STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of September 12, 2023
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Timothy Rood, AICP, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Response to Grand Jury Report No. 2306 on Affordable Housing RECOMMENDED ACTION:
By minute order, approve a draft response letter to the Grand Jury Report and direct staff to submit the letter to the Grand Jury.
BACKGROUND:
On June 17, 2023, the City received a letter dated June 16, 2023 from the Contra Costa County Grand Jury (Attachment A) requesting the City’s response to Grand Jury Report No. 2306, Affordable Housing: “A Plan Without a Home” (Attachment B) as prepared by the 2022-2023 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury. In accordance with California Penal Code Section 933 et seq. the City Council is responsible for responding to the report’s findings and recommendations. The response must be submitted to the Grand Jury no later than September 13, 2022.
As noted in its summary, the Grand Jury report found that most cities and the County were not providing the required number of housing permits primarily for very low- and low-income resident housing. The report sought to understand who in local government is responsible for implementation of approved housing plans and why those plans were failing to meet permit targets for very low- and low-income residents.
ANALYSIS:
In collaboration with the Contra Costa County Collaborative (C4), City staff prepared the attached draft response to the Grand Jury report for the Council’s consideration (Attachment C). C4 is a county-based group of agencies that share consulting resources as they work together to address their housing priorities. Planning Collaboratives are staffed by consultants who work with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to complement technical assistance offered at the state and regular levels and to deliver tailored trainings and products to each jurisdiction. ABAG is providing funding to support C4 and other collaboratives through 2023.
As required, the letter includes the City Council’s response to each of the findings and recommendations in the Grand Jury Report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attach 1- June 16, 2023 letter from Grand Jury
Attach 2- Grand Jury Report No. 2306
Attach 3- Draft response letter