PREPARED BY: LIBBY TYLER DATE OF MEETING: 09/05/2023
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER AUTHORIZING MAYOR TO EXECUTE RESPONSE TO THE 2022-2023 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 2306 ENTITLED “AFFORDABLE HOUSING: A PLAN WITHOUT A HOME”
CEQA: This action is not a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize by Minute Order
Body
Compliance statements
This action is not applicable under the FY 2023-25 Council Priority Workplan, as amended June 5, 2023. However, the City is mandated by State law to respond to Grand Jury reports.
BACKGROUND
Early in California’s history, the California Constitution established grand juries in each county. The California Penal Code includes provisions on the formation, powers and duties of grand juries. With respect to public agencies, civil grand juries are authorized to “investigate and report upon the operations, accounts, and records of the officers, departments, functions, and the method or systems of performing the duties of any such city or joint powers agency and make such recommendations as it may deem proper and fit.” (Cal. Penal Code section 925a.)
Within 90 days after the grand jury submits a report regarding the operations of any public agency, the “governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body . . .” (Cal. Penal Code section 933(c)).
On June 16, 2023, the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury submitted to the City of San Pablo and other cities within Contra Costa County a copy of Grand Jury Report No. 2306 entitled “Affordable Housing: “A Plan Without a Home”. The attachment to this report provides the City of San Pablo’s proposed response to the identified Findings and Recommendations included in Grand Jury Report. The City’s response to the report must be submitted to the Grand Jury no later than September 13, 2023.
The response was prepared in part by a consortium of Contra Costa Communities entitled the Contra Costa County Collaborative, which was formed by ABAG to assist cities in preparing Housing Elements and related activities. Portions of the response that were authored by and pertain specifically to San Pablo are highlighted in red.
FISCAL IMPACT
Preparing a response to the Grand Jury as required by law used staff resources and no other expenditure of funds.
ATTACHMENTS
Att A -City of San Pablo proposed response letter to be dated, September 7, 2023.
Att B - June 16, 2023 Letter from Cynthia Roberts, Foreperson, 2023-2023 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury, with Grand Jury Report No. 2306, Affordable Housing: “A Plan Without a Home”, prepared by the 2022-2023 Contra Costa Civil Grand Jury attached.