Housing policies and programs are the strategies and laws that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.
Local housing policies and programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of policies or programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well. Policies and programs listed here from jurisdictions’ Housing Elements are intended to allow readers to review the text themselves and see if a city or county is doing all they can to reach their affordable housing goals.
To further policy innovation and local action, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) contacted all of the region's jurisdictions to track the adoption of key housing policies throughout the nine county Bay Area in four major categories Protect, Preserve, Produce, and Prevent. This data is from ABAG’s Policies and Program list and was last updated in 2018/2019.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development tracks all of the ongoing and completed programs from 2018 onward and can be seen in the table below.
YEAR | PROGRAM NAME | PROGRAM OBJECTIVE | STATUS | ACCOMPLISHED DATE | HOUSING CYCLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.8 Jobs-Housing Balance Evaluation | Analyze the status of jobs and housing within the community and then provide to large employers within the community | The City has a comprehensive list of approved and developed subdivisions. This list is readily available to large employers within the City. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.4 Development of Housing for Large Families | Increase Housing for Large Families | The City continues to focus on achieving a balance to accommodate various needs for housing. Compliance with ADU laws and SB 9 further suports opportunities to house large families on a single family residential-zoned site. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.5 Reasonable Accommodation Procedures | Continue reasonable accommodation procedures | Staff continues to ensure that projects meet the State's newest accessibility requirements by identifying deficiencies at plan review stage. City also works with a Certified Access Specialist for plan reviews and inspections. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 2.2 Proactive Code Enforcement | Develop a Proactive Code Enforcement Strategy | Staff has developed, adopted and implemented a Property Maintenance Program, as well as a Residential Rental Inspection Program. Code Enforcement will also work with the Building Division to conduct inspections on complaints received by tenants. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 2.3 Infrastructure Preservation Program | Provide Adequate Infrastructure | The City annually adopts a capital improvement program as part of its budget to plan and schedule infrastructure improvements throughout Oakley. Based on those adopted priorities and funding plans the City aggressively implements capital improvement projects. The City completed 7 CIP projects in 2021. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 3.2 Encourage Development of New Affordable Rental Housing for Remaining RHNA Need | Encourage Affordable Rental Housing
Development to meet remaining RHNA need | Active Program (See also Status of Implementation of Goal 1.1) | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.9 Provide Comprehensive Housing Information | Comprehensive Housing Resources | The City uses print media, mailers, web-based information, e-mail blasts, and other methods to provide information about available housing resources. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 1.11 Multifamily Housing Sites | Encourage multifamily and affordable residential uses on multifamily sties | Active Program (See also Status of Implementation of Goal 1.1) | In conjunction with Policy Action 1.1 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 2.1 Rehabilitation of Existing Housing Units | Continue to provide information on housing rehabilitation assistance | The City has provided access on the web site to the full list of programs available with the County and HUD, as well as links to appropriate web sites | 6/1/15 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.2 Promote Fair Housing Standards | Continue to encourage the enforcement of federal and state fair housing standards | The City currently posts resources on the web site, plus disseminates information through the housing department and the police department. A guide to tenants and landlords rights is kept on hand as well. | 8/1/15 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.6 Compliance with SB2 | Comply with SB 2 | The City has completed this program and has adopted an ordinance that complied with SB 2 in regard to transitional and supportive housing. | 1/1/16 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 1.7 Encourage Infill Development | Encourage infill as a means to provide additional opportunities for construction | The City continues to encourage infill development. The City has adopted a Downtown Specific Plan which specifically provides for infill and mixed use residential opportunities within the City. Much of the development in the City consists of re-designating land to allow for higher density residential development on long-time undeveloped sites surrounded by urban uses. | 12/1/15 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 3.1 Monitor Assisted Housing Units | Monitor units to identify at risk units and insure current units compliance | The City requires fiscal year financial and proof of certification to be reported 90 days after the end of the prior fiscal year. These reports are then audited. The City also maintains active relationships with owners and management. | Ongoing Monitoring and Annual Reporting of Units | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.1 Increase Access to Homeownership | Disseminate information about the available programs for Affordable Housing through offices, library or City website | The City website has the following information: where existing affordable family and senior housing projects within the City are located as well as submitted development applications, a link to the 211 program, and the County Section 8 Program. | 8/1/15 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.10 Residential Care Facilities | Accommodate residential care facilities/group homes | The City has completed this program and has adopted an ordinance that complied with State Law pertaining to Residential Care Facilities. | 1/1/16 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 1.5 Encourage Residential Development in Areas Served by Public Transit | Encourage Residential Development near Transit | The City adopted the Downtown Specific Plan which is within 1/2 mile of public transit. The DSP allows for reduced parking in order to facilitate the redevelopment of downtown. Additionally, the General Plan has policies that encourage high density development near transit, and the City has made a consistent effort to locate higher density development along existing transit corridors. | 7/1/16 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.7 Ensure Adequate Emergency Shelter Sites | Accommodate the Citys emergency shelter need | The Downtown Specific Plan provides a zone district and site to allow an Emergency Shelter by-right. 6th Cycle HE will improve the by-right allowance of emergency shelters for up to 50 beds. | Ongoing/Annually | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.11 Employee and Farmworker Housing | Accommodate farmworker and employee housing | The City has completed this program and has adopted an ordinance that complied with State Law pertaining to Employee and Farmworker Housing. | 1/1/16 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.3 Development of Housing for Extremely-Low Income Households and Special Needs Groups | Encourage housing to meet need of 45 Extremely-Low Income units or special needs housing | The City works cooperatively with affordable housing developers to explore incentives. Although the City does not have available funds, staff has explored funding sources from other agencies in efforts to find ways to achieve the program goals to attain Extremely-Low Income units. | Through the 2015-2023 Planning Cycle | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 1.4 Promote Energy-Conserving Programs | Efficient Use of Energy Resources | The City has adopted the California Energy Code and performs plan reviews to ensure projects meet the codes intention for efficient energy use. The City also has an updated website with links and information to Energy Conservation programs. | 12/31/16 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |