HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2015 0318 CCSA REG ITEM 09C ITEM 9.C.
CITY OF MOORPARK,CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of 3-,k-Jwi5
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL-Acnow: frit /i,ao. `A .
AGENDA REPORT X 5 ', tel3
TO: Honorable City Council wie_ .010i/{` 333,2,
ay: lsn . ,. r_
FROM: Jennifer Mellon, Administrative Services Manager
David C. Moe II, Economic Development Manager
DATE: February 11, 2015 (CC Meeting of 3/04/15)
SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Adopting Revised City Council Policies Including
Adding a Safe Harbors Under the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act Policy and Updating the Policies Against Harassment,
Discrimination, and Retaliation, and First-Time Home Buyer Affordable
Housing Program and Rescinding Policies Resolution No. 2015-3353
and Affordable Care Act Resolution No. 2014-3332
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City Council Policies Resolution was last updated on January 7, 2015(Resolution No.
2015-3353).The attached draft update of the City Council Policies Resolution incorporates
one new policy for consideration and two revised policies. In addition, staff has updated the
title of Deputy City Manager to Assistant City Manager throughout the document,
grammatically edited Policy 1.1, and made a minor change to Policy 5.9: Credit Card
Acceptance and Processing; lowering the minimum transaction amount for transaction
types listed in the policy from$10.00 to$5.00. This will allow patrons at the Moorpark City
Library whose card has been blocked due to fines/fees in excess of $5.00 per the
Circulation Policy to be able to pay their balance with a credit card and return their account
to good standing.
Since the draft revised resolution is 184 pages, staff is only including the substantially
revised policy pages as an attachment to this agenda report and excluding as an
attachment the minor change to Policy 5.9 and the editorial corrections to position titles in
other policies. The agenda report with the entire draft resolution (totaling 184 pages)will
be available in electronic format on the City's website. Explanation of the revisions to
Policies 2.6 and 3.5 and the new Policy 3.10 is as follows.
Policy 2.6: Policy against Harassment, Discrimination,and Retaliation is being changed to
include unpaid interns and volunteers; inclusions of abusive conduct language; and
modifications to the supervisory training section to include revised language consistent with
the current law requirements.
164
Honorable City Council
March 18, 2015
Page 2
Policy 3.5: First-Time Home Buyer Affordable Housing Program is being modified to more
effectively implement the First Time Home Buyer Program.
The City of Moorpark(City)has successfully assisted 63 low and very low income families
purchase homes through the City's First Time Home Buyer(FTHB)program from January
2003 to February 2015. The majority of these homes, with the exception of four, were
provided by residential developers to satisfy the affordable housing requirement of their
development agreement with the City.
As a direct result of new home construction in the Moorpark Highlands and Ivy Creek
housing projects, 25 low income affordable units have become available through the City's
FTHB program. The first six of these units have already been occupied and the remaining
will be delivered throughout the calendar years of 2015 and 2016. However, prior to
conducting another FTHB workshop, staff is recommending the City Council consider
changes to Policy 3.5.
Early in the negotiations of the Development Agreement, the anticipated Home Owner's
Association .(HOA) dues are set at $100.00 so that an affordable housing price can be
calculated. The City requires the developer to submit $120.00 for every dollar over this
$100.00 amount. The City in turn uses these funds to reimburse HOA dues of the First-
Time Home Buyer Affordable Housing Program participants for any amount over$100.00.
Currently, HOA dues for affordable units are less than $230.00 per month. As originally
anticipated, this was intended to be in effect for a period of 2-3 years. The formula tried to
anticipate rising HOA cost, but resulted in a large subsidy for the buyers that could last 10
or more years.
Staff has found the HOA reimbursements is becoming a labor intensive process. The City
is not compensated for staff time spent processing the HOA reimbursements and this time
could be spent more productively on implementing other affordable housing activities.
Staff is proposing to change the process for reimbursing a portion the affordable buyers'
HOA dues and included the HOA reimbursement in the Policy Resolution. The proposed
changes in the HOA reimbursement are:
e Affordable units purchased after July 1, 2015 shall be eligible for HOA dues
reimbursement over $100.00, upon providing the City evidence of HOA
payment, for a period not to exceed three (3) years from the date of
purchase.
• Affordable units purchased prior to July 1, 2015 shall remain eligible for
continued HOA dues reimbursement over $100, upon providing the City
evidence of HOA payment, through June 30, 2016.
If this proposed change is approved, staff will send out one-year notices to all the existing
affordable buyers notifying them that their HOA reimbursements will expire on June 30,
2016 unless available funds are exhausted prior to that date. After the timeframe has
165
Honorable City Council
March 18, 2015
Page 3
expired for both the new and existing affordable buyers, any remaining funds will be
deposited into the City Housing Fund. If an affordable buyer sells their unit prior to the
HOA reimbursements expiring, the remaining funds are not transferable to the next buyer
and the funds will be deposited into the City Affordable Housing Fund.
The second change addresses applicants purposely omitting information or providing false
information on their FTHB application. Staff is proposing that the Policy Resolution exclude
participants who have omitted relevant information or provided false or misleading, or
incomplete information regarding their eligibility for the FTHB program.
Instances have occurred where possible disqualifying information is not discovered until
the purchase process is well underway or even completed. Such cases have included
incorrect household size, income, or prior home ownership.
A third change is with regards to equity share. In the event of a re-sale of the affordable
unit, as a result of an increase in the Ventura County Median Income and there is a net
amount of sale proceeds remaining after the payment of the first mortgage, credit for
principal reductions of the first mortgage, and Seller's original downpayment, net proceeds
would be as follows: seller will receive the first$20,000 and the remaining equity shall be
split one-third to seller and two-thirds to the City provided that the City's share of
appreciation will not as a percentage exceed the principal amount of the second loan
amount divided by the appraised market value of the property at time of initial origination.
Any appreciation that exceeds the above described percentage will go back to the buyer.
Below is an example of the proposed equity share:
Proposed Equity Share Example
Original Sale(approx.8 years ago)
Affordable Sale Price $ 160,000.00
Original Downpayment Amount $ 8,000.00
Original First Mortgage Amount $ 152,000.00
City 2nd Loan Amount $ 250,000.00
Resale
Affordable Sale Price(cash into sale) $ 206,000.00
First Mortgage Payoff $ 134,500.00
Owner Receives Downpayment($8,000),
Principal Reduction ($17,500), and first$20,000 $ 45,500.00
Remaining Equity Applied to Equity Share $ 26,000.00 $ 17,333.33 City Share(2/3)
$ 8,666.67 Owner Share (1/3)
Total Funds Received by Owner $ 54,166.67
Total Funds Received by City $ 17,333.33
166
Honorable City Council
March 18, 2015
Page 4
Another change is the definition of a first time home buyer. The Policy Resolution defines
a first time home buyer as never owning a home or on title for a home. The industry
standard definition of a first time home buyer is not owning a home within the last three
years. Due to the difficulty of verifying if an applicant has ever owned a home in the past,
staff is recommending a Policy Resolution change to the definition of a first time home
buyer from never owning a home to not owning a home within the last seven years. This
proposed change will streamline staff review of an applicant's eligibility as a past mortgage
would still be included in the applicant's credit report.
Staff is also providing several changes that will further clarify the direction of Policy 3.5,
add an application fee, and strengthen City's ability to enforce violations of the policy and
related program requirements.
Policy 3.10: Safe Harbors Adoption and the Affordable Care Act(ACA) is being added to
the City Council Policy Resolution to incorporate the language from Resolution No. 2014-
3332 which was adopted by the City Council on November 5, 2014 and is now proposed to
be rescinded. Pertinent language from Resolution No. 2014-3332 has been included in
Policy 3.10 and upon further ACA discussions with the Attorneys of Liebert, Cassidy,
Whitmore, staff has made minor edits and added Section 4.D. which states the City
Council hereby delegates authority to the City Manager, including his/her designee(s), to
approve additional contributions towards health insurance as is required to keep the
employee payment affordable under the ACA. Staff does not anticipate needing additional
funding for a supplemental payment. Part-time employee hours will be monitored.
The most likely need for a supplemental payment may be related to an unanticipated
change in employee work hours that affects City-paid health insurance eligibility, such as
an employee who previously worked full-time hours, goes on unpaid leave or changes to a
part-time schedule, while still qualifying for ACA coverage based on hours worked during
the measurement period. In this case, money will be already budgeted for City paid health
benefits for full-time employees. Below are the scenarios of greatest potential fiscal impact
to the City using the rate of pay safe harbor based on current salaries and the current
CaIPERS health insurance rate for the lowest cost plan:
2015 Lowest Cost Self Only Coverage: $458.74
City's Required Minimum Contribution: ($122.00)
Employee's Required Contribution: $336.74
167
Honorable City Council
March 18, 2015
Page 5
Monthly 9.5%ACA Affordability Additional
Rate Threshold Test Mo. Subsidy
Scenario 1:
FT Office Assistant Rate of Pay(hourly Not
rate *2080 hours/12months) $2,467.27 $234.49 Affordable $102.25
Scenario 2:
PT Recreation Aide/Clerical Aide(130 Not
hours) $1,188.00 $112.88 Affordable $223.86
FISCAL IMPACT
There may be minimal fiscal impact relating to changes made in the Credit Card policy due
to a possible increase in transactions and transaction fees.
There is no fiscal impact with regards to the changes made to the Harassment,
Discrimination and Retaliation policy.
There is no increased cost to the City associated with the First Time Home Buyer
Affordable Housing Program Policy.
There is no fiscal impact relating to the change to the ACA Policy authorizing the City
Manager to approve additional contributions towards health insurance as is required to
keep the employee payment affordable under the ACA. The intent of this change is to
avoid the potential for ACA penalties, at a much higher cost to the City.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 2015- , rescinding Resolution No.2015-3353 and Resolution No.
2014-3332.
Attachment: Draft Resolution (The attachment to the City Council printed agenda report
includes only the revised policy pages of the draft resolution. The complete
draft resolution, in legislative format, is available on the City's website and
will be distributed by email to Council.)
168
Policy 2.6: Policy against Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation
1. Purpose and Policy.
A. Purpose. The City of Moorpark is committed to providing a work environment
which is free of harassment or discrimination because of gender; gender
identity or expression; genetic characteristics or information; race; color;
national origin; ancestry; religion; creed; sex; physical or mental disability;
medical condition; marital status; military or veteran status; sexual orientation;
age; victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or any basis
protected by applicable federal, state,or local law. The City is also committed
to providing a work environment free from retaliation because of an
employee's or unpaid intern's, or volunteer's opposition to unlawful
harassment or discrimination or participation in an employment discrimination
or harassment investigation, proceeding, or hearing. In keeping with this
commitment, this Policy strictly prohibits harassment, discrimination, and
retaliation of this nature. Behavior or actions which result in or establish an
environment of such harassment, discrimination, or retaliation are strictly
prohibited.
B. Policy. This policy applies to all employees, unpaid interns, and volunteers of
the City and hereinafter, the use of the word "employee" in this policy is
intended to also include an unpaid intern or volunteer. The City maintains a
strict policy prohibiting all types of harassment or discrimination because of
gender; gender identity or expression; genetic characteristics or information;
race; color; national origin; ancestry; religion; creed; sex; physical or mental
disability; medical condition; marital status; military or veteran status; sexual
orientation; age; victim of domestic violence, sexual assault,or stalking; or any
basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The City also
maintains a strict policy prohibiting retaliation because of an employee's
opposition to unlawful harassment or discrimination or participation in an
employment discrimination or harassment investigation, proceeding, or
hearing. All such harassment, discrimination, or retaliation is prohibited. This
policy applies to all employees involved in the operations of the City and
prohibits harassment by any employee of the City including supervisors, co-
workers, volunteers, and by anyone doing business with the City. If
harassment or alleged harassment occurs on the job by someone not
employed by the City, the applicable procedures in this policy should be
followed as if the harasser were an employee of the City.
2. Definitions.
A. Discrimination. Discrimination is any action or conduct by which an employee
is treated differently or less favorably than other employees similarly situated
to him/her for the sole reason that he/she is a member of a legally protected
category, such as gender; gender identity or expression; genetic
characteristics or information; race; color; national origin; ancestry; religion;
creed; sex; physical or mental disability; medical condition; marital status;
169
military or veteran status; sexual orientation; age; victim of domestic violence,
sexual assault, or stalking;or any basis protected by applicable federal, state,
or local law. For example, it would be discrimination for an individual to be
denied employment or terminated from employment because that individual
has a disability or is 40 years of age or older.
B. Harassment. Harassment is unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct
that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile work environment or that
interferes with work performance when such conduct is based on an
employee's gender; gender identity or expression; genetic characteristics or
information; race; color; national origin; ancestry; religion; creed; sex; physical
or mental disability; medical condition; marital status; military or veteran status;
sexual orientation; age;victim of domestic violence, sexual assault,or stalking;
or any basis protected by applicable federal, state,or local law. Such conduct
constitutes harassment when:
1) Submission to the conduct is made either an explicit or implicit condition
of employment;
2) Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis for an
employment decision; or
3) The harassment unreasonably interferes with an employee's work
performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work
environment.
C. Harassment Examples. Harassing conduct can take many forms and includes,
but is not limited to, slurs, jokes, statements, gestures, pictures, computer
images, or cartoons regarding an employee's gender; gender identity or
expression; genetic characteristics or information; race; color; national origin;
ancestry; religion; creed; sex; physical or mental disability; medical condition;
marital status; military or veteran status; sexual orientation; age; victim of
domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or any basis protected by
applicable federal, state, or local law.
D. Sexual Harassment.
1) Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual advances; requests for sexual
favors; or visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
a) Submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of
employment; or
b) Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for
employment decisions affecting the individual; or
170
c) Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with an employee's work performance or creating an
intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
2) This definition includes many potential forms of offensive behavior. The
following is a list of some examples:
a) Unwanted sexual advances.
b) Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
c) Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to
sexual advances.
d) Visual conduct: leering, making sexual gestures,or displaying of
sexually explicit jokes.
e) Verbal sexual advances or propositions.
Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentary
about an individual's body or dress, sexually degrading words to
describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes or
invitations.
g) Physical conduct: touching, assault, impeding or blocking
movements.
h) Retaliation for threatening to or reporting harassment.
i) Sexual harassment can occur between members of the same or
opposite sex. Sexual harassment on the job is unlawful whether
it involves co-worker harassment, harassment by a supervisor or
manager, or harassment by anyone doing business with or for
the City.
E. Supervisor. Any employee having authority to hire, transfer, suspend, layoff,
recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees, or
the responsibility to direct them, or to adjust their grievances, or to effectively
recommend that action, if, in connection with the foregoing,the exercise of that
authority is not merely of a routine or clerical nature, but requires the use of
independent judgment.
3. Mandatory Training.
A. All Employees. A copy of this Policy will be given to all employees of the City
on the first day of employment, and acknowledgment will be required as
described in Section 10 of this Policy. This Policy shall be redistributed to all
171
employees following any amendment action, and acknowledgment will be
required as described in Section 10.
B. Supervisory Employees.
1) All supervisors will be trained once every two(2)years,as scheduled by
the City's Human Resources/Risk Management Division, on matters
relating to the prevention, reporting, and investigation of harassment,
discrimination, and retaliation. Further, individuals appointed to
supervisory positions from a non-supervisory position or as a new
employee shall receive training within six (6) months of their hiring or
assumption of the supervisory position.
2) Supervisory training will last for a minimum of two (2) hours.
3) Supervisory training will be conducted in a classroom or other
interactive setting and will, at a minimum, cover the following topics:
a) Information and practical guidance regarding federal and state
statutory lawsprovisions concerning the prohibition against and
the prevention and correction of
sexual harassment;
b) Information about the correction of harassment and the
remedies available to victims of sexual harassment in
employment; and
c) Practical examples aimed at instructing supervisors in the
prevention of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation-
d) Information on prevention of abusive conduct as defined in
Section 12950.1(q)(2) of the Government Code.
4. Preventing Harassment and Discrimination. The City's complaint procedure provides
for a prompt, thorough and objective investigation of every harassment or
discrimination claim, appropriate disciplinary action against one found to have
engaged in unlawful harassment or discrimination, and appropriate remedies to any
victim of harassment or discrimination. Employees should follow the following
procedure to notify the City of alleged harassment and/or discrimination:
A. Submitting a Complaint. Employees who believe they have been harassed or
discriminated against on the job, including by persons doing business with or
for the City, must provide a verbal or written complaint to his/her supervisor,
department head, Personnel Officer, Senior Human Resources Analyst
Human Resources Analyst, or the City Manager as soon as possible. If the
reported conduct involves a person in the employee's direct chain of command
or if for any reason the employee feels uncomfortable making a report to
his/her direct supervisor or department head, the report must be made to the
172
Personnel Officer, Senior Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources
Analyst, or the City Manager. If the complaint involves the City Manager, the
complaint should be reported to the Personnel Officer or in his/her absence,
directly to the City Attorney. Complaints regarding the City Manager will be
forwarded by the Personnel Officer or City Attorney to the City Council for
consideration during closed session. Complaints regarding a member of the
City Council must be reported to the City Manager or the City Attorney.
The complaint should include details of the incident(s), names of individuals
involved, and the names of any witnesses. Supervisors and/or department
heads must immediately refer all harassment and discrimination complaints to
the Personnel Officer, Senior Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources
Analyst, or City Manager.
B. Investigation of Complaints. All incidents of alleged harassment and
discrimination that are reported must be investigated. The City will undertake
and/or direct a prompt, thorough, and objective investigation of the harassment
or discrimination allegations. The City Manager will determine who will
conduct the investigation on behalf of the City, unless this decision is
delegated to the City Attorney. The investigation will be completed and a
determination regarding the harassment or discrimination alleged will be made
and communicated to the employee(s) who complained and the accused
harasser(s). If the City determines that harassment or discrimination has
occurred, the City will take effective remedial action commensurate with the
circumstances. Appropriate action will also be taken to deter any future
harassment or discrimination. If a complaint of harassment or discrimination is
substantiated, appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination
of employment, will be taken. The City will also take appropriate action to
remedy any loss to the employee resulting from the harassment or
discrimination. The City Attorney's office will notify the complainant in writing
regarding action taken against the person responsible for the harassment or
discrimination. The City Attorney's office will also instruct the complainant to
immediately report recurring or continuing harassment, discrimination, or
retaliation.
C. Employees may be placed on a paid administrative leave during an
investigation until the conclusion of discrimination or harassment investigation.
D. All employees should note that the failure to use the City's complaint
procedure may have an adverse effect on any claim under this Policy if such
claims are litigated.
E. If a complaint is found to be a malicious false accusation, the employee who
brought forth the complaint will be subject to disciplinary action.
5. Confidentiality. The City will take all reasonable steps available to maintain the
confidentiality of all complaints of harassment and discrimination as well as all
information gathered during the investigation; however, the City cannot
173
guarantee absolute confidentiality as disclosure of information is necessary to
complete the investigation. All employees involved in the investigation of
harassment or discrimination complaints will be admonished to keep all
information related to the investigation confidential, and that revealing such
information is grounds for discipline. Anonymous complaints will be taken
seriously and investigated; however, the ability to investigate or the extent of
the investigation may be limited by the inability to follow-up with the
complaining party. A person other than the person(s) who was (were) the
target of the alleged harassment or discrimination may make a complaint.
6. Employee's Duty to Disclose Benefits Received. Employees are hereby informed that
no supervisor, manager, or officer of the City, or other person or entity doing business
with the City, is authorized to expressly or impliedly condition the receipt or denial of
any benefit, compensation, or other term or condition of employment on an
employee's consent to any sexual demand. To the contrary, all employees are
instructed that they must refuse such demands and report them promptly either to
his/her supervisor, department head, Personnel Officer, Senior Human Resources
Analyst, Human Resources Analyst, or City Manager. Any employee who is found to
have obtained any benefit from the City because he/she submitted to an unreported
sexual demand will be disciplined appropriately, and may be subject to reimbursing
the City for the value of any benefits received. Any employee making such a demand
will also be subject to discipline.
7. Anti-Retaliation Policy. The City prohibits retaliation against any employee because
of the employee's opposition to a practice the employee reasonably believes to
constitute employment discrimination or harassment; or because of the employee's
participation in an employment discrimination or harassment investigation,
proceeding, or hearing. Any retaliatory adverse action because of such opposition or
participation will not be tolerated; and may also be unlawful.
A. Examples of Opposition. Opposition to perceived harassment or
discrimination includes, but is not limited to, threatening to file or filing
harassment and/or discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), the Department of Fair Employment and
Housing ("DFEH"), union or court, or complaining or protesting about alleged
harassment or discrimination to a supervisor, manager, co-worker or other
official. Opposition also includes a complaint or protest made on behalf of
another employee or made by the employee's representative.
B. Examples of Participation. The City will not tolerate retaliation against any
individual because he/she has filed a charge,testified, assisted,or participated
in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, hearing or litigation under
federal or state harassment or discrimination statutes or at other hearings
regarding protected employee rights,such as an application for unemployment
benefits. The City also prohibits retaliation against somebody closely related
to or associated with the employee exercising such rights.
174
C. Examples of Adverse Actions. For purposes of this Policy, an adverse action
can include, but is not limited to, the following acts, when the act is taken
because of the employee's opposition to harassment or discrimination, or
because of the employee's participation in an employment discrimination or
harassment investigation, proceeding,or hearing: disciplinary actions, negative
performance evaluations, undesirable transfer, undesirable assignments,
negative comments, unwarranted criticism, actions that harm the employee
outside the workplace, undesirable change in benefits, undesirable change in
work schedule, unwarranted exclusion from meetings or events, or undesirable
change in work duties.
D. The City's Complaint Procedure. The City's complaint procedure provides for
a prompt, thorough and objective investigation of any claim of retaliation
because of opposition to alleged discrimination or harassment,or participation
in a proceeding regarding alleged discrimination or harassment. Employees
who believe that they have been retaliated against because of their opposition
to an employment practice which they reasonably believe to be discriminatory
harassing, or because of their participation in a hearing or proceeding
regarding alleged harassment or discrimination should follow the following
procedure to notify the City of retaliation:
1) Submitting a Complaint. Employees who believe they have been
retaliated against because of opposition to alleged discrimination or
harassment, or participation in a proceeding regarding alleged
discrimination or harassment, must provide a verbal or written complaint
to his/her supervisor, department head, Personnel Officer, Senior
Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources Analyst, or the City
Manager as soon as possible. If the reported conduct involves a
person in the employee's direct chain of command, or if for any reason
the employee feels uncomfortable making a report to his/her supervisor
or department head, the report must be made to the Personnel Officer,
Senior Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources Analyst, or the
City Manager. If the complaint involves the City Manager,the complaint
should be reported to the Personnel Officer, or in his/her absence,
directly to the City Attorney. Complaints regarding the City Manager will
be forwarded by the Personnel Officer or City Attorney to the City
Council for consideration during closed session. Complaints regarding
a member of the City Council must be reported to the City Manager or
the City Attorney.
The complaint should include details of the incident(s), names of
individuals involved, and the names of any witnesses. Supervisors
and/or department heads must immediately refer all retaliation
complaints to the Personnel Officer, Senior Human Resources Analyst,
Human Resources Analyst, or City Manager.
2) Investigation of Complaints. All complaints of prohibited retaliation
which are reported to the City will be investigated. The City will
175
undertake and/or direct a prompt, thorough and objective investigation
of the retaliation allegations. The City Manager will determine who will
conduct the investigation on behalf of the City, unless this decision is
delegated to the City Attorney.The investigation will be completed and
a determination regarding the alleged retaliation will be made and
communicated to the employee who complains and to the person(s)
accused of retaliation.
3) If the City determines that an individual has suffered adverse action in
retaliation for opposition to alleged harassment or discrimination, or
participation in a proceeding related to alleged harassment or
discrimination,the City will take effective remedial action appropriate to
the circumstances. The City will also take action to deter any future
retaliation. If a complaint of unlawful retaliation is substantiated,
appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of
employment, will be taken. The City Attorney's office will notify the
complainant in writing regarding action taken against the person
responsible for the retaliation. The City Attorney's office will also
instruct the complainant to immediately report recurring or continuing
harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
4) Employees may be placed on a paid administrative leave during an
investigation until the conclusion of a retaliation investigation.
5) All employees should note that the failure to use the City's complaint
procedure may have an adverse effect on any claim under this Policy if
such claims are litigated.
6) If a complaint is found to be a malicious false accusation,the employee
who brought forth the complaint will be subject to disciplinary action.
E. Confidentiality. The City will take all reasonable steps available to maintain the
confidentiality of all complaints of retaliation as well as all information gathered
during the investigation; however, the City cannot guarantee absolute
confidentiality as disclosure of information is necessary to complete the
investigation. All employees involved in the investigation of retaliation
complaints will be admonished to keep all information related to the
investigation confidential, and that revealing such information is grounds for
discipline. Anonymous complaints will be taken seriously and investigated;
however, the ability to investigate or the extent of the investigation may be
limited by the inability to follow-up with the complaining party. A person other
than the person(s) who was (were) the target of the alleged harassment or
discrimination may make a complaint.
8. Additional Enforcement Information. In addition to the City's internal complaint
procedure, employees should also be aware that the EEOC and the DFEH investigate
and prosecute complaints of harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation in
employment. You can contact the EEOC as follows: Los Angeles District Office,255
176
East Temple, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90012; 800-669-4000. You can
contact the DFEH as follows: Los Angeles Office, 611 West Sixth Street, Suite 1500,
Los Angeles, California 91117; 800-884-1684. Additional information can be found
on the EEOC's website (www.eeoc.gov) and/or the DFEH's website
(www.dfeh.ca.gov).
9. Documentation. All harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaint
investigations and corrective actions shall be documented by the Human
Resources/Risk Management Division and/or City Attorney. The documentation shall
include a summary of the investigation and an explanation of the appropriateness of
the corrective actions. All related files shall be retained by the Human
Resources/Risk Management Division until such time as file destruction is approved
by the City Council in accordance with records retention requirements. A record of a
harassment complaint will not be included in an employee's personnel file if the
complaint is found to be unwarranted or a false accusation after conducting an
investigation.
10. EmployeeNolunteer/Contractor Acknowledgment of Receipt of Policy against
Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation. All employees shall be given a copy of
this Policy on the first day of employment, shall be given the time to read the Policy
during their new employee orientation meeting, and shall be required to sign a form
acknowledging the following:
I acknowledge receipt of the City of Moorpark Policy against
Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation. I understand that it is my
responsibility to read and comprehend its contents. If I have any
questions, I shall submit any questions in writing to the Personnel
Officer Senior Human Resources Analyst, or Human Resources Analyst
within seven (7) days of receipt of the Policy and signing the
acknowledgment form.
The City Manager or his/her designee may determine that certain volunteers and
contractors shall also be required to receive, read, and acknowledge receipt of the
City of Moorpark Policy against Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation.
This Policy shall be redistributed to all employees, unpaid interns, and applicable
volunteers and contractors following any amendment, and no less than once every
two years, with reading and receipt acknowledgment required as described above.
177
Policy 3.5: First-Time Home Buyer Affordable Housing Program
Periodically, the City will make available for sale one or more attached or detached dwelling
units to very low, low, or moderate income persons/households as further defined below as
part of its First-Time Home Buyer Affordable Housing Program (Program). This policy sets
forth the primary criteria for eligibility for participation in said Program and determining priority
for participant selection. This policy also sets forth the primary criteria and parameters for
retaining the affordable units as affordable for the longest feasible period, but in no event
less than forty-five (45) years; equity sharing requirement upon resale; refinancing; the
ongoing responsibilities of the buyers; and establishes the requirement that upon resale the
affordable dwelling unit is sold to a City approved buyer in the same income category as the
original buyer at the time of the initial sale.
Other criteria to determine participant eligibility and to ensure compliance with this policy,
including but not limited to purchase agreement documents, shall be established by the City
Manager prior to the advertisement of the availability of one or more affordable dwelling units
as part of the Program. . The City Manager is also authorized to establish requirements for
any and all refinancing and resale and for enforcement of the residency provisions of this
policy.
1. Home Buyer Qualification Guidelines
A. Low Income(less than 80 percent of Ventura County median income based on
household size); Very Low Income (less than 50 percent of Ventura County
median income based on household size); and when applicable Moderate
income (less than 120 percent of Ventura County median income based on
household size).
B. First time home buyers (no previous home er-mobilehome ownership, or land
ownership within seven years of submitting an application).
C. First priority for City of Moorpark residents who have lived in the City of
Moorpark for no less than one year prior to Program application deadline
(Category 1). City shall require documentation to verify City of Moorpark
residency. Said documentation may include, but not be limited to a rental
agreement, utility bill, or tax returns. Only one applicant needs to be a City of
Moorpark resident during the past year.
D. Second priority to people who have worked within the City of Moorpark for no
less than one year prior to Program application deadline (Category 2).
E. Third priority all others (Category 3).
F. Five Three percent (53%) minimum down payment, based on the affordable
sales price. Downpayment must be seasoned into an account no less than
ninety (90) days prior to application date. : ••: - - - - - - - • °.
178
G. Applicants shall also have an additional three percent (3%) of the affordable
sales prices to be used to pay closing costs and fund the impound account.
This requirement can be satisfied by a gift letter, retirement funds (50% of the
market value), and/or seasoned funds in the applicants bank account (a
combination of these items may also be used).
GH. Non-occupant co-borrowers are not allowed and no more than two related or
unrelated people can take title of an affordable unit.
Applicants shall sign an acknowledgement stating that they have read and
understand City Council Policy 3.5 as part of the application submittal.
2. Selection Process
A. Advertisement of program and orientation meetings on City website, City
government channel, and distribution of a press release and other means as
determined by the City Manager.
B. Mandatory attendance of all interested buyers at an orientation meeting.
Reservations shall be made via email. A copy (hard copy or displayed on a
mobile device) of the confirmed reservation and a picture identification are
needed to participate in the orientation meeting.
C. Pre-screening applications are offered at the end of the orientation meetings.
A one hundred ($100.00) non-refundable application fee is due at the time the
application is submitted to the City for consideration.
D. Neighborhood Housing Services of Amcrica (NHSA) or other City-approved
underwriting guidelines to be used,lenders shall be used to finance the
purchase of the affordable unit(s). . - - : - - • . - - -• -•- - • .
E. City-approved Home Buyer Education required prior to purchase, and City-
approved post-purchase home owner workshops (foreclosure intervention,
predatory lending, etc.) required after close of escrow. City will retain five
hundred dollars ($500.00) at the close of escrow from the buyer. City will
release the five hundred dollars ($500.00) to the buyer if the post-purchase
home owner workshop has been completed within one year of the close of
escrow.
F. A public lottery drawing shall be conducted for residential developments with
affordable units. Applicants may participate in the lottery process for more
than one development,— or request the first available unit. btApplicant
shall take the first available unit, including a resale unit. -Each lottery will
consist of three"mini-lotteries"for the three priority categories listed in Section
179
1 of this policy. Categories will be exhausted before moving to the next
category (Category 1 first, followed by Category 2, followed by Category 3).
G. The income category for an applicant will—shall be determined when the
application is reviewed, prior to the lottery. If an applicant's personal,financial
or other circumstances change and it is later determined they are no longer
eligible in that income category, then they shall no longer be eligible for any
units that might be available during the applicable lottery drawing period.
H. The household size for an applicant shall be determined when the application
is received, prior to the lottery. The applicant shall provide names, relationship
to applicant and other requested information of each household member as
part of the application. Except for birth or adoption of a minor child, no
changes to household size or members shall be allowed prior to close of
escrow.
Except for minor children subiect to a court order for joint custody, any
discrepancies of the dependents listed on the applicant's federal taxes and the
household occupants listed on the application shall be cause for the
application to be denied and applicants to be disqualified from further
participation in the Program. The applicant shall be informed in writing of such
disqualification.
3. First-Time Home Buyer Affordable Housing Program Participant Exclusion List
A. Members of the Moorpark City Council, Moorpark Planning Commission,
Moorpark Parks and Recreation Commission, Moorpark Arts Commission, and
Library Board Members.
B. Mayor and City Council appointees including but not limited to Air Pollution
Control District Advisory Committee, Area Housing Authority, Senior Center
Advisory Committee,Area Agency on Aging, Citizens Transportation Advisory
Committee, and Teen Council.
C. All City employees in non-competitive service (management positions).
D. Financial institutions participating as lenders for the Home Buyer Program.
E. Developers and Developer's General Contractor(s) for specific projects they
developed or constructed that contain 1 or more affordable units.
F. Developer's subcontractors, subsidiaries, partnerships, and affiliates, including
but not limited to title, escrow, and lending companies.
G. City contractors involved with City/Successor Housing Agency First-Time
Home Buyer Affordable Housing Program and affiliates of these City
contractors, as determined by the City Manager on a case-by-case basis,
180
which may include title and escrow companies, contractors, subcontractors,
subsidiaries, partnerships, and affiliates of these City contractors.
H. Family members of A — G above are excluded for all of the above-listed
participant exclusions. "Family members"is defined as follows: mother,father,
grandfather, grandmother, aunt, uncle, cousin, sister, brother, son, daughter,
step-son, step-daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, nephew, niece,
grandchild, mother-in-law,father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,spouse as
defined as a partner in marriage (California Civil Code Section 4100), and
domestic partner as defined by California Family Code Section 297 and
including the requirement for the filing of a Declaration of Domestic Partnership
with the Secretary of State. In addition, "family members" shall be defined to
include non-blood relatives as a result of a subsequent marriage commonly
referred to as a step-relative, including but not limited to step-mother, step-
father, step-sister, step-brother, step-son, step-daughter, step-grandchild,
step-mother-in-law, step-father-in-law, step-brother-in-law, and step-sister-in-
law.
I 4. Housing Pricing,-and Selection of Units, HOA Reimbursement, and Refinancing
A. Initial Sale Price: Units will be priced based on Affordable Housing Cost for
the family size appropriate to the unit(Section 50052.5, b-c and h), regardless
of size of actual household:
o 3 bedroom unit priced for a household of 4
o 4 bedroom unit priced for a household of 5
B. Resale Price Resale price for affordable units will be based on Affordable
Housing Cost at time of resale. Affordable Sales Price is not based on market
price at initial sale, or at resale. (City will provide this information to
homeowners in this Program on an ongoing basis.)A resale of the affordable
unit shall be required when two unrelated people are on title and one would
like to sell their interest within three (3)years after the close of escrow. If one
of the owners on title would like to remain in the affordable unit and they have
occupied the affordable unit for three (3) or more years, the remaining owner
would need to be re-qualified at the income category (moderate, low, or very
low) the unit is designated without adding another co-borrower/buyer. If the
remaining owner no longer qualifies, the unit will need to be sold to another
qualified, City approved buyer. In the event of a divorce, one of the owners
may retain the affordable unit without re-qualifying at the designated income
category upon providing court approved documentation identifying disposition
of the affordable unit. In this situation, the City will allow a refinance so that
the departing owner may receive their share of the equity if the owners are in
compliance with all conditions and requirements of this policy to the sole
satisfaction of the City. The amount of the refinance shall not exceed the
current affordable sale price minus twenty thousand ($20,000.00) dollars (a
cash out refinance is only allowed in a divorce situation).
181
C. Applicants will be assigned a unit in their income category based on household
size, following conditional loan approval. Household size will be determined at
the time of receipt of application. At its discretion, the City may assign a unit
with more bedrooms than the applicant would otherwise be eligible for, if it is
the last unit that is available during the applicable period of the Priority List.
D. Home Owner's Association (HOA)dues reimbursement. Program participants
shall be eligible for reimbursement of monthly HOA dues for the amount over
one hundred ($100.00)per month for the maintenance of common areas in the
following manner:
(1) Homes purchased after July 1, 2015 shall be eligible for HOA dues
reimbursement for a period not to exceed thirty-six (36) months from
the date of purchase.
(2) Homes purchased prior to July 1, 2015 shall remain eligible for
continued HOA dues reimbursement through June 30, 2016, unless
available funds are exhausted prior to that date.
(3) Reimbursements shall be made on a quarterly basis (3 months at a
time)and must be submitted for reimbursement within six(6) months of
the month within which it was due (e.q. January dues must be
requested by June 30th). No reimbursements for penalties or late fees.
(4) HOA reimbursements shall terminate if reimbursements have not been
submitted during a twelve (12) month period.
E. Refinances and Additional Deeds of Trust. The written consent of the City
Manager shall be required prior to any refinancing of any loan secured by a
deed of trust on the affordable unit. The City shall allow refinancing of the first
deed of trust under certain circumstances, but will not allow any junior deeds to
the City's loan. All refinances will be subject to the current rules and
regulations at the time of the refinance. The City shall not have the right to
exercise its option to purchase the affordable unit in such event, but any
refinances (as defined below)shall be consistent with the following provisions
and other requirements established by the City Manager:
(1) The City will not unreasonably withhold approval of a refinancing if it
meets the following criteria:
(A) If the refinancing occurs not sooner than three(3)years after the
initial closing;
(B) If the Owner is not receiving a cash payment or payment of
consumer debt from the equity in the affordable unit: and
(C) If the Owner has maintained a good credit history and
satisfactory performance under the City's First Time Home
182
Buyers program, in the judgment of the City Manager or his or
her designee.
F. Equity Share. In the event of a re-sale of the affordable unit, as a result of an
increase in the Ventura County Median Income and there is a net amount of
sale proceeds remaining after the payment of the first mortgage, credit for
principal reductions of the first mortgage, and Seller's original downpayment,
such net proceeds shall be distributed as follows:
(1) Seller will receive the first $20,000.
(2) The remaining equity shall be split one-third to seller and two-thirds to
the City provided that the City's share of appreciation will not as a
percentage exceed the principal amount of the second loan amount
divided by the appraised market value of the property at time of initial
origination. Any appreciation that exceeds the above described
percentage will go back to the buyer.
5. Primary Residence and Rental Prohibition
All buyers shall occupy the affordable unit as their primary residence at all times. No
portion of the affordable unit shall be rented or leased for any period of time. This
includes but is not limited to written or verbal agreements for renting or leasing a room
or accepting other forms of payment to allow one or more persons other than those
listed on the application to reside at the unit.
6. Title to Real Property
Applicants shall take title of the affordable unit as joint tendency. Any change to title
not preapproved by City Manager in writing will result in a sale of the affordable unit.
57. City Staff Authority
A. The City Manager is authorized to interpret this policy as needed and to
execute all affordable housing project deferred loan agreements and
repayment documents for all affordable housing projects for which the City will
own an equity share. The City clerk is authorized to accept interest in real
estate secured by any Deed of Trust associated with this program.
B. Upon owner misrepresentation or the default or breach of any covenant or
agreement in the Promissory Note, the Resale and Refinance Restriction
Agreement and Option to Purchase Property or the City Second Mortgage
Deed of Trust, including, but not limited to, the covenants to pay, when due,
any sums secured by the Deed of Trust,the City, at its option, may pursue the
following remedial steps and actions, in addition to any other remedies
provided by the above-mentioned documents or at law. The City will send
notice to the borrower specifying: (1) the breach; (2) the action required to
cure such breach; (3) a date, not less than thirty (30) days from the date the
183
notice is effective, by which such breach is to be cured; and (4)that failure to
cure such breach on or before the date specified in the notice shall, at the
option of the City, result in acceleration of the outstanding sums under the
Promissory Note(i.e.,the entire sum owing on the Promissory Note becoming
immediately due and payable.) If after those procedures, such sums are not
paid, then the City may, at its option commence the process for non-judicial
foreclosure of the property. The notice and opportunity to cure shall not apply
to defaults that are not curable, the failure to pay the sums due upon
acceleration, or to a transfer that violates restrictions on transfers (such as a
sale to a person or persons who is not a purchaser preapproved by the City.)
184
Policy 3.10: Safe Harbors Adoption and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The purpose and intent of this policy is to address the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act("ACA")which was enacted on March 23, 2010. The City has shared responsibility as an
employer under the ACA and is required to report on health insurance coverage per the
guidelines of the ACA and the Internal Revenue Code. The City of Moorpark is considered a
large employer under the ACA and Section 4980H of the ACA imposes an assessable
payment on an applicable large employer when in violation of the ACA. The City intends to
use the affordability safe harbors as contemplated in the final regulations and to use good
faith efforts to comply with legal requirements under the ACA even though such final
regulations have not yet been fully developed.
1. The City hereby establishes the Look Back Measurement Method Safe Harbor with
regard to all employees for the purpose of identifying full-time employees for IRS
reporting purposes relating to the Assessable Payment.
2. The City does not establish the Look Back Measurement Method Safe Harbor for the
purpose of determining eligibility for an offer of medical coverage as to any employee.
All represented employees' eligibility for an offer of medical coverage shall be
governed by the terms of any applicable memorandum of understanding.
3. For each reasonable category of employees, the City in its sole discretion, but on a
uniform and consistent basis for all of the employees in a reasonable category, will
apply one of the three affordability safe-harbors (i.e. Form W-2 Safe Harbor, Rate of
Pay Safe Harbor, or Federal Poverty Line Safe Harbor)to determine the affordability
of the minimum value coverage that it may, if applicable, offer to its full-time
employees.
4. The City Council hereby delegates the following Safe Harbors Adoption and the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) authority to the City Manager, including his/her
designee(s) to approve operational procedures:
A. Creation of an ACA administrative procedure that establishes measurement
administrative, and stability periods; governs the measurement and tracking of
employees' hours of service; and/or otherwise establishes procedures in
accordance with Section 4980H to comply with the Look Back Measurement
Method Safe Harbor.
B. Establishment of the administrative procedure to comply with any of the three
affordability safe harbors in accordance with and as permitted by Section
4980H.
C. Ability to modify the administrative procedure to ensure the City's compliance
with Sections 4980H and 6056 of the Internal Revenue Code.
D. Authority to approve additional City contributions towards health insurance as
is required to keep the employee payment affordable under the ACA.
185