HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2016-131 N.C.S. 08/01/2016Resolution No. 2016 -131 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
APPROVING THE RESPONSE TO THE SONOMA COUNTY GRAND JURY'S
FINAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015/16
WHEREAS, under California law, the civil Grand Jury is an independent institution that
oversees all aspects of the legislative and administrative departments that make up county, city,
and special district governments, and has the power to investigate them to ensure they are
serving the public and individual citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Grand Jury conducts investigations, culminating in a final report to the
community at the end of each fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the 2015/16 Sonoma County Grand Jury issued its final report to the City
of Petaluma on June 27, 2016; and
WHEREAS, one of their investigations fiom the City of Petaluma, titled "Spotlight on
Affordable Housing," requires a response.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council approves the response
letter to the Grand Jury and authorizes the Mayor and City Manager to sign said letter on behalf
of the City Council.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 1St day of August,
2016, by the following vote:
AYES: Albertson, Barrett, Mayor Glass, Healy, Kearney, Vice Mayor King, Miller
Mayor
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Resolution No. 2016 -131 N.C.S. Page 1
August 2, 2016
The Honorable Raima Ballinger
Presiding Superior Court Judge
Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
DRAFT LETTER
Foreperson
Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury
P.O. Box 5109
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
RE: Grand Jury Final Report for FY 2015/16 — Responses and Recommendations
Dear Judge Ballinger:
The City of Petaluma is pleased to provide our responses on behalf of the City of Petaluma
(Planning) and the Petaluma City Council, to the Findings and Recommendations in the
2015/2016 Grand Jury Final Report, "Spotlight on Affordable Housing ". These are formatted in
accordance with Penal Code Section 933 and 933.05.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Grand Jury's report. If you have additional
questions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
David Glass
Mayor
John C. Brown
City Manager
cc: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Sonoma County Clerk
Petaluma City Clerk
Petaluma City Council
Sonoma County Cities
Resolution No. 2016 -131 N.C.S.
Page 2
Response to Grand Jury Report Form
Report Title: Spotlight on Affordable Housing
Report Date: August 2, 2016
Response By:
and
FINDINGS:
David Glass
John C. Brown
Title: Mayor
Title: City Manager
We agree with the findings numbered: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
F8 New or untapped sources of public and private monies are accessible to jurisdictions
within the County.
Petaluma's Response:
The City agrees with F8, however, with each of those funding sources, the application
process is highly competitive and comes with criteria that have to be met before funding
is awarded.
We disagree wholly or partially with the findings numbered: n/a
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommendations numbered: R2, R3, R4 and R9 have been implemented.
R2 The City of Santa Rosa Planning and Economic Development Department and the
Petaluma Planning Department encourage construction of granny units by reducing
permit fees and zoning restrictions (F6).
Petaluma's Response:
The current Implementing Zoning Ordinance allows such units subject to development
standards that are common in suburban communities and are not overly restrictive (e.g.,
allows maximum size of 640 square feet, requires one additional parking space, allows
use of setbacks for accessory structures.) The Ordinance also has no maximum lot
coverage limitations, which are often a constraint for the development of in -fill second
units in established neighborhoods. Impact fees were reduced on accessory units in 2010
to 25% of the fees of a typical single - family unit.
R3 The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, City Council of Santa Rosa and City Council
of Petaluma improve regulation and oversight of vacation rental activity in order to
determine how rental rates are affected by having long -term rentals removed from the
market (F9).
Petaluma's Response:
In 2015, the City Council approved a short -term vacation rental ordinance which is
Chapter 7.110 of the Implementing Zoning Ordinance. There are conditions that need to
Resolution No. 2016 -131 N.C.S. Page 3
be met in order to rent property as a short-term vacation rental. This program is used to
regulate short-term rentals and charge fees for the program. The ordinance contains a
review provision to determine its impacts and effectiveness; this review will occur in
approximately 24 months. Twelve properties have applied for the short-term rental
program. The City's ordinance also stipulates the difference between "hosted" and "non-
hosted" properties. Hosted properties are not an impact on long -term rentals. Before the
ordinance was adopted, there were approximately 75 properties advertising with Airbnb;
currently there are approximately 35 properties listed with Airbnb. It is too early to
determine how the short -term vacation rentals will affect supply or affordability, but at
this early stage, it appears to be minimal.
R4 The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, City Council of Santa Rosa and City Council
of Petaluma develop appropriate tax and fee schedules to offset the impact of short -term
vacation rentals on housing supply (F9).
Petaluma Response:
Petaluma's short-term vacation program is charging fees for applicants who want to rent
their property as a short-term rental. The ordinance also restricts the number of days that
property can be rented as a short-term rental to 90 days in a calendar year.
R9 The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, City Council of Santa Rosa and City Council
of Petaluma consider invoking AB 2135 to donate surplus lands to Land Trusts or to sell
these properties at below market rates to developers in exchange for commitments to
include affordable housing (F7, 8).
Petaluma Response:
The Grand Jury's recommendation that Petaluma donate surplus lands to Land Trusts or
to sell these properties at below market rates to developers in exchange for commitments
to include affordable housing has been implemented in Petaluma in the past. This
practice is consistent with the goals found in Petaluma's Housing Element and the
Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan, which benefits the low income
housing community, and will be recommended to be incorporated into the Housing
Element when it is next updated. As noted in the report, there are two properties in
Petaluma that could be surplused, and the City will examine each in the context of the
Grand Jury's recommendation. It should be noted that the property at 951 Petaluma
Boulevard South is subject to divestiture under Redevelopment dissolution and the City's
actions with respect to this property will need to comply with Section 33334.16 of the
California Health and Safety Code for property held by the Housing Successor Agency.
Recommendation numbered: n/a has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in
the future.
Recommendations numbered: n/a require further analysis.
Recommendations numbered: n/a will not be implemented because they are not warranted or
are not reasonable.
Resolution No. 2016 -131 N.C.S. Page 4
Date: Si
Mayor David Glass
Date: Signed:
John C. Brown, City Manager
Number of pages attached: 4
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