COUNCIL POLICY
Subject:
Policy
Number
Effective
Date
Number
of Pages
PROVISION OF PRIORITY WATER
SERVICE TO RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS
200-20 09/26/2023 Page 1 of 2
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide the City of Santa Rosa’s written policy on the prioritization of providing water service to residential developments with affordable housing units.
II. BACKGROUND
Government Code Section 65589.7 requires agencies which provide water or sewer services to adopt written policies and procedures which provide for priority of the provision of water and sewer services to proposed housing developments that help meet the regional need for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income housing and bans the denial or the conditioning of approval of an application for services, or reducing the amount of the services applied for, merely because a proposed development includes affordable housing components, except in limited circumstances.
III. POLICY
A. Water Service
The City of Santa Rosa, to the extent practical, will provide water service when:
1) Sufficient water supply and distribution capacity is available to accommodate the demand approved by the City within the service area, in accordance with the General Plan;
2) The proposed development can be served water in a fashion that meets the City’s criteria. Approval of applications for connection to the City’s water system shall not be based on the presence or absence of affordable housing or low-income households.
B. Provision of Service During Times of Available Capacity In times where the City of Santa Rosa has available water supply and capacity in its water distribution system, the provision of public water service to eligible residential housing developments will be on an income neutral basis.
C. Provision of Service During Times of Limited Capacity In the event of service limitations due to supply, capacity or regulatory constraints, water service priority shall be given to planned developments that include housing units affordable to extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households in accordance with Government Code Section 65589.7 (SB 1087, 2005), and the limitations set therein.
D. Service Approval and Application Review
The City shall not deny or condition approval of an application for services to or reduced the amount of services applied for by a proposed development that includes housing units affordable to extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households, unless the City makes specific
COUNCIL POLICY
Subject:
Policy
Number
Effective
Date
Number
of Pages
PROVISION OF PRIORITY WATER
SERVICE TO RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS
200-20 09/26/2023 Page 2 of 2
written findings that the denial, condition or reduction is necessary due to the existence of one or more of the following:
1) The City does not have sufficient water supply available, as demonstrated by written engineering analysis and a report on the condition of the water supply, to serve the needs of the proposed development.
2) The City does not have sufficient water system transmission capacity available, as demonstrated by written engineering analysis and a report on the condition of the water system transmission capacity, to serve the needs of the proposed development. 3) The applicant has failed to agree to reasonable terms and conditions relating to the provision of water service generally applicable to development projects seeking water service from the City, including but not limited to, the requirements of local, state or federal laws and regulations or payment of demand fees.
E. Review and Adoption/Readoption
At least once every five years after July 1, 2006, the City Council shall review and adopt, or readopt, a policy and procedures regarding the prioritization for provision of water services to proposed developments that include housing units affordable to extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households. This policy and procedures shall take into account the following information:
1) Regulations and restrictions adopted by the City relating to water shortage emergencies; and
2) The availability of water supplies as determined by the City pursuant to its most recently adopted Urban Water Management Plan.
Adopted by Resolution No. xxxxx September 26, 2023
Adopted by Resolution No. RES-2017-231 December 5, 2017 Adopted by Resolution No. 27963 August 30, 2011
Adopted by Resolution No. 26691 October 17, 2006