From: Angie Dillon Shore
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comment - City Council Agenda Item 14.1 for 12/5/23 Date: Monday, December 4, 2023 11:06:15 AM
Attachments: SR City Council 12.5.23.pdf
Hello,
please find attached letter for public comment, related to Item 14.1 on tomorrow's City Council Agenda: Report - Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) and 2024 Regional Affordable Housing Bond.
Thank you
Angie Dillon-Shore
(she, her, hers, ella)
Executive Director
"Are you delivering services, or are you delivering change?" ~ Dr. Manuel Pastor
____________________________________
5340 Skylane Blvd., Santa Rosa, CA 95403
o: 707.522.2019
c: 707.477.4769
December 4, 2023
Santa Rosa City Council:
Mayor Natalie Rogers
Vice Mayor Dianna MacDonald
Council Member Mark Stapp
Council Member Chris Rogers
Council Member Eddie Alvarez
Council Member Victoria Fleming
Council Member Jeff Okrepkie
RE: Support for 2024 Regional Housing Bond Measure
Dear Mayor Rogers, Vice Mayor MacDonald and esteemed Council Members,
On behalf of the First 5 Sonoma County Commission, I strongly urge the Santa Rosa City Council to prioritize and immediately agendize a Council resolution in support of the 2024 Regional Housing Bond measure. This transformative initiative is an essential step toward realizing the vision of Santa Rosa as a vibrant community where everyone has a home.
The notable increase in housing developments in Santa Rosa is a positive and encouraging sign of progress. Yet, adequate financial resources are critically needed to sustain this momentum and to ensure a continuous flow of new developments into the future. The Regional Housing Bond will be, by far, the most effective strategy to maximize financial leveraging to generate the necessary funds for local affordable housing projects. Every dollar invested locally could be leveraged up to ten times! By investing i n a $10 billion bond and securing Santa Rosa’s estimated share of $121 million, the City could potentially mobilize over $1.2 billion for housing initiatives.
The City’s General Plan directive aligns seamlessly with the Regional Housing Bond: by supporting the initiative, the Council has an opportunity to advance your vision of a more prosperous and inclusive community. Again, I strongly advocate that the Council immediately set an agenda that includes a resolution to support the 2024 Regional Housing Bond. Doing so will affirm your stated commitment to a pro-housing vision that aligns with the goal of creating equitable, healthy and resilient communities in the North Bay.
Sincerely,
Angie Dillon-Shore
Executive Director
NORA MALLONEE BRAND
CHAIR
Sonoma County Department of
Health Services
JENNIELYNN HOLMES
VICE CHAIR
Catholic Charities
RAISSA DE LA ROSA
TREASURER
City of Santa Rosa
DONNA BROADBENT
Sonoma County Human
Services Department
DENIA CANDELA
Parent Representative
VANESSA DESOUSA
Kaiser Permanente
KELLEY DILLON
Sonoma County Office of
Education
JAMES GORE
Sonoma County Board of
Supervisors, 4th District
DEVANSHI UNADKAT, PHD
University of San Francisco
ANGIE DILLON-SHORE
Executive Director
5340 Skylane Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Ph: 707.522.2020
first5sonomacounty.org
From: Nathan Spindel
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comment on Item 14.1: BAHFA and 2024 Regional Bond Date: Monday, December 4, 2023 2:55:41 PM
Hello City Council,
I live in Sonoma County, where I raise a young family and operate small businesses. I care deeply about expanding financially-accessible housing throughout the North Bay. Many people would like to live here but they cannot afford to do so. Building more housing is the solution to moderate housing prices, expand housing supply, and make it a more affordable place to live. People deserve to live in the North Bay without a massive rent/mortgage burden. The 2024 Regional Bond being prepared by BAHFA is a great opportunity to help this effort. I encourage you to support it.
Thank you,
Nathan Spindel
Sonoma County resident and business owner
From: Collin Thoma
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 14.1: Bay Area Housing Finances Authority and 2024 Bond Measure Date: Monday, December 4, 2023 4:40:10 PM
Attachments: image001.png
image002.png
Agenda Item 14.1 Bay Area Housing Finances Authority and 2024 Bond Measure.pdf Dear City of Santa Rosa City Council,
Thank you for allowing comments 2024 Bay Area Finance Authority Bond Measure. On behalf of DSLC I have submitted my comments please feel free to reach out with any questions or with any follow up.
Sincerely
Collin Thoma
Systems Change Advocate
Disability Services & Legal Center (DSLC)
521 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707)636-3076
Advancing the rights of people with disabilities
Santa Rosa, CA Napa, CA Ukiah, CA 707-528-2745 Voice 707-258-0270 Voice 707-463-8875 Voice 521 Mendocino Ave 1820 Jefferson Street 415 Talmage B Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Napa, CA 94559 Ukiah, CA 95482
Agenda Item 14.1: Bay Area Housing Finances Authority and 2024 Bond Measure
Dear City of Santa Rosa City Council,
I am Collin Thoma the Systems Change Advocate with Disability Services and Legal Center (DSLC). My comments today are to support the 2024 Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) regional bond measure. The bond measure will be a critical component in solving the states extreme housing crisis. While nearly everyone feels the effects of the housing crisis the effects are even more acute for people with disabilities and seniors. Many of DSLC’s clients receive Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or other public benefits. All of these benefits pay significantly less than the average rent in both Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. This often means they have little to no money for other necessities after paying rent. Furthermore, it is very hard and takes a long time for someone who is homeless with a disability(s) and/or is a senior to get stable housing. Thus, there is a dire need for housing that if affordable for those in the very-acutely low-income bracket of the Area Median Income (AMI).
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority bond measure will be immensely helpful in increasing development and preservation of affordable housing Thus, it is important that the city advocates and works to achieve full $242 million allocation or the maximum amount possible. It is also very important for the city to work with the county to achieve the maximum amount allotted from the county. The money allotted for production of housing should also include the development of accessible housing for people with disabilities and seniors. This is a huge need as the lack of acesaaible housing makes it even harder to find housing that is both affordable and accessible. Both the Universal Design and Visitability Design methods are great ways to develop housing that is affordable and accessible. It would also be good to see the portion of funds in the “flexible” spending category to be used help develop acesaaible and affordable housing. In addition, the (flexible) funds should be used to improve and increase amenities in
Advancing the rights of people with disabilities
Santa Rosa, CA Napa, CA Ukiah, CA 707-528-2745 Voice 707-258-0270 Voice 707-463-8875 Voice 521 Mendocino Ave 1820 Jefferson Street 415 Talmage B Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Napa, CA 94559 Ukiah, CA 95482
neighborhoods. Such amenities should include a complete and well-maintained pedestrian and bicycle network, safe streets and, easy access to public transportation. Having these amenities are important for people with disabilities and seniors who don’t or can’t drive. This means they rely on walking, bilking, rolling or using public transportation to get around. In addition, neighborhoods will benefit if the residents who live there have easy aces to parks, restaurants, shops and other services.
I want to thank the city council for starting to work on the process on creating a resolution for the adoption of the bond measure for sometime in 2024. I also want to thank the council for taking the time to review my comments on the importance of the bond measure. If this bond measure is to pass it will be extremely helpful in solving the extreme housing crisis.
Sincerely,
Collin Thoma
Systems Change Advocate
Disability Services & Legal Center (DSLC)
521 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707)636-3076