Richmond

26.- Development Impact Fees

Continue to require residential developers to pay all applicable development impact fees to ensure that existing public infrastructure, services, and amenities are maintained and upgraded to adequately meet the needs of a growing city.

Development impact fees related to parks/open space, sewer, traffic, community/aquatics centers, storm drainage, library, police, and fire facilities continue to be collected as part of building permits issued for new development projects. The City Council authorized a contract to update the City's impact fees. The study was initiated 2019 and is anticipated to go to City Council by Spring 2023.

52.- Site Remediation

Require property owners to comply with state and federal requirements for site remediation as a condition for approving redevelopment on contaminated sites. In collaboration with other government agencies, utilize the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) Cortesie List to prioritize the remediation of city and non-city-owned property to protect human and environmental health. Seek state and federal funds to implement the necessary level of clean-up.

The Richmond Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) awarded the Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) a grant in the amount of $269,792 to support the remediation costs related to the removal of lead impacted soil on four vacant parcels located along Fred Jackson Way. The Richmond RLF originated from a $1,000,000 EPA Revolving Loan Fund grant award to the City of Richmond in 2004. A portion of the grant funds were used to complete several required environmental reports; Removal Action Workplan (RAW), Health and Safety Plan (HASP), Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) and Naturally Occurring Asbestos Evaluation (NOA), all of which were approved by DTSC in 2021. The balance of RLF grant funds will be used towards the remediation site cleanup mitigation. In 2022 the Richmond Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund had one remaining grantee, Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond (CHDC) for completing remediation on four (4) parcels along Fred Jackson Way. Due to the Pandemic and delays from DTSC the clean-up on these sites was placed on hold. However, with the start of 2023 the project is now moving forward with the clean-up and is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2023.

31.- California Green Building Standards

Continue to enforce the State of California’s Green Building Standards (CAL Green Code), which is intended to reduce construction waste, make buildings more efficient in the use of materials and energy, and reduce environmental impacts during and after construction.

The City continues to enforce the State of California Green Building Standards as part of its building permit plan review process. In 2020, the City also adopted an Energy Reach Code that would restrict the use of natural gas for new construction with some exceptions for cooking and fire places. The City’s Energy Reach Code is no longer needed because: • The City’s natural gas ban (RMC 9.64) became effective on January 1, 2022 • Additional solar requirements contained in the Energy Reach Code are now incorporated into the newly effective California Energy Code.

36.- Assistance for At-Risk Affordable Housing Units

Provide technical assistance to organizations interested in purchasing and maintaining subsidized affordable housing units should property owners express interest in converting them to market rate. Provide education and technical assistance to tenants of units being converted to market rate uses.

The City reviewed the 6th cycle Housing Element review draft in which consultants found zero at-risk affordable housing units converted to market rate during the 2022 planning period. To preserve at-risk and re-entry affordable housing the City will work with Rubicon Homes to preserve 10 assisted re-entry housing units at moderate risk of converting to market rate units during planning period.

24.- State and Federal Housing Funds

Continue to aggressively compete for affordable housing funds provided by state and federal agencies such as HUD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State HCD. Specifically target funding available for persons with special needs and disabilities.

Community Development staff applied for LEAP funds in 2020 for the Hilltop Specific Plan to accelerate and streamline housing production, which were awarded. The City also received a Priority Development Area (PDA) Grant for $750,000 from MTC for the Hilltop Specific Plan on May 14, 2021. An AHSC grant was also applied for in 2022, but not awarded. Staff is planning to resubmit AHSC Metrowalk in 2023. The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program was apporved in 2022, and partial funds were used to create an ADU toolkit on the City website. In 2022 work was done on the Hilltop Specfic Plan.

41.- Residential Rental Inspection Program

Continue to implement the City’s Residential Rental Inspection Program (RRIP), which requires regular, periodic inspections for property owners of three or more residential rental units. The RRIP exempts units subsidized by the City of Richmond and federal or state government. Newly constructed units are also exempted, but only for a period of five years from the date of construction.

Below is a summary of 2022: 1. Number of rental inspections performed for calendar year 2022 – 2,641 total units / 3,739 total inspections (self and audit, including re-inspections) 2. Number of self-inspections performed for calendar year 2022 - 2,641 total units / 1,751 units only self inspected, not audited 3. Number of inspection audits performed for calendar year 2022 - 1,988 total audit inspections (890 unique units) 4. Total number of units certified for calendar year 2022 – 1,508 units (an additional 80 units reached four total inspections without a PASS result)

11.- Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Performance

Continue to monitor the effectiveness of the City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance by including the following annual data as part of the Housing Element's Annual Progress Report (APR): Amount of inclusionary housing in-lieu fees collected; balance of the inclusionary housing fee account; and expenditures made with funds from the inclusionary housing fee account.

The City collected $314,143.63 of inclusionary housing in-lieu and non-residential linkage fees during the 2022 calendar year. $58,822.64 of expenditures for the fund were made to support legal services for the inclusionary housing ordinance amendments.

54.- Balanced Housing Development

Work with nonprofit and for profit housing developers to encourage mixed-income housing developments

Complete- As part of the Zoning Ordinance update, which was adopted by City Council on November 15, 2016, the City established an Inclusionary Housing Article (Article 15.04.603) to achieve a balanced community with housing available for households of a range of income levels. Any discretionary approval for a new residential development project of ten or more units shall have conditions attached that will ensure compliance with the provisions of the Article.

58.- Enforcement of ADA Requirements

Continue to enforce State accessibility and adaptability standards.

The Building Regulations Division continues to review all building permit applications for compliance with the State’s Accessibility requirements. In addition, all public meetings comply with the State’s ADA requirements.

64.- Homelessness Coordination Efforts

Participate in the Contra Costa HOME Consortium and the Contra Costa Interagency Council on Homelessness (CCICH) to identify and respond to the needs of homeless individuals and families in Richmond and surrounding communities. Prioritize implementation of the strategies and actions identified in the Consortium’s Consolidated Plan and the CCICH 10-Year Homeless Plan.

The City adopted an urgency notice on June 22, 2021, amending Sections 9.40.010 and 9.40.015 and adding a new Section 9.40.018 “Safe Parking Sites Pilot Program” to the Richmond city code. This ordinance allows private property owners to host up to four vehicle households for a limited duration. Additionally, the city has begun the process of creating a Homeless Strategic Plan in 2021. Due to COVID-19, shelters and other group quarter facilities were impacted, which resulted in a significant increase in tent and vehicle dwellers. In addition, the CCHS operated two hotel sites in Richmond under Project RoomKey. In 2022 the Safe Parking Sites Pilot Program has been challenging to implement because there has been concern from potential hosts on who would be responsible to pay for the costs associated with the potential liability risks, costs to manage and operate the program as these host organizations don’t have the capacity or experience to manage and operate this type of program. A subcommittee of the Homeless Task Force has been working on addressing these concerns but has yet to produce a satisfactory solution. The City has been working with their consultant, Homebase, to develop the City of Richmond Homeless Strategic Plan. Homebase will be delivering the first draft of the Plan to the City and other stakeholders for review before December 31, 2022. After the review of the Plan and incorporating any necessary changes as part of that feedback Homebase will work with city staff to prepare the Study Session Materials to present the Plan to the Cty Council in February-March 2023 with possible Plan approval by April 2023.

67.- Enforcement of Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance

Continue to enforce Richmond’s Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance for properties in foreclosure. The Ordinance was adopted in 2009 and provides protections for tenants in good standing from being evicted in the event of transfer of title or foreclosure.

Ballot Measure L: The Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance (RMC 11.100), was approved by the voters in November 2016, which expands Just Cause for Eviction protections to most residential tenancies in the City of Richmond. Landlords and owners of residential rental units located within the City of Richmond must enroll all properties containing at least one residential Rental Unit and are required to file all notices of termination of tenancy, and changes in terms of tenancy with the Rent Program within two business days of service on the Tenant. A major component of enforcement is achieved through community education and outreach (i.e. counseling on the Rent Ordinance, formal and informal mediation, workshops, webinars, social media posts, instructional and educational videos, mass mailings, and other forms of outreach and community education). The Rent Program also administers and enforces the City of Richmond Relocation Ordinance, which requires temporary or permanent relocation payments in cases of no-fault terminations of tenancies (Owner Move-In evictions, Withdraw from the Rental Market (Ellis Act eviction) and displacement due to a governmental order to vacate (red tag) or to make substantial repairs.

42.- Soft-Story Building Inventory

Continue to maintain the City’s inventory of multi-story buildings with potential earthquake hazards and consider making it readily available to property owners and residents to raise awareness and encourage voluntary health and safety retrofits.

Complete- A windshield inventory was completed in 2010 by the City Planning Department.

51.- Foreclosure Loan Fund

Seek funding for foreclosure loan fund program which would allow residents to buy their homes back as a way of saving their homes from foreclosure. Study the City of Oakland and Community Housing Development Corporation’s programs as potential models.

This program is no longer offered due to lack of funding.

62.- Mortgage Credit Certificate Tax Credit Program

Support and participate in the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Tax Credit Program administered by the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development and make program information readily available through the Online Housing Resource Center. Also provide information about first-time homebuyer programs administered by local nonprofits such as Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC).

The Mortgage Credit Certificate Program did not administer any MCC’s in the City of Richmond in 2022 due to lack of funding available to support the program.

6.- No Net Loss of Residential Capacity

Approve only those projects and general plan and zoning map amendments that do not result in an overall loss of the City's capacity to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers for the current planning period.

One General Plan amendment (100 338th street) was approved in 2022 that would convert a public civic land use to mixed-use, allowing residential use, increasing the City's capcity to meet RHNA numbers. City Clerk resolution General Plan amendemnt was completed in 2022 for the Hilllside initiatiive.

28.- Residential Design Guidelines for Additions to Heritage Homes

Reinforce and enhance the architectural character of Richmond residential neighborhoods by continuing to implement the City’s Residential Design Guidelines for Additions to Heritage Homes.

The City enforces compliance with its residential guidelines for additions to heritage homes for projects proposing additions and alterations. The City uses the Rediscovering Richmond's Architectural Heritage: Residential Design Guidelines for Additions to Heritage Homes prepared by Opticos Design, Inc. The Form-Based Code also includes architecture guidelines to ensure that buildings along Richmond commercial corridors reinforce the rich architectural heritage in the City. In 2022 work was done on the Form-Based Code, and is expected to go to City Council in 2023.

23.- Low Moderate Income Housing Assets Fund

Utilize resources in the City’s Low and Moderate Income Housing Assets Fund (Low-Mod Fund) to continue providing affordable housing in Richmond. The Low Mod Fund was established by the City of Richmond as Successor Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency to allow for the transfer of agency assets prior to the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in California. Assets in the Low-Mod Fund include real and personal property, bond proceeds, and rent payments.

The Low/Mod Funds were used to develop the Miraflores Senior Housing Development, which was completed in June 2018 and completely leased up in August 2019. It also received 79 Projected Based Vouchers from RHA. The City also used $1.1M to support the extensive renovation of the RAD properties, Friendship Manor (55 units) and Triangle Court (100 units).

8.- Residential Sites Marketing

Hold an annual workshop to educate the private and non-profit development community about mixed-use housing development opportunities and incentives in Richmond, especially in its Form-Based Code and Priority Development Areas.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no workshops were held inperson and contniue to be held remotely. https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2965/Form-Based-Code

57.- Accessible Housing Incentives

Provide incentives for residential developments that make 15 percent or more of their total units accessible to persons with disabilities. Potential incentives include financial assistance, density bonuses, increased height limits, reduced parking requirements, development impact fee waivers or deferrals, and expedited review.

Complete- As part of the Zoning Ordinance update, which was adopted by City Council on November 15, 2016, the City established additional concessions for low income households accessible to persons with disabilities. A developer is allowed up to three concessions where at least 20% of total units are for low income households and accessible to persons with disabilities, or at least 15% of total units are for very low income households and accessible to persons with disabilities, or at least 10% of total units are for extremely low income households and accessible to persons with disabilities.

59.- Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance

Develop a reasonable accommodation ordinance using the State HCD Model Ordinance for Providing Reasonable Accommodation under Federal and State Fair Housing Laws. Having a codified standard procedure for reasonable accommodation requests will facilitate uniform and timely reviews.

Complete- As part of the Zoning Ordinance update, which was adopted by City Council on November 15, 2016, the City established waiver procedures to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act to provide reasonable accommodation for protected uses and for persons with disabilities seeking fair access to housing through a waiver of the City's zoning regulations.