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MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL, SUCCESSOR HOUSING AGENCY, &
SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING
October 15, 2024
City of Watsonville
Council Chambers
275 Main Street, Top Floor
6:50 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Mayor Quiroz-Carter, Mayor Pro Tempore Orozco, and Council Members Dutra and Salcido were present. Council Members Clark, Montesino, and Parker were absent.
Staff members present were City Manager Vides, Attorney Wagner, City Clerk Ortiz, Public Works & Utilities Director Lindberg, Administrative Services Director Duran, Community Development Director Merriam, Parks & Community Services Director Calubaquib, Deputy City Manager Manning, Assistant Community Development Director Meek, Housing Manager Landaverry, Principal Planner Orbach, and Interpreter Landaverry.
1.a. MOTION TO EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBER(S) – None
MOTION: It was moved by Member Salcido, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Orozco and carried by the following vote to excuse absent Council Members Clark, Montesino, and Parker.
AYES: MEMBERS: Dutra, Orozco, Salcido, Quiroz-Carter
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: Clark, Montesino, Parker
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES, & APPEALS
3.a. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT IN THE 2005 CITY OF WATSONVILLE GENERAL PLAN
1) Staff Report by Principal Planner Orbach. Community Development Director Merriam was also present.
2) City Council Clarifying & Technical Questions
In answering Member Dutra, Principal Planner Orbach spoke about the fair housing analysis, parking requirements, multi-story housing in the downtown area, and affordable housing requirements for new developments.
Community Development Director Merriam, in answering Member Dutra, stated Watsonville was categorized as a low resource area.
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In answering Member Dutra, Principal Planner Orbach spoke about the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and efforts to meet requirements.
Community Development Director Merriam spoke about projects that would contribute towards the City’s RHNA requirements.
In answering Member Salcido, Principal Planner Orbach and Community Development Director Merriam spoke about the reasons for the increase in the City’s RHNA requirements.
3) Public Comments
Becky Steinbrunner encouraged Council to review the State Department of Finance’s audit of the Department of Housing and Community Development regarding RHNA calculations.
She expressed safety concerns with the height of new developments in downtown due to potential earthquakes. She inquired why a lot near Crestview Drive had not been included in the staff report.
Yesenia, District 7, thanked Principal Planner Orbach for sending notification for public input on the housing element. She expressed support for larger developments and spoke about investing more funding in the Santa Cruz METRO to improve transportation. 4) MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Orozco, seconded by Member Salcido to approve the resolution listed on Item 3.a.6. below including the modifications to Program D.8. and D.13. requested by staff in their report, listed below.
Program D.8: PermitRequire 50 Percent Residential Use in Downtown Central Core Area
Pursuant to State law, identified opportunity sites that permit a mix of uses must provide a minimum of 50 percent of the proposed floor area to residential uses when a component of mixed use project. Sites identified in the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan (DWSP) shall incorporate this requirement. The City will incorporate this provision to require a minimum of 50 percent residential use on these sites.
Objective:
• Amend requirements for applicable sites in the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan to allow require a minimum of 50 percent of the proposed floor area to be for residential use for mixed use projects.
Timeframe: Amend Zoning Ordinance by June 2024 2025
Responsible Agency: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Program D.13: Building Height Limits
Adopt changes to the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan (DWSP) modifying the four-story height limit for the Downtown Neighborhood and Downtown Industrial Docusign Envelope ID: 36693A38-B856-4545-9766-6B055FAE3EE6 Vol 66 Min-CC101524 Special Meeting
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zoning districts up to a maximum of six stories and the six-story height limit for the Downtown Core zoning district up to a maximum of eight stories.
Objectives:
• Adopt an amendment to the DWSP increasing height limits for the Downtown Neighborhood and Downtown Industrial zoning districts up to a maximum of six stories and for the Downtown Core zoning district up to a maximum of eight stories.
Timeframe: By January 2027
Responsible Agency: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
5) City Council Deliberation on Motion
Member Dutra spoke about the need to build higher story developments to help meet RHNA numbers and challenges due to the Urban Limit Line. He spoke about Santa Cruz METRO’s potential budget challenges.
In answering Member Dutra, Housing Manager Landaverry spoke about low and moderate income limits. He spoke about local employees potentially qualifying for affordable housing.
Member Dutra spoke in support of workforce housing.
MOTION: The above motion was carried by the following vote.
AYES: MEMBERS: Dutra, Orozco, Salcido, Quiroz-Carter
NOES: MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: MEMBERS: Clark, Montesino, Parker
6) RESOLUTION NO. 213-24 (CM)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATSONVILLE REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY THE 2015-2023 HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN AND ADOPTING IN FULL THE 2023-2031 6th CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2005 GENERAL PLAN AND FINDING THE
ACTION NOT SUBJECT TO REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
4. EMERGENCY ITEMS ADDED TO AGENDA
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
_______________________________
Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________ _______
Irwin I. Ortiz, City Clerk
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