Item 31 - 2020 General Plan Annual Progress Report

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13 2020, with COVID-19 pandemic making its presence, the City’s Code Enforcement Division continued to work diligently with tenants and property owners to reduce and eliminate life safety issues related to their housing and improve their quality of life, while committed to exercising COVID-19 Safety Protocols that include but not limited to physical distancing to the maximum extent possible, use of face coverings, frequent handwashing and usage of sanitized gel/cream. Code Enforcement staff continued to use Administrative Citations best practices as a tool to expedite and remedy violations. They continued collaboration with the City Attorney’s Office and the Santa Ana Police Department to address severe land use violations such as illegal casinos and cannabis business in residential properties. The Proactive Rental Enforcement Program (PREP) staff continues providing City Loan Program information to residential property owners when corrective notices are issued. Information on the City Housing Loan Program is made available to property owners by Code Enforcement and Housing staff. • Environmental Health Risk Assessments continue to be required for major development projects located in close proximity (500 feet) of freeways, such as Central Pointe at 1801 East Fourth Street (entitled in 2020). • The 2020 Draft General Plan Update identifies an Implementation Action to revise the City’s zoning code and development standards to require physical and/or distance buffers between heavy industrial uses and sensitive uses like residences, schools and parks. • Continue Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) review for public and private development projects throughout the City to ensure that post-development storm water runoff is captured and treated via the construction of infiltration, biotreatment, or harvest and reuse Best Management Practices (BMPs). WQMPs minimize the quantity of storm water runoff directed to impermeable surfaces and the City’s storm water drainage system, while maximizing the percentage of permeable surfaces to increase percolation of storm water into the ground. The City is focused on improving water quality and maintaining downstream drainage facilities, flood protection levels, and stream habitat. In the FY 2019-20 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Annual Report, the City approved thirteen (13) WQMPs covering 21.1 acres of treated development project area. • Continue ongoing education and safety programs that address overcrowding. The CDBG program provides annual grants cities to develop viable urban communities through decent housing and a suitable living environment for low- to moderate- income persons. Initiatives. Several funded non-profits (Public Law Center, Community Legal Aid SoCal) and coordinated with Fair Housing Council of OC to provide Santa Ana residents with housing counseling which cover living conditions, including overcrowding. In 2020, the City adopted the 5-year Consolidated Plan 2020-2024 and members of the public and housing groups advocated for more affordable housing policies and programs to alleviate overcrowding, especially during a pandemic. The City continues to receive complaints or concerns regarding overcrowded housing on private property, and code enforcement staff responds and educates the property owner and residents regarding code standards allowed