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9.C. - Page 1 <br /> REPORT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the City Manager <br /> January 27, 2014 <br /> SUBJECT <br /> Community Benefits <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> Consider the preliminary research conducted by City staff, take public comment and <br /> provide further direction and outreach preferences regarding community benefits. No <br /> decision is required. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> On June 24, 2013, City staff outlined the process to explore a Community Benefit <br /> Program. Evaluation and implementation of such a program could aid the City on a <br /> wide range of issues, including, but not limited to the loss of redevelopment agencies, <br /> the upcoming Housing Element Recertification and the 2014 evaluation of the City's <br /> Strategic Initiatives. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> Community Benefits can take many forms. Typically, cities have used programs such as <br /> affordable housing, prevailing wage, green buildings, anti-poverty programs or capital <br /> improvements such as parks, art, or other tangible public features. But, there is no <br /> universal idea or program, because each jurisdiction and community has distinct <br /> community values and needs. In addition, community benefits programs can differ <br /> based on geography. For example, the downtown could have one set of defined <br /> community benefits, with different criteria for City projects located outside the <br /> downtown. <br /> Research on Other Cities' Programs - Staff reviewed community benefits provisions <br /> for other cities, with particular emphasis on similarly-sized cities. A summary of that <br /> research is found in Attachment 1. Some cities have a flexible and broadly-defined <br /> program that allows for different community benefits dependent on the scope of the <br /> project. Redwood City prides itself on creating solutions for unique situations, which <br /> may indicate that a program with discretion, but clear rules, best suits the Council's <br /> vision for implementation. <br /> Highly flexible programs can create concern among community members and <br /> developers about predictability and transparency. Many communities, such as Palo Alto, <br /> are currently re-examining their programs to pursue a more structured program, <br /> particularly as it relates to Planned Development permits, or other permits that grant <br />