CCMIN 10192021 - Laserfiche WebLink

looking for the City Council's input on the scope of potential policy issues and topics requiring a more robust discussion. Senior Associate Jen Murillo, Lisa Wise Consulting, explained state law requires the Housing Element to include a policy and programs review, Housing Needs Assessment, adequate sites inventory, Housing Resources Assessment, Housing Constraints Assessment, and an implementation plan. She advised input is being requested for the draft Housing Element's appendices on the Housing Needs Assessment, Housing Constraints Analysis, programs review, and housing resources. She provided highlights of the lengthy 18-month process, noting they are hoping to complete the site selection process by the end of the calendar year. Ms. Murillo reported the Housing Needs Assessment includes data on basic housing needs, special housing needs, housing stock, and housing affordability. She advised Pleasanton's median income of $156,400 is higher than most of the region as Alameda County's Area Median Income (AMI) which is $125,600. She reported only 20% of the City's households (5,437 in all), are defined as low-income for being below 80% AMI. She noted the City has a high homeownership rate of 70% and reported the City has a higher concentration of jobs than the region in general with 1.5 jobs for every worker in the City. She noted only 8% of the people who work in Pleasanton live in Pleasanton and 15.2% of employed Pleasanton residents work in Pleasanton. She reported only about 5,000 people both live and work in Pleasanton. Ms. Murillo explained special needs housing is a required criterion for analysis. She advised senior citizens makeup 15% of the City's population and are a growing population. She reported 7% of residents have a disability and may require accessible housing. She advised there are an estimated 120 homeless residents and 3,520 people in poverty, 4.3% of the City's population. Ms. Murillo reported 70% of the City's housing stock is single-family and 70% of the stock has at least three bedrooms. She noted 50% of the households are of just one or two people with 8% being large families of five or more. She noted most multi-family units are rented. She reported a Pleasanton household must earn over $226,000 to buy a home and $125,000 to afford market rent, leading to 24% of homeowners, 44% of renters, and 33% of senior citizens being cost-burdened for spending over 30% of their income on housing. She advised 21% of renters are severely cost-burdened for spending over 50% of their income on housing. Ms. Murillo reported the Housing Constraints Assessment includes constraints that are governmental, non-governmental, and based upon the environment or infrastructure. She advised governmental constraints can include subjective design guidelines and findings for approval due to the uncertainty they create in the entitlement process. She reported the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process is used extensively in Pleasanton and the City is now working on objective design standards to a clearer criterion and smoother processing of applications. She reported housing bills continue to pass the State legislature which will require amendments to the Pleasanton Municipal Code (PMC) for compliance. She reported the City's non-governmental constraints are the competitive housing market and lack of undeveloped land. Ms. Murillo reported on existing programs, noting many are both successful and ongoing. She advised some recommendations will be made where needed for state law compliance, adding specificity to language, and merging programs to reduce overlap. She advised additional new programs will be discussed as policy items before the draft Housing Element. Ms. Murillo reported on housing resources, noting the City has its Lower-Income Housing Fund (LIHF), Down Payment Assistance Program, and Housing Rehabilitation program. She noted there are also regional, state, and federal resources available to would-be homeowners. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 14 October 19,2021