REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, City Engineer
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
HEARING to receive public comment on the 2021 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Hold a public hearing to receive public comment on the 2021 Housing Element Annual Progress Report, and
2. Accept the 2021 Housing Element Annual Progress Report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
California housing law requires that the City of Fresno produce a Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR) to document the City’s progress on implementing housing objectives and programs in the Housing Element. As part of implementing Program 3 of the Housing Element, the City is required to hold a public hearing on the APR. The purpose of the public hearing is to afford the public an opportunity to provide public testimony and written comment on the APR. All comments received will then be forwarded to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Housing Element, APR and public workshop documentation are available at www.fresno.gov/housingelement <http://www.fresno.gov/housingelement>. The APR is also included as Exhibit A and a Highlights Brochure is included as Exhibit B.
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno Housing Element is a coordinated and comprehensive strategy for promoting the production of safe, decent, and affordable housing for all community residents. Based on community input and data, it identifies housing needs and issues and establishes objectives, policies, and programs to address them. The current Housing Element, which is valid until 2023, includes 28 programs which are designed to achieve the objectives in the Element. The APR is a summary of the status of each of those programs for the calendar year 2021. The report is intended for the public and decision-makers and is required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Public Participation
Public Workshops
Regional Task Force for Affordable Housing: March 15, 2022 (remote)
Planning Commission, April 20, 2022 (hybrid)
Public Workshop, April 26, 2022 (remote)
At the workshops, City staff provided an overview of the Housing Element Annual Progress Report. Questions and comments from the public were received at both workshops.
Outreach Methods:
o Outreach by Email: Housing and anti-displacement email lists, which together include approximately 800 stakeholders, were used to distribute information about the workshops and the APR and highlights brochures, as well as the City Council hearing.
o Highlights Brochures: Highlights of the Housing Element APR were described in a 4-page brochure that was translated into Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi (see Exhibit B) and posted on the City’s website to make the information in the APR more accessible.
Public Notice:
Display ads were placed in the Fresno Bee in English and Spanish to advertise the April 28, 2022, City Council public hearing, the availability of the APR and the public comment opportunity through April 27, 2021 (see Exhibit C).
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, this item does not qualify as a “project” and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this item does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
N/A
Attachments
Exhibit A: City of Fresno 2021 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Exhibit B: Highlights Brochures
Exhibit C: Public Hearing Notice/Display Ad- Bilingual
Exhibit D: Workshop Presentation (long version)
Exhibit E: City Council Presentation (short version)