Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06081993 - S.4 s, TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Q Costa Sunne Wright McPeak DATE: June 8, 1993 County SUBJECT: Consider Endorsement of the Affordable Housing Partnership Project "7 Major Action Elements" SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Receive comments from Growth Management and Economic Development Agency and GMEDA housing staff regarding the Affordable Housing Partnership Project "7 Major Action Elements" and consider endorsement of the Action Elements so that Contra Costa County may be listed in the publication of the Elements. BACKGROUND: The Affordable Housing Partnership Project is sponsored by CSAC's California Council on Partnerships. Attached is an overview of the project and the process by which the 7 Major Action Elements were developed. Mr. Jim Kennedy, representing Contra Costa County's housing programs, participated in the Affordable Housing Action Summits and provided input from the county's perspective. In addition, GMEDA has been requested to analyze the proposed 7 Major Action Elements and will be prepared to comment at the Board meeting. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER l SIGNATURE(S) ACTION OF BOARD ON Jimp R, APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS _ X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: GMEDA ATTESTED June 8 1993 CDD - Jim Kennedy Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of Contact: Karen Mitchof f $operviSorswidCourdyAdminhUato MVN9I7•Rw BY �1 �� DEPUTY RECEIVED AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAY 2 .5 1993 PARTNERSHIP Amid............ PROJECT May 24, 1993 CO-CHAIRS Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak Contra Costa County TO: Participants, Affordable Housing Action Summit I and II Robert Rivinlus,CEO California Building Industry Association FROM: Affordable Housing Partnership Steering Committee RE: ENDORSEMENT FOR PUBLICATION Enclosed is the final wording of the "7 Major Action Elements" approved by the California Affordable Housing Partnership Project Steering Committee. The purpose of this letter is to invite your formal endorsement of the "7 Major Action Elements" so that your organization's name may be included in the publication and public release of this material. The "7 Major Action Elements" were identified by the participants at Action Summit I and the wording of the first sentence WAS AGREED TO AT ACTION SUMMIT II. The summary statement has been developed and approved by the Steering Committee. which has debated virtually every word and finally reached consensus on these statements. We hope they will meet with your approval because it is not possible to go through an additional, extended amendment modification process. The Affordable Housing Partnership Project will publish the "7 Major Action Elements." If you want to be included as an endorser, and supporter of the "7 Major Action Elements," please complete the enclosed form and return it to Muriel Stacpoole as soon as possible. If you need additional time to secure approval from your organization and think you will be able to obtain an endorsement, please call Muriel and let her know the time frame within which you are working so we can try to adjust our schedule for publication. Given the large number of participants in the Affordable Housing Partnership Project, we request your cooperation in responding in a timely fashion. We appreciate your interest and contributions to this effort. And we look forward to including your organization or firm as an endorser and supporter.- We believe that by working together we can have a significant impact on affordable housing issues and can advance the cause of home affordability. 1100 K Street.Suite 101 Sacramento,CA 95e14 (916)327-7507 FAX(916)441.5507 STATEWIDE HOUSING PLAN Element 1 A NEW STATEWIDE HOUSING PLAN IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE POLICY DIRECTION ON HOUSING ISSUES. The new plan should be patterned after the requirements of housing element law and contain a definition ofaffordable housing,'needs and market analyses for the state as a whole and various geographic parts of the state (Including rural), an identification of constraints and barriers, a determination of financial resources and needs, a definition of roles for state and local entitles, and measurable goals and objectives. The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) should be responsible for drafting and adopting the Statewide Housing Plan. That work should be informed by a task force or commission. Local governments and the regions of the state should have Input to the plan, particularly with regards to fair share allocations. Implementation of the Plan is critical. First of all, the State and Its many housing providers should follow and be bound by the Plan. The Plan should be Integrated Into a state-level 'general plan' that brings consistency among and between to the State's growth policies and other State plans. Local governments should carry out their part of the plan. HOUSING ELEMENT LAW Element 2 REFORM HOUSING ELEMENT LAW. Existing housing element law must be Improved. Housing Elements should be based on credible fair share numbers developed with more dialogue between regional Councils of Governments and local governments. In the allocation process between the regions and local governments, consideration should be given to other planning factors. Housing elements should contain uniform, measurable performance standards based on goals for construction, preservation, rehabilitation,the homeless and those with special needs, and land supply. Department of Housing and Community Development or a lower-level body should receive annual reports on local progress in meeting the performance standards set in the housing element. To ensure compliance, there should be strong Incentives and penalties to encourage local action in meeting the performance standards. Housing elements should be revised and reviewed every five years. If performance standards have been met,then the new element should be deemed to be in compliance. PROPOSALS FOR FINANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND RESIDENT PURCHASES/SUBSIDIES Element 3 IDENTIFY AND GENERATE A VARIETY OF FINANCING RESOURCES AND SUBSIDY MECHANISMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Greater funding and financing sources need to be developed to address California's housing needs. The need for new housing units at all Income levels exceed the number of new units for which financing and subsidies will be available each year. Therefore, additional funding is necessary to Insure (a) production of new subsidized units, and (b) adequate funds for housing subsidies to households. It Is estimated that at least an additional $2.5 billion annually from all sources should be Invested In affordable housing In California to meet the magnitude of current need. Policies should be established to encourage continued flow of capital to market rate ownership housing In order to assure an adequate supply of low-cost, low-downpayment mortgage financing. In addition, there exists a need to educate the building and private financial community on the opportunities which exist with the affordable housing submarket so as to encourage new Investments. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING Element 4 RESTRUCTURE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO SUPPORT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. The current property and sales tax systems in California are not supportive of housing development and work against housing affordability. In other words, housing Is not viewed as a 'fiscal winner' by local governments as they make land use and policy decisions. To the extent possible (given constitutional restrictions), local government finance should be restructured at the state level to improve the attractiveness and feasibility of affordable housing development at the local level. At a minimum,there should be better mechanisms to allow and encourage local governments to share tax revenues. MIXED-INCOME HOUSING Element 5 PROMOTE MIXED-INCOME HOUSING IN ALL COMMUNITIES. The development of market-rate homes with an affordable, or lower-Income, component is a desirable community goal. Local governments,builders and all segments of the community should recognize their Joint responsibility to provide and encourage mixed-income housing. There should be an effective statewide policy and program to promote mixed-Income communities. The implementation of such a policy should be achieved at the local level and will require flexible and creative application of incentives, development standards and regulations. In particular, there should be a wide range of options and numerous Incentives for the provision of units for all Incomes Including density Incentives, zoning modifications, fee waivers and financial assistance. INCENTIVES FOR THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING Element 6 ESTABLISH FEDERAL AND STATE TAX INCENTIVES FOR THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. The tax codes and financial Industry regulations need to be revised to provide stimulus to the private sector to produce affordable housing. The concept of household-based assistance, such as the current mortgage credit certificate, should be extended to all types of affordable housing. REFORM THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING Element 7 REFORM REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. In particular, Article 34,the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the Permit Streamlining Act need to be reformed to reduce Impediments to the development of affordable housing. In addition, the multiplicity of regulatory agencies ( state and federal agencies, local governments, school districts, special districts, congestion management agencies, and others) need to better coordinate their activities. CALIFORNIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP PROJECT Endorsement of 7 Major Action Elements and Permission to Include Name in Publication NAME OF ENDORSER ORGANIZATION/FIRM: (as it should be listed in the publication) ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: FAX #: NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE/CONTACT: TITLE: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: FAX # DATE OF ENDORSEMENT AND PERMISSION FOR INCLUSION IN PUBLICATION: AUTHORIZED BY: TITLE: NOTE: If you participate in the California Affordable Housing Partnership Project as an individual and want to be listed as an endorser, please complete the form. The Steering Committee will be including individuals as well as organizations/firms. PLEASE RETURN TO: Muriel Stacpoole, Director California Council on Partnerships 1100 K Street, Suite 101, Sacramento, California 95814 (916) 327-7507 " FAX (916) 441-5507 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP PROJECT - Overview - The Affordable Housing Partnership Project is a public-private partnership formed to meet the challenge of building and preserving affordable housing in California. The overall purpose of the Affordable Housing Partnership Project is to bring together local, regional, statewide, and national organizations to formulate an Action Plan that will result in the production of more affordable housing throughout California. California's full economic potential cannot be realized until affordable housing needs are met for the workforce. A desired quality of life cannot be achieved unless decent and safe shelter is available for all residents. Over recent years, the need for affordable housing has increased significantly. Also, there is a growing understanding of the close relationship between the production and availability of affordable housing and a vital economy. Cities and counties are falling far short of their "fair share allocations" of housing for very low-income households (below 50 percent median income), low-income households (50-80 percent income), and moderate-income households (80-120 percent median income). The "7 Major Action Elements" contained within this report are the result of two Affordable Housing Action Summits held in December 1991 and July 1992. More than 150 representatives of public and private organizations participated in the summits and reached consensus on setting forth the Major Elements as the foundation for a comprehensive Action Plan to produce affordable housing in California. The promotion of an Affordable Housing Action Plan should be viewed in the larger context of other issues and concerns. It was agreed to by the summit participants that: • Affordable housing production should be a part of an overall economic recovery and revitalization plan for the state. 0 Promoting affordable housing is an essential component of sound land use planing and must be incorporated into any growth management program for it to be workable and acceptable. • Existing fair housing laws and prohibitions against discrimination in housing must be upheld and enforced. The Affordable Housing Action Plan should be pursued consistent with these points. It is significant that so many diverse groups and interests have been able to agree on the 7 Major Elements for an Affordable Housing Action Plan. This consensus lays the foundation for future cooperation in developing and implementing a plan to provide housing that meets the needs of all Californians.