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PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM 8.A. - Page 121 <br /> Oficina Legal de Interes Publico <br /> Law Foundation of Silicon Valley <br /> 152 North Third Street, 3rd Floor <br /> San Jose, California 95112 <br /> Telephone (408) 293 -4790 • Fax (408) 293 -0106 <br /> www.lawfoundation.org <br /> July 29, 2014 <br /> Jess Negrete, California Department of Housing and Community Development <br /> Sent Via Email Only: jess.negrete @hcd.ca.gov <br /> Re: Redwood City Draft 2015 -2023 Draft Housing Element <br /> Dear Mr. Negrete: <br /> Thank you for considering the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley's comments on <br /> Redwood City's draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element, submitted to HCD for review on <br /> June 30, 2014. While we have not conducted a comprehensive review of the entire draft, <br /> we reviewed several key sections and identified multiple areas where the draft falls short <br /> of state housing element law requirements. As such, we ask that HCD reject the current <br /> draft and provide guidance to the City regarding the deficiencies identified below. <br /> Public Participation <br /> Public outreach was conducted through the 21 Elements group and through community <br /> meetings hosted by the City. (H -6 to H -10.) While these efforts did elicit meaningful <br /> feedback, the draft housing element lacks information about whether the City's outreach <br /> efforts were effective in reaching the City's diverse population and special needs <br /> groups. For example, the draft housing element does not indicate whether City - <br /> sponsored meetings were accessible to non - English speakers or to people with <br /> disabilities. <br /> The draft housing element indicates that staff attended "numerous local neighborhood <br /> group and organizations meetings, as well as City commission meetings to provide <br /> information about the Housing Element and receive feedback on housing issues of <br /> concern and potential solutions to address challenges." (H -9.) However, the draft <br /> housing element provides no information about when or where these meetings were, who <br /> attended, or whether they were representative of Redwood City's racial, language, and <br /> economic diversity. <br /> Review and Revise <br /> The City's 2007 -2014 Housing Element included in program H -5, its Adequate Sites <br /> program, several related to affordable housing: <br />