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 | Program H-1.2.1-Adopt Priority Procedures for Providing Water and Sewer Service to Affordable Housing Developments | Comply with Government Code Section 65589.7. | Complying with Government Code Section 65589.7. East Bay Municipla Utility District and West County Waste Water are the Water and Sewer Service providers for San Pablo. The Community Development Department collaborates with the utility providers daily when reviewing new development applications including Affordable Housing Developments. | 2015 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-1.1.1-Establish City Staff Work Priorities for Implementing Housing Element Programs | Identification of annual work priorities for housing | Housing Element reviewed annually. The Affordable Housng Strategy plan was completed in 2020. The City of San Pablo secured fundign and put together a team to begin the General Plan and Housing Element update in 2021. The Housing Element is expected to be ready for submission in Summer 2023. | Annually; 2020-2021 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-1.2.2-Housing Coordination with Contra Costa County | Maximize annual subsidies available to San Pablo residents. | Staff coordinates with Contra Costa County Housing to review available funding opportunities, and monitors programs. On November 23, 2021,the Planning Commission approved Resolution PC21-09 allowing the construction of 54 units of permanent supportive housing, a project funded by Contra Costa County. Building permits were issued in 2022. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-1.1.2-Review the Housing Element Annually | Review and monitor Housing Element implementation: submit Annual Report to HCD. | Submit APR to HCD and OPR Anually by April 1st of each year. The SB 341 Annual Report regarding Successor Funds has been posted in the City's website. | Annually | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-1.2.3-Work with Housing Developers (Non-Profit and For-Profit) on Housing | Outreach and involvement of non-profit and for-profit housing developers | The City works with both non-profit and for-profit developers about development opportunities to create more housing units | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-4.1.1-Work with Housing Rights, Inc. | Resolution of conflicts and disputes between landlords and tenants, and elimination of all forms of housing discrimination. | Ongoing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-2.2.2-Implement the Motor Vehicle Abatement Program | 650 abandoned vehicles tagged per year. | Ongoing. The City's Code Enforcement and Police Department implements the program consistently. For 2020, 180 abandoned vehicles were tagged. The number is lower for 2020 due to the safety measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-2.3.1-Inventory Potential Historically Significant Buildings | Mitigate potential impacts on historically significant buildings. | Inventory listed in the City's General Plan and updated as needed. Potential impacts monitored. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-2.1.3-Provide Technical Assistance and Counseling for Rehabilitation Loans | Provision of technical assistance and referrals | Ongoing. Information on programs through Contra Costa County is provided to the public and through the City's Residential Health and Safety program as available. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-3.2.5-Reduce Parking Requirements Along San Pablo Avenue Near Transit | Parking incentives for new residential development in support of the General Plan 2030. | Reduced parking requirements are adopted as part of the Plaza San Pablo mixed use regulating code and have been applied throughout the development. No parking is required for new accessory dwelling units within 1/2 half mile of a bus stop pursuant to recently adopted state law on accessory dwelling units. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-5.1.2-Promote Solar Energy and Other Methods to Efficiently Heat and Cool Homes | Implementation of energy conservation measures. | Ongoing. The City continues to promote these programs. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-5.1.1-Promote Home Weatherization Programs | Implementation of energy conservation measures. | Ongoing. The City promotes these programs in coordination with Contra Costa County. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-5.1.3-Require Energy Efficient Design | Implementation of energy conservation measures. | Ongoing. The City continues to require energy efficient design. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H.3.2.4-Facilitate Lot Consolidation | Creation of lot consolidation opportunities and increased housing development in support of the General Plan 2030. | Ongoing. The City continues to investigate opportunities to consolidate lots to increase housing development. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-4.2.4-Apply Accessibility Standards | Expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. | Ongoing. The City continues to endeavor to expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-2.3.2-Preserve Archaeologically Significant Sites | Preservation of significant archaeological sites. | Ongoing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-3.1.6-Facilitate Affordable Rental and Cooperative Family Housing Opportunities | Provision of affordable housing with support services. | Ongoing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-5.1.6-Promote Water Conservation | Implementation of water conservation measures | Ongoing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-1.3.3-Conduct Neighborhood Meetings | Early community involvement and discussion when housing developments are proposed. | Ongoing. As developments are proposed. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Program H-3.2.3-Maintain an Inventory of Available Sites for Housing. | Listing of potential sites for housing. | The City continues to maintain an inventory of available sites for housing as identified in Appendix A of the 2015-2023 City of San Pablo Housing Element. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |