REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City to Apply to and Participate in the State of California's Prohousing Designation Program
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2019, AB 101 established the Prohousing Designation Program (PDP) to provide an incentive for jurisdictions that have adopted policies that facilitate housing production and are compliant with State housing element requirements. The program, which is administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), created a special "Prohousing Designation" for qualifying jurisdictions that have adopted a compliant housing element.
In order to participate in the PDP, jurisdictions must submit an application to HCD that demonstrates that their local policies go beyond existing State law to increase housing production. HCD awards points for each policy included in the application. A minimum of 30 points is needed to secure Prohousing Designation. The application must be accompanied by an authorizing resolution adopted by the jurisdiction's governing body, in this case the City Council (Attachment 1)t.
Jurisdictions that are awarded Prohousing Designation may participate in HCD's Prohousing Incentive Program, which provides grant funding for affordable housing-related projects and programs. Prohousing jurisdictions also receive a competitive advantage in the form of additional points when applying for specific State affordable housing and infrastructure grant programs, including the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities, Infill Infrastructure Grant, Transformative Climate Communities, and Transit and Intercity Rail Capital programs. As HCD continues to develop the PDP, other grant programs may be added to this list.
On November 29, 2022, City Council adopted an authorizing resolution to apply to the PDP. Staff submitted two applications that received positive comments from HCD review staff. However, since the City's 2023-2031 Housing Element had n...
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