The Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element of the General Plan was last updated in 1991. This sub-element requires State review and certification. Update of this Sub-Element was delayed past the usual 5-year timeframe for housing elements. The State did not provide the funds needed for preparing new "housing needs" numbers and, therefore, extended the time limit for adopting a new document. The State has now required adoption of this Sub-Element by July 2001 and subsequent certification by the State. The update of this document provides an opportunity to review and revise as necessary the City’s goals, policies, action statements and programs. Staff has hired consultant services to assist in the update. Staff recommends that Council approve the proposed Work Plan in this report to update the Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element.

The Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element was considered at the 1999 annual Council Study Items and Budget Issues Workshop and was identified as a mandatory study for year 2000 (see Attachment 1). The current Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element was adopted in 1988 and was updated in 1991. This document was assumed to be a 5-year document. This document was not updated in 1996 as originally planned as the State did not provide the funds needed for preparing new "housing needs" numbers and has allowed an extension of time for the update.

This Sub-Element requires state review and certification. The update of this document would be in accordance with the State’s revised format. The State requires adoption of this Sub-Element by July 2001.

In addition to describing housing conditions and needs, Sunnyvale’s sub-element also addresses Community Revitalization.

The Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element provides a policy basis for Sunnyvale’s decision-making and actions. The Sub-Element includes a description of community conditions, and identifies goals, policies and programs addressing housing and community revitalization.

The existing policy requires a thorough review of the General Plan elements every five years and updates if necessary and/or updates required by State law for specific elements/sub-elements.

The current Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element was last updated in 1991, is due for update to meet State-required adoption in July 2001, and would enable the City to review and address its housing goals, policies and programs.

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) provides regional housing needs for counties and cities within its jurisdiction for 1999-2006. As determined by ABAG, Sunnyvale’s average yearly housing need is 495 new housing units. (An Information Report was considered on March 23, 2000 by the Housing and Human Services Commission and by the City Council on April 11, 2000, and discusses ABAG’s Regional Housing Needs and Sunnyvale’s housing allocation.)

A Work Plan for the Sub-Element update has been prepared by a consultant (Naphtali H. Knox & Assoc., Inc.). The Work Plan includes a Scope of Services and a schedule (see Attachment 2).

The Scope of Services includes several tasks and activities related to the Update. They can be broadly classified as follows:

• Housing Needs Analysis
• At-Risk Units
• Land Inventory
• Governmental and Non-Governmental Constraints
• Sunnyvale’s Housing Resources and Funding Mechanisms Available
• Update Goals, Objectives, Policies and Programs

The update work will commence in April 2000 and be completed in June 2001. The Working Group meetings will occur within this time frame. A draft copy of the updated Sub-Element will be forwarded for review to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) 45 days prior to adoption by the City Council. The adopted Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element will be submitted to HCD for certification before July 1, 2001. The proposed tasks and schedule of the update will meet State requirements for adoption of the sub-element.

The citizen participation and outreach efforts will involve the following:

• Creation of a Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element Working Group;
• Housing and Human Services Commission and Planning Commission review of the document, and
• Formal public hearings by the commissions and the City Council.

Staff suggests that the Working Group be comprised of subgroups of the Housing and Human Services Commission and two Planning Commission members. This group will help identify housing issues and proposed solutions. The two Planning Commissioners on the Working Group will serve as liaison to the Planning Commission.

A Staff team will be formed to assist with data collection activities, issues identification, and needs assessment and review of the document. Staff will also coordinate citizen participation and distribution to other government entities. The staff team will consist of representatives from the following departments:

• Department of Community Development – Planning and Housing and Neighborhood Preservation Divisions
• Office of City Attorney
• Office of City Manager

The staff team will periodically meet throughout the update process and coordinate the public review process.

Overall project management will be coordinated by the Department of Community Development – Planning Division. Project management includes the coordination of research and analysis activities, participation of staff and public review process and overall responsibility for the preparation of the sub-element.

The City Council approved $50,000 for Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element Update in January 2000 (Council Study Calendar and Budget Modification No. 20). The consultant has estimated 524 hours of work for a cost of $45,654 for their services. Attachment 2 includes a detailed estimate of the consultant hours and associated costs. Staff estimates $5,000 for printing and reproduction costs.

Staff hours (approximately 400-500 hours) for this project are budgeted primarily within the existing Community Planning Program.

Notice of the public hearing for this project was published in the Sun newspaper and included on the agendas for Housing and Human Services Commission (March 22, 2000) and Planning Commission (March 27, 2000) and City Council (April 11, 2000) public hearings.

The staff report for this project was posted on the City of Sunnyvale’s Website and a copy of the report was provided at the Reference Section of the City of Sunnyvale’s Public Library. The Planning Commission and City Council Agendas were posted on the City of Sunnyvale’s Website.

This report was presented to Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting on March 22, 2000, and to the Planning Commission on March 27, 2000.

The Commissions each have three possible courses of actions:

1. Recommend that the City Council approve the proposed work plan.
2. Recommend that the City Council approve a modified work plan
3. Recommend that the City Council defer the update of the Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-Element at this time.

Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.

Prepared by:

Shétal Divatia
Associate Planner

Reviewed by:

Trudi Ryan
Planning Officer

David S. Boesch, Jr.
Director, Community Development

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager