Title
Authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to accept grant funds from Living Cities and to amend the financing and spending plan, in the amount of $400,000, to support homeownership strategies.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is a member of Living Cities Closing the Gaps Network, which unites leaders across the country that are committed to imagining what an antiracist society might look like, and to playing an important role in building it through transforming government policies, practices and operations; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul was one of six cities awarded a grant by Living Cities to participate in their Year of Reckoning cohort, a deep, year-long experience that will build on the work already underway in our city including competency building for staff to apply a racial equity analysis to all the city's work; and
WHEREAS, the City acknowledges Living Cities Homeownership Grants are intended to fund projects or project components that support homeownership through focusing on policy and practices that focus on closing wealth gaps through housing; and
WHEREAS, the City will work to focus on homeownership and improving affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to adequately manage a Living Cities grant; and
WHEREAS, there is no match required of these funds by the City or other supporting agencies of the program; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the Planning and Economic Development Department to apply for $167,000 from Living Cities as outlined in RES PH 22-331; and
WHEREAS, the City was awarded a $400,000 grant from Living Cities to support homeownership strategies; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the City Charter and by receipt of the Grant, certifies that there is available for appropriation funds of $400,000 in excess of those dedicated to the Planning and Economic Development Department in 2023; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council of Saint Paul does hereby:
1. Authorize the Planning and Economic Development Department to accept the Grant from Living Cities in the amount of $400,000 to support homeownership strategies.
2. Adopt, upon recommendation of the Mayor, that $400,000 is available for appropriation to the Planning and Economic Development Department, as specified in the attached financial analysis form.
3. Approve the grant agreement between Living Cities and the City of Saint Paul.