium survey can be lengthy. The
corresponding resale restriction covenants (deed restriction) are not imposed until such time as
the condominium survey is completed thus this CAPER will distinguish between those approved
and those considered complete.
Total Conversions
In the 2010 CDBG program year no new condominium units were added to the city’s affordable
housing stock through condo conversions. Currently there are no planning applications pending
approval for conversion of existing apartments. Although 71 total units completed or initiated
conversion to condominiums in 2006-2007, only 3 units converted in 2007-2008, and only 6 in
2008-2009. The rate of condominium conversions has decreased considerably since 2006. This
marked reduction in conversions may be attributed to the recent economic downturn in the
housing market as well as City initiated ordinance changes instituted to addressing the adverse
impacts of such conversions on tenants and on the City’s rental housing stock.
Total Affordable Units Added to the Cities Inventory from July 1, 2010 - June 30,
2011
During the 2010 CDBG program year 7 of the Rice Park self help homeownership units were
completed and granted Certificates of occupancy, 2 rental units on Bridge Street developed by
ACLT were issued Certificates of occupancy and 60 rental units on Clay Street developed by the
Housing Authority of Jackson County were issued Certificates of Occupancy.
Goal 3: To maintain the existing affordable housing supply.Where possible,
give funding priority to those projects that will provide benefits to residents with
the lowest incomes. Also, give funding priority to those programs which retain
the units as affordable in perpetuity, or recapture the rehabilitation costs for
further use in Ashland.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Technical Assistance
The City provided technical assistance to nonprofit organizations whose mission includes
providing affordable housing. This technical assistance includes; providing information on the
CDBG program, City zoning regulations, educating agencies on the planning process and
providing information on the City's affordable housing programs including deferred systems
development charges and density bonuses. The City also aims to direct potential affordable
housing developers to other resources such as Rural Development programs and Oregon
Housing and Community Services. The City of Ashland has provided technical assistance
through the Planning Division as requested and has supported applications consistent with the
Consolidated Plan. The City provided assistance to ACCESS, Inc., Groundworks,
Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity, Ashland Community Land Trust, and the Housing Authority
of Jackson County in both their search for available property for CDBG funded projects, as well
as in preparing applications for proposed developments during the 2010 CDBG program year.
CDBG-R
Through the CDBG-R program the City was able to assist 13 low-income homeowners with
energy efficiency and conservation upgrades. In conjunction with this program many of the
homeowners received necessary home repairs that served to maintain the integrity of the
structure while reducing the energy cost burden.
Goal 4: Encourage the development of emergency and transitional housing for
homeless families with children and/or individuals.
In 2007, the Ashland City Council approved a resolution setting forth policies and conditions
under which the city will provide emergency housing for homeless and other individuals during
sever weather conditions. In the event of the need for an emergency shelter during extreme
weather, the use of Pioneer Hall or other available city-owned buildings may be used. The
temporary shelters are staffed by CERT volunteers organized and trained by the City’s CERT
Coordinator.
Ashland experiences “extreme weather” conditions primarily during the winter months where
temperatures can drop below 20 degrees, and exposure to the elements can be hazardous to
persons without adequate shelter. The provision of such emergency housing in City buildings is
a relatively new activity for the City and was initiated because of the loss of ICC the City of
Ashland’s emergency services provider. In 2009, the City turned over the responsibility of
initiating, staffing, and running the emergency cold weather shelters to the local churches who
previously volunteered their space and resources to that purpose. The first shelter night of the
thth
season began on December 5, and its last was on March 12. The Presbyterian Church hall
served as the primary site for shelter and was open on 21 nights.
Expanding beyond previous years severe forecast parameters, the Presbyterians committed to
opening as well every Sunday from December through February. The choice of Sunday night
was made to dovetail with the Presbyterian Church’s Monday “Bread Together” breakfast and
shower offering. This winter the shelters averaged 9 guests each night with 50 different guests.
Five different women and one child were among those served. 10 new sleeping bags good for
deep cold and as many used bags were distributed. Participating in hosting were 26 volunteers.
The City continues in its endeavors to develop transitional housing by working regionally with the
Jackson County Homeless Task Force, and locally through the Housing Commission and
providers of food and meals to homeless populations. The City of Ashland’s CDBG program
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 38
would entertain supporting an organization that offered emergency and transitional housing in
the former ICCA location or in a yet to be identified property but has not directed resources
directly for its development.
No CDBG funded actions were undertaken or completed during the 2010 program year that
specifically applied CDBG funds toward the development of emergency or transitional housing.
Goal 5: Support services for homelessness prevention and transition. Where
possible, give funding priority to services that are part of a comprehensive
approach that improves the living conditions of clients. Safety net services or
services that meet basic needs shall only be funded with CDBG dollars if it can be
demonstrated that clients receiving those benefits are part of a program that will
eventually help them obtain self-sufficiency.
Aside from the CDBG Planning and Administrative funding allocated to provide support for the
Housing Program Specialist position in general, and specifically to time spent planning and
participating in the 2010 Project Homeless Connect Event, the City funded one CDBG project
during the 2010 program year that specifically applied CDBG funds toward the support services
for homelessness prevention that focus on better maintaining self sufficiency. The City allocated
$30,000 in social service funds to support the St. Vincent De Paul Home visitation program
which provides emergency rent and utility assistance to low-income households in an effort to
avoid homelessness.
The City does allocate over $100,000 of general fund dollars each year in Social Service grants
from the City General Fund. These Social Service grant allocations are listed under the
Continuum of Care Narrative, as table 1.2.
Goal 6: To support housing and supportive services for people with special
needs. People with special needs include the elderly, the frail elderly, persons
with developmental disabilities, persons with physical disabilities, persons with
severe mental illness, persons with alcohol or other drug dependencies and
persons with HIV/AID or related illnesses.
For the 2010 program year the City funded two activities in support of this goal. The City
awarded $110,861 to Ashland Supportive Housing (AHS), a local provider of housing and other
services to special needs populations, to undertake the rehabilitation of a single family housing
unit in order to utilize it as a respite center for peoples with disabilities. The City also awarded
$27,623 in funding to The City’s Public Works department to install audible beacons on
crosswalks in the downtown area to assist the sight impaired.
The City will continue to support the development of housing and supportive services for
individual with special needs. The City allocates “Social Service Grants” out of the City’s General
Fund to address these needs. Through this City Grant Program an annual allocation of $120,342
was awarded to 20 agencies of which the majority specifically addresses supportive services for
people with special needs. This allocation was provided for FY 2010 and FY 2011 for cumulative
doubling of the award amounts listed. In total the City contributes $240,682 over a two year
period to the agencies listed in Table 1.2.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Of these awards most notably the Community Health Center was provided $35,000 annually to
provide health care services, Community Works was given a combined total annual award of
$36,120 to provide services including rape crisis counseling as well as temporary shelter for
victims of domestic violence. Additionally an annual grant of $3,000 was provided to OnTrack
Inc. to assist in the operating expenses for their drug abuse treatment programs.
The City did not use CDBG funds for these activities in the 2010 program year they are entirely
funded out of the City General Fund.
Goal 7: To provide safe and convenient access to alternative transportation
routes in extremely low-, low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
In previous years the City had made a CDBG commitment to sidewalk improvements in
moderate- and low-income neighborhoods by allocating ten percent of the total federal funding
for sidewalk improvement and new construction annually in prior years. However the Ashland
Consolidated Plan was revised to eliminate this 10% set-aside beginning with the 2002-2003
program year. This limitation on the allocation of CDBG was continued in the 2005-2009
Consolidated Plan and the 2010-2014 Consolidated plan further eliminating the potential to apply
CDBG funds to sidewalk improvements exclusively based on qualified low-income neighborhood
status.
In the 2008 program year CDBG funds in the amount of $345,000 were awarded to the Housing
Authority of Jackson County to complete public facilities improvements along Clay Street and in
program year 2009 the City awarded HAJC $165,367 to complete public facilities improvements
along two new interior streets including sidewalks, and street lighting. To this end the Housing
Authority has spent $510,367 of their combined 2008 and 2009 CDBG awards to complete those
improvements.
During the 2010-2011 program year the City of Ashland provided the Rogue Valley
Transportation District (RVTD) with $272,000.00 to underwrite the cost of public transportation by
providing reduced bus fares City wide. As the RVTD bus routes transect each of Ashland’s low
income neighborhoods (Census block groups 0018, 0019, 0020) the reduced fares benefited
extremely-low, low- and moderate-income households be lessening the cost of public
transportation. The fare reduction was a 50% reduction from fares elsewhere in the
Transportation district. This reduction meant fares in Ashland were only $1.00 verses $2.00
elsewhere in the valley. Further the City’s contribution to RVTD also reduced the fare from $4.00
to $2.00 for the Valley Lift program which provides door to door transportation for the disabled
and mobility impaired residents of Ashland. Lastly the City purchases $10,000 in bus passes to
be provided to qualified low income senior citizens and Ashland High School students. In the
2010 program year the City of Ashland Senior center distributed $9,640 in bus passes, valley lift
vouchers and multi month punch cards to qualified low income seniors and students.
The City did not utilize CDBG funds toward this goal in the 2010-2011 program year. The full
$272,000 contribution to RVTD for reduced fares was provided by the City’s General Fund.
Goal 8: To make city facilities easier and safer to use for people with disabilities.
The City committed to providing accessibility improvements to City-owned buildings through an
agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to improve access to City facilities. The City
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
Page 40
has completed all improvements outlined in the Department of Justice Agreement to be
compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and received an acknowledgement of
compliance in FY 2006 from the DOJ, thereby ensuring those identified City facilities are
accessible to people with disabilities.
As new facilities are designed and developed, or new standards for accessibility are established,
the City will ensure that the accessibility needs of Ashland’s residents are addressed. In the
2010 program year the City completed sidewalk installations and improvements on 2,665 linear
feet of sidewalk throughout the City, 2,065 of which were in qualified low-income census tracks.
Along with the sidewalk improvements the City installed or upgraded a total of 36 wheelchair
ramps throughout the City, 23 of which were in qualified low-income census tracks.
In the 2010 program year the City awarded $27,623 in CDBG funding to the Public Works
Department to make ADA improvements to crosswalks in the downtown area by installing
audible beacons.
Goal 9: To affirmatively further fair housing.
Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO)
The Fair Housing Council of Oregon has been an invaluable partner to the City of Ashland in
affirmatively furthering fair housing. During fiscal year 2010 the City of Ashland supported FHCO
in its outreach and education activities by partnering with the City of Medford to bring three fair
housing trainings to Southern Oregon. A Fair housing Basics, training was held on the Rogue
Community College Campus in Medford, Fair Housing Training for Rental owners was held at
the Southern Oregon Rental Owner’s Association office in Central Point, and a Fair Housing
Jeopardy Game training was held at the ACCESS, Inc. Olsrud Center, and hosted over 100
participants from the affordable housing field. In the spring the Cities of Medford and Ashland
partnered once again to host the Fair Housing Display in the Medford Branch of the Jackson
County Public Library and in the lobby of the City of Ashland Community Development building.
The City continues its efforts to enact the changes suggested by the updated Analysis of
Impediments to fair housing choice completed by the FHCO in 2008.
City of Ashland general funds and CDBG funds (Planning and Administration allocation) were
utilized for staff support as well. For details regarding the impediments to fair housing choice
that were identified in the AI and what steps the City has initiated to remove those impediments
please see pages 21 through 26, Section B, entitled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
Legal Services and CASA
The City of Ashland provided the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services a general fund grant in the
amount of $6,039 explicitly to provide legal assistance for low income Ashland households facing
housing discrimination or harassment.Low-income Ashland households facing housing
discrimination were able to obtain legal services through the Center for Non-Profit Legal Services
that may not otherwise be in a position to pursue legal action. During the 2010-2011 program
year the City also provided CASA with a $2,000 grant to assist them in providing minority
residents with an advocate and a resource for housing assistance. These activities attempt to
address the enforcement side of Fair Housing in addition to the educational trainings that work
preemptively to reduce discrimination before it occurs.
The City did not utilize CDBG funds toward the $8,000 in grants noted above.
City of Ashland
CDBG CAPER 2009-2010
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Goal 10: Assure activities assisted by the City are conducted in compliance with
state and federal laws that apply to lead-based paint hazards, and the information
distributed about lead-based paint is in compliance with current state and federal
laws.
Revolving Loan funds from the City’s CDBG funded Housing Rehabilitation program were not
utilized to complete repairs on residences occupied by low- to moderate- income homeowners in
the 2009 Program Year. Consequently, the City did not contribute any revolving loan funds or
other CDBG program funds for an activity addressing this goal during 2009. The City did
complete energy efficiency and weatherization upgrade to homes occupied by low- to moderate-
income homeowners utilizing CDBG-R funds. All projects undertaken were reviewed for
environmental review compliance as well as the potential for lead based paint. In all projects
with had the potential for containing lead based paint hazards pre and post testing were
conducted to insure compliance with federal and state regulations. The City will continue to
ensure that when the potential of lead based paint hazards exists on any activity funded by the
City funded all or in part by CDBG funds that any and all effected parties will be provided with
appropriate information and that proper interim measures or abatement will take place.
Goal 11: To reduce the number of people living in poverty in the City of Ashland.
The City did not use CDBG funds for a specific activity addressing this goal during the 2010
Program year. As outlined below the ALIEAP program provides financial assistance to
impoverished households and thus improves their living conditions and may function to assist
individuals in moving out of poverty.
Ashland Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (ALIEAP)
As the City of Ashland owns and operates the Electric Utility, the City is in the unique position to
assist very-low income households in meeting their energy needs, specifically during the winter
months when energy costs and use are highest.To this end the City targets assistance to Low-
income Ashland utility customers who need help to pay their heating bills over the course of each
winter.
Applicants must have an active electric utility account with the City and the Applicant’s household
income may not exceed 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Over the course of the CDBG
program year (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011) the City of Ashland provided $91,947.62 in direct
assistance to a total of 442 extremely-low or low-income households, seniors and peoples with
disabilities to assist with electric utility bills. The City provided $28,380.53 to assist 275
extremely-low or low-income households with heating assistance. The City of Ashland also
provided a senior discount totaling $27,005.22 to 45 residents and Disabled Discounts to 122
residents totaling $26,561.87.
Goal 12: Promote and support activities in the community that improve or
provide access to economic opportunities for extremely low- and low-income
residents of Ashland.
Although no CDBG funds were directed to address this goal, the City of Ashland granted
numerous Economic Development Grants during the 2010 CDBG program year. Twenty different
organizations received awards, however the majority were granted to organizations supporting
the arts (Ballet, theater, singers, etc.).
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Home Occupations
Ashland also recognizes the increasing opportunities for low income residents to participate in
home businesses, either as a proprietor of services, manufacturer of goods, or through
employment at such small home occupations. Between July 1 2009 and June 30, 2010 the City
issued 78 Home Occupation permits for new businesses within residences. Home Occupation
Permits allow incubator businesses, home based services, and internet based businesses and
other such small, residentially compatible, business opportunities for Ashland residents. Given
the ability to work out of ones home, expenses typically required for securing commercial
property are eliminated. No data is collected on the incomes of applicants for Home Occupation
Permits so it can not be determined how effective this is at providing opportunities for low- or
extremely-low income households.
Goal 13: Remain aware of the barriers to affordable housing in Ashland, and
where it is within the City’s ability; take steps to overcome such barriers.
Education and Outreach is a significant role of the Housing Commission and such activities often
have the benefit of not just disseminating information, but collecting information as well. Such a
dialogue within the City facilitates an awareness of the barriers to affordable housing and
highlights mechanisms available to address such barriers. A coordinated effort between the
Housing Commission, the Planning Commission, and the City Council took place September
2008 to discuss barriers to affordable housing and what steps can be taken to overcome such
barriers and promote the development of affordable and multi-family housing within the City.
Several viable ideas came out of that joint meeting and are being explored by the City.In
program year 2008 the City also reviewed and completed the Questionnaire for HUD’s Initiative
on Removal of Regulatory Barriers. The Housing Commission will continue to implement the
actions outlined in the adopted Affordable Housing Action Plan,
http://www.ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=1350specifically; identification of funding methods
to support the Trust Fund is a primary goal of the City for the 2010 fiscal year.
No new activities were initiated in the 2010-2011 program year to address this goal and no
CDBG public service or CIP funds were expended on related activities. However, the City is
planning on undertaking an update of the Housing Needs Analysis to inform the City of current
housing needs and provide for future planning. This undertaking will take place in the 2011
Program year and will be funded out of the City’s Housing program budget. The Housing
Commission will participate in this process. Administrative CDBG funds have contributed to the
support of activities that address the development of affordable housing units funded in whole or
in part with CDBG awards.
The City General Fund has provided the funding for addressing the Council goals of establishing
a Housing Trust Fund. Further the Land Use modifications that assist in the removal of barriers
to affordable housing will be undertaken utilizing Staff funded through the City General Fund.
Goal 14: To provide institutional structure and intergovernmental cooperation.
The City of Ashland employs a Housing Program Specialist, which assists in providing
institutional structure as well as examining and implementing opportunities for intergovernmental
cooperation. City of Ashland Staff continues to provide staff support to the City of Ashland
Housing Commission. Together the City of Ashland’s Housing Commission and the Housing
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Program Specialist monitor the accomplishments of the City’s housing programs, make
recommendations to the City Council on housing policy and serves as an advocate for affordable
housing in the City’s political process. The Commission also provides coordination and
continuity to programs to meet housing and community development needs. The Ashland
Housing Commission oversees specific affordable housing projects undertaken by the City in
partnership with private groups. The Commission promotes cooperation between local non-profit
organizations, private interests and governmental agencies for projects in Ashland to insure that
the resources are used as efficiently as possible and that there is not duplication of efforts.
The Housing Commission has included in their regular meetings a regular update from all
affordable housing projects that are underway within the City. This allows affordable housing
providers an opportunity to express to the commission progress on or obstacles to their
developments. This communication will function to assist in educating the Commission as well
as provide a further opportunity for cooperation between the City and organizations working to
address our housing goals.
The Housing Program Specialist sits on the Board of the Southern Oregon Housing Resource
Center to assist in regional coordination of that organization’s efforts. Ashland continues to work
with the Jackson County Housing Coalition, and the Jackson County Continuum of Care
Homeless Task force to address affordable housing and homeless issues on a regional level.
For the 2010 Program Year the city utilized $44,909 in Federal CDBG funds for administration of
the CDBG Program. Administration of the CDBG program includes staff support of programs
and projects that further the goals outlined in the Consolidated Plan, provision of technical
assistance, and the monitoring of the activities of sub-recipients. City of Ashland general funds
are also utilized to contribute toward CDBG program administration as well as staff support of
non-profit organizations and intergovernmental cooperation.
Changes in Program Objectives
There were no changes in program objectives in 2010.
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