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7.2.B. - Page 13 <br /> Council Member would like to have the City contribute some funds in this partnership <br /> program in creating housing opportunities from Block 2 Funds or General Fund. She <br /> wants to look at how developers can bring increased health to the community like walk - <br /> ability, mobility, or access to recreation. <br /> One other Council Member would like to include religious communities like those that <br /> house the homeless, the Sequoia District Hospital, and art groups as additional <br /> stakeholders. <br /> Another Council Member agrees with all the stakeholders that are mentioned and have <br /> them all get together instead of individually. He would like the City to find the weakest, <br /> most challenged neighborhoods and have the City work with developers to purchase <br /> those buildings and rebuild them to be of higher density and higher quality, particularly <br /> neighborhoods that are adjacent to downtown. <br /> Vice Mayor Foust asked how the City can leverage whatever community benefits they <br /> come up with. She also mentioned corporations like RocketFuel and San Mateo Credit <br /> Union who are supporting our downtown events and how the City could leverage those <br /> partnerships. She brought up past successful community benefits that the City has <br /> received, but have not been articulated well to the community for understanding the <br /> meaning and importance of community benefits. Furthermore, she brought up the <br /> InterService Coordinating Council like Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimist clubs. She <br /> also mentioned reaching out to the Redwood Shores Community Association and the <br /> Redwood Shores Home Owners Association, affordable housing groups, child care <br /> groups, and intergenerational groups. <br /> Mayor Gee added that the community has been trained for years to get involved and be <br /> part of the process through workshops. He would rather see a big workshop with <br /> everyone involved instead of individual meetings. He supports a robust engagement <br /> but he wants to manage expectations of his colleagues, because it is a living document. <br /> Thus, he continued that no one gets it perfect the first time, and it is important to take <br /> steps as best as we can. The Mayor would like something in place by the first quarter <br /> of 2015. There will be many opportunities out there and he said Redwood City is a <br /> happening place with a lot of vibrant real estate activity. <br /> Mayor Gee said that the Council would work with Dr. Bell and his staff on housing funds <br /> as the Housing Element comes forward to have a sustainable mechanism in place. The <br /> Mayor said that it will take a long time to collect money and do something significant. He <br /> would like to discuss this at the upcoming mini - retreat on how to develop funds, deal <br /> with rent stabilization issues, improve relations with landlords with older properties to <br /> improve them, and promote new housing stock. <br /> Lastly, the Mayor said that the City wants to celebrate what has been accomplished, but <br /> tell partners like businesses, not just developers, what the City expects from them. It is <br /> not just the builder and developer, but the tenants as well. <br /> JOINT CITY COUNCIUSUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD June 23, 2014 <br /> MEETING MINUTES PAGE 13 <br />