Planning, Economic Development and Land Use Committee

This meeting is being held in accordance to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order and other Federal and State Orders that impact in- person attendance at public meetings, if applicable orders expire or are revoked before April 7, 2021, this will be an in-person meeting in City Hall, please check our website and Facebook for updates. Please submit your public comment via email or on our website by April 7, 2021 12pm. These comments will be shared with members and/ or read for the record at the meeting. The meeting will be held using Zoom and streamed through the Albany Common Council’s Facebook. To stream this video please visit: https://www.facebook.com/albany.commoncouncil. If we experience any technical difficulties on Facebook, the video will be streamed to YouTube. COMMON COUNCIL JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Judy Doesschate, Chair and ALBANY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (ACDA) DATE: Thursday, APRIL 7, 2021 TIME: 5:30PM TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE CITY OF ALBANY HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND ALBANY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (ADCA) IS SCHEDULED TO ANNOUNCE THE YEAR 47 CDBG/HOME/ESG PRELIMINARY AWARDS AND CONSIDER ANY APPEALS. APPLICANTS MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN APPEALS UNTIL NOON ON APRIL 7, 2021. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20.22.21R (MC) (As Amended) RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MAYOR TO ACT AS OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY TO SUBMIT ANNUALLY TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE “ANNUAL ACTION PLAN”, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM RESOLUTION NUMBER 32.41.21R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALBANY CALLING ON THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ALBANY AND OUR COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT MORE INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND GRANTS FOR HOMEOWNER MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Yes Council Member Doesschate, on behalf of the Housing and Community Development Committee, introduced the following: Resolution Number 20.22.21R (MC) (As Amended) RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MAYOR TO ACT AS OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY TO SUBMIT ANNUALLY TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE “ANNUAL ACTION PLAN”, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States established the Community Development Block Grant Program; and WHEREAS, the Albany Community Development Agency has prepared the Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program Year 47 in accord with a public hearing held on April 7, 2021 and other meetings of the Common Council; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Sec. 570.303 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a grantee of a Community Development Block Grant must certify that its governing body has duly adopted a resolution authorizing a person to act as its official representative to submit the Action Plan, amendments thereto, and all understandings and assurances thereto, and authorizing the persons identified as the official representative of the grantee to act in connection with the submission of the Action Plan and to provide such additional information as may be required; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to act as the City of Albany’s official representative for the purpose of submitting the said Action Plan and all necessary understandings, assurances and amendments thereto; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby adopts the Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program Year 47 as prepared by the Albany Community Development Agency, together with and including all understandings and assurances required thereby. To: Danielle Gillespie, City Clerk From: Brett Williams, Esq., Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel Re: Request for Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum Date: February 10, 2020 Sponsor: Doesschate, on behalf of the Housing and Community Development Committee RESOLUTION NUMBER 20.22.21R (MC) TITLE RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MAYOR TO ACT AS OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF ALBANY TO SUBMIT ANNUALLY TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE “ANNUAL ACTION PLAN”, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION Allows the City, through the Mayor, to submit requests for the release of funds to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW: This is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Requirement. FISCAL IMPACT(S) Helps release funding for upcoming program year. Council Member Love introduced the following: RESOLUTION NUMBER 32.41.21R A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALBANY CALLING ON THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ALBANY AND OUR COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT MORE INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND GRANTS FOR HOMEOWNER MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE WHEREAS, in the early 20th century, Albany's downtown areas (Arbor Hill, South End, Livingston Ave) were redlined by banks – a process by which banks would decline to issue mortgages for purchases of homes (See 1938 Home Owners Loan Corporation map); and WHEREAS, on November 2, 2017, the Republican Congress introduced the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was subsequently signed into law in December 2017; and WHEREAS, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 introduced the concept of “Opportunity Zones.” Opportunity Zones are federal economic development tools focused on improving the outcomes of communities across the country, especially in areas that have suffered from disinvestment over many years. Opportunity Zones are designated low-income census tracts where tax incentives are available to groups or individuals who invest in an Opportunity Fund (i.e., an investment vehicle for injecting money in an Opportunity Zone) and hold their capital gains in Opportunity Zone-related assets or property; and WHEREAS, these “Zones” are the same or very similar areas that were redlined in our country’s history; and WHEREAS, Opportunity Zones have exacerbated gentrification around the country and displaced black and brown working-class people from their homes and only benefits investors and not the people living in these underserved neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, a majority of funding by both Federal and State grants are for affordable rental housing and provide a much smaller percentage, if any at all, towards affordable homeownership; and WHEREAS, homeownership allows for many opportunities especially for black, brown, and people of color to create generational wealth and can minimize, if not prevent, the impacts of gentrification; and WHEREAS, the County has created the Albany County Land Bank Corporation. However, the renovations required for fixing homes available through the Land Bank are out of reach for many families; and WHEREAS, many homeowners need assistance with the maintenance of their homes and the cost of renovations in Albany are typically higher due to costs associated with living in a historic city; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Albany calls on the Mayor, our County, State, and Federal partners to implement more incentives for affordable homeownership and grants for homeowner maintenance assistance; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the County Executive and Chairman of the County Legislature as well as our State and Federal representatives. To: Danielle Gillespie, City Clerk From: John-Raphael Pichardo, Esq., Research Counsel Re: Common Council Legislation Supporting Memorandum Date: March 22, 2021 Sponsor(s) Council Member Love RESOLUTION NUMBER 32.41.21R TITLE A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALBANY CALLING ON THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ALBANY AND OUR COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT MORE INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND GRANTS FOR HOMEOWNER MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION Calling on the Mayor and our partners at the county, state, and federal levels to implement more incentives for affordable homeownership and grants for homeowner maintenance assistance. FISCAL IMPACT(S) None.