September 30, 2008 - Governor Signs Caballero Housing-Parks Reward Bill
AB 2494 Sets Guidelines to Distribute $200 million in Bond Funds
for Affordable Housing-Related Parks
SACRAMENTO – Cities and counties that build affordable housing will be rewarded with bond funds for a park, under the terms of a bill by Assembly Member Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) signed today by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Assembly Bill 2494 sets up the Housing-Related Parks Program under Proposition 1C, that establishes guidelines to allocate $200 million in park bond funds from the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act, passed by the voters in 2006. The program would reward cities and counties that build affordable housing units by distributing bond funds for creating, developing, or rehabilitating park or recreation facilities.
“This bill means that more affordable housing will be built, because there are now incentives to build it,” said Christine Minnehan, a housing expert with the Western Center on Law and Poverty. “It represents a major policy shift in the way the state relates to local agencies.
“It’s a visionary approach, and Assembly Member Caballero is to be commended for pushing this idea forward.”
“Many communities take very seriously their obligation to build affordable housing units,” said Caballero. “This bill creates a reward system to recognize those communities and provide much-needed open space and recreational opportunities for families and their children.
“I’m hoping that some cities that have said ‘no’ to affordable housing, will begin to say ‘yes’ when they realize that they will be eligible for park funding.”
AB 2494 was carefully crafted to award bonus funds for cities and counties that have met or exceeded housing production thresholds required by state law; that build units for extremely low income families; meet the definition of a park deficient community or if the facility will serve a disadvantaged community; or if the housing is infill housing or developed pursuant to a general plan consistent with a regional blueprint.
Cities and counties that can demonstrate housing starts that meet base grant criteria will
automatically be awarded grant funds under AB 2494. Actual park funding will be appropriated
next year, and will be available in 2010.
“This is all about creating incentives for cities and counties to do ‘the right thing,’” said Caballero. “If they do, they can be assured that they will receive money for parks.
“This will be good for all cities that build affordable housing, but I know it will benefit the hard working cities in my district.”
AB 2494 was broadly supported by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Affordable Homes Collaborative, AFSCME, the California Redevelopment Association, CALCOG, the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, the Council of Fresno County Governments, the League of California Cities, Western Center on Law & Poverty, the California Council of Land Trusts, the Trust for Public Land, California ReLeaf, and the cities of Coalinga, Orange Cove, Parlier, Salinas, and Wasco.
