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City reports progress on housing element; consultants and studies planned for 2024
Summary
Planning staff reported that more than half of the 77 housing element programs are completed or ongoing and proposed an RFP (~$195,000) for consultants to study affordability strategies such as impact fees, inclusionary housing and lot-merger incentives; staff said several complex policy items will come to council next year.
Planning Director Jackson and staff presented a status update on the city's sixth-cycle housing element, describing 77 programs across seven goals. Staff said roughly 20 programs are complete, 31 are ongoing and 13 require action in the coming year; the presentation emphasized interdependencies among zoning, objective design standards, lot-merger incentives and inclusionary housing options.
Staff said they plan to issue an RFP in early 2025, budgeting about $195,000 for consultants to research affordability strategies (impact fees, parcel taxes, inclusionary zoning and small-lot housing), prepare draft regulations and make recommendations for in-lieu fee mechanisms. Director Jackson asked council to continue pre-meeting briefings on complex items to improve the efficiency of council hearings and to preserve flexibility where state law allows.
Council members asked for clarity on which housing element programs are discretionary and which are required to satisfy state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requirements. City attorney and staff said the city has already completed most of the required rezoning work and that, while some programs are required to obtain HCD sign-off, others (e.g., inclusionary rules) offer council discretion and can be shaped following consultant recommendations.
