REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning & Development Department
BY: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager
Planning & Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the City’s Participation in a Multijurisdictional Housing Element Update process:
***RESOLUTION - to Participate in the Fresno County Multijurisdictional Housing Element Update and Cost Sharing Agreement (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council adopt the resolution to participate in the Fresno County Multijurisdictional Housing Element Update and cost sharing arrangement which includes the City of Fresno’s share of the cost of the MJHE in an amount not to exceed $245,000 to be paid from the City’s Local Early Action Planning grant.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
California housing element law requires every jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a housing element every 8 years as part of their required general plans. The City of Fresno prepared its own housing element for the most recent 5th cycle of the housing element in 2016. At the same time, 13 of Fresno County’s 16 jurisdictions, with help from the Fresno Council of Governments, prepared a multi-jurisdictional 5th cycle housing element that was very well received by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the state agency responsible for certifying housing elements.
The City’s Housing Element will need to be updated for the upcoming 6th cycle by December of 2023. COG jurisdictions have come together to embark on another multijurisdictional effort, and this time, staff is proposing that the City of Fresno participate in that effort due to cost, time and resource savings, and for the opportunity to collaborate regionally on housing.
BACKGROUND
There are particular challenges of the sixth cycle housing element that make collaboration a best option. Specifically:
• New legislation increases the level of analysis, community engagement, new requirements for a suitable sites inventory and robust analysis and requirements related to fair housing
• Complexity of new requirements requires substantial commitment in cost and staff time
• Need to start as soon as possible
Opportunities:
Economies of scale: the required background report, standardized policies and programs, CEQA compliance and a combined community engagement effort will save jurisdictions time and money if done in a consolidated manner by one consultant.
• The City of Fresno has additional funds set aside in the LEAP grant for additional community outreach to supplement this effort.
• A MJHE will be a cohesive approach to addressing new requirements and coordination with HCD.
• An individual housing element effort would cost the City of Fresno up to double the price of what the City would pay with the collaborative effort.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
The funding for this project would be from the Local Early Action Planning grant (LEAP). No general fund monies would be used.
Attachment:
Attachment A - Resolution