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Further HCD Review The Housing Element Update timeline allows for additional feedback and input from the following sources to be considered as the draft Housing Element is being finalized: - the draft environmental analysis, - HCD, - Community members, - Commissions, and - the City Council. The updated Housing Element would then be re-submitted to HCD for a further review (30-60 days) during the first quarter of 2023, with adoption of the Housing Element and environmental documents anticipated in the spring of 2023. DISCUSSION The Draft Housing Element, Attachment 1, is reflective of the requirements by the State and the public process to date. There are four principal sections in the main document and seven appendices as follows: Main Housing Element Document: The draft document includes an introduction (Section 1), projected housing needs (Section 2), housing resources (Section 3), and the goals, policies, and programs for the Housing Element (Section 4). The goals, policies, and programs are a key component of the document, representing the City's proposed "housing plan" with a focus on actionable steps and measures that the City will undertake to increase affordable housing and preserve and improve existing housing. There are seven main goals with a set of policies and programs provided under each goal. Whereas the policies help to guide and inform future City decision-making and direction with respect to a broad range of housing-related topics, the programs provide actionable steps to implement the Housing Element's goals and to make further progress towards meeting the regional housing needs allocation (RHNA). Timeframes and responsibilities for each program are indicated in the text. In developing the policies and programs, staff used those included in the 5th Cycle Housing Element as a starting point, carrying forward many of the same underlying themes, concepts, and ideas. However, the updated Draft Housing Element substantially revises and re-organizes the prior set of goals, policies, and programs, with the objective to consolidate policies and programs under a smaller number of goals and lessen redundancy that was found among many programs and policies. Modified actions were also re-worded to clarify the intent or improved with greater specificity. As a required component of the Housing Element, Appendix D provides a review of the 5th Cycle programs, evaluates the City's progress towards achieving them, and notes whether they have been continued, discontinued, or modified in the update. Page 4 of 18