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
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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)
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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
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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
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