HomeMy WebLinkAboutStatus ReportREPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT A. BRADY
CITY MANAGER
DATE: OCTOBER 26, 2010
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL CONCERNING THE
CITY'S DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT
At the request of Mayor Melendez, staff has prepared this status report concerning the
City's draft Housing Element.
Background
In February of 2008 the City launched the effort to prepare a new Housing Element, as
required by State Law. The City Council selected and contracted with Hogle- Ireland Inc.
to prepare an updated Housing Element, wherein the consultant would submit and
make necessary revisions in order to attain certification by the State Department of
Housing and Community Development.
In May 2008, the City Council and Planning Commission conducted a Joint Study
Session, and in August 2008 a Community Outreach Meeting was held. Preparation of
the draft Housing Element incorporated the direction and comments from these
meetings.
In November 2008, the Planning Commission and City Council approved the Preferred
Land Use Plan for the General Plan Update. Hogle- Ireland revised the land use /RHNA
analysis to reflect these land use designations before submitting the draft Housing
Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in
March 2009.
In May 2009, the City received a formal comment letter from HCD. Since that time,
Hogle- Ireland has engaged HCD and City staff in significant discussion and response to
those comments. A second draft Housing Element was submitted to HCD in March
2010. The City received a second formal comment letter from HCD on May 20, 2010,
Housing Element Report to Council
October 26, 2010
Page 2 of 2
which identified one remaining issue regarding a housing sites analysis to demonstrate
the adequacy of sites and zoning to accommodate the City's RHNA, including additional
lower- income housing units.
Discussion
Preparation of the City's Housing Element has run concurrently with the General Plan
Update and environmental review process. In order to ensure consistency and
accuracy among the various elements of the General Plan, including the Housing
Element, as well as the Climate Action Plan and the EIR, staff has undertaken a
comprehensive review of the base data and conversion factors utilized in these
documents. City staff, Hogle- Ireland, and other consultants, including Urban
Crossroads (traffic), RBF (EIR), and Rincon (CAP) have met to review the base data
and confirm consistency in methodology and assumptions applied to each of the
General Plan documents.
At this time, staff is providing to the City Council 1) a copy of the March 2009 Draft
Housing Element prepared by Hogle- Ireland, 2) a copy of the latest Formal Comment
Letter from HCD dated May 20, 2010, and 3) a Project Chronology from Hogle- Ireland
that details their performance to date.
Hogle- Ireland will update the land use /RHNA analysis consistent with the GIS base data
and conversion factors agreed upon in order to ensure that all potential dwelling units
are identified and that the Housing Element is consistent with the other General Plan
documents. Additional revisions will be made as necessary to address HCD comments
relative to the City's RHNA for lower income households. Hogle- Ireland will prepare the
final draft document for transmittal and approval by the State and submittal to the City
Council for adoption. Hogle- Ireland has prepared the attached summary of proposed
changes necessary to finalize the Housing Element (see Attachment No. 4).
Due to a commitment made prior to scheduling this report, Hogle- Ireland is not available
to attend the October 26, 2010 City Council meeting.
Recommendation
Receive and File.
Prepared by: Robert A. Brady, City Manager
Attachments:
1. Draft Housing Element, March 2010
2. Second Formal Comment Letter from the State Department of Housing and Community
Development dated May 20, 2010.
3. Hogle- Ireland Updated Project Chronology
4. Hogle- Ireland Proposed Changes to the Draft HE for Response to HCD