Housing Element Advisory Committee Recruitment

Over the next year, the Town of San Anselmo will be focused on updating its Housing Element. The Town is seeking residents to serve on the newly created Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC). In addition to reviewing and provide guidance on goals and policies related to the update of the Housing Element, one of the HEAC’s main purpose is to assist the Town in ensuring a broad and inclusive community outreach and engagement process. The Update will involve participation from community members through public meetings, workshops, and online surveys. The effort will involve extensive data gathering and analysis, and will be assisted by a consultant team. This is a once in decade opportunity to get involved in the Housing Element process. HEAC applications are due to the Town by noon, June 16, 2022.

Applications can be made by visiting the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SanAnselmoHEACapplication

Interviews are expected to take place on June 20 and 21, 2022 (via Zoom) with Town Council appointment to the Committee are expected on June 28, 2022. The first HEAC meeting is expected on July 11, 2022.

What is a Housing Element Update?

Housing Elements are housing plans that are one part of the Town’s General Plan – a blueprint for all the ways the Town of San Anselmo is planned and managed, from our roads and sidewalks to our parks and neighborhoods. With an update required every eight years by the State of California, this Housing Element update will create a foundation for all the policies and programs related to housing. 

While town governments do not generally build housing themselves, they create the rules that affect where housing can be built, how much and how it is approved. Each jurisdiction’s housing plan needs to help ensure that there will be enough capacity and supportive policies to meet the projected need for an eight year period. The last Housing Element Update, the 5th cycle, was adopted by the Town Council and certified by the State of California in 2015.  

The work the community will undertake through the Housing Element update is important. Increasingly, purchasing a home is out of reach for many while renters face rent prices that are too high. Additionally, teachers, firefighters, health care and other essential workers are traveling long distances to work or being forced to relocate to other towns. Young adults and students are unable to purchase homes or even live in the communities they grew up in once they leave their childhood homes. Finally, communities of color and non-English speakers cannot afford to be near their jobs, school or families. The upcoming work to align on a vision for housing in San Anselmo will look at these issues.

 Role of the HEAC

The HEAC is a Council-appointed committee consisting of five members and an advisory body serving the San Anselmo community through the Housing Element Update process. The Housing Element Advisory Committee supplements the community input provided at public workshops and will provide feedback and guidance throughout the Housing Element process. The HEAC, working with the Project consultant team and Town staff, has the following roles and responsibilities:

• Review and provide guidance to Town staff, and the consultant, on goals and policies related to the update of the Housing Element
• Ensure sufficient public outreach and stakeholder input regarding the Housing Element update, including innovative ways to reach multiple segments of population/stakeholders (see Role in Community Outreach and Stakeholder Input section below)
• Relay information from consultant to Town Council regarding technical expertise and new state legislation, and provide benchmarking with other Marin communities
• Work with staff to dialogue with the County on potential for collaborative approaches
• Identify possibly pathways to one hundred percent affordable housing projects in San Anselmo

HEAC Term

The HEAC is expected to meet at least monthly, however more frequent meetings may be necessary throughout the planning effort. The San Anselmo Housing Element Update is a one-year process that involves public engagement events and activities that Committee members are encouraged to participate in. The HEAC is a limited-term committee appointed to fulfill the mission and role outlined above for the duration of the planning effort. At the completion of the Housing Element Update, the HEAC will be dissolved.

Eligibility

The Town anticipates broad interest in serving on the HEAC. The Housing Element Advisory Committee will be comprised of five members: one Councilmember, one Planning Commissioners and three Town residents/business owner/stakeholder. Appointments to the HEAC will be made by the Town Council and candidates will be selected to ensure that:

• The HEAC is representative of a diversity of San Anselmo’s neighborhoods and different housing types and forms
• HEAC members have the capacity to represent the community broadly
• Disadvantaged or minority groups are given equal representation

The ideal HEAC candidate possess the following desirable qualifications:

• Resides in San Anselmo (exceptions may be made for a non-resident who is employed in San Anselmo)
• Is motivated and brings energy and creative ideas for planning San Anselmo’s future
• Is capable of meeting at least monthly, and more frequently as needed for the project
• Commits to work collaboratively and effectively in a group

Applicants who are not selected to serve on the HEAC are encouraged to participate in the Housing Element Update process as individuals. Applicants will also be considered for appointment to replace HEAC members that may resign, or who are otherwise unable to fulfill their duties as HEAC members.

Whether you decide to apply for consideration on the HEAC itself or not, community members are encouraged to participate in planned outreach events, meetings, and workshops that will be coordinated throughout this planning effort.

THE TOWN INVITES INTERESTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO APPLY BY June 16, 2022.

PDF versions of the application are available upon email request to hscoble@townofsananselmo.org