City Hall Scoop

Without further “ADU”… we need your thoughts about accessory dwelling units on historic properties and in historic districts!

We need to hear your ideas!

While state law severely limits the local discretion cities can have in the approval of ADUs, one tool available to communities like South Pasadena is the development of objective design standards and guidelines for ADUs on historic properties and in historic districts. The City has received a grant from the State of California Office of Historic Preservation to develop such standards and guidelines, and a critical part of the project is to seek input from the community on what these standards should include.

Take the survey!

With that in mind, we’ve developed a brief online survey so that you can share your thoughts on how to ensure that new ADUs are compatible with historic homes and neighborhoods.

To take the survey, simply go to this link:

https://www.southpasadenaca.gov/government/departments/planning-and-building

Please complete the survey by April 1, 2021.

No Computer?

If you would prefer to fill out the survey by hand, we would be happy to mail it to you so you can fill it out, mail it, or drop it off at the City of South Pasadena, Police Department, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030.  Please call (626) 403-7220 and request a survey.

3/18/21

The event can be found at https://sd25.senate.ca.gov/.

3/18/21

Reminder! Proof of citizenship is NOT required for COVID-19 Vaccinations, only proof of eligibility.

3/18/21

As the state moves quickly to launch its CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program, we wanted to provide some guidance on how to direct callers. We would like to point them to resources available to California consumers for COVID-19 eviction protection and rental assistance. Please note, these resources listed below are overseen by multiple departments and contracted vendors.

CA COVID-19 Rent Relief
For callers with questions regarding rental assistance, please refer them to the following locations:

1. Housing is Key Website (HousingIsKey.com)
   This website is the main portal for landlords and tenants to get information on COVID-19 rental assistance and eviction protections. The application to apply for rental relief will be here. Have callers click on the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief button for more information and to take an eligibility quiz to apply.
   
2. CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center (833)-430-2122
   Hours of Operation:
   • Monday through Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
   Types of calls that should be referred to this line:
   • Calls about state’s rental assistance program.
   • Calls about eligibility requirements.
   • Calls about needing help with the application.
   • Calls asking about a local partner or organization in their area for help.
   
   Eviction Protection Resources
   1. Housing is Key Website (HousingIsKey.com)
   This website is the main portal for landlords and tenants to get information on COVID-19 rental assistance and eviction protections. The forms/declarations they need can be downloaded here.
   • Users who have question(s) about rental assistance and/or eviction protections should send them via email to: housing@bcsh.ca.gov
   2. Housing is Key Telephone Assistance Line (833) 422-4255
   Hours of Operation:
   • Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
   • Saturday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
   Types of calls that should be referred to this line:
   • Calls about state’s rental assistance program.
   • Calls about landlord-tenant issues.
   • Calls about information on Housing Is Key website.
   
   When to Transfer a Caller to the Department of Real Estate (DRE)
   
   1. DRE Telephone Call Center (877) 373-4542
   Note: Due to increased call volume, wait times can be excessive
   Hours of Operation:
   Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
   Types of calls that should be referred to this line:
   • Question about a DRE license
   • Questions about a DRE licensing exam
   • Questions about how to hire a real estate agent
   • Questions about how to check the license of a real estate agent
   • Questions on housing issues not involving rentals or leases
   You can send licensing-related questions to DRE via email to: Ask.DRElicensing@dre.ca.gov.
   Those callers should include their License or Exam Identification number (if known), their full first and last name, and a phone number where DRE can contact them (if needed) and detailed information on how DRE can help them.

3/17/21

Stay Housed L.A. County is a partnership between the County of Los Angeles (DCBA), tenant-led community organizations, and legal services providers to provide tenants with the information, services, resources, and support they need to exercise their rights so that they can remain safely in their homes.

Features of the Stay Housed L.A. County Program:
• Countywide public information and awareness campaign on tenant rights and resources via mass digital media advertisements and media stories on various platforms to reach millions of tenants in multiple languages
• Targeted outreach and education to directly engage with hundreds of thousands of tenants via virtual “know your rights” workshops, phone calls, text messages, and emails to connect them with services and resources
• Free limited-scope legal representation, which includes one-on-one legal consultations, document preparation in response to a termination of tenancy notice, and out-of-court dispute resolution or negotiation services
• Free full-scope legal representation, which includes comprehensive legal services to prevent or resolve an eviction case, representation in court, and active defense against landlord harassment and retaliation
• Short-term rental assistance—up to $7,500 or 3 months retroactive or proactive assistance, whichever is less—to aid tenants in stabilizing their housing before, during, or after the conclusion of an eviction case
• Comprehensive legal assessments and referrals to wraparound and supportive services to help tenants maintain housing stability during or after participation in the program

Eligibility Requirements:
Tenants seeking free limited-scope legal representation must:
• Have received a Notice to Terminate Tenancy or a formal Unlawful Detainer (UD) complaint; experienced harassment or retaliation from their landlord for exercising their rights; be undergoing a COVID-19 dispute with their landlord; and/or experiencing a housing issue that could lead to displacement
• Reside within the boundaries of the County
• Have a household income at or below 80% of the AMI, defined as $90,100 a year for family of four or $63,100 a year for a single person household
Tenants seeking free full-scope representation and/or short-term rental assistance under the program must:
• Have received a formal notice terminating tenancy or a UD complaint, and/or be experiencing an active dispute or issue with the landlord, as described in the eligibility requirements for limited-scope representation
• Reside within the boundaries of the County
• Have a household income at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI), defined as $56,300 a year for a family of four or $39,450 a year for a single person household, and/or receive public benefits, such as Medi-Cal, CalFRESH, CalWORKs, General Assistance (GA)/General Relief (GR), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), etc.

Resources:
Stay Housed L.A. County website: www.stayhousedla.org
Stay Housed L.A. County hotline: (888) 694-0040
Department of Consumer & Business Affairs (DCBA), Housing & Tenant Protections website: www.rent.lacounty.gov
DCBA Housing & Tenant Protections email: rent@dcba.lacounty.gov
DCBA tenant & landlord hotline: (833) 223-RENT (7368

3/17/21

Background: California leads nation in assistance and protection for renter
• Governor Newsom signed SB 91, establishing the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program, allocating $2.6 billion in federal rent assistance.
• SB 91 extends eviction protections to June 30, 2021.
• These efforts will enable low-income households most impacted by the pandemic to stay in their homes and prevent displacement which will be crucial to an equitable recovery.
Overview: Program supports housing stability for most vulnerable
• CA COVID-19 Rent Relief provides financial assistance to income-qualified renters experiencing housing instability.
• The program provides rent reimbursement to landlords for unpaid rent accrued between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
• Landlords are eligible to receive 80% of unpaid rent, as long as they agree to waive the remaining 20% of unpaid rent.
• Eligible renters whose landlords don’t participate in the program can still receive 25% of unpaid rent accrued between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.
• Paying the 25% of past due rent by June 30, 2021 can help keep you in your home under the extended eviction protections provided in SB91.
• Eligible renters can also receive future rent assistance equal to 25% of their monthly rent.
• Verify eligibility and apply starting March 15, 2021 at HousingIsKey.com.

Qualification Criteria: Relief provided to both eligible landlords and renters
• Landlords who have one or more eligible renters who have unpaid rent accrued from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.
• Renters who are at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, who have incurred a financial hardship due to COVID-19 and are experiencing housing instability.
• If eligible, either a landlord or a renter can initiate the application process.
• Applicants will not be asked about their citizenship, nor will they be required to show proof of citizenship.
• The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program is available to all eligible applicants starting Monday, March 15, however applications submitted from households at the greatest risk of eviction will be prioritized first.
o Greatest risk of eviction is understood based on a renter’s ability to pay the minimum 25% rent owed, the household’s AMI, and if the household is located in an area disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.
Resources Available: Person-centered program helps eligible households get help quickly
• Resources and application information are available at HousingIsKey.com.
• A statewide network of local community partners has been established to help answer eligibility questions and submit applications. A list is available at HousingIsKey.com.
• A CA COVID-19 Rent Relief call center is available to get help answering eligibility questions, for application assistance, and to provide information on local assistance: 1-833-430-2122 between 7 am and 7 pm daily.

How to Apply
• Renters and landlords can determine eligibility and apply for funds directly at HousingIsKey.com.
• If you don’t have access to the internet, you can call the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center, 1-833-430-2122 for information on the help center nearest to you to help you access an application

3/16/21

The Los Angeles County Development Authority has launched an affordable and flexible business loan program to support and help stabilize businesses in the region. Small Business Stabilization Loans range from $50,000 to $3 million, and can be used for working capital, equipment purchases, inventory, or refinancing of existing loans at higher interest rates.

The Small Business Stabilization Loan Program will accept applications through April 16, 2021, or until $20 million in funding requests is received, whichever occurs first.

The Program pairs the loan with technical assistance from partners that offer complementary online webinars, one-on-one financial consultations, application assistance, and an evaluation of a business’ readiness to submit an LACDA loan application. The final “How to apply for an LACDA loan” webinar, a pre-requisite for submitting a Small Business Stabilization Loan application, will be held on March 25, 2021, in English and Spanish.

To register for a webinar, or obtain more information on the requirements to apply for the Small Business Stabilization Loan Program, please visit BizStabilization.lacda.org, or call (626) 586-1550.

3/16/21

Today, March 15th, people aged 16-64 who have underlying health conditions or disabilities are now eligible to receive vaccines, as their conditions put them at the highest risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19.

Persons who are newly eligible and qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical condition should note that during registration for a vaccine appointment, they will be asked to state that they have a high-risk medical condition or disability.

To protect confidentially, they will not be asked to disclose the specific condition.

People getting vaccinated must provide documentation at all appointments with either a letter from a healthcare provider, a personal physician or an agency providing services or, if not available, the eligible person or their caretaker will be asked to sign an attestation.

All eligible persons will also need to provide identification (government ID not required) and proof that they live within LA County at their appointment.

For information about vaccine appointments in L.A. County and when your turn is coming up, to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, and much more, visit: VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

3/16/21

In a major milestone, Los Angeles County has met the State’s threshold to reopen key sectors and starting TODAY will permit a wide range of indoor operations to resume in sectors including: middle and high schools; restaurants; movie theaters; gyms; and museums, zoos and aquariums, all with safeguards in place.

In alignment with the State’s reopening framework, mandatory masking, distancing and infection control practices remain in place for every business and permitted activity, and certain sectors have additional safety modifications required or recommended.

The County’s Health Officer Orders and sector protocols have been updated to reflect the changes. 

This shift to less restrictions shows that efforts by residents to slow the spread of COVID-19 is working. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is urging people to continue taking infection control precautions to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in our communities.

People should continue to wear face coverings when in public, continue practicing physical distancing and avoiding crowds and large gatherings. Fully vaccinated people should also continue with these practices, with some exceptions, including the ability to visit with other fully vaccinated people, indoors, without masks, per new guidance.

3/16/21

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10 to $50 toward the purchase price.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

A household is eligible if one member of the household:  

• Qualifies for the Lifeline program.  
• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year.  
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.  
• Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers. 
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers’ existing low-income or COVID-19 program. 

The program has been authorized by the FCC, but the start date has not yet been established.  Please continue to check this page for program updates.

03/15/21