RESOLUTION NO. RES-2023-008
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT’S PROHOUSING DESIGNATION PROGRAM WHEREAS, Government Code section 65589.9 established the Prohousing Designation Program ( “Program”) through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which creates incentives for jurisdictions that are compliant with state housing element requirements and that have enacted prohousing local policies; and WHEREAS, such jurisdictions will be designated Prohousing, and, as such, will receive additional points or other preference during the scoring of their competitive applications for specified housing and infrastructure funding; and WHEREAS, Santa Rosa’s existing Housing Element, which was adopted on July 29, 2014, has polices within it that supports the City applying for the Prohousing Designation; and WHEREAS, Santa Rosa has drafted the 6th cycle Housing Element and received formal comments from Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) on November 1, 2022 and is moving forward in the adoption process, which also supports the City applying for the Prohousing Designation; and WHEREAS, the Department has adopted emergency regulations (Cal. Code Regs., title. 25, § 6600 et seq.) (“Program Regulations”) to implement the Program, as authorized by Government Code section 65589.9, subdivision (d); and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Rosa desires to submit an application for a Prohousing Designation (“Application”) in order to take advantage of all opportunities and incentives related to housing production in alignment with Council and Community goals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Santa Rosa that:
The Director of the Planning and Economic Development Department (PED) is hereby authorized and directed to apply to HCD for Prohousing Designation.
The Council acknowledges and confirms that the City is currently in compliance with applicable state housing law, and is under HCD review for the 6th Cycle Housing Element.
The Council acknowledges and confirms that it will continue to comply with applicable housing laws and to refrain from enacting laws, developing policies, or taking other local governmental actions that may or do inhibit or constrain housing production. Examples of such local laws, policies, and action include moratoriums on development; local voter approval requirements related to housing production; downzoning; and unduly restrictive or onerous zoning regulations, development standards, or permit procedures.
The Council further acknowledges and confirms that it commits itself to affirmatively furthering fair housing pursuant to Government Code section 8899.50.
If the application is approved, the PED Director is hereby authorized and directed to enter into, execute, and deliver all documents required or deemed necessary or appropriate to participate in the Program, and all amendments thereto (the “Program Documents”).
The Council acknowledges and agrees that it shall be subject to the Application; the terms and conditions specified in the Program Documents; the Program Regulations (Emergency Regulations or Proposed Permanent Regulations, as applicable at the time of application); and any and all other applicable laws.
The PED Director is authorized to execute and deliver the Application and the Program Documents on behalf of the City for participation in the Program.
This action is not a “project” pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) (the creation of government funding mechanisms). In the alternative, the action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) because it can be seen with certainty that this application will have no possibility for causing a significant direct or indirect effect on the environment. Future projects that utilize grant funding will be reviewed consistent with the CEQA.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Planning and Economic Development Department Director in forwarding the Prohousing Designation Application to HCD for approval.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 24th day of January, 2023.
AYES: (7) Mayor N. Rogers, Vice Mayor MacDonald, Council Members Alvarez, Fleming, Okrepkie, C. Rogers, Stapp
NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
Assistant City Attorney
Reso. No. RES-2023-008
Resolution Template.doc