4A Public Hearing 2014 1006 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes September 11, 2014 Page 6 of 11 develop affordable housing, and even when Redevelopment Agency support was available, the City was able to subsidize a project every couple of years. Commissioner Fitzsimons enumerated several questions relative to Chapter 6:  Policy 53.11 – Attracting Investment: Recognize the potential for the private sector, including foreign investors, to assist in underwriting local affordable-housing development and accelerating market-rate housing production in the City. He asked the meaning of this policy, considering the absence of what he called an “action statement” or even general prescriptive language that would be more consistent with other policies. Mr. Miller said this policy is intended to encourage and maintain a dialog with potential investors, and the question is whether a specific action program is needed to implement that. At this point, he explained, no action to do that has been developed; this simply raises the issue at the policy level, but the wording can be revised so that it reads stylistically similar to other policies in the Working Draft.  Policy 55.04 – Rent-to-Buy: Encourage property managers and absentee owners of single-family homes to offer “rent with the option to buy” programs for local families. Similar to his first question, Commissioner Fitzsimons asked the meaning of “encourage” in that context, with no indication of any form that encouragement mi ght take. He wondered whether staff would need more to be able to ultimately draft any ordinance or regulation to implement this policy. Mr. Miller stated that the need for additional language would depend on the particular policy; in this case, he said the City can support the outcome expressed in the policy – to create more rent-to-buy opportunities in San Leandro – without a specific mandate for property owners/landlords. He also pointed out that it’s the nature of General Plans to use words such as “encourage,” “require” and “support,” which imply different levels of commitment.  Policy 56.03 – Tenant Retention in Rehabilitated Projects. Noting that this policy would give former tenants of rehabilitated properties preference to move back into a rehabilitated unit, and rehabilitation is often undertaken to convert market-rate properties into affordable units, Commissioner Fitzsimons asked what would happen in the case of former tenants whose incomes don’t qualify them for occupancy. Mr. Miller noted that a tenant who no longer qualifies would be unable to move back into a rehabilitated unit, so the policy needs some qualifying language added.  Policy 56.06 – “At-Risk” Rental Units. Commissioner Fitzsimons questioned wording in the last sentences of Action 56-06-A – Protection Strategy for At-Risk Units and 56.06-B – Monitoring “At-Risk” Units. Action 56.06-A says, “In the event that protection of the units is infeasible, ensure that impacted tenants are provided with resources for relocation if needed,” and Commissioner Fitzsimons said that to him, “ensure” implies “guarantee.” Likewise, Action 56.06-B uses the word “assist” in the context of renters who are displaced by property foreclosures, and Commissioner Fitzsimons said when he hears “assist,” he hears “provide cash.” It’s not necessarily financial assistance, Mr. Miller clarified. It could also be technical help, advice, etc. Although it relates to loss of subsidies rather than foreclosures, Secretary Liao added that in recent years, staff has engaged owners of some of the affordable units lost due to expiration of their subsidies to discuss potential alternatives, including the possibility of identifying federal funds or other resources available, to avoid displacing tenants.