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· The City's Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Program for minor home repair grants and single-family house loans provided 22 grants and seven loans respectively to homeowners to preserve and improve the existing housing stock and assist elderly homeowners to age in place. . The City annually monitors preservation of 615 below-market rate rental units (through City/Redevelopment Agency subsidies) for tenants earning between 30% and 120% of the Area Median Income, as well as 45 existing BMR ownership units. · The City offers a Rent Review Program which provides mediation/arbitration of rent disputes between tenants and landlords. Although not an income-based program, the Rent Review Board helps ensure that rent increases are reasonable to help residents maintain housing. The Rent Review Board staff received 81 tenant and landlord inquiries for rental assistance information, representing an 8% increase [Tom the previous year. Of these inquiries, one appeal went to the Rent Review Board for a hearing and settlement. City staff typically provides infonnation about rent increases, sends educational materials, and makes referrals to appropriate agencies like ECHO Housing and Eden Infonnation and Referral. . The City's proposed Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TaD) Strategy is looking at strategies to increase ridership within an area near BART, a public transit system. TOD participants are looking at opportunity sites, the right mix ofland uses, parking regulations, allowable density, and building height and design characteristics to maximize the use of public transit in this area. If new residential development at increased densities occurs, it will increase the number of affordable housing units created through the City's inclusionary zoning requirement. Also, the condominium market rate development would add housing stock that would be more affordable than new single family development, providing a range of housing product type. There could be as many as 3,430 new dwelling units by 2030 through new residential development. Educating City residents about the benefits of development near public transit will help reduce barriers to affordable housing. The Mayor, a Councilmember, the Director of Community Development, and City housing staff met with active members of the Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR) to discuss affordable housing concerns. Planning staff held 10 Citizen Advisory Committee and three community meetings (with 240 participants) to gather input throughout the year. Our Senior Planner made presentations to 12 different groups, ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to homeowner associations. The TaD Strategy is expected to be reviewed for final approval by the City Council in September 2007. . Eliminate Barriers to Affordable Housing · The Housing Element of the General Plan identifies barriers to affordable housing and establishes "Goal 58: Elimination of Housing Constraints", which identifies policies and actions with implementation strategies to eliminate barriers. These policies include amending zoning regulations, streamlining permitting procedures, evaluating development fees, providing a customer-friendly environment, resolving design issues, Final Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report: FY2006-2007 City of San Leandro Page 21