Housing and Human Services Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Housing and Human Services Commission Wednesday, July 26, 2017 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Evans called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Evans led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Chair Patti Evans Vice Chair Minjung Kwok Commissioner Joshua Grossman Commissioner Avaninder Singh Commissioner Elinor Stetson Absent: 2 - Commissioner Diana Gilbert Commissioner Ken Hiremath Commissioner Diana Gilbert (excused) Commissioner Ken Hiremath (excused) Council Liaison Gustav Larsson (present) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A 17-0635 Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting Minutes of May 24, 2017 Chair Evans asked for a motion on the consent calendar, unless anyone wished to discuss it first. MOTION: Commissioner Stetson moved and Vice Chair Kwok seconded the motion to Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission Minutes of May 24, 2017 City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final July 26, 2017 Commission as submitted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Evans Vice Chair Kwok Commissioner Grossman Commissioner Singh Commissioner Stetson No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Gilbert Commissioner Hiremath PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 17-0764 Discussion of Accessory Dwelling Unit Development Standards Housing Officer Suzanne Isé noted that staff was not providing a written report or recommendation on this item until the September 20, 2017 meeting. Therefore, no formal action was required by the commissioners at this time, but it was an additional opportunity to receive public comments during the public hearing. Assistant Planner Shila Behzadiaria gave a slide presentation to update the commissioners on the progress of the Accessory Dwelling Unit study, which included a review of the current standards, input that has been received during the outreach meetings and the online survey thus far, and some potential recommendations. After a short discussion and clarifying questions of staff, Chair Evans opened the public hearing at 8:05 p.m. Housing Choices Executive Director Jan Stokley spoke in favor of ADUs as a way to help home owners that have adult children with developmental disabilities to be able to provide housing for them. She also asked for clarification on the owner-occupancy requirement and how it would apply to a special needs trust. Staff noted that the requirement would be fullfilled by the beneficiary or trustee living in the home, and that there is also a reasonable accommodation policy in place for residents with disabilities. That policy allows for reasonable adjustments to City codes or policies if needed to allow disabled residents to access and utilize housing. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final July 26, 2017 Commission Linda Davis, Sunnyvale resident, suggested that the City Council monitor the ratio of rentals versus owner-occupied homes. She added that, in her opinion, City Council was encouraging more rentals than owner-occupied properties. She is in favor of ADUs as a means for more affordable housing. Lastly, she asked why the home owner requirement on ADUs is limited to only 20 years, rather than in perpetuity. Ladan Dalla Betta, resident, noted that she wants to build an ADU and the owner-occupancy deed restriction is the first requirement that comes up. She is not in favor of this requirement, because she doesn't believe the City should dictate what she can or cannot do with her lot. She asked what happens if an owner needs to move to an assisted living facility for any amount of time, does that automatically violate the owner-occupancy requirement? She added that the 20-year restriction does not address any concerns about short-term rentals. Serge Rudaz, resident, spoke in favor of keeping the deed restriction to prevent predatory renting. He noted that the current market has encouraged large investment companies to buy properties to maximize rental profits, underminding the goal of ADUs as a means for more affordable housing. Chair Evans closed the public hearing at 8:24 p.m. 3 17-0629 Election of Officers for FY 2017-2018 Chair Evans asked if anyone was interested in serving as Chair and opened the floor for nominations. Commissioner Kwok moved and Commissioner Singh seconded to nominate Commissioner Grossman for the office of Chair. Commissioner Grossman accepted the nomination. Chair Evans asked if anyone else was interested in serving. No one did. Chair Evans closed the floor for nominations and opened the floor for discussion. Commissioner Grossman was elected unanimously to the Office of Chair for FY 2017-18. Chair Evans asked if anyone was interested in serving as Vice Chair and opened City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes - Final July 26, 2017 Commission the floor for nominations. Commissioner Grossman moved and Commissioner Stetson seconded to nominate Commissioner Singh for the office of Vice Chair. Commissioner Singh accepted the nomination. Chair Evans closed the floor for nominations and opened the floor for discussion. Commissioner Singh was elected unanimously to the Office of Vice Chair for FY 2017-18. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES None. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments None. -Staff Comments Staff handed out a flier for an upcoming tour of Mayfield Place in Palo Alto, a recently completed project by Related California. Staff noted that Related California was selected to develop the affordable housing site at the northwest corner of Iowa and Mathilda Avenues, also known as Block 15, and this tour was an opportunity to see one of its recent developments. ADJOURNMENT Chair Evans adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4