CATT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (LGAC) MEETING DATES AND SPEAKERS
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May 20 |
Placer County Building Services Manager Jeff Thomas and
Truckee Council Member David Polivy
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We have two speakers lined up for May. Jeff Thomas, with Placer County Building Department, will talk about overall operations of the Tahoe office with a special emphasis on the draft Structural Observation Report policy. Following Jeff will be David Polivy, who was elected to the Truckee Town Council in November 2018. This is a meet and greet session, where David can meet CATT members and they can meet him.
Other agenda items for the LGAC meeting include: Truckee General Plan and Housing Element Updates, and North Tahoe Fire hydrant code requirements.
LGAC meetings are usually held the third Monday of the month at the CATT office and start at 4:00 PM. Any CATT member is welcome to attend LGAC meetings. Please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com for more information about LGAC activities or issues of concern to CATT.
TRPA GOVERNING BOARD ADDS NEW CONDITION TO RELEASE OF RESIDENTIAL ALLOCATIONS
On April 24, the TRPA Governing Board voted to release residential allocations for both the 2019 and 2020 building seasons. The release, which is tied to overall performance on water quality and other objectives, became enmeshed in the debate about use of existing and new residences for short term rentals (STRs). Even though the Governing Board did not place any conditions on the April 24 release, the release set for 2021 will have a new criterion to meet: short term rental neighborhood compatibility. Some sort of scoring system will be developed that awards points to jurisdictions for different features or functions of their STR program. If they don’t score enough points, they may not get all of their residential allocations in 2021.
It was clear at the Governing Board meeting that some members felt the local governments have not addressed the STR issue adequately. The local governments explained what they have done and what is projected to occur. Residents also expressed support to keep STRs while others complained about nuisance and use issues. CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison said determining allowable use is a local government issue and any new criterion should include flexibility and realistic enforcement.
The clock is ticking however, as the code amendment adding this new criterion to allocation release must be delivered to the Governing Board, the Regional Plan Implementation Committee, and the Advisory Planning Committee by the end of 2019. The Local Government & Housing Committee is responsible for preparing the code amendment.
CATT has been involved in the distribution of residential allocations for many years. In most cases, a property owner needs a residential allocation to build a new home and TRPA controls the allocations, which are in turn given out to the jurisdictions upon proof they have met water quality requirements and permit compliance. Now STR neighborhood compatibility will be a factor used to evaluate whether a jurisdiction should receive residential allocations.
Thanks to CATT member Kristi Thompson (MWA, Inc.) for writing a letter to the Governing Board explaining her position as CATT’s Chair of the Affordable/Workforce Housing Committee and urging release of the allocations without delay.
For more information about this issue, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com
WELCOME TO TWO NEW LGAC MEMBERS!!
LGAC Chairman Tony Commendatore recently appointed two new members to LGAC: Christian Edwards and Heather Rankow.
Christian Edwards founded Truckee/Tahoe-based Timberline Construction in 2007, three years after earning his Construction Management degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Christian is licensed in both CA and NV and also holds a Green Builder certification from Build It Green. Christian has more than 18 years of construction management, development and building experience in residential and commercial construction.
Heather Rankow (JK Architecture Engineering) is an accomplished project manager with over 15 years of professional experience and education in entitlements, planning, development, design, and construction of high-end residential, commercial, and mixed use projects. Some of Heather's notable projects include: Downtown 76 Station, Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center, Peak 10 Lakefront Townhomes, InkSpot @ Northstar, Engel Volkers Realty Downtown, and Margs Bistro Patio.
Heather has joined the Affordable/Workforce Housing Committee and Christian is looking at different issues and will select his issue soon.
Thank you Christian and Heather!
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR MAY 10 CA ENERGY CODE SEMINAR IN TRUCKEE
The Town of Truckee, Nevada County, Sierra County and Placer County invite you to the 2019 California Energy Code Seminar to discuss the challenges and mandatory changes of California’s Energy Code.
CAL Green defers to California’s Energy Code in regard to building efficiency standards. It is the strictest code of its kind in the nation. Years ago, it was announced that when the current revisions became mandatory in January 2020, all new residential construction will be required to meet Zero Net Energy requirements. The 2019 updates address this efficiency goal.
This three-hour seminar will bring you up to date on changes to the Energy Code (commonly referred to as Title 24) for residential and non-residential buildings. Will the code require rooftop solar for every new home? What changes in the 2019 code relate to the state’s long-term carbon reduction goals? Where is the code likely to go next?
Get answers to these questions, and more, and come with your questions regarding compliance with existing code requirements.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2019
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Town of Truckee Council Chambers - 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, CA 96161
Registration: $25 per person - SPACE IS LIMITED!
To register, please contact Kelly Huelskamp at 530.582.5083 or khuelskamp@townoftruckee.com
TTSA BOARD APPROVES NEW RATES FOR SEWER HOOKUPS
At the Tahoe Truckee Sanitation Agency Board of Directors’ meeting on April 10, the Board approved Ordinance 1-2019 adjusting Agency connection charges and making related amendments. The changes become effective 30 days after adoption.
The previous charge for a residential connection was $5,000 per living unit. The new residential connection fee is structured with a minimum base fee ($1,500) combined with a unit cost per square foot ($1.75 per SF). The baseline uses a 2,000 SF home. Homes larger than 2,000 SF will now pay more than $5,000 and homes less than 2,000 SF will now pay less than $5,000. There are also simplifications for non-residential connection categories and fees.
Questions on implementation of the ordinance should be directed to Roshelle Chavez at rchavez@ttsa.net.
CATT HOUSING COMMITTEE ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON ACHIEVABLE LOCAL HOUSING
CATT’s Affordable/Workforce Housing Committee answered several questions posed by Truckee Town staff in regards the use of “achievable local” housing as an equivalent type of housing that could meet the requirements imposed on almost all new market rate residential projects in Truckee. The Town requires that 15% of the units or lots in most market rate projects be treated differently. That 15% must be deed restricted to occupants in the lower income levels – a cap on rent or sales price.
The existing requirements only deal with housing in the very low, low, and moderate income levels [up to 120% of area median income (AMI)]. For a family of four in 2017, the Placer County AMI was $76,100 and the Nevada County AMI was $73,500.
Based on requests from CATT and the Mountain Housing Council (MHC), the Town is evaluating whether they want to expand the requirement to include the “achievable local” income level, which goes up to 195% of area median income. This is the “missing middle” – the household that makes too much money to qualify for state or federal assistance but does not make enough money to buy a home at market rate.
CATT’s answers to the Town questions cover several different topics – here are a couple:
- When meeting the Town requirement, should an achievable local housing unit (up to 195% AMI) be equal to a very low, low, or moderate income unit?
CATT says yes because we need units to cover all these income levels.
- Should smaller units by design be allowed with no occupancy or use controls?
CATT says no – you need an occupancy and use restriction to keep the unit in the locals only, fulltime population housing supply.
Click here to download a copy of the full set of CATT answers to the seven questions posed by Town staff.
Click here to download a copy of CATT’s comments for the Housing Element Update now underway.
Click here to download the MHC policy brief on Achievable Local Housing.
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GAPS BETWEEN INCOME LEVELS AND HOUSING PRICES (From the MHC policy brief)
A family of four earning 100% of the area median income (in Nevada County), could afford a $278,565 priced home, but this is nowhere near the median home price of $538,000. The median for-sale single-family home price is almost double what a household earning the median area income can afford.
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For more information about Truckee’s housing requirements or Housing Element Update, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com
USE COMPLAINT FORM FOR PLAN CHECK & INSPECTION PROBLEMS
CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison created a complaint form that can be used to document a problem with plan check or building inspection. This form allows CATT to track the complaint and also gives the managing entity specific detail for remedy. The complaint outline is simple:
- Project address
- Building permit #
- Date problem occurred
- Brief description of what happened
- Your opinion – what should have happened instead
- Your name and contact info
Click here to download the form. A fillable form is also posted on the CATT webpage at http://www.ca-tt.com/lgac-issues
For more information about the complaint form and CATT involvement once the form is filed, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison at 530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com
CATT PRIORITIES FOR 2019
This list was unanimously approved by LGAC at their regular meeting December 17, 2018:
2019 PRIORITY ISSUES TO BE HANDLED BY CATT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER PAT DAVISON
1. Mitigation Fees – coordinate with LGAC as a whole
Review Annual Updates (all jurisdictions)
Resolve issues with Placer County Traffic Mitigation Fees
Seek Placer County Traffic Fee conversion to SF
Monitor/Comment on Northstar Fire Mitigation Fee Study (if Martis Valley West annexation occurs)
Update CATT Mitigation Fee POLICY re when mitigation fee is calculated and 500 SF trigger for additions (all jurisdictions)
2. Truckee General Plan Update – coordinate with specific LGAC committee
3. Placer County Plan Check/Inspection Procedures & Timelines – coordinate with specific LGAC committee
4. Affordable/Workforce Housing – coordinate with specific LGAC committee (House Truckee First, Truckee funding options, Truckee 2nd unit incentives, Placer in lieu fee and small project exemption, 2nd units on smaller parcels with septic systems, Mountain Housing Council, Factory _OS tour, etc)
5. North Tahoe Fire Hydrant Requirements – coordinate with specific LGAC committee
OTHER - Continue to provide reports and information, conduct leadership training and identify committee recruits, assist with fundraising for the Issues Action Fund, attend CATT meetings, read files for scanning, and perform other administrative duties as needed. Continue to emphasize the importance of CATT members being involved in issues to affect the outcome.
2019 PRIORITY ISSUES TO BE HANDLED BY LGAC MEMBERS & OTHERS:
Placer County Structural Observations Report – John Wood
Multi-Jurisdictional Building Working Group – Jamie Brimer & Mike Nethersole
North Tahoe Fire Plan Check Process – Pat Souza
Truckee Citizens Oversight Tax Committee – Craig Weaver
Truckee Fire Property Tax Distribution – John Pruyn
DONATE TO CATT "ISSUES ACTION FUND"
The Construction Industry is heavily regulated, with codes, fees, and policies changing on a regular basis at all levels of government. Many times, CATT dialogue with agency staff or elected officials can remove impediments or resolve problems.
But sometimes, CATT needs to take action to protect your industry in a different way. That's why you will hear the refrain: The World Is Run By Those Who Show Up with a call to action - comment now or attend a meeting. That's also why you will hear about CATT hiring experts or consultants to provide supporting information as a way to change the outcome of some code, fee, or policy proposal.
Consultants and experts give CATT an added boost, reinforcing a point from an outside perspective. That could make the difference between a questionable proposal getting adopted as is and one getting modified to be more reasonable.
CATT's Issues Action Fund is a dedicated fund set up to channel donations to those special issues where an expert or consultant can make a positive difference. LGAC oversees the Issues Action Fund. Please consider making a donation to the IAF today as a way to protect your tomorrow. . Download the donation form here.
For more information about the CATT Issues Action Fund, please contact CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison (530.550.9999 or pat@ca-tt.com)
WHAT IS LGAC?
CATT's Local Government Affairs Committee is a permanent committee composed of members who are interested in Fees - Codes - Regulation - Policy. This is the committee that analyzes issues affecting the building industry and determines CATT position and strategy. This committee works very closely with CATT Government Affairs Manager Pat Davison.
Bring your problems or concerns to LGAC. You may think you are alone when in reality others may be experiencing the same problems. LGAC could be the place to help you find a remedy. Experience the power of numbers with CATT as your ally.
Come to the LGAC meeting and learn what is happening with TRPA, the Town of Truckee, Special Districts, and the three Counties. Find out what CATT is doing to improve conditions for you and the building industry.
WHO IS LGAC?
CATT’s Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) has 20 members. LGAC Chair is Tony Commendatore (Aegis Insurance Markets), Vice Chair is John Wood (Loverde Builders, Inc.). Committee members are: Eric Slominski (Barrish Pelham & Associates), Jamie Brimer (Brimer Construction & Plumbing), Chip Huck (CST Holdings, LLC), Dan Fraiman (Daniel Fraiman Construction), Valerie Brinker (Dickson Realty), Michael Forshee (Forshee Construction), Cody Heller (Heller Construction, Inc.), Pat Souza (Heslin Construction), John Pruyn (High West Landscape Architects), Heather Rankow (JK Architecture Engineering), Jim Smith (Mark Tanner Construction, Inc.), Ryan Marsden (Marsden Architects), Brian McEneaney (McEneaney Construction), Mitch Clarin (Mitchell T. Clarin), Craig Weaver (Molsby & Bordner, LLP), Kristi Thompson (MWA, Inc.), Justin Bertoli (NSM Corporation), and Christian Edwards (Timberline Construction).
If fees, regulations, codes, and policy interest you, contact LGAC Chair Tony Commendatore at 530.582.6000 or tony@aegisins.com
