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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Submission of an Application for the California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program.
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Meeting Date: January 13, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Troy Evangelho, Advance Planning Manager
Lauren Wrenn, Associate Planner
Phone Number: (310) 253-5744 / (310) 253-5766
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/08/2025)
Department Approval: Mark Muenzer, Planning and Development Director (11/25/2024) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Prohousing Designation Program offers recognition of a jurisdiction’s policies that support the state’s housing goals. The designation allows jurisdictions to apply for certain grant funds to increase the availability of housing and to end homelessness, and to receive priority processing or additional points for other grants, such as programs for sustainability, infrastructure, and transportation.
The application package includes a resolution, a completion schedule for any proposed policies included in the application, the project proposal scoring sheet, and supporting documentation. The most significant portion of the application is the scoring sheet, which evaluates policies across 4 categories:
1. Favorable Zoning and Land Use
2. Acceleration of Housing Production Timeframes
3. Reduction of Construction and Development Costs
4. Providing Financial Subsidies
A jurisdiction self-scores and must achieve a cumulative score of at least 30 points across the four categories to receive the Prohousing Designation. The draft application proposes a score of 49 points. The City has waited to submit this application until after the approval of the new General Plan 2045 and Comprehensive Zoning Code Update, both of which became effective in October 2024.
The draft application package was made available on the City website for the required 30-day review period on December 6, 2024. Notifications of the availability of the draft application package were sent to City email lists and posted to social media channels.
Upon submission of the application, HCD will review the materials, consulting with staff for clarification as needed, before making its final determination.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The authorization to submit the application for the Prohousing Designation Program is covered by the general exemption rule (as provided in California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15061, subsection (b)(3)) that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) only to applies projects which have potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The authorization to submit the application will have no significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with adoption of the resolution to authorize submission of the application. If the application is successful, the Prohousing Designation would make the City eligible to apply to certain grant programs, and to receive priority consideration for other grant programs.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution to Authorize Submission of an Application for the HCD Prohousing Designation Program
MOTION
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the California Department of Housing and Community Development Prohousing Designation Program.