City Council - Regular Meeting

April is Arab American Heritage Month. The city of Arvin is proud to join in celebrating the heritage and culture of Arab Americans in Kern County. Whereas over a century, Arab Americans have made valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American society, including business, the The U. American life, and with roots the in 22 countries across The Middle East and North Africa. And whereas there are an estimated 3,700,000 Arab Americans in The United States, with California being home to the largest population of Arab Americans in any state.

And whereas Arab Americans continue to enrich the fabric of Arvin's community through meaningful contributions, including opening and sustaining local businesses, creating jobs, engaging in civic and public processes, volunteering their time and skills, and supporting and enhancing opportunities within the city of Arvin. And whereas people of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends while also serving as model citizens with resilient family values, a strong work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to education and diversity of faiths and creeds that strengthen our democracy. And whereas Arab Americans are united by a shared language, Arabic, as well as cultural traditions and histories that span generations. Whereas the celebration of Arab American ancestry and cultural heritage educates our community and helps counter misconceptions and harmful stereotyping and discrimination. And whereas Arab Americans join all Americans in shared aspirations for a peaceful and inclusive society where every individual is treated equally and feels safe.

Whereas the remarkable contributions of Arab Americans, including many in the city of Arvin who trace their roots to Yemen, have helped build a stronger and more vibrant city. Now therefore, we, the city council of the city of Arvin, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month in the city of Arvin and encourage all our residents to celebrate the rich heritage, culture and contributions of Arab Americans in our community. And witness hereof, I set my hand onto and cause to fix the seal the city of Arvin on this 04/14/2026. And I know many of you have seen those two beautiful mosques that we have in our city. The Yemeni community is one of the largest communities in Kern County.

Outside of Yemen, we have the second largest Yemeni community, and we're blessed to have our Arab brothers and sisters here in the city of Arvin. April is also Earth Day. So for all of those of you who have been working to make our city green, clean, and and healthy, we celebrate Earth Day. Here in the city of Arvin, we recognize, the urgent need to protect and restore our environment for current and future generations. Earth Day serves in to leader in the resilience, and shared accountability, are a call to exercise power and service of the planet that we all depend on.

So whereas the Earth's natural system provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we grow, and the ecosystems that sustain all life, yet are increasingly threatened by pollution, climate change, habitat loss, and depletion of natural resources. And whereas collective action through education, conservation, innovation, and civic engagement strengthen our ability to safeguard the earth's beauty, biodiversity, biodiversity, and resiliency. And whereas the city of Arvin has adopted strategies and actions to mitigate climate impacts, conserve water and energy, reduce waste, preserve our tree canopy and expand renewable energy, we will continue building capacity to do more and whereas the city of Arvin has transitioned capacity to a fully electric bus fleet and its water treatment plant is now powered a 100% by solar energy, clean, renewable power that benefits the city's city finances, community health and environment. And whereas this new solar project will eliminate approximately three sixty metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the equivalent of removing 80 cars from the road, and represents a meaningful step toward cleaner air, a healthier future, particularly for residents affected by asthma and other health conditions. Whereas ARVIN proudly implements California Senate Bill thirteen eighty three, working diligently to reduce landfill waste, cut methane emissions, combat climate change through responsible food recovery, waste management and procurement processes.

And whereas we celebrate Earth Day on 04/25/2026, by hosting a community service event, providing residents and volunteers with opportunities to beautify our city. Now therefore, be it proclaimed, the City of Arvin City Council do hereby proclaim 04/22/2026, as Earth Day in the City of April 2026 as Earth Month and urge all residents to participate in community cleanups, city beautification events and sustainability efforts and continue to build a healthier environment. A witness hereof, I set my hand hereon to Encostafix the seal of the city city of Arbonne on this fourteenth day, April twenty twenty six. Okay. Those are our proclamations.

And for those of you that want to participate in our Earth Day, it'll be 08:00 in the morning. We provide everything you need to go and clean our community. We'll be meeting at the Arvin Public Library at eight a. M.

And you're all welcome to join us.

So with that, we will continue now to Item 4A. So before we begin with this item, this is a public hearing. Counsel, are there any ex parte communications to report? And what ex parte means is have you received any information from any party outside of this official public hearing regarding this issue? Mr. Tarver? Mr. Houri? No. Okay. Seeing none, staff, important point. That's I Board And

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of the City Council of the City of Arvin approving zoning code amendment twenty twenty six-one, amending various chapters of Title 17 and the Arvin Municipal Code to implement the housing element programs of the sixth cycle housing element update 2023 through 2031 and acceptance of the California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, notice exemption. So staff is recommending that we, consider the introduction of the ordinance. So we will go ahead and hear your staff report. Go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. My name is Isaiah Medina. I am the contract study planner. I also have with me Russell Graham, who is our Civic Spark Fellow, specifically here to assist the city in, housing related matters. I'll go ahead and I'll pass it off to him to do the presentation for you. And we do have a PowerPoint presentation, if we could get that up. And I'll hand it off to Russell.

Good evening, Mayor Calderon and council members. I'm here today to present on a comprehensive zoning code amendment targeted at implementing various commitments to the city of Arvin, that the city of Harbin has made through its six cycle housing element. In addition, a zoning code amendment was made to the city's density bonus ordinance to support the city's application to the pro housing designation program, which the city was certified into a couple of weeks ago.

You're doing great, Russell. Just take your time because we're translating in real time, we have the recording. Go ahead.

Of course. Yes. Sorry, it's really not moving well on my computer. Okay. Firstly, I will review the changes that have been made to the zoning code to implement housing element programs and align Arvind's code with state law. In addition, there was the revision that was made to the Arvind's Density Botas Ordinance, which exceeds state law. And that was for the purpose of the processing designation program.

Okay.

So starting with the zoning code amendments made to align the housing element with state law. Okay. Housing element programs, which have been implemented include Program 13H, which has to do with the density bonus, Program 13 ks to do with supportive housing, low barrier navigation centers and employee housing, Program 13 to do with various definitions and parking requirements. Program 13 Q, the reasonable accommodation and the definition of family. Program 13 R, the Board of of Okay.

So starting off with, chapter 17.02, which is the titles and definitions. There's various modifications that have been made to, a few definitions. So starting off with, agricultural employee housing, the current definition was repealed and it was, made to defer to the state definition, which is in California Health and Safety Code. The definition to emergency shelter was, amended to include a greater variety variety of facilities, to comply with government code. The definition of family, there was an amendment made to remove a vague reference to the Uniform Housing Code, which had the potential to be restrictive.

There was a definition created for group home, which was guided by Housing and Community Development's group home technical advisory. The definition for low barrier navigation center was created, in accordance with government code. The definition for residential care facility was amended. The previous definition was specific to facilities for persons with chronic life threatening illnesses, and the new definition creates a broader scope. The definitions for supportive and transitional housing had minuscule amendments just to make sure that we're citing the accurate section of government code.

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the A1 light agricultural zone was amended to permit employee housing. The MUO pedestrian oriented mixed use overlay zone was permitted to allow additional residential uses similar to all the other OSAP funds, including emergency shelters, low barrier navigation centers, supportive housing, transitional made that

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in requirement. That was placed for a lot of these. Residential uses which are now permitted by right in the previous. Previously. Mentioned zones.

Okay. Moving on. Chapter 17.48, automobile parking requirements. The minimum number of parking spaces was amended for multi multi family uses to comply with state law. This meant that studio and web bedrooms has a minimum of one.

Two to three bedrooms has a minimum of 1.5. And then 2.5 on-site parking spaces for four or more bedrooms. And in housing developments, one bed space requires no parking spaces. Continuing. There was also a minimum number of parking spaces that was get

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very quarter. Have Firstly, for the emergency shelter development standards, they were a amended to align with government code, the listed government code. For density bonus, it was repealed and replaced to comply with state density bonus law. There was also an additional provision that was made to exceed state density bonus law, which I'll get into later. For supportive housing, there was a new section added which complied with the government code section that's listed.

And this is similar to the additions that are seen here for low barrier navigation centers and for agriculture employee housing. All of these are new sections and they're all being added to comply with the relevant government codes for each. And each one is similar in that it establishes an application process for each residential use and development standards. Okay. Chapter 17.56, variances modifications and zone changes.

Firstly, starting out with section one sixty of this chapter. So this was amended the reasonable accommodation standard was amended to comply with California code of regulations. A couple of the amendments were to do with, expanding the means for an individual to claim they're disabled under fair housing laws, and not requiring an individual to requesting not requiring an individual requesting reasonable accommodation to disclose the exact nature of their disability. And then it also requires for all information concerning an applicant's disability to be kept confidential. And establishes instances for this exception, which would be instances like where it is needed put forth the accommodation that's needed or if the individual consents.

And it also removes the ability for the city to create a fee for a request for a reasonable accommodation as that is not allowed in California in the site of California code of regulations. K. So that was all of the amendments to align with state law. This amendment this final amendment was to support Arvin's application to the designation program. So there's a quick summary of the program here.

The designation program seeks to acknowledge and support jurisdictions that go above and beyond state housing law. And this allows jurisdictions to have priority placement or funding points when it comes to several funding programs. This includes affordable housing sustainable communities, which the just, ARBN was recently awarded. Transformative climate communities and the rest are listed here. There's there's five listed here as examples.

So it makes us eligible now for all those funding opportunities?

We were already eligible. Helps with placement with

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Yeah. So we've we've we've got more likelihood of getting these these grants. Okay. That's also tied to the score of each jurisdiction, which ARPAN has 48. This designation also allowed the city to apply to the processing incentive program, which the city has, and we're hopeful to get that funding.

And by amending the density city's density bonus ordinance, the city received four points for this application, which equates to $40,000 of potential grant awards through the browsing incentive program as that program is tied to the amount of points you gain on the application. And the amendments that were made were that the city will grant a density bonus of 30% if requested by the applicant. And the proposed development contains at least 5% of units for extremely low income households. That goes beyond state law. And in addition, the city shall offer 10% density bonus addition to state density bonus law for very low and low income households.

And that's reflected in these charts, which are very not easy to see, but it goes from 10 yes, that's good. So on the left, have the percentage of very low income or of low income units and the resulting percentage density bonus. And each number on the right column is 10% higher than what would be required from state law. 20. And we have that amendments project was analyzed in accordance with CEQA, California Environmental Quality Act, and SAFRA recommends that the city council find this amendment exempt from CEQA under the common place or common sense exemption, which is section one five zero six one b three.

And staff recommends that the city conduct a public hearing, receive any public testimony, and then introduce the amendments by title only and waive the first reading of an ordinance adopting the zoning code amendment twenty twenty six-one, implementing programs outlined in the six cycle housing element update and pro housing designation program policies. Thank you.

Thank you, Russell. Excellent work. Thank you so much for all of that you've put into this. Go ahead, Isaiah.

I'd just like to add that I know that was a lot of information. But I think the important part is that this brings us into compliance with state law. There's been a lot of changes to state law recently regarding supportive housing and emergency type housing. And so this brings us into compliance with that as well as our housing element, which specifically outlines some of these changes as well. And then also with the density bonus that was a big bonus as well to our application to the per housing incentive program. So if you guys have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm here to answer anything.

No, thank you. It's wonderful to hear that we're going to be in compliance. We saw news that there are cities within the county that are not in the position that we are in. So just thank you for staff for all of your excellent work, so that, we are now aligned with state law. Are there any comments from the council before we open it up to the public? Any comments from the public? If you have a comment, sir, you need to come to the mic. Sir? Excuse me. Yes, no, that's inappropriate. Okay. Are there any other comments or questions from the public? Seeing none. So we this is the first reading. Right?

It's gonna come back for a second reading. Do we have a motion? Motion. Do we have a second? Second.

Roll call. Council Member Tarver?

Yes.

Council Member Reyes? Yes. Mayor Pro Tempez?

Yes.

Mayor Calderon? Yes. Motion carries, four zero.

Great. Before we move on to the action items, we're going to take a small, short bathroom break. So we'll be back in five minutes.