Title
Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, and San Benito County, and specified cities, implementing multi-jurisdictional cooperation to address affordable housing needs throughout the tri-county area.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, and San Benito County, and specified cities, implementing multi-jurisdictional cooperation to address affordable housing needs throughout the tri-county area.
SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION:
On May 7, 2015, a Regional Housing Forum was held at which more than fifty attendees gathered to receive housing presentations from participating jurisdictions, and to discuss solutions to address affordable housing needs in the Central Coast Region. Attendees included the following 11 jurisdictions: the Cities of Salinas, Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield, King, Marina, Seaside, Monterey, Watsonville, and the Counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz. The forum was also attended by Mayors, Council members, Housing Developers and other stakeholders. It was noted that the Monterey Bay Area is confronting the same affordable housing challenges it faced 10 years ago; participants identified the issue as follows: "Where are the region's workforce and their families going to live?"
Objectives accomplished at the forum included:
1) Completing a municipal assessment of available opportunity housing sites within interested, participant jurisdictions,
2) Mapping vacant, high-density parcels within participant jurisdictions,
3) Committing to continue working collaboratively to find and provide affordable housing solutions, including agreement to an MOU, to encourage regional collaboration, and
4) Convening the participating jurisdictions, on a regular basis, to find land use opportunities; facilitate construction of needed regional housing; and assist in mapping v...
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