Special Meeting Agenda: 01-24-2023 Page 1
Posted: Friday, January 20, 2023
NOTICE AND CALL OF A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF
TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING COMMISSION, &
THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Trinidad City Council will hold a special joint meeting on TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023, at 6:00 PM
at the Trinidad Town Hall, 409 Trinity Street, Trinidad, CA.
CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION BEGINS AT 5:00PM
For your convenience, this meeting will also be held via videoconference, hosted on the Zoom platform. Learn more about Zoom here: https://zoom.us
PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment may be submitted via email in advance of the meeting, or in an orderly process during the meeting. If you do not have access to email and you would like to provide a written statement, please deliver your comments to 409 Trinity Street, Trinidad CA, by 2:00pm on the meeting day, or email to [email protected] HOW TO PARTICIPATE: You are invited to participate in person at the Trinidad Town Hall, or by Zoom. The City will publish a direct link to the Zoom teleconference, along with the participant code, on the City Calendar page online at http://trinidad.ca.gov/calendar
To phone in, dial 1-888-278-0296, Conference Code: 685171 Meeting ID: 879 9002 2804 Passcode: 157855 PLEASE NOTE that live meeting logistics will be prioritized. The quality of the Zoom teleconference meeting cannot be guaranteed. Technical challenges experienced by either the participant or the City will not interrupt or halt progress of the meeting.
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION
IV. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION - City Council only
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (Calif. Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)) (1 Case: City of Trinidad vs. Tsurai Ancestral Society, et. al, Humb. Co. Sup. Court Case No. 180684
2. Employee Performance Evaluation – Water Plant Operator V. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
VI. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
VII. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
At this time, members of the public may comment on items NOT appearing on the agenda. Individual comments will be limited to 3 minutes or less. Please direct your comments to the Council as a whole, maintain decorum and avoid personal attacks on staff, members of the Council and/or other members of the public. Council and staff responses will be minimal for non-agenda items.
VIII. CONSENT AGENDA All matters on the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and are enacted in one motion. There is no separate discussion of any of these items. If discussion is requested by any Council member, that item is removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately. A single opportunity for public comment on the Consent Agenda is available to the public.
XII. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
Special Meeting Agenda: 01-24-2023 Page 2
1. Discussion/Presentation of the Annual Report from the STR Advisory Committee.
2. Discussion/Presentation – Open Public Forum to Solicit Input from the Community on Issues or Successes Related to the Implementation of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance Regulations.
3. Discussion/Decision regarding Committee Recommendations and Direction Moving Forward.
4. Discussion/Decision regarding February Council Meeting Schedule.
5. Discussion/Presentation of Planning Commission Project and Priorities for 2023.
XIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM 1
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED
1. Discussion/Presentation of the Annual Report from the STR Advisory Committee.
Annual Report of STR Advisory
Committee to Trinidad City Council- January 24, 2023
Background
Trinidad licenses and regulates STRs. In 2016 the City approved an ordinance which attempted to address citizen concerns over the proliferation of unregulated STRs while fulfilling State mandates to provide visitor services and accommodations in the Coastal Zone. The Coastal Commission recently approved the City’s revised and updated STR Ordinance which further addressed citizen concerns.
The City’s municipal code defines a Short-Term Rental as “a rental of any dwelling, in whole or part, within the City of Trinidad, to any person(s) for transient use, other than (1) a permitted bed and breakfast, (2) ongoing month to month tenancy granted to the same renter for the same dwelling, (3) one less-than-30-day rental per year, or (4) a house exchange for which there is no payment”.
In our annual report to the Council dated January 25, 2022 under “Final Comments item #4” the Committee stated:
“The Planning Commission has completed their revision of the ordinance and we are all waiting for first the Coastal Commission staff comments and then the City Council’s decision moving forward. At our recently completed January 4th meeting the consensus was to ask the City Council for direction. Unanimously we feel that there is currently no need to meet 4 times a year. We are not receiving public input at our meetings. There is presently not a lot more we can look at. Our recommendation is for us to meet twice a year (in June at the start of the tourist season and again in October or November at the end of the tourist season) to review any complaints or just act as a sounding board for the community. An annual joint meeting with the Council and Planning Commission would still be held if requested by the Council and any number of special committee meetings could be scheduled on an “as needed” basis as determined by either the Council or Staff. We request direction from the Council moving forward.”
In the months following the annual meeting the Committee did not receive any direction from the Council and (due in part to the fact that the revised STR Ordinance had not been formally submitted to the Coastal Commission) entered an extended period of inactivity. In May the Council appointed Jacques Beaupre to fill the vacant “City/General Public Representative” position on the Committee which had been open for 2 years. The revised STR Ordinance finally went to the Coastal Commission in September 2022 and at its meeting on December 16, 2022 the Coastal Commission approved the revised ordinance.
The following information is a report of the activities of the STR Committee during 2022.
The Committee held 3 meetings in 2022. (The results of the January 4, 2022 meeting were discussed in the 2021 annual report.)
October 26, 2022- A staff report was presented that reported:
1. The revised STR ordinance had been submitted to the Coastal Commission in September and should be on their agenda in December.
2. The 2022 license renewal process went well and for 2023 it is expected that the renewal process will be handled electronically unless a paper packet is requested.
3. Staff is no longer using the cost tracking timesheets developed by the Committee (which were approved by the Council and implemented by staff during the 2021 license renewals). Instead, staff is tracking costs to the program as a whole rather than for each individual STR.
4. A lottery for the 2 available STR licenses was held on October 23rd and the applicants had turned in their paperwork and were awaiting a review by the City Planner.
5. The City has not received any formal complaints in 2022 related to the STR program.
6. TOT year to date is down but numbers are still preliminary. TOT rate is 8% this year versus 12% in 2021.
Following the staff report one of the agendized discussion items was posted as a:
“Public Forum- How STRs affected Trinidad residents during the 2022 season” Unfortunately, no one from the public either attended the meeting or submitted written public comment on this item. As noted in the staff report, no formal complaints regarding STRs had been received year to date in 2022.
Committee members generally agreed that the lack of complaints seemed to indicate that the ordinance appeared to be working better than in years past, and this might also be an indication that property managers were being more responsive to public concerns.
Other items discussed at the meeting were the fairness of the lottery system for filling available STR licenses and the possibility of a survey of city residents to gather information on their thoughts about the operation of the STR program.
1. Regarding the lottery system, no formal vote was taken, but it was generally agreed that the current lottery system should be left in place and perhaps addressed prior to the next review/revision of the ordinance.
2. After looking at a few sample formats and questions, all Committee members agreed that a survey of Trinidad residents about the STR program should be done and addresses for survey participants would be generated using the water billing system to ensure we are reaching as many City residents as possible. It was agreed to carry this item forward to the next Committee meeting to be held in December, when more information could be presented by both staff and Committee members.
December 6, 2022- The Committee reviewed the staff report documenting that:
1. The Coastal Commission will meet on December 16th and the City’s STR ordinance update is on their agenda.
2. 2023 STR license renewal applications went out via email on November 14th.
3. TOT for July-September 2023 was $60,371 vs $55,748 in 2022.
A discussion was held regarding the recent voter approved TOT increase to 12%, which according to staff will go into effect on April 1st. One of the STR industry Committee members expressed concerns over the difficulty of collecting the 4% increase (from 8% to 12%) on prepaid reservations. The reservation platforms being used by the industry apparently are unable to charge more than one rate until the TOT change is actually implemented on April 1st. City staff should plan to work with STR owners/managers to help in the transition and the City Attorney may need to advise on this as well.
Staff provided a presentation describing their revised 2023 Cost Tracking system which staff feels will streamline cost tracking and provide a broader understanding of the costs associated with the STR program in general. We defer to staff to explain the new process.
The Committee returned to the discussion of a survey of city residents regarding the operation of the STR program.
Design ideas that were generally agreed upon include:
1. A cover letter that includes: a little background on the history of the STR program in Trinidad, the ordinance’s definition of an STR, and information related to the financial impact of the STR program on the City’s budget as well as benefits to city merchants.
2. A statement clarifying that respondents should base their answers on their current (2022/23) not past experience with STRs in Trinidad.
3. Keep the number of questions to a minimum. The survey, including cover letter should be no more than 2 pages.
4. The questions should be worded in a neutral fashion and not lead respondents to answer in either a positive or negative way.
5. Have a final section that allows respondents to elaborate on their answers or bring up additional questions or concerns.
Staff currently has samples of several surveys from other cities, suggestions from Committee members as well as staff generated options. Both staff and the Committee agreed that the survey could be a discussion item at tonight’s joint meeting and that, if agreed upon, the Council should move forward and authorize staff to initiate a survey.
Final CommentsOperation of the STR program seems to have improved since the Committee was formed in 2019. There have been no formal complaints filed with the City in the last 2 years. The Committee is receiving virtually no input from the public regarding STRs and the “Public Forum” at our October 26, 2022 meeting received neither written nor in person comments or suggestions. The Committee recommends a confidential survey of city residents to try to generate data on which to further evaluate the program.
Staff has indicated that it feels the administrative part of the program has matured. The annual renewal process has been streamlined and according to STR representatives seems to be working well.
The revised STR ordinance has been certified by the Coastal Commission. The City should allow the revised ordinance time to see how it operates and (if approved by the Council) conduct a survey of city residents to generate feedback on the STR program.
The Committee again requests direction from the Council moving forward.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dick Bruce, Chairperson Trinidad STR Advisory Committee 2022 STR Committee Members
Dick Bruce- City/General Public Representative
Jacques Beaupre- City/General Public Representative
Jan Nash Hunt- STR Owner/Manager Representative
Joe Moran- STR Owner/Manager Representative
Diane Stockness- Trinidad Planning Commission Representative *Attachment- 2022 City of Trinidad Short-Term Rental List & Contact Information Address Name Max Occ. Property Manager 24-Hour Contact Zn
TRINIDAD RETREATS
1 513 B Trinity St. Crabber's Cottage 2 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 PD
2 201 Parker Creek Dr. Parker Creek Cottage 6 adults, 2 kids Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 UR
3 351 Wagner St. Pelican's Nest 4 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 UR
4 150 Scenic Dr. Raven House 4 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 SR
5 30 Scenic Dr. Sea Cliff 6 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 SR
6 550 Galindo St. Sunset Vista 6 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 UR
7 807 Edwards St. Treasure Cove 8 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 UR
8 401 Ewing St. Trinidad Treasure 8 adults, 2 kids
Hope Morello &
Ryan Roberts
707-601-6645 ext.
2 707-601-6645 UR
VACASA
11 Trinidad Harbor/1 Bay St. Seascape House 8 adults, 2 kids Charlie Heinberg 707-298-4859, 800-
544-0300 C
12 461 Ocean Ave. Trinidad Village Retreat 4 adults, 2 kids Charlie Heinberg 707-298-4859, 800-
544-0300 UR
13 528 Hector St.
Whalesong House &
Gardens 6 adults, 2 kids Charlie Heinberg
707-298-4859, 800-
544-0300 UR
TRINIDAD BAY VACATION RENTALS
14 670 Edwards St. Harbor Moon 8 adults, 2 kids Lynda & Joe Moran 707-845-1144 UR 15 363 Ocean Ave. Retro Retreat 2 adults, 2 kids Lynda & Joe Moran 707-845-1144 UR 16 381 Ocean Ave. Starfish 2 adults, 2 kids Lynda & Joe Moran 707-845-1144 UR 17 565 Trinity St. Trinity House 4 adults, 2 kids Lynda & Joe Moran 707-845-1144 PD CASAGO Redwood Coast
9 651 Parker St. Apt D Buoy Bell 4 adults, 2 kids Chris Curran 707-602-5800 PD 10 178 Parker Creek Dr. Paloma Creek Lodge 10 adults, 2 kids Chris Curran 707-602-5800 UR
INDEPENDENTS
18 816 Van Wycke Boathouse 4 adults, 2 kids Casey Van Alten 707-498-4852 UR 19 818 Van Wycke Crows Nest 4 guests Karen Hicks 707-599-1156 UR 20 363 Trinity St. Unit #4 Sunrise Suite 4 guests Lyndsey Shadle 928-242-5521 C 21 407 Ocean Ave Trinidad Ocean Retreat 6 adults, 2 kids Michelle McHenry 619-347-0378 UR 22 130 Scenic Dr. Osprey House 8 adults, 2 kids Gabriel Adams 707-499-6473 SR 23 894 Underwood Dr. Sunset House 8 adults, 2 kids Arlene Miller 707-502-7631 UR 24 652 Underwood Dr. Pilot Rock Cottage 2 adults, 2 kids Steve Ladwig 707-845-5942 UR 25 607 Parker St. Seabreeze 6 guests Lyndsey Shadle 928-242-5521 C 26 308 1/2 Ocean Ave. Little White Cottage 2 adults, 2 kids Thomas Kissinger 805-298-2321 PD
CITY OF TRINIDAD SHORT-TERM RENTAL LIST & CONTACT INFORMATION DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM 2
NO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED
2. Discussion/Presentation – Open Public Forum to Solicit Input from the Community on Issues or Successes Related to the Implementation of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance Regulations.
DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM 3
NO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED
3. Discussion/Decision regarding Committee Recommendations and Direction Moving Forward.
Trinidad City Hall Steve Ladwig, Mayor
P.O. Box 390 Gabriel Adams, City Clerk
409 Trinity Street
Trinidad, CA 95570
707-677-0223
RESOLUTION 2019 - 07
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL (STR) ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHEREAS, the City has an obligation to protect the village atmosphere for the citizens of Trinidad, to provide opportunity for STR residences, and enhance the positive experience of tourists; and WHEREAS, STR owners and managers have an obligation to manage their property in a manner consistent with the residential neighborhood character, and therefore over the years the City developed a STR Ordinance to define the policies and procedures that regulate the STR residences in Trinidad; and WHEREAS, the Council established the Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee in January 2019 to bring members with various viewpoints together to engage in dialog, facilitate public involvement in the STR process, and to make recommendations to the Council on various topics identified below; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Trinidad City Council hereby adopts a Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee to hold public meetings in accordance with the Brown Act, and to operate within the framework as follows:
1. PURPOSE: The purpose of the Committee is 1) to evaluate the Ordinance for its effectiveness relating to permitting and implementation, 2) analyze benefits to visitors, 2) analyze impacts to residents such as parking, noise, over-occupancy, gatherings, etc. that have been identified in the Ordinance, and 3) assist the Council in resolving or making recommendations on such matters.
Guidance and oversight will be provided by the City Manager.
2. OBJECTIVES: Committee objectives include; 1) provide a public forum at the end of the busy tourist season to solicit input from the community on issues or successes related to the implementation of the short-term rental regulations, 2) assist the City Manager in evaluating formal complaints received throughout the calendar year, 3) make balanced and informed recommendations to the City Council on ways to improve the Ordinance, or share ways in which the policies and procedures are being successfully implemented, and 4) report to the Council annually on the Committee meetings, activity, and recommendations.
3. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: The STR Committee will consist of two members of the Trinidad community who are not STR owners or STR business representatives, two members of the Trinidad community who are STR owners or business representatives. These 4 members will be appointed by the City Council in open session based on letters of interest and public interviews. Preference will be given to applicants that live inside the City limits, but when necessary the Council may choose to have up to 1 member that resides outside the City limits. One member of the Planning Commission will be recommended by the Commission and appointed by the City Council. The committee members shall vote and select one of their own to serve as the committee Chairperson.
4. TERMS OF OFFICE: All members will hold two-year terms. Committee members serve at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Council.
5. MEETING DATES: The STR Committee will meet regularly on a quarterly basis, with one meeting being held in the fall in conjunction with the end of the busy tourist season. Additional special meetings may be added to the quarterly schedule, subject to the availability of all Committee members. Special meetings must be reviewed and approved by the City Manager or City Council.
6. STAFF ASSISTANCE: City Staff will provide agenda preparation, notification, and outreach assistance to the Committee. The STR Committee may choose a member of the Committee to record the meeting minutes, or request to have a City Staff member to provide the service.
7. ETHICS CODE: All members shall review, accept, and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the values promoted in the City of Trinidad’s Code of Ethics.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of April, 2019 by the following vote:
AYES: West, Miller, Ladwig
NOES: Davies
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
___________________________ ________________________________________ Gabriel Adams Steve Ladwig
Trinidad City Clerk Mayor
DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM 4
NO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED
4. Discussion/Decision regarding February Council Meeting Schedule.
DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM 5
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED
5. Discussion/Presentation of Planning Commission Project and Priorities for 2023 p. 1 of 6
2023 Planning Projects Memo January 24, 2023 CC/PC/STR Meeting
AGENDA ITEM MEMORANDUM
TO: Trinidad Planning Commission
FROM: Trever Parker, City Planner
DATE: January 20, 2023
RE: Upcoming Projects and Priorities - 2023
In strategizing to meet grant obligations and other City priorities, I have put together a task list with the various projects planning staff is working on along with some information on progress to date and next steps as applicable. The SB2 and LEAP grants have the tightest timeline and are therefore considered by staff at this point to be the highest priorities. These grants include tasks that, for the most part, the City would have to complete anyway. So, it would be best to complete them using grant funding to the extent possible. I have also put other legally mandated tasks (e.g. processing development applications) and other near-term grants into the Tier 1 priorities.
Some of the delay on completing tasks that the Planning Commission has worked on over the last couple of years, such as the ADU ordinance, has been getting comments back from Coastal Commission staff in a timely manner. They have had a lot of staff turnover and have been short staffed at the local office. Hopefully that situation has changed. We have arranged a regular meeting to be held between Coastal Commission and City staff on a monthly basis during the LCP update that should hopefully help keep things moving.
1st Tier Priorities
SB2 Tasks
The last date to submit an invoice is 9/29/23, which means we can work through August 2023. There is plenty of budget left in this grant to complete the work. And final work products, benchmarks, and deliverables were not specified in detail. Therefore, we will continue to get as much work done as these tasks as possible, recognizing that the Coastal Commission’s timelines and comments are outside the City’s control.
Parking Study
• A parking inventory figure is being developed.
• The parking count data is being organized and assessed. p. 2 of 6
2023 Planning Projects Memo January 24, 2023 CC/PC/STR Meeting • The draft report can be expected around March-April and will be included on a PC agenda once completed.
ADU Ordinance
• An ordinance was drafted and reviewed by the Planning Commission most recently in September 2021.
• The draft ordinance was submitted to Coastal Commission staff for review in October 2021 with comments received April 2022.
• A revised draft was submitted to Coastal Commission staff in early July 2022 (along with the draft exemptions, exclusions and administrative permit provisions) with comments on the second draft received in December. • I met with Coastal Commission staff in December to go over their comments, which primarily have to do with septic requirements. We have also since arranged to meet monthly during the entire LCP update (through 2025), so we can better keep up on timelines. This issue overlaps with the CDP exemptions, exclusions and administrative permit provisions the Planning Commission worked on.
Residential Design Standards
• This task included consideration of several possible ways to make approval of residential projects faster and easier, such as objective design standards, streamlined permitting, and/or pre-approved design plans. • It was determined fairly quickly that objective design review standards would not be appropriate in Trinidad. The Planning Commission has continued to work on new design standards outside of the grant.
• The Planning Commission did develop administrative permit procedures and exemptions for certain small projects in the form of new draft CDP exemptions and exclusions. These will also support implementation of the ADU ordinance. • The exemptions, exclusions and administrative permit provisions were submitted to Coastal Commission staff for review in early July 2022. I have received some comments and will be meeting with them to discuss how to resolve remaining issues and move forward.
LEAP Grant Tasks
There is not a lot of budget left for completing the first two tasks under this grant. City staff will inquire as to the possibility of using some of the SB2 grant money to complete the LEAP grant tasks since SB2 and LEAP are both through HCD for essentially the same purposes. However, time and the Coastal Commission may be more limiting factors than budget. Tasks 1, 2 and 4 included processing ordinances through the City Council and preparing LCP amendment applications to the Coastal Commission in their descriptions in the grant agreement. As noted above, the Coastal Commission process and timing is outside the City’s control, and the City has been doing its due diligence, so I believe we can justify that we got as far as we could get within the timeline of the grant.
p. 3 of 6
2023 Planning Projects Memo January 24, 2023 CC/PC/STR Meeting Zoning Ordinance Update
• The housing related zoning ordinance update has been reviewed and recommended by the Planning Commission. It has also undergone an initial review by the City Council.
• It was submitted to Coastal Commission staff for review in early October and I am awaiting comments.
• This was expected to be a relatively simple amendment. However, the numbering has impacted the review time. The City’s codification of its ordinances into the standard numbering system seen on the online code (https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Trinidad/) was not certified by the Coastal Commission. Therefore, we have been using both the original numbering system and codified numbering for LCP amendments. Because this ordinance includes so many sections and, particularly, definitions, which were just included in an unnumbered appendix to the original certified zoning ordinance, the question is how to best reference the original numbering. Another question I am discussing with Coastal Commission staff is whether to use this amendment to go ahead and update the entire certified zoning ordinance to the codified numbering system so we don’t have to deal with this issue in the future.
Reasonable Accommodation
• The Planning Commission is currently reviewing the reasonable accommodation ordinance and recommended it to the City Council at their January 18, 2023 meeting.
• It has yet to be submitted to Coastal Commission staff but was modeled on other certified ordinances, so I don’t expect major issues. Depending on what we do with the codified numbering of the housing related zoning ordinance update described above, we can include the definitions within the body of the new reasonable accommodate chapter and avoid that complication.
Housing Outreach
• I’m hoping for some assistance from City staff on this small task. It involves reaching out to resource and service providers for marginalized populations, particularly homeless, seeing if partnerships can be formed to help people in Trinidad or at least setting up a referral system, and then creating (if needed) and disseminating that information.
Water Conservation
• A water efficient landscape ordinance (WELO) is being developed. • Research into water use monitoring and permit systems has occurred. • We still need to:
o Create a system to track water use and determine when “development” has occurred.
o Develop policies for reviewing water use as part of development permits. p. 4 of 6
2023 Planning Projects Memo January 24, 2023 CC/PC/STR Meeting o Incorporate WELO and water review policies/regulations into the land use ordinance(s)
Other Notable tasks
Hazards Planning (OPC grant)
• Public Engagement Plan – Currently ongoing
• Public meetings – ongoing
• Update Risk Assessment – 2023
• Adaptation strategy and policy development – 2023
• LCP policy development – through June 2024
REAP Grant (Regional Early Action Planning)
• This is another grant from HCD that is administered through the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). The City recently received a signed agreement for $24,024 in funds for two tasks.
• The first task is to upgrade the City’s application forms and procedures, including developing answers to frequently asked questions for the website. • The second task is to complete a preliminary annexation feasibility study for the Langford Road area and to conduct public outreach in the neighborhood.
Development Applications
• Development application must be processed in a timely manner. • There are a few pending applications in the works, but no complete applications submitted at this point.
Other Grants
• The City has several water and transportation related grants that are currently in progress. Planning staff have some role in those grant tasks and will respond as needed.
Miscellaneous Planning
• This includes miscellaneous inquiries and day-to-day staff activities. 2nd Tier Priorities
General Plan Update
I know the general plan is a significant priority to many people. However, we are at a point right now where staff can’t do a whole lot more. Remaining tasks are dependent on Coastal Commission staff review and grant timelines (including OPC and the LCP Update grants).
• I have revised Introduction, Land Use, Conservation Open Space and Recreation, and Circulation Elements along with responses to comments (all reviewed by p. 5 of 6
2023 Planning Projects Memo January 24, 2023 CC/PC/STR Meeting Planning Commission and City Council) ready to submit to Coastal Commission staff for another round of review. However, I have been holding off because they already have several SB2 and LEAP ordinances to review. • We are working on arranging regular (monthly or bimonthly) meetings between City staff and Coastal Commission staff that will continue through the LCP update.
• Community Design: Currently being reviewed by the Planning Commission. • Cultural Resources Element: I received no responses from an invitation to Tribal entities to conduct informal, staff level consultation on this. I was ready to send them a draft along with a second request for consultation or comments, but the City Attorney recommended waiting for mediation that will occur in February that could affect the Tsurai Management Area (12.5 acres). He has since agreed that I can send out the element if I take that section out. • Safety Element: This is on hold pending OPC grant work; the first community meeting was held on December 5, 2022.
• Noise Element: This is a lower priority element for now. New noise readings need to be taken, but there isn’t a particular rush since it won’t be adopted for some time. I plan to get some new readings in 2023 and then consult with the Coastal Commission, because it may not need to be part of the LCP.
OWTS Program Implementation
• This is another significant priority for the City. But it does not have a specific deadline, which is why I put it in the second-tier priorities. City staff Jennifer Hakenen has been working hard to get everyone in the City into compliance with the OWTS program. She is sending out all the letters and gathering all the responses and I am preparing the permits, usually 2-4 per week, which she then sends out. The City Council will be reviewing the OWTS permit fees soon, and all property owners were given two options in 2022: (1) voluntarily comply in 2022 with the old permit fees (or whatever has previously been paid); or (2) be required to comply in 2023 with higher permit fees. A more detailed update report was provided at the January 10, 2023 City Council meeting.
LCP Update Grant
The City is just getting started on this grant and is already somewhat behind on the first task due to the lack of response from Tribes and staff workload. • Cultural and Historic Resources Element: Scheduled for July 2022 through October 2023 with informal consultation occurring through February 2023 and Planning Commission hearings starting in January 2023. I have just sent a second request for informal consultation along with a draft Cultural Resources Element. • Complete the Safety Element: Scheduled from April 2023 through May 2024 with public hearings starting in October 2023. This task is somewhat dependent on the OPC grant, which is behind schedule but moving forward. p. 6 of 6
2023 Planning Projects Memo January 24, 2023 CC/PC/STR Meeting • New Studies: Two new background studies will be completed as part of this grant. (1) a visitor serving facilities study for the Trinidad area is scheduled to begin in January 2023. (2) a build-out analysis is scheduled to begin in July 2023. • Update older studies and complete LUP: This task brings all the other ones together to complete the general plan/coastal land use plan. It is scheduled from July 2023 through June 2024.
• Update the IP: Updating the implementing ordinances that are part of the LCP is scheduled to occur from January 2024 through December 2025 when the entire LCP should be complete and ready for submittal to the Coastal Commission for certification.
New Design Guidelines
• The Planning Commission has been working on new design review guidelines that started as part of the SB2 design task and continued to provide context for the community design element of the general plan. The Planning Commission is eager to get the new guidelines in place sooner rather than later. That will need to be a discussion with Coastal Commission staff and dependent on their workload. In the meantime, staff will look for possible ways to use them prior to certification.
Staff Recommendation/Suggested Action(s)
Discuss and provide input to staff on Planning Commission priorities as you see fit.