Staff Report
PREPARED BY: JOEL PAULSON
Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 406-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 09/04/2018
ITEM NO: 2
DATE: AUGUST 29, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE TOWN’S RESPONSE TO THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY CIVIL
GRAND JURY REPORT ON “AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS: DENSITY IS OUR
DESTINY” DATED JUNE 21, 2018.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Town’s response to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report on “Affordable
Housing Crisis: Density is our Destiny” dated June 21, 2018.
BACKGROUND:
On June 21, 2018, the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury issued a report pursuant to its
investigation into challenges faced by the County of Santa Clara, its 15 cities, and non -profit
agencies in the production of below market rate (BMR) housing (see Attachment 1). The Grand
Jury Report states that it tackled the issue of affordable, or BMR housing since the need for
affordable housing is critical, California’s report card gives Santa Clara County an F grade, and
the need for more housing has challenged the County for more than a decade.
The Grand Jury researched Housing Elements, Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA,) and
actual production of units, for both the current RHNA cycle (2015-2023) and the prior cycle
(2007-2014.) The Grand Jury’s review focused on the following topics:
• RHNA
• Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) versus Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY)
• Inclusionary Housing ordinances
• Transit-Oriented Development
• Jobs-Housing Ratios
• Linkage and Impact Fees
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT ON “AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS: DENSITY IS OUR DESTINY”
AUGUST 29, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\9-4-18\02 Grand Jury Report\02 Staff Report Grand Jury FINAL.docx
BACKGROUND (Continued):
• Employer Contributions
• Accessory Dwelling Units
• Governmental Entities other than Cities
The Civil Grand Jury Report directed jurisdictions in Santa Clara County to respond to specific
findings and recommendations. Attachment 2 contains the draft Town responses to the Civil
Grand Jury Report.
DISCUSSION:
The Town of Los Gatos is included in the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report on
“Affordable Housing Crisis: Density is our Destiny” because it is a jurisdiction within the County
of Santa Clara with land use authority for development and permitting authority for building
permits. As a result of its inclusion in the report, the Town is required to respond by letter or
electronic transmission to the Civil Grand Jury’s Findings and Recommendations within 90 days,
pursuant to California Penal Code 933.05. The Town may respond to the Report’s Findings in
one of the following ways:
• Agree
• Partially Agree
• Partially Disagree
• Disagree
The Town may respond to the Report’s Recommendations in one of the following ways:
• Has been implemented
• Has not been implemented, but will be implemented in the future
• Requires further analysis
• Will not be implemented
The Civil Grand Jury Report included 14 Findings and 11 Recommendations that require a
response from the Town (see Attachment 2).
In summary, the response states that the Town agrees with three of the findings and partially
agrees with 11 findings. In addition, responses to all 11 recommendations to which the Town
must respond to have also been included.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT ON “AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS: DENSITY IS OUR DESTINY”
AUGUST 29, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\9-4-18\02 Grand Jury Report\02 Staff Report Grand Jury FINAL.docx
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends approval of the letter with the detailed response as contained in Attachment
2. Once approved by the Town Council, the letter will be transmitted to the Santa Clara County
Civil Grand Jury.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for approving the 2018 response to the Civil Grand Jury.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Request from the 2017-2018 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury
2. Proposed response to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury