STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 4
2/27/2024
JC
Date: February 27, 2024
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Larissa De La Cruz, Director – Community Development Christopher Aune, Housing Manager
Subject: Adopt the Resolution No. ______ authorizing application to and participation in the Prohousing Designation Program
Recommendations:
Adopt the Resolution No. ______ authorizing application to and participation in the Prohousing Designation Program
Authorize the City Manager or his designee to:
A. Submit a Prohousing Designation Program application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and
B. Execute all documents deemed necessary or appropriate to participate in the Prohousing Designation Program.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. The Prohousing Designation is intended to offer preferential grant scoring in State funding programs for Agencies that are determined to be Prohousing by HCD.
Background:
AB 101 (2019) established the Prohousing Designation Program administered by HCD, with the intent of allocating funds to jurisdictions that are proactive about addressing California’s housing crisis. The Program creates incentives for jurisdictions compliant with Housing Element requirements and that can demonstrate that they have enacted, or plan to enact, local policies that go beyond existing housing law.
The City of Lancaster has an opportunity to become one of the Prohousing Designation jurisdictions in the State, gaining a competitive advantage for critical grant funding.
The Prohousing Designation provides jurisdictions with a competitive advantage for critical 1 5
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affordable housing and infrastructure grant programs, including:
Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities (AHSC)
Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG)
Transformative Climate Communities (TCC)
Solutions for Congested Corridors
Local Partnership Program
Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)
It is anticipated that the state will identify additional programs in the future with priority benefits for local governments with a Prohousing Designation.
The application includes a self-scoring worksheet that provides between 1 and 3 points for each Prohousing policy. The legislation allows a jurisdiction to use existing and proposed programs to qualify for the designation. Additional points can be awarded for “enhancement factors” for policies that further implement specified Statewide goals. To earn the Prohousing Designation, a City must achieve a minimum score of 30 points. The City qualifies for inclusion in the program with a total of 39 points. The City’s application does not commit the City to any policies or programs not already adopted. The program criteria and self-scoring sheet is submitted to HCD as part of the City’s application.
Public Engagement:
Public notice of this hearing has been published in a widely circulated local newspaper, and hearing agendas for this meeting have been posted at City Hall, consistent with adopted notification procedures. Public comment on the item can be provided to the City Council through written correspondence prior to the meeting and through public testimony at the meeting.
Environmental Considerations:
The proposed report contemplates the receipt of State designation and will not result in a significant effect on the environment. Future projects that utilize grant funding will undergo California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. (CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) (the common-sense exemption); 15378(b)(4) (the creation of government funding mechanisms).
CA/js
Attachment:
1. Resolution No.