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Indio council approves amended application to seek California pro‑housing designation
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to authorize staff to submit an amended application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the pro‑housing designation, approving Resolution No. 10472 and citing a CEQA exemption.
The Indio City Council voted unanimously Dec. 4 to authorize city staff to finalize and submit an amended application for the California Housing and Community Development (HCD) pro‑housing designation program.
Kendra, the city’s principal planner, told the council the Housing and Neighborhood Services Division returned to the council after HCD issued updated guidance; the amendment incorporates those updates into the application that the council originally approved on Nov. 1, 2023. City staff said the change is limited to language required by HCD and does not alter the previously adopted plan.
The designation is intended to make jurisdictions more competitive for certain state affordable housing funds and to recognize local policies that support housing production. Ian Gabriel, director of Collective Impact at Lift to Rise, offered public comment by Zoom and said Lift to Rise “strongly support[s] staff's recommendation” and described the designation as a tool to help affordable housing projects secure competitive state funding. He added that Indio would be the first city in the Coachella Valley to receive the designation if approved by HCD.
Councilmembers asked whether potential future short‑term rental policy changes could be added to the application. The city manager and staff said the application can be revised during HCD’s review and that proposed policy changes could be incorporated through the collaborative review process with HCD prior to final approval.
Councilmember Furman made the motion to adopt Resolution No. 10472, authorizing the city manager to execute documents necessary to submit the application and finding the item categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3). Councilmember Gautron seconded the motion. The council voted 5–0 to approve the resolution.
Staff said the amended application will be submitted to HCD for its review; HCD may request additional revisions during that review process.
