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Establish Housing Element Advisory BoardDATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: MEETING DATE: 2/3/14 ITEM NO: 5 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT JANUARY 29, 2014 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER ADOPT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A HOUSING ELEMENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE 2014 -2022 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution establishing a Housing Element Advisory Board for the 2014 -2022 Housing Element Update. BACKGROUND: The Town is required to prepare an updated General Plan Housing Element for the period covering 2014 -2022 that is certified by the State Housing Community Development Department (HCD), and adopted by the Town Council no later than May 31, 2015. The updated Housing Element is required to show how the Town intends to accommodate the housing needs of its residents and local businesses for the upcoming 8 years and will include policies to facilitate the planning for these units. If the Town satisfies these requirements, another Housing Element update will not have to be prepared until January 2023. If the certification and adoption deadlines are not met, the Town will be required to prepare a certified Housing Element every four years. Local communities without certified housing elements may be subject to lawsuits which may impede their ability to approve /deny land use entitlements, issue building permits, or maintain eligibility for grants or financing incentives. Given the increased community interest in housing and development related topics, staff is recommending that Council consider establishing an advisory board to assist with the preparation PREPARED BY: SANDY L. BAILY, 5L6 Director of Community Development Reviewed by: L, Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance N:\DEV\TC REP0RTS\2014 \Hsg.E1 met Taskfome. 2- 3- 14.docx Refomtatted: 5/30/02 PAGE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: Housing Element Advisory Board January 29, 2014 of the upcoming Housing Element update and to provide recommendations that are consistent with the community's values. DISCUSSION: A Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit qualified firms to assist with the preparation of the Housing Element update and the required environmental reviews was distributed by staff in January 2014. Staff anticipates that consultants will be available by mid -March 2014. The State HCD is recommending that communities maximize public outreach and community involvement during the update of their housing elements. If authorized by Council, the Advisory Board can begin its work by the fourth week in March. Staff anticipates that the Housing Element Advisory Board process will run from March through June and will involve approximately eight public meetings. The final work product of the Advisory Board is expected to be a recommendation on specific strategies, concepts, and/or policies for accommodating the Town's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 619 housing units for the next 8 -year period. The consultant will incorporate these recommendations in the draft of the updated Housing Element. Based on this rough timeline and depending on the level of environmental review required, it is anticipated that the Planning Commission will be able to review the draft Housing Element in September 2014 with possible Town Council action in October or November 2014. Submitting the updated Housing Element by the end of 2014 should ensure meeting the May 2015 deadline, even with changes required by HCD. To maximize public outreach and community involvement in the update of the Town's Housing Element, staff is recommending the creation of a Los Gatos Housing Element Advisory Board somewhat similar to the prior North 40 Advisory Committee. Specifically, staff recommends the Council solicit, interview and appoint four public members to join with the existing 9 member General Plan Committee (Attachment IA) to create a combined 13- member Housing Element Advisory Board. Including the General Plan Committee eliminates a subsequent step in the Town's process for consideration of General Plan amendments, and adding four members enables the Council to appoint a Board which reflects the diversity of Los Gatos neighborhoods and interests, all while maintaining the smallest Board possible given the tight timeframes and complex information that must be addressed. Alternatively, the Council could choose to modify the composition of the Housing Element Advisory Board by reducing or increasing its total size through the inclusion or exclusion of Council Members, Planning Commissioners, or other members of the public. However, eliminating a majority of the General Plan Committee or expanding the size of the Advisory Board would each require changes to the projected schedule and work of the Advisory Board as presented above. The draft resolution (Attachment D) would establish the Advisory Board as recommended with an end date of December 31, 2014. PAGE 3 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: Housing Element Advisory Board January 29, 2014 Staff will prepare the appropriate outreach materials soliciting resident volunteers based on the Council's action. Interviews of potential board members could be scheduled in advance of the March 3, 2014, Town Council meeting and appointment would follow Council's existing practice for the Town's Boards and Commissions. CONCLUSION: Appointment of a Housing Element Advisory Board is recommended to maximize public outreach and community involvement for the preparation of the 2012 -2022 Housing Element Update. Staff recommends that Council adopt the resolution establishing the Advisory Board, with any desired changes regarding the composition of the Advisory Board. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This is not a project as defined in CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT: The anticipated cost of facilitating the Housing Element Advisory Board is covered by the existing FY2013 -2014 Budget since the meetings would normally take the place of the two scheduled General Plan Committee meetings. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Draft Resolution (Exhibit A will incorporate Council's final decision on board make up) SLB:EO:ct N:\DEV\TC REP0RTS\2014Visg.E]==t Twkforce. 2- 3- 14.dmx THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK RESOLUTION 2014- RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ESTABLISHING A HOUSING ELEMENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE 2014 -2022 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE WHEREAS, the Town of Los Gatos is required by the State Housing Laws to prepare an update of its existing State Certified Housing Element in 2014; and WHEREAS, the updated Housing Element must include plans and policies to show how Los Gatos plans to accommodate the estimated housing needs of residents and business for the next eight year period; and WHEREAS, the State Department of Housing and Community Development has recommended that communities maximize public outreach and community involvement during the preparation and updates of housing elements; and WHEREAS, the Town intends to initiate its Housing Element update process in March 2014; and WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to provide additional opportunities for community input and public involvement as part of the Housing Element update process; and WHEREAS, the formation of an advisory board to make recommendations to the Town's decision making bodies has been an established method to effectuate and allow greater community input and public involvement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos does hereby establish a Housing Element Advisory Board as noted in Exhibit A and that the Board shall automatically be dissolved on December 31, 2014. ATTACHMENT 1 PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the 3rd day of February, 2014, by the following vote: COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA N:\DEV\RESOS\20I4 \RESO- ESTABLISHING A HOUSING ELEMENT ADVISORY BOARD.dmx EXHIBIT A General Plan Committee Marcia Jensen Town Council Vice Mayor Barbara Spector Town Council Member Margaret Smith Planning Commission Chair Marico Sayoc Planning Commission Member Charles Erekson Planning Commission Member Barbara Cardillo Community and Senior Services Commission Member Todd Jarvis Business Representative Bob Beyer Public Representative Matthew Hudes Public Representative N: \DEV\RESOS\2014\RESO- ESTABLISHING A HSG.ELEMENT ADVISORY BRD. [EXH]Brr A].dmx This Page Intentionally Left Blank