DATE: March 24, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Senate Bill 2 Planning Grants Program.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues for Public Works and Planning - Development Services Org 4360 in the amount of $310,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action is necessary to allow the use of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) Planning Grants Program funds for the Department of Public Works and Planning preparation, adoption, and implementation of plans that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to not approve the recommended action; however, HCD Planning Grants Program funds would remain unallocated, and unavailable for use in FY 2019-20.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The $310,000 grant from HCD will allow the Department to prepare, adopt, and implement changes to the County’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance that will streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production. Approval of the recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues for Public Works and Planning - Development Services Org 4360 for FY 2019-20.
DISCUSSION:
On August 6, 2019, your Board authorized the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning to submit a grant application to HCD’s SB 2 Planning Grants Program for the preparation, adoption, and implementation of plans that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production; and authorized the Director, or his designee, to execute and deliver a State of California Standard Agreement to secure the SB 2 Planning Grant. The Department was notified on December 30, 2019, that the requested funds had been awarded. On February 21, 2020, the Standard Agreement was received from HCD and executed by the Director.
The scope of work will include preparing, adopting, and implementing plans and procedural improvements that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production, including amendments to the County’s General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, development of pre-approved architectural plans for dwelling units, community outreach, environmental review, and revised internal procedures.
SB 2 is part of a 15-bill housing package created in 2017 to address the State’s affordable housing shortage and high housing costs. Specifically, the legislation established a permanent source of revenue intended to increase the affordable housing stock in California and directed HCD to establish a one-time program that provides financial and technical assistance to local governments to update planning documents and land use ordinances.
Approval of the recommended action will increase the Department’s revenues and appropriations for FY 2019-20 Org 4360 to allow the Department to expend the funds as outlined in the Standard Agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #50, August 6, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with HCD - Planning Grants Program
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 4360)
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa