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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5a_Additional Materials Received_VariousFrom:Hoiyin Ip To:Housing Element Update Advisory Committee Subject:HEUAC item Va. Community Outreach Plan - public comment Date:Tuesday, September 01, 2020 2:44:07 PM [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. First, I would say Newport, Together documents are always visually pleasant. On meeting notification, I’ve wondered why “this” committee (previously General Plan Update Steering Committee) meetings are not listed in the Agendas & Minutes page. I would think that’s the page people use to check City meetings, then come, hopefully. On direct mailers, I hope it would be minimized or simply eliminated. First, it costs money, “kills” trees, adds pollutions in its various stages of "manufacturing," finally becomes trash, and may be treated as junk mail. On the content of the outreach materials, let’s get public involved before finalizing it. Government doesn't write with the style the public is used to. Last year, the info boards for general plan update were nice - to us, because we were insiders (to various degrees) and emotionally attached to “our” products. Did “normal people” like them as much? I look forward to tomorrow's meeting. I know you've spent a lot of time on this. Thanks! Hoiyin Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020 Item No. V(a) Additional Materials Received 1 Community Outreach Plan September 2, 2020, HEUAC Agenda Comments These comments on items on the Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee agenda are submitted by: Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229) Item V.a. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLAN General Comments As one who does not think the previous outreach efforts conducted in conjunction with the recently-dissolved General Plan Update Steering Committee were very effective, I have many misgivings about this report. In particular, the continued use of the “Newport, Together” branding makes little sense to me in light of the limited scope of the current effort, which that description does nothing to illuminate. Are people supposed to rally under the “Newport, Together” banner to cheer the committee on in its work to meet the state’s RHNA mandate?? I think a new, more descriptive slogan is needed. Furthermore, the Newport, Together site, as presently revised and linked to from the main City website, seems to oscillate between being open at times and at other times having a non-public password-protected status. I don’t take that as a good omen. I am also concerned about what appears to be the deletion of most everything related to the previous “Newport, Together” effort and the general confusion and inconsistencies on the City website about the status of the overall General Plan Update effort, including how the HEUAC fits into the 2020 Housing Action Plan. Specific Comments on the Attachment 2 PDF Page 3: Not that it matters, but the opening sentence of the “Introduction” was presumably intended to read “The City is initiating a focused amendment to the Newport Beach General Plan.” Page 3: The proposed approach to Environmental Justice is unclear to me since a paragraph is devoted to it in the Introduction, but it is not elaborated on, or even mentioned, on the following pages. And even the single paragraph is unclear. Will this effort be directed solely to Newport Beach residents who live in disadvantaged communities? Has it been determined how many such persons there are? Page 3: Under “Outreach Objectives,” I continue to have trouble understanding the use of the word “stakeholders.” It seems intended to signify something distinct from “members of the public” or “community members” or “businesses.” Is “stakeholders” shorthand for “housing developers” or “owners of opportunity sites”? If so, why not say that? Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020 Item No. V(a) Additional Materials Received 1 Community Outreach Plan September 2, 2020, HEUAC Item V.a comments - Jim Mosher Page 2 of 3 Page 4: Despite the 7-point listing, I remain unclear on what the overall purpose of the “outreach” is. The HEUAC’s primary purpose seems to be site identification, and that appears to be proceeding without public input. Is the “outreach” primarily a public relations campaign to sell the public on the outcome of the HEUAC’s efforts? That is, is it more to inform the public rather than to seek their input? In that connection, if the HEUAC Chair is correct in saying that it will be an uphill, and perhaps even impossible, battle to locate a sufficient number of willing owners to meet the RHNA mandate, then it follows that all the sites located will have to be used and public opinion about them will be irrelevant. Is the outreach entirely about where the 1,405 new market rate units1 should go (that is, the ones for which there may be an abundance of willing owners)? Finally, the last paragraph on this page acknowledges that “Identifying where community input is needed and how it will impact outcomes is important,” but it does not explain when, where or how that identification of what will be asked and how the responses will impact outcomes is expected to occur. It might be noted that the current agenda poses no specific questions on which the HEUAC is seeking input at this time. Will specific questions be asked later? Page 6: The paragraph preceding “Figure 1: Process Chart” says the chart identifies “Deliverables that the project team will be provided to the Housing Element Update Advisory Committee.” That was probably intended to read “Deliverables that the project team will be provided provide to the Housing Element Update Advisory Committee and Planning Commission,” however I don’t see any deliverables identified. Page 8: Under “Online Platform” I am concerned about the continued commitment to using the “Bang the Table” web platform. It seemed particularly ineffective during the previous “Newport, Together” effort, with the website being notoriously difficult to navigate and rarely kept current as to meetings, workshops and results or even as to the overall status of the effort. However that may be, Kimley-Horn in other, similar efforts has trumpeted the value of glitzier and easier-to-use public survey tools such as MetroQuest. Why is that not being suggested here? Page 8: Is the last paragraph intended as the definition of “stakeholders”? It is interesting the stakeholders, but apparently not others, “will be engaged in developing baseline conditions, drafting policy, and drafting the plan.” Page 9: In calling for the consultants and staff to be guided by the Outreach Subcommittee, the paragraphs under “Virtual and In-person Workshops” veer significantly off track from what would seem to be allowed by the Brown Act. The Outreach Subcommittee was created as an ad hoc advisory body, allowing it to meet privately and without notice. As such, its role is legally confined to bringing back a recommendation for consideration and possible action by the full 1 SCAG’s 4,832 unit RHNA allocation to Newport Beach is expected to consist of 1,405 market rate units and 3,427 units for moderate incomes and below. Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020 Item No. V(a) Additional Materials Received 1 Community Outreach Plan September 2, 2020, HEUAC Item V.a comments - Jim Mosher Page 3 of 3 HEUAC. The subcommittee does not have an administrative or executive powers, such as guiding staff. If it did, all of its meetings would need to be open and noticed. But even then, this would use of subcommittees would be in conflict with the enabling Resolution No. 2020-21 that last created the HEUAC. Under that resolution, the power to guide consultants and staff was given to the full HEUAC, not to subcommittees it might appoint. This problem recurs on page 10 of the PDF in which the HEUAC Outreach Subcommittee is expected, along with the Planning Commission, to guide “The timing, frequency and input activities for the circulation element workshops.” Again, such active guidance is not within the scope of the Outreach Subcommittee’s legal “charter.” Pages 9 & 10: I do not understand what happens between “Virtual Housing Element Workshop 1” and “Virtual Housing Element Workshop 2.” The first is described as educational, yet the second, months later, presents results and policies resulting from the information learned at the first. How does one learn information from an educational workshop? Page 11: Under “Circulation Workshops – Phase I,” the Outreach Plan refers to “the vision statement, goals and policies within the existing Housing Element.” I am not aware of the Housing Element having a vision statement. Does it? Unlike with the Housing Element Workshops, it is good to see that the Circulation Element update is seen as having “phases” the first of which will consist, it says, of an educational workshop followed by additional workshops to gather input on issues and opportunities. But confusingly, the latter is also stated as the goal of “Circulation Element Phase II.” Page 12: As stated in my written comments on non-agenda items, I am deeply concerned about the statement that “The Planning Commission will guide the development of the Circulation Element.” The HEUAC was specifically charged with that task in its enabling resolution and I am not aware of anyone changing that. In addition, it seems particularly problematic since when later making a recommendation to the City Council about the revised Circulation Element, the Commission would then be reviewing its own work. Page 13: As noted at the previous HEUAC meeting, if work on the EIR is to begin in the fall, holding the scoping meeting in Spring 2021 seems rather late. I would have assumed scoping is most useful when it occurs before work commences on an EIR, not after it is well underway. Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020 Item No. V(a) Additional Materials Received 1 Community Outreach Plan September 1, 2020 Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee Members City of Newport Beach 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 RE: Agenda Item a. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLAN Dear Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee Members: The Kennedy Commission (the Commission) is a broad-based coalition of residents and community organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $20,000 annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has been successful in partnering and working with Orange County jurisdictions to create effective housing and land-use policies that has led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower income working families. On August 3, 2020, The Kennedy sent a letter to the City regarding the upcoming Housing Element update and public participation recommendations. In that letter we recommend the following: 1. The City should engage community participation and feedback at all stages of the Housing Element review and update. Participation should not be limited to public hearings. 2. The City should allow for various methods of engagement to encourage public participation. For instance, for members of the public who may not have access to the internet or a computer, or who are unable to use video applications, consistently provide an adequate telephone option – available in multiple languages – and generally ensure that members of the community who lack adequate technology can participate in meetings about the Housing Element review. 3. The City’s public participation and outreach opportunities should be meaningful and create various platforms (for example, virtual, written, workshops, webinars, community meetings, and public hearings) for the engagement of community members who reside in lower-income communities, affordable housing partners, Legal Aid organizations, and advocates. 4. The City should create a diverse Housing Element Working Group to evaluate the current Housing Element policies and accomplishments. This Working Group could help create policies and recommendations for the new Housing Element update to ensure that you meet the housing needs of those who are most vulnerable in the City. 5. The City should include The Commission in any anticipated Housing Element Working Group and provide the opportunity for the Commission to provide its analysis on 5th cycle RHNA progress and be a part of developing policy recommendations on the 6th cycle update. www.kennedycommission.org 17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614 949 250 0909 Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020 Item No. V(a) Additional Materials Received 1 Community Outreach Plan Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee September 1, 2020 Page 2 of 2 6. The City should engage community organizations representing and advocating for families and individuals residing in lower-income communities to ensure that members of these communities can directly participate and that the City considers their perspective as part of the evaluation and creation of policies that create affordable housing. After reviewing the Community Engagement & Outreach Plan we are pleased to see that the city plans to “provide an opportunity for a wide range and depth of voices from community members, stakeholders, disadvantage communities, and those who provide insight from the development community”. We would like to see this promise acted out through diverse community participation, outreach, and the inclusion of community organizations and advocates. As we mentioned previously in our recommendations, the Commission would like to be included in a Housing Element Working Group to advocate for low income communities and provide an evaluation of the current 5th cycle planning goals, policies, and accomplishments. We believe that by following these recommendations the City can achieve a strong Housing Element update and increase housing opportunities throughout the City. We would appreciate the City giving us notice of any public meetings regarding the Housing Element. We look forward to working with the City of Newport Beach to encourage effective housing policies that will help create balanced housing development and create much-needed affordable housing in our local communities. If you have any questions, please free to contact me at (949) 250-0909 or cesarc@kennedycommission.org. Sincerely, Cesar Covarrubias Executive Director Working for systemic change resulting in the production of homes affordable to Orange County’s extremely low-income households Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - September 2, 2020 Item No. V(a) Additional Materials Received 1 Community Outreach Plan