RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROLLING HILLS ESTABLISHING A REIMBURSEMENT POLICY
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE §§ 53232.2 AND
53232.3.
The City Council of the City of Rolling Hills does resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. Elected and appointed City Officials are responsible for promoting and protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Among other things, these duties may require City Officials to:
1. Discuss the City’s concerns with state and federal
officials;
2. Participate in regional, state and national organizations that affect the City’s interests;
3. Attend educational seminars designed to improve City Officials’ skills and provide information; and
4. Promote public service and morale.
5. Attend meetings, ceremonial events and other activities sponsored by constituents, neighborhood groups, business organizations and similar groups.
6. Meet with constituents, civic groups and others with an interest in the City.
B. It is in the public interest to reimburse City Officials’ expenses incurred in connection with these activities consistent with the provisions of this Resolution.
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. This Resolution is adopted in accordance with Government Code §§ 53232.2 and 53232.3 so that the City of Rolling Hills may reimburse appropriate expenses incurred by elected and appointed City officials while on authorized travel or otherwise engaged in the conduct of City business. Absent City Council approval, and only in extraordinary circumstances, the City will not reimburse City Officials an amount greater than allowed by this Resolution for expenses incurred during the course of conducting City business.
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SECTION 3. Definitions. Unless the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the following definitions govern the construction of the words and phrases used in this Resolution:
A. “City Officials” means members of the City Council and members of boards, commissions, and committees appointed by the City Council; B. “Reimbursement” means all forms of payment for expenses incurred by City Officials in the course of their official duties whether paid directly by the City (including without limitation, with a City-issued credit card) or advanced by City Officials with personal funds and later reimbursed from City funds.
SECTION 4. City Business – Authorized Activities.
A. Expenses incurred while engaging in the following City business activities are generally authorized expenses if all requirements of this Resolution are fulfilled:
1. Communicating with representatives of regional, state and national government on City adopted policy positions;
2. Attending educational seminars designed to improve City Officials’ skill and information levels. A list of recognized meetings is attached as Exhibit “A,” and incorporated by reference;
3. Participating in regional, state and national organizations whose activities affect the City’s interests;
4. Recognizing service to the City (for example, thanking a longtime employee with a retirement gift or celebration of nominal value and cost);
5. Attending City events; and
6. Attending meetings with constituents, neighborhood
groups, and business organizations.
B. Expenditures incurred in connection with activities or events not listed in Paragraph A above require prior approval by the City Council. In addition, the following require City Council preauthorization:
1. Out-of-state travel (including international); and
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2. Expenses foreseeably exceeding $1,000 per trip.
C. Notwithstanding any other portion of this Resolution, the annual limit (per fiscal year) for reimbursable expenses for each City Official shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Any expenses incurred above this limit require approval by the City Council. .
SECTION 5. Unauthorized Expenses: The City will not reimburse City Officials for expenses incurred outside the scope of the City Official’s duties including, for example and not limitation, the following:
A. The personal portion of any trip. For example, if a City Official elects to travel to an event in advance or stay longer on personal business, the City need only reimburse the City Official for roundtrip travel costs and costs incurred during the event’s duration;
B. Political or charitable contributions or events;
C. Family expenses, including partner’s expenses when accompanying a City Official on City-related business, as well as children-related expenses;
D. Entertainment expenses, including theater, movies (either in-room or at the theater), sporting events, or other non-business cultural events; E. Non-mileage personal automobile expenses, including repairs, traffic citations, insurance or gasoline; and
F. Personal losses incurred while on City business.
G. Expenses for which City Officials receive reimbursement from another agency are not reimbursable.
Any questions regarding the propriety of a particular type of expense should be resolved by the City Council before the expense is incurred.
SECTION 6. Transportation.
A. Generally. City Officials must use the most economical mode and class of transportation reasonably consistent with scheduling needs and cargo space requirements, using the most direct and time-efficient route.
Government and group rates must be used when available.
B. Airfare. Airfares that are equal or less than those available through the Enhanced Local Government Airfare Program offered through the League 211
of California Cities (www.cacities.org/travel), the California State Association of Counties (www.csac.counties.org/default.asp?id=635) and the State of California are presumed to be the most economical and reasonable for purposes of reimbursement under this policy.
C. Automobile.
1. Automobile mileage is reimbursed at Internal Revenue Service rates presently in effect (see www.irs.gov). For 2006the final six (6) months of 2022, the rate is 44.562.5 cents per mile. These rates are designed to compensate the driver for gasoline, insurance, maintenance, and other
expenses associated with operating the vehicle. This amount does not include bridge and road tolls, which are also
reimbursable.
2. Only travel for City business outside of Rolling Hills is authorized for reimbursement.
3. A City Official may leave from his/her home for City business. However, the City will not reimburse mileage that exceeds mileage from City Hall to the destination point.
D. Car Rental. Rental rates that are equal or less than those available through the State of California’s website
(www.catravelsmart.com/default.htm) are considered the most economical and reasonable for purposes of reimbursement under this policy.
E. Taxis/Shuttles. Taxis or shuttles fares may be reimbursed, including a 15 percent gratuity per fare, when the cost of such fares is equal or less than the cost of car rentals, gasoline and parking combined, or when such transportation is necessary for time-efficiency.
F. Airport Parking. Long-term parking must be used for travel exceeding 24-hours.
G. Other. Baggage handling fees of up to $1 per bag and gratuities of up to 15 percent will be reimbursed.
SECTION 7. Lodging.
A. Lodging expenses will be reimbursed only at the single occupancy rate for rooms.
B. Lodging expenses will be reimbursed for when travel on official City business reasonably requires an overnight stay.
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C. Conferences/Meetings. If lodging is associated with a conference, lodging expenses must not exceed the group rate published by the conference sponsor for the meeting in question if such rates are available at the time of booking.
D. Other Lodging. Travelers must request government rates, when available. A listing of hotels offering government rates in different areas is available at www.catravelsmart.com/lodguideframes.htm. Lodging rates that are equal or less to government rates are presumed to be reasonable and hence reimbursable for purposes of this policy. In the event that government rates are not available at a given time or in a given area, lodging rates that do not exceed the IRS per diem rates for a given area are presumed reasonable and hence reimbursable.
SECTION 8. Meals and Incidental Expenses.
A. For meals associated with City business within the County of Los Angeles, a City Official may be reimbursed for his or her own meal up to the following amounts upon presentation of receipts and documentation of the nature of City business conducted during which the expense was incurred:
Breakfast: $ 15.00
Lunch: $ 25.00
Dinner: $ 35.00
B. For meals associated with City business outside of the County of Los Angeles where an overnight stay is required, a City Official may claim a per diem in accordance with the meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates established by IRS Publication 1542.
1. The time calculations for per diem starts when the City Official begins travel. For each 24-hour period thereafter, the City Official can claim the full per diem amount.
2. If there is a period of time at the end of the trip that is less than 12 hours, the City Official cannot claim more than onehalf (1/2) the per diem rate.
3. Receipts are not required to claim per diem.
4. Any reimbursement claim for expenses that exceed the per diem rate may constitute additional income for tax
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purposes.
C. The City does not pay for alcohol/personal bar expenses.
D. This policy is not applicable to meals provided in connection with City sponsored events and promotional activities. Records, including a list of those entertained, affiliation and purpose of entertainment to benefit the City must be maintained.
SECTION 9. Telephone/Fax/Cellular. City Officials will be reimbursed for actual telephone and fax expenses incurred on City business. Telephone bills should identify which calls were made on City business. For cellular calls when the City Official has a particular number of minutes included in the City Official’s plan, the City Official can identify the percentage of calls made on public business.
SECTION 10. Cash Advance Policy.
A. From time to time, it may be necessary for a City Official to request a cash advance to cover anticipated expenses while traveling or doing business on the City’s behalf. Such request for an advance should be submitted to the City Manager one day before the need for the advance with the following information:
1. The purpose of the expenditure(s);
2. The benefits of such expenditure to the residents of the City;
3. The anticipated amount of the expenditure(s) (for
example, hotel rates, meal costs, and transportation
expenses); and
4. The dates of the expenditure(s).
B. Any unused advance must be returned to the City’s Finance Department within seven business days of the City Official’s return, along with an expense report and receipts documenting how the advance was used in compliance with this Resolution.
C. In the event the City Manager is uncertain as to whether a request complies with this policy, the City Manager must seek City Council approval.
SECTION 11. Credit Card Use Policy.
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A. City does not issue credit cards to individual City Officials but does have a credit card for selected City expenses. City Officials may use the City’s credit card for such purposes as airline tickets and hotel reservations by following the same procedures for cash advances.
Receipts documenting expenses incurred on the City credit card and compliance with this policy must be submitted within five business days of use.
B. City credit cards may not be used for personal expenses, even if the City Official subsequently reimburses the City.
SECTION 12. Expense Report Content And Submission Deadline.
A. All cash advance expenditures, credit card expenses and expense reimbursement requests must be submitted on an expense report form provided by the City and must explicitly list each expense eligible for reimbursement under this policy (e.g., name of conference and fee to attend, miles traveled for conference, meal at conference, etc.).
B. Expense reports must document that the expense in question met the requirements of this policy. For example, if a meeting is with a legislator, the City Official should explain whose meals were purchased, what issues were discussed and how those relate to the City’s adopted legislative positions and priorities.
C. City Officials must submit their expense reports within thirty (30) days after an expense is incurred, accompanied by receipts documenting each expense. Restaurant receipts, in addition to any credit card receipts, are also part of the necessary documentation. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, all reimbursement requests for each fiscal year must be submitted before June 30 of the fiscal year in which the expenses were incurred. For the avoidance of doubt, if a reimbursable expense is incurred on June 29, the City official must submit either the day of the expense (June 29) or the day after (June 30) to be eligible for reimbursement.
D. Inability to provide such documentation in a timely fashion may result in the expense being borne by the City Official.
E. All expenses are subject to verification that they comply with this policy.
SECTION 13. Reports to City Council. At the City Council meeting following an activity, each City Official must briefly report on meetings attended at City expense. If multiple City Officials attended, a joint report may be made.
SECTION 14. Compliance With Laws. Some expenditures may be subject 215
to reporting under the Political Reform Act and other laws. All agency expenditures are public records subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
SECTION 15. Violation Of This Policy. Use of public resources or falsifying expense reports in violation of this Resolution may result in any or all of the following:
A. Loss of reimbursement privileges;
B. A demand for restitution to the City;
C. The City’s reporting the expenses as income to the City Official to state and federal tax authorities;
D. Civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day and three times the value of the resources used; and
E. Prosecution for misuse of public resources.
SECTION 16. If any part of this Resolution or its application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are severable.
SECTION 17. The City Clerk is directed to certify the passage and adoption of this Resolution; cause it to be entered into the City of Rolling Hills book of original Resolutions; make a note of the passage and adoption in the records of this meeting; and, within fifteen (15) days after the passage and adoption of this Resolution, cause it to be published or posted in accordance with California law.
SECTION 18. This Resolution will become effective immediately upon its adoption.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this ____ day of _________, 2022.
__________________________
____________, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
___________, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________
___________, City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
_________________________
____________, City Manager
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EXHIBIT A
Name of Conference
Length
(In Days)
Any conference or travel approved in advance by
the City Council.
To be determined
League of California Cities Annual Conference 4
Annual Meeting of the Employee Relations Inst.
League of California Cities
4 Annual League of California Cities Conference for
Planning Commissioners
3 Annual Legislative Conference League of California
Cities
1 National Conference of the International City/County
Managers Association
4 Mayors and Councilmembers Institute League of
California Cities
3 California Joint Powers Authority Annual Meeting 1
Annual Meeting of the California Chapter of the
American Institute of Planners
4 National Conference of American Institute of
Planners (AIP)
4 Annual Conference of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 4 Annual Meeting of California Contract Cities
Association
3 Legislative Orientation Tour (California Contract
Cities Association)
3 League of California Cities Mayors and
Councilmembers Department
3 League of California Cities Annual Redevelopment
Conference
3 California JPIA Risk Management Conference 2
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EVENT NAME HERE - Councilmember NAME HERE
Date(s) HERE
Description ESTIMATED ACTUAL Paid By City Reimbursable
$ -
$ -
$ - TOTAL
TOTAL $ - $ - $ - $ -
Reimbursable expenses to be paid to: Check amount: $ -
Name
Street
Rolling Hills, CA 90274
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Agenda Item No.: 14.A
Mtg. Date: 08/08/2022
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN SIGNO, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY SERVICES THRU: ELAINE JENG P.E., CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE ON A SECOND REVIEW BY
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT (HCD) OF THE DRAFT SIXTH CYCLE HOUSING
ELEMENT
DATE: August 08, 2022
BACKGROUND:
State law requires all cities and counties in California to adopt a Housing Element as part of their General Plans. The Housing Element must be updated every eight years and certified by the State. Through the Housing Element, each jurisdiction must demonstrate that it is accommodating its fair share of the region’s housing needs and taking proactive measures to accommodate housing of all types for persons of all incomes. All cities and counties are subject to this requirement, regardless of their size, physical constraints, or real estate market characteristics.
The current Housing Element cycle (referred to as the “6th Cycle”) extends from October 15, 2021 through October 15, 2029. To comply with State law, Rolling Hills must show that it has the capacity to add 45 housing units during this period, including 29 that are affordable to lowand very low-income households. The City is not required to build 45 housing units; rather, it must demonstrate that it has created the opportunity for the private and non-profit sectors to do so. There are numerous other Housing Element requirements, including a mandate to affirmatively further fair housing, programs to remove government constraints to housing development, and requirements to allow specific housing types (such as emergency shelters) in every jurisdiction.
The City’s housing strategy is to meet its 45-unit Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) through a combination of an affordable housing overlay zone on the Rancho Del Mar School site (16 units) and the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs—at a rate of roughly five units a year). The City published its Draft 6th Cycle Element on December 3, 2021 and circulated this draft for a State-mandated 30-day review period. The Planning Commission convened a hearing on December 16, 2021 to discuss the Draft and provide an opportunity for public comment during the 30-day period.
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On January 10, 2022, the Rolling Hills City Council directed staff to submit a working draft of the 2021-2029 Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for their review. All California cities are required to have their documents reviewed by HCD before adopting them. Once HCD receives the Draft, it has 90 days to issue a “findings” letter indicating the revisions to the document that are needed to receive State certification. Rolling Hills submitted its draft on January 11, 2022 and received its State comments on April 11, 2022. The State indicated that the City had met many of the statutory requirements but indicated the Element required revision before it could be certified. Their findings letter requested 34 changes, some of which were specific and others that were more generalized. The HCD comment letter is included as Attachment “A” of this staff report.
On April 22, 2022, City staff and its Housing Element consultant met with the HCD reviewer by Zoom to go over the State’s comments. The reviewer provided guidance on how the City could respond to some of the comments. The City then prepared written responses to each of the 34 HCD comments. The City’s responses are included as Attachment “B” of this staff report. Concurrently, the City revised the December Draft to incorporate all changes requested by the State. Both a “tracked change” and “clean” copy were produced, making it easier for City officials, the public, and State reviewers to see the changes between the two documents. The new version of the document is referred to as the “Adoption Draft.” (the prior version was referred to as the “HCD Draft).” The tracked change and clean versions are included with this staff report and are referred to as Attachments C and D, respectively.
On May 17, 2022, the Rolling Hills Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed revisions to the Housing Element. The hearing provided an opportunity for public comment as well as an opportunity to discuss proposed changes. No public comments were received at the meeting.
On May 23, 2022, the City Council held a public hearing on the revised draft Housing Element and instructed staff to forward the document to HCD for a second round of review. The revised draft Housing Element was sent to HCD the next day.
DISCUSSION:
HCD completed its review of the revised draft Housing Element on July 21, 2022. The amount of comments were reduced from 34 in its initial review to just five. Below is a summary of HCD's remaining comments:
1. Include additional metrics showing the number of people or households that may benefit from the Housing Programs. The City has already included this in Table 6-2 (quantified objectives), but apparently HCD would like a few more measurable targets.
2. Include additional programs (or improving existing programs) that make it easier for nonresidents to move to Rolling Hills.
3. Take additional steps to increase housing choices—the examples include allowing two JADUs on a single lot, developing a homeowner assistance program, and/or providing down payment assistance.
4. Allow supportive housing in zones where multi-family and mixed uses are permitted (e.g., on the Rancho Del Mar site). This is a new State law.
5. Include data on the time lag between when a project is entitled and when an applicant pulls their building permit.
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Staff and its consultant, Barry Miller, will be meeting with HCD staff to discuss the comments.
The initial meeting scheduled for August 2, 2022, was postponed and was rescheduled to August 5, 2022. The results of this meeting will be reported by staff at the Council meeting.
Staff will continue to work with HCD in the next few weeks to further address issues.
Concurrently, staff is working with its environmental consultant, Chambers Group, to prepare a mitigated negative declaration (MND) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. The MND is expected to be circulated to the public from August to early September.
It is expected that the Housing Element and MND will be ready for Planning Commission and City Council review in late September.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Housing Element is a planning document that establishes policies for the City of Rolling Hills and will not have a direct fiscal impact on the City. Certification of the Element provides an indirect positive fiscal impact by reducing legal risks and qualifying the City for State planning grants. The City was awarded $65,000 from HCD through the Local Early Action Planning Grants Program (LEAP) to help fund the Housing Element. Remaining costs are paid through the FY2021-2022 General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file.
ATTACHMENTS:
madRollingHillsdraft7212022.pdf
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-2911 / FAX (916) 263-7453
www.hcd.ca.gov
July 21, 2022
John F. Signo, Director
Planning & Community Services Department
City of Rolling Hills
2 Portuguese Bend Road
Rolling Hills, CA 90274
Dear John F. Signo:
RE: City of Rolling Hills’ 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Revised Draft Housing Element Thank you for submitting the City of Rolling Hills’ revised draft housing element received for review on May 24, 2022. Pursuant to Government Code section 65585, subdivision (b), the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is reporting the results of its review.
The revised draft element addresses many statutory requirements described in HCD’s April 11, 2022 review; however, revisions will be necessary to comply with State Housing Element Law (Article 10.6 of the Gov. Code). The revisions needed are as follows:
1. Affirmatively further[ing] fair housing in accordance with Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8899.50) of Division 1 of Title 2…shall include an assessment of fair housing in the jurisdiction. (Gov. Code, § 65583, subd. (c)(10)(A).)
Promote and affirmatively further fair housing opportunities and promote housing throughout the community or communities for all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, color, familial status, or disability, and other characteristics... (Gov. Code, § 65583, subd. (c)(5).) Strategies, Actions, Metrics, and Milestones: While the element included some revisions, additional revisions will be needed to address HCD’s prior review, as follows:
• Metrics: The element did not address this finding. As found in HCD’s prior review, the element must include quantifiable metrics or numerical objectives to target beneficial impacts for people, households, and 229
John F. Signo, Director
neighborhoods (e.g., number of people or households assisted, number of housing units built, number of parks or infrastructure projects completed).
In addition, HCD’s prior review found that the element must include significant and meaningful actions to address promoting housing mobility and increasing housing choices and affordability in higher opportunity areas. While the element was revised to reference specific programs, additional revisions will be needed, as follows:
• Housing Mobility: Promoting housing mobility removes barriers to higher opportunity areas and strategically enhances access to housing choices and affordability. Given, among other things, that the City is entirely highest category of disparities in access opportunity and largely does not reflect the socio-economic characteristics of the broader region, the element must include significant actions to promote housing mobility within the City and relative to the region to promote an overall inclusive community. To address this requirement, the element relied on the City’s one affordable housing site to accommodate the regional housing need allocation (RHNA) and fair housing enforcement and outreach programs.
However, actions should go beyond the RHNA and be significant to facilitate meaningful change. The element could consider improving existing programs or including new programs related to homesharing, promoting a city-wide affordable rental registry for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) paired with affirmative marketing outside of the City and coordination with regional entities.
• Increasing Housing Choices and Affordability in Higher Opportunity Areas:
To address this finding, the element relied on actions that are required to comply with state law including updating the City’s density bonus program and allowing for transitional, supportive, group, and employee housing.
However, to increase housing choices and affordability throughout the City, the element should consider going above and beyond state law such as allowing two JADUs on a single family lot, developing and marketing a homeowner rehabilitation and/or down payment assistance program, etc.
For additional examples, please see pages 72 to 74 of HCD’s AFFH Guidance Memo at https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/affh/index.shtml.
2. An inventory of land suitable and available for residential development, including vacant sites and sites having realistic and demonstrated potential for redevelopment during the planning period to meet the locality’s housing need for a designated income level, and an analysis of the relationship of zoning and public facilities and services to these sites. (Gov. Code, § 65583, subd. (a)(3).) 230
John F. Signo, Director
Zoning for a Variety of Housing Types (Permanent and Supportive Housing): The element was revised with a program to define supportive housing and permit it as a residential use, similar to other residential uses. However, the element still must address the requirements under Government Code section 65651. As found in the prior review, Supportive housing shall be a use by-right in zones where multifamily and mixed uses are permitted, including nonresidential zones permitting multifamily uses pursuant to Government Code section 65651. The element must demonstrate compliance with this requirement or add or modify programs as appropriate.
3. An analysis of potential and actual nongovernmental constraints upon the maintenance, improvement, or development of housing for all income levels, including the… …the length of time between receiving approval for a housing development and submittal of an application for building permits for that housing development that hinder the construction of a locality’s share of the regional housing need in accordance with Government Code section 65584... (Gov. Code, § 65583, subd. (a)(6).)
Approval Time: The element was revised to include a discussion on the time between entitlements and construction and the current conditions of the construction market. However, this does not address HCD’s prior review.
Specifically, the element must be revised to include an estimate for the length of time between receiving approval for housing development and submittal of an application for building permits that potentially hinder the construction of a locality’s share of the regional housing need.
The element will meet statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law once it has been revised and adopted to comply with the above requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65585.
For your information: Pursuant to Government Code section 65583.3, subdivision (b), the City must utilize standards, forms, and definitions adopted by HCD when preparing the sites inventory (for all income-levels). Please see HCD’s housing element webpage at https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/housing-element/index.shtml for a copy of the form and instructions. Please note, upon adoption of the housing element, the City must submit an electronic version of the sites inventory with its adopted housing element to [email protected].
As a reminder, the City’s 6th cycle housing element was due October 15, 2021. As of today, the City has not completed the housing element process for the 6th cycle. The City’s 5th cycle housing element no longer satisfies statutory requirements. HCD encourages the City to revise the element as described above, adopt, and submit to HCD to regain housing element compliance.
Public participation in the development, adoption and implementation of the housing element is essential to effective housing planning. Throughout the housing element 231
John F. Signo, Director
process, the City should continue to engage the community, including organizations that represent lower-income and special needs households, by making information regularly available and considering and incorporating comments where appropriate. Please be aware, any revisions to the element must be posted on the local government’s website and to email a link to all individuals and organizations that have previously requested notices relating to the local government’s housing element at least seven days before submitting to HCD.
Several federal, state, and regional funding programs consider housing element compliance as an eligibility or ranking criteria. For example, the CalTrans Senate Bill (SB) 1 Sustainable Communities grant; the Strategic Growth Council and HCD’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities programs; and HCD’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation consider housing element compliance and/or annual reporting requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65400. With a compliant housing element, the City will meet housing element requirements for these and other funding sources.
For your information, some general plan element updates are triggered by housing element adoption. HCD reminds the City to consider timing provisions and welcomes the opportunity to provide assistance. For information, please see the Technical Advisories issued by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research at:
https://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html.
HCD appreciates the hard work of the City’s planning staff and consultants during our review. We are committed to assist the City in addressing all statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law. If you have any questions or need additional technical assistance, please contact Gianna Marasovich, of our staff, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager
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