Resolution No. 2023-04-xxxx
April 25, 2023
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-04-xxxx
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES TO PRIORITIZE WATER AND SEWER
SERVICES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65589.7
WHEREAS, the California legislature declared that the lack of affordable housing is a matter of vital statewide importance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Signal Hill prepared and submitted its 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (HEU) to the State as required by law, and the State certified the HEU on October 13, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65589.7 enhances the priority granted to lower income housing by requiring public agencies that provide water or sewer services to adopt written policies and procedures with specific objective standards for providing priority service to lower income housing projects; and WHEREAS, the City’s HEU includes an implementation program to comply with Government Code 65589.7; and
WHEREAS, the sewer system that serves all residents and businesses in the City of Signal Hill is owned and maintained by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, and the City requested a copy of its affordable housing priority policies and the documents are pending; and
WHEREAS, the Signal Hill Public Works Water Department is responsible for the production, distribution, administration, and customer service of the water system and prepared policies compliant with Government Code 65589.7 regarding water service to affordable housing in the City.
Resolution No. 2023-04-xxxx
April 25, 2023
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Signal Hill, California, does resolve that the following Policies and Procedures are hereby adopted by the City in regular session assembled this 25th day of April 2023, with respect to continuing to provide priority service to lower income housing projects:
The City, pursuant to Government Code 65589.7, shall continue to devote its best efforts to plan for and, to a reasonable degree (as determined on a case-by-case basis), prioritize providing water services to the lower income housing projects as identified in the general plan adopted by the legislative body of the City and certified by the State, that pertains to development within the City’s boundaries.
Development projects that include lower income housing units shall not be denied approval of an application for service, nor shall conditions be imposed thereon, or services reduced which are applied for, unless the City makes specific written findings that the denial, condition, or reduction is necessary due to the existence of one or more of the following:
a) Insufficient water supply or insufficient water treatment or distribution;
b) A State Department of Health Services order prohibiting new water connections;
c) The applicant has failed to agree to reasonable terms and conditions; d) The proposed water connection poses any health and safety hazard to customers; and/or
e) The water connection inflicts any financial strain in the water enterprise fund or the City.
The City of Signal Hill has no ability to prioritize projects that require new or improvement of existing sewer systems as all sewer infrastructure is owned and maintained by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District.
Resolution No. 2023-04-xxxx
April 25, 2023
The City shall not discriminate in any manner when processing and considering requests for services by developments that include lower income housing units.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council this 25th day of April 2023.
_____
TINA L. HANSEN
MAYOR
ATTEST:
DARITZA GONZALEZ
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss
CITY OF SIGNAL HILL )
I, Daritza Gonzalez, City Clerk of the City of Signal Hill, California, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2023-04-xxxx was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Signal Hill held on the 25th day of April 2023, by the following vote.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
DARITZA GONZALEZ
CITY CLERK