Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending Resolution No. 15547 Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept up to $310,000 in Senate Bill (SB) 2 Planning Grants Program Funds for Work on General Plan Updates, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and Environmental Review Consistent with State Laws to Streamline Housing Production. (Planning, Building & Transportation 481005)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 18, 2019, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application for the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) grant funds available from the SB 2 (Building Homes and Jobs Act) Planning Grants Program and enter into a Standard Agreement with HCD to accept up to $310,000 in grant funds to reimburse the Community Development Fund for expenditures on the City Council-directed work program consistent with state laws to streamline housing production.
HCD has requested minor clarifying changes to the previously adopted resolution (Resolution No. 15477). The proposed changes are shown in redline format in Exhibit 1. Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt the resolution amending Resolution No. 15547 with the requested changes.
BACKGROUND
In March 2019, HCD released a Notice of Funding Availability for up to $123 million to all local governments in California under the SB 2 Planning Grants Program. The Planning Grants Program is intended for the preparation, adoption, and implementation of plans that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production, and is authorized by Health and Safety Code section 50470 et seq.
The City of Alameda seeks to partner with HCD to maximize resources and attain the mutual goals of accelerating housing production, streamlining the approval of housing development affordable to owner and rental households at all income levels, facilitating housing affordability, and promoting development consistent with the State Planning Priorities (Government Code section 65041.1).
DISCUSSION
On April 16, 2019, the City Council endorsed an Annual Report on the Status of the General Plan and Housing Element and directed staff to proceed with:
• Streamlining the review process for housing development;
• Developing “objective design standards” to expedite design review of housing projects;
• Revising current policies, regulations, and fees to increase accessory dwellings, affordable and workforce housing, and affordable-by-design units; and
• Updating the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance to increase climate change protection.
On June 18, 2019, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to HCD for the SB 2 (Building Homes and Jobs Act) Planning Grants Program funds, which can be used to help the City fund certain work described in the annual report. Background information of the grant is available online at: <http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/planning-grants.shtml>.
HCD staff has requested minor clarifying amendments to the previously adopted City Council resolution.
ALTERNATIVES
• Amend Resolution No. 15547 authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept up to $310,000 of SB 2 Planning Grants Program funds.
• Do not authorize proceeding with this grant application. Staff work for the priorities would continue with Planning and Building funds without any reimbursement from other sources. Progress on the work program would then rely solely on availability of funds in Planning and Building established through the regular budget process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the General Fund or Community Development Fund (Fund 209) related to this grant application and subsequent Standard Agreement with HCD for grant administration.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the General Plan Housing Element to remove governmental constraints towards housing production and to streamline ways to increase housing stock and affordability.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378(b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines (governmental fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment is not a project).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
The grant application would cover updating the City’s General Plan to also include policies and goals addressing climate change as it relates to new housing development, therefore, it is consistent with the City’s overall goals to climate impacts.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution amending Resolution No. 15547 authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept up to $310,000 of SB 2 Planning Grants Program funds for work on general plan updates, zoning ordinance amendments, and environmental review consistent with state laws to streamline housing production.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager concurs with the Planning, Building and Transportation Director’s recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas, Planning, Building and Transportation Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Proposed Amendments
2. June 18, 2019 City Council Staff report
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager