FROM:
Elise Semonian, Planning Director
SUBJECT:
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Presentation from County of Marin Staff on Racially Restrictive Covenant Modification Program and AB686 AFFH Housing Element Requirements
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Receive report and provide any direction to staff.
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BACKGROUND
This report provides an overview about the work that will be undertaken over the next year to fulfill the Town of San Anselmo's duty to affirmatively further fair housing as part of the Housing Element update, as mandated by Assembly Bill 686 (2018). This is an informational item and no action is needed.
This staff report, based on a model prepared by the Associatin of Bay Area Governments, summarizes the 90-page Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) AFFH guidance memo.1
Assembly Bill 686 (AB 686), passed in 2018, created new requirements for jurisdictions to affirmatively further fair housing. According to AB 686, affirmatively furthering fair housing means to take "meaningful actions, in addition to combating discrimination, that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics" and is Federally mandated by the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
The four main goals are to:
1. Address significant disparities in housing needs and in access to opportunity.
2. Replace segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns.
3. Transform racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity, and
4. Foster and maintain compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws.2
AB 686 sets forth the duty to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH) in two broad categories:
1. Public Agencies- All public agencies, departments and programs are required to administer programs and activities relating to housing and community development in a manner to AFFH and take no action that is materially inconsistent wit...
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