For City Council Meeting [October 22, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Administrator
FROM: Sean Grayson, Acting Public Works Director
Title
Request City Council hear Status Update on the Mid Cycle Update to the 5th Cycle Housing Element Update.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
Background on the Mid-Cycle Update
On December 12, 2017, the City Council adopted the 5th Cycle 2014-2021 Housing Element Update. However, it was submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) past the statutory deadline. Therefore, pursuant to State law, the City is required to submit a mid-cycle update to the Housing Element.
Following the adoption of the 5th Cycle Housing Element Update, the City received correspondence from HCD stating a Mid-Cycle Update is due. Additionally, third party comments on the Housing Element were received by Inland County Legal Services.
As required by law, the City has commenced the Mid-Cycle Update for the 5th Cycle Housing Element. The Mid-Cycle Update is a comprehensive update that includes a review and update of all sections of the currently adopted Housing Element to comply with existing State law.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Status of the Mid-Cycle Update
The City’s consultant, Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., is in the final stages of completing the required updates to the City of Rialto’s 5th Cycle Housing Element. The Mid-Cycle Update does not include new RHNA allocations and is intended to 1) provide a mid-point check of progress in meeting objectives stated in the 5th Cycle 2014-2021 Housing Element; and 2) comply with all new statutory requirements.
Remaining Items to Complete the Mid-Cycle Update
The remaining items to be completed to meet statutory requirements include: (1) conduct a community outreach workshop to engage Rialto citizens and interested third parties; and (2) complete the Housing Element Policy Program to ensure programs and actions reflect current community objectives and comply with statutory requirements. The findings from the outreach process will help to inform any policy edits or additions to the Mid-Cycle Update.
Next Steps
Following this status update to the City Council, a community workshop will be held. After the community workshop, a draft of the Mid-Cycle Update will be presented to the City Council for review and discussion at the November 12, 2019, meeting. The draft must be submitted to HCD for review by December 30, 2019. Once HCD deems the Mid-Cycle Update meets all statutory requirements, a final Mid-Cycle Update will be presented to City Council for consideration and adoption.
Relationship to the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update
The currently adopted 5th Cycle Housing Element covers the 2014-2021 RHNA Planning Period. The 5th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) will not change for the Mid-Cycle Update. Currently, the initial draft methodologies and estimated RHNA allocations for the 6th Cycle have been made available by SCAG. The 6th Cycle RHNA will not be finalized until October of 2020 and the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update is statutorily due to HCD in October of 2021.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This status update is not a Project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Pursuant to Section 15378 (b)(5) a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This status update is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The City has contracted with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. for the preparation of the Mid Cycle Update to the 5th Cycle Housing Element Update, and their work effort is within approved budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no capital improvement budget impact.
Licensing
Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. maintains an active business license with the Licensing Division.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council hear the presentation by Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. and provide any direction/comments as deemed appropriate.