Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Taft council accepts annual housing element progress report and directs submittal to state
Summary
The Taft City Council on March 4 voted 5-0 to accept the city's annual housing element progress report and authorize its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
The Taft City Council on March 4 voted 5-0 to accept the city's annual housing element progress report and authorize its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
City Manager Jones told the council that California Government Code section 65400 requires jurisdictions to prepare and submit an annual progress report on implementation of the housing element of the general plan. The Planning Commission reviewed and accepted the report on Feb. 5, 2025, and staff recommended the council review and file the report.
Planning Director Mark Staples told the council the city is in a transition year under the current 2023'031 housing element and that some new programs identified in the element were not yet in place. "The main surprise, if any, was, we've actually had a couple accessory dwelling units approved in this last cycle," Staples said, adding that ADUs are likely to become more common as homeowners add rental units on existing lots. He pointed councilmembers to the report's summary table for consolidated unit counts over the eight-year period.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After the council closed the hearing, a motion to adopt a resolution entitled "Resolution of the City Council of the City of Taft accepting the City of Taft housing element annual progress report for calendar year 2024 and authorizing its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research" was made and seconded. The resolution also included a finding that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under State CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3). The roll-call vote recorded five ayes and no noes or abstentions; the mayor announced the motion passed 5-0.
Council members asked staff whether the report shows any major changes from the previous update; Staples said the primary shift is the transition to the new eight-year housing element (2023'031) and that program implementation is forthcoming. He also said the city is engaging with the Home Builders Association and seeking builders to finish existing tracts, and that some downtown multifamily sites could provide additional housing closer to Main Street amenities.
The council's action will allow the planning director to electronically submit the report to HCD and file a copy with OPR as required by state law.
Votes at the meeting noted the motion and second were not attributed to a specific councilmember in the hearing record; the roll-call vote listed the following members as voting yes: Council member Krier; Mayor Pro Tem Bryant; Council member Waldrop; Council member Shavira; and Mayor Noor.
