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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2015-014 RESOLUTION NO. 2015-014 A RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING AREAS ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION IN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AS REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 373, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE; DESCRIBING AND ADOPTING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INCLUDING ACTIVITIES WHICH SHALL BE INITIALLY UNDERTAKEN TO BE KNOWN AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS TO HOMEOWNERS, HOMEBUYERS, CONTRACTORS AND REALTORS; AND LIMITING EXPENDITURES TO BUDGETED AMOUNTS. WHEREAS, Chapter 373, Texas Local Government Code provides for establishment of community development programs by municipalities in order to promote the public purposes set out therein, including the development of viable urban communities; and, WHEREAS, Section 373.006, Texas Local Government Code requires the adoption by ordinance or resolution of a plan under which citizens may publicly comment on any such community development program; and, WHEREAS, such public comments were received on April 27, 2015; and, WHEREAS, Chapter 380, Texas Local Government Code provides for establishment of economic development programs by municipalities in order to promote the public purposes set out therein; and, WHEREAS, Section 380.001, Texas Local Government Code authorizes the governing body of a municipality to establish and provide for the administration of one or more economic development programs including programs for making loans and grants of public money to promote local economic development; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS: Section 1: A community development program as herein described is hereby adopted. Section 2: Such community development program shall be directed toward improving and increasing the value of residential structures and promoting home ownership within an area South and/or West of Loop 820, East of Rufe Snow Drive, and North of Glenview Drive as depicted on Exhibit A hereto which is an area in which predominately low and moderate income persons reside with the goals of improving living and economic conditions as authorized by Section 373.004, Texas Local Government Code. Resolution No.2015-014 Page 1 of 7 1 Section 3: The activities to be conducted under the program shall be directed toward achieving the purposes set forth by Section 373.002, Texas Local Government Code including but not limited to: (1) Prevention of blighting influences and of the deterioration of property and neighborhood and community facilities important to the welfare of the community; (2) Elimination of conditions detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare; (3) Reduction of the isolation of income groups in communities and geographical areas, promotion of increased diversity and vitality of neighborhoods through spatial deconcentration of housing opportunities for persons of low and moderate income, and revitalization of deteriorating or deteriorated neighborhoods to attract persons of higher income; and (4) Alleviation of physical and economic distress through the stimulation of private investment and community revitalization in eligible areas. Section 4: The program may include the following activities: (1) Acquisition of real property, including air rights, water rights, and other interests in real property, that: (a) Is blighted, deteriorated, deteriorating, undeveloped, or inappropriately developed from the standpoint of sound community development and growth; (b) Is appropriate for rehabilitation or conservation activities; (c) Is appropriate for the preservation or restoration of historic sites, the beautification of urban land, or the conservation of open spaces, natural resources, and scenic areas; (d) Is appropriate for the provision of recreational opportunities or the guidance of urban development; or (e) Is to be used for the provision of public works, facilities, or 1 other improvements eligible for assistance under this chapter or is to be used for other public purposes. (2) Municipal code enforcement in a deteriorated or deteriorating area in which enforcement, combined with public improvements and public services, may stop the decline of the area; (3) Clearance, demolition, removal, and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements; (4) Rehabilitation of privately owned properties; (5) Disposition, by sale, lease, donation, or otherwise, of real property acquired under this program; (6) Relocation payments and assistance for individuals, families, businesses, organizations, and farm operations if determined by the municipality to be appropriate; Resolution No.2015-014 11 Page 2 of 7 (7) Activities that are conducted by public or private entities if the activities are necessary or appropriate to meet the needs and objectives of the community development plan, including acquisition rehabilitation and site improvements which will increase taxable value and sale to owner occupants; (8) Grants to community economic development projects, including projects which will increase value of homes and provide for home ownership; (9) Provision of assistance to private, for-profit entities if the assistance is necessary or appropriate to carry out an economic development project such as increasing the value of homes and of taxable values within the targeted area; (10) Activities necessary to develop a comprehensive community development plan and to develop a policy-planning-management capacity in order that recipients of assistance under this chapter may more rationally and effectively determine their needs, set long- term goals and short-term objectives, devise programs and activities to meet those goals and objectives, evaluate the progress of the programs, and carry out management, coordination, and monitoring of activities necessary for effective implementation of the programs; and (11) Payment of reasonable administrative costs and carrying charges related to the planning and execution of community development and housing activities, including the provision of information and resources to residents of areas in which community development and housing activities are to be concentrated with respect to the planning and execution of those activities. Section 5: Program Overview. The specific activities which shall be initially undertaken will be known as the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) and is described as follows: (1) The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) is intended to revitalize neighborhoods by renovating single-family owner- occupied homes in the area described in Section 1. By renovating homes, the program will not only boost property values in these neighborhoods, but also provide interested single-family home buyers the opportunity to purchase an updated and safe home that they can be proud to own at a reasonable price. This program aims to give such neighborhoods a "facelift" while continuing to attract responsible citizens. (2) This program will provide a twenty percent (20%) grant of up to $10,000 for the completion of well-designed home renovations that make a home more aesthetically pleasing and inspire the continued community growth of the neighborhoods in the program's initial target zone. Resolution No.2015-014 Page 3 of 7 � 1I 1 (3) Contractors renovating homes, residents who currently own homes and those looking to purchase homes to live in themselves qualify for the incentive threshold within the program. Plans for a home's renovation will be submitted to and approved by the City of North Richland Hills. A home's renovation plan may not be altered without full and written consent from the City. Deviations from the approved renovation plan may result in a participant not receiving an incentive grant. (4) Both contractors and homeowners should make a conscious effort to source materials and services from vendors and service providers within the City of North Richland Hills. If materials or services are available at a lower cost in another city, those vendors or service providers may be utilized in turn. (5) NRP is not designed to subsidize corrections of building code violations that prolong the life of a substandard home. All NRP project renovation plans should strive toward the increase of a home's market value with the guidance of a licensed residential real estate professional and licensed appraiser. (6) NRP has been funded by non-operational funds dedicated to economic and residential development by the North Richland Hills City Council beginning in the 2014-2015 fiscal year. This program is administered by personnel from the City Manager's Office. Section 6: Eligibility. To be eligible for consideration for participation in the program, the following minimum requirements must be met: (1) All participants: (a) Home to be renovated must lie in target zone described in Section 2. (b) Renovations must increase the value of the home and may not be only cosmetic/decor related. (c) North Richland Hills Building permits must be obtained before work commences. (d) Completed home after proposed renovations must meet at City of North Richland Hills residential building codes. (e) Renovations must result in at least a forty percent (40%) increase in value. (f) Final home values must exceed $120,000. (g) Employment of Undocumented Workers. All applications and any Agreements hereunder shall contain the following provision: During the term of this Agreement, the Grantee agrees not to knowingly employ any undocumented workers as defined in Tex. Govt. Code Sec. 2264.001. If convicted of a violation under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(f), the Grantee shall repay the amount of the Grant and any other funds received by the Grantee from the City as of the date of such violation Resolution No.2015-014 Page 4 of 7 not later than 120 days after the date the Company is notified by the City of a violation of this section, plus interest from the date the Grant was paid to the Company, at the rate periodically announced by the Wall Street Journal as the prime or base commercial lending rate, or if the Wall Street Journal shall ever cease to exist or cease to announce a prime or base lending rate, then at the annual rate of interest from time to time announced by Citibank, N.A. (or by any other New York money center bank selected by the City) as its prime or base commercial lending rate. The payment of interest shall be as if it had been accruing from the date the Grants were paid to the Company until the date the Grants are repaid to the City. (2) For Applicants other than homeowner occupants: (a) Must use contractors licensed to perform work in the state of Texas and the City of North Richland Hills. (b) Must agree to sell home to owner-occupant, not investor- owner, by an instrument restricting such ownership for a period of five (5) years. (c) Must agree to not to rent home at any point before sale to owner-occupant. (d) Must agree that payment under this program will not be made until the property is sold and it meets the requirement for a forty percent (40%) increase in value over the purchase price paid by the Applicant. Such purchase price shall be established by title company closing documents submitted with the application. Such sale price shall be documented by title company closing documents. (3) For Homeowner Occupant applicant: (a) Homeowner occupant applicant must be current on all property taxes. (b) The initial home value according to most recent TAD appraisal may not exceed $120,000. (c) Applicant must hire a licensed residential real estate appraiser to conduct an as if completed appraisal before the start of construction. The applicant is responsible for this cost. Unless such appraisal determines that the completed work will increase the value of the property by at least forty percent (40%) of the TAD value, the application will be denied. (d) Applicant shall agree to a recordable mechanic's lien instrument providing for repayment of the incentive payment plus four percent (4%) interest and attorney fees if the home is rented or sold to an investor for five (5) years following Resolution No.2015-014 Page 5 of 7 receipt of incentive payment. Section 7: Procedure. (1) For Contractors: (a) Contractor finds home to be renovated. (b) Contractor submits application with plans for renovation. (c) Application approved or denied. (d) Contractor purchases home. (e) Contractor renovates home according to submitted plan. (f) Contractor lists and sells home to owner-occupant with use deed restriction. (g) Contractor submits closing documents of resale as proof of final sale price. (h) If application was approved, City pays incentive upon confirmation of final sale value. (2) For Homeowner occupant: (a) Homeowner determines what will be renovated. (b) Homeowner submits application with plans for renovation. (c) City approves or denies application. (d) Homeowner hires licensed residential real estate appraiser to conduct appraisal as if proposed renovations completed. (e) If City approved the application and appraisal confirms forty percent (40%) value increase and at least $120,000 value, homeowner signs mechanic's lien instrument and hires contractor to complete renovation. (f) Renovations completed. (g) Licensed real estate appraiser confirms completion of all required elements of as if completed appraisal, verifies final home appraisal value. (h) City pays incentive upon confirmation of newly appraised value meeting requirements and proof of payment of contractor doing the work. If desired, the payment may be made to such contractor. Section 8: Realtor Incentive (1) Realtors are eligible for incentive payments for the sale of homes within the target area identified in Section 2 hereof. (2) Each home sale for which an incentive payment is available must be to one of the following: a. Homeowner for at least $120,000 or b. An investor who qualifies and participates in the Home Remodeling Grant Program. Resolution No.2015-014 Page 6 of 7 4 (3) The incentive payment shall be $500.00 for each home sold on a first come, first approved basis. Total funding for the Realtor Incentive program for the 2015 annual City budget year is $10,000.00 for 20 home sales. Once funding is exhausted, the realtor incentive program is over unless and until the program is evaluated and funded for the next budget year. (4) Procedure a. Realtor will apply for program before home is sold in target area. b. Realtor sells home that meets eligibility requirements of (b) hereof and provides proof of sale, supplying closing documents and evidence of eligibility. c. Staff reviews and approves Request for Incentive Form and evidence of eligibility. Section 9: Limitation on Incentive Payments. The City has budgeted a limited amount of money for this Program and will not be able to fund applications beyond the budgeted amounts. Applications which would require the payment of more money than budgeted after funding previously approved applications will be denied. PASSED AND APPROVED this 18th day of May, 2015. CITY •F/ OR Ham, ► - ILLS By: ./v A otol CH w,��'`��� Oscar Trevino, Mayor ATTEST: `\�o�,j,R.. . .,.�y Alicia Richardson, City Secre h .•°' APP' ,, / S TO F•RM AND LA'LY: &Air //,/ George A. Stapl , City Attorney APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: Asi=4°14P ristin James, Assistant to the City Manager Resolution No.2015-014 Page 7 of 7