AGENDA DATE: 8/21/2019
TITLE:
Title
Workplan for the Affordable Housing Policy Update
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Discussion/Presentation of the Housing Policy update workplan
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, McCulley, Pethia
PRESENTER (S): Stacy Pethia, Principal Planner - Housing
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: During the April 3, 2019 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the Board discussed the results of the Comprehensive Regional Housing Study and Needs Analysis report, which outlines the affordable housing needs of current and future County residents. Among the actions taken, the Board approved a staff recommendation to seek Planning Commission approval to amend the Comprehensive Plan with an updated Affordable Housing Policy using results of the housing study as guidance for this update. The Planning Commission approved a Resolution of Intent for this amendment during the Commission’s July 23, 2019 meeting. Board members also directed staff to draft a community engagement workplan and timeline for the policy update and to present the draft plan to the Board at a later date.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment: Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs
DISCUSSION: County staff has developed a draft workplan and timeline for the Affordable Housing Policy update, copies of which are included as Attachments A and B to this agenda item. The policy update will involve a three-step process that includes community engagement, drafting an updated policy document, and development of a draft policy implementation plan.
To help ensure the new housing policy represents the housing needs and aspirations of all members of our community, the workplan incorporates a variety of community engagement tools designed to reach a broad spectrum of County residents. The community engagement tools proposed for this effort include: creation of both stakeholder and technical advisory committees, a series of focus groups with a cross-sector of community members, a series of community-wide meetings, a project-specific webpage, and a resident questionnaire.
Upon completion of the initial phase of community engagement, staff will work with both advisory committees to analyze the information collected and develop recommendations for broad housing policy goals, as well as developing recommendations for housing priorities, specific numerical targets for housing development and preservation, and the strategies needed to meet those targets. Additionally, a series of housing metrics to track the County’s progress towards meeting housing goals will be developed along with the mechanisms to collect, and report out, those metrics. Staff anticipates completion of the draft housing policy and associated housing strategy document by September 2020. A more detailed description of the proposed workplan can be found in Attachment A, which includes recommendations received from the Planning Commission on July 23, 2019.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no direct budgetary impact specifically related to the work plan identified. Required staff resource in-kind costs are already included in the current budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board receive the information provided in the presentation and provide feedback on the proposed workplan (Attachment A) and project timeline (Attachment B).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Workplan to update the Housing Policy document
Attachment B: Housing Policy update timeline
Attachment C: PC Comments