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BACKGROUND The State of California, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) issued a Notice of Funding Availability dated October 26, 2015 (NOFA), under its Housing-Related Parks (HRP) Program. The HRP Program provides grant funds to cities and counties for documented housing starts of newly constructed, substantially rehabilitated converted or preserved rental and ownership housing units with affordability restrictions for low and very low income households. Funds awarded may be used for park and recreation facility improvements within the applicant's jurisdiction. The HRP Program was funded through the State Proposition 1C (Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006) and will provide a total of $30 million during the current Designated Program Year 2015 in financial incentives to communities as a means of rewarding jurisdictions that create new affordable housing opportunities. Funds are awarded on a non-competitive basis to jurisdictions based on the number of housing starts produced during the period of January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015 and the ability of the jurisdiction to meet the minimum threshold requirement for funding of$75,000. DISCUSSION HRP grant funds are awarded per bedroom for all affordable units permitted during the project period. The funding award amount is based on levels of affordability restriction (50% or 80% of Area Median Income) and other bonus criteria such as infill project status and location within a lower income census tract and/or park deficient neighborhood. The City has entered into several Affordable Housing Agreements with developers over the past few years for projects which meet the qualifications of the program, including: The Vines development (ownership), Anton Hacienda apartments, Essex Properties' Owens and Hacienda apartments (BRE 1 & 2) and Pleasanton Gateway (Township Square) apartments, which have produced a total of 144 affordable units. Projects must document an affordability restriction in place for a minimum of 55 years for rental and 20 years for ownership housing. Staff recommends future upgrades to Kottinger Village Park as the proposed park project to be included in the application due to its proximity to the future Kottinger Gardens project and potential for enhancements to support the expansion of those residences and benefit the surrounding neighborhood. While some improvements were recently completed there, tree replanting, pedestrian/access path improvements related to the project and other water conservation measures and landscaping improvements will be needed. If funds are awarded, staff will develop a scope of improvements for the park for approval at a future City Council meeting. Staff recommends approval of a funding application as described in this report. Award announcements will be made by HCD no later than June 30, 2016. Page 2 of 3