Edmund F. Sotelo City Manager City Manager's Office*

R01

Each city should increase efforts to work with businesses and developers to actively pursue solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems associated with the issues of Affordable Housing. (C-03) (C-03). Continued lack of Affordable Housing and failure by cities to solve the needs of Very Low Income and Low Income residents will cause increasing adverse economic challenges. (F-07) (F-07). Lack of Affordable Housing inhibits the region's ability to attract new business and industry, as well as qualified employees to the area. Response Oxnard is now and has been for many years been working to pursue solutions to the issues of Affordable Housing. As indicated in the Grand Jury report the role of cities is to provide incentives to private developers, non-profit housing corporations, and local housing authorities to remove regulatory barriers which inhibit the development of affordable housing. It is not necessarily the role of cities to be directly involved in the construction of affordable housing. The City of Oxnard has put into place several incentives designed to encourage the production of Affordable Housing. The City has also diligently worked at removing all unnecessary regulatory barriers that would prevent or discourage the production of Affordable Housing. In June 2005, the City of Oxnard received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development the Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award. This is HUD's Affordable Communities award provided to local governments in recognition of outstanding work to reduce regulatory barriers to affordable housing. Oxnard's award was based on the following innovative programs: 1. In-Fill Program. City Council adopted Ordinance 2535 which allowed City Council to waive or reduce development fees on in-fill lots of three acres or less in six low income neighborhoods. 2. Deferred Development Fees Program. City Council adopted Ordinance 2590 which allows City Council to defer or waive development fees in exchange for a developer agreeing to set aside 10% or 20% of housing units for very low and low income families. 3. Affordable Housing and In-Lieu Fee Program. City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2506 which established a inclusionary requirement that 10% of a housing subdivision or apartment project should be available at prices or rents affordable to low and very low income families. Under certain circumstances a developer may pay an in-lieu fee in place of providing units. City Council may use these fees to support gap financing for affordable projects, second mortgages for low income buyers, down payment and closing cost grants, and rehabilitation loans and grants for units available to low income households. 4. Density Bonus and Developer Incentive Program. City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2505 which provided a 25% density bonus to developers providing 10% or 20% of housing units for very low or low income households. Lower regulatory standards are offered as an inducement to provide affordable units. In addition to reducing regulatory barriers and providing incentives to developers, the City has also assisted housing developers with the issuance of multi-family housing revenue bonds and provided direct gap financing from federal HOME funds, redevelopment set aside funds, and in-lieu fees.

R02

Each city should educate its residents on how local services (education, police, health care, etc.) depend upon the availability of Affordable Housing. (C-04) C-04. Local opposition to Affordable Housing impacts the ability of government and business to employ those who provide services desired by local residents. (F-05,