Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 3:39 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Opposition To Item # 22 On City Council Agenda (Proposed Charter Amendment) From: Douglas Von Dollen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 11:26 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Fwd: Opposition To Item # 22 On City Council Agenda (Proposed Charter Amendment) - Forwarded message -------
From: Douglas Von Dollen <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Jul 17, 2023 at 11:24 AM
Subject: Opposition To Item # 22 On City Council Agenda (Proposed Chall PEMERAL To: <[email protected]>
COMMUNICATION
Dear City Council Members and Staff, Meeting Date: 7/18/2023 Huntington Beach is almost unique among California cities. Agendallem No: 22 (23-6633).
It is the only one to vote no on certification of its housing element, and the only one to sue the state over the 50 year-old RHNA process designed to address the housing needs of residents, regardless of income. It has attacked homeowner rights to build "Granny flats." And now members of its City Council want to attack Joint Power Authority agreements designed to provide affordable work-force housing.
Huntington Beach is also 1 of only 2 cities among the largest 25 in California that is majority White /Non- Latino. It is the only city in Orange County with more than 100,000 residents that is majority White/Non- Latino.
Connecting Huntington Beach's unique approach to housing to its unique demographics can make people uncomfortable, so, to provide context, I suggest we look at the only other city among the 25 largest in California that is majority White/Non-Latino: Glendale.
Like Huntington Beach has done through the formation of its Human Relations Committee and alliance with the Interfaith Council, Glendale has confronted a difficult past of religious and racial intolerance. For example, in October, 2020, it became the first city in California and the third in the nation to pass a resolution apologizing for its history as a "sundown town." The term references cities that once excluded African Americans.
Like Huntington Beach, Glendale was required to plan for more than 13,000 new housing units between 2021 and 2029 by the Southern California Association of Governments as part of the state's Regional Housing Needs Allocation process.
And this is where the similarities end.
1 Glendale passed a housing element that was certified by the California Department of Housing (HCD) in February 2023. And in April 2023, Glendale entered into a novel Joint Powers Authority agreement that creates a trust between the cities of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena to address regional affordable housing needs.
Instead of putting limits on JPAs, Glendale is expanding their use.
Glendale's representative to the new JPA is new Mayor Dan Brotman, a former economics teacher at Glendale College.
Brotman is quoted in the press release announcing his selection as Mayor as saying, "As an educator, environmental activist, and City Council member, I have always tried to do what I can to make the world a little better, fairer, and more livable for everyone. That means identifying long-term challenges and applying best practices from around the world to turn them into opportunities." Before proceeding with this proposal to restrict JPAs, I urge Councilmember McKeon and Finance Commission members Frank Lo Grasso Hank Cicerone, and Billy Hamilton to meet with Mayor Brotman and other representatives of Glendale to discuss their differing approaches to housing. I believe that HB's officials share Brotman's commitment to applying best practices to solve the city's challenges and will come away from this meeting with stronger proposals than the one on offer.
2 Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 3:42 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: 7 18 2023 Agenda Item # 22 Proposed City Charter Amendment - VOTE NO From: Paula Schaefer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 3:32 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) < [email protected]> Subject: 7 18 2023 Agenda Item # 22 Proposed City Charter Amendment - VOTE NO Mayor Strickland and Council Members:
I urge you to vote NO on this item and do not have the City Manager develop a proposed City Charter Amendment.
This is simply a poorly disguised way to prevent the City from fulfilling its obligation to ensure that all types of housing can be developed within the City.
If this were adopted, future City Councils would be restricted in its negotiating ability because of the necessity to have an item voted on by City residents. This would only prolong the already lengthy process required of any real estate development project that contains property tax relief. --
Paula Schaefer
Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 3:42 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: SUPPORT Agenda Item 22(23-633)
From: Ann Palmer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 3:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) < [email protected]> Subject: SUPPORT Agenda Item 22 (23-633)
I strongly support item #22 on the agenda for the Huntington Beach City Council meeting scheduled for
7.18.23; the item, a proposed Charter Amendment, is listed below. Additionally, I have consensus from a large number of neighbors and residents throughout our city that this is a much-needed provision.
We are being hammered daily with overblown mandates and schemes for housing far beyond what is warranted, needed or within the scope of what this community should be constructing. To add to that mix any development that does not generate property taxes and in some cases may not meet any RHNA quotas is a fool's journey.
Should such projects ever be considered they truly must be put in front of Huntington Beach voters for the sake of disclosure and decision. Otherwise they have the appearance of being undisclosed schemes that lack input and understanding by the public.
Thank you for your time and consideration in approving this important matter.
Very Respectfully,
Ann Palmer
30+ year resident
Huntington Beach
310.982.8263
Proposed Charter Amendment - City of Huntington Beach Real Property - Property Tax
(Prevents city acquiring property that won't generate property tax without Voter approval. Exception: that acquired for infrastructure)
1 Moore, Tania
From: Ann Palmer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 3:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: SUPPORT Agenda Item 22 (23-633)
I strongly support item #22 on the agenda for the Huntington Beach City Council meeting scheduled for
7.18.23; the item, a proposed Charter Amendment, is listed below. Additionally, I have consensus from a large number of neighbors and residents throughout our city that this is a much-needed provision.
We are being hammered daily with overblown mandates and schemes for housing far beyond what is warranted, needed or within the scope of what this community should be constructing. To add to that mix any development that does not generate property taxes and in some cases may not meet any RHNA quotas is a fool's journey.
Should such projects ever be considered they truly must be put in front of Huntington Beach voters for the sake of disclosure and decision. Otherwise they have the appearance of being undisclosed schemes that lack input and understanding by the public.
Thank you for your time and consideration in approving this important matter.
Very Respectfully,
Ann Palmer
30+ year resident
Huntington Beach
310.982.8263
Proposed Charter Amendment - City of Huntington Beach Real Property - Property Tax
(Prevents city acquiring property that won't generate property tax without Voter approval. Exception: that acquired for infrastructure)
1