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BACKGROUND <br /> Adoption of a certified Housing Element is a City Council priority and required for the <br /> City to remain compliant with State law. The 6th Cycle Housing Element update covers <br /> the planning period from 2023-2031 . <br /> In March 2021, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into professional <br /> services agreements to support the update; this included a Professional Services <br /> Agreement with Lisa Wise Consulting in the amount of $302,001 to prepare an update <br /> the Housing Element Update. In November 2022, this contract was expanded to <br /> $329,711 to support preparation of additional analysis related to the statutorily required <br /> Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) section, attend additional hearings, and <br /> prepare a revised Housing Element in response to HCD's first round of comments. <br /> The Housing Element was adopted on January 26, 2023, at which point it was <br /> resubmitted to HCD for certification. HCD provided the City with a comment letter on <br /> April 10, 2023, indicating that a few items remain to be addressed before the Housing <br /> Element can be certified as compliant. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Significant work has been completed to date on the Housing Element Update, including <br /> extensive public outreach comprising over 40 public meetings, workshops, public <br /> hearings, and outreach events. Pursuant to State law, exhaustive analysis has been <br /> completed documenting the city's affordable housing needs, existing constraints and <br /> opportunities for housing production, identification of potential sites for re-zoning to <br /> accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), and evaluation and <br /> update of existing housing policies and programs. Ultimately, the 6th Cycle Housing <br /> Element was adopted on January 26, 2023. <br /> In its review, HCD indicated that a few items remain to be addressed before the <br /> Housing Element can be certified as compliant. HCD provided a comment letter on April <br /> 10, 2023. Staff and the consultant team have reviewed the comments in detail and <br /> some additional work is needed, including: <br /> • An additional Planning Commission Meeting <br /> • An additional City Council Meeting <br /> • Preparation of the final adopted Housing Element <br /> • Contingency for any final additional items (e.g., meetings with HCD, final minor <br /> adjustments, etc.). <br /> Exhibit A of Attachment 1 provides additional detail on Lisa Wise Consulting's budget <br /> amendment request. The total costs associated with the additional work are estimated <br /> at $24,225. This additional cost includes a $10,000 contingency, which is approximately <br /> 2.8 percent of the total compensation outlined in the agreement and is recommended to <br /> cover any additional unforeseen costs to close out this consulting work. Staff finds the <br /> above additional work items are essential to the successful certification of the 6th Cycle <br /> Housing Element update and recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager <br /> to execute the amendment to the Professional Services Agreement to extend the term <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />