AgdaPkt 2014-10-20 Closed and Special Joint with SA_Revised_10_17_2014

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8.A. - Page 111 July 30, 2014 Diana Reddy 23 Hillview Avenue Redwood City, CA 94062 Jess Negrete, Analyst Housing & Community Development 2020 West El Camino Avenue Sacramento, CA 95833 Re: Feedback on the Redwood City Draft Housing Element As a life -long resident of Redwood City concerned about the rapid displacement of working families and seniors, I have been organizing residents around housing issues. Members of the Redwood City Local Housing Committee (LHC) have asked that I formalize and explain in a letter the rationale behind comments made before Planning Commissioners on June 3 as they reviewed the City's draft Housing Element and submitted to HCD on May 29, 2014 The City is to be commended for accurately assessing the Housing Needs of Redwood City. To highlight some of those needs, "40% of new jobs will require lower income workers" (Table H -4); "48% of residents currently work in low and very low income jobs" (Table H -6), and Redwood City desires to create and monitor the jobs - housing balance that reflects the labor force needs of city residents, supports employment opportunities, and generates revenue for the City (Table H -7). It is relevant to add that 40% of guests in local shelters are in fact working in local minimum wage jobs. Committee members are concerned that the City fell far short of addressing the needs of the large number of low income residents, most of whom are renters, and point out that residents who are not spending over 50% of their income on housing are better able to generate revenue for the City. Among the components that the LHC appreciates • Under Policy H -4.4 The committee members appreciated the addition of veterans to the list of special needs residents. • Implementation Program H -12 — Second Units The committee appreciates the City's consideration of changes in the second unit ordinance to provide more flexibility in response to resident comments. The LHC has concerns about: • Table H -38 highlights the concern over the loss of affordable housing when converted to market rate for the need to examine different levels of protection for renters, especially in formerly affordable, older apartment complexes, and the growing problem of landlords refusing to accept Section 8 vouchers.