TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Councilmember Davis
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: February 14, 2022
Approved Date: 2/14/2022
SUBJECT: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ALLOCATION AND CATEGORY
NAMES OF MEASURE E REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAXES
RECOMMENDATION
1. Accept the staff recommendations and the recommendation from Councilmembers Esparza, Cohen, and Jimenez with the following modifications:
a. Consider changes to the spending allocation of real property transfer tax revenue set forth under Section 22 of City Council Policy 1-18 to modify the category names and allocation amounts to:
i. 40% for creation of new affordable housing for extremely low-income households;
ii. 30% for creation of new affordable housing for low-income households; iii. 5% for creation of new for-sale and rental affordable housing for Moderate-Income households; and
iv. 10% for homeless prevention and rental assistance.
v. 15% for other homeless support programs including safe parking for both RVs and other vehicles, shelter construction and operations, and other support services.
BACKGROUND
Vehicular homelessness is a growing issue in our city, affecting the quality of life in both our neighborhoods and our public spaces. Community members feel unsafe when they see unfamiliar RVs and cars parked illegally on their neighborhood streets, blocking turn lanes, and creating hazardous conditions for drivers and pedestrians. They worry about the health hazards of the excessive amounts of trash that can pile up nearby. Further, people living in cars and RVs are vulnerable to assault, theft, and other crimes while they navigate parking options each night in potentially unfamiliar and unsafe areas.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 2/15/2022
ITEM: 8.3
We know that we are unable to provide enough housing units quickly enough to get everyone out of their vehicles into a home. Therefore, we have to meet people where they are now. The City can and should utilize the parking lots of hotels that we acquire or lease for homelessness solutions. As with all other homeless solutions, City Staff should engage with the Councilmember and the Community Advisory Committee prior to locating a safe parking site.
Community members in those areas must have a voice in City decisions that impact their neighborhoods.
As the City aims to address homelessness in the Guadalupe Gardens and Columbus Park areas, these recommendations will afford the City with more options that will be timely, safe, and impactful.