Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2021-2022
• Agency Response
Response to:
Affordable Housing: Past, Present and Future
Affordable Housing: Monitoring and Compliance
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 10 findings
F2
Page 2
fhe use of self reported doto in monitoring is the occepted norm. Partially agree. A deed restriction is required for all affordable units, and, for rental units, the City requires a monitoring plan be provided by the developer, which often includes management of the units by a qualified affordable housing provider.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
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The Sonoma County Community Development Commission and the nine Cities resume on-site monitoring by October 1,2022. lF3,F4l Response: The City of Sebastopol intends to partner with the Sonoma County CDC for monitoring of units. While the city does not control when this will be initiated, work on this began in early 2022, and anticipate being able to initiate services January 1, 2023.
F3
Page 2
On-site (in-person) monitoring beyond thot required by low is rore due to insulficient personnel, budgetory limitotions, ond relotively low incentives. Agree at this time.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
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By January 1, 2023, the Sonoma County Community Development Commission and the nine Cities review and ensure that they have sufficient personnel to conduct on-site monitoring and process self- reported monitoring data to meet future Regional Housing Needs Allocations. (F1, FZ, F3, F5, F6, FLtl Response: The City intends to contract with the Sonoma County CDC as it did in the past. The City itself would not hire any personnel. The Planning Director is responsible for coordinating any contract requirements. An affordable housing monitoring fee may be needed to cover the costs of any contractual obligations for monitoring of units, and this would likely become the responsibility of the developer' ln regard to ownership units, the City ofSebastopol intends to utilize a partnership with the Sonoma County Housing Land Trust (HLT) and developers for future inclusionary units, as this will ensure on going monitoring of owners and the property to be maintained as affordable in perpetuity. Response: No response required
F4
Page 2
COVID-19 further reduced in-person on-site monitoring due to public heolth restrictions. The City cannot agree or disagree with this Finding, as the City does not do its own monitoring of unitt and has no direct knowledge of the impacts of Covid-19 on the monitoring procedures of the Sonoma County CDC.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Page 2
Surprise or unscheduled monitoring of individuol units is not done, for reosons of privocy, ovoilobility, efficiency, o n d procticolity. The City cannot agree or disagree with this Finding, as the City does not do its own monitoring of units, but rather contracts with the Sonoma County CDC. The City has no direct knowledge of the details of the on the monitoring procedures of the Sonoma County CDC.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Page 2
IJnscheduled monitoring of propefties ond monogement, in order to review tenont fileS grounds, ond the omenities is not done. The City cannot agree or disagree with this Findin& as the City does not do its own monitoring of units, but rather contracts with the Sonoma County CDC. The City has no direct knowledge of the details of the on the monitoring procedures of the Sonoma County CDC.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Page 2
Monitoring of complionce with Affordoble Housing regulotions hos been inconsistent ond often inodequote. Agree. The City previously contracted with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC) to monitor units in the City. This agreement expired several years ago. The City is in discussions with the Sonoma County Community Development Commission regarding monitoring (see Recommendations)-
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Page 2
There is limited or no stondordized troining in Alfordoble Housing complionce regulotionsfor developers ond monogers of inclusionory housing within the nine Cities. Agree. 2022 Revised June Response to Grand Jury Report Form
No recommendations for this finding
F9
Page 3
The cities of Petolumo ond Rohnert Pork use computerized complionce monitoring progroms to focilitote and improve the quolity of their work. Cannot agree or disagree with this Finding, as it is not applicable to the City of Sebastopol.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Page 3
The propefty titles of Affordoble single fomily houses hove not olwoys been flogged os deed restricted. Disagree. The City of Sebastopol Municipal Code, Section 17.25O.O9O, requiresall affordable units include a deed restriction. While this code has been modified through time, past units approved by the City and within the City's housing inventory of affordable housing have recorded deed restrictions. This is, and has been, a standard practice of the City for many years.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Page 3
The mojority of the housing representotives the Grond Jury interviewed felt thot there is not enough stoff within their deportments to moke onyone o full-time complionce monitor. Agree with regards to the City of Sebastopol. The Sonoma County Civil Grand.Jury recommends that:
No recommendations for this finding
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
County of Sonoma
Agency
Sebastopol
City