What is SCAG? Why does it have the power to set housing goals for Yorba Linda and other cities?

What is the Southern California Association of Governments – normally known as SCAG – and why does the organization have the authority to assign housing goals to cities in a six-county region?

These are questions many Yorba Linda residents are asking after SCAG's unfathomably high number of 2,322 housing units was assigned to the city for a 2021 to 2029 planning period, to include units for 735 very low, 433 low, 440 moderate and 714 above-moderate income levels.

Residents of six other north Orange County cities are asking the same questions after the numbers were announced for their cities: 2,301 for Brea; 9,004 for Buena Park; 13,272 for Fullerton; 803 for La Habra; 792 for La Palma; and 4,337 for Placentia.

The numbers will be final in August, after cities have through July to appeal. However, since SCAG is responsible for distributing 1,344,740 new housing units to six counties, a reduction for one city would be made up by increasing numbers for other cities.

SCAG was formed in 1965 by local elected representatives from 56 cities and five counties to initiate regional planning for Southern California's future. The group has joint powers authority under state law and is a Metropolitan Planning Organization under federal law.

The organization's responsibilities have grown under state and federal directives, and SCAG now has authority in 191 cities and six counties with a 19 million population, 48% of the state.

SCAG is governed by an 86-member Regional Council, comprised of locally elected officials.

Brea Councilman Marty Simonoff is the representative for Brea, La Habra, Placenita and Yorba Linda. Buena Park Councilman Art Brown represents Buena Park and Fullerton. Cypress Councilwoman Stacy Berry represents La Palma, Cypress and Garden Grove.

Yorba Linda's Councilwoman Peggy Huang represents the Transportation Corridor Agencies and chairs SCAG's 49-member Community, Economic and Human Development Committee.

SCAG has responsibilities regarding transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, demographic projections, air quality, waste treatment management, environmental impact reports, land use, housing, employment and preparation of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA.

RHNA (rhee-nah), one of many SCAG housing programs, is mandated by a state law that requires cities to plan for future housing needs, with non-compliance resulting in penalties.

The 2,322 unit housing number recently announced for Yorba Linda is part of RHNA's sixth 2021-2029 cycle. The city number for the fourth 2008-2014 cycle was 2,039 and for the fifth 2014-2021 cycle 669.

Yorba Linda's City Council selected Councilman Carlos Rodriguez as the city's delegate and Huang as alternate to a regional conference and general assembly meeting May 6-8 in Palm Desert to help set the SCAG working agenda for the coming year.

And a six-member RHNA subcommittee chaired by Huang will meet Feb. 24 in Los Angeles.