City staff outline Pro Housing designation application and 30-day public comment window

City staff presented the city’s draft Pro Housing designation application and invited public comment as the first step in a process they say is built on the city’s existing, certified housing element. "Today is day 1 of a 30 day public comment period," Assistant Community Development Director Maruja Klense told attendees as she introduced the team and the application materials.

Rachel West, a management analyst leading the presentation, said the designation recognizes jurisdictions that reduce barriers to housing production and provides priority scoring on certain state grant programs. "The city of Ventura currently has 75 points," West said, noting jurisdictions need a minimum of 30 points to qualify and that HCD review typically takes about 60 days. Staff said the city will seek council approval in August and submit the application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) after that step.

The application package runs 151 pages and includes seven appendices: a proposed council resolution, the list of proposed policies, a self-scoring sheet, enhancement factors, an encampment response policy, the public participation plan, and supporting documents. Staff emphasized the application does not add commitments beyond those already in the certified housing element; rather, it documents how the city will meet existing housing-element obligations and makes the city eligible for additional grant scoring and programs.

The presentation closed with a calendar of next steps: public outreach and an on‑record public comment period (July 8–Aug. 8), review by the Housing & Homelessness Subcommittee on July 13, Planning Commission review July 22, and a City Council hearing scheduled for Aug. 25.