FROM:
Heidi Scoble, Planning Director
SUBJECT:
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Confirm the Recommended Appointments to the Housing Element Advisory Committee
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Confirm the recommended appointments to the Housing Element Advisory Committee
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BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The State of California requires that Housing Element is required to be updated every eight years and is the only element in the General Plan that is required to be reviewed and approved by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In advance of the Housing Update process, every County/City/Town in California receives a target number of homes to plan for at various income levels. This is called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). RHNA starts with the Regional Housing Needs Determination (RHND) provided by HCD, which is the total number of housing units the San Francisco Bay Area needs over the eight- year period, by income group. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) developed the methodology to allocate a portion of housing needs to each city, town, and county in the region. The RHNA allocation for San Anselmo increased from 106 units in the 2015-2023 cycle to 833 units in the 2023 -2031 cycle.
To ensure a broad and include community outreach and engagement process, in addition to facilitating the Housing Element Update undertaking, the Town Council adopted Resolution 4434 to establish a Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC). The HEAC was established to be comprised of seven members (Mayor Fineman and Councilmember Burke), one Planning Commissioner, and four San Anselmo residents.
In anticipation of the establishment of the HEAC, the Town began advertising on the City’s website for interested San Anselmo residents to apply. The application period ran from June 8 through June 18. The Town received 10 applications.
On Monday, June 20 and Tuesday, June 21, Mayor Fineman, Councilmember Burke, Town Manager Donery and Planning Director Scoble conducted nine interviews. At the conclusion of the interviews, it was determined that the following applicants should be confirmed as the appointments to the HEAC and would represent backgrounds which include finance and lending, leadership and meeting facilitation, architecture and construction management, and experience in working with diversity, equity, and inclusion:
• Richard Redmond
• Kathy Ogren
• Sandra Becker
• Robin Poppers
Although the four above are recommended to be appointed to the HEAC, it is worth noting that all of the applicants are extremely well qualified and the Town staff will encourage the applicants to stay involved in the Housing Element Update process as participants.
Lastly, at a Special Planning Commission meeting on June 23, the Planning Commission voted to appoint Planning Commissioner Chair Tom Tunny. Chair Tunny is an attorney with a focus on land use and planning law.
FISCAL IMPACT
Confirming the appointments of the members to the HEAC will not create any fiscal impact.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The Housing Element is required to be updated every eight years and is the only General Plan element which is required to be reviewed and approved by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The purpose of the HEAC is to help facilitate the Housing Element Update process, therefore the appointments to the HEAC will be consistent with the intent of the General Plan.
CEQA AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY
Appointments to serve on a committee is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act because it does not involve an activity which has the potential to cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment. (Cal. Pub. Res. Code Section 21065).
CONCLUSION
The San Anselmo Housing Element must be submitted to the State by January 2023. To help with the Housing Element Process and to populate the HEAC, staff respectfully requests the Town Council confirm the appointments of Richard Redmond, Kathy Ogren, Sandra Becker, Robin Poppers, and Planning Commissioner Jennifer Asselstine.
ATTACHMENT
1. Housing Element Advisory Committee Applicant Applications