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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Joint Session Meeting Packet 07202026     A G E N D A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, July 20, 2026 ~ 7:00 PM City Council Chambers 211 Eighth Street Seal Beach, California LISA LANDAU MAYOR Third District BEN WONG MAYOR PRO TEM Second District   JOE KALMICK COUNCIL MEMBER First District                                                           PATTY SENECAL COUNCIL MEMBER Fourth District     NATHAN STEELE COUNCIL MEMBER Fifth District   MARGO WHEELER CHAIR Fifth District CALVIN MINGIONE VICE CHAIR First District   KAREN NOLTA COMMISSIONER Second District                                                           SUSAN PERRELL COMMISSIONER Third District     PATTY CAMPBELL COMMISSIONER Fourth District   This  Agenda  contains  a  brief  general  description  of  each  item  to  be  considered. No  action  or discussion  shall  be  taken  on  any  item  not  appearing  on  the  agenda, except  as  otherwise provided  by  law. Supporting  documents, including  agenda staff  reports, and any  public writings distributed by the  City to at least  a  majority  of  the Council  Members regarding  any item on this agenda are available on the City’s website at www.sealbeachca.gov. The City Council meetings are presented in a hybrid format, both in-person at City Hall and virtually via Microsoft Teams at the  following  link  https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/296958473476160? p=KXZXp8fqj7Ep3tCZWp. City  Council  meetings  are  broadcast  live  on  Seal  Beach  TV-3  and  on  the  City's  website (www.sealbeachca.gov). Check  SBTV-3  schedule  for  the  rebroadcast  of  meetings.  The meetings are also available on demand on the City’s website (starting 2012). In  compliance  with  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act  of  1990, if  you  require  disability  related modifications or  accommodations, including auxiliary  aids or  services to attend or  participate  in the  City  Council  meeting, please  call  the  City  Clerk's  office  at  (562) 431-2527  at  least 48 hours prior to the meeting. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL ROLL CALL ORAL COMMUNICATIONS At this time members of the public may address the Council regarding any items  within the  subject  matter  jurisdiction  of  the  City  Council. Pursuant  to  the  Brown  Act, the Council  cannot  discuss  or  take  action  on  any  items  not  on  the  agenda  unless authorized  by  law. Matters  not  on  the  agenda  may, at  the  Council's  discretion, be referred to the City Manager and placed on a future agenda.   Those  members  of  the  public  wishing  to  speak  are  asked  to  come  forward  to  the microphone and state their name  for the record. All speakers will be limited to  a period of five (5) minutes. Speakers must address their comments only to the Mayor and entire City Council, and not to any individual, member of the staff or audience. Any documents for  review  should  be  presented  to  the  City  Clerk  for  distribution. Speaker  cards  will  be available  at  the  Clerk’s  desk  for  those  wishing  to  sign  up  to  address  the  Council, although  the  submission  of  a  speaker  card  is  not  required  in  order  to  address  the Council. Emailed Comment from Timothy Kirkconnell STUDY SESSION A.Joint Study Session – 2021-2029 Housing Element Programs Implementation That  the  City  Council  and  Planning  Commission  participate in  a  joint  study  session regarding  implementation  of  the  City's  adopted  2021- 2029  Housing  Element  Programs, receive  an  overview  of  program requirements  and  implementation  status, and  provide  policy  discussion  and feedback regarding future implementation priorities.   ADJOURNMENT This joint study session is adjourned. The City Council stands adjourned to its next regular meeting of Monday, July 27, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., and the Planning Commission stands adjourned to its next regular meeting of Monday, August 3, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.  CITY COUNCIL NORMS:                               Adopted on June 12, 2023 •Maintain a citywide perspective, while being mindful of our districts. •Move from I to we, and from campaigning to governing. •Work together as a body, modeling teamwork and civility for our community. •Assume good intent. •Disagree agreeably and professionally.  •Utilize long range plans to provide big picture context that is realistic and achievable. •Stay focused on the topic at hand.  Ensure each member of Council has an opportunity to speak. •Demonstrate respect, consideration, and courtesy to all. •Share information and avoid surprises. •Keep confidential things confidential. •Respect the Council/Manager form of government and the roles of each party. •Communicate concerns about staff to the City Manager; do not criticize staff in public.                                                                                          CIVILITY PRINCIPLES: Treat everyone courteously; Listen to others respectfully; Exercise self-control;  Give open-minded consideration to all viewpoints;  Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate; and, Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive public process, and tools for forging sound decisions.  FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER/X                                          @CITYOFSEALBEACH                                                             @CITYOFSEALBEACHCA                                    @SEALBEACHCITYCA @SEALBEACHRECREATION&COMMUNITYSERVICES       @SEALBEACH_LIFEGUARD @SEALBEACHPOLICEDEPARTMENT                                    @SEALBEACHPOLICE                                                                                                   @SEALBEACHPUBLICWORKS                                                                                                   @K9YOSA                                                                                                   @K9.SAURUS   1 Gloria Harper From:Timothy Kirkconnell <tsdkirkconnell@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, July 20, 2026 4:29 PM To:Gloria Harper Subject:Comment for Joint Session this evening Hello Ms. Harper! I haven't been able to provide comment through the online registration platform but wanted to ensure my comment was included as a written submission for this evening's joint session of the Council and Planning Commission. I hope this is acceptable to ensure it is included in the recorded comments. With thanks, Timothy Kirkconnell Comment for this evening: My name is Tim Kirkconnell, and I am a District 4 resident in College Park East. Thank you for holding this in the open. Adopting the Housing Element was the hard part, and Seal Beach got there. The work now is implementation, and that is where a city either leverages outside resources or ends up carrying the cost alone. I work professionally in housing and homelessness policy at the regional level, and I am here tonight as a resident, offering a few thoughts in that spirit. First, lean on your County and regional partners so the General Fund does the least lifting possible. The city recently joined the Orange County Housing Finance Trust, which can bring developer financing to affordable projects without city dollars. And because Seal Beach runs Section 8 through the Orange County Housing Authority, the report's own finding that the city uses fewer vouchers than almost any community in the county is a low-cost, high-return gap to close. Second, I would point you toward where federal funding is actually moving right now, which is transitional housing and youth. Transitional housing is simply temporary housing, usually up to about two years, paired with services like case management and job support, that bridges someone from a crisis into stable permanent housing. It is a stepping stone, not a permanent placement, and HUD is increasingly prioritizing it, with a strong emphasis on programs for young people. Your adopted by-right framework for shelters and supportive housing sets you up well here. Connecting any of it to the regional Coordinated Entry System and the County's youth homelessness programs is what unlocks state and federal dollars. On that youth point, one specific and low-cost tool worth naming: FYI vouchers also known as Foster Youth to Independence Program. These are federal housing vouchers for young adults aging out of foster care, roughly eighteen to twenty-four, who are homeless or at risk, and they come paired with support services. A city does not apply directly. The housing authority requests them through a partnership with the county child-welfare agency. Other Orange County communities are already pursuing them, and Seal Beach can encourage the County Housing Authority to do the same and help connect eligible local youth. Looking to utilize these vouchers is both a short term play and a long term strategy by building political good will and bringing younger residents into the community as thankful neighbors. Finally, this report is thorough, but it lives in a packet. A short, plain-language annual scorecard, posted publicly, would let residents see progress on the numbers that matter, including the affordable units the plan calls for. 2 I care about this community and about doing this well and affordably, and I am glad to be a resource to staff or to this body as the work continues. On mobile, apologies for any errors. Agenda Item A AGENDA STAFF REPORT DATE:July 20, 2026 TO:Honorable Mayor and City Council, Honorable Chair and Planning Commissioners THRU:Patrick Gallegos, City Manager FROM:Shaun Temple, Community Development Director SUBJECT:Joint Study Session – 2021-2029 Housing Element Programs Implementation ________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY OF REQUEST: That the City Council and Planning Commission participate in a joint study session regarding implementation of the City's adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element Programs, receive an overview of program requirements and implementation status, and provide policy discussion and feedback regarding future implementation priorities. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: The City Council adopted the 2021-2029 Housing Element following an extensive public planning process. The Housing Element establishes the City's long-term housing strategy by identifying housing needs, establishing goals and policies, and adopting implementation programs intended to address those needs throughout the planning period. Unlike many General Plan policies that are primarily aspirational, the Housing Element Programs contain specific implementation actions, schedules, responsible parties, and measurable objectives that the City has committed to completing during the 2021-2029 planning period. These programs address a broad range of housing issues, including: Maintaining adequate residential sites to accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA); Updating zoning regulations to comply with State housing laws; Encouraging construction of housing at all income levels; Promoting affordable housing opportunities; Facilitating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); Preserving existing housing; Reducing governmental constraints to housing development; Furthering fair housing; and Page 2 2 3 3 1 Monitoring progress through annual reporting to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Since adoption of the Housing Element, the City has completed several major implementation efforts, including certification of the Housing Element by HCD, completion of the required rezoning program, adoption of the Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density (MC/RHD) zoning district, amendments to the Zoning Code to implement numerous State housing laws, and preparation of Annual Progress Reports documenting implementation activities. Other programs remain ongoing and will continue to be implemented throughout the remainder of the Housing Element cycle. The Annual Progress Report identifies the implementation status of each adopted program and serves as the City's annual accountability document submitted to HCD. Because implementation of the Housing Element extends through 2029, continued coordination between the City Council and Planning Commission is important. Many implementation programs require future legislative actions, policy discussions, annual monitoring, periodic code amendments, funding decisions, and continued evaluation of housing opportunities as State housing law continues to evolve. For reference, Attachment A contains Section 4 of the City's adopted 2021–2029 Housing Element, which establishes the Housing Element's goals, policies, and implementation programs. Attachment B contains Table D (Program Implementation Status) from the City's 2025 Annual Progress Report, which was submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on March 31, 2026. Attachment C provides an abbreviated version of Attachment B (Program Implementation Status) with State administrative reporting fields omitted for readability. Together, these attachments provide the policy framework and current implementation status that will serve as the basis for tonight's discussion. The purpose of tonight's joint study session is to provide the City Council and Planning Commission with a comprehensive overview of the Housing Element Programs, discuss implementation completed to date, review ongoing and future program obligations, and provide an opportunity for discussion regarding implementation priorities and future policy considerations. No formal action is requested. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The requested study session is informational only and does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines because no action approving or authorizing a physical project is being considered. Furthermore, on October 27, 2025, the City Council certified an Environmental Impact Report for the Sixth Cycle 2021-2029 Housing Element, and the amendments to the Zoning Code, Zoning Map and Main Street Specific Plan in order to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment Page 3 2 3 3 1 (RHNA) allocation and requirements outlined in the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update. Any future actions implementing Housing Element Programs will undergo appropriate environmental review at the time those actions are considered. LEGAL ANALYSIS: This report has been reviewed as to form by the City Attorney. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with conducting the study session. Future implementation of individual Housing Element Programs will continue to be funded through existing budget appropriations, grant funding, or future City Council budget actions, as appropriate. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council and Planning Commission participate in a joint study session regarding implementation of the City's adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element Programs, receive an overview of program requirements and implementation status, and provide policy discussion and feedback regarding future implementation priorities. SUBMITTED BY: NOTED AND APPROVED: Shaun Temple Patrick Gallegos Shaun Temple, Community Development Director Patrick Gallegos, City Manager ATTACHMENTS: A. Section 4 (Goals, Policies, and Programs) of Adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element B. Table D (Program Implementation Status) of the 2025 Annual Progress Report (submitted to HCD on March 31, 2026) C. Abbreviated Summary of Table D (Exhibit B) (for readability) 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 12 Section 4 Goals, Policies, and Programs 4.A Introduction This section of the Housing Element sets forth the City’s goals, policies, programs and objectives to address the housing needs of Seal Beach residents. This Housing Plan represents a continuing effort on the part of the City to facilitate the provision of housing for all economic segments of the population and persons with special needs, to maintain the condition and affordability of the existing housing stock, and to further fair housing. Table 2 (Section 4.C) identifies the City’s quantified housing objectives over the 2021-2029 period. 13 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element 4.B Goals, Policies, and Programs A sound basis for any plan of action is a set of well-defined goals and policies to express the desires and aspirations of the community. The City has established the following housing goals: • Facilitate the development of a variety of housing types for all income levels to meet the existing and future needs of residents. • Assist in the development of adequate housing to meet the needs of low- and moderate- income households. • Address, and where appropriate and legally possible, remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing. • Maintain and enhance the quality of existing residential neighborhoods. • Promote equal housing opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, marital status, or familial status. • Encourage more efficient energy use in residential developments. Goal 1: Facilitate the development of a variety of housing types for all income levels to meet the existing and future needs of residents. Policies Policy 1a Provide adequate sites for a variety of housing types through the Land Use Element of the General Plan and the Zoning Code, while ensuring that environmental and infrastructure constraints are addressed. Policy 1b Where appropriate, encourage the redesignation of vacant and underutilized non-residential land to residential or mixed uses with appropriate densities to facilitate the development of a variety of housing types to address the housing needs of all economic segments of the population. Policy 1c Encourage the infilling of vacant residential land. Policy 1d Encourage the recycling of underutilized residential land, where such recycling is consistent with established land use plans. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 14 Policy 1e Provide compatibility of residential uses with surrounding uses through the separation of incompatible uses, construction of adequate buffers, and other land use controls. Policy 1f Improve all residential environments through the provision of adequate public facilities and services, including streets and parks, as well as water, sewer, and drainage systems. Policy 1.g Provide for adequate, freely accessible open space within reasonable distances of all community residents. Programs Program 1a: Provide Adequate Sites for Housing through updates to the General Plan and Zoning Code The Land Use Element of the Seal Beach General Plan designates land within the city for a variety of residential types and densities ranging from 9 to 46 units per acre. The land use designations are implemented through the Zoning Code. Although there is limited developable vacant land remaining, the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) assigns Seal Beach a housing need of 1,243 units during the 2021-2029 planning period. When sufficient land with appropriate zoning is not available to accommodate regional housing needs, State law requires cities to amend existing land use plans and regulations to create additional capacity for housing development to accommodate the RHNA. As discussed in Appendix B, the City has conducted an evaluation of potential properties where land use regulations will be amended to create additional opportunities for housing or mixed-use development. To address the current shortfall in capacity for potential housing development, the City will process zoning and General Plan amendments for sufficient sites with appropriate densities as identified in Appendix B no later than October 15, 2024, to fully accommodate the City’s remaining housing need. Rezoned sites will comply with the requirements of Government Code §65583.2(h) and (i). Developments at designated housing sites where 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower-income households will be permitted by right, pursuant to State law as applicable. Objective: Maintain adequate sites to accommodate the RHNA allocation Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund 15 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Schedule: Complete rezoning by October 2024, with ongoing modifications as needed to maintain site inventory Program 1b: Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density Zone In order to implement development at various commercial sites in the sites inventory and to address constraints on the development of housing for a variety of income levels, a new mixed- use designation is proposed. Currently, the City’s mixed-use designation (Limited Commercial/Residential Medium Density or LC/RMD) does not have a high enough density minimum to meet State law requirements for lower-income housing. The City is creating a mixed- use district (the Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density Zone) that has a minimum density of 40 du/acre and a maximum density of 46 du/acre. This district will be applied to larger commercial sites as described in Appendix B. As part of the creation of the Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density Zone, the City will create incentives to encourage development of units affordable to moderate and lower-income households, as well as modifications to reduce or eliminate minimum unit sizes to create the most viable development opportunities. In addition, the new MC/RHD zone will not allow 100 percent nonresidential projects. Objective: Create a mixed-use zone that meets state requirements for RHNA site designation, specifically to facilitate housing for lower income households. The zoning process will accommodate State requirements to allow for: a minimum residential density of 40 units per acre and 46 units per acre on larger, developed sites; a large enough size to permit at least 16 units; exclusively residential uses; at least 50 percent of the building floor area of a mixed-use development to be dedicated to residential uses; and housing by-right with at least 20 percent of the units affordable to lower-income households. The definitions of “persons and families of low and moderate income,” “lower income households,” and “very low-income households” as set forth in Health and Safety Code sections 50079.5, 50093, and 50150 shall apply. The City shall engage with affected property owners, the Building Industry Association, affordable housing developers, and other stakeholders during the zoning process to ensure the development standards can result in the development of the maximum number of units allowed and facilitate the inclusion of affordable units. Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Complete site rezoning necessary to accommodate the RHNA by October 2024, with ongoing implementation. Engage in outreach with Building Industry Association, affordable housing developers, and other stakeholders during the rezoning process at least once. Schedule: Ordinance adoption by April 2025. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 16 Program 1c: Promote Available Housing Incentives and Evaluate Effectiveness To enhance the feasibility of affordable housing development, the City will offer incentives and concessions such as expedited processing, administrative assistance with applications for funding assistance, and modified development standards consistent with State law, including, but not limited to, density bonus law, permit streamlining under SB35 for projects with at least 50 percent affordability, and SB 330. The City will update its website to include this information in greater detail for potential developers. The City will evaluate the effectiveness of affordable housing incentives and concessions on an annual basis with empirical data (development of units) and anecdotal discussions with developers. To the extent that available incentives do not result in the construction of significant numbers of affordable units, the City will examine revised or new incentives and review processes that may be implemented. Objective: Make information on available incentives and concessions readily available, and evaluate their efficacy on a regular basis Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Website updates by December 2024, evaluation on an ongoing annual basis. If available incentives demonstrate ineffectiveness by the end of the 2025 calendar year, the City will undertake revisions to available incentives in 2026. Program 1d: Annual Progress Report The City will report its progress in implementing this program to HCD on an annual basis, pursuant to Government Code §65400. Objective: Maintain compliance with State law and provide transparency on progress towards the RHNA Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: April of each year Program 1e: Ensure No Net Loss of Housing Capacity The City shall comply with the “no net loss” provisions of Government Code §65863 through the implementation of an ongoing project-by-project evaluation process to ensure that adequate sites are available to accommodate the City’s remaining RHNA allocation throughout the planning period. The City shall not reduce the allowable density of any site in the residential land inventory, nor approve a development project at a lower density than assumed in the land inventory, unless both of the following findings are made: 1. The reduction is consistent with the adopted General Plan, including the Housing Element; and 17 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element 2. The remaining sites identified in the Housing Element are adequate to accommodate the City’s remaining share of regional housing need pursuant to Government Code §65584. If a reduction in residential density for any parcel would result in the remaining sites in the Housing Element land inventory not being adequate to accommodate the City’s remaining share of its lower- or moderate-income regional housing need, the City may reduce the density on that parcel if it identifies sufficient additional, adequate and available sites with an equal or greater residential density so that there is no net loss of residential capacity. Objective: Maintain adequate inventory of sites for residential development according to State law Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing implementation Program 1f: Replacement Housing Program If residential development on any property rezoned to accommodate the RHNA allocation involves demolition of existing residential units, the City will require replacement pursuant to Gov. Code §65583.2(g)(3). Objective: Maintain no net loss of housing, with specific focus on housing affordable to lower - income residents by developing a formal, ongoing procedure for analyzing loss of units and replacement requirements. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing implementation Program 1g: Community Engagement and Outreach A goal of the City is to create and maintain desirable living areas for residents by protecting residential neighborhoods from incompatible uses. The City recognizes that opinions on compatibility may change over time. A community engagement and outreach program will be implemented through the review of proposed amendments to the General Plan and zoning regulations to ensure changes reflect the needs of the community while also expanding housing opportunity sites in accordance with the RHNA allocation and State law. Objective: Effectively utilize the zoning and General Plan amendment process to implement appropriate land use controls to ensure the compatibility of residential areas with surrounding uses. At least one community meeting during the zoning and General Plan amendment process, by February 2024. Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 18 Schedule: Completed commensurate with Zoning Code updates to be completed by February 2024 Program 1h: Accessory Dwelling Units Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can provide affordable housing options for a wide range of household types, many of which may have very low- or extremely low- incomes. The City will continue to encourage ADU production consistent with State law, which shall include: 1. Revisions to the City’s adopted ADU Ordinance as needed for consistency with State law. 2. Pre-approve ADU plans currently under development by the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) that can be customized at minimal cost to the property owner. 3. Website updates to explain the permitting process in simplified terms, and offer direction to the resources offered through the State and other agencies as applicable. 4. Creation and distribution of marketing materials to advise property owners of the opportunity to create ADUs and to encourage the occupancy of these units by households/persons with lower incomes. Objective: Provide a streamlined and understandable process for the development of ADUs and JADUs, supported by incentives and resources as they may be available. Adopt pre-approved plans. Permit 10 ADUs during the planning period. Geographic Targeting: Distribute ADU marketing materials with a focus on low density neighborhoods. Responsible Party: Community Development; Planning Commission; City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Revise existing ordinance as needed based on changes to State law, and website updates by September 2024, with ongoing implementation as needed. Seek out architects or builders willing to submit ADU plans for pre-approval by December 2024; adopt pre-approved ADU plans by June 2025 Program 1i: Accessory Dwelling Units Amnesty Program The City will establish a program to allow owners with existing unpermitted ADUs to obtain permits to legalize the ADUs during the 2021-2029 planning period. The Amnesty Program shall consist of two parts: 1) education; and 2) incentives. Education will require creation of an information guide to help educate and inform owners of the importance and benefits of legalizing and bringing their unpermitted units into compliance. The information guide will include an overview of the necessary life safety code requirements and improvements that will need to be provided for permit issuance and advice on how to discuss and ask questions of permitting staff without the risk of Code Enforcement action. The information guide will also explain how the City’s ADU regulations have created an easier path towards compliance where ADUs were previously not feasible. The 19 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element City will also create incentives, such as fee waivers, reductions or courtesy inspections to encourage property owners to seek permits to legalize units and make them safe for habitation. Objective: Encourage the identification and permitting of two unpermitted ADUs and confirm that the units comply with applicable standards. Geographic Targeting: Distribute ADU information guide in Old Town Seal Beach. Responsible Party: Community Development; City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Develop program by October 2024. Program 1j: Accessory Dwelling Units Monitoring Program The City will annually monitor its progress in permitting ADUs during the planning period with the intent of increasing the number of ADUs. Monitoring will occur in conjunction with the Annual Housing Element Progress Report. The analysis will track applications for ADUs, location, affordability, and other important features. If ADU permitting falls below five (5) ADUs for more than two consecutive years, the City shall re-evaluate the City's ADU standards and procedures and modify accordingly within six (6) months. The City will conduct additional outreach and marketing in addition to modifications to regulations and processes. Objective: Provide a streamlined and understandable process for the development of ADUs and JADUs, supported by resources as they may be available. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Create monitoring program within six (6) months of adoption of Housing Element; annual monitoring and program revisions as may be warranted Program 1k: Emergency Shelters, Low Barrier Navigation Centers and Transitional/ Supportive Housing Housing and the continuum of care for those at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness has changed dramatically in Orange County over the last five years. Housing options ranging from temporary emergency shelters to permanent supportive units are available now in much greater numbers, and tied to a range of services and support networks at the regional level to leverage resources and more comprehensively address problems. AB 139 (2019) revised State law regarding parking standards for emergency shelters. AB 2339 (2022) further revised the law to require zones where shelters are permitted to also allow residential uses and obligates the City to evaluate the opportunity for shelter development on designated sites. To ensure that City development standards and procedures continue to provide adequate sites for emergency shelters, parking requirements for emergency shelters will be amended consistent with current law. In 2018, AB 2162 amended State law to require that 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 20 supportive housing be a use by-right in zones where multi-family and mixed uses are permitted, including non-residential zones permitting multi-family uses, if the proposed housing development meets specified criteria. AB 101 (2019) added the requirement that “low barrier navigation centers” meeting specified standards be allowed by-right in areas zoned for mixed-use and in non- residential zones permitting multi-family uses pursuant to Government Code §65660 et seq. The City will amend its Zoning Code to require transitional and supportive housing uses to conform only to those regulations that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone, in compliance with AB 2339. The City will monitor the inventory of sites appropriate to accommodate transitional and supportive housing and will work with the appropriate organizations to meet the needs of persons experiencing homelessness and extremely low-income residents. The amendment will also ensure consistency with all other applicable state laws. Objectives: (a) Continue to facilitate the provision of emergency shelters and transitional/supportive housing consistent with State law; (b) Process a Code amendment to amend City regulations for emergency shelters, supportive housing and low-barrier navigation centers consistent with State law. Permit 1 emergency shelter, low barrier navigation center, or transitional supportive housing development during the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development; Planning Commission; City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Process a code amendment related to emergency shelters, low barrier navigation centers, and transitional and supportive housing concurrent with the Zoning Code update for RHNA sites, with ongoing evaluation. Program 1l: Provision of Adequate Public Facilities and Services New residential developments bring new residents to the City, placing an increased demand on public facilities and services. To adequately serve its existing and future residents, the City must ensure that new residential developments are provided with adequate public facilities and services. The City will continue to utilize the environmental and other development review procedures to ensure that all new residential developments are provided with adequate public facilities and services. If existing public facilities or services are inadequate to serve new development consistent with land use plans, the City will work cooperatively with service providers to expand capacity where feasible. Objective: Maintain adequate public facilities and services Responsible Party: Public Works Department, service providers Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing implementation as development occurs 21 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Program 1m: Streamlined Permit Processing and Transparency SB 35 (2017) requires streamlined ministerial approval procedures under certain circumstances. The City will establish and implement written procedures to ensure conformance with SB 35 and other applicable State laws. In addition, all zoning, development standards, and fees will continue to be posted on the City’s website in conformance with State transparency requirements. Objective: Reduce barriers to housing development through simplified processing and available information consistent with SB 35. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Written procedures will be developed by January 2024 with ongoing updates to the website and other informational material Program 1n: SB 9 Lot Splits Adopt an Ordinance to expand the housing supply in High Resource low density zones by allowing for lot splits and duplexes under the parameters of SB 9, recognizing potential conflicts with the Coastal Act. In coordination with research being conducted at the State level, pursue opportunities to incentivize homeowners to provide affordable units under SB 9. Objective: Reduce barriers to housing development through simplified processing; create incentives to make units created affordable. Process 2 SB 9 projects during the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Analyze opportunities and resources available to homeowners and develop online materials by December 2024. Program 1o: Expedited Processing for Subdivision Maps including Affordable Units Adopt written procedures to expedite the review of subdivision maps, including parcel maps, tract maps and lot line adjustments, when the project includes a certain number or percentage of units affordable to lower-income households. Objective: Reduce barriers to housing development through simplified processing; create incentives to make units created affordable Responsible Party: Community Development, Public Works, City Clerk Funding Source: General Fund 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 22 Schedule: Draft internal procedures within one year of adoption of Housing Element; prepare handout for distribution at the public counter and inclusion on the City’s website within one month of approval of procedures. Program 1p: Partner with the U.S. Navy and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station The City will continue to collaborate with the Navy on development of housing at the Naval Weapons Station (NWS) at their selected development site along Pacific Coast Highway. Furthermore, the City owns a small parcel of land within the fenced area of the Naval Weapons Station, and is actively communicating with U.S. Navy employees to formally open discussions for use of the parcel as affordable housing. The Navy may have joint interest in housing as well, for active duty servicemembers or potentially veterans. Objective: Create an opportunity for affordable housing development on City property in partnership with the U.S. Navy through quarterly or more frequent meetings. Responsible Party: Community Development, City Manager, City Council Funding Source: General Fund, outside grant sources Schedule: Underway and ongoing Program 1q: Allow Employee/Farmworker Housing Consistent with State Law. The City will amend the Zoning Code to allow employee housing consistent with Health and Safety Code §17021.5 and 17021.6. Objective: Allow employee/farmworker housing consistent with State law. Responsible Party: Community Development, City Manager, City Council Funding Source: General Fund, outside grant sources Schedule: December 2024 Program 1r: Main Street Specific Plan The City will modify the existing Main Street Specific Plan to allow housing at select properties. The City recognizes that although amendments made to facilitate housing at select properties in the Main Street Specific Plan are not accounted for in the City’s sites inventory, this program nevertheless represents a good faith effort by the City to produce additional housing. Objective: Allow housing at select locations in the Main Street Specific Plan. Permit two residential units in the Main Street Specific Plan during the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Update Main Street Specific Plan as described by April 2025. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 24 Goal 2: Assist in the development of adequate housing to meet the needs of low - and moderate-income households. Policies Policy 2a Expand housing opportunities for households with special needs, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities, large households, female-headed households, and the homeless. Policy 2b Provide incentives to encourage the development of new affordable housing for lower- and moderate-income households, including extremely-low-income persons. Policy 2c Investigate and pursue programs and funding sources designed to expand housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households, including persons with special needs. Policy 2d Encourage construction of low- and moderate-income housing on sites that are: • located with convenient access to schools, parks, public transportation, shopping facilities, and employment opportunities; • adequately served by public utilities; • adequately served by police and fire protection; • minimally impacted by noise, flooding, or other environmental constraints; and • outside of areas of concentrated lower-income households. Programs Program 2a: Streamline the Density Bonus Review Process Currently, the Planning Commission reviews and approves incentives granted as part of a density bonus. To streamline the review process and provide certainty for developers, the City shall amend its Zoning Code governing density bonuses. The amendment shall ensure that the ordinance reflects all current provisions of State law, and eliminates the need for Planning Commission review to grant density bonus incentives. Objective: Streamline the density bonus provisions and ensure City regulations reflect State law. Permit at least one density bonus project during the planning period. 25 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Amendment to be completed as part of broader Zoning Code update scheduled for completion in April 2025 Program 2b: Density Bonus Incentives and Information The Seal Beach Zoning Code contains density bonus regulations and procedures to facilitate the production of low- and moderate-income housing by providing incentives that reduce per unit development costs. State Density Bonus law was recently amended to provide additional incentives for affordable housing production. The City will create incentives that may be provided to further entice developers to take advantage of density bonuses, such as reducing processing timelines and providing greater certainty in the review process. The City will develop informational material for its website on how developers can utilize density bonus incentives to increase housing. These materials will be simple to understand and highlight the benefits of using the density bonus provisions. The materials will be updated following adoption of the Zoning Code amendment described in Program 2a. Objective: Create incentives for residential developers to take advantage of density bonus provisions to create affordable housing units; make information on density bonus incentives readily available Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Incentives to be finalizes and website updates to be completed by July 2025 and updated on an ongoing basis as applicable, including following adoption of the Zoning Code update in October 2024. Program 2c: Affordable Housing Resources The City will facilitate the development of quality affordable housing through a variety of actions, including pursuing additional funding sources and partnering with private and non-profit housing developers. To achieve this, the City will take the following actions: • Maintain and annually update a list of non-profit housing developers active in Orange County, • Maintain and annually update a list of properties with affordable units in the City. • Contact and provide technical assistance to qualified non-profit housing developers to explore opportunities for affordable housing development annually, or whenever development opportunities arise. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 26 • Monitor funding resources, such as Multi-Family Housing Program (MHP) funds and Low- Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), that may become available from time to time through the County, the State, or the Federal governments to subsidize affordable housing development, and seek to partner with developers to connect to those resources. • Maintain an inventory of residential sites available for development continuously on the City website. • Prioritize assistance for extremely-low-income (ELI) units and projects such as single room occupancy (SRO) and supportive housing commensurate with the City’s regional housing need whenever housing development is proposed. • Provide technical assistance to affordable housing developers in preparation of grant funding applications. • Become member of the Orange County Housing Finance Trust Collaborate with the U.S. Navy, County of Orange, and any other public entities owning land within the city to convert surplus properties to affordable housing. Objective: Connect three housing developers annually to share technical knowledge and resources to facilitate the development of affordable housing. Establish relationships with two additional affordable housing providers during the planning period through annual meetings to discuss possible sites and opportunities. Responsible Party: Community Development, Finance, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Most activities for Program 2c are ongoing in nature; membership in the Orange County Housing Finance Trust was completed in June 2022. Program 2d: Land Write Downs and Assistance with Off-Site Improvements Land costs and requirements for off-site improvements are important factors in determining the cost of housing. As discussed above in Program 1q (Partner with the U.S. Navy and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station), the City currently owns a small parcel of land within the fenced area of the Naval Weapons Station and has active communication with U.S. Navy employees to open discussions for using the parcel as affordable housing, which may be used for affordable housing for active duty service members or veterans. To facilitate development of housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households the City may subsidize the cost of the parcel of land on the Naval Weapons Station and off-site improvements of the land when feasible. The City will also seek funding sources for this activity. This program will be implemented through discussions with project proponents, including the U.S. Navy, during the development review process. Objective: Increase the number of affordable housing units Responsible Party: Community Development, Finance, City Council 27 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Funding Source: General Fund, unless alternative grant funding is available Schedule: Ongoing Program 2e: Explore and Obtain Funding to Subsidize Construction of Affordable Units The State of California makes funds available annually to support the development of affordable housing units. Examples include CalHome and PLHA funds. These funds are allocated to the County of Orange. Seal Beach is eligible to apply for these funds to support eligible projects. The City will develop expertise in affordable housing funding sources and the application processes. Objective: Encourage development of 698 affordable housing units during the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development, Finance, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing Program 2f: Regional Coordination of Housing Issues The City will continue to participate in other programs that facilitate information sharing and housing production at a regional scale. The City will attend quarterly OCHA Cities Advisory Committee meetings to be up to date on programs offered by the County or other entities that may incentivize different types of affordable housing and encourage preservation of existing housing stock. As noted in other programs, relevant information will be posted on the City’s website and distributed through other channels such as public libraries, community newsletters, and social media. Objective: Leverage resources to augment affordability in housing Responsible Party: Community Development, OCHA Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Quarterly meetings with ongoing updates to information provided to developers and citizens on the City’s website Program 2g: Commercial Density Bonus Amend the Zoning Code consistent with AB 1551 (2022), which allows a commercial developer to obtain one of six commercial density bonuses by partnering with a housing developer to provide qualifying affordable housing (at least 30% total units available to low-income tenants, or 15% affordable to very low-income tenants) through either: directly building affordable housing units, donating land for affordable housing units, or providing direct funding to an affordable housing developer for development of an affordable housing project. This program is intended to incentivize affordable housing development at the City’s housing sites that are currently developed with commercial uses, which will be rezoned as described by Program 1b (Mixed Commercial/Residential Medium Density Zone). 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 28 Objective: Streamline the density bonus provisions and ensure City regulations reflect State law Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Amendment to be completed as part of broader Zoning Code update scheduled for completion in October 2024 Program 2h: Promote Orange County’s Mortgage Assistance Program Low-income first-time homebuyer residents are eligible to participate in the County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program. This program provides deferred payment downpayment assistance loans to first-time homebuyers whose annual income does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income who will occupy the home as their primary residence. Applicants are required to attend a homebuyer education workshop. The City will continue to promote the Mortgage Assistance program on its Housing Resources webpage and refer first-time homebuyers to the County’s Mortgage Assistance Program. Also see Program 5b (Housing Information and Referral Services) Objective: Refer 2 first-time homebuyers to the County’s Mortgage Assistance Program during the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development, County of Orange Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing Goal 3: Address, and where appropriate and legally possible, remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing. Policies Policy 3a Assist City residents in securing decent safe and affordable housing. Policy 3b Conserve the affordability of housing units assisted with public funds through affordability covenants or resale controls. Policy 3c Investigate and pursue programs and funding sources designed to maintain and/or improve the affordability of existing housing units to low- and moderate-income households. 29 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Programs Program 3a: Housing Choice Voucher Program Rental Assistance The Housing Choice Voucher Program, long known as “Section 8,” is a federal program that extends rental subsidies to very low- and extremely low-income individuals and families. The subsidy represents the difference between 30% of monthly income of the household and the allowable rent determined by the Section 8 program to increase housing affordability for the voucher recipient. Seal Beach is not a direct recipient of Section 8 vouchers, but it does participate in the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program through the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA). The number of vouchers used in Seal Beach is lower than usage in almost every other community in Orange County. Most Section 8 subsidies are issued by OCHA in the form of vouchers that permit tenants to choose their own housing. The City will make information available regarding the process of obtaining a Section 8 voucher, while noting this can be a challenging process due to lack of available funding. In addition, OCHA has recently partnered with other entities, including United Way, to expand landlord understanding of the Section 8 voucher process, and provide additional resources to make property owners more willing to accept vouchers. The City will continue to coordinate with OCHA on a quarterly basis, and provide up to date information on its website for landlords that may be interested in participating in the program. Information will also be shared through other outlets such as local libraries, Leisure World, and City social media and/or newsletters. Objective: Increase information available on Section 8 vouchers as a means of increasing affordability for households; ensure that landlords are aware of the program and encouraged to participate; and understand how and where vouchers are used within the City. Responsible Party: Community Development, County of Orange Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Website updates to be completed by December 2023, with ongoing updates and partnership with OCHA on a quarterly basis. Program 3b: Mortgage Credit Certificates The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) is a federal program that allows qualified first-time homebuyers to take an annual credit against federal income taxes of up to 15 percent of the annual interest paid on the applicant’s mortgage. This enables homebuyers to have more income available to qualify for a mortgage loan and make the monthly mortgage payments. The value of the MCC must be taken into consideration by the mortgage lender in underwriting the loan and may be used to adjust the borrower’s federal income tax withholding. The MCC program has covenant restrictions to ensure the affordability of the participating homes for a period of 15 years. The MCC program is administered through the County of Orange (https://www.ocgov.com/residents/mccp). 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 30 The City will promote the MCC program on its website and other available outlets. Objective: Increase awareness of the MCC program to increase affordability for homebuyers Responsible Party: Community Development, County of Orange Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Website update was completed in January 2023 with ongoing maintenance and monitoring for changes to the program Program 3c: Local Coastal Program Seal Beach does not currently have an approved Local Coastal Program (LCP). As a result, all projects located within the portion of the city that is within the Coastal Zone are subject to review by the California Coastal Commission, in addition to the required City approvals. This additional requirement represents a possible impediment to housing development within the Coastal Zone. To address this issue, the City is currently working on the preparation of an LCP, funded in part by a grant from the Coastal Commission. The Environmental Quality Control Board will provide guidance to staff in this effort. A draft Land Use Plan, the first of two major components of t he LCP was submitted to the Coastal Commission for review in May 2023 and is currently awaiting feedback. Objective: Streamline the development process by eliminating a separate process for Coastal Zone approvals Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund, Coastal Commission Grant Funding Schedule: Based on conversations with the California Coastal Commission and expanded public outreach, target a draft Local Coastal Program by December 2025. Program 3d: Implementation of new Planning and Permitting Software The City integrated online plan check in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to simplify the permitting process. Based on the success of that effort, the City has recently initiated transition to a new planning and permitting software which will allow for even greater digital and remote access to the Community Development Department. Digital submittal, turnaround, and record keeping will continue to speed the permitting process, therefore reducing costs associated with development. Objective: Streamline the development process through software implementation and online access to planning and permitting. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Completed August 2024. 31 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Program 3e: Priority Water and Sewer Services Continue to make service providers aware of the City’s housing plans and encourage them to expedite service to restricted lower income residential projects Objective: Inform service providers of plans to develop housing affordable to lower-income households so those service needs can be prioritized Responsible Party: Community Development, Public Works Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing Program 3f: Implementation of AB 2234 (Streamlining of Ministerial Permits) The Permit Streamlining Act (PSA) sets forth specific timeframes for cities to determine the completeness of discretionary applications, and to review those applications once deemed complete. AB 2234 (2022) amends the Planning and Zoning Law to incorporate similar PSA streamlining provisions by requiring cities to publish formal application checklists for post- entitlement housing development permits, as well as examples of complete applications for specific types of housing developments; sets forth timelines to respond after the city receives an application by identifying any specific information from the published checklist that was missing from the application; and requires the City to complete its review of any complete application within 30 business days (for developments with 25 homes or fewer) or 60 days (for developments with more than 25 homes). Objective: Streamline the development process for ministerial permits Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Completed as of January 2024. Program 3g: Facilitate Residential Care Facilities/Group Homes To remove governmental constraints and facilitate special needs housing, the City will amend the Zoning Code to: • Allow unlicensed residential care facilities and group homes independent of the number of residents (including six or fewer or seven or more residents) by-right in all residential zones (i.e., the RLD, RMD, RHD zones) subject to only the generally applicable, nondiscriminatory health, safety, and objective zoning standards that apply to all single- family residences to ensure approval certainty; • Allow State-licensed residential care facilities and group homes of seven or more persons by Conditional Use Permit in all residential zones (i.e., the RLD, RMD, RHD zones) subject to objective standards; and 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 32 • Consolidate the definition of group homes and residential care facilities to simplify the permitting process. Objective: Approve one residential care facility/group home during the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Make Zoning Code Amendments by December 2026. Program 3h: Remove Minimum Unit Size Requirements Residential districts currently require minimum unit sizes of 950 to 1,200 sq. ft (this does not apply to ADU or JADUs). In recognition of the need to promote higher densities and a range of housing types, the City proposes to eliminate or substantially reduce the minimum unit size in the Code Minimum allowable unit sizes would not be smaller than those allowed by State law (such as for efficiency dwelling units, codified at Health and Safety Code Section 17958.1). This change will occur as part of a broader Zoning Code update to implement various provisions of the Housing Element. Objective: Reduce minimum unit size constraints to housing development, especially to promote affordable housing. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ordinance adoption by October 2024 Program 3i: Update Findings for Housing Projects to Ensure Objectivity The City will update the findings that the Community Development Director must make in review of development permits for zoning conformance to ensure that the findings are only objective findings when they are applied to housing developments. Objective: Review housing projects against objective approval findings. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Make Zoning Code Amendments by December 2026. Program 3j: Reduce Parking Requirements for Studios and 1-Bedroom Units To facilitate housing, including the development of “affordable-by-design” units, the City will reduce its parking requirement for studios and one-bedroom units from 2 spaces to 1 space. Objective: Encourage the development of studios and 1-bedroom housing units, which are affordable to lower-income and special needs groups. 33 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Make Zoning Code Amendments by December 2026. Program 3k: Remove Conditional Use Permit Requirements for Single-Room Occupancy Units In 2013, the Zoning Code was amended to allow Single-Residences (SROs) subject to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in the RHD zone. The City will update the Zoning Code to remove the CUP requirement for SROs in the RHD Zone and allow SROs as permitted by-right uses. Objective: Allow SROs as uses allowed by-right in the RHD Zone. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Make Zoning Code Amendments by December 2026. Goal 4: Maintain and enhance the quality of residential neighborhoods in Seal Beach. Policies Policy 4a Encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied and rental housing where feasible. Policy 4b Promote the replacement of any substandard units that cannot be rehabilitated. Policy 4c Investigate and pursue programs and funding sources available to assist in the improvement of residential property. Policy 4d Encourage the continued affordability of housing units rehabilitated with public funds. Policy 4e Discourage the conversion of existing apartment units to condominiums where such conversion will diminish the supply of housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 34 Policy 4f Promote the conservation and rehabilitation of older neighborhoods, preventing the encroachment of incompatible commercial or industrial uses into established neighborhoods. Policy 4g Assist residents, wherever possible, in securing decent, safe and adequate housing. Policy 4h Promote a safe, healthful, aesthetically pleasing environment that strengthens individual and family life. Policy 4i Preserve and enhance viable residential neighborhoods and strengthen neighborhood identity. Policy 4j Upgrade and improve community facilities and municipal services in keeping with community needs. Policy 4k Encourage the use of innovative land use techniques and construction methods to minimize housing costs without compromising basic health, safety, and aesthetic conditions. Policy 4l Periodically reexamine local building and zoning codes for possible amendments to reduce construction costs and processing times without sacrificing basic health and safety considerations. Programs Program 4a: Condominium Conversion As a means to preserve the affordable housing stock, Chapter 11.4.80 of the Seal Beach Municipal Code regulates procedures for the conversion of existing apartment complexes to condominium ownerships, including protections for tenant rights. Objective: Reduce impacts to lower income households in the event of a condominium conversion project. Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing 35 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Program 4b: Housing Conditions Monitoring Overall, the housing stock in Seal Beach is well-maintained. However, the beach area contains scattered housing units with deferred maintenance issues. The City has targeted the beach area for housing condition monitoring. Periodically, the City’s code enforcement and building officials survey the area to identify properties requiring maintenance or repair. The most recent windshield survey conducted by City staff in late 2022 identified 44 units in potential need of maintenance. If Code violations or other significant problems are found to exist, the City will contact property owners to seek corrective actions. Objective: Maintain attractive residential stock to encourage future housing that is also safe and healthy for a range of income levels Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Annual windshield survey and outreach to owners of affected properties. Program 4c: Provide Home Renovation Assistance to Lower Income Households through Community Development Block Grants Through the CDBG program, the City assisted 1,290 lower-income households in the Leisure World community to update bathroom facilities to allow for aging in place. Total expenditures from July 2005 through December 2021 were $2,897,989. Leisure World homeownership is substantially more affordable than in other areas of the city due to the age restrictions in place. This program has helped to keep lower-income residents in a more affordable housing environment with services that support aging households. The City will continue to work with the County of Orange to obtain CDBG or other grant funding resources to assist lower-income households, including those outside the Leisure World neighborhood when available Objective: Assist 40 income-qualified households with improvements that support their ability to remain in their housing units. Responsible Party: Community Development, County of Orange Funding Source: CDBG or other grant funding as may be available from time to time Schedule: Ongoing, with renewals of funding on a three-year basis, subject to modifications by the County of Orange. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 36 Goal 5: Affirmatively further fair housing opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, marital status, or familial status. Policies Policy 5a Promote fair housing practices throughout the community. Policy 5b Encourage the development of housing that meets the special needs of disabled and elderly households. Policy 5c Promote the provision of housing to meet the needs of families and households of all sizes. Programs Program 5a: Fair Housing Resources The City enforces the Fair Housing Act within its jurisdiction. To achieve fair housing goals, the City participates in Orange County’s contract with the Fair Housing Council of Orange County (FHCOC) to provide fair housing and tenant landlord counseling services. FHCOC is contracted to perform fair housing audits and to investigate fair housing complaints. The City will strengthen its relationship with FHCOC better understand fair housing complaints and to ensure residents and landlords understand their rights and available resources. Objective: Provide free Fair Housing education and counseling services through the following actions: • Continue to refer fair housing inquiries to FHCOC • Continue to support FHCOC to provide community education by sponsoring annual workshops for tenants and landlords • Provide informational brochures at City Hall and other public facilities and include fair housing information on its website • Meet annually with FHCOC staff to track fair housing issues and identify patterns in the City; identify appropriate actions to address patterns Responsible Party: Community Development, City Council, County of Orange Funding Source: CDBG Schedule: Ongoing 37 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Program 5b: Housing Information and Referral Services The Orange County Housing Authority provides housing information and referral services for persons seeking affordable rental and homeownership opportunities. The City will work collaboratively with OCHA to update and distribute information on services and will post relevant information on the City’s website. Objective: Refer at least 5 households annually to OCHA to provide information on affordable housing availability. Responsible Party: Community Development, OCHA staff Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing Program 5c: Promote Housing Choice Vouchers to Landlords The City will conduct outreach to owners/managers of rental properties in Seal Beach to encourage participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Once a list of properties registered with the County has been assembled, the City will coordinate with the OCHA about using the mobility counseling program. The mobility program identifies options in higher opportunity areas and provides holistic support to voucher holders seeking to move to higher opportunity areas. Objective: Conduct outreach to 10 owners/managers of rental properties in Seal Beach to provide information on affordable housing availability; expand the number of Housing Choice Vouchers used in the City by two in the planning period. Responsible Party: Community Development, OCHA staff Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Outreach to landlords by March 2025 Program 5d: Regional Collaboration to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing As a part of the five-year Consolidated Plan cycle, an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice1 was created for the Orange County region, with the County of Orange participating on behalf of the Urban County funding structure for federal CDBG and HOME funds. The AI identified several potential strategies to affirmatively further fair housing. Community Development staff will work with County staff on a quarterly basis to discuss program development and implementation 1 Orange County Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, Prepared by the Orange County Jurisdictions and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, May 19, 2020. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 38 options to affirmatively further fair housing, based on the findings of the AI. The City will also implement relevant recommendations from the AI. Seal Beach will amend its Zoning Code to provide more sites for higher density housing (particularly see Program 1b above, zoning amendment date targeted for April 2025); promote density bonuses to include affordable units in new developments; and implement state housing regulations. The City will also promote the development of ADUs (Programs 1h, 1i, and 1j) Objective: Support regional strategies to affirmatively further fair housing Responsible Party: Community Development, OCHA staff Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: See relevant programs referred to above. Program 5e: Reasonable Accommodation Provisions A reasonable accommodation is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. The City will review and revise its Reasonable Accommodation process and findings to be consistent with State and federal fair housing requirements. The City will continue to process requests for reasonable accommodation at no charge to the applicant. Objective: Reduce barriers for disabled persons Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Amendment to be completed as part of broader Zoning Code update scheduled for completion in October 2024 Program 5f: Preparation of an Environmental Justice Element The City will undertake preparation of an Environmental Justice Element for the General Plan following a finding of substantial compliance for the Housing Element, which will provide additional support for affirmatively furthering fair housing by considering air quality, access to facilities, safe and sanitary housing, and crime prevention. Objective: Reduce and address constraints that may hinder fair housing Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Planned completion in April 2025. 39 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Program 5g: Accessible Housing Require a portion of extremely-low- to moderate-income housing units (both publicly and privately sponsored) to be physically accessible or adaptable to persons with disabilities. Objective: Reduce barriers for disabled persons Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Requirement to be established as part of broader Zoning Code update scheduled for completion in October 2024 Program 5h: Fair Housing Task Force The City will create a Fair Housing Task Force to engage in outreach with lower-income and special needs households or their representatives (e.g., school district employees, Council or Commission representation, local non-profits, and/or local religious leaders). The Fair Housing Task Force will work together to determine and address fair housing issues in the City on a quarterly basis. Objective: Determine and address fair housing issues on a routine basis. The City will accomplish the following actions: • City staff will coordinate with the County Planning Department regarding impacts on Rossmoor and continued outreach efforts. • Solicit feedback through a citywide feedback form focused on fair housing issues. • Host four community workshops between 2025 and 2026 on fair housing issues led by the Fair Housing Task Force. • Provide translation services when needed. Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: August 2024: Identify Task Force members. December 2024: Host first meeting with Task Force and City staff to determine Task Force mission and priorities and determine meeting schedule for 2025-2026. Program 5i: Affordable Housing Benefits Campaign The City will conduct outreach to educate the community about affordable housing and its benefits to the community, including providing housing affordable to important public servants, such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, and their families. This would include multi-lingual educational flyers about affordable housing projects in Seal Beach and/or the surrounding region. Objective: Educate and inform members of the public on the benefits of affordable housing projects. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 40 Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Prepare outreach materials by September 2024 and distribute throughout the planning period biannually. Program 5j: Fair Housing Mobility Program Housing mobility means a greater range of housing options to improve one’s housing, including housing unit size, location, access to opportunities, and amenities. To improve housing mobility and new housing choices in areas throughout the City, the City will employ a suite of actions to be targeted in highest resource areas and single-family neighborhoods throughout the City, including targeting education, funding, program resources, and outreach with an overall goal of expanding housing mobility and opportunities affordable to extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income households. Actions and land use strategies to expand and diversify housing stock in Seal Beach include: • Adopt a new mixed-use zone that meets state requirements for RHNA site designation to address constraints on the development of housing for a variety of income levels. Currently, the City’s mixed-use designation (Limited Commercial/Residential Medium Density or LC/RMD) does not have a high enough density minimum to meet State law requirements for lower-income housing. The City is creating a mixed-use district (that allows higher density and will create incentives to encourage development of units affordable to moderate and lower-income households, as well as modifications to reduce or eliminate minimum unit sizes to create the most viable development opportunities. Make information on available incentives and concessions readily available, and evaluate their efficacy on a regular basis. (See Program 1b). • Offer incentives and concessions (e.g., expedited processing, administrative assistance with applications for funding assistance) to enhance the feasibility of affordable housing development. The City will also update its website to include available affordable housing resources and incentives for potential developers. Additionally, the City will evaluate the effectiveness of affordable housing incentives and concessions on an annual basis with empirical data (development of units) and anecdotal discussions with developers. (See Program 1c). • Eliminate or substantially reduce the minimum unit size in the Code to promote higher densities and a range of housing types, as well as housing mobility and access to areas of opportunity (Program 3h). • Reduce parking requirements for studios and 1-bedroom units to promote the creation of small unit sizes affordable to lower income groups (Program 3j). • Remove conditional use permit requirement for single room occupancy units (Program 3k) Create a Fair Housing Task Force to engage in outreach with lower-income households, special needs households, and community representatives (e.g., school district 41 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element employees, Council or Commission representation, local non-profits, and/or local religious leaders). The Fair Housing Task Force will work together to determine and address fair housing issues in the City on a quarterly basis. (See Program 5h). Objective: Implement a suite of housing mobility and incentive programs to increase the availability of a variety of housing types throughout Seal Beach, with a combined quantified objective of 1,243 new units. Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Found Timeframe: See respective programs for program timelines. Annually review progress and effectiveness as part of Annual Progress Report (APR). Program 5k: Affordable Housing Affirmative Fair Marketing Plan The City will require developers of affordable housing projects or projects with affordable units to implement an Affirmative Fair Marketing Plan to outreach to a diverse population, extending outreach to nearby communities in Orange County, especially to workers in the City who do not live in the City. These affirmative marketing materials will include contact information for housing service providers and non-profit housing organizations that serve lower-income tenants in the surrounding region. Also see Program 2.C for additional affordable housing resources. Objective: Inform lower-income persons who work in Seal Beach but live outside of the City of affordable housing opportunities. Reach 10 lower-income persons per affordable housing development. Responsible Party: Community Development, Planning Commission, City Council Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Require an Affirmative Fair Marketing Plan on an affordable project-by-project basis. 2021-2029 Housing Element City of Seal Beach | 42 Goal 6: Encourage more efficient energy use in residential developments. Policies Policy 6a Promote energy conservation through “green building” techniques that reduce water consumption, improve energy efficiency and lessen a building’s overall environmental impact. Policy 6b Promote “smart growth” principles by encouraging compact development in locations that provide opportunities for reduced vehicle trips. Programs Program 6a: Green Building Techniques “Green buildings” are structures that are designed, renovated, re-used or operated in a manner that enhances resource efficiency and sustainability. These structures reduce water consumption, improve energy efficiency and lessen a building’s overall environmental impact. The City’s Community Development Department will distribute a Green Building Tips handout for both homeowners and builders and post this information on its website. Objective: Increase energy efficiency in housing units to reduce overall operating costs Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Ongoing Program 6b: Housing Rehabilitation Program As part of the City’s program to assist households in renovating bathrooms to allow aging in place (Program 4c), the City will provide recipients with information regarding the use of energy green materials and energy/water conserving measures in home improvements. Objective: Increase energy efficiency in housing units to reduce overall operating costs Responsible Party: Community Development Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Create information by December 2023; implementation ongoing 43 | City of Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Program 6c: Promote Smart Growth The City will continue to promote “smart growth” principles by encouraging compact development commensurate with the City’s regional housing need in locations that provide opportunities for reduced vehicle trips concurrent with Program 1a. Objective: Reduce reliance on vehicle travel where possible to foster healthier neighborhoods. Responsible Party: Community Development, Public Works Funding Source: General Fund Schedule: Smart Growth principles will be incorporated into the Zoning Code update to be completed in October 2024 with ongoing evaluation. The introduction of residential uses to existing commercial sites is one example of the strategies to be included in the code update. 4.C Quantified Objectives The City’s quantified objectives for new construction, rehabilitation and conservation are presented in Table 2. Table 2: Quantified Objectives 2021-2029 Program Category Income Category Extremely Low Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate Totals New Construction 129 129 201 239 545 1,243 Rehabilitation 40 220 - 246 Conservation1 25 75 100 1. Preservation of units in Seal Beach Shores Trailer Park 8 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 9 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 10 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 11 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 12 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 13 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 14 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 15 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 16 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 17 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 18 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 19 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 20 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 21 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 22 9 9 6 1 Table D Continued – Program Implementation Status 23 9 9 6 1 Name of Program ObjectiveStatus of Program Program Implementation DetailsProgram 1a: Provide Adequate Sites for Housing through updates to the General Plan and Zoning CodeMaintain adequate sites to accommodate the RHNA allocationCompletedThe Housing Element was adopted by City Council on October 27, 2025 along with adopted of rezoning and zoning amendments with the certification of an associated EIR. Program 1b: Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density ZoneCreate a mixed-use zone that meets state requirements for RHNA site designation, specifically to facilitate housing for lower income households. The zoning process will accommodate State requirements to allow for: a minimum residential density of 40 units per acre and 46 units per acre on larger, developed sites; a large enough size to permit at least 16 units; exclusively residential uses; at least 50 percent of the building floor area of a mixed-use development to be dedicated to residential uses; and housing by-right with at least 20 percent of the units affordable to lower-income households. The definitions of “persons and families of low and moderate income,” “lower income households,” and “very low-income households” as set forth in Health and Safety Code sections 50079.5, 50093, and 50150 shall apply. The City shall engage with affected property owners, the Building Industry Association, affordable housing developers, and other stakeholders during the zoning process to ensure the development standards can result in the development of the maximum number of units allowed and facilitate the inclusion of affordable units.CompletedThe Housing Element was adopted by City Council on October 27, 2025, including the adoption of the MC/RHD zoneTable D Abbreviated (Program Implementation Status) Program 1c: Promote Available Housing Incentives and Evaluate EffectivenessMake information on available incentives and concessions readily available, and evaluate their efficacy on a regular basisCompletedAdditional materials and information have been added to the website. Research on additional incentives and concessions is underway, and website will be updated on an ongoing basis. Program 1d: Annual Progress ReportMaintain compliance with State law and provide transparency on progress towards the RHNACompleted Annual compliance reports are provided in a timely manner.Program 1e: Ensure No Net Loss of Housing CapacityMaintain adequate inventory of sites for residential development according to State lawContinuousThe City monitored development projects for loss of housing via land management permitting system. No losses were reported. Program 1f: Replacement Housing ProgramMaintain no net loss of housing, with specific focus on housing affordable to lower income residents by developing a formal, ongoing procedure for analyzing loss of units and replacement requirementsContinuousThe City has adopted supplemental application forms to monitor and address any net loss of housing associated with development projects. The new mandatory forms ensure that if a project will require the demolition of one or more occupied or vacant protected units (as defined in Government Code Section 66300. 5), the proposed demolition and replacement of protected units will be reviewed in accordance with Government Code Sections 66300. 5 and 66300. 6. This additional section codifies the City's commitment to this program.Program 1g: Community Engagement and OutreachEffectively utilize the zoning and General Plan amendment process to implement appropriate land use controls to ensure the compatibility of residential areas with surrounding uses. At least one community meeting during the zoning and General Plan amendment process by February 2024. CompletedOn October 2023 a community workshop was held to receive community feedback on the zoning amendments and objective design standards for the new mixed-use zone.Program 1h: Accessory Dwelling UnitsProvide a streamlined and understandable process for the development of ADUs and JADUs, supported by incentives and resources as they may be available.CompletedStaff has updated the City's ADU ordinance twice in 2024, to ensure the City's ordinance is aligned with the latest changes in state law Program 1h: Accessory Dwelling Units Adopt pre-approved plans In ProgressStaff performed outreach to several architecture firms related to submission of plans for pre-approval, but received no interest, though staff has created a page on the City website where architects/design professionals can obtain information regarding submitting ADU plans for pre-approval. The City will continue to seek participants and provide information to the public on ADU developmenProgram 1h: Accessory Dwelling UnitsPermit 10 ADUs during the planning period. CompletedThis program is considered successful as the City has processed 13 ADU applications during the year 2025Program 1i: Accessory Dwelling Units Amnesty ProgramEncourage the identification and permitting of two unpermitted ADUs and confirm that the units comply with applicable standards.CompletedThe City has implemented the amnesty program in fall of 2025 and the City's website provides clear direction to the public seeking to take advantage of the amnesty program.Program 1j: Accessory Dwelling Units Monitoring ProgramProvide a streamlined and understandable process for the development of ADUs and JADUs, supported by resources as they may be available.In ProgressThe City is continually tracking and reporting ADU development via its land use management system but will institutioinalize the eprocess via a monitoring program. The adoption date of the program is the quantified outcome. Program 1k: Emergency Shelters, Low Barrier Navigation Centers and Transitional/Supportive HousingContinue to facilitate the provision of emergency shelters and transitional/supportive housing consistent with State lawIn ProgressCity Council adopted Ordinance 1721 on October 27, 2025 allowing Emergency Shelters (which includes low barrier navigation centers) by right in the Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density ZoneProgram 1k: Emergency Shelters, Low Barrier Navigation Centers and Transitional/Supportive HousingProcess a Code amendment to amend City regulations for emergency shelters, supportive housing and low-barrier navigation centers consistent with State law. Permit 1 emergency shelter, low barrier navigation center, or transitional supportive housing development during the planning period.In ProgressCity Council adopted Ordinance 1721 on October 27, 2025 allowing Emergency Shelters (which includes low barrier navigation centers) by right in the Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density Zone. The City Council will consider ordinance allowing Transitional/Supportive housing in the Mixed Commercial/Residential High Density Zone on March 23, 2026 followed by second reading on April 6, 2026 Program 1l: Provision of Adequate Public Facilities and ServicesMaintain adequate public facilities and services ContinuousThis program is considered successful, Planning Staff works closely with various internal departments (ex. Building and Safety, Public Works, etc) and external agencies (such as OCFA and the Coastal Commission) to ensure that new residential development will have access to adequate public facilities and services. Program 1m: Streamlined Permit Processing and TransparencyReduce barriers to housing development through simplified processing and available information consistent with SB 35.CompletedIn addition to completion of written procedures, the City has taken additional steps to streamline housing development. On August 12, 2024, City Council approved and adopted Ordinance 1712, which amended the parking requirement in residential districts. The changes include allowing single-family residences to remodel, renovate, or add to the residence without additional parking as a condition of approval. The City has also adopted application forms and procedures consistent with SB 35. Program 1n: SB 9 Lot SplitsAnalyze opportunities and resources available to homeowners and develop online materials by December 2024.In ProgressOnline materials and handouts that provide relevant information regarding SB9 have been prepared and distributed for public use.Program 1o: Expedited Processing for Subdivision Maps including Affordable UnitsReduce barriers to housing development through simplified processing; create incentives to make units created affordableIn ProgressDraft internal procedures within one year of adoption of Housing Element; prepare handout for distribution at the public counter and inclusion on the City’s website within one month of approval of procedures.Program 1p: Partner with the U.S. Navy and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons StationCreate an opportunity for affordable housing development on City property in partnership with the U.S. Navy through quarterly or more frequent meetings.ContinuousActive Quarterly meetings are being conducted with the US Navy, exploring the viability of developing affordable housing on a City-owned parcel within the Naval Weapons Station as well as inclusion of housing in a Navy-led proposal to out-lease a portion of the base for development.Program 1q: Allow Employee/Farmworker Housing Consistent with State LawAllow employee/farmworker housing consistent with State lawIn ProgressCity Council will introduce an ordinance on March 23, 2026 and conduct second reading on April 6, 2026 to allow employee/farmwork housing consistent with State law. Program 1r: Main Street Specific PlanAllow housing at select locations in the Main Street Specific Plan. Permit two residential units in the Main Street Specific Plan during the planning period.CompletedCity Council adopted Ordinance 1723 on October 27, 2025, allowing residential units in certain areas of the Main Street Specific Plan area.Program 2a: Streamline the Density Bonus Review ProcessStreamline the density bonus provisions and ensure City regulations reflect State law.Permit at least one density bonus project during the planning period.In ProgressCity Council will introduce an ordiance streamlining the density bonus provision on March 23, 2026 and conduct second reading on April 6, 2026. The Planning Commission already conducted a hearing and recommended approval.Program 2b: Density Bonus Incentives and InformationCreate incentives for residential developers to take advantage of density bonus provisions to create affordable housing units; make information on density bonus incentives readily availableIn ProgressCity Council will introduce an ordiance providing incentives such as reduced parking standards on March 23, 2026 and conduct second reading on April 6, 2026. The Planning Commission already conducted a hearing and recommended approval.Program 2c: Affordable Housing ResourcesConnect three housing developers annually to share technical knowledge and resources to facilitate the development of affordable housing. Establish relationships with two additional affordable housing providers during the planning period through annual meetings to discuss possible sites and opportunitiesContinuousThe City proactively sought out resources to support affordable housing, including joining the Orange County Housing Finance Trust, which will allow developers the ability to apply for grant funding for affordable housing through that entity; and successfully obtaining Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and CDBG-CV through the County of Orange. Additionally, the City website has extensive information on housing resources. City Staff will update and add information/links as needed.Program 2d: Land Write Downs and Assistance with Off-Site ImprovementsIncrease the number of affordable housing units ContinuousNo development applications for affordable housing were received during the prior planning period, however the City will continue to consider subsidizing costs on a project-specific basis. This program may continue to be useful in the future, should a feasible project be presented. The City does not receive a direct allocation of funding typically seen in housing development, such as CDBG or HOME funds. The City remains willing to work with the private and non-profit development industry to partner for other resources such as tax allocation credits and other resources developers may access such as the Orange County Housing Finance Trust. Program 2e: Explore and Obtain Funding to Subsidize Construction of Affordable UnitsEncourage development of 698 affordable housing units during the planning period.ContinuousStaff continues to consult with non-profit developers on housing opportunities, however, no proposals for deed-restricted affordable housing were submitted in 2025. Incentive opportunities are being researched.Program 2f: Regional Coordination of Housing IssuesLeverage resources to augment affordability in housingContinuousStaff meets quarterly with the Orange County Housing Authority and other cities throughout the county to share programs and ideas. Additionally, staff is actively participating in the 5-year, countywide Analysis of Impediments including promotion of community engagement opportunities.Program 2g: Commercial Density BonusStreamline the density bonus provisions and ensure City regulations reflect State lawIn ProgressCity Council will introduce an ordiance which will include provisions for commercial density bonus opportunities on March 23, 2026 and conduct second reading on April 6, 2026. The Planning Commission already conducted a hearing and recommended approval.Program 2h: Promote Orange County’s Mortgage Assistance ProgramRefer to first-time homebuyers to the County’s Mortgage Assistance Program during the planning period.ContinuousThe City's Housing Resource webpage has information regarding the OC Mortgage Assistance Program and the program is promoted through the City's social media and newsletter.Program 3a: Housing Choice Voucher Program Rental AssistanceIncrease information available on Section 8 vouchers as a means of increasing affordability for households; ensure that landlords are aware of the program and encouraged to participate; and understand how and where vouchers are used within the CityContinuousThe City continued to cooperate with OC Housing Authority to support the housing voucher program by posting available information on online. Staff is further preparing a mailing with information targeting multi-family rental property owners, expected to occur in Spring 2025.Program 3b: Mortgage Credit CertificatesIncrease awareness of the MCC program to increase affordability for homebuyersContinuousThe City continues to support sharing available resources on the MCC program through the City website and handouts at the public counter. Program 3c: Local Coastal ProgramStreamline the development process by eliminating a separate process for Coastal Zone approvalsIn ProgressThe draft LCP is under review by the Coastal Commission and the draft LIP is nearly complete. It's anticipated to finalize the LCP by the end of 2026. Program 3d: Implementation of new Planning and Permitting SoftwareStreamline the development process through software implementation and online access to planning and permitting.CompletedThis program is considered successful, starting on August 2024, all development-related applications have been accessible through our new online permitting platform. The online platform has facilitated convenient access to the development approval processProgram 3e: Priority Water and Sewer Services Inform service providers of plans to develop housing affordable to lower-income households so those service needs can be prioritizedContinuousNo affordable housing development applications were received during the prior planning period. However, should a project be presented, staff will inform service providers.Program 3f: Implementation of AB 2234 (Streamlining of Ministerial Permits)Streamline the development process for ministerial permitsCompletedCompleted, with checklists and resources made available online.Program 3g: Facilitate Residential Care Facilities/Group HomesApprove one residential care facility/group home during the planning periodIn ProgressNo residential care facility/group homes development applications were received during the prior planning period. Zoning code amendments are expected in advance of the proposed schedule.Program 3h: Remove Minimum Unit Size RequirementsReduce minimum unit size constraints to housing development, especially to promote affordable housing.In ProgressCity Council will introduce the ordinance on March 23, 2026 and conduct second reading on April 6, 2026. The Planning Commission already conducted a hearing and recommended approval.Program 3i: Update Findings for Housing Projects to Ensure ObjectivityReview housing projects against objective approval findings.In ProgressMultifamily projects are a by-right use in residential and mixed-use zonesProgram 3j: Reduce Parking Requirements for Studios and 1-Bedroom UnitsEncourage the development of studios and 1-bedroom housing units, which are affordable to lower-income and special needs groups.In ProgressCity Council will introduce the ordinance on March 23, 2026 and conduct second reading on April 6, 2026. The Planning Commission already conducted a hearing and recommended approval. Program 3k: Remove Conditional Use Permit Requirements for Single-Room Occupancy UnitsAllow SROs as uses allowed by-right in the RHD ZoneIn Progress Zoning code amendment is expedited by the end of 2026Program 4a: Condominium ConversionReduce impacts to lower income households in the event of a condominium conversion projectContinuousNo units were converted to condominiums during 2025. The City will continue to enforce Code Section 11.4.80 to protect tenant rights and reduce impacts to lower income households.Program 4b: Housing Conditions MonitoringMaintain attractive residential stock to encourage future housing that is also safe and healthy for a range of income levelsContinuousStaff conducted the annual windshield survey on March 7, 2026 to document deferred maintenance issues for all housing, including the beach areas. A limited number of homes appeared to need substantial investment, most of which the City is already in communication with.Program 4c: Provide Home Renovation Assistance to Lower Income Households through Community Development Block GrantsAssist 40 income-qualified households with improvements that support their ability to remain in their housing units.ContinuousThe City of Seal Beach continued to use Community Development Block Grant to fund bathroom renovations to facilitate aging in place for low-income senior residents and is on track to meet the goal of 40 units in the planning period.Program 5a: Fair Housing ResourcesProvide free Fair Housing education and counseling services through the following actions:ContinuousThe city continued to coordinate with the FHCOC as the city does not have direct access to records regarding fair housing services provided by the FHCOC. The City continued to facilitate fair housing and refer inquiries to the Fair Housing Council of Orange County. Additionally, the City Website contains links to fair housing resources. City Staff will update and add information/links as needed. Program 5a: Fair Housing ResourcesContinue to refer fair housing inquiries to FHCOC ContinuousThe city continued to coordinate with the FHCOC as the city does not have direct access to records regarding fair housing services provided by the FHCOC. The City continued to facilitate fair housing and refer inquiries to the Fair Housing Council of Orange County. Additionally, the City Website contains links to fair housing resources. City Staff will update and add information/links as needed.Program 5a: Fair Housing ResourcesContinue to support FHCOC to provide community education by sponsoring annual workshops for tenants and landlordsContinuousThe city continued to coordinate with the FHCOC as the city does not have direct access to records regarding fair housing services provided by the FHCOC. The City continued to facilitate fair housing and refer inquiries to the Fair Housing Council of Orange County. Additionally, the City Website contains links to fair housing resources. City Staff will update and add information/links as needed.Program 5a: Fair Housing ResourcesProvide informational brochures at City Hall and other public facilities and include fair housing information on its websiteContinuousInformational brochures are on display at City Hall and on it's websiteProgram 5a: Fair Housing Resources Meet annually with FHCOC staff to track fair housing issues and identify patterns in the City; identify appropriate actions to address patternsContinuous The city continued to coordinate with the FHCOC.Program 5b: Housing Information and Referral ServicesRefer at least 5 households annually to OCHA to provide information on affordable housing availabilityContinuousThe City will continue to gather and provide information for the OC Housing Authority and will build up greater information on other housing resources Further, staff will continue to engage with the County and other regional partners to seek out resources and solutions to housing issues.Program 5c: Promote Housing Choice Vouchers to LandlordsConduct outreach to 10 owners/managers of rental properties in Seal Beach to provide information on affordable housing availability; expand the number of Housing Choice Vouchers used in the City by two in the planning period.In ProgressStaff is preparing outreach materials with a modified goal of outreach by December 2026 Program 5d: Regional Collaboration to Affirmatively Further Fair HousingSupport regional strategies to affirmatively further fair housingContinuousStaff actively participates in the current countywide Regional Analysis of Impediments and promoted community involvement in the project through social media and newsletter channels. Upon completion of the analysis, the City will seek to incorporate recommendations.Program 5e: Reasonable Accommodation ProvisionsReduce barriers for disabled persons CompletedOn December 12, 2024, the City Council approved Ordinance 1716, which amended the zoning code to allow for administrative review of reasonble accommodation requests. Program 5f: Preparation of an Environmental Justice ElementReduce and address constraints that may hinder fair housingIn ProgressPreparation of this Element is in progress and it's anticipated to be adopted by end of 2026.Program 5h: Fair Housing Task ForceDetermine and address fair housing issues on a routine basis. Continuous Ongoing priority to be continued in 2026Program 5h: Fair Housing Task ForceCity staff will coordinate with the County Planning Department regarding impacts on Rossmoor and continued outreach efforts.In ProgressStaff intends to engage with Orange County Planning regarding Rossmoor in 2026Program 5h: Fair Housing Task ForceSolicit feedback through a citywide feedback form focused on fair housing issues.In ProgressStaff intends to create a citywide feedback form to solicty feedback in 2026Program 5h: Fair Housing Task ForceHost four community workshops between 2025 and 2026 on fair housing issues led by the Fair Housing Task Force.In ProgressStaff has encountered challenges identifying task force members, and has regrouped to focus on community at large meetings to engage residents with information on affordable and fair housing issues and seek input and engagement. The first public meeting related to this effort is scheduled in late April, with a second meeting in August, and third in November. A community survey will also be disseminated.Program 5h: Fair Housing Task ForceProvide translation services when needed. Continuous Staff will work to provide translation services when requested Program 5i: Affordable Housing Benefits CampaignEducate and inform members of the public on the benefits of affordable housing projects.CompletedWritten materials have been prepared and are available on the City's webisteProgram 5j: Fair Housing Mobility ProgramImplement a suite of housing mobility and incentive programs to increase the availability of a variety of housing types throughout Seal Beach, with a combined quantified objective of 1,243 new units.ContinuousPlease reference above responses, particularly for 1b, 1c, 3h, 3j, 3k, and 5hProgram 5k: Affordable Housing Affirmative Fair Marketing PlanInform lower-income persons who work in Seal Beach but live outside of the City of affordable housing opportunities. Reach 10 lower-income persons per affordable housing development.ContinuousAction is being prepared and anticipated for consideration in late 2026. Program 6a: Green Building TechniquesIncrease energy efficiency in housing units to reduce overall operating costsContinuousThe City has adopted the most recent International Building Code which includes increased provisions for efficiency and green building techniques and has prepared materials available on the City's website and public counter. In 2024, the City of Seal Beach partnered with SolarAPP+ to streamline the permit process for eligible small solar projects. This helps expedite the review for solar installation projects, that is an alternative energy source for residents.Program 6b: Housing Rehabilitation ProgramIncrease energy efficiency in housing units to reduce overall operating costsContinuousStaff regularly coordinates with the contracted project manager for this effort to communicate information and efficiencies related to green building measurements. Bathroom upgrades associated with this program seek to refurbish existing facilities whenever feasible, use low-flow water fixtures, and energy efficient devices where relevant.Program 6c: Promote Smart GrowthReduce reliance on vehicle travel where possible to foster healthier neighborhoods.CompletedSmart growth principles are incorporated into the draft zoning code amendment to facilitate mixed use development, which was adopted in October of 2025. Joint Study Session 7/20/2026 Housing Element Program Implementation Purpose of Housing Element Programs •Update Zoning Regulations to Comply with State Law •Reduce Governmental Constraints to Housing Development •Promote Affordable Housing Opportunities •Further Fair Housing Implementation Completed to Date •Adoption of Mixed-Use Zone (MC/RHD) •Main Street Specific Plan Update •Availability of a variety Housing-Related Materials and Resources on the City Website and Physical Handouts at the Counter •Monitoring of State Requirements such a No-Net Loss Provisions, Tenants Rights in Redevelopment Projects •ADU Ordinance Updates •Code updates to Streamline Reasonable Accommodation Requests, and parking requirements for expansion of residential homes •Meeting and discussing programs and projects with outside agencies such as the Navy, OC Housing Authority, Fair Housing Council of Orange County •Implementation of Online Permitting Software •Use of CDBG Funds for Bathroom Accessibility Renovations in Leisure World Program Status Done 23% Implemented - Ongoing 49% Remaining - To Do 28% HE Programs Done Implemented - Ongoing Remaining - To Do •15 reportable actions completed – done (23%) •32 reportable actions implemented and ongoing (49%) •18 reportable actions pending remaining to-do (28%) Remaining – To Do •Local Coastal Program •Environmental Justice Element •Fair Housing Task Force •Code updates related to emergency shelters/transitional housing; SB9 Lot Splits; Farmworker Housing; Density Bonus; Group Home/Residential Care Facilities; Reduction of Minimum Unit Size; Reduced Parking Requirements; SRO by Right Funding •Staff Hours •Local Coastal Program – Grant Funded •Environmental Justice Element – Funded through Building Permit Applications (General Plan Element Dedicated Set- Aside) •Leisure World Bathroom Accessibility Program – County CDBG Grant Funds with $35K from the City Consequences •Builders Remedy •Lawsuits •Huntington Beach - $160,000 and an additional $50,000 per month •Five new lawsuits: Costa Mesa, Calexico, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest, and Turlock Conclusions •The item is presented for discussion for the Council and Planning Commission •No formal action is required on any of the Programs •Staff is seeking direction to proceed with implementing the remaining Programs