Larry Klein
Mayor
Richard Mehlinger
Vice Mayor
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
Charlsie Chang
Councilmember
Eileen Le
Councilmember
May 11, 2026
T
he Honorable Josh Becker
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 6520
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
E: Senate Bill 457 (Becker): Housing Element Compliance: Committed Assistance: In-Kind Services – SUPPORT
D
ear Senator Becker:
O
n behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we want to express our support of SB 457, which provides much-needed clarity regarding the definition of “in-kind services” as a form of committed assistance under California’s Housing Element Law.
A
s cities across California work diligently to meet their Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) obligations, local governments are increasingly relying on creative and resource-efficient strategies to preserve and produce affordable housing. In the Bay Area, where the housing affordability crisis remains acute, tools that support preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse are essential to preventing displacement and maintaining stability for our most vulnerable residents.
S
B 457 is a thoughtful and practical measure that clarifies which nonmonetary contributions—such as staff support, land dedication, and other facilitative actions — qualify as “in-kind services” for purposes of committed assistance for the acquisition and preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing. By establishing a clearer statutory framework, this bill reduces administrative ambiguity and provides local jurisdictions and affordable housing developers, and other nonprofit partners with the certainty needed to plan and implement housing strategies.
A
s identified in General Plan Policy H -3.3, Sunnyvale is committed to strengthening multi-family neighborhoods through the acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of aging residential properties as long-term affordable housing. By clarifying that long-term leases of land and staff support can be considered committed assistance for preservation and conversion activities, SB 457 helps cities plan how they can realistically meet their Attachment 16
The Honorable Josh Becker, State Senate
May 11, 2026
lower-income RHNA obligations. This is especially critical for built- out communities like Sunnyvale where land constraints necessitate maximizing every available pathway to maintain and expand affordability.
Sunnyvale is committed to advancing innovative, equitable, and sustainable housing solutions. SB 457 aligns with these goals by ensuring that cities have clear, flexible, and effective tools to meet state housing requirements while addressing local needs.
For these reasons, the City of Sunnyvale supports SB 457 and thank you for your leadership on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Trudi Ryan, Community Development Director at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
cc: Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab
Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens
City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Connie Verceles, Assistant City Manager
Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
Attachment 16