Rohnert Park

Fast Out of the Gate
Housing Element Status
Certified
Rent Burden
63%
rent burdened
Affordable Housing Production
119%
affordable permits issued
Housing Policies and Programs
39
total policies
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Proposed Policies and Programs

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.

5th Cycle Programs and Policies

39
policies and programs

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.

Historic 2018 Policies and Programs Categorization

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.

Protect
2/11
Preserve
2/9
Produce
3/14
Prevent
1/8
Condominium Conversion Ordinance
Form-Based Codes
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance
In-Lieu Fees (Inclusionary Zoning)
Preservation of Mobile Homes (Rent Stabilization Ordinance)
Acquisition/Rehabiliation/Conversion
By-Right Strategies
Commercial Development Impact Fee
Flexible Parking Requirements
General Fund Allocation
Graduated Density Bonus
Homeowner Repair or Rehabilitation
Home Sharing Programs
Housing Development Impact Fee
Housing Overlay Zones
Implementation of SB743
Just Cause Eviction
Locally-Funded Homebuyer Assistance
Mobile Homes Conversion Ordinance
One-to-One Replacement
Reduced Fees or Permit Waivers
Rent Stabilization
SRO Preservation Ordinance
Streamlined Permitting Process
Surplus Public Lands Act
Tenant-Based Assistance
Rohnert Park's Recorded Housing Policies

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
HO 1.B
The City shall continue to work with regional agencies to ensure an adequate long-term water supply and wastewater disposal system.
Successful. City continues to work with regional agencies and has adequate water and supply.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 4.C
The City shall meet with owners of at-risk units who intend to opt out of a Section 8 contract to examine potential strategies to preserve or replace the units (e.g., transferring the units to a nonprofit developer).
Partially Successful. The City has met with owners of at-risk units who intend to opt out of a Section 8 contract to examine potential strategies to preserve or replace the units (e.g., transferring the units to a nonprofit developer). The City works with Sonoma County Housing Authority (SCHA) who operates the Section 8 housing voucher program in Rohnert Park.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 4.D
The City shall hold a public hearing two years prior to the expiration of affordability restrictions to ensure that noticing requirements are met and to assist the tenants in finding other locations for affordable housing.
Partially successful. The City has not held public hearings two years prior to the expiration of affordability restrictions, it has and continues to meet with owners of at-risk units to discuss potential strategies and reduce displacement, including connecting with voucher resources at SCHA.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 3.B
The City shall publicize affordable housing programs through the City’s public communications and publications.
Successful. The City has publicized affordable housing programs through the City’s public communications and publications. This information is available at City Hall and on the City’s website and is made available at other locations upon request.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 5.C
The City shall reach out annually to developers of supportive housing to encourage development of projects targeted for persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities. The City shall support applications for County, State, and Federal funding in support of housing construction and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities.
Partially successful. While the City has not reached out annually to developers of supportive housing to encourage development of projects targeted for persons with disabilities, the City supports and refers to the programs of the Sonoma County, Community Development Commission to assist persons with disabilities. The City has also supported applications for County, State, and Federal funding in support of housing construction and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 7.B
The City shall maintain guidelines and sample plans to assist owners of wood-frame homes in adequately securing structures to foundations and providing bracing against earthquakes.
Partially successful. In the past, the City maintained guidelines and sample plans to assist owners of wood-frame homes inadequately securing structures to foundations and providing bracing against earthquakes, however, this program was discontinued due to lack of funding or need.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 3.H
The City shall conduct annual meetings with the development community to discuss opportunities for collaboration between market-rate and affordable housing developers.
Partially successful. Although the City does not conduct annual meetings with the development community to discuss opportunities for collaboration between market-rate and affordable housing developers, the City does frequently work with affordable housing developers to discuss properties available for affordable housing projects. Market-rate developers of ownership housing are required to provide a percentage of the housing for low- and moderate-income buyers.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 5.A
The City shall develop and distribute information about Sonoma County Community Development Commission’s (CDCRP) rehabilitation programs to individuals with disabilities, seniors and the elderly, and advocacy groups that represent these special needs groups.
Partially Successful. The City has developed and distributed information about Sonoma County Community Development Commission’s (CDCRP) rehabilitation programs to individuals with disabilities, seniors and the elderly, and advocacy groups that represent these special needs groups upon request
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 7.D
The City shall include information about the need for residential seismic retrofitting and retrofitting methods in the City’s communications with residents, and shall publicize Fannie Mae’s Project Impact Disaster Prevention Loan .
Partially successful. In the past, the City included information about the need for residential seismic retrofitting and retrofitting methods in the City’s communications with residents and publicized Fannie Mae’s Project Impact Disaster Prevention Loan, however, the program was discontinued due to lack of funding or need.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 1.C
The City shall continue annual review of the Growth Management Program, pursuant to Policy GM-4 and the Growth Management Ordinance, and evaluate the Program’s “trigger cap” to ensure that the City’s fair share allocations can be achieved.
Successful. City has continued preparing its Growth Management Report annually in April and evaluate the Program’s “trigger cap.” The Growth Management Ordinance has not been a constraint to accomplishing the City’s housing allocations.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 3.A
The City shall continue to issue, in cooperation with other jurisdictions in Sonoma County, mortgage credit certificates to qualified low- and moderate-income, first-time homebuyers. The City shall work with the Sonoma County Housing Authority to ensure that Rohnert Park receives a share of future allocations.
Successful while in effect. The Sonoma County Community Development Commission previously operated this program, and the City made information about the program available at City Hall. The County no longer has an active mortgage credit program.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 7.C
The City shall inform owners of multifamily housing whose structures may be highly susceptible to seismic damage, and help owners obtain financing for retrofitting.
Partially successful. In the past, the City informed owners of multifamily housing whosestructures may be highly susceptible to seismic damage, and helped owners obtain financing for retrofitting, however, the program was discontinued due to lack of funding or need.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 3.F
The City shall maintain and periodically review and update a packet of information about the characteristics of affordable housing, high-density development, and lower-income families. The City shall actively provide this information to City staff and decision-makers so that they can act in an informed manner and educate the community.
Partially successful. The City has maintained and periodically reviewed and updated information about the characteristics of affordable housing, high-density development, and lower-income families. An inventory of affordable housing is provided on the City website and at City Hall. The City provides the Economic Development Board’s City Profile and Projections Report on its website, which contains demographic and housing data. The City provides necessary demographic and housing stock data to decision-makers when discussing housing.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 3.I
The City shall maintain contacts with nonprofit housing organizations to benefit from their expertise in developing and supporting affordable housing, and shall refer potential developers of such housing to these organizations for assistance.
Successful. The City meets with nonprofit housing organizations to benefit from their expertise in developing and supporting affordable housing and has referred potential developers of such housing to these organizations for assistance.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 5.B
The City shall continue to provide funding, as feasible, to agencies that work to prevent homelessness and/or provide services to the homeless.
Successful.The City has continued to providefunding, as feasible, to agencies that work to prevent homelessness and/or provide services to the homeless. In Fiscal Year 21-22, the City Council dedicated $1.3 million to address homelessness within the City. The City applied for and was awarded $14.6 million in State Homekey funding in late 2021 for an interim housing project. The City is expecting an application for a 76-unit permanentsupportive housing project in 2023.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 7.A
The City shall continue to partner with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDCRP) on housing rehabilitation for low- and moderate-income households.
Successful.The City has continued to partner with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (SCCDC) on housing rehabilitationfor low- and moderate-income households.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 8.A
The City shall prepare and distribute handouts to the public and maintain up-to-date information on the City’s website on ways to improve energy efficiency in existing homes and in new construction, and shall publicize programs available to assist homeowners and landlords in making energy efficiency retrofits.
Not completed. The City did not prepare and distribute handouts to the public and maintain up-to-date information on the City’s website on ways to improve energy efficiency in existing homes and in new construction, and publicize programs available to assist homeowners and landlords in making energy efficiency retrofits. This action was not completed in large part due to insufficient staffing. In 2022, the City Council added a Climate Change Element to the General Plan and added a full-time Sustainability Manager to lead the implementation of the programs in the Element.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 1.A
Following the approval of a specific plan and prior to construction, the City shall require applicants to post sites designated for high-density housing with visible, durable signs containing information about the site’s development potential. The City shall require such information to be provided in appropriate sales offices and to prospective buyers of homes within the project.
Partially successful.The City did not consistently require applicants to post sites designated for high-density housing with visible, durable signs containing information about the site’s development potential or provide this information in the sales office. However, most developers of these projects did provide adequate signage and information in the sales office for prospective buyers.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 3.G
The City shall apply for regional, State, and Federal funding for affordable housing and provide documentation as needed in support of partner applications for State and Federal financial assistance.
Successful. The City has applied for regional, State, and Federal funding for affordable housing and has provided documentation as needed in support of partner applications for State and Federal financial assistance. In 2021, the City was awarded $14.6 million in State Homekey funds for the construction and operation of a 60-unit interim housing project. The City also provided documentation which assisted affordable housing developers in securing tax credit and other financing necessary to construct over 250 affordable units.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
2022
HO 4.B
The City shall publicize existing State and Federal notice requirements to nonprofit developers and property owners of at-risk housing.
Successful. The City has publicized existing State and Federal notice requirements to nonprofit developers and property owners of at-risk housing. This information is available at City Hall and will be made available at other locations upon request.
Ongoing
5th cycle, 2013 to 2022
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