Response to Grand Jury Report Form Report Title: "affordable Housing: Time for Collaboration in Marin"

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No later than December 31, 2022, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and Marin's city and town councils should jointly create a regional authority, or empower an existing authority such as the Transportation Authority of Marin, to coordinate affordable and workforce housing policy on a countywide basis. This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable. The City agrees that more collaboration on housing policy and funding would be beneficial and will likely result in more affordable housing in our communities. In fact, much work has been done to date, as described below, and additional opportunities are being developed. The City remains open to additional collaboration and/or more formal arrangements in the future as appropriate. However, forming a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with 12 jurisdictions would take a significant investment of time, funding and energy that would likely impair current housing efforts and requires willing partners. Doing so by December 31, 2022 is not a realistic timeline, particularly given that each Marin jurisdiction is currently striving to meet statutory deadlines to submit their housing element by January 31, 2023. Below is a brief summary of existing collaboration for strengthening interjurisdictional coordination and planning around affordable and workforce housing: Existing Collaboration Cities and towns have long collaborated with each other and the County on housing matters, beginning in 2008 with the development of the countywide Housing Element Workbook, which provided a shared template, background information and model programs and policies for development of the 2009 Housing Element. This effort resulted in all Marin municipalities receiving certified housing elements, which in turn made more housing funds available. In 2019, County staff reconvened a countywide working group of Planning Directors and planning staff to encourage interjurisdictional collaboration on housing issues and solutions, with a specific focus on responding to new state legislation to streamline housing developments. The working group established common goals and coordinated on housing legislation, planning, production, and preservation of existing affordability. The working group meets once monthly and has evolved from briefings and discussions regarding state housing legislation into collaboration on projects to facilitate the development of more housing in Marin County. The working group applied jointly for SB2 planning grants in the summer and fall of 2019 and has started to collaborate on these grant projects, including Objective Design and Development Standards, an ADU Workbook and Website, and inclusionary housing program updates. The group received funds from ABAG to work collaboratively on shared Housing Element deliverables including translation dollars, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing products, visualizations, and a countywide website. Collaboration Identified in Larkspur Housing Element Additionally, a number of collaborative goals are outlined in the City of Larkspur's Housing Element. Major programs listed in the Housing Element Policies and Implementation Program enumerated below. H1 .4 Inter-Jurisdictional Strategic Action Plan for Housing. The City will coordinate housing strategies with other jurisdictions in Marin County as appropriate to meeting the City's housing needs. H1 .B Collaborate in an Inter-Jurisdictional Strategic Action Plan for Housing. Work toward implementing, whenever possible, agreed-upon best practices, shared responsibilities and common regulations to efficiently and effectively respond to housing needs (including affordable housing, and transitional and supportive housing) within a countywide framework. H9.4 Housing for the Homeless. Recognizing the lack of resources to set up completely separate systems of care for different groups of people, including homeless-specific services for the homeless or people "at risk" of becoming homeless, the City will work with other jurisdictions, as appropriate, to develop a fully integrated approach for the broader low-income population. Implementing Programs H9.F Support Countywide Programs. The City will support countywide programs that provide for a continuum of care for the homeless including emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive housing and permanent housing. H1 O.B Engage in Countywide Efforts to Address Homeless Needs. Actively engage with other jurisdictions in Marin to provide additional housing and other options for the homeless, supporting and implementing Continuum of Care actions in response to the needs of homeless families and individuals. Participate and allocate funds, as appropriate, for County and non-profit programs providing emergency shelter and related counseling services. 6