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Figure 4-7 TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map
CITY OF ORINDA 2023 – 2031 HOUSING ELEMENT
Energy Audits. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) provides energy audits to local residents on request. The City’s role in this process is to supply the public with information regarding this resource, including the appropriate contacts. Energy audits are helpful in pinpointing sources of energy loss and providing recommendations to remedy energy inefficiencies. Sources of energy loss could include old furnaces and condensing units, poor ductwork, and lack of insulation. The audit presents an opportunity for PG&E to identify and qualify homeowners for energy-efficiency programs, such as installation of energy-efficient refrigerators and window re-caulking. PG&E offers rebate programs for residents and businesses to implement some of these measures:
● New Construction. The City of Orinda will continue to require the incorporation of energyconserving appliances, fixtures, and other devices into the design of new residential units, consistent with Title 24 and the California Building Code. The City will also continue to review new subdivisions to ensure that each lot optimizes solar access and orientation to the extent possible.
● Water Conservation. Simple water conservation techniques can save thousands of gallons of water per household, thus reducing costs. Many plumbing products eliminate unnecessary water waste by restricting the volume of water flow from faucets, showerheads, and toilets. The use of drought-resistant and native plant materials can also measurably contribute to water conservation. A household can also save water by simply fixing dripping faucets and using water more conservatively. The East Bay Municipal Utility District provides residents with tools to conserve water, such as DIY Guides for Leaks and an online portal for customers to track and manage their water use.
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CITY OF ORINDA 2023 – 2031 HOUSING ELEMENT
4.11 Assessment of Fair Housing
Assembly Bill (AB) 686, Government Code Section 65583(c)(10)(A), requires that all housing elements due on or after January 1, 2021, contain an Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) consistent with the core elements of the analysis required by the federal Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Final Rule of July 16, 2015.
Under California law, Government Code section 65583(c)(5), AFFH means “taking meaningful actions, in addition to combating discrimination, that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics.”
AB 686 requires the City of Orinda and all jurisdictions in the state to complete three major requirements as part of the housing element update:
1. Conduct an AFH that includes a summary of fair housing issues; an analysis of available federal, state, and local data knowledge to identify patterns of segregation or other barriers to fair housing; and prioritization of contributing factors to fair housing issues. 2. Prepare the Housing Element Land Inventory and identification of sites through the lens of
AFFH. 3. Include a program in the Housing Element that affirmatively furthers fair housing and promotes housing opportunities throughout the community for protected classes and addresses contributing factors identified in the AFH (applies to housing elements beginning January 1, 2019).
In order to comply with AB 686, the City of Orinda (City) has completed the following outreach and analysis.
4.11.1 Outreach
State law requires cities and counties to make a diligent effort to achieve participation by all segments of the community in preparing a Housing Element. As discussed in the Public Participation section of this Housing Element, the City has used a variety of outreach methods in addition to the standard public hearing process to reach stakeholders and members of all socioeconomic segments of the City in order to develop housing policies and actions and finalize the site inventory to address the needs of the City’s residents and workforce. All these efforts have informed and contributed to the development of the 2021–2029 Housing Element update. As a part of identifying current and future housing needs for residents, City staff conducted several public outreach efforts, including:
● Public Workshops, Planning Commission and City Council meetings
● Consultations with stakeholders and nonprofits
● An online, interactive RHNA site selection tool
Meetings and Workshops The City held five public meetings. These meetings were held virtually and publicized on the City’s website.
• City Council Sites Review Meeting, February 15, 2021
• Focus Group, November 20, 2021
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