MINUTES OF THE STUDY SESSION OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT
OF THE HERMOSA BEACH GENERAL PLAN
HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2000, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Perrotti at 6:00 p.m.

Roll Call

Present: Commissioners Hoffman, Pizer, Tucker, Kersenboom, and Chairman Perrotti
Absent: None

Also Present: Sol Blumenfeld, Community Development Director
Ken Robertson, Associate Planner
Diane Cleary, Recording Secretary

Jim Lissner, Hermosa Beach, expressed concern with public noticing of the meeting and believed it should be rescheduled.

Director Blumenfeld explained that a copy of their display ad was published in the local newspaper describing the study session and a notice was posted. He also explained that the last Commission Meeting did not require adjournment to this study session, and there will not be any formal decision made this evening.

Director Blumenfeld stated that the City is required to prepare a Housing Element as one of the mandated elements of the General Plan. On May 4, 2000, the City received its Regional Housing Needs Assessment, and the City’s Housing element is prepared on a 7.5 year planning cycle which currently needs to be updated and submitted by the end of the year to the State Department of Housing and Community Development. He said that Blodgett, Baylosis and Associates have been selected as the City’s consultants. He also indicated that there will be two more formal hearings, one at Planning Commission and the other at City Council.

Mark Blodgett gave a presentation of the Housing Element Update as follows:

Why Prepare a Housing Element

• The Element is a General Plan requirement
• The Element must be updated every 5 years
• The Element must consider the future project housing need
• The Element must review policies and programs, and
• The Element must identify constraints to potential housing development  Process

• Prepare baseline study
• Develop housing policies and programs
• Obtain direction
• Review of Draft Housing Element
• Submit Draft Housing Element to HCD
• Coordinate revisions
• Public review, and
• Final submittal to HCD, adoption and certification

Mr. Blodgett further reviewed the following:

Population Growth

• Hermosa Beach maintained a stable population with a modest increase (1970-1990)
• Population in other beach cities has declined due to change in household characteristics (1970-1990)
• Population of L.A. County increased significantly (1970-1990)
• Hermosa Beach’s population growth remained modest at just under 8% (1990-2000)
• Population in other beach cities increased (1990-2000)
• Population of L.A. County increased (1990-2000)

Age Profile of Hermosa Beach (1980-1990)

• Significant decline of 40% of school-aged and young adult groups
• Growth in middle age group due to affordability of housing

Race of Hermosa Beach by Census Tract (1990)

• Predominantly white (1960-2000)
• Growing number of Hispanic and Asian (Hispanic is considered an ethnicity)

Population and Housing Density of Hermosa Beach (1980-2000)

• Growth of 1561 persons
• Growth of only 180 dwelling unit (duplex considered to be 2 dwelling units)
• Average household size increased 12.2%
• Lack of available land for 300+ housing units

Population and Housing Density (2000) (in comparison to other cities)

• Population density of Hermosa Beach in terms of persons/sq. mi. most densely populated
• Housing density of Hermosa Beach in terms of units/sq. mi. most densely developed

Units Per Structure in Hermosa Beach (1990-2000)

• 2+ units per structure make up 50% of the City
• 5+ units per structure make up 25% of the City
• Growth in single-family units

Housing Unit by Tenure by Census Tract in Hermosa Beach (1990)

• 60% rental housing

Housing Issue Areas

• Conservation of all housing
• Assist in the development of affordable housing
• Provision of adequate sites to achieve a variety and diversity of housing
• Removal of governmental constraints
• Promotion of equal housing opportunities

Director Blumenfeld summarized that this study session was to provide an overview of the goals, policies and objectives, and he provided copies of the workbook materials that staff has worked on with Mr. Blodgett.

ADJOURNMENT

The Commission adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

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