AgdaPkt 2014-09-08 Closed and Joint with SA

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7.1.F. - Page 9 Mauricio Cuadra spoke about being homelessness despite working hard and the problems with housing assistance and how the 90-day housing vouchers do not work. He opined that there is discrimination with property owners not accepting housing vouchers and high rent prices. He asked for change in affordable housing in Redwood City and protection for people with Section 8 housing vouchers. Diana Reddy, Community Builder for Local Redwood City Housing Committee member, expressed thanks for this discussion and shared statistical information about workers who commute into San Mateo and how some cannot afford to live here despite wanting to and the impact on employee turnover. She spoke in favor of looking at things other municipalities have done with ordinances to support affordable housing. Mort Frank, chair of the Affordable Housing Task Force of the National Institute of Architects and chair of the local AIA's (American Institute of Architects) Housing Committee, spoke in favor of including inclusionary zoning, affordable housing, and the increasing number of units needed to meet ABAG (Association of Bay Area Government) goals for below market rate housing. He opined that there needs to be more participation from transportation people, particularly when looking at East-West public transit and more control over real estate and costs. Victoria Tinoco, a lifelong resident, Sequoia Award recipient, Kiwanis Club scholarship winner, spoke about the negative effects of the construction on her and other residents who live in the apartment complexes behind the downtown library. She spoke about waking up to construction noise, having their electricity and water turned off, inconsiderate hours working, streets being closed so that they have no way to get out, and she opined that the city did not take this into consideration. She spoke in favor of more open discussion and dialogue, asked if there are any beautification efforts for underserved families, such as at Chestnut and Middlefield, and keeping rent affordable for those who already live here. James Jonas, a resident, spoke in favor thinking and living "small" in terms of the building code and tiny/micro homes. He spoke in favor of adjusting our code to allow for smaller units, acknowledged that the city is looking at the accessory dwell unit code, and opined that small living works for many people. Daniel Saver, a housing attorney at Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, said he also works with many in Redwood City as well and opined that Redwood City is doing well on housing production. He is concerned about preserving units and policy protection for residents living here in neighborhoods right now in units that are currently affordable to them. He spoke in favor of considering policy preservation strategies in terms of rent stabilization and just cause for eviction protection for those who may be most vulnerable. Stacy Laumann, with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, is happy with the discussion and spoke in favor of building in more flexibility with inclusionary housing and affordable housing. She suggested that when discussing inclusionary housing to build in significant flexibility in timing and looking at square footage instead of density to make it easier to work in conjunction with affordable housing projects. Colt Rymer spoke about small housing and volunteer programs to build housing in diverse and creative ways and mentioned how a group in the South acquires homes, sometimes as AMENDED JOINT CITY COUNCIL/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD August 25, 2014 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES PAGE 9