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Ione planning commission reviews housing-element progress report, directs staff to forward to council for HCD filing
Summary
The commission reviewed the annual progress report for the city’s housing element, discussed countywide housing efforts, water and smoke-free policies, and heard public questions about homeless shelter beds and funding. Staff will forward the report to the City Council for filing with California HCD by the April 1 deadline.
The City of Ione Planning Commission reviewed the annual progress report for the city’s housing element and directed staff to forward the report to the City Council for submission to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by the April 1 deadline.
City planner Susan (last name not specified) said the report compiles development activity and program implementation required by HCD and noted the housing element was adopted in the 6th cycle and received final certification in February. “This report is due by a local jurisdiction every year… It’s due April 1 of every year,” Susan said.
Staff summarized accomplishments and ongoing actions: formation of a countywide housing working group that has met three times; work on accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) issues; coordination with Amador Water Agency on more realistic growth projections to inform water capacity planning; and a water-efficiency landscape ordinance to better align countywide requirements. Susan said staff will try to consolidate mandated zoning updates with the mapping items discussed earlier to be efficient with limited staff resources.
Commissioners and residents also discussed programs in the housing element intended to reduce constraints and encourage supportive or transitional housing. A member of the public, Larry (last name not specified), asked who would pay ongoing costs for beds listed in the plan and whether the city is required to build housing. “I'd like to know about the homeless. I see that's in '27. We're gonna build 3 houses here. Who's gonna pay for the taxes? Who's gonna pay for the water?” Larry asked. Susan answered that the city is not required to build housing, but must remove constraints and allow certain types of residential facilities consistent with state law; she described state rules that often allow ministerial approval for specified bed counts under regulated residential programs.
Staff also raised a countywide effort on smoke-free multifamily housing and said the working group met with the county public health officer to explore a consistent ordinance. “Secondhand and thirdhand smoke is defined as tobacco or related… marijuana,” Susan said, explaining the policy scope and noting enforcement is a practical concern for cities.
The commission had no major amendments and indicated no objection to sending the report to the City Council. Staff will forward the finalized annual progress report to the council next week and, following council review, submit the report to HCD by the April 1 deadline.
