CITY OF SAN MATEO
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES – November 20, 2024
The November 20, 2024 Regular Meeting of the Community Relations Commission (CRC) was called to order at 7:10 pm. Chair Boles called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Chair Boles and Commissioners Nugent and Kim were present. Vice Chair Fitzgerald and Commissioner Crowell (excused) were absent.
CITY STAFF PRESENT
Rachel Horst- Housing Manager, Zachary Dahl- Community Development Director, and Jennifer Mora- Housing Specialist were present.
CONSENT CALENDAR / APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. The minutes of the September 5, 2024 meeting were approved. (Boles/Nugent; 3-0-2)
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment was received.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Community Needs Workshop for 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan The Community Relations Commission determined community priorities in preparation of the 2025-26 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
Public Comment on this item:
Public comment was received from 9 members of the public and broadly included the following recommendations for CDBG funding priorities:
• Continue to fund legal services organizations to assist the anticipated growing number of evictions. • Fund programs to stop the “gap” when the tenant cannot pay a month’s rent to avoid evictions for nonpayment, rather than “penalizing” landlords
• Make available programs to assist tenants to apply for housing programs such as Section 8. • Create more housing options for low-income housing for seniors and individuals with mental or physical disabilities.
• Continue funding for repairs/maintenance on sidewalks to mitigate damage done by trees to sidewalks and trip hazards.
• Continue to prioritize affordable housing under CDBG.
3. Community Workshop on Anti-Displacement and Tenant Protection Policies Staff provided a presentation on the current tenant protection policies and the City’s strategies to address displacement, a goal in the Housing Element.
Public Comment on this item:
Public comment was received from 18 members of the public on this item. Comments included the following broad areas:
• Increasing relocation benefits to three months for all evictions. • Lowering the limit of rent increases to 3-5% to help prevent displacement, especially of teachers, first responders, and essential workers.
• Removing the “expiration date” on tenant protection laws. • Consider that the cost of living in San Mateo is very high, and tenants are living in overcrowded conditions.
• Consider more protections against unsafe living conditions - individuals living in units with mold, infestations, or other repair needs.
CRC Minutes
• There is a need for more tenant and landlord education; cities and counties need to do more outreach. • Consider that rent control may result in a decrease in quality of housing units and can disincentivize maintenance of units.
• Rent registries raise privacy concerns for right to privacy. • City should supply more homes to address the housing crisis. • Expand the right-to-return ordinance for households displaced due to substantial renovations or reparations.
• Consider the mom-and-pop landlords who may be impacted by expanded tenant protections, including relocation payments.
• Displacement is traumatic to the tenant, especially when they have children and pets. • A rent registry can help the City better understand the market.
REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
No reports or announcements were made.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 9:18 pm (Boles/Nugent; 3-0-2).
CITY OF SAN MATEO
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION – REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES – January 15, 2025
The January 15, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Community Relations Commission (CRC) was called to order at 7:02 pm. Chair Boles called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Chair, Vice Chair, and all Commissioners were present.
CITY STAFF PRESENT
Rachel Horst- Housing Manager and Jennifer Mora- Housing Specialist were present.
CONSENT CALENDAR / APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. The minutes of the November 20, 2024 meeting were approved. (Nugent/Fitzgerald; 5-0)
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment was received.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Community Workshop on Anti-Displacement and Tenant Protection Policies Staff provided a presentation on the current tenant protection policies and the City’s strategies to address displacement, a goal in the Housing Element.
Public Comment on this item:
Public comment was received from 22 members of the public on this item. Comments included the following broad areas:
• Low-income tenants being at risk of displacement.
• Social and emotional challenges to children from displacement. • Support for anti-harassment and rental registry policies. • Increased rents due to inflation and higher maintenance and insurance expenses. • Increasing relocation assistance to keep it consistent with City code provisions for displaced tenants. • Limiting no-fault evictions during the school year for families with school-aged children. • Support for right-to-return after a substantial remodel. • Support for more education on AB 1482.
• Opposition to additional restrictions on landlords or any policies that add administrative burden. • Difficulties faced by landlords in the current rental environment. • Rent registries as unnecessary because privatized and government platforms are already available. • Support for just-cause protections, regardless of tenure. • Support for rent registries to support policymaking.
• Support for more education and communication on current policies and resources. • Overcrowding.
REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. A survey from the City’s Clerk’s Office was sent out to Commissioners. City Staff reminded Commissioners to complete the survey.
2. Caltrain representatives and City Staff will hold a Community Meeting on January 30, 2025 to discuss train noise.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 8:23 pm (Nugent/Fitzgerald; 5-0).