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B. Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County (HEART) Vice Mayor Pierce introduced the topic stating that it is important to the community to have good neighborhoods and the need for good housing for people who live here. HEART is a countywide effort to provide affordable housing and meet some of these needs and representative Bill Nack explained the program. Michele Jackson, Executive Director of Shelter Network and HEART board member, stated that for those graduating from Shelter Network affordable housing is the main issue. HEART is a key part of the solution to the urgent countywide need of affordable housing. She encouraged Redwood City to join HEART while explaining the first funded development, Hillcrest Senior Housing, which will be home to 40 low income senior located across from the Daly City site. She stated that the HEART funds are leveraging $6.2M in funds from other sources for this project which translates to $12.00 for every $1.00 from HEART. Duane Bay, SMC Director of Housing, stated that in order to keep the staffing at a minimum, HEART does not provide for employees rather a number of service contracts for several functional areas. The County holds three of those contracts to provide legal services, fiscal agency and program staffing. Public Comment: Diana Reddy, a leader with Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), stated that she is a lifelong resident of Redwood City and she admires the Council for being supporters of affordable housing. She stated that it makes sense to address the needs of the community's service workers. Rev. Julia Older, representing the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, which is committed to affordable housing and HEART. She stated the organization's excitement, the belief that it will greatly help, and that HEART will not be taking funds from the City but rather that we will get the benefit of other areas with more expensive land that will create more opportunity to build more affordable houses locally. Rob Dickinson, HHCC member speaking as an individual, urged Council to go forward in joining HEART. He stated that while he is pleased with the leadership Redwood City provides in affordable housing, he agrees that this is a regional issue. He stated that HEART provides opportunities for working with other cities and the benefits in potential additional funding. Kevin Bondonno, Chair of the HHCC, gave an update on HEART stating that it has been discussed and the housing subcommittee took action to go back and further study. He stated that there is no official position as yet but would be happy JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND OCTOBER 24, 2005 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING PAGE 11 MINUTES MINUTE BOOK NO. 61 Page No. 31