The Housing Advisory Board voted on Jan. 22, 2025 to recommend that City Council adopt a draft ordinance conforming the city’s ADU (accessory dwelling unit) and occupancy rules to state law.

The staff memo, circulated before the meeting, proposed amendments to Title 9 (land use) and Title 10 (structures) to align local ADU standards and occupancy rules with new state requirements. Board discussion on the ordinance items was brief; board members asked clarifying questions, heard one public commenter and then moved to vote.

Public comment: Mark Fear (attendee and commenter) told the board he supported the changes and asked the city to track the benefits of increased ADUs and occupancy flexibility so the public can see outcomes over time.

Board action: The board voted, without amendment, to support the staff recommendations. The two motions were taken separately: one to recommend adoption of the ADU ordinance and one to recommend adoption of the occupancy amendments. Both motions passed by recorded voice vote of 7 to 0.

Other formal actions: earlier in the meeting the board moved to approve minutes from the Nov. 20, 2024 meeting with a single deletion; that motion passed. The board also approved a recommended letter to City Council urging Council to prioritize appointing a new member with housing‑production experience to fill an upcoming vacancy; that decision passed 7 to 0.

Why it matters: The changes are intended to implement state law locally and to make it easier for households to create or legalize ADUs and for household occupancy rules to reflect contemporary living arrangements. Board members and commenters said they expect the change to modestly increase housing options but emphasized the need to monitor outcomes.

What the board asked staff to do next: staff will forward the board’s recommendation to City Council as the board’s official comment and will continue monitoring implementation; board members requested data collection on ADU production and occupancy changes to be reported back in future meetings.

Votes at a glance:
- Recommendation to City Council to adopt draft ADU ordinance (Title 9 and Title 10 amendments). Motion: support staff recommendation to adopt ADU ordinance. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote tally: Yes 7, No 0, Abstain 0. Outcome: approved/recommended to Council.
- Recommendation to City Council to adopt occupancy amendments (Title 9/10 technical changes aligning with state law). Motion: support staff recommendation to adopt occupancy amendments. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote tally: Yes 7, No 0, Abstain 0. Outcome: approved/recommended to Council.
- Approval of Nov. 20, 2024 meeting minutes with one deletion. Motion: approve minutes with deletion. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote tally: not specified. Outcome: approved.
- Recommendation re: upcoming board appointments: Board voted to forward a letter to City Council asking Council to prioritize candidates with housing production experience to fill March vacancy. Motion: approve recommendation letter. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote tally: Yes 7, No 0, Abstain 0. Outcome: approved.

The board will forward its formal recommendation and the staff memo to City Council for final action.