City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 21, 2023
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2022 Draft General Plan Annual Progress Report to be Submitted to the State of California Housing and Community Development Department.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Gonzales City Council and Planning Commission take the following actions:
• Receive the staff report;
• Receive the presentation from staff; and
• Provide comments and direction.
BACKGROUND
This is a report due to the State of California on an annual basis. The last time the City of Gonzales submitted such a report to the State of California is unknown. These reports are meant to keep the Goals, Policies and Programs of the General Plan fresh with each City; that they look at them, implement them, and adjust them and add or remove components in a yearly engaged manner. General Plans are meant to be kept at the forefront in our decision making.
What is different this year is that the state has changed its engagement in these matters and are now holding City’s and County’s more accountable to submitting complete annual reports for Housing Element progress and General Plan Implementation progress and effectively insisting that City’s’ reports be current and up to date, before submitting additional critical reports such as the developing 6th Cycle Housing Element Update.
AGENDA
ITEM
2 Staff recently completed two back-logged years of reporting for the Housing Element Annual Report (2021 and 2022, and this draft report for the General Plan Annual Report for the reporting year of 2022, should bring us current.
REVIEW & ANALYSIS
Key Sections of the attached draft report are in Sections 4, Parts A and B, and Section 7.
Section 4 reports on measures associated with the implementation of the general plan with specific reference to an individual element.
• PART A consists of progress of mitigation measures identified in the 2010 General Plan to mitigate known potential impacts.
• PART B. Upon the adoption of the innovative Health and Wellness Element in 2018 though, there were new Goals, Policies and Implementation Actions built into the City’s General Plan that have yet to be reported. Part B addresses the 22 Goals, 62 Policies and 156 Implementing Actions of the General Plan’s Health and Wellness Element.
Section 7 of the report to the State shares the City’s priorities for land use decision-making that have been established by the local legislative body (City Council). In short: Housing is the City’s foremost expressed priority.
Please review the attached report. Staff will be ready to receive directions, additional context, will be ready to learn of items or accomplishments known that may have been missed, or otherwise. Following the Council’s joint discussion with the Planning Commission, staff anticipates making final edits to the Report and submitting it on behalf of the City to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA)
Consideration of the General Plan Annual Progress report does not constitute a project under CEQA. A "project" is defined as a "whole action" subject to a public agency's discretionary funding or approval that has the potential to either (1) cause a direct physical change in the environment or (2) cause a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
How the Recommendation Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: Review of General Plan Annual Progress Reports serve to keep the Goals, Policies and Actions of the General Plan fresh and current with the City leadership and staff. All Goals, Policies and Actions serve to further the values and ideals of the community.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ____ No____ N/A
Explain: Review of General Plan Annual Progress Reports serve to keep the Goals, Policies and Actions of the General Plan fresh and current with the City leadership and staff. All Goals, Policies and Actions serve to further the values and ideals of the community.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. X Yes ____No ____ N/A Explain: Review of General Plan Annual Progress Reports serve to keep the Goals, Policies and Actions of the General Plan fresh and current with the City leadership and staff. All Goals, Policies and Actions serve to further the values and ideals of the community.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing X Yes No N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: See Vision explanation above.
ALTERNATIVES
Direct staff to amend or modify the 2022 Draft General Plan Annual Progress Report. Should the direction be substantial, the City Council could direct that the report be revised and returned at a later date for additional discussion and Council review.
BUDGET IMPACT
Submittal of the Annual Progress Report will allow the City’s other and subsequent reports to be received well by the Housing and Community Development Department. Should those reports be restricted from submittal, such as the 6th Cycle Housing Element, those delays could interfere with several funding opportunities relied upon by the City.
CONCLUSION
Please provide comments and direction to staff.
Attachments:
1. Draft Combined 2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report