TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Housing Element Annual Report; and instruct the Director of Planning and Building to submit the Annual Report to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On April 17,2001 , the Long Beach City Council adopted the 2000-2005 Housing Element.
California law [ยง65400(b)(I)] mandates that all cities and counties submit to their legislative
bodies and the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development an
annual report on a city's achievements in meeting its goals and Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA) contained in its Housing Element. The intent of this statute is to
ensure that the Housing Element remains an effective guide for allocating limited housing
resources.
Each year, the City's Housing Services Bureau applies for a Workforce Housing Reward
Program Grant (WHF). Epgibility for these grant funds is based on Housing Element
compliance, demonstrated in the Housing Element Annual Progress Report that must be
approved by the City Council. The primary goal for WHF funding is to construct,
rehabilitate or acquire capital assets that provide a benefit to the community. In past years,
WHF funds were used for public infrastructure, such as the new Mark Twain Library and
street improvements.
On November 17, 2005, the Planning Commission reviewed and forwarded the Fiscal
Year 2004-2005 Housing Element Annual Report to City Council. See Attachment A for
the Annual Report and Attachment B for the Planning Commission staff report and
recommendations.
The State Department of Housing and Community Development requires that regional
planning agencies develop regional housing needs for each city in its respective region. In
1999, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) developed its Regional
Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) based on growth forecasts. These growth forecasts
were then assigned to Long Beach and its fair share of State mandated affordable and
market rate housing goals were allocated. In allocating the City's future housing needs,
SCAG considered the following conditions: I) market demand for housing, 2) type and
tenure of housing, 3) employment opportunities, 4) commuting patterns and 5) suitable
sites and public facilities.
As indicated in the Housing Element Annual Report, the City has made progress towards
meeting its Regional Housing Needs Assessment. For the planning period for this
Housing Element (2000-2005), approximately 4,000 new housing units received permits for
construction.
Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais reviewed this letter on December 7, 2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The Housing Element Annual Report is due to the State of California Department of
Housing and Community Development by December 31,2005.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Housing Element Annual Report is due to the State of California Department of
Housing and Community Development by December 31,2005.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]