[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6470158,"mediaKeyId","5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300","parentId",5780041,"title","Santa Clara County officials warn RHNA assignment and ABAG process leave county with few credits for housing units","audioSeconds",3220,"startMs",1964000,"endMs",5184000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300&start=1964&end=5184","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300/thumbnail_1964000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6470158/Santa-Clara-County/California/Santa-Clara-County-officials-warn-RHNA-assignment-and-ABAG-process-leave-county-with-few-credits-for-housing-units","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470158-d9643f0020e7b1ba868daad07b14b6e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447539&Signature=UPUGohmhyygy3MyU6LWjjRS~S9A7xoejFpbuFmvapaqrAE8WAfzyDExJjI3uYD5RUwQ3a7v2CKV6xBhUFNaXE5HWQLjQ08zuUPQseozbeO07Gt4cMRLBerAsJezYPQOSHqlTVs~1kexR9HscUsWCvqMw2LDHx8uUPEweR3rTup2XyJGmPjkgsXwCszu3z74x1Yv1GGiumTguqVOH~oYiOoL-akkasvooNpEr3PnASZoDZzmZWhjqG4nNpjswjxE7lfnxyhUc~IwvCFK0JGUE2UJ4ELosCa~Gfc8mG6c7JgWNXjGWkAfUkp7DsovmieAmCJbTxbkBMHfmxbzHyPnoug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Santa Clara County","date","2025-09-19T07:40:04Z","article","Santa Clara County officials told the Hewlett Committee on Sept. 18 that the county’s sixth-cycle housing element obligations were magnified by regional methodology choices and by rules that limit how many RHNA credits the county receives when parcels in unincorporated areas are annexed by cities.

“From the very outset…our regional housing need allocation increased by over a thousand percent,” Deputy County Executive Sylvia Gallegos said, describing the 2020 ABAG methodology and the county’s large rural land base. She said ABAG and the methodology use a population baseline that dramatically raised Santa Clara County’s assigned units compared with peer jurisdictions.

The county’s planning director, Jacqueline Anciano, and staff described efforts to seek legislative relief and to identify additional buildable sites. “We were disadvantaged,” Gallegos said. She told the committee the county is pursuing both programmatic responses — additional site inventory and consultant help on code amendments — and legislative solutions to reduce the county’s exposure.

Why it matters: Committee members were presented with a technical explanation of how ABAG allocates RHNA and transfer-credit mechanics that, county staff said, discourage cities from taking transfer credits. Anciano, Lisa Mikhail (deputy director for planning services) and Gallegos described a specific example — a proposed East San Jose project at 1125 Kirk Avenue — where county and city submissions diverged and ABAG awarded the county credit for only two units despite local analysis showing up to 12 units consistent with the county’s housing element.

“ABAG is only gonna give us credit for 2 units,” Gallegos said, summarizing the county’s view of the transfer outcome for that site and warning supervisors the transfer rules provide “pennies on the dollar.” David Campos, deputy county executive for intergovernmental relations, told the committee he and his team are vetting multiple legislative proposals and conducting outreach in Sacramento to identify viable approaches and potential authors.

Staff outlined a menu of proposed state-level changes and process options they are developing with county counsel and the intergovernmental relations team: allowing ABAG to consider alternative RHNA methodologies; directing ABAG to explicitly consider urban services availability when assigning units; clarifying the treatment of “urban islands” that sit inside city boundaries; automatic or planned RHNA transfers for annexed properties; and extending the time window for transfer agreements so cities and counties have more time to negotiate credits.

The planning director also noted an operational proposal the county is considering: allow fees associated with a builder’s-remedy application to be assessed at current rates so that processing costs are borne by the applicant rather than absorbed by county general revenue.

Supervisors pressed staff on process and timing. Supervisor Susan Hernandez told staff she was not satisfied with how the county developed its recommendations and said she would not approve a final package without more board-level collaboration. “I am not here to give you a rubber stamp. I’m here as a collaborator and as a partner and I am a policy maker,” Hernandez said, requesting earlier and deeper engagement by supervisors as staff refine proposals.

What the committee decided: Committee members agreed to continue discussion. Chair Margaret Abakova and staff said they would schedule follow-up briefings and one-on-one meetings before the board-level action. Gallegos said the county plans to return with a recommended bill package in November and noted legislative authoring deadlines in early February.

Officials emphasized uncertainty in Sacramento political leadership as a factor in timing: David Campos said committee members should expect shifting committee assignments and leadership that could affect sponsorship and chances for success.

Next steps: Staff will continue to refine legislative options, work with county counsel and IGR, solicit input from other Bay Area jurisdictions and the Bay Area caucus in Sacramento, and schedule briefings for individual supervisors before returning to the board in November. The committee agreed to continue the item to the next meeting and to hold staff-supervisor follow-ups.

Votes and formal actions: Committee did not adopt the staff legislative recommendations at the Sept. 18 meeting. Instead the item was continued for further discussion; staff were directed to meet individually with supervisors and return with a refined package.

Ending note: County leaders reiterated that a combination of additional site work and targeted Sacramento engagement will be required to address what their staff described as “structural” allocation disadvantages created by the current regional methodology.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Housing, Land Use, Environment, & Transportation Committee September 18, 2025 10:00 a.m.","oneSentenceSummary","Santa Clara County officials told the Hewlett Committee on Sept. 18 that the county’s sixth-cycle housing element obligations were magnified by regional methodology choices and by rules that limit how many RHNA credits the county receives when parcels in unincorporated areas are annexed by cities.","taxTitle","Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6470139,"County reports preliminary results of agricultural worker housing survey; permit-transformation draft to return in December",278,8998000,9276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300&start=8998&end=9276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300/thumbnail_8998000.jpg","/articles/6470139/Santa-Clara-County/California/County-reports-preliminary-results-of-agricultural-worker-housing-survey-permit-transformation-draft-to-return-in-December","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470139-14f50daf10547e11eefc7f26c0c1614f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447539&Signature=c4IrHzDAYaHB6T5TXArFyTVM5x0qgeTxCNqfpXqE4Ykua5ECo5Poepw0zb6F9fezcr-8qEkzJ9Awk-PtU8AzR3eoOcpilV3pqUcgXWQZdbUsXuKAmKd9xEcLnL~6WTMBK9AL0~f~fI7I4FMZIIJas-drdqP7bzXbvaHNQhBJ4m~RGpC6h-D-HD3Q3cV85Y1rLhwLPGOlK4TXjqqU4u73s6-G2xgabNrkRnxmrUmOXVCzHVUSgobfTWAUopG8AJZ2T0weAlqQNtqjMHxvsY3MuzzJrYZ558ooewCrT6lVpSJ67iJWEFZleG4MDzVKLQC08d4uWLpmmOcruQwGdfNS1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Clara County staff updated the Hewlett Committee on Sept. 18 about agricultural worker housing outreach and a separate permit-transformation evaluation intended to speed development review.

Deputy County Executive Sylvia Gallegos told supervisors the county had collected roughly 430 farm-worker surveys so far and that survey collection has been labor-intensive. The county’s report described the principal obstacles farmers identify for agricultural worker housing: lack of financing, inexperience with the housing process and regulatory complexity. Gallegos said farm workers themselves reported a high need for assistance with applications for medical services and other benefits.

The county also said it will return with a fuller survey report when it has a larger, representative sample. “We have a new ag commissioner … one of her goals is to make herself known to our farm workers and also our farmers,” Gallegos said. Staff said outreach will include in-person, hard-copy surveys in seasonal windows where digital access is limited and will coordinate with supervisors’ offices to expand outreach.

On permitting, Gallegos and planning director Jacqueline Anciano told the committee the county has drafted a permit-transformation analysis with consultant support but a planned November presentation will be delayed because a consultant must undergo a medical procedure; the department now expects to present the draft in December. Staff said they will schedule individual supervisor briefings on the draft findings before finalizing the report.

The county announced it will seek delegated authority at the Oct. 21 board meeting to apply for an anticipated federal earmark for housing rehabilitation and electrification projects; staff said the delegation is an administrative step required to submit the application.

Committee response and next steps: Supervisors asked staff to continue expanding survey outreach, offered to help identify stakeholder contacts and requested individual briefings on the permit-transformation draft before it is finalized. Staff agreed to return to the committee with a fuller survey and a revised permit-transformation timeline in December.","Santa Clara County staff updated the Hewlett Committee on Sept. 18 about agricultural worker housing outreach and a separate permit-transformation evaluation intended to speed development review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6470144,"UC Cooperative Extension reports broad county work: small-farm support, Master Gardener outreach and wildfire research",886,7233000,8119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300&start=7233&end=8119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300/thumbnail_7233000.jpg","/articles/6470144/Santa-Clara-County/California/UC-Cooperative-Extension-reports-broad-county-work-small-farm-support-Master-Gardener-outreach-and-wildfire-research","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470144-213d7d15926e1806f7c58d12b7374a09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447539&Signature=F6b4kvjCn3uXXCZKW8Ap-zCcx7yjTEB97bVbHKxVYwfj3iIMxCIqQgDZpTF7WaxoQMW4MFSAyCPPwDV~7JmU7fKW2PKWEVCibLD1ueGvLilhTlXuRczkurDNm5WIjtHbPdrhSrp3ELQQmwAxMJjSDlsQFTxAwRzjtv2bSsGw~zJb~Jaz6xiabVUHe8edkaPkfNRCVU5pNdAaAEoPnYgZK7~FUx4EgUOBcgr54lYUWxz~vATOVYs4biwOfYylb8CmAnG0mDlCGgXEb29I5d8ofOSarMcbPlZfhU7XqGblLPrSwRQzy0LZEFndR0WxLmi~p7SO7Tj7MslUAFnj5g1fOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) presented its annual accomplishments for fiscal year 2023–24 to the Hewlett Committee on Sept. 18, describing multilingual technical assistance to small farms, Master Gardener volunteer activity, youth programming and wildfire- and forest-focused research.

UCCE Director Sheila Barry said the program’s total support was about $6.6 million and the county’s direct and indirect investment represented 14% of that total. “Every county dollar leverages more than six additional dollars in funding,” Barry said, summarizing the MOU-based partnership between the county and UCCE that has existed for decades.

Program highlights the agency reported included: pesticide and food-safety training in multiple languages for small-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers; a South Santa Clara County agritourism map and outreach; research and outreach on compost and biochar use; forest stewardship monitoring in the Santa Cruz Mountains; a livestock program supporting grazing lands; and work on nonlethal predator deterrence and human–carnivore interaction mitigation.

The UCCE also reported youth and volunteer impacts: about 3,000 youth enrolled in 4-H programming, more than 300 certified Master Gardeners who donated over 35,000 hours, and demonstration gardens and educational programming at Marshall Cottle Park that engaged thousands of visitors.

Committee members thanked UCCE for its breadth of programming and asked staff to continue outreach on wildfire town halls, farm-worker technical assistance and rodent control at county facilities. The committee voted to receive the report.

Ending: UCCE said it will continue to seek external funding, maintain partnerships with county departments and local organizations, and return next year with updated metrics and program outcomes.","The University of California Cooperative Extension presented its fiscal-year highlights to the Hewlett Committee, reporting $6.6 million in program support, a 14% county funding share, multilingual farmer outreach, Master Gardener volunteer hours and forest- and wildfire-related research.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6470149,"County weights and measures division readies EV test equipment and reports 251 complaints in 2024; seeks public outreach improvements",662,5788000,6450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300&start=5788&end=6450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300/thumbnail_5788000.jpg","/articles/6470149/Santa-Clara-County/California/County-weights-and-measures-division-readies-EV-test-equipment-and-reports-251-complaints-in-2024-seeks-public-outreach-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470149-bf510d8015903cc8217f19db6f6c83d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447539&Signature=TLU8zFuvkrx1D65HrKRwRiMSgVdOyVhHfji~i2G8zmrq4ATJ0LdUEbltpmslH6jy3VPT4MwtW-pb31a5zZIFaxYnprud35BnV7yvb1p~LwyCrgt5~Z8iiEs5eBzesng6JfwQPjoJfKBGS9TiwjtEjSlh2Gyvfd3gQrcDeLXerc4UEkrh7-d10whk890ONKOWFwdjG2kIYg17dvHGCJCpf4kvnEjvg0PbuhbbGKShIDbbyLMhlf2pa2HgMgvDAIGGvFaVCQd8LvIAE6o5DG60oBVhpAinWKH1v-rx2GexVoDxQzujwJPFNJLZpkFzguXNXnrr7~WxRTuTtXP~oN-FoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Clara County’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency presented an annual update on the weights and measures program to the Hewlett Committee on Sept. 18, highlighting inspection volumes, a forthcoming purchase of EV charging-station test equipment and the program’s consumer complaint work.

“Sometimes when scales and pumps are off even slightly, working families pay the price,” said Edgar Olasco, director of the Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, introducing new Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer Priscilla Yeney. Yeney and staff described the program’s workload: more than 22,000 measuring devices were inspected in fiscal year 2023–24, point-of-sale price verification is conducted on a biannual schedule, and package quantity audits and petroleum-quality inspections are routine program elements.

Weights and Measures Deputy described a pilot EV charger testing effort using borrowed state equipment and said county staff achieved a roughly 95% compliance rate on tested chargers. The county has approval to buy two test units — one for AC (slower) chargers and one for DC fast chargers — and staff said Assembly Bill 2037 will expand their testing responsibilities for public chargers starting Jan. 1, 2026.

“We anticipate a thousand more EV chargers that are gonna need to be tested,” the deputy said, noting the county borrowed state equipment this year to train staff and that the county’s planned purchases will enable routine compliance checks of higher-power DC chargers.

The division also reported that it received 251 consumer complaints in fiscal year 2023–24 and follows complaints within one to two business days. Staff outlined outreach plans including a new county-branded inspection sticker and a GIS-based mapping approach to identify geographic complaint trends and reduce underreporting in less-resourced areas. The deputy said the program will expand language access and use outreach to encourage residents to report problems.

Committee action: Supervisor Arenas moved to receive the report; Chair Abakova seconded and the committee approved the action by roll call. Committee members encouraged staff to pursue user-facing reporting tools and to return with EV-testing status as equipment is acquired.

Ending: Weights and measures staff asked for ongoing county support to purchase EV testing equipment and to expand consumer outreach in multiple languages.","Santa Clara County’s weights and measures division told the Hewlett Committee it inspected more than 22,000 measuring devices in fiscal 2024, will purchase new test standards to meet an expanded electric-vehicle charging-station testing mandate, and received 251 consumer complaints last year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6470153,"VTA seeks grants, local matches to advance Homestead Road Safe Routes to School design",159,5236000,5395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300&start=5236&end=5395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780041-ed66db8c2408be326495fdc857e1e300/thumbnail_5236000.jpg","/articles/6470153/Santa-Clara-County/California/VTA-seeks-grants-local-matches-to-advance-Homestead-Road-Safe-Routes-to-School-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470153-49bc3284e05af13a3008641287cac53f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447539&Signature=DFbBIFi0BkJ3khNjGJMKuBPZt~rLPIOSigrCjg25TtZiTcvU3r5-KoUy3s4WTWg8UwZ7kNyj~ZgYqeBxhTpUjBXiF7gURJpykIAFpB8y1mEikfKjT4dWF7Y9v4Ez5~r1wakarDg9xI8RnHlW65dOfdUV75~wXlwMdDixe1OWvIL3RjTTKDl95rOsdqOCealBvNd~EY~s0FYt8GKZbKIYAmXsyVK4EWasiiEN0qM5savVLi-rVxDbRKsJ~IS4AzSjn7a5v0zbuU~IuAFfTnzqeDHyb9FCXbjPjqBhElwh54WHMbDgFMNZDle-t0PJDzVWAr4~U4KbPoB6tFgyTgdZoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Clara County roads staff told the Hewlett Committee Sept. 18 that the Homestead Road Safe Routes to School project has completed 35% design but still requires additional grant funding and local match dollars to progress to construction.

“The 35% design has been complete,” Roads Director Harry Freitas said. He told the committee the project was initiated and partly funded by the county, with $500,000 provided from road and general funds for project initiation and alternatives analysis. VTA later assumed project lead and secured a Measure B grant of $1 million to further the effort.

Staff described the corridor as Homestead Road parallel to U.S. 101/280 and noted the route connects Foothill Expressway and De Anza Boulevard, with multiple schools in the study area. Freitas said the VTA is seeking additional grant funding and local contributions from Sunnyvale, Cupertino and Los Altos to complete environmental clearance and final design. County intergovernmental relations staff said they are also seeking federal and state funding through congressional and legislative channels and noted a $2 million request in a House appropriations bill submitted by a city.

Committee action: Vice Chair Supervisor Arenas moved to receive the semiannual report; Chair Margaret Abakova seconded and the committee voted in favor (roll call recorded). Freitas and IGR staff asked cities for local match support and will continue federal grant advocacy.

Why it matters: County staff said timely funding is important because project costs have increased; Freitas told the committee the next design phase estimate had risen about $500,000 compared with earlier projections and reiterated that “the longer it takes, the more expensive it gets.”

Next steps: VTA will continue pursuing grant funding and local matches; county IGR staff will pursue additional federal and state resources and notify the committee of major funding outcomes.","The county Roads and Airports department and VTA updated the Hewlett Committee on the Homestead Road Safe Routes to School project, saying 35% design is complete and additional grant funding and local matches are needed to finish design and environmental clearance before construction can be bid.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Santa Clara County officials warn RHNA assignment and ABAG process leave county with few credits for housing units

County reports preliminary results of agricultural worker housing survey; permit-transformation draft to return in December

UC Cooperative Extension reports broad county work: small-farm support, Master Gardener outreach and wildfire research

County weights and measures division readies EV test equipment and reports 251 complaints in 2024; seeks public outreach improvements

VTA seeks grants, local matches to advance Homestead Road Safe Routes to School design