Agenda Item #12.1
For Council Meeting of: September 13, 2022
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MEGAN BASINGER, DIRECTOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
AMY LYLE, SUPERVISING PLANNER
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUBJECT: RESPONSES TO TWO 2021-2022 GRAND JURY REPORTS – AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGENDA ACTION: MOTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the City Manager, Housing and Community Services, and the Planning and Economic Development Department that the Council, by motion, authorize the Mayor to provide formal responses to two Sonoma County 2021-2022 Grand Jury Reports, “Affordable Housing: Past, Present and Future” and “Affordable Housing: Monitoring and Compliance.”
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 19, 2022, the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury issued its 2021-2022 Final Report, including reports on six separate Grand Jury investigations. Included are reports on the Grand Jury’s investigation into the availability of affordable housing in the County and evaluating the procedure used by the County of Sonoma and cities located within the county to monitor compliance by housing providers to affordable housing restrictions.
On June 14, 2022, the City received an advance copy of two investigation reports, entitled “Affordable Housing: Past, Present and Future” and “Affordable Housing: Monitoring and Compliance.” The Grand Jury has requested that the City of Santa Rosa prepare a response to certain of the Findings and Recommendations contained in each report. Pursuant to state law, the City’s response is due on September 17, 2022.
City staff has reviewed the Grand Jury reports and have prepared responses for Council’s review and approval. The final responses are to be signed by the Mayor and forwarded to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
BACKGROUND
Each year the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury investigates local government institutions and issues reports containing the results of these investigations. Each of the reports include formal Findings as well as Recommendations for improvement. The Grand Jury may request that governing bodies and department officials respond to the Findings and Recommendations. Pursuant to state law, these responses must be filed with the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court within ninety days of the issuance of the Grand Jury report.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
The City has received and prepared a response to the 2021-2022 Final Report Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury, attached as Attachment 1 to this staff report, related to the Grand Jury’s county-wide investigation into the availability, monitoring and compliance relating to affordable housing and its regulation.
The Grand Jury described the purpose of its investigation as follows:
Affordable Housing: Past, Present and Future – “Do It, or the State Will Do It For You” addresses availability of affordable housing in the county, and what actions are required to meet State mandates in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation.
The 26-page report includes twenty-four Findings and eight Recommendations. The Grand Jury has asked the City of Santa Rosa to respond to seventeen of the Findings and eight of the Recommendations.
The City’s draft response to the Grand Jury Report is attached as Attachment 2 to this staff report for Council review.
2. Affordable Housing: Monitoring and Compliance – “Who is Watching the Henhouse?” evaluates the procedure used by the County and cities to monitor compliance by housing providers to affordable housing regulations.
The 13-page report includes eleven Findings and eight Recommendations. The Grand Jury has asked the City of Santa Rosa to acknowledge the Findings and seven of the eight Recommendations.
The City’s draft response to the Grand Jury Report is attached as Attachment 3 to this staff report for Council review.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment, and no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – 2021-2022 Final Report Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Attachment 2 – City’s Response to Grand Jury Report “Affordable Housing: Past, Present and Future” Attachment 3 – City’s Response to Grand Jury Report “Affordable Housing: Monitoring and Compliance” Attachment 4 – Letter to Presiding Judge
CONTACT
Megan Basinger, Director of Housing & Community Services Amy Lyle, Supervising Planner
Planning and Economic Development Dpartment
RESPONSE TO 2021-2022 GRAND JURY REPORT – AFFORDABLE HOUSING PAGE 3 OF 3