Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Rhna topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
HCOG adopts 50/50 jobs-population RHNA methodology and increases affordability adjustment to 20%
Summary
HCOG identified a preferred RHNA allocation methodology weighting jobs and population equally (50%/50%) and approved increasing the income-category adjustment from 10% to 20%; the board voted unanimously to begin the 60-day public review and follow the statutory timeline to finalize the methodology.
The Humboldt County Association of Governments board on Sept. 18 selected a preferred methodology to allocate the region's 5,962-unit Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for cycle 7 and approved increasing the income-category adjustment used to distribute units among affordability bands.
HCOG Executive Director Brandon Byrd said the Regional Housing Needs Determination, received from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on July 15, 2025, totals 5,962 units for the region. Byrd said RHNA is a planning requirement that "is not an expectation that these units are necessarily constructed or caused to be constructed by local agencies" but instead requires jurisdictions to plan and zone for their assigned units.
After discussion by the HCOG staff-led RHNA working group and public input, the board identified Alternative 1 as its preferred allocation method: distribute units 50% by share of regional jobs and 50% by share of regional population. Staff said that approach balances the policy objectives of promoting infill and lower vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in job centers while addressing regional overcrowding, cost burden and vacancy issues across jurisdictions.
The board also approved increasing the income-category adjustment from the 10% factor used previously to a 20% adjustment. That adjustment is applied after the initial allocation to better move each jurisdiction's affordable-unit shares toward the regional average across the new RHNA income categories (including the split of very-low categories required in cycle 7).
Key figures presented by staff included: - Total RHNA (cycle 7): 5,962 units (HCD determination dated July 15, 2025). - Median family income used for affordability calculations: $88,300 for Humboldt County. - Annualized RHNA (total divided across eight years): roughly 745 units per year.
Staff explained the selection of jobs as a factor because locating housing near employment centers can lower VMT, leverage existing infrastructure and promote jobs-housing balance. Population was chosen to address countywide issues such as overcrowding and cost burden that affect every jurisdiction.
Kristen Kenyon, Eureka development services director, explained how local housing-element site inventories affect what jurisdictions can count toward RHNA compliance, including ADUs and redevelopment: "When you have a nonvacant site, like, in the built out cities, we have to point to nonvacant sites. The bar is higher." Kenyon's remarks underscored that RHNA assigns planning targets; local housing elements must then demonstrate capacity to accommodate those units.
Byrd said HCOG will start the required 60-day public-review period on the methodology, hold a public hearing at the October board meeting, and return to the board for final action after the public review period ends. Staff said they will consult with HCD during the review process and noted that the timeline anticipates final action by the board after the 60-day period.
A motion to approve Alternative 1 (50% jobs / 50% population) and the 20% income-category adjustment passed unanimously.
Ending: HCOG will post the methodology for 60 days of public review, hold a public hearing in October, consult with HCD, and aim for final board approval after the review period so local jurisdictions can begin incorporating the allocations into housing-element work.
