Program/Policy Name

Program/Policy Description

A balanced supply of housing types, densities, and prices to meet the needs of all income groups residing or who wish to reside in Concord.

Ensure an adequate supply of housing sites to achieve the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the 2023-2031 planning period.

Encourage a variety of housing types, including accessory dwelling units, middle density housing, apartment buildings, condominiums, and housing for those experiencing homelessness.

Promote the development of housing that provides ownership opportunities that are affordable to extremely low-, very low, low- and moderate- income households.

Encourage accessory dwelling units in new and existing residential developments and the development of duplex condominiums, where duplexes are consistent with the General Plan.

Promote the development, conservation and rehabilitation of housing that is affordable to extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households.

Promote the development of new condominiums and cooperatives.

Promote a diversity of housing types, including efforts to increase rental options and homeownership opportunities for households at all income levels.

Remove or reduce constraints to housing production by lowering the cost of development and improving the ease of building in Concord.

Preserved and enhanced neighborhoods that improve quality of life for all residents.

Support the conservation and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock (including mobile homes) through a balanced program of code enforcement and property improvements, when and where appropriate.

Preserve and enhance the quality of Concord’s residential and mixed- use neighborhoods to ensure a comfortable, safe, healthy, and attractive living environment for all residents.

Preserve Concord’s historic homes, areas, and buildings.

Ensure that any development or redevelopment in Concord does not lead to the displacement of existing residents.

Preserve the existing housing stock that is affordable to extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.

A City with housing opportunities for all special housing needs, including households with older adults, persons with disabilities, female- headed households, large families, and people experiencing homelessness.

Facilitate the development of affordable housing for extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income households with older adults.

Expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities in new and existing single-family and multifamily developments.

Expand housing opportunities for persons with physical and developmental disabilities in Concord.

Encourage the development of childcare facilities to help female-headed households, especially those with extremely low, very low, low, or moderate incomes.

Promote the development of housing that is affordable to very low-, low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers.

Encourage the development of affordable housing for large families with extremely low-, very low-, low-, or moderate-incomes, and continue to take actions to prevent discrimination against children in housing.

Facilitate the development of emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing, and long-term affordable housing to reduce the risk of homelessness in the City of Concord.

A City with equal housing opportunity and access for all people regardless of race, religion, gender, marital status, age, ancestry, national origin, color, sexual orientation, familial status, source of income, or disability.

Ensure equal housing opportunities exist for all by reaffirming the City’s commitment to work towards the elimination of discrimination in housing with regard to race, religion, sex, marital status, age, ancestry, national origin, color, sexual orientation, familial status, source of income, or disability

Create greater opportunity for mixed-income housing in all areas of Concord, including moderate- and high-resource areas.

Create greater opportunity for mixed-income housing in all areas of Concord, including moderate- and high-resource areas.

A sustainable City that protects the environment while lowering the cost of energy.

Encourage the incorporation of energy and water conservation design features in existing and future residential developments to conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce housing costs.

Program 1: Accessory Dwelling Units

The City has amended its ordinance establishing standards and regulations for accessory dwelling units (ADU) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADU), consistent with and in certain instances more permissive than State law (Government Code Section 65852.2). The City submitted the updated ordinance to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in July 2021 for its review, is still awaiting HCD’s comments, and will incorporate amendments, as required by HCD, upon receipt of comments. Further, the City will develop and adopt a program that incentivizes and promotes the creation of ADUs that can be offered at an affordable rent for extremely low-, very low-, low-, or moderate-income households or households with special housing needs (Assembly Bill [AB]
671, 2019).
In addition, the City reviews, approves, and tracks the timely review of ADU building permit applications. The Community Development Department collects data annually on building permit issuance and construction of ADUs for the Housing Element Annual Progress Report. As part of this program, the Community Development Department commits to continued monitoring of ADU
development, including approved affordability of each unit.
Further, the City will develop a web-based “ADU Toolkit” which will include Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), development standards, financial/regulatory incentives (once adopted), an overview of the permit process, required forms, and permit-ready ADU construction-level drawings to allow for “off-the shelf” ADUs. The ADU Toolkit will assist with the promotion and streamlining of the production of ADUs by providing information in one location along with guidance on navigating the permit process. Permit ready plans will encourage the construction of ADUs by reducing the cost through the availability of a selection of pre-approved ADU building plans that will be available on the City’s website free of charge. The City will conduct robust outreach by promoting to the community in both English and Spanish the availability of the pre-approved ADU plans through social media, the newspaper, the City’s website and e-newsletter with more than 10,000 subscribers, notification to housing groups/advocates, a freeway oriented digital reader board, and meetings with the various business groups (e.g. Chamber of Commerce) and local lumber and
hardware stores.
The City will also conduct outreach and education to ADU owners regarding compliance with fair housing and tenant protection laws, including Senate Bill (SB) 329 and SB 222, which prohibit discrimination against tenants using Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers to pay rent. The City will
include resources on these topics in the ADU Toolkit and at the Permit Counter.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
1.1: Coordinate with HCD and update ADU Ordinance within
12 months of receipt of HCD’s findings.
1.2: Amend ADU Ordinance, if needed, to conform to future amendments to State law and submit to HCD within 60 days of
adoption.
1.3: Monitor the development of ADUs, including affordability, and collect and report data for the Housing Element Annual
Progress Report annually.
1.4: Develop and adopt an affordable ADU incentive program by April 2025. Regulatory and financial incentives will be selected, such as a reduction in development regulations or a
waiver of parking requirements.
1.5: Develop and make publicly available permit-ready ADU
plans by October 2022.
1.6: Develop and release a comprehensive web-based “ADU Toolkit” including permit-ready plans, FAQs, development standards, financial/regulatory incentives (once adopted), an overview of the permit process, required forms and information regarding fair housing and tenant protection laws by March
1.7: Conduct English and Spanish outreach and education to ADU owners regarding compliance with fair housing and tenant protection laws, including SB 329 and SB 222, which prohibit discrimination against tenants using Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers to pay for rents by the end of June 2023. Include resources on these topics in the web-based ADU toolkit, at the Permit Counter, and conduct at least three training sessions
during the planning period.

Program 2: Addressing Constraints to Development

Constraints to providing a variety of housing types have been identified in Appendix C. The City will further address constraints to the development of housing, including housing for extremely low- income households and housing for persons with disabilities. This will include amendments and clarifications to the City’s Development Code related to how manufactured housing is permitted, the inclusion of objective criteria to determine when a Neighborhood Meeting is required, and clarifying
language related to hillside development permits.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

To permit a variety of housing types consistent with State law, the City will implement the following amendments to its Development Code
by December 2025:

2.1: Allowing manufactured housing on a permanent foundation in the same manner as other single family uses in the
same zone.
2.2: Provide objective criteria for determining when a
Neighborhood Meeting is required for housing development.
2.3: Clarify the difference between a minor and major hillside
development permit and associated procedures.

Program 3: Affordable Housing Development Toolkit

The City will actively work with the development community to assist in the development of affordable housing, especially housing for extremely low-income households and households with special housing needs. The City will develop an Affordable Housing Toolkit that will provide details on available resources to assist the development community in affordable housing production. These resources will include guidance on navigating development permit processes, available affordable housing incentives, a map of available underutilized and vacant sites, and notices of City funding
available to provide financial assistance in affordable housing development.
The Affordable Housing Toolkit will be made available on the City website, and will carry out the following:

Promote the availability of sites and engage developers through resources that support development activity. This will include, at minimum, an online map of vacant and underutilized sites identified in the Sites Inventory, with site area, zoning, and other
information including a list of surplus land.
Maintain information on the City's website that applies to any proposal for a housing development project; including a current schedule of fees, exactions, applicable affordability requirements, all zoning ordinances, development standards, and annual fee reports or other
relevant financial reports to ensure consistency with AB 1483.
Maintain a list of notices of City funding available to provide financial assistance in affordable
housing development.
Maintain a link to State and federal low-interest land acquisition/construction funds available for development of housing affordable to extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-
income households.
Further, the City will continue to offer a centralized, one-stop counter for permit processing to streamline the development process to provide preliminary application reviews to assist applicants
with the filing process.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
3.1:Develop an Affordable Housing Development Toolkit by
December 2023 to provide the aforementioned resources, as well as any additional resources that may be useful in assisting
developers.
3.2: Continue to provide a centralized virtual and/or in-person, one-stop counter for permit processing to streamline the development process to provide preliminary application reviews
to assist applicants with the filing process.

Program 4: Annual Progress Reports

The City will continue to report annually on the City’s progress toward implementation of the programs identified in the Housing Element and toward its eight-year RHNA housing production targets, including units that have been substantially rehabilitated, preserved or acquired, consistent with the standards set forth in Government Code section 65583.1, subdivision (c) (AB 879, 2017). City staff will present the Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR) to the City Council for review through an annual housing forum before submitting to the State Housing and Community Development Department, in accordance with the requirements of Government Code Section 65400. Through the annual housing forum, the City will invite local housing advocacy groups, developers, and other interested parties to engage in a discussion on housing needs, resources, and ideas.
Further, the City will identify and prioritize local surplus lands available for housing development affordable to lower-income households and report on these lands annually through the APR. (AB 1255, 2019; AB 1486, 2019). The City will conduct annual outreach to local affordable housing developers to establish a notification list, which will ensure interested developers are notified of the availability of surplus lands.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
4.1: Conduct a housing forum annually and report to the City
Council and the community on Housing Element progress.
4.2: Identify and prioritize surplus lands available for lower- income housing development and report on these annually by
April 1st through submittal of the APR.
4.3: Annually conduct outreach to local affordable housing developers through email notifications to establish a notification
list for City surplus lands.

Program 5: Affordable Housing Streamlining

To further assist in the development of housing for extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate- income households, the City provides a streamlined approval process in accordance with State requirements for qualifying affordable housing development proposals (SB 35)1, and will continue to report on such proposals in the Housing Element Annual Progress Report. Further, the City will continue to update its SB 35 application forms and procedures based on any future changes to State law. Although the City is already implementing SB35, the Development Code has not been updated to be consistent with SB 35; therefore, the City will amend its Development Code to include the State law requirements and will continue to update to remain consistent with State law. The City will continue to implement the provisions of SB 35 throughout the planning period and will process 100% of qualifying projects ministerially.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
5.1: Amend the Development Code to expand development
permit streamlining consistent with State law by December 2024
5.2: Process all SB 35 applications consistent with State law
throughout the planning period.
5.3 Update the City’s application forms, procedures, and Development Code to reflect any future changes to State law,
throughout the planning period.

Program 6: By-Right Development

The City will allow developments by-right pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(i) when 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower-income households on vacant or underutilized sites identified in the Sites Inventory to accommodate the lower-income RHNA that were previously identified in past Housing Elements in accordance with Government Code Section 65583.2(c) and Housing Element law. Previously identified sites that may qualify for by-right development are
identified in Exhibit A, Electronic Sites Inventory Form, of Appendix E.
Further, the City will identify a location, process, and procedure by which residential and mixed-use development can be permitted by-right, especially in areas near amenities and resources such as transit, parks, childcare facilities, and within established commercial and near key areas of employment. This will include evaluation of opportunities to establish a Housing Sustainability District, a Workforce Opportunity Zone, or an affordable housing overlay where eligible projects would qualify for streamlined California Environmental Quality Act review, ministerial permit
processing, and additional incentives beyond those allowed under the State density bonus.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
6.1: Amend the Development Code by January 2024 to permit
by-right development on sites previously identified in past Housing Elements in which at least 20 percent of the units are affordable to lower income households in accordance with the
specifications of Government Code Section 65583.2(c).
6.2: Provide additional pathways by which residential and mixed-use development providing at least 20% affordable units
can be permitted by-right by June 2026.

Program 7: Code Enforcement

The City’s Building Division has a robust Multi-Family Rental Housing Inspection and Maintenance Program (MFIP) to address tenant complaints, Building Code and Housing Code violations, and to enhance the quality of life for residents living in multifamily units. This program is implemented by proactively identifying deteriorated housing stock, responding to complaints, and assisting property owners with compliance to promote the rehabilitation of housing in accordance with minimum local
and/or state Building, Housing Code and Health and Safety standards.
The MFIP applies to all residential rental buildings with four or more units, including rooming houses with four or more rental spaces (units or rooms), with exceptions for subsidized residential rental buildings where 100 percent of the units are restricted by federal, state or local programs, or for the first five years following construction of a new development. The program operates on a two-year cycle during which all rental dwelling units and common areas on the property are inspected. The inspection determines whether the property complies with Building and Housing Codes and identifies any substandard maintenance conditions that do not meet the minimum standards established by local and state laws. Properties that do not comply, are required to be altered or repaired to obtain the required level of compliance, and a re-inspection of the property is required to verify compliance. If any rental unit is found to be unsafe to occupy, the owner is responsible for the costs and expenses for the relocation of any tenant from that unit.
As part of the MFIP, the City also offers a Self-Certification Program for well-maintained properties that do not have previously identified and uncorrected violations, do not have outstanding payments associated with the MFIP Self-Certification Program; and whose owner has a current business license for the facility. If the property is found ineligible to participate in the Self-Certification Program, the property is subject to the standard MFIP requirements and inspections. For qualifying properties, owners must submit an application packet certifying that conditions at the property achieve the rental unit and property standards listed on the MFIP’s Self-Certification Checklist. Properties in the Self- Certification Program have 25% of all rental units inspected on a random basis in the first year of
their two-year program cycle.
The City also provides an online portal through the Building Division’s MFIP webpage, where residents can submit a complaint for health, safety or maintenance issues that landlords have failed or refused to resolve. Staff members from the MFIP then notify the landlord of any required actions or repairs that must be taken. After repairs are made, the City contacts the tenant to confirm the issues have been resolved. Additionally, the City’s website clearly provides code enforcement resources and
technical assistance for residents.
The City will continue to ensure the safety of residential buildings through enforcement of building codes on both complaint-driven and proactive bases, and through administration of the MFIP for rental housing enforcement conditions/ inspections. In addition, the City will ensure its website
remains up to date with code enforcement and substandard housing resources.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
7.1: Continue to administer the MFIP and Self-Certification Program option for qualifying properties throughout the
planning period.
7.2: Through the complaint-driven inspections, Building Division staff will make property owners aware of current resources on the City website to assist with the remediation of
violations, within 90 days of receipt of a complaint.
7.3: Maintain up-to-date Building Code enforcement and substandard housing resources to ensure they are easily accessible to all residents, including extremely low-, very low-, low- and moderate-income households throughout the
planning period.

Program 8: Fair Housing

The City seeks to expand the range of housing opportunities, including for residents with low and moderate incomes, older adults, people with disabilities, large families, female-headed households with children, and people experiencing homelessness. To make adequate provision for the housing needs of all segments of the community, the City must ensure equal and fair housing opportunities are available to all residents. The City will continue to advance fair housing through continued
implementation of the following actions:

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice – As part of the Contra Costa County Consortium, the City participates in the regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. The City will continue to collaborate in the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for the Contra Costa County Consortium and continue to work with the Contra Costa
CDBG/HOME Consortium to reduce impediments to fair housing choice.
Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO) Fair Housing – The City contracts with ECHO Fair Housing (ECHO) for fair housing services. Services provided by ECHO include fair housing testing and counseling. Additionally, ECHO operates a rent review and eviction harassment program for the City. The City will continue to contract with ECHO to provide
fair housing, tenant-landlord counseling, mediation, education, and outreach services.
The City makes information available on fair housing services in both English and Spanish, and will
continue to distribute resources to residents.
In addition to continuing those fair housing programs that the City already participates in, the City
is committed to the following additional actions to affirmatively further fair housing:

Housing Trust Fund – A regional housing trust fund can leverage housing funds to bring state and federal money to the region, increasing funds to support affordable housing activities. In 2019 AB 1487 was signed into law, establishing the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA). BAHFA is the first public entity focused entirely on the region’s housing needs in the Bay Area. This bill allows BAHFA to place new funding measures on the ballot in the nine Bay Area counties, enabling the region to raise up to $1.5 billion annually for housing. On November 2, 2020 Contra Costa County voters passed Measure X, a countywide half-cent sales tax with collection of the tax beginning on April 1, 2021. Measure X includes funding ($10 million in year one and an ongoing annual allocation of $12 million) for the establishment of an affordable housing trust fund with a top priority of building permanent housing for households earning less than 50% of the Area Median Income. Given these new affordable housing revenue streams and the County’s efforts to establish a housing trust fund, Concord will advocate for and participate during the County’s annual needs assessment to ensure the funding of affordable housing remains an identified priority, as needed and seek to collaborate or establish a
partnership with the County for funding projects and programs in Concord.
Community Land Trust – Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are community-based non-profit organizations that retain ownership of property to maintain affordability. CLTs provide a mechanism for creating affordable homeownership opportunities and maintaining long-term affordability, increasing opportunities for upward mobility. To support the formation of CLTs in Concord, the City will include the topic of CLTs as an agenda item for discussion with the Contra Costa County Consortium. Through this effort, the City can raise awareness of CLTs and work at the regional level to develop opportunities for the Contra Costa County Consortium
to attract outside experts that can support communities in the formation of a CLT.
Increased Opportunity in Higher Resources Areas – Allowing for the development of multifamily residential uses across the City can increase opportunities for existing and future residents to live where they choose. To increase geographic equity and opportunities for residents, the City will identify and rezone areas appropriate for medium and high residential densities, specifically in areas designated as “Moderate Resource” or “High Resources” on the TCAC Opportunity Maps in Appendix D, with consideration for access to amenities and/or
public transit.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
8.1: Continue to participate in the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice every 5 years.
8.2: Continue contract with qualified service provider for fair housing counseling, education, and outreach services
throughout the planning period.
8.3: Continue to fund contract with a qualified service provider throughout the planning period to conduct programs aimed at increasing economic self-sufficiency and upward mobility for low-income Concord residents, with targeted outreach throughout the planning period regarding these programs in the area along Monument Boulevard identified as a Racially and Ethnically Concentrated Area of Poverty (R/ECAP) according to federal (HUD) guidelines. Targeted outreach will include coordinating with community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve the R/ECAP to distribute information in English and Spanish about available programs via e-mail, flyers and other methods recommended by the CBOs at least twice per year, and within 60 days of any new fair housing programs or policies
becoming effective.
8.4: Within three months following the adoption of program guidelines for the award and distribution of Measure X affordable housing trust funds, coordinate with Contra Costa County staff to determine potential funding that will be available for programs and/or projects within Concord. If necessary to meet Concord’s housing needs, continue coordinating with County staff and elected officials within one year of adoption of Measure X guidelines to evaluate and advocate for potential expansion of Measure X affordable housing funds including the
evaluation of a partnership between the City and County.
8.5: By December 2022, coordinate with Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) to determine potential funding that will be available to programs and/or projects within
Concord. If necessary to meet Concord’s housing needs, continue coordinating with BAHFA and elected officials within
one year to evaluate and advocate for potential expansion of
BAHFA funds.
8.6: Rezone sites to increase multifamily residential options outside of areas designated as “Low Resource” on the Tax Credit Allocation Committee’s most recent Opportunity Maps. Begin the rezone process by December 2024 to conduct outreach, analyze opportunities, and complete CEQA analysis to finalize
the rezone by December 2026.
8.7: Bring forward community land trusts as an item on the Contra Costa County Consortium Agenda by July 2024 to initiate a discussion on establishing a community land trust by providing funding for an outside expert, which can acquire existing properties for long-term affordability and a pathway to
ownership within the planning period.
8.8: Throughout the planning period, seek grants that provide additional resources for areas identified as “Low Resource” or “Lower Resource” on the opportunity maps prepared by the Tax Credit Allocation Committee, with special emphasis on the area along Monument Boulevard identified as a Racially and Ethnically Concentrated Area of Poverty (R/ECAP) according to
federal (HUD) guidelines.
8.9: By July 2024, utilize grant funds from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to: (1) compile, integrate and analyze language data for the R/ECAP Census Tracts; (2) build a comprehensive picture of the community’s language needs for emergency management purposes; (3) integrate language data to improve communication plans, identify gaps in preparedness, and develop a comprehensive strategy for incorporating language access considerations into all steps of the City’s
emergency management plans.
8.10 Contract with qualified service provider to conduct at least three training sessions during the planning period for property owners on fair housing laws, with targeted outreach to owners of property within the R/ECAP as described in Objective 8.3. Training shall include avoiding discrimination based on income or other protected classes, and requirements for reasonable
accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
8.11: Continue contract with qualified service provider throughout the planning period to conduct at least five phone calls/inquiries per year to test compliance with fair housing laws, e.g. by having people of color or those with foreign accents
attempt to obtain housing, evaluate property owner/manager responses, and report apparent violations to responsible
authorities.

Program 9: Middle Density

To ensure an efficient use of land and more walkable neighborhoods, the City provides standards for small lot and medium density development. Through the implementation of these standards, the City provides a reduction in development standards in exchange for small lot development, facilitating the production of units that can provide homeownership opportunities, while ensuring an efficient use
of land.
To further facilitate the production of housing that may provide homeownership options and to increase opportunities for an efficient use of land in single family zones, the City will create a ministerial process by which single-family zoned lots can be subdivided to accommodate additional
single-family units and duplexes, consistent with the requirements of SB 9.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

9.1: Continue to provide a reduction in development standards
for qualifying small lot, medium density residential
development throughout the planning period.
9.2: Adopt an ordinance to implement the provisions of SB 9 to establish ministerial review procedures for proposed lot splits of
existing single-family residential lots by July 2024.

Program 10: Homeownership Assistance

The City will continue to offer and support the following programs to provide assistance for
maintaining and achieving homeownership:
First Time Home Buyer (FTHB) Program
Through the FTHB program, the City provides loans of up to $40,000 to assist qualified lower- and moderate-income FTHB households with down payments and closing costs. Bay Area Affordable Homeownership Alliance (BAAHA), a non-profit organization, assists the City in administering the program, including monitoring compliance of ownership units that are regulated and/or funded by
the City.
The City will continue to provide loans to first time home buyers and will continue to work with BAAHA (or another qualified service provider) to monitor compliance of regulated ownership units.
Below Market Rate (BMR) Homeownership Program
Through its Inclusionary Housing Program (see Program 12 below), the City makes possible BMR homeownership units affordable to households earning 120 percent or less of area median income. BMR homes are specific dwellings where eligibility is based on income and household size. The program also assists current BMR homeowners in selling, refinancing or making capital improvements to their home. The program is designed to serve lower- and moderate-income households. BAAHA assists the City in administering the program, including ensuring compliance with affordability requirements and monitoring compliance of ownership units that are regulated
and/or funded by the City.
To facilitate the production of BMR affordable homeownership units, the City will establish inclusionary requirements for condominium developments through an amendment to its
Inclusionary Housing Program.
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program
Tenant/Community Opportunity to Purchase Act
The MCC program is administered by the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development and is a homebuyer assistance program designed to help lower‐income families afford homeownership. The program allows homebuyers to claim a dollar‐for‐dollar tax credit for a portion
of mortgage interest paid per year.
The City will promote the availability of this program to homeowners and families through
informational resources found on the City’s website.
A Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) is an anti-displacement housing policy that gives tenants increased options to have secure housing when the property they rent goes up for sale, while also preserving affordable housing. A Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) is a similar policy geared toward non-profit affordable housing providers, community land trusts, and similar entities, who
may purchase a property to maintain affordability and prevent displacement of current tenants.
Generally, TOPA and COPA programs implement the first right of refusal for tenants or qualified nonprofits, respectively, prior to listing the property on the open market. The programs do not require a property owner to accept the offer but do allow for tenants or qualified nonprofits the opportunity to match a third-party offer. For COPA programs, they generally require long-term affordability restrictions, which are deed recorded, thereby preserving affordable housing, and reducing the risk of displacement.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

2024.
•
• •
10.1: Facilitate the production of BMR units through an
amendment to the Inclusionary Housing Program including removing exemption for rental and condo units by December
10.2: Continue to provide pathways to homeownership through the MCC program throughout the planning period through annual notifications to the City’s interested parties list and
publication to the City’s website.
10.3: Continue to provide at least three loans per year to first time home buyers and continue to work with a qualified service
provider to monitor compliance of regulated ownership units.
10.4: Conduct an evaluation of best practices for the development and implementation of a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and/or Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) program. Bring forward findings to City Council for public comment, consideration, and further
direction by December 2026.

Program 11: Incentives to Assist in Development

The City will continue to provide financial and regulatory incentives to proactively encourage and facilitate the development of affordable housing for lower-income households, particularly those with extremely low incomes and special housing needs including large households, older adults, and persons with physical or developmental disabilities. Incentives include streamlined ministerial approval, reduced fees, parking reductions, and direct financial allocations to assist in the
development of housing.
This includes the following incentives that are currently offered by the City:

Density Bonus – The City implements the State’s current Density Bonus program, although the City’s implementing ordinance is outdated. The City will amend its density bonus ordinance to ensure consistency with State law, including the provision of a bonus for student affordable housing, senior housing, 100% affordable developments, and units affordable to
moderate-income households.
Transit Station Overlay District - The City provides an automatic 25-percent increase in density and floor area ratio through the Transit Station Overlay District to facilitate high
density development near transit.
Affordable Housing Incentive Program - The City provides additional incentives, above and beyond the Density Bonus Program, in exchange for the development of affordable units beyond the requirements of the City’s Inclusionary Housing Program. All incentives provided by the Affordable Housing Incentive Program supersede the bonuses and incentives offered by the Transit Station Overlay District. Incentives include but are not limited to reduced open space requirements, increased permitted height, reduced and deferred fees, and reduced
parking requirements.
The City will amend the Affordable Housing Incentive Program to clarify that incentives
associated with this program include ministerial review.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
11.1: Amend the local Density Bonus Ordinance to ensure
consistency with State Density Bonus law by July 2024.
11.2: Continue to offer additional density and floor area ratio within the Transit Station Overlay District throughout the
planning period.
11.3: Continue to offer affordable housing incentives beyond what is permitted under the State Density Bonus throughout the
planning period.
11.4: Amend the Affordable Housing Incentive Program to provide clarity on incentives offered, including ministerial
review by January 2026.

Program 12: Inclusionary Housing

The City’s Inclusionary Housing Program requires the inclusion of a minimum percentage of affordable housing units in all projects with five units or more. The Inclusionary Housing Program includes a threshold exempting rental and condominium developments from this program until 600 rental units have been constructed. The City will further advance this program through the removal of the 600-unit threshold and by providing an option for moderate-income rental units to satisfy
inclusionary requirements.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
12.1: Continue implementing the City’s Inclusionary Housing
Program.
12.2: Adopt an amendment to remove the threshold which excludes application of the inclusionary housing requirements
on rental and condominium developments by July 2024.
12.3: Adopt an amendment to allow moderate-income rental
units to satisfy inclusionary requirements by July 2024.
12.4: Update inclusionary housing fee to maintain project feasibility while maximizing affordable housing funds by July 2024

Program 13: Lot Consolidation Incentive

To facilitate affordable housing development on smaller parcels, the City currently offers technical assistance in the parcel merge process to streamline the process in a timely manner. To further incentivize lot consolidation to facilitate housing production, especially for lower-income households, the City will provide financial or regulatory lot consolidation incentives which may include priority
processing, fee deferments and waivers, and the modification of site development standards.
In addition, the City will continue to facilitate lot consolidation and development of smaller parcels
through the following actions:

Publicize the lot consolidation program on the City’s website, outreach to the development
community, and through preliminary meetings with prospective project applicants.
Assist affordable housing developers in identifying opportunities for lot consolidation using the City’s GIS Map Portal and property database.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

13.1: Continue to provide technical assistance and assist
affordable housing developers in identifying opportunities for lot consolidation using the City’s GIS system and property database through preliminary meetings throughout the
planning period.
13.2: Amend the Development Code to provide financial or regulatory incentives and a density bonus in exchange for lot
consolidation by December 2023.
13.3: Publicize the adopted program on the City’s website, at the Permit Center, and by notice to affordable housing providers
within 3 months of adoption.

Program 14: No Net Loss

The City will use its development permit data to monitor development activity, proposed rezones, and identified capacity to ensure adequate remaining capacity is available to meet any remaining unmet share of the RHNA for all income levels throughout the entirety of the planning cycle, consistent with no net loss requirements. The City will develop and implement a monitoring procedure pursuant to Government Code Section 65863, and will make the findings required by that code section to demonstrate whether or not remaining sites identified in the housing element are adequate to accommodate the City’s remaining share of the RHNA if a site is proposed for
development with fewer units or at a different income level than shown in the Housing Element.
If, at any time during the planning period, a development project results in fewer units by income category than identified in the Sites Inventory (Appendix E) for that parcel and the City cannot find that the remaining sites in the Housing Element are adequate to accommodate the remaining RHNA by income level, the City will, within 180 days, identify and make available additional adequate sites to accommodate the remaining RHNA. Any site identified to be upzoned to meet “no net loss” requirements will satisfy the adequate site requirements of Section 65583.2 and will be consistent with
the City’s obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. (SB 166, 2017)
Additionally, the City will continue to implement minimum densities in multifamily zones and zones that permit mixed-use development. This will help the City ensure an efficient use of land that is
available for development.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
14.1: Develop a methodology for tracking remaining capacity of
sites identified in the Sites Inventory no later than December 2023. This could include a revision of internal permitting procedures to review permit applications against identified sites; creating an interactive map of sites and their corresponding capacity to connect with permit data; or monthly capacity
analysis.
14.2: Review each development approval on sites listed in the Housing Element and make findings required by Government Code Section 65863 if a site is proposed with fewer units or a different income level than shown in the Housing Element
throughout the planning period.
14.3: In the event that adequate capacity is not available, identify
additional sites within 180 days.

Program 15: Objective Design Standards

The City will increase transparency and certainty in the development process through objective design standards. The City will monitor Development Code amendments to ensure any new design standards applicable to housing developments are objective (i.e., without involvement of personal or subjective judgment by a public official, and uniformly verifiable by reference to the City’s regulations), in accordance with the requirements of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB 330, 2019;
SB 8, 2021) and related State housing law.
Further, to remove constraints to development associated with the City’s Design and Site Review process and to facilitate the development of housing on the sites identified to accommodate the RHNA, the City will create and adopt Objective Design Standards to provide ministerial processing of the
Design & Site Review permit for projects that meet 100% of the objective criteria of the standards.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

15.1: Monitor Development Code amendments throughout the
planning process to ensure any new design standards are
objective.
15.2: Amend the Design and Site Review Process by July 2024.
15.3: Develop and adopt Objective Design Standards by July 2024

Program 16: Parking Reductions

Large parking lots associated with religious institutions provide opportunities for partnerships that facilitate the development of housing for vulnerable populations. The City will amend the Development Code in accordance with State law, to identify a process by which parking requirements can be reduced for religious institutions in order to accommodate housing developments. (AB 1851)

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

16.1: Amend the Development Code by December 2024 as
required by State law (AB 1851) to identify a process by which parking requirements can be reduced for religious institutions
in exchange for housing development.

Program 17: Preservation and Housing Rehabilitation

The City makes special efforts to help preserve affordable housing and maintain Concord’s older housing stock. Where possible, the City utilizes public funds to provide assistance in the rehabilitation and conservation of deteriorated multifamily developments, single-family homes, and mobile homes.
Through these programs, the City will continue to help preserve and rehabilitate housing for tenants and homeowners in extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households, households with disabilities, and older adults. This will be accomplished through the allocation of affordable housing
funds for multifamily developments and provision of housing rehabilitation loans and grants.
Affordable Multifamily Units Preservation
As funding permits, the City partially subsidizes the costs of acquisition and/or rehabilitation for older multifamily rental complexes for property owners interested in extending or introducing an affordable housing component. The City will continue to seek opportunities to allocate public funds
to finance the rehabilitation and acquisition of affordable multifamily complexes in the City.

Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program
In addition, the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program provides grants and no- interest/low-interest loans to low-income homeowners. The City employs Habitat for Humanity as a contractor to administer the program to assist low-income homeowners with needed repairs and improvements to single-family and mobile homes, such as to address emergency repairs, weatherization, accessibility for those with disabilities, lead-based paint abatement and security for older adults. Through this program, the City provides improvements for energy efficiency through
replacement of existing energy inefficient appliances and weatherization.
Home rehabilitation loans are offered for major repairs up to $75,000. Loans are provided with 1% simple interest with a 15-year term. Older adults (62+) and households with a disability may opt for a deferred payment plan and their asset threshold to apply is higher than that of other applicants.
Older adults are also eligible for weatherization and home security grants up to $15,000.
Historical Preservation Solar Incentive Program
The City maintains an inventory of historic properties and will continue to maintain the inventory
during the 6th Cycle.
As part of the rehabilitation of housing, the City will continue to promote energy conservation where possible and implement updates to the State’s Green Building Standards. The City Council also establishes itself as the City of Concord Solar Utility, granting rules, regulations, and procedures to
encourage and promote the use of solar energy in projects, including rehabilitated housing.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

17.1: Continue to provide funds for the acquisition and/or
rehabilitation of multifamily housing in exchange for affordability. The City will release a Notice of Funding
Availability by December 2025.
17.2: Continue to contract with a qualified service provider to administer the Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program
throughout the planning period.
17.3: Conduct targeted outreach in the R/ECAP regarding the Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program; see Objective
8.3 for specific outreach methods and frequency.
17.3: Continue to maintain an inventory of historic properties through the CEQA review process and will annually review and
update the City’s maps.
17.4: Continue to promote energy conservation through the Solar Incentive Program and Green Building Standards
throughout the planning period.

Program 18: Preservation of At-Risk Affordable Housing Units

The City will continue to monitor affordable units under a City Regulatory Agreement and affordable units identified as being at-risk of conversion to market-rate housing. This will include collaboration on the identification of financial resources and establishing cooperative partnerships with affordable housing developers and/or property owners willing to maintain units as affordable to lower-income households, including extremely low-income households. For those properties under current City Regulatory Agreements, the City will work directly with property owners to negotiate potential term extensions, as funding allows. Preventing the conversion of at-risk units to market-rate housing will ensure tenants are not displaced and that affordable units are not lost from the City’s housing stock. The extension of existing project-based rental assistance covenants, or utilization of other funding
sources, will help preserve and/or extend affordability.
Additionally, the City contracts with Compliance Services, LLC to assist staff with monitoring and managing affordability compliance for multifamily complexes that are utilizing City funds. The City will work toward maintaining the rent restrictions of at-risk developments by monitoring any changes in ownership, management, and status of deed restrictions. Further, the City will work with the owners of these developments to retain the units and, where feasible, provide technical assistance to property owners and/or organizations interested in purchasing and maintaining the properties
should the current owners be interested in selling.

Assisted Housing Projects at Risk of Conversion (2021)
•Clayton Crossings Apartments
•Hidden Creek Townhomes
•Sunridge Apartments
•Clayton Way Home/Mary McGovern
•The Heritage
•Plaza Tower

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

18.1: Continue to contract and coordinate with a qualified
service provider to monitor compliance for City-funded
affordable multifamily housing properties.
18.2: When regulated units are found to be at risk of conversion to market rate, coordinate with a qualified service provider and property owners at least 2 years in advance of conversion to market rate to work toward solutions for retaining affordability, and notify owners of such units at least 1 year prior to
conversion.

Program 19: Replacement Requirements

Consistent with the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (Government Code Section 66300(d)) and related State housing law, the City requires that housing development projects provide at least the same number of dwelling units as any units demolished to build the project, including any units existing on the site within the past five years. Government Code Section 66300(d) and the City further require that for demolished units subject to certain affordability restrictions or occupied by low- or very low- income households, the project meet applicable requirements for affordability, relocation benefits, and right of first refusal for existing occupants. The City will work with tenants of units that could be redeveloped and provide them with linguistically appropriate educational materials regarding tenant
rights and resources.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

19.1: Enforce replacement requirements in accordance with
Government Code Sections 66300(d) and 65915(c)(3)
throughout the planning period.
19.2: By December 2024, require that applicants of proposed development projects involving demolition or removal of existing dwelling units provide an affidavit signed by the
property owner regarding compliance with the provisions of SB330 and SB8 for current or recent tenants and replacement
units.

19.3: Provide education and technical assistance to tenants to ensure they are aware of their rights and available resources. Develop educational materials by December 2023 and conduct outreach related to tenant rights and resources as described in
Objective 20.3.

Program 20: Residential Tenant Protections

Rental Tenant Protection Program

In July 2020, the City Council adopted the Residential Tenant Protection Program (RTPP) (Chapter 19.40 of the Municipal Code) which requires, among other things that a tenant be provided a written lease with specified minimum lease terms and relocation assistance for no-fault evictions. In January 2021, the City Council also included a Rent Registry Program within the larger RTPP. The RTPP sunsets on January 1, 2030. The RTPP provides protections to tenants beyond what is required under
State law (AB 1482, 2019). The RTPP strengthens the State relocation payment requirement by:
Increasing the relocation amount for tenants due to no-fault eviction from a flat amount of $1,000 to two times the monthly rent or $5,000, whichever is greater.
Requiring landlords to offer tenants a twelve-month lease.
Tenants may report Residential Tenant/Landlord issues, including rent or eviction issues, to the City’s
service provider via phone or email.
As part of the larger RTPP, the Residential Rent Registry Program went into effect in July 2021 and requires all multifamily complexes of four or more units to register with the City on an annual basis. The program is administered by the City and its consultant, and requires property owners to provide information on tenancy and rents. The City will continue to work with its consultant to ensure all landlords are registered and will continue to publish an annual report based on the rent registry results to provide transparency around the available data. This data can be used to identify potential fair housing or rent related issues. The data will further inform decision making on City housing policies and programs related to the impact of rents and/or potential fair housing and rent disparities or issues
in the local housing market.

Residential Tenant Anti-Harassment Protection Ordinance
Additionally, the City has recently taken action to further Fair Housing practices in the City by prohibiting discrimination, violations of tenants’ rights to privacy, and landlord retaliation through a Residential Tenant Anti-Harassment Protection (RTAHP) Ordinance. The City Council adopted the RTAHP Ordinance on June 28, 2022. The RTAHP Ordinance aims to deter harassment, as defined in Code of Civil Procedure Section 527.6(b)(2), by residential property owners, to encourage such owners to follow the law and uphold their responsibility to provide habitable rental properties, and
to give tenants legal recourse when they are subjected to harassment by owners.
The City is and will continue working with local housing advocacy groups to develop and distribute linguistically appropriate educational materials pertaining to the RTPP and the Residential Tenant Anti-Harassment Protection Ordinance to property owners, apartment managers, and tenants, with more intensive bilingual outreach efforts in the City’s R/ECAP along Monument Boulevard.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

20.1: Continue implementation of Residential Tenant
Protection Program throughout the planning period including the following : (1) the Residential Rent Registry Program, whereby the City collects rent and tenancy data with an annual report provided to City Council on the data collected and trends observed, to inform and evaluate additional tenant protections as directed by Council; (2) require that rental property owners offer tenants a minimum lease term of 12 months; (3) require that rental property owners provide relocation assistance of at least two times the monthly rent or $5,000, whichever is greater,
to tenants undergoing no-fault evictions.
20.2: Provide education and technical assistance to tenants to ensure they are aware of the Residential Tenant Anti- Harassment Protection Ordinance. Develop and distribute educational materials by September 2022. Conduct more intensive, bilingual outreach for households in the R/ECAP
along Monument Boulevard as discussed in Objective 20.4.
20.3: Provide Citywide education and technical assistance to tenants to ensure they are aware of all federal, State, and local tenant protections in place for them and resources for reporting potential issues. Develop and distribute educational materials by January 2024 and conduct at least one educational session every
two years during the planning period.
20.4: Conduct more intensive, bilingual outreach regarding tenant protections in the R/ECAP along Monument Boulevard, including, but not limited to, translating materials from Objective 20.3 into Spanish, partnering with non-profit organizations serving this area to distribute materials and meeting announcements, and conducting at least one in-person
training session in Spanish within or near the R/ECAP, by January 2024. Conduct ongoing outreach throughout the planning period as discussed in Objective 8.3.

Program 21: Special Housing Needs

Program21: Special Housing Needs

The City will provide assistance for those with special housing needs including older adults, large
families, female-headed households, and persons with disabilities through the following methods:
Home Match Contra Costa - This program provides matching services for older adults that would like to share their homes for companionship, extra income, or assistance with home maintenance. This service includes applicant screenings, home visits, interviews, on-going
mediation, outreach, and written agreements for living arrangements.
Increased Accessibility - The City will promote increased accessibility by connecting developers and residents to resources on design features that are accessible and safe to all people regardless of age, size, ability, or disability. This can include guidance on home retrofits
for increased accessibility and referrals to independent living centers.
The City will coordinate with the Regional Center of East Bay to implement an outreach program that informs families within the City on housing and services available for persons
with disabilities.
Additionally, the City will continue to support large families and female-headed households through development fees on new construction and tenant improvements to provide continued funding for
the Concord Child Care Program.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

21.1: Continue to connect older adults through Home Match Contra Costa through annual notifications to the City’s
interested parties list.
21.2: Create a Housing for Persons with Disability webpage that connects residents to accessibility and service resources such as home-retrofit grants and independent living services within the
planning period.
21.4: Promote the web pages through media channels within the
planning period.
21.5: Continue providing funding for the Concord Child Care
Program.
21.3: Update the Resources for Housing Developers webpage to connect developers to accessibility resources, including a link to the City's Building Division, ADA Compliance webpage within
the planning period.

Program 22: Support for People Experiencing Homelessness

On July 1, 2021, the City allocated $304,000 for fiscal year 2021-22 to organizations that provide safety net services to the City’s most vulnerable residents. Services include the 211 Call Line2, Contra Costa County’s Coordinated Outreach Referral Engagement (CORE)3 program, food distribution
programs, health clinics, emergency centers and other vital support services.
On November 2, 2021, the City Council adopted a resolution to add a full-time Community Services Manager position to provide administrative, policy, coordination, and communication functions to develop strategies to address homelessness issues in the community. Further, the City Council also amended its Agreement with Contra Costa County to add a fulltime Masters Level Social Worker
(MSW) to the CORE team for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23.
At its goal setting session in April 2022, the City Council made the development of a Strategic Plan to address homelessness in the community a Tier I priority and set aside $2.4 million dollars to develop
and implement the Strategic Plan.
On May 3, 2022, the City was also awarded approximately $1.25 million dollars in Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)4 grant funds from the State of California, which will be used to provide housing navigation, support services, and 6 to 12 months of rental subsidy to rapidly rehouse people
experiencing homelessness for the next 5 years.
Additionally, the City will provide processes that facilitate the production of housing to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Through this program the City will:

Amend the Development Code to allow supportive housing by-right in zones where multifamily and mixed uses are permitted, including nonresidential zones permitting multifamily uses, consistent with State requirements. Supportive housing shall be permitted
in accordance with California Government Code Section 65651 (AB 2162, 2018).
Amend the Development Code to ensure that Emergency Shelters are not subject to the
Design and Site Review process (AB 139, 2019).
Amend the Development Code to ensure that Single Room Occupancy (SRO) or Group
Housing are not subject to the Design and Site Review process.
Amend the Development Code to permit the development of Low-Barrier Navigation Centers as a use by-right, without requiring a discretionary action, in mixed-use and non-residential zones that permit residential uses (AB 101, 2019). Low-Barrier Navigation Centers are housing first, low-barrier, service-enriched shelters focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals
experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter , and housing.

Further, the City provides case management services to assist in outreach and connect those experiencing homelessness to available resources. The City will continue to provide this service throughout the planning period.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
• • • • • • •
22.1: Appropriate $2.4 million towards the development and
implementation of the Strategic Plan to address homelessness.
22.2: Develop and implement a Strategic Plan to address
homelessness by December 2024.
22.3: Continue to fund position for a Community Services
Manager position through the planning period..
22.4: Continue to fund the MSW for the CORE program
through the planning period as funding is available.
22.5: Rapidly rehouse people experiencing homelessness
through January 2026 or longer if funding is made available.
22.6: Amend the Development Code, consistent with State
requirements, by February 2024.
22.7: Continue to fund organizations that serve individuals and
families experiencing homelessness.

Program 23: Water and Sewer Priority for Affordable Housing

Pursuant to Chapter 727, Statutes of 2005 (SB 1087), the City is required to deliver its adopted Housing Element and any amendments thereto to local water and sewer service providers. This legislation allows for coordination between the City and water and sewer providers when considering approval of new residential projects. The Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) is responsible for providing water service to the City, and the City oversees wastewater collection and conveyance. As such, the City will distribute a copy of the adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element to CCWD, the area water provider, and coordinate internally with the Public Works Department for review and consideration when reviewing new residential projects to ensure adequate water and sewer capacity
is available to accommodate housing, especially housing for lower-income households.
The current 2020 CCWD Regional Urban Water Management Plan acknowledges the requirements and includes the projected water use for single-family and multifamily housing needed for lower- income households. The Community Development Department will coordinate with the area water provider and with Public Works to prioritize proposed developments with housing affordable to lower-income households, including extremely low- and very-low income by providing copies of subsequent updates or amendments to the Housing Element, if any. The coordination efforts will further support the prioritization of water and sewer services for future residential development, including units affordable to lower-income households, as a public agency or private entity providing water or sewer services must adopt written policies and procedures that grant a priority of service to housing units affordable to lower income households and shall not deny or condition the approval of
an application for services without specific written findings in accordance with State law.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

23.1: Distribute adopted Housing Element to CCWD and the
City’s Public Works Department by June 2023, or within one
month of Housing Element adoption.
23.2: Increase coordination with CCWD and the City’s Public Works Department to ensure that adopted policies prioritize water and sewer allocation for affordable housing developments through contact at the beginning of the planning period and
every 5 years or sooner if the Housing Element is amended.

Program 24: Short Term Rentals

A short-term rental is typically defined as a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, that is offered or provided to a guest by a short-term rental owner or operator for fewer than 30 consecutive nights. Such rentals are also commonly referred to as vacation rentals.5 While short-term rentals can provide a positive economic impact to a city with an additional income through tax revenues, they can also reduce the available housing supply, often impacting residents who depend on affordable housing,
contributing to increasing housing and rental prices.
The Concord community has expressed concern over displacement of tenants through conversion of conventional rental dwelling units to short-term rentals (e.g., AirBnB and VRBO units). Through this
program, the City will evaluate the development of regulations to address this issue.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)
24.1: Conduct an evaluation of best practices for the
development of regulations to address displacement of residential tenants due to conversion of conventional dwelling units to short term rentals (e.g. AirBnB and VRBO units). Present evaluation to City Council for public comment,
consideration and further direction by December 2026.
24.2: If regulations are adopted, conduct outreach and education within 6 months of adoption to increase property owner and tenant awareness of the new regulations. Conduct more intensive, bilingual outreach in the City’s R/ECAP along Monument Boulevard, including, but not limited to, translating materials into Spanish, partnering with non-profit organizations serving this area to distribute materials and meeting announcements, and conducting at least one in-person
training session in Spanish within or near the R/ECAP.
24.3: If adopted, include regulations in educational materials on tenant protections (Program 20) within six months of adoption.

Program 25: Advocacy for State Housing Legislation, Policies and Funding

The City continually monitors pending State housing legislation, policies, and funding, and advocates for changes that will increase affordability, homeownership opportunities, and to reduce the risk of displacement and homelessness in Concord. As an example of such advocacy, on May 9, 2022, the City Council sent a letter to the Assembly Appropriates Committee supporting AB 2170, a pending bill that would promote homeownership by giving owner-occupants and public entities a “First Look”
at purchasing bank-owned properties and prohibiting “bulk sales” of foreclosed homes.
Through this program, the City will continue to advocate for changes at the State level that will help address Concord’s housing needs, including changing the methodology for allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), which makes it difficult for affordable housing projects in Concord
to obtain LIHTCs.

Objective(s)/Timeframe(s)

25.1: Coordinate with the City’s public affairs consultant to receive regular updates (at least quarterly) regarding pending
State housing legislation, policies, and funding.
25.2: Submit letters annually, to the State legislature, Governor, and other State entities supporting pending legislation, policies and funding that will increase affordability, homeownership opportunities, and to reduce the risk of displacement and
homelessness in Concord.
25.3: Request the support of other local jurisdictions for housing legislation, policies and funding that the City supports, through elected officials, professional groups (e.g. Public Management Association and Planning Directors), the League of California
Cities, and other similar organizations.
25.4: During the next public comment period on the methodology for allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), submit a letter requesting changes to make projects in Low Resource areas (as classified on the most recent TCAC Opportunity Maps), but with access to transit and other
amenities, more competitive for LIHTCs.
25.5: Submit a letter to the State Assembly supporting AB 2710 (Kalra), if and when that bill is re-introduced. AB 2710 would provide tenants, community land trusts and nonprofit and governmental entities a first right of refusal to purchase rental housing. If AB 2710 is not re-introduced or not adopted,
support any similar bills as they are.