City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 14 February 10, 2025 7 City of Lafayette
City Council Minutes
Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Don Tatzin Community Hall February 10, 2025 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California 7:00 p.m.
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City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 14 February 10, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Candell called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Candell, Vice Mayor Anduri; Councilmembers Cervantes and McCormick
Absent: Councilmember Dawson
Staff Present: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Tracy Robinson, Administrative Services Director; Patrick Golier, Transportation Program Manager; Mala Subramanian, City Attorney; Joanne Robbins, City Clerk
Disclosure and/or Take Action
3. Disclosure and/or Take Action on Remote Participation due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances Pursuant to AB 2449 (Gov. Code section 54953(f).)
4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Mayor Candell announced that Item 18.A; Closed Session, was removed from the agenda.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/McCormick) to adopt the agenda, as amended. Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, and McCormick; Noes: None; Absent: Dawson).
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Candell led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
6. MAYOR CANDELL – LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
We acknowledge that Lafayette is part of the unceded, ancestral homeland of the Bay Miwok people. The Bay Miwok and neighboring Ohlone people have lived in and moved through this place for thousands of years. They stewarded and shaped this land for hundreds of generations. We express our appreciation and gratitude for this profound legacy, which enhances and contributes to our lives to this day. We will strive to honor this land and strengthen our ties with the Indigenous communities that continue to live and work in our East Bay region as our neighbors and community members. We acknowledge and honor them and their ancestors, elders, and next seven generations.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS (For Items not on the Agenda) – 7:00 p.m.
ANN BURNS referred to her letter regarding the payment to the Palos Colorados settlement and read it into the record which provided an overview of the past use of the money for roads, 2024 receipt of payment, use of reserves for road repair, and asked the Council to complete road repairs with the use of settlement funds.
8. CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 14 February 10, 2025 City Manager Niroop Srivatsa reported that Andy Comly has been appointed as the City’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, as John Cornell has accepted a position with the Park District. Mr. Comly has over 15 years of experience in emergency services. He joined the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Emergency Services Support Unit in 2010, has served on the Search and Rescue Team and the Reserve Deputy Program. He has been with the City since 2014 as a Reserve Officer, including 8 years as a Motorcycle Officer.
He has also led the Police Fleet operations, supported code enforcement, implemented programs such as the Tobacco Retailer Licensing program, and Slow Down Lafayette Campaign. In his 15 years in the Sheriff’s Office, he held leadership roles in the search and rescue team and has responded to significant events like the Napa and Sonoma fires. The City is very fortunate to have Mr. Comly on their team and said they look forward to his continued contributions.
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andy Comly said he has had a chance to work with many Councilmembers and looks forward to continuing to do that. Emergency preparedness is important for the City, will be diving into the work today, and looks forward to working with City staff and the community.
Councilmembers cited how valuable Mr. Comly has been as well in his other roles and welcomed him to the position.
City Manager Niroop Srivatsa provided a Measure H Committee update, stating the collection of revenues relating to Measure H will start this April; however, the City will not begin to receive revenues until June.
Audits of any Measure H revenues received in this current fiscal year, which will be minimal, will start around October. Staff intends to bring the Advisory Committee policy to the Council for approval concurrent with the draft 25/26 Budget with the intent to have appointments made by the Council around August or September.
Regarding Engineering, the larger paving project includes St. Mary’s Road from the Glenside Y to Roher and Mt. Diablo Boulevard from El Nido Ranch Road to Poulson Court is out to bid. It will be a busy construction season.
The City has hired a new full-time Code Enforcement Officer, and he will be introduced to the community in a meeting in March.
Regarding Public Art, last year, the City Council approved a mural program to install 4 large-scale exterior murals in their downtown and the Public Art Committee is excited to announce that a call for muralists has been issued. They are seeking portfolios from experienced mural artists for this 4-year mural program and interested applicants can apply at www.lovelafayette.org/murals.
Lastly, she returned from the League of California Cities’ Annual Conference for City Managers, attended many sessions including one on wildfires and lessons learned, best practices for conducting performance evaluations, City Council/City Manager relations, and more. She returned with a tremendous appreciation for the Lafayette community after speaking with other City Managers, and said Lafayette’s Commissions, Council, and staff are the best!
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 14 February 10, 2025
9. PRESENTATIONS
A. Transportation and Circulation Commission
Recommendation: Receive and File.
Transportation and Circulation Commission Chair Bart Carr said he and Commission members are here to provide an update on the Commission’s Work Plan for 2025. He introduced members present as Vice Chair Wotherspoon and Commissioners Brown, Hiden, and Serriere. They have one vacancy and are supported by Transportation Program Manager Patrick Golier.
Chair Carr gave a PowerPoint presentation on their accomplishments and called out a specific accomplishment from 2024 which is the School Safety Improvements Project completion. This was a 2- year project that involved 47 separate individual safety projects serving 6 schools. The projects spanned from flashing beacons to speed humps to extending or adding new sidewalks, new striping, and other things to make it safer for students and parents in and around schools. He credited staff on the project for making this happen.
2025 Work Program: Consistent with previous years, staff anticipates that TCC will consider a variety of transportation-related topics from a wide variety of policies, projects and programs that are currently underway, regular ongoing programs, expected new tasks/initiatives, and new initiatives that have been envisioned by Staff but have not yet been programmed.
Capital Projects: TCC is expected to review, discuss and provide guidance on a number of capital projects that are underway as of February 2025.
Design elements for priority capital projects to be discussed at upcoming Commission meetings include the Pleasant Hill Road Pathway at Springhill School project as well as the traffic calming projects that are advanced as part of the 2025 Traffic Calming Program. Later in the year the Commission is expected to have an opportunity to review and discuss the 65% design plans for the Connecting Lafayette project.
Finally, staff will introduce the Smart Signal Project to the public at a future meeting as an informational item. This future countywide project is being led by CCTA.
Planning Studies: Three planning studies that have been initiated by staff will be discussed at a Commission meeting in 2025, including the ongoing Downtown Parking Management Study, intended to develop strategies to find a balance between parking supply and demand, an expected increase in new housing, and increased pedestrian and bicycle travel throughout downtown.
Additionally, the Commission will have an opportunity to review the results of two technical studies, including the Moraga Road Planning Exercise and Right Turn on Red Restrictions on Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
These efforts include a consideration of possible improvements to Moraga Road that may be implemented after an expected future repaving effort along this key arterial, and possible right-turn-on-red restrictions at key intersections along Mt. Diablo Boulevard to minimize conflicts between drivers and pedestrians.
Commission input on this effort will be critical in evaluating the benefits and impacts as they relate to these initiatives.
Additional planning studies may be initiated in 2025, pending the results of two grant applications for projects that staff has applied for, including capital design assistance for the EBMUD Aqueduct Pathway, and a Transit Station Access and Circulation Analysis.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 14 February 10, 2025 Planning Department Projects: Two projects expected to be initiated in 2025 by the city’s Planning Department include the Mt. Diablo Boulevard Corridor Plan and an update to the city’s Circulation Element as part of the recent updates to the General Plan.
Ongoing Programs: TCC will also continue to contribute, as needed, to ‘Ongoing Programs,’ including providing comment on projects that are being considered for various grant funding opportunities, transportation review associated with larger development applications, and Transportation Action Requests (TARs) submitted by the public.
Vice Mayor Anduri thanked the Commission for their report and presentation. He referred to the Lafayette BART Station Improved Bike/Ped Access and Circulation Analysis and asked if this is a new grant request being prepared.
Mr. Golier confirmed this is an MTC grant program, and he will hear back at some time this winter on award butsaid the grant application has been submitted. Presumably, this would fit in with the Mt. Diablo Corridor multi-modal work.
Councilmember McCormick thanked the Commission for their work and referred to the Downtown Parking Study and asked for more details on timing and how the Commission will be involved.
Mr. Golier stated there will be workshops scheduled in March for the downtown business community.
They will follow this up with a broader public workshop and then an on-line survey available to anyone.
The data collection has occurred this winter and spring they will move onto public engagement and then wrap up in later in the summer/early fall, with a report out in the fall/winter.
Councilmember Cervantes cited the impressive document and the work the Commission has been doing.
He referred to the EBMUD Aqueduct Parkway and asked if EBMUD is working with the City on that as a joint venture.
Mr. Golier stated the City has an agreement with EBMUD that they can build a pathway on their aqueduct right-of-way. It is built between Risa Road and Dolores, but the right-of-way continues east/west roughly parallel to the BART tracks over and past Pleasant Hill Road so it will be bike and pedestrian.
Councilmember Cervantes said the Circulation Element update will be a lot of work and he is looking forward to that, and he thanked the Commission.
Mayor Candell stated 47 projects over 2 years and 6 schools was amazing. She referred to the CCTAconnected lights, Moraga Road, the Mt. Diablo Corridor, and the Circulation Element and asked how does evacuation safety feed in as a lens on each one of these projects. She asked if it is a pivotal part and asked about the process for making sure the lens is added, especially now and to confirm each of these are evacuation routes.
Mr. Golier said the technical studies occurring are not providing decisions. It is a study on what would happen if someone did “this.” In terms of wrapping in consideration of evacuation, the City now has more open communications with County Fire, and they are looking forward to working with Andy Comly, as well.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 14 February 10, 2025 Vice Mayor Anduri asked what is the CCTA schedule with that effort.
Mayor Candell responded and said there are two CCTA efforts—one that is looking at evacuation is in process right now. There is also the Countywide Transportation Plan and associated blueprint and business plan which are all going together at the same time. Right now, CCTA is trying to keep the Countywide Transportation Plan separate from this evacuation plan. At the CCTA meeting, all of them were saying no, they must be integrated at this point because they cannot do one in a vacuum and not consider the other.
Vice Mayor Anduri said he knows the part looking primarily at evacuation is looking at it at a regional level which is helpful for Lafayette, but he asked how much does that look at the City’s particular arterials and how they relate to the regional situation.
Mayor Candell said, not so much from what she understands. They will look at under-privileged communities and putting more effort into those.
Vice Mayor Anduri said he was assuming they would get a sense from that study as to whether all of Lafayette’s residents could get on the highway from a regional basis and whether they would be safe once they get to the highway.
Mr. Golier clarified CCTA is still working on the scope. They have to complete the scope and then issue an RFP to get the study started, which has not yet happened.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Mayor Candell and Councilmembers thanked the Commission for all they are doing.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Candell asked and confirmed there were no requests for removal of items or public comments.
A. Minutes – January 27,025
Recommendation: Approve.
B. Quarterly Financial Report – 2
nd Quarter, Fiscal Year 24/25
Recommendation: Receive and file.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Cervantes) to approve the Consent Calendar Items A and B. Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, and McCormick; Noes: None; Absent: Dawson).
11. OLD BUSINESS – None.
12. STAFF REPORTS
A. Stefanie Cervantes, Senior Planner and Greg Wolff, Planning & Building Director 949 Moraga Road – Affordable Housing on City
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 14 February 10, 2025 Staff is working to implement the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element which calls for affordable housing on the City-owned property at 949 Moraga Road. Staff seeks direction to prepare documents necessary to deem the property “exempt surplus” under the Surplus Land Act and prepare draft terms of sale to facilitate eventual sale to an affordable housing developer. The documents will be placed on a future agenda for discussion and action by the City Council.
Recommendation: Direct staff to prepare documents necessary to deem the property “exempt surplus” under the Surplus Land Act and prepare draft terms of sale to facilitate eventual sale to an affordable housing developer.
Planning and Building Director Greg Wolff provided an introduction and background of 949 Moraga Road which is a .74-acre, City-owned property in the Housing Element as an opportunity site and the subject of Program 6.1.G related to the provision of affordable housing on the site. He turned over the presentation to Senior Planner Stefanie Cervantes
Senior Planner Stefanie Cervantes gave the staff report and PowerPoint overview of the site. She stated the City purchased 949 Moraga Road in 2010 with monies from the Parking Fund. The site is .74 acres and when purchased, it comprised of three vacant lots and a small office building which was demolished for construction of a public parking lot used today.
In early 2015, Branagh Development approached the City with interest to construct workforce housing associated with a proposed project behind the Woodbury. Ultimately, Branagh decided to construct onsite affordable housing on their project site and abandoned the project at 949 Moraga Road. Recently, SAHA / Sunflower Hill approached the City with interest to construct 100% affordable housing project for intellectual and developmentally disabled individuals. They have identified grant funding available through HCD Super NOFA. The funding was not available in 2024, thus highlighting the importance of applying in 2025.
The City’s Housing Element contains Program 6.1.G, Publicly Owned Sites specific to this property. The program objective is to construct at least 23 BMR units and to be in compliance with the Surplus Land Act.
SAHA / Sunflower Hill propose to construct 48 units of 100% affordable which exceeds the Housing Element program. Additionally, this path will allow the City to use less City expenditures than previously anticipated.
The Surplus Land Act contains certain exemptions that would allow the City to streamline compliance. The exemption applies to 100% affordable housing projects, and the requirements would be imposed through a deed restriction and purchase agreement. She also highlighted that they received 12 comments in support for tonight’s item and the recommendation is to direct staff to prepare draft documents necessary to deem 949 Moraga Road exempt surplus under the Surplus Land Act. Staff would then proceed, prepare necessary documents for Council discussion and action at a future meeting. And, if the Council approves the exemption, staff would submit that to HCD for their review and concurrence with the findings.
Councilmember McCormick referred to funding and said it looks like this is dependent upon receiving funding from the State Super NOFA. He asked if there are any federal funds counted at all for this, given the environment is very fluid right now, or he asked if is only related to obtaining funds from the State of California.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 14 February 10, 2025 Director Wolff replied that the interested developer would be best to answer this, but believes the interest is to execute an option where, if they are able within a limited timeframe to secure funding, they would exercise the option. Or it would return to the City and the City would pursue another project.
Councilmember McCormick said the deadline is April 2025 and he asked what the State needs to do prior to that to ensure the City hits that deadline as to what is needed.
Director Wolff stated SAHA / Sunflower Hill could comment in more detail, but he believes site control or some option which could take the form of an exclusive negotiating agreement so that they can represent they could have a project on the site and a completed preliminary application. But it does not need to be fully reviewed and entitled.
Councilmember Cervantes said the City owns this land which is used as parking. If the City proceeds with the excess surplus designation or not, it could stay as parking per the Housing Element for affordable housing. He asked what would happen if the City decided not to do affordable housing here.
Director Wolff said if it were a non-housing project and the City chose not to pursue it, they would need to find additional land likely to satisfy the RHNA allocation. The City has a multitude of opportunity sites which have been identified with certain income mix. So, losing this site or taking it out may result in either a diminished buffer or they might need to find an additional site to effectively take its place and demonstrate to the state there is sufficient capacity of land to meet the RHNA, and this is the no net loss concept.
Councilmember Cervantes said if the City did that, they would need to show they had something else lined up. What the Council is considering is the excess surplus designation. There is a proposal after that to do something which he gathers is driving the timing here and asked if this is correct.
Director Wolff confirmed, and staff would not have brought this as quickly as they did were it not for the pending deadline which staff sees as the most predictable and certain funding opportunity for a project on the site. After that, staff does not know what will be available and the experience in 2023 was a Super NOFA. He thinks there was another expectation of another one in 2024 which did not materialize. There is one in 2025 and thus, the City is pouncing on that opportunity or trying to take advantage of that which is the goal, because staff does not know what comes after that.
Councilmember Cervantes said then the Super NOFA is the ‘brass ring’ for affordable housing funding here and asked if that is the way to look at it. Director Wolff confirmed.
Councilmember Cervantes said the staff report information outlined development milestones to meet this
6.1G component of the Housing Element and the City is moving much faster than that conceivably and he asked if it is all driven by the Super NOFA. Director Wolff said the timing is, and ultimately, the outcome, were it to pass that the Council deemed the land exempt surplus and an option was executed, and the applicant was to apply for and receive funding from that, the City would be achieving the outcome and then some of what the lengthier steps are laid out in the Housing Element. So, it would proceed more quickly to the desired outcome.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 14 February 10, 2025 Councilmember Cervantes said the action to declare this excess surplus keeps the options open here. The Super NOFA track could be pursued and if that does not pan out, the City still has the property and could do something with it later. But, per the Housing Element, the City would keep that for affordable housing if it were developed. Otherwise, they would have to deal with no net loss consequences.
Director Wolff confirmed and said if the interest of the developer who has expressed interest had not materialized, the City would still be pursuing the designation from the Council perhaps at an upcoming meeting. So, if the Council directs staff and later at a public hearing deem it exempt surplus, it is setting the stage for either the path laid out in the Housing Element or this option which is a more direct expeditious route to a favorable outcome.
Mayor Candell confirmed the letter of interest is enough for the Council to pursue this action tonight.
Director Wolff stated it is the letter of interest from SAHA / Sunflower Hill, and this was the instigator to move quickly given the Super NOFA deadline and now staff is looking for direction to take the next preparatory step to coming back, the Council deliberating on the exempt surplus, and follow-on action of what would be the terms of an option or sale.
Mayor Candell asked how long HCD has to respond in a letter, and Director Wolff said HCD has 30 days once the City submits the resolution that deems it exempt surplus.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period.
ROSEMARY KIRBACH, Sunflower Hill Board Member, Chair of the Land Committee, and said she personally leads the 949 Moraga Road project, provided a background of her 13-year experience with the organization, and said they are very excited to have a project in Lafayette. It will be their first project in the County if built, and it is near and dear because she is 30-year resident of Lafayette and has a 27-yearold son with autism. Lafayette is a community of character, kindness, compassion, and so inclusive, and a Sunflower Hill community complements what they already have. Her son benefitted from the excellent special education program from 3 to 22, which she described.
What is missing is affordable residential housing. When she explained her model, she asked people to think of senior living. They do the affordable residence, but also activities, vocational training, social and belonging events which she also described. So, she would love anybody to come to Irby Ranch and she is available to meet for any questions and acknowledged staff for their graciousness with time.
Councilmember McCormick asked Ms. Kirbach to speak a bit to the funding required.
Ms. Kirbach explained the Super NOFA is critical. They did not need HCD funding to fund the project. They received 9% tax credits which is a federal source and money from the City of Pleasanton and money from A-1 County Bond in Alameda. This was all they needed for capital stack. But, with interest rates high and construction, they need other sources. There is not much County money available. There is no County bond that was removed in November, so the Super NOFA is very important. They have done some preliminary pro formas, and they would have the MHA (Multi-housing program), and this is an in-fill site, so they would have the IIG which pays for some infrastructure. In addition, they would need to run the numbers, but either 9% or 4% competitive State low-income tax credits and she anticipates they would apply for County Measure X money, as well as other sources National Housing Trust Fund to build the capital stack. This is big for all projects and this one especially.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 14 February 10, 2025 Councilmember McCormick asked and confirmed with Ms. Kirbach feels good about the project assuming they get a surplus designation. The new Super NOFA has not been released yet, and she checks every morning because HCD said they were going to release it in early February which might be delayed because of LA fires, but they released it on May 18, 2023, and it was due July 12th. They also release federal guidelines, and they released draft guidelines in October. So, once it is released, it is a very onerous application.
Regarding what they would need from the City, staff has been amazing, and she anticipates this will continue.
Councilmember Cervantes said he has some background with affordable housing, and it sounds like the Super NOFA is the “Jenga” piece for this whole project and can see why Ms. Kirbach is motivated to get that done. The Council is only considering the excess surplus designation, but to play it forward, one of the issues with the site is the traffic on Moraga Road. His intuition would be that if you take this project and it is the likely vehicles needed there for its population versus a multi-family or senior housing project, it would be less of a traffic impact. In looking at Irby Ranch, he asked what is Ms. Kirbach’s experience with this score.
Ms. Kirbach said they have 31 units at Irby Ranch and only one resident drives. They do need some caregiver parking because many residents have SLS or ILS. They have on-site staff as a property manager, an activities director, and service coordinator, but many residents take the para-transit van, so having ample room to turn around that vehicle is important. They anticipate many program participants at Las Trampas would apply and many have toured their Irby Ranch and have indicated a desire to live in a Sunflower Hill community in Lafayette. That is walkable for those who can walk, which is great for this location because it is very walkable to everything needed. So, they anticipate low parking needs.
Councilmember Cervantes said they have this scoped in the Housing Element as a site for affordable housing relative to other types of uses, particularly multi-family. This is probably the lowest impact in terms of traffic as opposed to other City options. Ms. Kirbach agreed, and the only time the parking lot was full in Irby Ranch was during a big dance where they invite community members to activities.
DAVID CLARK, Creeks Committee, said they try to monitor progress of items that might have an impact on the creeks. He wanted to be sure there was no direct impact of this project to be considered with respect to the creeks, and he does not think there is. The one possibility might be that the furthest west parcel but what is in the Downtown Creeks Plan he would submit for future consideration is an overlook and a bulb out at Moraga Road which is Item 6 in the list of things in the Downtown Creeks Plan. It is conceptual at this point, but it would include signage. The bulb out would take a couple of parking spots. There is provision for a rain garden/bio-retention basin that would capture water and where that would be in the Creeks Plan is about two parcels north of this parcel on the other side of the church. So, it is not directly impacted by the parcels at 949 Moraga but not far away. If one of the grant requirements is some kind of amenity package having to do with a minipark or something else, they have a $120,000 item which might be something to achieve as part of the project.
Additionally, it seems to him that we could qualify for two different exemptions for the extra space. The last meeting the Council looked at 960; the Campana Building. The City is also applying for excess designation there. Because the parcel is less than ½ acre and it does not abut to certain types of property, it qualifies. This property at 949 Moraga seems to fall in that same category unless they must combine the parcels, which he confirmed needs to be done.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 11 of 14 February 10, 2025 ROBERT COMBI said he is a 27-year resident of Lafayette and has a 26-year-old adult special needs son who has gone through Lafayette schools and is now at Contra Costa Adult Day School and he works at Diablo and bags groceries and has participated in many events. He has also received a kidney from a neighbor in Lafayette. He participated in Sunflower Hill and serve on the Board and can share with the Council first-hand knowledge that when he sat in Council meetings in Livermore, Pleasanton, and listened to neighbors’ concerns about potential noise, congestion, housing values, he can confirm none of those things happened. The adult IDD community is a special community. It enriches their society and community in many ways, are very respectful, are not noisy, the lights go out early, the congestion is minimal, and no housing values declined.
The nice thing about almost being second in the Sunflower Hill build is that they have now worked out all issues and learned a lot in terms of programs to offer and how to integrate with the community. So, as the Council looks at 949 Moraga, he was ecstatic with Ms. Kirbach and community members that there was an opportunity to bring this to Lafayette. He loves Lafayette and this would be such a unique opportunity to keep the adults that have grown up in this community to be able to walk to work, interact with the community, be safe, and cannot say how much he supports the project. He knows there is the RHNA requirement, and this would be a great way to check those boxes, as well.
NANCY WALLACE said she is a long-time resident of Lafayette and the mother of a 24-year-old son with autism. She has also been an advocate for the special needs community in Lafayette for more than 20 years. She is the founder of SEED and currently sits on the board at Las Trampas. She encouraged the Council’s support for the Sunflower Hill project to develop affordable housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is a severe shortage of housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the area. For families like hers, this creates a great deal of anxiety for the future welfare of their son and their ability to support his needs. It also creates a lot of anxiety about the potential impact that his ability could have on their other children who may be responsible for his support and care in his later years.
She sent an email today to the Council about the shortage of affordable housing available in their area.
The most report from the Dept. of Developmental Services shows there are 189 adults with developmental disabilities living right here in Lafayette. The regional center report shows that more than half of the adult clients continue to live in homes with their parents and be supported by their family members. The annual impact report from Las Trampas shows an even greater number at 67% of their clients that currently reside and are supported by their families. Much of this is due to the shortage of housing that is available. As part of her advocacy work, she has attended workshops and presentations on the various housing options available for the community and have toured a variety of these options.
One community was Sunflower Hill’s Irby Ranch project, which she described. So, there is a need to accommodate those already present in the community.
ALISON HILL said she has been active in housing and thinks this is a great opportunity for the City to meet some of its goals and to provide housing for people who really need it. The City is fortunate to have Sunflower Hill representatives who know what they are doing and have worked with the City in the past, and said she is very happy this is proceeding and hopes it is successful in its goals.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 12 of 14 February 10, 2025 LYNN MACMICHAEL echoed Ms. Hill’s comments, said she has lived in Lafayette since 1969 and has always wondered when there would be affordable housing for people as she is a lucky person who got here early.
She hopes the Council will consider this project. It will help everybody as well as the nation because housing is so critical now. She asked to make a dent in the problem which she thinks would be very good.
COURTNEY SHARP said he supports the Council taking the Planning Department’s recommendation to designate this lot as exempt surplus and do whatever it takes to pursue funding from the Super NOFA.
Councilmember Cervantes said he attended a conference in September of the National Conference of State Housing Finance Agencies which had a panel on affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is an organization in Phoenix that has been very active in this core, and it was striking to him how that community represents perhaps one of their least served populations with regards to affordable housing. There are just not many options out there.
He knows they are talking about staff designating this as exempt surplus, but in looking at why the City is doing it now versus a year from now seems like there is an opportunity to do something very significant for a population that lives here, many in their parent’s homes, and which will create viable options for their futures. This is what Love Lafayette is all about. He recognized the need is there and the Super NOFA was not around last year, and who knows if it will be around next year. It seems like if they want to try to hit a home run, they need to get to the plate first and that is what this does.
He fully supports this, and this is something the City can meaningfully do. The land is designated for affordable housing, and it has the least impact on traffic of anything else out there, so it is a triple win in his mind.
Councilmember McCormick said in reflecting on some of the comments heard, in thinking about related institutions to Las Trampas and getting its future explored which has been in downtown Lafayette for many years, Diablo Foods which employs many people who would otherwise not be employed. To him, this is the jewel of Lafayette and the fact this checks affordable housing and other different pieces, this is a great win for the City. On its own, regardless of all of that, this is truly who Lafayette is. He is honored to be a small part of making this a success.
Vice Mayor Anduri commented that if there ever was a “no-brainer,” this is it.
Mayor Candell agreed 100% and she thinks the community is going to come out in support of the Sunflower Hill project in spades. She remembers Lafayette Lane project, and for that part of the project, the City did not even have one letter against it, which is great. There is broad support, and the Council will be completely united on this moving forward, and she asked for a motion.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Anduri) to direct staff to prepare documents necessary to deem the property “exempt surplus” under the Surplus Land Act and prepare draft terms of sale to facilitate eventual sale to an affordable housing developer. Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, and McCormick; Noes: None; Absent: Dawson).
13. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.
14. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT – None.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 13 of 14 February 10, 2025
15. COUNCIL / COMMISSION REPORTS
A. Councilmembers report on activities and consideration of matters a Councilmember wishes to initiate for placement on a future agenda.
Councilmember Cervantes reported on his attendance to his first meeting of the Emergency Preparedness Commission last week and he recognized the citizen volunteers on the committee. He met with the Chair just before who is the author of the booklet he has been handing out to people in the Firewise community.
There is a lot of work in setting up a Firewise-in-a-box program which is critical grass roots preparedness for dealing with wildfires. He is impressed and is delighted to be there serving as Council liaison.
He also reported having lunch with Darlene Gee, Orinda Councilmember. There is a real sense of Lamorinda working together as they share common interests and problems. He got the sense on the Orinda side that they seem interested.
Mayor Candell noted Orinda typically has a Lamorinda annual meeting and asked if the City Manager had a date for that.
City Manager Srivatsa said the three Councils meet once or twice annually. Orinda is the host this year and there is not a date as of yet.
Mayor Candell asked and confirmed with Councilmember Cervantes that there is no date as of yet for the Emergency Preparedness Commission Safety Town Hall annual event.
16. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
A. Letter from Justine Parmelee resigning from the Parks, Trails and Recreation Commission, effective immediately.
Recommendation: Accept resignation and thank Justine Parmalee for three years of volunteer service on the Parks, Trails and Recreation Commission.
Mayor Candell thanked Ms. Parmalee for her service on the PTR Commission.
Vice Mayor Anduri said as a liaison to that Commission, they are incredible volunteers. Each Commissioner is very active. Ms. Parmalee was responsible for what goes on with the Community Center buildings, so she will need to be replaced in that role. In the years she has been on the Commission, she has been very active. So, they are fortunate to have such wonderful members.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Cervantes) to accept resignation and thank Justine Parmalee for three years of volunteer service on the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Commission. Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, McCormick; Noes: None; Absent: Dawson).
17. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Closed Session Items) – None.
18. CLOSED SESSION
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 14 of 14 February 10, 2025 A. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1)) Leamy, et al. vs. City of Lafayette
Contra Costa Superior Court, Case No. MSC20-02456
This item was removed from the agenda.
19. ADJOURNMENT – 8:16 p.m.
APPROVED:
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Susan Candell, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Joanne Robbins, City Clerk