Response to Grand Jury Report Findings and

Marin County lacks sufficient affordable and workforce housing. Response: Agree.

Increasingly, individuals who work in Marin County cannot afford to live in the county, many of whom must commute from outside the county. Response: Agree. --F3. Recent California laws provide new incentives for -local. governments to .r:ollaborate jn developing affordable housing. Response: Agree.

The Regional Housing Needs Allocation allotments are widely viewed as unachievable for the county and many Marin municipalities. Response: Agree. The City acknowledges the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) as a means of identifying sites for 'housing, but the current allocation of 865 units for the 2023-2031 planning period represents an increase of 670% above the 129 units that were allocated for the most recent planning period (2015-2023). Whether this amount of housing can be built within the eight-year timeframe will depend on many factors that are outside the City's control, such as owner interest, availability of land, financing, and other market forces. Acknowledging local conditions are important to the conversation of housing, as noted in the City's RHNA appeal: Emergency access and fire safety are of greatconcem for residents living in these hillsides as well as the general community. Of the 6,539 pan:;e/s In Mill Valley, approximately 60% {3,865) are located in the Wild/and Urban Interface .... These areas also represent largely sloped areas with roadways Jess than 20' wide. These lots are developed parcels zoned as Single-Family--rightfully so, as they.-pose-little opportunity for ,any other-type of -development due...to.Jimi,,.te,...d�­ access. Another 306 pan:;els are In the FEMA F/oodway where the building footprint cannot be expanded. These local site conditions need to be recognized as part of the process. Almost 65% of the City's parcels which are a/ready developed are in a high fire zone with limited access or FEMA Floodway that prohibits changes to an existing parcel's footprint. There needs to be a better understanding of these local site conditions and the acknawledgement that there is little opportunity for growth and development in these areas." (Mill Valley appeal letter to Association of Bay Area Governments, October 2020), General Plan guidance should continue to be used by the State, region and local entities as a means of balancing local programs and policies that serve to protect and enhance a local community, Which include chapters or "elements" that address mobility/circulation, safety, land use, housing, community vitality, open space/conservation, climate action and noise. • City of Mill Valley Response to Grand Jury Report Findings and Recommendations "Affordable Housing: Time for Collaboration in Marin" (June 24, 2022) FS. Failure to achieve Regional Housing Needs Allocation allotments will trigger loss of local control over housing development. Response: Agree.

There is new and increasing support and willingness to cooperate among elected officials for building affordable housing in �arin. Response: Agree.

A countywide approach to housing development would enhance Marin's ability to meet affordable-and woikforce·housing·needs: ·''' • ·• '· ·· ?- Response: Agree. The City of Mill Valley currently collaborates and coordinates housing programs with Marin County, the towns and cities, as discussed further in the response to Recommendation R1 below. FS. Large affordable housing developments in Marin require subsidies to be financially feasible. Response: Partially disagree. Regardless of size, all affordable housing developments require subsidies. In fact, smaller developments are more expensive, more difficult to fund, and cost more per unit than larger developments.

Organizations with expertise and access to subsidies and other funding sources are successfully building new affordable and workforce housing developments in Marin. Response: Agree. The City is currently partnering with EAH Housing, an affordable housing developer with direct experience in guiding successful public/private partnerships, to build affordable homes on the northern portion of the city-owned parcel, known as 1 Hamilton. The City is aware of various affordable housing developments underway in Marin County. The Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus and Senior Housing. currently ur:icler co_ ntitr\]gtLcm. in. . Saf\ Rafael, il:1. an exa!Xlple .of s.uccessful countywide partnership. Eden Housing and Vivalon are collaborating on a mixed-use project with studios and 1-bedroom apartments on the upper floors, which will be available to low-income seniors. The City of San Rafael and County of Marin provided funding, and the Marin Housing Authority provided project-based vouchers.

A countywide approach to housing development would enhance Marin's ability to secure funding for affordable and workforce housing. Response: Agree. The City of Mill Valley is part of a County-wide Working Group that meets monthly to collaborate on housing programs, issues and solutions, as discussed further in the response to