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13 THE CITY OF CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT pLAfciTo .N March 16, 2021 Community Development TITLE: 1) RECEIVE UPDATE ON STATUS OF THE 2023-2031 (6TH RHNA CYCLE) HOUSING ELEMENT PROCESS; 2) APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LISA WISE CONSULTING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $302,001 FOR THE PREPARATION OF CITY OF PLEASANTON'S 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT; AND 3) APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FIRST CARBON SOLUTIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $343,170 FOR THE 2023- 2031 HOUSING ELEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SUMMARY The Housing Element is part of the City's General Plan and is a comprehensive statement by the community of its current and future housing needs and proposed actions to facilitate the provision of housing to meet those needs at all income levels. State law requires the preparation and periodic update of the housing element every eight years. The State also establishes a series of very specific requirements as to the scope, content, and process by which a housing element is updated and adopted, including review and approval (known as certification) by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The next Housing Element for the period 2023-2031, the 6th Cycle update, must be adopted by January 2023. This agenda report provides an update on the status of the 6th Cycle Housing Element process that is currently underway, including the most recent estimated Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the City; and remaining steps in the process that include an opportunity for a formal City appeal of the proposed RHNA. The agenda report also requests City Council approval of two professional contracts to assist with the Housing Element update. Although City staff will be involved with all aspects of the update, because of the extensive changes to State law and the strict deadlines imposed by these laws, consultant assistance is needed to ensure timely completion of the Housing Element project. Based on a competitive Request for Proposals process, staff recommends Lisa Wise Consulting (LWC) to assist with the preparation of the next Housing Element Update; and First Carbon Solutions (FCS) to assist in the preparation of all the necessary environmental documents for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in this case an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Professional Services Agreements with LWC, is not to exceed the amount of $302,001; and with FCS, not to exceed the amount of$343,170. These totals include a 15 percent contingency for general work under each contract. Funding for the project will include $300,000 from an approved Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant; and $61,755 from a pending (non-competitive) Regional Early