COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

Date:

March 7, 2002

Set Time:

9:00 a.m.

Hearing Date:

March 26, 2002

To:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

Subject:

Creation of General Plan Housing Element Task Force

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the creation of the General Plan Housing Element Task Force to act as an advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors regarding the update of the County's General Plan Housing Element, by adopting the resolution in Attachment A.

BACKGROUND

State law requires that cities and counties prepare and adopt a housing element as part of their general plan. The County's Housing Element must document housing needs, identify potential sites for new housing, analyze constraints on housing development, and state explicit policies for meeting housing needs in unincorporated areas. Planning staff is currently working on updating the Housing Element, as required by State law. State law also requires that local governments make a diligent effort to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the Housing Element.

On December 18, 2001, the Board approved partial revisions to the County's General Plan Housing Element for submittal to the State Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). At that time, the Board also concurred with staff's proposal to form a housing element task force to assist with the completion of the Housing Element update, and to help meet the public participation requirement set forth by State law. In January, the Board appointed Supervisors Rose Jacobs Gibson and Rich Gordon to serve as co-chairs of the Task Force.

DISCUSSION

After consultation with Planning and Housing Division staff, Supervisors Gibson and Gordon sent invitations to 15 organizations (see Attachment B) inviting them to appoint a representative to serve on the General Plan Housing Element Task Force. The intent is for the Task Force to have a broad-based membership, with representatives from civic organizations, service agencies, the building industry, the environmental community, and from other organizations interested in housing issues. Interested individuals and organizations other than those invited to serve on the Task Force will be welcome to attend Task Force meetings and provide their input on the Housing Element update; however, as a practical matter, the number of voting members on the Task Force will be limited. As of the writing of this report, staff has not yet received responses from all of the organizations invited; updated information will be provided at the Board meeting.

The Task Force is expected to hold public meetings monthly, or on an as-needed basis over the next six to seven months, to review work completed by staff, and to recommend housing issues and solutions for inclusion in the Housing Element. The first meeting of the Housing Element Task Force has been set for Wednesday, March 27, 2002. The proposed schedule for completion of the Housing Element is shown on Attachment C.

The attached resolution, if adopted by the Board of Supervisors, will officially create the General Plan Housing Element Task Force, specifying that it is to act as an advisory committee to the Board regarding the update of the County's General Plan Housing Element. The Task Force will be comprised of members from the 15 organizations mentioned above, plus two members of the Board of Supervisors. Members shall serve until April 1, 2003; the Task Force's work should be complete before the term expires. The resolution also specifies that the Task Force will comply with all standing rules for County boards, commissions and advisory committees, and shall be staffed by the Planning and Building Division and the Office of Housing.

VISION ALIGNMENT

The creation of a General Plan Housing Element Task Force helps keep the commitment to offer a full range of housing choices and to ensure that housing exists for people at all income levels and for all generations of families (Goal Number 9). The creation of a General Plan Housing Element Task Force contributes to this commitment and goal by providing an opportunity for a broad range of organizations interested in housing issues to advise the Board on the update of the Housing Element, which establishes housing goals and policies for unincorporated areas.

FISCAL IMPACT

None.

ATTACHMENTS

A.

Resolution creating General Plan Housing Element Task Force

B.

List of Organizations Invited to Serve on General Plan Housing Element Task Force

C.

Proposed Schedule for Completion of General Plan Housing Element