Brown Act Basics for Housing Element Working Group

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The Housing Element Working Group held a meeting on May 6, 2021, focusing on key topics such as Introduction to Brown Act, Housing Element 101, Working Group Processes, and Election of Co-Chairs. Housekeeping items were highlighted, emphasizing clear communication and technological flexibility. The core team members were introduced, and participants were encouraged to introduce themselves and share their motivations for joining the group. The significance of the Brown Act, ensuring open meetings for public transparency, was explained in detail, including requirements such as advance notice and agenda posting.

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Housing Element Update Working Group Meeting www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

AGENDA TOPICS Introduction to Brown Act Housing Element 101 Introduction to the Housing Element Working Group Processes Election of Co-Chairs Next Steps in the Process

Housekeeping Items One person speaks at a time. Keep comments brief. Technology happens please be flexible and patient Please mute yourself when you are not speaking Share video so that we can stay visually connected Name on Zoom screen

Welcome and Introductions www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

Palo Alto Housing Element Team (Core) Clare Campbell, Manager of Long Range Planning Tim Wong, Chitra Moitra, Planner Project Manager City of Palo Alto City of Palo Alto City of Palo Alto Della Acosta Project Manager Jenna Shaw Rincon Consultants Rincon Consultants

INTRODUCE YOURSELF! Please introduce yourself and tell us why you wanted to be part of the Housing Element Working Group

Introduction to the Brown Act www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

WHAT IS THE BROWN ACT? The law requiring open meetings is California Government Code Section 54950, commonly referred to as the Brown Act. The basic requirement of the Brown Act is that all meetings of legislative bodies shall be open to the public. Legislative bodies includes the governing body of a local agency (e.g., the city council) and any commission, committee, board or other body of the local agency, whether permanent or temporary, decision-making or advisory, that is created by formal action of a legislative body like this Working Group Meetings include any gathering (including virtual) of a quorum of the legislative body to hear, discuss, or deliberate on any matter within the jurisdiction of the body

WHAT IS THE BROWN ACT? Additional Requirements of the Brown Act include: Meetings must be noticed through the posting of an agenda in advance of the meeting at least 72 hours for regular meetings No action may be taken on items not on the agenda except in specific circumstances Records distributed at a public meeting are public records, unless otherwise exempted under the Public Records Act. Information must be made available to the public at the same time that it is made available to the legislative body Email communication among advisory members relative to advisory board business is strongly discouraged since it may create a collective concurrence among a quorum of advisory body members. Alternatively, it can lead to a situation where one board member can silence others to avoid creating a serial meeting. Email communication to staff is permissible. Staff will send messages using bcc to avoid accidental reply-all.

WHAT IS THE BROWN ACT? Pop Trivia! Email communication among advisory members relative to advisory board business is strongly ____________. a. Encouraged b. Discouraged c. Ignored d. All of the above Why?

Housing Element 101: Introduction to the Housing Element www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

WHAT IS THE HOUSING ELEMENT? WHAT DOES IT COVER? Safety Housing Noise General Plan Land Use Conservation Transportation Open Space

WHAT IS THE HOUSING ELEMENT? WHAT DOES IT COVER? Identifies adequate sites (locations) zoned and available within the 8-year housing cycle to meet the city s fair share of regional housing needs at all income levels Identifies City programs and policies to promote housing opportunities, including housing for special needs populations Meets requirements to be certified (approved) by the State Department of Housing and Community Development

THE CHAPTERS OF A HOUSING ELEMENT Needs Assessment Constraints Resources Housing Plan Demographics Housing trends Existing and projected housing needs Special needs groups Governmental Market Environmental Financial Administrative Previous accomplishments Goals, policies, and objectives Programs supporting housing preservation and development Adequate sites for all economic segments, persons with special needs, emergency shelters What do you think is an example of Constraints and Resources?

HOUSING ELEMENT OBJECTIVES Provide planning to accommodate housing for all socio-economic segments Allow for the development of housing affordable to all Remove unreasonable governmental barriers to housing development Preserve and improve existing affordable housing Ensure equal housing opportunities for all

WHAT IS RHNA? Representation of future housing need for all income levels in a region Assigned to regional governments by the State and then allocated to local governments Accommodated for by local jurisdictions in Housing Elements

RHNA OBJECTIVES Mix of housing types Tenure Affordability Increase Infill development Equity Protection of environmental resources Promote Efficient development strategies GHG reductions Encourage Jobs Housing balance Improve Regional housing balance by income Affirmatively further fair housing Achieve

What is a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)? CA Dept of Housing & Community Development Determines Statewide Need Allocates regional distribution of ABAG need City of Palo Alto Decides how to meet allocation

What is a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)? Pop Trivia! What is the RHNA allocation for this upcoming (6th) Housing Element cycle? A. 4,729 B. 8,240 C. 6,086 D. 1,988

RHNA Numbers: Palo Alto 2015 2023 Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation by income Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate Total 5th Cycle Allocation 691 432 278 587 1,988 2023 2031 Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation by income Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate Total 6th Cycle Allocation 1,556 896 1,013 2,621 6,086 *These are the most current numbers, the final RHNA allocation numbers for the 6th housing cycle are expected in the winter of 2021.*

HOW DOES THE CITY ADDRESS THE RNHA ALLOCATION? Review vacant and underutilized sites Possible rezoning sites Lower income HCD standards Review accessory dwelling unit production Review development constraints on housing development Respond to new State housing legislation Continue, enhance, or introduce programs and policies Low-income and special needs housing

WHAT HAPPENS IF A CITY DOES NOT CERTIFY THE HOUSING ELEMENT? Violates state law AB 72 Vulnerable to lawsuits General Plan at risk Funding programs at risk

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE

Break www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

Working Group Processes www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE WORKING GROUP? 1. Assists and advises the City Council and PTC in formulating and implementing policy including, developing recommendations and presenting supporting information to the City Council and PTC Your role may also include: Hearing public testimony Building community consensus for proposals or projects Facilitating a study of issues Guiding implementation of new or regulating established programs Assessing the alternatives regarding issues of community concern 2. Ambassadors to the community for the Housing Element update process

ATTENDANCE, RESIGNATION, SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS It is imperative that members must be active participants and attend all meetings If you are unable to attend for any reason, City staff should be informed immediately Excessive absences may result in removal from the Working Group by the City Council If a Working Group member wishes to resign from their position, such member should submit a letter of resignation directly to City Council Special accommodations can be made upon request to Working Group members with disabilities or that are in need of extra support

Pop Trivia! What are the two goals of the Working Group?

Press/Media Communications All press releases or official statements should be prepared by City staff and sent out via the Communications Department. Working Group members should inform City staff when press inquires are received When making statements to the press, members should indicate that actions are recommendations to the City Council Comments to the press should be based on fact

Election of Co-Chairs www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

Election of Co-Chairs Nomination Process: Nominations for Co-chair are made from the floor. Working Group members may nominate anyone, including themselves. A second endorsement is required for the nomination. The nominee states whether they will accept the nomination. The Working Group member who nominated and the member who seconded the nomination make a brief statement on why they support the nomination. Nominees may also make a brief statement regarding their candidacy. The Working Group will take a vote after all nominations have been made, seconded, and the nominees have stated whether they will accept. Votes will be tallied via roll call

Questions, comments, suggestions? Thank you!

Oral Communications/ Public Comment www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

Next Steps www.paloaltohousingelement.com May 6, 2021

Next Steps Assignments for Next meeting: Review Rosenberg s Rule of Order: https://www.cacities.org/Resources/Open- Government/RosenbergText_2011.aspx Go to the SV@Home website and take the density quiz: https://siliconvalleyathome.org/quiz/can-guess-density-developments/ Read the Introduction to the 2015-23 (Current) Housing Element: http://paloaltohousingelement.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Certified-15-23- Housing-Element.pdf