Housing and Human Services Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Housing and Human Services Commission Wednesday, January 20, 2016 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Special Meeting CALL TO ORDER Chair Evans called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Evans led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 4 - Chair Patti Evans Vice Chair Barbara Schmidt Commissioner Diana Gilbert Commissioner Narendra Pathak Absent: 2 - Commissioner Dennis Chiu Commissioner Younil Jeong Council Liaison Whittum (absent) Commissioner Chiu (excused absence) Commissioner Jeong (excused absence) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Linda Davis, Sunnvyale resident, spoke about her concerns about the study issues process. She noted that she had attended the Housing and Human Services Commission's November meeting when the commissioners discussed and ranked study issues for recommendation to City Council. She also noted that the Housing and Human Services Commission ranked study issue CDD 16-11: "Consider Methods to Encourage Alternative, Non-traditional Housing in High-density Residential Areas", as number one, and she expected to see it on the list of study issues that Concil would consider for ranking, but it was not listed in the Council packet for the study issues workshop.. Staff explained that study issue CDD 16-11 was originally sponsored by the Planning Commission. During its meeting to discuss and rank study issues, the City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2016 Commission Planning Commission opted to defer it, as allowed by the current process, so it was removed from the list referred to Council. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A 15-1089 Draft Minutes of the Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting of November 18, 2015. Commissioner Gilbert moved and Chair Evans seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar which was comprised of the Draft Minutes of the Housing and Human Services Commission meeting of November 18, 2015, with a typo correction. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 3 - Chair Evans Vice Chair Schmidt Commissioner Gilbert No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Chiu Commissioner Jeong Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Pathak Commissioner Pathak abstained because he was not present at the meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 15-0966 Consider First Community Housing Proposal for $6 Million in Housing Mitigation Funds for Redevelopment of Orchard Gardens Apartments at 245 W. Weddell Drive Assistant Planner Shila Behzadiaria gave an overview of the $6 million funding request for the proposed project to redevelop the Orchard Gardens Apartments, a 62-unit development located at 245 W. Weddell Dr. The proposal includes rehabilitation of 30 newer existing units, demolition of 32 older units, and construction of a new four-story, 57-unit building, for a total of 87 units at project completion. First Community Housing (FCH) President & CEO Geoffrey Morgan shared a video of the grand opening of FCH's recently built Mountain View "1585 Studios" project. He then gave a short presentation about the Orchard Gardens proposal and noted that the new building will be designed for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification. He answered commissioners’ questions City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2016 Commission about the project and about how tenants are selected. Housing Choices Coalition Executive Director Jan Stokley, who works in partnership with the San Andreas Regional Center, spoke in support of the project and the committment to designate 43 of the completed units for tenants with developmental disabilities. Housing Choices Coalition is a non-profit that focuses on creating housing opportunities for the developmentally disabled. Chair Evans opened the public hearing at 8:10 p.m. Stan Hendryx, housing advocate and long-time resident of Sunnyvale, spoke in support of the project. Jacob Hob resident of Sunnyvale, spoke in support of the project. Mr. Hob gave testimony in support of the project and the real possibility of his adult children, both of whom have developmental disabilities, being able to have a place to live independently in Sunnyvale when he is no longer able to care for them. Chair Evans closed the public hearing at 8:26 p.m. Commissioner Pathak moved and Commissioner Gilbert seconded and offered a friendly amendment to the motion to recommend to Council Alternative 2: Award a conditional funding commitment of $6 million in HMF to First Community Housing for the proposed redevelopment of Orchard Gardens, based on the conditions and terms described in Attachment 4, with a modification to include a priority for Sunnyvale residents. Commissioner Pathak accepted the friendly amendment. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Evans Vice Chair Schmidt Commissioner Gilbert Commissioner Pathak No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Chiu Commissioner Jeong 3 15-1110 Review Draft Request for Proposals for FY 2016-17 CDBG/HOME Housing and Capital Projects Funding After a brief discussion and some clarification questions of staff, the commissioners agreed no action was needed on this item. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2016 Commission 4 16-0035 2016 Draft Master Work Plan Housing Officer Isé explained that an item related to the Lawrence Station Area Plan needs to be added to the Work Plan in May. After a short discussion, the commissioners tentatively agreed to hold a special meeting on May 18, 2016. Chair Evans opened the public hearing at 8:40 p.m. Stan Hendryx spoke about fair housing and the Fair Housing Act, and asked the Commissioners to add an item to the 2016 Draft Work Plan to study and learn about fair housing in Sunnyvale. He noted that in his opinion the Housing and Human Services Commission should not only focus on the housing needs for the homeless and very low-income populations, but should also address the current middle class housing crisis. Chair Evans closed the public hearing at 8:45 p.m. Commissioner Gilbert moved and Chair Evans seconded the motion to approve the Draft Work Plan with the addition of the Lawrence Station Area Plan item in May. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Evans Vice Chair Schmidt Commissioner Gilbert Commissioner Pathak No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Chiu Commissioner Jeong STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES The commissioners discussed the concern raised during Oral Communications about study issue CDD 16-11: Consider Methods to Encourage Alternative, Non-traditional Housing in High-density Residential Areas, being deferred by the Planning Commission although the Housing and Human Services Commission had ranked it number one. They agreed that they felt strongly about asking Council to reconsider including it in the list of study issues to be ranked during its Study Issues Workshop session, or at least to note that the Housing and Human Services Commision felt that it was an important issue to consider. Chair Evans moved and Commissioner Gilbert seconded to have Commissioner Gilbert write a letter to City Council on behalf of the Housing and Human Services Commission regarding study issue CDD 16-11: Consider Methods to Encourage City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final January 20, 2016 Commission Alternative, Non-traditional Housing in High-density Residential Areas. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Evans Vice Chair Schmidt Commissioner Gilbert Commissioner Pathak No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Chiu Commissioner Jeong NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Pathak thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve on the Housing and Human Services Commission. -Staff Comments None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Evans adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 5