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Mayor Thome asked if the Council could elect to not to allocate Growth Management until building <br /> permits are issued on just the one project that might be presenting this sort of issue. <br /> Mr. Fialho reminded him that this is an ordinance and can be modified by the City Council to address <br /> that particular situation if it were to present. He also explained that the Council also choose to approve <br /> a PUD but state in the conditions of approval that Growth Management is not granted until the start of <br /> the next RHNA cycle. <br /> Councilmember Pentin said he did not wish to borrow from future RHNA cycles but also expressed <br /> concern that asking a project to wait until there is a sufficient growth management allocation could <br /> compromise an affordable project's ability to obtain funding. <br /> Councilmember Narum said she read the proposed language to mean that the Council is obligated to <br /> approve the affordable units within a project, regardless of whether or not growth management allows <br /> for those units within the current planning cycle. <br /> Mr. Bocian reiterated that nothing in the GMO, as proposed, would obligate the Council to approve a <br /> project of any kind. However, the Council would have to approve the Growth Management Agreement <br /> for the units once the project is approved. <br /> Mr. Dolan also reiterated that HCD's approval of the Housing Element required the city to adopt a <br /> program to address the remote possibility that the GMO could prevent affordable units from coming <br /> forward. This language, which could perhaps benefit from further clarification, is an attempt to do just <br /> that. <br /> Councilmember Narum referred to Subsection C of the draft ordinance, which discusses the Council's <br /> ability to exercise discretion if it feels there is not sufficient infrastructure to support a development. She <br /> requested clarification, noting that the Council has been told repeatedly that it cannot use the lack of <br /> schools or other public infrastructure to deny a project. <br /> Mr. Bocian explained that the current GMO contains provisions for a growth management report, to be <br /> prepared at the request of the Council if concern exists, which the Council can use to determine that <br /> infrastructure issues are such that it would choose to modify the number of growth management units <br /> to be allocated annually. He clarified that the Council cannot deny a project based on these issues but <br /> rather can amend the number of units that are allocated annually. <br /> Mr. Fialho also explained that the report can be used as a basis for negotiations with developers to <br /> secure increased contributions to meet the identified impacts. <br /> Councilmember Narum asked if such a report has ever been prepared for the Council. <br /> Mr. Fialho said one has not been produced in the last 10 years, largely because the 2 latest rounds of <br /> the Housing Element contained a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report that analyzed the <br /> infrastructure constraints and because the city saw very little development for a good period of time. <br /> Vice-Mayor Brown recalled that Measure PP defined a housing unit as having a kitchen, bed and bath. <br /> She asked whether the annual unit allocation would include something like an extended stay hotel. <br /> Mr. Fialho said "no," it applies only to permanent residences such as apartments, townhomes, <br /> condominiums and single-family residences and not to extended stays or hotel rooms. <br /> City Attorney Lowell concurred and Mr. Dolan added that HCD would most certainly not allow long-term <br /> hotels to count towards the city's housing inventory. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 4 of 8 February 3,2015 <br />