City of Visalia HEU
Work Scope 7 July 6, 2022
City of Visalia
Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Element Updates Work Scope
Phase 1 Project Initiation
The Consultant will work in close collaboration with City staff to refine the project work plan, schedule, and community engagement program. The Consultant will develop a project website, logo/and branding, get initial direction from the Planning Commission and City Council, and publish a newsletter to inform the community about the project.
Task 1.1 Project Kick-off Meeting
The Consultant will facilitate a project kick-off meeting (possibly using Zoom or other online platform) with City staff. During this meeting, the Consultant will work with City staff to accomplish the following:
• Review the work scope and schedule.
• Establish communication protocols, including monthly status reporting, project status coordination calls, and conference call/online video call protocols. • Determine a typical review schedule needed by City staff for draft work products. • Review and discuss overall organization of the Housing Element Update. • Discuss data resources, approach, and methodology for the housing sites analysis. • Discuss critical housing issues and the City’s existing Housing Element. • Discuss the Safety and Environmental Justice Element requirements. • Discuss the community engagement strategy, City staff and Consultant roles and responsibilities, and formation of the Housing and Safety Technical Advisory Committees.
• Identify informational sources and available GIS mapping data, including its level of accuracy, status, and most recent updates.
• Determine consultation and coordination with appropriate governmental agencies.
Following the Kick-off meeting the Consultant will join a City staff-led City tour to familiarize the Team with this City structure, examples of housing successes and challenges, high- and low- resource neighborhoods, and environmental justice and safety related issues.
Task 1.2 Community Engagement Strategy
Based on input from City staff at the kick-off meeting, the Consultant will finalize the details of the comprehensive community engagement strategy. The strategy will describe engagement methods, responsibilities, and publicity protocols. The Consultant will structure the strategy to City of Visalia HEU
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be inclusive of all those who make up the “community,” including residents; workers; businesses; property owners; developers and residential builders; educational institutions; civic, community, and non-profit organizations; religious, social, cultural, and ethnic Committees; and public agencies. In addition to being inclusive, the goal is to create meaningful opportunities for involvement throughout the preparation of the Housing and Safety Element Updates.
Task 1.3 Project Branding and Logo
The Consultant will develop a branding package for the Housing Element Update. The branding package will include a project logo and style templates for all work products, maps, and publicity materials to build enthusiasm about the project and ensure that this effort is distinct in the minds of the community. The Consultant will give the City up to three options from which to choose a branding package.
Task 1.4 Website and Online Engagement
The Consultant will develop an interactive, informational website, or page on the City’s website, for the Housing Element Update to provide an easy-to-use tool for residents to stay informed during the Update process. The website will provide project information, access to all materials developed for the project, and an access point for online engagement tools for polling and idea generation. This will provide access to virtual meetings that can support those that cannot attend events due to personal circumstances or public health restrictions. The Consultant will regularly update the online engagement tools with new questions, surveys, opinion polls, and geographic mapping tools.
Task 1.5 Newsletter #1: Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Element Update Overview
The Consultant will prepare a newsletter that describes what the housing, safety, and environmental justice elements are, how and why they are being updated, the project schedule, and how to get involved in the process. The Consultant will also include a section on State housing, safety, and environmental justice element law FAQs. The newsletter will publicize upcoming community engagement opportunities and the first on-line engagement tools.
Task 1.6 Housing Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #1 The Consultant will assist City staff with facilitating the first Housing Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC) meeting. The meeting will include a discussion of the HTAC organization and meeting protocols. The Consultant will present an overview of the project and schedule and get input and direction on member expectations for the project. The Consultant will use the opportunity to discuss housing issues and gain an understanding of the Committee members’ housing-related priorities and concerns. This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom or other on-line technology.
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Task 1.7 Planning Commission and City Council Joint Study Session The Consultant will facilitate a Joint Study session with the Planning Commission and City Council to present an overview of the project and schedule and get input and direction on their expectations for the project. The Consultant will introduce the HTAC members and ask the Commission and Council to express to the Committee their expectations for the Committee’s work. The Consultant will use the opportunity to discuss housing, safety, and environmental justice issues and gain an understanding of the Commissioners’ and Councilmembers’ priorities and concerns.
Phase 1 Deliverables:
• Stakeholder and community contact list (digital; Excel, pdf) • Community engagement strategy (digital; Word, pdf)
• Project logo and branding package (digital; pdf)
• The Website and online engagement (digital)
• Newsletter #1 (Digital; InDesign, pdf)
• Joint Study Session PowerPoint presentation (digital; PowerPoint, pdf) Phase 2 Housing Policy Analysis and Alternatives
The Consultant will review relevant portions of available resources including various codes, standards, and policies maintained by the Community Development Department, the general plan and EIR, specific plans/area plans, and any other relevant documents. Additional information will be provided by the City, including the City’s updated sites inventory and development status information and City GIS data layers. The Consultant also anticipate the use of regional planning documents such as the TCAG 2022 RTP/SCS. Additional data or document needs will be assessed and discussed with the City to determine how the information is best accessed and/or shared. The Consultant will also include an analysis of the effectiveness of programs to address the needs of the unhoused population per AB 139.
Task 2.1 Community Workshop #1: Housing Concerns and Needs The Consultant will facilitate a virtual community workshop. The Consultant will design this event to engage residents and stakeholders throughout the city. The workshop will provide a common understanding of the purpose of the Housing Element Update, key steps in the process, and seek public input on housing issues and distinct economic, social, and geographic housing needs.
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Task 2.2 Stakeholder Interviews
The Consultant will facilitate up to 12 one-hour stakeholder interviews. The Consultant will work with the City to identify participants and provide contact information for the stakeholder interviews. The Consultant will coordinate interview times with participants. The Consultant will provide summary of the stakeholder interview results. The stakeholder interviews will be conducted as virtual meetings via Zoom or other on-line technology.
Task 2.3 Review and Evaluate Current Housing Element
As an initial task to the Housing Element update, and following the kickoff meeting, we will review and evaluate the 2019-2023 Housing Element. Specifically, we will:
• Discuss the effectiveness and continued appropriateness of current housing programs and policies
• Evaluate the City’s progress in meeting current goals • Identify any barriers to achieving identified goals
• Review compliance with new State laws
• Identify potential revisions to existing programs
The City’s latest Housing Element Annual Progress Report would be a good starting point for this evaluation. The Consultant will interview staff and compile additional information to provide an assessment of the continued appropriateness of existing programs and whether new programs should be added to address emerging trends and issues. Upon completion of this review, we will provide a memorandum summarizing our findings. The Consultant will also develop a recommended format and draft outline for the Housing Element Update.
Task 2.4 Sites Inventory
Although the RHNA Methodology for TCAG jurisdictions has not yet been finalized, a draft version identifies over 10,000 housing units to be accommodated by Visalia as part of their 6th Cycle Housing Element. For the 6th cycle, it will be imperative to take into consideration the following adequate site requirements under new housing element laws:
• No net loss of capacity when sites are developed
• Continued ability to meet the RHNA by income category • Stringent standards for assessing feasibility when reusing vacant and underutilized sites that have previously been included in the 5th Cycle Multi-Jurisdictional Housing Element • Demonstrated trends of development
AB 1397 (Adequate Sites) and SB 166 (No Net Loss) impose stringent requirements on the sites inventory for RHNA, and sites that were used in the 5th Cycle Housing Element will be subject to additional scrutiny. To accommodate new legislation and requirements, additional City of Visalia HEU
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justification is required to demonstrate that these sites are suitable and available. This may need to include:
• Lot consolidation potential
• Feasibility of development on smaller sites
• Impediments for residential development on non-vacant sites, if any • Recent development on similar sites
• Substantial evidence the existing use is likely to be discontinued within the planning period
Following the analysis of available sites, the Consultant will prepare a web mapping portal that will be used to share online, interactive maps with each jurisdiction. Static maps can be created from this portal, and the information will be used to populate a sites inventory using HCD’s current worksheet format and template. The Consultant will provide an expanded analysis of the sites inventory including development trends that justify the inclusion of vacant and non- vacant sites. The Consultant assume one round of review on the initial information presented in the web portal and sites inventory (Excel format).
Task 2.5 Housing Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #2 The Consultant will assist City staff with facilitating a HTAC meeting to discuss the results of the vacant and underutilized sites assessment. The Consultant will review our methodology, present our findings, discuss the implications for rezoning and the CEQA assessment, and discuss options. This is likely to be a virtual meeting via Zoom or other on-line technology.
Task 2.6 Community Workshop #2: Vacant and Underutilized Sites Assessment The Consultant will facilitate a virtual community workshop on results of the vacant and underutilized sites assessment. The Consultant will conduct a webinar to review our methodology, present our findings, describe the implications for rezoning, and layout options.
The Consultant will then facilitate a question-and-answer session and small group breakouts to discuss the siting solutions presented. The Consultant will also provide an on-line community opinion survey in conjunction with the workshop based on the sites assessment to provide an additional opportunity for community input. The survey will remain on the website for two to three weeks to assure full community participation. The Consultant will summarize the results of the input received.
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Task 2.7 Planning Commission and City Council Joint Study Session The Consultant will facilitate a joint study session with the Planning Commission and City Council to discuss the results of the sites inventory, community discussion, stakeholder interviews, opinion survey, and HTAC meetings on the sites inventory. The Consultant will solicit ideas and direction from the Commission and Council about how to address community concerns and the sites inventory as we initiate preparation of the Housing Element. The Consultant will also present a progress report on the Safety and Environmental Justice Elements and facilitate a discussion on findings to date.
Phase 2 Deliverables
• 2019-2023 Housing Element evaluation (digital; Word, pdf) • ArcGIS Online Website mapping portal (on-line)
• Stakeholder Interviews summary (digital: Work, pdf)
• On-line opinion survey (on-line)
• Opinion survey results summary (digital: Word, pdf)
• Final sites inventory in HCD-approved format to be included as an Appendix to the Housing Element (digital; Excel, pdf)
Phase 3 Administrative Draft Housing Element
Task 3.1 Existing Housing Needs Analysis
The Existing Housing Needs Analysis is a comprehensive evaluation of current demographic, employment, housing, and housing market conditions and trends. The Consultant will use this section as the basis for determining the existing unmet housing needs in Visalia. This analysis will include the following topic areas:
Demographic Profile and Employment Profile. This section establishes “baseline” population and employment characteristics for the city, including population growth trends, age characteristics, race and ethnicity, income, and local employment trends, as well as population and employment projections.
Household Characteristics and Housing Stock. The Consultant will use recent data sources to update the description of the existing housing stock in terms of housing stock growth and composition, vacancy rates, housing age and conditions, and overcrowding. The Consultant will also describe housing cost burdens and the ability of households of different income levels to pay for housing. The Consultant will describe current housing market trends, home sale prices, and rental rates using recent data sources (e.g., DataQuick, Zillow, CalREALTORS records) and based on conversations with local realtors.
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Special Needs Housing Analysis. The Consultant will update the analysis of housing needs for special needs populations, including senior households, persons with disabilities, large families, single female-headed households, farmworkers, seasonal workers, extremely low-income households, and persons in need of emergency shelter.
Fair Housing. The Consultant will prepare an assessment of fair housing practices in each jurisdiction. In 2018, the California State Legislature passed AB 686 to expand upon fair housing requirements and protections outlined in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The law requires public agencies to address fair housing disparities and patterns of segregation in housing element updates prepared on or after January 1, 2021, to foster more inclusive communities. To address AB 686, the Consultant will analyze fair housing enforcement and outreach, integration and segregation patterns and trends, racially and ethnically concentrated area of poverty, disparities in access to opportunities, and disproportionate housing need, consistent with HCD’s AFFH Guidance for All Public Entities and for Housing Elements (April 2021). The Consultant will describe Visalia’s fair housing needs, including a discussion on how the proposed sites inventory promotes fair housing, and will develop meaningful actions that the City can implement to further fair housing issues in the community. The Consultant have assumed two rounds of review by the City, with one set of consolidated comments provided by City staff following each round of review. Rincon’s analysis will ultimately be included as an appendix to the Housing Element.
Task 3.2 Housing Resources and Opportunities
The Housing Resources and Opportunities section will include a description of the City’s 2023- 2031 RHNA from TCAG. This analysis will examine the resources and opportunities available for the development, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing. It will include an inventory and analysis of the land resources (i.e., vacant and underutilized sites), as well as the financial and administrative resources available to support housing activities.
Units Approved, Built, or Under Construction. A jurisdiction is allowed to count units that are approved, built, or under construction as of the beginning of the projection period, or completed after that date, but before Housing Element adoption, against its RHNA and calculate the remaining housing need. The Consultant will count any of these units against the RHNA and calculate the remaining housing need.
Adequacy of Public Facilities and Services. The Consultant will prepare an assessment of the adequacy of water and wastewater infrastructure to meet existing and future housing needs, based on information from local water and wastewater master plans, specific plans, and City staff input.
Inventory of Financial and Administrative Resources. The Consultant will describe local, State, and Federal financial and administrative resources available to help the City implement its housing programs.
City of Visalia HEU
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Energy Conservation Opportunities. The Consultant will describe opportunities for energy conservation, including the City’s existing General Plan policies that promote energy conservation, and alternative energy and green building measures. The Consultant will also describe local energy conservation programs, such as weatherization and rebate programs provided by local utility companies.
Task 3.3 Housing Constraints
The Consultant will review and update the analysis of both governmental and non- governmental constraints, such as land and development costs, site constraints, existing or planned infrastructure, land use controls, building code regulations, fees, and permit and processing procedures. The Consultant will also analyze constraints on housing for persons with disabilities, as well as the City’s current permitting procedures for emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing, and single-room occupancy units. The Consultant will update this section to address the current economic climate, and housing market. The housing constraints analysis will also document local efforts to remove governmental constraints to improve the City’s ability to meet its share of the regional housing needs and satisfy the requirements of the Government Code Section 65583 et seq.
Task 3.4 Administrative Review Draft Housing Element
The Consultant will update the 2019-2023 Housing Element goals, policies, programs, and quantified objectives based on the evaluation of the 2019-2023 Housing Element, the housing needs and constraints identified in the Background Report, recent changes to State Housing Element law, public input from the community meetings, and feedback from City staff. Housing policies and programs will build upon the most successful policies and programs in the 2019- 2023 Housing Element.
Task 3.5 Hosing Technical Advisory Committee Meeting #3 The Consultant will assist City staff with facilitating a HTAC meeting to review the Administrative Review Draft Housing Element. This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom or other on-line technology. Based on Committee comments and direction, we will prepare a second Administrative Draft Housing Element for staff review.
Phase 3 Deliverables
• Administrative Review Draft Housing Element (digital: Word, pdf) • Revised Administrative Review Draft Housing Element (digital: Word, pdf) Phase 4 Public Review Draft Housing Element
Task 4.1 Public Review Draft Housing Element
City of Visalia HEU
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The Consultant will prepare a Public Review Draft Housing Element based on comments received from City staff on the Administrative Review Draft Housing Element. The Consultant will provide City staff with a digital copy of the Public Review Draft Housing Element to post on the City’s website, and we will email the Draft Housing Element to the Technical Advisory committee, stakeholders, and community members on the contact list. Recent changes in State law now require the City to circulate the Public Review Draft Housing Element for a minimum 30-day public comments period. At the end of the comment period, the City must allow for a minimum 10 days to respond to public comments prior to the Planning Commission reviewing the Housing Element.
Task 4.2 Newsletter #2: Public Review Draft Housing Element The Consultant will prepare a newsletter that provides a summary of the key take-aways in the Public Review Draft Housing Element, particularly key changes to policies and programs, any proposed changes to land use designations (locations or density ranges), and what these changes mean for their community. The newsletter will provide an update on the Housing Element process and information on how to provide input on the draft Housing Element.
Task 4.3 Planning Commission Study Session
The Consultant will attend a study session with the Planning Commission to solicit input on the Public Review Draft Housing Element and formulate a recommendation for the City Council to authorize City staff to submit the Housing Element to HCD for the mandated 90-day review period. The Consultant will describe all input received from the community meetings and any revisions to the Public Review Draft Housing Element proposed in response to this input. The Consultant will prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation.
Task 4.4 City Council Study Session
The Consultant will attend a study session with the City Council to solicit input on the Public Review Draft Housing Element and request authorization to submit the Housing Element to HCD for the mandated 90-day review period. The Consultant will describe all input received from the stakeholder interviews, community meetings, and the Planning Commission study session, and any revisions to the Public Review Draft Housing Element proposed in response to this input. The Consultant will prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation.
Phase 4 Deliverables:
• Newsletter #2 (digital; InDesign, pdf)
• Study Session Materials (digital; PowerPoint)
• Public Review Draft Housing Element (digital; Word, pdf) City of Visalia HEU
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Phase 5 HCD Review
Task 5.1 HCD Review Draft Housing Element, HCD Checklists, and Transmittal to HCD The Consultant will revise the Public Review Draft Housing Element based on direction from the Planning Commission and City Council and prepare the draft to be delivered to HCD. The Consultant will provide a digital copy of the HCD Review Draft Housing Element for posting on the City website and will send out an email to stakeholders and community meeting attendees.
The Consultant will also prepare a cover memorandum to accompany submission of the Draft Housing Element to HCD. The Consultant will hand-deliver the Draft Housing Element to HCD.
Under State law, HCD has up to 90 days to review the Draft Housing Element. During the HCD review process, we will maintain close contact with the designated HCD reviewer to respond to any questions he/she may have during the process.
Task 5.2 Meeting with HCD
Following submission of the HCD Review Draft Housing Element and prior to the end of the 90- day review period, the Consultant and City staff will meet with HCD staff or conduct a phone call meeting to discuss the Draft Housing Element and preliminary HCD comments. If necessary, we will have additional meetings with HCD after submitting the response to comments to facilitate the review process.
Task 5.3 Response to HCD Comments
Following the City’s receipt of HCD comments on the HCD Review Draft Housing Element, the Consultant will prepare a preliminary response to HCD comments and provide this to City staff for their review. Based on comments received from City staff, we will then prepare a formal written response to HCD comments and submit them to HCD. The Consultant will work closely with HCD to seek a timely conditional approval letter prior to Planning Commission and City Council hearings.
Phase 5 Deliverables:
• HCD Review Draft Housing Element (digital, pdf)
• Completeness Checklist (digital; Word, pdf)
• Response to HCD Comments (digital; Word, pdf)
Phase 6 Safety Element Update
Task 6.1 Vulnerability Assessment
To kick off the Safety Element update, the Consultant will identify and map critical assets (emergency services, transportation, public health) that could be exposed to climate hazards and conduct a spatial and qualitative analysis of the sensitivity and adaptive capacity of each. A City of Visalia HEU
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key component of the vulnerability assessment will be an evaluation of the potential for climate change to disproportionally impact vulnerable population groups (e.g., seniors, children, low- income communities, outdoor workers).
The vulnerability assessment is intended to be a qualitative and planning-level document and will not include any modeling or quantitative asset analysis. The Consultant will rely on readily available tools (e.g., CalEnviroScreen, Healthy Places Index, U.S. Census, Cal-Adapt), the County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), and information on vulnerable populations and adaptive capacity generated through the engagement process.
Task 6.2 AB 747 Analysis
The Consultant will coordinate with City staff, and other emergency management personnel to select up to three emergency scenarios and assess the capacity of the City’s evacuation route options under selected conditions, including those most likely to be influenced by climate change. The analysis will be informed by existing evacuation plans and analyses to develop a model that provides evacuation route vulnerability scores for residential parcels (and commercial properties if the City desires).
Through this analysis, the Consultant will develop “vulnerability scores.” The vulnerability score will be assigned to each parcel based on modeled time estimated to evacuate outside City boundaries. This model will not include dynamic traffic modeling. The analysis will be used to determine if the City should consider putting additional or alternate evacuation contingency plans in place and what additional measures or contingency plans and options it should consider implementing. The Consultant will include key findings and policy recommendations for inclusion in the Safety Element and develop a brief technical memorandum describing the methodology of the results and high-level recommendations. As part of this task, the Consultant will conduct a virtual meeting with City staff to showcase the results and gather one round of consolidated comments to address.
Task 6.3 SB 99 Analysis
The Consultant will identify residential developments in any hazard area identified in the Safety Element that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. The Consultant will coordinate with City staff to develop a Citywide map using ESRI that identifies communities with less than two ingress/egress and provide a narrative description of the implications for evacuation planning. The Consultant will use the analysis to determine if the City should consider specific plans or policies to address any identified access limitations or constraints.
Task 6.4 Safety Element Policy Memorandum
The Consultant will review the current version of the City’s Safety Element and identify necessary updates to bring it into compliance with government code 65302 section 1 and maintain consistency with the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) General Plan Guidelines City of Visalia HEU
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for Required Elements (Chapter 4).
The Consultant will provide a memorandum summarizing the most recent applicable legislation requirements, recommendations on how the City can comply with these requirements, and critical updates that will be needed for the existing Safety Element. This memorandum is intended to be used early in the project process as a foundation to facilitate City staff and decision-maker buy-in throughout the development of the Safety Element.
Task 6.5 Administrative Draft Safety Element
The Consultant will update background information, associated maps, and regulatory context for the following topics currently included in the Safety Element: soils, seismic, and other geologic hazards; flood hazards; fire hazards; hazardous materials and waste; aircraft hazards; and emergency response. The Safety Element will also be updated to include a discussion of how it aligns with other General Plan elements. The Consultant will provide an Administrative Draft Safety Element, envisioned as an internal document that the City and applicable stakeholders would review.
Task 6.6 Safety Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
The Consultant will assist City staff with facilitating a Safety Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting to discuss the Administrative Draft Safety Element. The make-up of this STAC may be different from the Housing TAC given the different focus of the Element. This STAC should include staff from police, fire, emergency services, and perhaps County and State public safety agencies. We can discuss the STAC membership further at the kick-off meeting. This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom or other on-line technology.
Task 6.7 Public Review Draft Safety Element
The Consultant will revise the Administrative Draft Safety Element in response to a single set of consolidated comments from the City and TAC. Comments shall be made in Microsoft Word’s “tracked changes” feature. The Consultant will provide a single “clean” version of the Public Review Draft Environmental Justice Element.
Task 6.8 Community Workshop: Safety Element
The Consultant and City staff will facilitate one community workshop on the Safety Element.
The Consultant will present the element and discuss the key changes. The Consultant will then facilitate a question-and-answer session and interactive small Committee sessions. The Consultant will summarize the results of the input received. This meeting will be virtual via Zoom or other technology.
Task 6.9 Planning Commission and City Council Joint Study Session The Consultant will assist City staff with facilitating a joint study session with the Planning City of Visalia HEU
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Commission and City Council to present the Draft Safety Element and discuss the results of the community workshop and STAC meeting (this study session will also include a discussion of the environmental Justice Element, as described in Task 7.4). The Consultant will solicit input and direction from the Commission and Council. The Consultant will revise the Safety Element as necessary following the study session.
Task 6.10 Adoption Hearings
The Consultant will attend Planning Commission and City Council adoption hearings for the Safety Element as a part of the Housing Element Adoption Hearings (Task 9.2).
Phase 6 Deliverables:
• Draft Vulnerability Assessment (digital; Word, pdf)
• Final Vulnerability Assessment (digital; Word, pdf)
• Evacuation Analysis – Technical Memorandum (digital; Word, pdf) • Draft Evacuation Map (digital; GIS, pdf)
• Final Evacuation Map (digital; GIS, pdf)
• Draft Safety Element Policy Memorandum (digital; Word, pdf) • Final Safety Element Policy Memorandum (digital; Word, pdf) • Administrative Draft Safety Element Update (digital; Word, pdf) • Public Review Draft Safety Element Update (digital; Word, pdf) • Community Workshop Materials (digital; PowerPoint; hard copy display boards and handouts)
Phase 7 Environmental Justice Element
Task 7.1 Administrative Draft Environmental Justice Element The Consultant will prepare an Administrative Draft Environmental Justice Element that aligns with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Guidelines. The Consultant will use CalEnviroscreen 4.0 to determine areas of concern regarding environmental justice issues that is consistent with SB 535 (Disadvantaged Communities). The updated Environmental Justice Element at a minimum will address goals, policies, and programs pertaining to educational attainment, pollution burden of disadvantaged communities, and identification of burdensome quality of life metrics including poverty, unemployment, linguistic isolation, and health.
The Element will include an introduction describing racial, social, and environmental injustices in historical planning practices and how the General Plan includes planning practices that promote healthy, diverse, and equitable communities. The Consultant will focus goals, policies, and implementation programs for the environmental Justice Element in the following areas:
• Racial and Social Justice
• Environmental Justice
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• Civic Engagement in the Public Decision-Making Process
Task 7.2 Public Review Draft Environmental Justice Element The Consultant will revise the Administrative Draft Environmental Justice Element in response to a single set of consolidated comments from the City. Comments shall be made in Microsoft Word’s “tracked changes” feature. The Consultant will provide a single “clean” version of the Public Review Draft Environmental Justice Element.
Task 7.3 Community Workshops: Environmental Justice Element The Consultant will work with City staff and local community organizations to facilitate up to three community workshops on the Environmental Justice Element. The workshops will be open house style with informational display boards in both English and Spanish. The consultants and organization representatives will make a presentation on the Environmental Justice Element and facilitate an interactive discussion. All discission will include simultaneous verbal translation. The Consultant will summarize the results of the input received.
Task 7.4 Planning Commission and City Council Joint Study Session The Consultant will assist City staff with facilitating a joint study session with the Planning Commission and City Council to present the Draft Environmental Justice Element and discuss the results of the community workshops. The Consultant will solicit input and direction from the Commission and Council. The Consultant will revise the Environmental Justice Element as necessary following the study session. (Note: This task will be combined with Task 6.9) Task 7.5 Adoption Hearings
The Consultant will attend Planning Commission and City Council adoption hearings for the Environmental Justice Element as a part of the Housing Element adoption hearings (Task 9.2).
Phase 7 Deliverables:
• Administrative Draft Environmental Justice Element (digital; Word, pdf) • Public Review Draft Environmental Justice Element (digital; Word, pdf) • Community workshop materials (digital; PowerPoint; hard copy display boards and handouts)
• Final Environmental Justice Element (digital; Word, pdf) Phase 8 CEQA Compliance
The Consultant understands City staff will be responsible for CEQA compliance. The Consultant have allocated budget to assist City staff with CEQA compliance if needed.
Phase 9 Review and Adoption
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The Consultant will work with City staff to respond to HCD staff comments, incorporate those responses into a Public Hearing Draft Housing Element. The Consultants will also prepare Public Hearing Draft Safety and Environmental Justice Elements, and facilitate adoption of the Final Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements.
Task 9.1 Public Hearing Draft Housing Element
The Consultant will prepare a Public Hearing Draft Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements. Consultant will provide a digital copy of the Public Hearing Draft Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements, to post on the Project website and will send out an email to stakeholders and the community.
Task 9.2 Public Hearings and Adoption
The Consultant will attend two public hearings–one with the Planning Commission and one with the City Council–to present the Public Hearing Draft Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements, respond to questions, and record the recommendations of the Planning Commission and the action of the City Council.
Task 9.3 Final Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements and Transmittal to HCD The Consultant will prepare the Final Housing Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements that incorporate any changes made by the Planning Commission and City Council in adopting the Housing Element. The Consultant will print hard copies and provide a digital copy of the Final Housing Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements. The Consultant will also prepare a cover memorandum to accompany submission of the Final Housing Element to HCD for the final 60- day certification period.
Phase 9 Deliverables:
• Planning Commission and City Council public hearing materials (digital; PowerPoint; pdf) • Final Housing Element transmittal memorandum to HCD (digital; Word, pdf) • Final Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements (1 bound hard copy of each; digital; Word, pdf)
Project Management and Ongoing Communication and Coordination The Consultant will regularly communicate with City staff on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, or as necessary to resolve issues. The Consultant will prepare monthly status reports documenting the progress made each month on completing the project, and review and update the schedule, as necessary.