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THE CITY OF 6 •�� "' CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT pL-EASANTON® June 2, 2020 Community Development TITLE: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR, AND RECEIPT OF, LOCAL EARLY ACTION PLANNING GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY As part of the 2019-20 Budget Act, the State allocated $250 million to regional governments, cities, and counties to encourage and incentivize planning activities that accelerate housing production. With this allocation, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) established the Local Early Action Planning Grant Program (LEAP) with $119 million in funding for local governments. LEAP provides one- time grant funding to cities and counties to update their planning documents and implement process improvements that will facilitate the acceleration of housing production and help local governments prepare for the upcoming Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) cycle and Housing Element update. Available LEAP funding is based on community size; Pleasanton and other similarly- sized cities are eligible for up to $300,000 in grant funds. HCD has published a Notice of Funding Availability, which requires eligible cities to file an application with HCD by July 1 , 2020. The grant procedures require authorization from the City Council for the City Manager or his designee to submit the LEAP application. In alignment with the LEAP program goals, and to support the City's upcoming work program, staff intends to submit an application for the grant to support preparation of the City's next Housing Element update and required California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents for the upcoming Housing Element. RECOMMENDATION Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to submit a 2020 LEAP grant application as described in the Planning Grants Program Notice of Funding Availability and LEAP Guidelines released by HCD for the LEAP Program. FINANCIAL STATEMENT The proposed grant would alleviate the need to expend General Fund dollars to support the Housing Element update. The City expects to receive $300,000 in funding from HCD through the LEAP.