TO: RULES AND OPEN FROM: Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Councilmember David Cohen
SUBJECT: Housing Element DATE: September 22, 2022
Approved Date: September 22, 2022
RECOMMENDATION
Direct the City Manager and the City Clerk to agendize a City Council discussion regarding the Housing Element after receiving the formal letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). This discussion would allow the Council, in a public forum, to provide direction regarding the Site Inventory, Housing Goals and Strategies, and any other component of the Housing Element that may need to be revised in response to HCD comments to comply with state law.
BACKGROUND
We commend staff’s comprehensive and thoughtful work in preparing the City’s draft Housing Element. Efforts to engage and solicit input from targeted stakeholder groups were sincere, transparent, and effective, and many of the priorities of these groups have been incorporated into the draft. The Site Inventory reflects our city’s intention to meet the new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requirement to create housing opportunities in resource-rich neighborhoods.
Nevertheless, we recommend agendizing a discussion by the Council after the City has received the formal comment letter from HCD, which is likely to direct the City to make substantive revisions to the Housing Element to comply with state law. Cities like San Francisco and Redwood City, which have already received comments, will have to make significant modifications to achieve compliance. Many neighboring cities, including Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos, have provided their city councils with multiple opportunities to provide direction regarding the preparation of their Housing Element drafts. Similarly, our Council should be provided the same opportunity to review and adjust the Housing Element after we receive feedback from HCD. This will serve as a helpful “check-in” prior to final adoption in Spring 2023.
RULES COMMITTEE: 9/28/2022
ITEM: C.2