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ADOPT THE 2019 GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that City Council adopt, by motion, the 2019 Annual Progress Report (APR) for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, including the 2015-2023 Housing Element.
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Summary
Presented for the City Council’s review is the 2019 Annual Progress Report for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan that includes the 2015-2023 Housing Element. The report provides a status update on the City’s progress in meeting its goals, policy objectives, and implementation measures. This report includes a summary of building permit data, affordable housing units pending planning approvals, and implementation progress of General Plan policies for the previous 2019 calendar year, and is submitted to the State Departments of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Office of Planning and Research (OPR) in accordance with State law (Government Code Section 65400). The State monitors these activities to ensure the City provides opportunities for the private market to address the regional housing needs and growth and development occurs in a planned and orderly manner.
In 2019, the City successfully implemented a series of programs. A detailed summary of that implementation can be found on Attachment A (2019 Citywide Accomplishments), Attachment B (General Plan Progress Report), and Attachment C (Housing Progress Report). These implementation efforts are summarized in the items below.
Administrative and Economic Development Updates
• 2018 Annual Housing Progress report completed and submitted to the State.
• 2019 Interim Municipal Service Review (MSR) accepted by the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (Lafco).
• Citywide efforts continued active recruitment and hiring to maintain a 3-5% vacancy rate within the Department.
• Contracts initiated for amendments to Development Code, Zoning Map, Inclusionary Fee Study, and Affordable Housing Gap Analysis.
• Expanded the Cannabis Regulatory Program to align with State regulations and further diversify offerings for Stockton.
• Continued development and implementation of electronic submission and plan check in the Building Department for transitioning to paperless process.
Housing
• The City issued building permits for 583 new housing units and approved final construction on 477 new housing units, in the following income types:
ü Issued Permits consisted of 126 low-income units, 410 moderate-income units, and 47 above moderate-income units.
ü Approved final construction consisted of 67 low-income units, 373 moderate-income units, and 37 above moderate-income units.
• Contracts initiated for an Inclusionary Fee Analysis and the Housing Market Affordable Gap Analysis.
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) development standards adopted for the following:
ü Master Plans to offer “off-the-shelf” construction plans to build ADUs and expedite permitting
ü Eliminated parking requirements, eased setback requirements, simplified review process
• Completed Downtown sewer capacity study, confirmed downtown housing units identified in 2040 General Plan can be supported by existing sewer infrastructure.
• Completed study for fee deferral program for affordable housing projects.
• Allocated $292,889 of Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20, to fund services for homeless persons; homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services; and for 4 emergency shelters.
• Allocated $1,300,000 of HOME Investment Partnership funds in FY 2019-20, plus $500,000 in LowMod Income Housing Funds (LMIHF), $106,303 in Community Development Block Grant and $684,303 in HOME - Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) funds for a Notice of Funding Availability to support affordable housing projects.
The Annual Progress Report will be submitted to HCD and OPR by the April 1, 2020 deadline in compliance with the State’s reporting requirements. This is the third year of reporting annual housing activities to the State Departments and the first year of reporting on overall General Plan progress and implementation. In the past, Stockton was not required to submit annual progress reports, under a charter city exemption in the state law. Effective January 1, 2018, state regulation obligated charter cities to begin reporting annually to be eligible for participating in housing funding programs. As the City Council adopted the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, this will be the first progress report for the 2040 General Plan.
DISCUSSION
Background
On December 4, 2018, the City Council adopted the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan (hereafter “2040 General Plan”) which outlined policies that the City must undertake by 2040. The 2040 General Plan is the official long-range policy document for the City of Stockton and includes goals and policies which become the basis for local government decision-making to achieve the overall vision for the community. These actions shall be implemented by various departments throughout the 20-year timeframe established by the General Plan.
The 2015-2023 Housing Element is a required element of the General Plan and must be updated and certified by HCD on an eight year cycle (“cycle”) in coordination with the regional Council of Governments (COG). The Housing Element contains policies and programs to increase the City’s housing stock and assist with the development of affordable housing for households of all income levels. The COG administers the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), which represents the City’s fair share of required housing capacity needed to satisfy State and local growth projections. To comply with the RHNA, the City must demonstrate enough land and policies to ensure adequate housing capacity is maintained within the defined cycle. Prior to the 2040 General Plan, the City Council adopted the 2015-2023 Housing Element in April 2016.
Government Code section 65400 requires that each city, county, or city and county, including charter cities, prepare an annual progress report (APR) on the status of the housing element of its general plan and progress in its implementation using forms and definitions adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).These reports must be considered by the local jurisdiction and filed with filed with the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1st of each year.
Present Situation
The City initiated a variety of efforts intended to implement the goals and policies of both policy documents. The following summarizes major successes with program implementation made in 2019. More detailed information on the City’s implementation can be found in Attachments B and C.
Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan
This will be the first annual progress report for the new 2040 General Plan. While accomplishments have been listed above, the status of all action items indicates on-going and future efforts. These efforts are further detailed in Attachment B. Below is a summary of those actions.
• Starting in early 2020, the City will amend Title 16 (Development Code) in phases and conduct citywide public workshops to present Zoning Map amendments to fix zoning inconsistencies. Inconsistencies include changes to state law, internal consistency with the General Plan vision, and streamlining efforts for priority issues (i.e. housing, social equity, downtown development). The first phase will be presented to the Stockton Planning Commission and City Council by Spring 2020, while the zoning map and second phase of code amendments will be presented in late 2020.
• The City will seek San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (SJLAFCO) approval for the updated Sphere of Influence/Municipal Service Review (SOI/MSR) Report. This report is updated to address the new General Plan and is the regulatory basis for future boundary amendments.
• The City will update the Master Facilities Plan and associated development fees. The procurement process is underway and expected to be completed in 2020. In 2020 the City will begin the procurement process for a Development Code Overhaul. A complete overhaul of the City’s current Development Code, Title 16, will be conducted starting with the process to select a vendor and the project is targeted for completion in 2021. This project is needed to improve usability for staff, the public, and the development community
2015-2023 Housing Element
The City is only required to report on activities, provide incentives and opportunity sites for meeting the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) target of 11,384 of mixed income level housing units by the year 2023. The City does not have an obligation to construct housing units, as this will occur as a result of the open housing market. The actions below summarize ongoing and future housing efforts through the 2020 calendar year. Attachment C includes a detailed summary of the implementation items and progress made toward meeting the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation.
• Funding for Emergency and Affordable Housing Programs
o The City will be applying for numerous Grants issued by State for housing and development related activities.
o Staff will present a 5-Year Consolidated Plan and Action Plan to Council
• Homelessness
o Recommend adoption of Building and Residential Code Appendices that govern Emergency Housing structures.
o Investigate the concept of a Safe Parking program.
o Staff will continue to participate in non-City driven efforts focused on homelessness and affordable housing, including the regional strategic plan on homelessness support for the State’s affordable housing project on state-owned land downtown (ongoing), the Harvard Center for Housing through the Mayor’s office, and work with local non-profits. Recommendations from these studies and projects will be evaluated by staff and incorporated into our efforts as appropriate or brought forward to Council for policy direction and decisions.
• Affordable Housing
o Staff will propose a Building and Residential Code Appendices that govern Tiny Home structures.
o Explore a Transit Oriented Development Overlay Zone (TOD) as part of the zoning map efforts.
o The city will develop an Affordable Housing Strategic Plan that may include tenant protection policies, establishment of a Housing Trust Fund, and a feasibility study on Housing Index Fund and Displacement study.
• General Housing-related
o Text amendments to Municipal and Development Codes to correct inconsistencies with the 2040 General Plan and state law.
o Zoning map updates to identify and correct inconsistencies with 2040 General Plan. Public meetings are planned to commence in March 2020.
o Site readiness efforts including a review of potential City surplus land for affordable housing projects and the Brownfield grants.
o A Utility Master Plan update conducted by the Municipal Utilities Department (MUD) will be ongoing during 2020. A concurrent Master Infrastructure Plan, focused on transportation, and a Public Facility Fee (PFF) Nexus Study will be conducted throughout 2020.
Staff will continue the annual progress report and presentation to Council to better evaluate the City’s progress in meeting the goals and implementation measures contained in the General Plan elements. These reports will help direct City initiated work efforts and ensure the City remains eligible for participating in housing funding programs.
Fiscal Impact
There is no financial impact associated with accepting this item.
Attachment A - 2019 Stockton Accomplishments
Attachment B - 2019 Annual Progress Report for the 2040 General Plan
Attachment C - 2019 Annual Progress Report for the 2015-2023 Housing Element