AgdaPkt 2021.03.22 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

6.G. - Page 3 of 23 Draft 2021 Legislative Platform The intent of the Redwood City Legislative Platform is to convey to State legislators, policymakers, and the public where the City stands on important policy issues. This platform provides the direction needed for the City to engage on State initiatives that affect the City's key priorities, programs, and/or operations. In line with the City's adopted Strategic Plan, the Legislative Platform reaffirms the City's commitment to its strategic priorities of housing and homelessness, transportation, children and youth and its foundational guiding principle of equity. Preserving local decision making and fiscal stability including pension sustainability are underlying principles of this Platform. Housing and Homelessness Housing has emerged as an especially challenging policy issue, as rising housing costs, low vacancy rates, and income disparity throughout the region threaten to displace some residents, and negatively impact the quality of life of many more. Redwood City supports efforts to meet its unique community housing needs for people of all walks of life and all income levels. The City understands that addressing housing and homelessness requires a holistic approach grounded in preservation, protection, production, and partnerships. Working with the State and regional partners is vital to achieve measurable success. In that spirit, Redwood City outlines the following guiding policy principles for housing and homelessness: • Support legislation that will enable the City to meet its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) goals including legislation that increases funding for housing and legislation that increases flexibility in housing types that count toward RHNA goals including RHNA credit for each bedroom constructed within a multi -unit development. • Support legislation that preserves existing affordable housing stock while protecting housing options for extremely low, very low, low- and middle-income residents. • Support anti -displacement legislation that promotes and protects the ability of residents to remain in the community, including tenant protection and anti -price gouging policies. • Support legislation that would incentivize increased production of market rate, middle, low, very low and extremely low-income housing production while retaining local land -use authority. • Oppose legislation that would increase housing production by ministerial approval without the ability for community engagement and City Council oversight. • Support legislative or funding mechanisms that promote affordable and regional housing projects to meet the unique populations of city residents—including workforce housing and those with special needs. • Support legislation and/or funding mechanisms that promote regional programs to address homelessness and support formerly homeless individuals—including funding for temporary emergency shelters, rapid rehousing, and other supportive services for vulnerable populations. • Support legislative and/ or funding mechanisms for safe parking programs. • Support legislation that allows for affordable housing ownership opportunities to help create an avenue for economic mobility. Page 3 of 6 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore 305