SR-05-13-1980-11C1
MAY 1 3 1980
Santa Monica, California, May 2, 1980
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Fair Housing Counseling and Information Service
ntroduction
This report transmits copies of proposals received from Westside Fair Housing
Council and People's Housing Initiative for the provision to Santa Monica
residents of a CDBG- funded Fair Housing Counseling and Information Service.
Also attached is a comparative analysis of these proposals. Additionally, the
staff report includes the Housing Commission recommendation, and notes factors
to be considered in exploring the possibility of providing this service within
City Hall..
Background '
Until July 1, 1979, the Westside Fair Housing Council (WFHC) handled the bulk of
the housing discrimination complaints arising in Santa Monica. At that time,
the City of Los Angeles advised WFHC that their funds were no longer to be used
to support this service to residents outside the City of Los Angeles.
Effective January 1, 1980, Santa Monica entered into a contract with WFHC for the
provision of the Fair Housing Counseling and Information Service to Santa Monica
residents. This contract, funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funds, is of six -month duration and written monthly reports have been submitted
to both the City Council and the Housing Commission. The WFHC is located in West
Los Angeles, and City Council and the Housing Commission have expressed an interest
in having this service provided within the City of Santa Monica. CDBG funds in the
amount of $50,000 have been allocated by Council for this service in FY 1980 -81.
i
MAY 1 3 1980
MAY 1 3 1980
Santa Monica, California, May 2, 1980
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Fair Housing Counseling and Information Service
Introduction
This report transmits copies of proposals received from Westside Fair Housing
Council and People's Housing Initiative for the provision to Santa Monica
residents of a CDBG- funded Fair Housing Counseling and Information Service.
Also attached is a comparative analysis of these proposals. Additionally, the
staff report includes the Housing Commission recommendation, and notes factors
to be considered in exploring the possibility of providing this service within
City Hall.
Background
Until July 1, 1979, the Westside Fair Housing Council (WFHC) handled the bulk of
the housing discrimination complaints arising in Santa Monica. At that time,
the City of Los Angeles advised WFHC that their funds were no longer to be used
to support this service to residents outside the City of Los Angeles.
Effective January 1, 1980, Santa Monica entered into a contract with WFHC for the
provision of the Fair Housing Counseling and Information Service to Santa Monica
residents. This contract, funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funds, is of six-month duration and written monthly reports have been submitted
to both the City Council and the Housing Commission. The WFHC is located in West
Los Angeles, and City Council and the Housing Commission have expressed an interest
in having this service provided within the City of Santa Monica. CDBG funds in the
amount of $50,000 have been allocated by Council for this service in FY 1980 -81.
I
MAY 1 3 1980
Mayor and City Council -2- May 2, 1980
Discussion
City staff has contacted a number of agencies by telephone, followed by a letter
(see copy attached), regarding the provision of a fair housing service. The
agencies which received this letter are: Family Service of Santa Monica, Fair
Housing for Children Coalition, Santa Monica Legal Aid, Santa Monica Fair Housing
Alliance (includes Santa Monicans for Renters Rights), Ocean Park Community Center,
Venice Legal Aid, Communitas, Tenant Action Center and Westside Fair Housing Council.
Of these, all but Family Service expressed a definite interest in providing a fair
housing service to Santa Monica. The only proposals received, however, were from
Westside Fair Housing Council and the People's Housing Initiative (submitted by
principals of the Tenant Action Center). Copies of these proposals and a comparative
analysis of some of the major elements of their respective programs are attached.
In addition to the solicitation of outside agencies for the provision of the fair
housing service, the alternative of developing the capacity within City Hall has
been explored. A possible budget has been developed by staff and a copy is attached.
The City's Personnel Division would develop the appropriate job classifications and
descriptions. The usual procedures of advertising, testing, interviews and selection
of personnel could then follow.
The provision of a fair housing service requires a network of checkers, investigators
and conciliators as backup to the core program. The City structure does not currently
include a mechanism for utilization of volunteer staff; and since checkers, etc.,
are used only on an as- needed basis, this element of the program would have to be
developed and sanctioned by the Council.
Mayor and City Council -3- May 2, 1980
The tentative budget for this service includes a part -time attorney. The
assumption being that the City Attorney's Office would provide this legal resource.
The City Attorney's Office is in transition. It is questionable whether the
present attorneys could absorb any additional workload; therefore, provision of
legal support to the fair housing service would necessitate hiring an additional
attorney whose salary would be paid 50% from CDBG funds and 50% from City funds.
Office space for the initiation of a fair housing service within City Hall is a
problem. The expansion of the third floor has been authorized by City Council,
as well as the rental of a trailer to be used as a temporary meeting room. These
actions were taken in an attempt to alleviate the space problems that currently
exist in City Hall.
The three offices in City Hall in which the inclusion of this service may be
appropriate are the City Attorney's Office, Rent Control, and the Department of
Environmental Services. In each of these, clerical staff is working at maximum
and the addition of a new program would necessitate the hiring of an additional
clerical employee. Again, if this employee's salary were to be 50% CDBG- funded,
the other 50% would have to be appropriated from City funds.
The foregoing data was presented to the City's Housing Commission. On April 24,
1980, following oral presentations of the two proposals and discussion, the
Commission voted three -to -two in favor of recommending that the City Council select
the People's Housing Initiative to provide Santa Monica's fair housing service. The
Commission added the conditions that the office of the new agency be located in
Santa Monica, and that their quarterly reports be submitted for review by the
Housing Commission as well as City Council.
Mayor and City Council -4- May 2, 1980
Alternatives
1. Council may elect not to continue providing the Fair Housing Counseling
and Information Service to the residents of Santa Monica, in which case
the $50,000 in CDBG funds set aside for this purpose would be
reprogrammed.
2. Council may choose to bring this service in- house, designate a City
department to provide it, and direct the City Manager to commence the
process described above.
3. Council may select the People's Housing Initiative to provide the fair
housing service.
4. Council may select the Westside Fair Housing Council to continue
providing the fair housing service.
Recommendation
City staff recommends that City Council approve Alternative No. 4, and authorize
the City Manager to execute a one -year contract to commence July 1, 1980, with
the Westside Fair Housing Council.
Prepared by: Charles Kent McClain
John Hemer
Nancy McFarland
CKM:JH:NM:mh
Attachments
Councilmember Reed moved to bring Agenda Item 11-C forward for discussion
'It tiffs time anc allow the public to speak for three minutes with the
exception of the official representative from the Westside Fair housing
Council and the Public Housing Initiative who will be allowed to speak
for five minutes each. Second by Councilmember Rhoden. The motion was
approved by the following vote:
Council Vote: Unanimously approved 7 -0
Agenda Item 11 -C: Presented for consideration at this time was a-
recoimnendation regarding provision of Santa Monica Fair Housing Service.
The staff report was presented. Schelly. Jensen, representing the
Westside Fair Housing Council addressed the Council and presented his
proposal. Philip J. Brimble, representing the Public Housing Initiative
addressed the Council and withdrew his proposal. Councilmember Scott
moved to close public discussion. Second by Councilmember Ree . The
motion failed by the following vote
Council Vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Reed and Scott
Negative: Councilmembers Yannatta Goldway,
Jennings, Rhoden, van den Steenhoven
and Mayor Bambrick
?favor Pro Tempore Yannatta Goldway moved to allow Mr. Brimble to continue
spe aping. Secon y Council memt�RTioden. This motion was approved by
the following vote:
Council Vote: Affirmative: Councilmembers Yannatta Goldway,
Jennings, Rhoden, van den Steenhoven
and Mayor Bambrick
Negative: Councilmembers Reed and Scott
The following persons then spoke in favor of the Westside Fair Housing
Council:- Thomas flies, Floyd Grant, Jim Harrington, Renee Harrington,
Blanche Rosloff, Dewey McNeal, Anne Froehlich, David fggenschwiler and
Dora Ashford.
Councilmember Scott moved to approve the staff recommendation and award
Contract No. 3432 CCS to the Westside Fair Housing Council. Second
by Councilmember Reed. Discussion by Council followed. The motion was
approved by the Following Vote:
Council Vote: Unanimously approved 7 -0
CITY COUNCIL MEETING - May 13, 1980