CCMIN 03162021 - Laserfiche WebLink

Councilmember Testa expressed her belief that staff in conjunction with community input will be successful in certifying a Housing Element with sites identified for the 6,000 units, in all identified categories and believes it can be accomplished without consultants. She explained the difference with this cycle is there are production mandates with consequences in addition to merely rezoning. She noted the City has already built 200% of its above-moderate units in the current cycle but just a fraction of the other units. She advised most the City's affordable housing is inclusionary. She further explained the City would have to build an unreasonable 13,790 overall units to meet the affordable housing goals in the current 20% inclusionary system. Councilmember Testa reported the building industry has advised they cannot build all the housing needed to meet the state mandates. She ran through a variety of scenarios for building a variety of units where the numbers do not compute and added the City would need $1.5 billion in funding to make up the difference. She advised some of that sum would come through tax credits and grants but stressed the City should be investigating working with non-profit builders on projects with 50% or even up to 100% affordable units. Councilmember Testa noted the staff report recommends looking at every possible avenue to bring the numbers back to the State and advised the State is putting the City in an unachievable position with unfunded mandates. She believes the crisis is in affordable housing and not market-rate housing citing construction figures from the last cycle skewed dramatically towards market-rate. She emphasized the need is to focus on affordability but noted it will be a tough process. - Councilmember Arkin expressed support for advocating for the reevaluation of RHNA numbers especially considering companies going to permanent work-at-home due to the pandemic. She expressed support for more affordable housing noting the City has not done its part in the current cycle. She agreed with Councilmember Testa's grim assessment of the financial component noting the $15 million in the Affordable Housing Fund will not go far. She advised there are advocacy efforts towards having the State help with funding. She expressed concerns for adverse effects to infrastructure and the City's high-quality school system which attracts new residents. Councilmember Balch expressed confidence the Council can provide the required leadership and expressed support for appealing the RHNA numbers. He noted the process established by staff will allow for adjustments in the numbers as they progress. Councilmember Balch advised that during his time on the Planning Commission they focused on no net loss zoning. He explained the concept is if they approve 30 units per acre and the building only allows for 20 the remaining 10 need to be found somewhere else. He believes the City needs to start planning now to preserve the character of the community while adapting to the forthcoming RHNA challenges and noted it will take time to distill. He stressed the need for community input, outreach, and education to find the best results. Mayor Brown expressed support for the intended outreach and expressed agreement with Councilmember Narum in the need to spread this all over town for the benefit of PUSD, traffic, and the burden of development not being limited to one side of town. She pledged to have the numbers rechecked and reiterated a desire for local control for knowing the nuances and resources of their community so well. She advised there will be significant public outreach and noted this will require substantial collaboration. MOTION: It was m/s by Narum/Testa to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Lisa Wise Consulting in the amount of $302,001 for the preparation of City of Pleasanton's 2023-2031 Housing Element; and an agreement with First Carbon Solutions in the amount of $343,170 for the 2023-2031 Housing Element Environmental Impact Report the item. Motion passed by the following vote: City Council Minutes Page 9 of 15 March 16. 2021