* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:01:55] [00:07:44] ALL THANKS. ALRIGHT. OKAY. BYE TO SEE [00:11:56] MADAM CLERK. WE, UH, DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON OUR AGENDA ITEM, SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT TO POP UP. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WE'LL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026. UM, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI HERE. VICE CHAIR . CHAIR THRESH INTECH. I'M HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. WONDERFUL. UH, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA? ITEM ONE. RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING OF TUESDAY, [ROLL CALL] APRIL 1ST, 2025. OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM NOW. [1. 26-54205 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Housing and Public Health Committee meeting of Tuesday, April 1, 2025.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] NO PUBLIC COMMENT. CHAIR. THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. VOTE. OKAY, LEMME PRESS, MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM NOW. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. CHAIR. THANK YOU. [2. 26-54209 Recommendation to receive and file a discussion and potential action regarding future agenda items for the Housing and Public Health Committee.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation.  ] I HAVE SOME COMMENTS. COLLEAGUE, DO YOU HAVE ANY? UM, I WAS JUST MY, I JUST HAD A, UM, ONE QUESTION, WHICH WAS, UH, WILL THIS ITEM, UH, FOR THE AGENDA BE A CONSISTENT ITEM WE HAVE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AROUND POTENTIAL ITEMS, UM, TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA FOR THE COMMITTEE? OH, I'D BE HAPPY TO ENSURE THAT THAT WAS ADDED TO EACH OF OUR MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD NEW AGENDA ITEMS AND DISCUSS WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE. LOVELY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO WITH THAT, UM, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN RICK OTI. I WILL NOW MOVE INTO MY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS AGENDA ITEM. UM, SO THIS AGENDA ITEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FRAME OUR WORK FOR 2026. UM, HOUSING REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING LONG BEACH FAMILIES, AND THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING THOUGHTFUL, INNOVATIVE, AND POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR THE YEAR. WE'RE KICKING OFF TODAY, UH, WITH JUST, UH, A FEW CRITICAL UPDATES ON THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE SENIOR, SENIOR SHALLOW SUBSIDY, AND THE JUST CAUSE POLICY INITIATIVES. THESE REPRESENT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STABILITY AND OWNERSHIP GOALS THAT WE HOPE TO BRING [00:15:01] FORWARD, UH, DURING THIS COMMITTEE DISCUSSION. AS WE LOOK AT, UH, THE REST OF THE PLANNING FOR 2026, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THREE BUCKETS OF AREAS THAT WE INTEND TO FOCUS ON WITH THIS COMMITTEE. THE FIRST IS AROUND SUSTAINABILITY OF SUPPLY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING INWARD AT OUR SYSTEMS AT THE CITY, AND LATER THIS YEAR, WE'LL BE BRINGING FORTH THE REPORT ON OUR A DU PILOT PROGRAM. UH, CRITICALLY WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS OF INCLUSIONARY HOUSING UNITS, UH, AS PART OF THE A DU PROGRAM, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE, UH, BEYOND CURRENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. THE SECOND AREA IS REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC SOLVING HOUSING. WE KNOW WE CAN'T SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS ALONE IN A SILO AS A CITY, AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT LONG BEACH IS AT THE FOREFRONT, UH, IN LINE FOR REGIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT ARE COMING FORTH. SO WE'LL BE INVITING LA CASA, UH, AND THE COUNTY TO PRESENT ON MEASURE A AND THE IMPLEMENTATION AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY, UH, DOLLAR THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. FURTHER, WHEN IT COMES TO REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING AT, UH, PROJECTS LIKE THE CARLITOS, WHERE WE WANT TO, UH, LOOK AT HOW DO WE RE-ENVISION, UM, THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, UM, AND LOOK AT BUILDING INNOVATION A MORE PUBLIC, A MORE, UM, MODERN PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITY, UM, THAT RESIDENTS CAN BE PROUD OF. UH, WE WANNA SEE A CHANCE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY THERE AND CREATE A MODEL THAT HOPEFULLY THE ENTIRE STATE CAN LOOK AT. AND OUR THIRD AREA WILL BE INNOVATIONS AND PATHWAYS TO OWNERSHIP. WHILE WE ARE DISCUSSING HOME BUYER, UH, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TODAY, UH, WE WANNA CREATE OFF RAMPS FROM RENTING INTO OWNING. AND IN THE SECOND OR THIRD QUARTER, WE INTEND TO REALLY LOOK AT TENANT TO OWN, UH, OPTIONS AND MODELS FOR HOME HOME OWNERSHIP TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. WE KNOW THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR IMPACT. SO WHETHER YOU'RE A PROPERTY OWNER, A TENANT ADVOCATE, A DEVELOPER, A NONPROFIT LEADER, UM, KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS OPEN. AND AS WAS JUST STATED, WE WILL HAVE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR EACH MEETING SO THAT WE CAN BRING FORTH, UH, NEW IDEAS. UM, THIS YEAR AS WELL, WE'LL BE FEATURING A FEW SPOTLIGHTS OF ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE WANNA BRING OUT THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HERE IN LONG BEACH LIBRE AND OTHERS SO THEY CAN SHARE DATA INSIGHTS AND UPDATES ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY AND ON THE GROUND. SO WITH THAT, I HOPE THAT, UH, YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE AGENDA FOR 2026. UM, AND I WILL, UH, CLOSE MY COMMENTS AND MOVE TOWARDS A CALLING OF THE ROLL CALL VOTE. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CLERK. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. IF YOU COULD READ THAT MATTER, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM. OKAY. WELCOME, UH, TO OUR DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR KUNTZ. UH, WE'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU FOR A STAFF PRESENTATION. YEAH, SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO REPORT BACK ON THE SUCCESS, UM, WE HAD WITH OUR FIRST TIME HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. [3. 26-54206 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Community Development Department regarding the First-Time Homebuyer Program.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UH, STAFF IS GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT, UM, WE HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AS PART OF, UM, THE COVID RELIEF FUNDING TO HAVE TRULY FLEXIBLE FUNDING AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP FOLKS THAT WERE SO CLOSE, UH, TO FIRST TIME HOME, UH, OWNERSHIP, BUT JUST NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP TO GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE. UM, SO WITH THAT, STEPHANIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S STEPHANIE HARPER. I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. SO OUR FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN MARCH OF 2023. IT RECENTLY CLOSED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, AND THE PROGRAM PROVIDED GRANTS FOR DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS TO HELP FAMILIES BUY THEIR FIRST HOME IN LONG BEACH. UM, AS CHRISTOPHER MENTIONED, THIS WAS FUNDED AS PART OF THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT, WHICH WAS THE CITY'S COVID-19 RECOVERY PLAN. UM, AND IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED $1.8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 76 HOUSEHOLDS. AND THE PICTURE HERE IN THE SLIDE IS OUR VERY FIRST FAMILY WHO BOUGHT A HOME WITH THE HELP OF THE GRANT, THEY CLOSED, UM, ON A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH IN MAY OF 2023. THE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON, UM, HELPING FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN HOME OWNERSHIP. SO, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT, UH, APPLICANTS NEEDED TO BE BOTH FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AND FIRST GENERATION HOME BUYERS, MEANING THAT THEIR PARENTS DIDN'T OWN A HOME OR IF THEY OWNED A HOME, THEY LOST THE HOME DUE TO FORECLOSURE OR SHORT SALE. FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, [00:20:01] IT WAS OPEN ONLY TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVED IN, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT OR CDBG AREAS. AND IT, UH, WE STARTED THE PROGRAM, UM, PRIORITIZING THOSE WHO ARE AT 150% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING THE DOLLARS TOWARDS THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. UH, IN 2024, WE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO ENABLE MORE RESIDENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE GRANT. SO WE TOOK IT CITYWIDE. WE INCREASED THE INCOME LIMIT UP TO 200% OF THE A MI TO BETTER MATCH THE INCOME LEVEL THAT FOLKS NEED TO QUALIFY FOR MORTGAGES AT THE PRICE POINT THAT LONG BEACH HOMES ARE AT. AND THEN WE ALSO INCREASED THE GRANT AMOUNT FROM $20,000 TO $25,000 TO HELP OFFSET THE RISING HOUSING COSTS. THE MAP HERE SHOWS, UM, OUR CDBG AREAS, IT'S ABOUT HALF OF LONG BEACH. MM-HMM . YOU LIKELY KNOW THIS, BUT A-C-D-B-G AREA IS A, UM, UH, CENSUS TRACKS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME. UM, AND THESE ARE IS AN IMPORTANT EQUITY APPROACH FOR US BECAUSE THESE ARE AREAS WHERE HOUSING FAR OUTPACES, UM, INCOME LEVELS. OUR CDBG AREAS ALSO OVERLAP WITH AREAS THAT HISTORICALLY WERE REDLINED, WHERE BIPOC RESIDENTS WERE, UM, SHUT OUT OF ACCESS TO MORTGAGES. AND SO, EVEN AFTER EXPANDING THE PROGRAM CITYWIDE, WE WERE REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT, UM, OVER 80% OF FOLKS WHO RECEIVED THE GRANT, UM, LIVED IN CDBG AREAS. THIS MAP SHOWS, UM, THAT HOME BUYERS HELP USE THE GRANT TO HELP BUY HOMES IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT IN THE CITY. THE CLUSTERING YOU SEE HERE IN THE MAP REALLY REFLECTS THE DIFFERENCES IN HOME PRICES IN LONG BEACH. THERE'S NO SURPRISES TO US. UM, WE SEE THAT, UH, GRANTEES BOUGHT HOMES MORE LIKELY IN DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LONG BEACH, ALAMEDO BEACH AREA. WE HAVE MORE CONDOS HERE, WHICH ARE AT A LOWER PRICE POINT THAN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS. AND AT THE A MAMI LEVEL THAT WE ARE AT. AND THEN THERE'S MORE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AVAILABLE IN NORTH AND WEST LONG BEACH, WHICH ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN HOMES THAT ARE ON, UM, EAST LONG BEACH OR LIKE BELMONT SHORES, FOR EXAMPLE. BUT AGAIN, WE DID SEE HOMES PURCHASED IN EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UM, AS PART OF CLOSING OUT THE PROGRAM, WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF GRANTEES OF APPLICANTS AND THEN OF PARTNERS SUCH AS LENDERS OR REALTORS. UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED OUR GRANTEES WAS, HOW DID THIS GRANT HELP YOU PURCHASE YOUR HOME? AND SO WE'VE PULLED A COUPLE OF PHOTOS AND A COUPLE OF, UM, QUOTES FROM OUR GRANTEES AND, UM, I'LL, I'LL LET THEIR WORDS SPEAK TO THEMSELVES, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE MINUTES ON THIS SLIDE JUST TO READ THESE QUOTES. AND THEN JUST ONE LAST SLIDE FOR ME. AGAIN, WANTED TO LET FOLKS SHARE HOW THE GRANT HELPED THEM, AND THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. BUT I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, COLLEAGUE, DO YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? UH, I DO ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION. UH, I BELIEVE IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED THAT 80% OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE OR WHO RECEIVED THE, THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT ACT USED IT. WAS THAT, WAS THAT THE, THE STATISTICS I HEARD? NO, 83%, UM, WERE LIVING IN A, IN A-C-D-B-G AREA POINT OF MOUNTAIN BLOCK GRANT AREA AT THE, AS A RENTER WHEN THEY APPLIED. GOTCHA. UNDERSTOOD. SO THAT WAS OUR PRIORITY AREA. IT WAS EXCLUSIVE FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, BUT WE WERE REALLY HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO SEE FOLKS FROM THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM THOSE CENSUS TRACKS, UM, BE THE ONES TO APPLY AND TO BE ABLE TO USE THE GRANT. SO WE HAD A REALLY HIGH RATE OF CDPG RESIDENTS. UM, EXCELLENT. BE AWARDED THE GRANT QUESTION, WAS THERE ANYONE WHO APPLIED, UM, FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, UM, PROGRAM, UM, AND WHO'S ELIGIBLE, WHO ULTIMATELY THOUGH, DID, DECIDED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD AND USE THEIR, UM, THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT? SURE, YEAH. AT TIMES WE HAD FOLKS WHO, UM, I'M TRYING TO RECALL, LIKE APPLICANTS LEFT ON MY HEAD. WE, WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE WHO ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO BUY OUTSIDE OF LONG BEACH. SO THEIR HOME, OF COURSE, THIS, YOU HAD TO BE A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND YOU HAD TO PURCHASE WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO THAT WOULD HAPPEN. UM, WE HAD FOLKS WHO CAME TO US PRETTY LATE IN THE ESCROW PERIOD, LIKE MAYBE ONLY A WEEK LEFT. AND THAT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME. WE HAVE CERTAIN FINANCIAL AND LEGAL CONSTRAINTS WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE GRANT DOLLARS GO TOWARDS THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES. AND IF THEIR LENDER ESCROW AND TITLE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, FIT OUR TIMELINE BEFORE US, WE COULD DISPERSE THE GRANT. THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER EXTEND ESCROW IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE GRANT OR TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. SOME FOLKS, IT WAS A SMALL NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IF THEIR SELLER REALLY DIDN'T WANNA EXTEND [00:25:01] ESCROW, THEY HAD TO MAKE THE CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY WALK AWAY FROM THAT HOME OR MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE GRANT. SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT COMES TO MIND IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S CHOICE. AND THEN WE DID HAVE FOLKS WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM, BUT NOT ABLE TO FIND A HOME THAT MET THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE WE HAD TO SUNSET THE PROGRAM DUE TO OUR EXPENDITURE TIMELINES. UNDERSTOOD. UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THE PROGRAM ENDED UP, UM, ALL THE FUNDS ENDED UP BEING UTILIZED, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO BE, YOU WANT THE PROGRAM TO BE USED. UM, BUT I KNOW THIS IS REALLY POPULAR AND I THINK WE HEAR A LOT FROM OUR RESIDENTS, UM, AROUND THE NEED FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF HOME OWNERSHIP, UM, JUST IN CALIFORNIA IN GENERAL. UM, IF WE WERE TO BRING BACK THE PROGRAM, UM, WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE IT? YEAH, SO I THINK WHAT MADE THIS PROGRAM WORK WAS FUNDING FLEXIBILITY. SO WE USED THIS PROGRAM TO ASSIST, UH, FOLKS THAT MADE UP TO 200% OF A MI RIGHT NOW, IF WE WANTED TO DO FIRST TIME HOME BUYER, UM, WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS, IT WOULD BE UP TO 80% A MI IF WE WANTED TO USE STATE DOLLARS, IT'D BE UP TO 60% OF A MI THAT W WE'D BE ASSISTING ONE PERSON. THAT THERE IS A MISMATCH BETWEEN THAT APPROACH, AT LEAST IN LOCAL STAFF'S VIEW, THAT STATE AND FEDERAL APPROACH, UM, AND HOME OWNERSHIP. SO HOME OWNERSHIP IS A PATHWAY INTO STABILITY AND INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND INTO PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, GREAT THINGS FOR ONE'S FAMILY. UM, BUT THE COST OF HOUSING IN LONG BEACH IS HIGH. SO WE NEED THE ABILITY TO HELP FOLKS THAT ARE CERTAINLY NOT HIGH INCOME, BUT ARE HIGHER INCOME THAN, UM, THE DOLLARS THAT COME FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDS TODAY, THE STRINGS ATTACHED TO THEM. SO THAT'S THE, WHAT WAS REALLY UNIQUE ABOUT, UM, THE COVID RELIEF MONEY WAS THAT THOSE, UH, RESTRICTIONS DID NOT APPLY. AND, AND WE WERE ABLE TO TARGET, UM, THOSE FOLKS THAT, AS I MENTIONED, WERE CLOSE AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP FROM THE CITY COULD GET ACROSS. SO WE WOULD NEED A NEW PROGRAM FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDS, OR WE WOULD NEED SOME KIND OF UNRESTRICTED OR, OR DIFFERENTLY RESTRICTED FUNDS TO RESUME THE PROGRAM. UM, CHAIR, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY ON OUR, UM, STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AS A CITY. UM, BUT IT MAY POTENTIALLY BE SOMETHING WE WANNA CONSIDER ADDING TO IT, RIGHT. WHICH IS ADVOCATE ABSOLUTELY. FOR THIS. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I JUST MADE THAT NOTE. UM, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE THAT I JUST WROTE THAT DOWN. I SAID, OH, YES. OKAY. SO YES, WE SHOULD, UH, DEFINITELY FORWARD TO, UM, THE, UH, TEAM SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE THAT WE SHOULD ADD THIS TO THE STATE, UH, POLICY AGENDA. COUNCILWOMAN RICKS ODI. DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR QUESTIONS? IT DOES. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, TO THE STAFF, UH, REGARDING THE TODAY'S PRESENTATION. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A MOMENT TO READ OVER THE, UM, THE TESTIMONY FROM THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE GOTTEN INTO HOMES. UM, IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE PICTURES AND TO HEAR, UH, FROM FAMILIES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO OWN THEIR OWN HOME. UM, SO MY QUESTIONS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR, SO LET ME SEE IF WE CAN TAKE 'EM TO THE NEXT, UH, STEP AS WELL. UM, WITH JUST $1.8 MILLION, WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT 76 HOUSEHOLDS, UH, WHICH IS PRETTY TREMENDOUS GIVEN, UM, THAT DOLLAR FIGURE. YOU'VE NOTED THAT THESE WERE LONG, UH, RECOVERY ACT FUNDS, SO THAT MEANS THEY WERE ONE TIME AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS. ACCORDINGLY. UM, I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS, UH, INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT WE MAY BE ELEVATE THIS FOR, UM, THE CITY'S BUDGET AS AN OPPORTUNITY. 'CAUSE THAT'S QUITE AN IMPACT I THINK FOR, UH, A SMALL INVESTMENT. UM, HAVE WE CONSIDERED CONNECTING WITH ANY PHILANTHROPIC GROUPS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED, UM, IN SUPPORTING THIS. AND THEN, UM, SIMILAR TO MY, WHAT MY COLLEAGUE HERE HAS NOTED, UM, I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SEE IF WE CAN DIRECT THIS PRESENTATION, UM, TO OUR POLICY TEAM SO THAT THEY CAN ENSURE THAT THE STATE SEES THIS AND WE CAN SHARE THE RESULTS OF THIS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A STATE PROGRAM THAT MOVES US BEYOND THE 60 AND 80% A MI, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MATCH THE COST OF HOUSING WITH THE, UH, SUPPORT OF A SEC SOFT SECOND PROGRAM TO GET MORE FAMILIES INTO HOMES. SO I'LL STOP THERE JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER STRATEGY YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US REGARDING HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS A PERMANENT PROGRAM. YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN HOME OWNERSHIP. SO PART OF IT IS FINDING A FUNDING SOURCE. UM, AND, AND CERTAINLY WE CAN SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH, UM, THE IGR COMMITTEE. UM, BUT SOMETHING, UH, STEPHANIE MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION WAS PART OF THE REASON WE HAD MORE, [00:30:01] UM, HOMES PURCHASED IN CD ONE, IT WASN'T THAT PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN CD ONE TO START WITH, IT'S THAT THERE WERE CONDOS AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN. SO PART OF THIS IS ABOUT, UM, AGAIN, IT'S OUR FRIENDS AT THE STATE, BUT CONSTRUCTION LIABILITY AND DEPOSITS AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO INTO OWNERSHIP AND TRYING TO MAKE, UM, THOSE LAWS WORK FOR, FOR HOME BUILDERS AND HOME BUYERS. UM, AND WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH LENDERS. THERE ARE LENDERS THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN, IN HELPING FIRST TIME BUYERS, AND IT'S CLOSE. THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. SO, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE WORK. UM, JUST NEED TO IDENTIFY THAT FUNDING SOURCE. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL, I MEAN, WE WILL REITERATE IT HERE. THE NEED FOR INVENTORY, UH, IS STILL THERE ACROSS THE CITY, THE INVENTORY TYPE, UM, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA MADE FOR MORE AFFORDABILITY, UM, FOR FAMILIES TO GET INTO THOSE HOMES. SO, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD THAT TO OUR ADVOCACY AGENDA AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. UM, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES I THINK MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. NOW, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING TOGETHER CHRISTOPHER C***S, ALL THE WONDERFUL STAFF. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS MEETING COMMITTEE WORK IS GREAT WORK. AND I THINK, UM, AND I HOPE THAT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO WILL BE REFLECTED WHEN IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL BECAUSE, UH, IN CITIES WHERE COMMITTEES LIKE THIS HAVE THIS TYPE OF OPEN-ENDED, UH, LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES. AND IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT FORUM AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, WHERE WE'RE GOING. UM, 2 CENTS. THERE WAS A PROGRAM MANY YEARS AGO WHERE YOU COULD DO CONDO CONVERSIONS FROM APARTMENT BUILDINGS. THERE WAS MODERATE SUCCESS AND THERE WAS A VERY HEAVY REACTION FROM THE CITY WHERE WE HAD LIKE PARK IMPACT FEES, POLICE FEES, ALL THESE OTHER FEES ATTACHED TO PER DOOR CONVERSION, WHICH ESSENTIALLY TOOK THE MONEY OUT OF THAT EQUATION. IT'S A LITTLE OVERSIMPLIFICATION, I'M SURE, BUT IT WENT FROM SOME TO NONE IS WHAT I'M GUESSING FROM A STATISTICAL STATE. LIKE, I DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. YOU CAN. THEY HAVE THE WAYS TO DO, LIKE, HERE'S WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THAT POLICY. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT POLICY. AND CERTAINLY IF YOU CREATE INCENTIVES AND MAYBE EVEN HAVE IT TARGETED WHERE LIKE IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU HAVE AN OVER CONCENTRATION OF RENTERS AND HIGH TRANSIT POPULATION, HAVING A FEW, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONVERT THEM TO CONDOS COULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. SO IT'S LIKE A MARKET FORCE DRIVEN, BUT PRIORITIZATIONS FOR THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, HARD REACH COMMUNITIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL THAT THEN PUTS THEM IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IF WE ALLOW THAT. SO MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO REIMAGINE IT OR RE-LOOK AT IT WHERE A PROPERTY OWNER WOULD TAKE THAT AVENUE AND THEN ALLOW FOR HOME OWNERSHIP TO OCCUR WHERE IT'S NOT WATERFRONT PROPERTY, IT'S URBAN INFILL, ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE CREATING. THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? AND WE APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON COMMITTEE WORK 'CAUSE WE KNOW YOU, YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE . ALRIGHT, UH, WITH THAT I'LL, WE'LL CALL THE ROLL CALL FOR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. UM, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR. WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, READ THAT OUT? RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE SENIOR SHALLOW SUBSIDY PROGRAM. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UM, AT THIS TIME, UH, DOES I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STAFF HAS A REPORT, UH, DIRECTOR KING OVER TO [4. 26-54207 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Health and Human Services Department regarding the Senior Shallow Subsidy Program.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation.  ] YOU? THEY DO AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, WE ARE JUST HAPPY TO, UM, BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS SHALLOW SUBSIDY AS A RESULT OF THE BRAIDING OF STATE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. UH, OUR BUREAU MANAGER, PAUL DUNCAN, IS GOING TO GIVE US DETAIL ON THE ROLLOUT OF THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HOMELESS SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER PAUL DUNCAN. UH, EXCITED TO REPORT ON A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE IN DEVELOPMENT ON AND WE'LL BE LAUNCHING IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, UH, AROUND SUPPORTING OUR OLDER ADULT COMMUNITY HERE IN LONG BEACH THAT IS RENT BURDENED AND AT RISK OF, UH, POTENTIAL HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT SOME SORT OF INTERVENTION. UH, WE DID WANT TO TOUCH [00:35:01] ON WHAT A SHALLOW SUBSIDY IS. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MAY BE FAMILIAR, SOME PEOPLE, UH, LESS SO. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TRIED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BOTH AS A INTERVENTION AFTER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASSISTED THAT WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND BOTH AS A TARGET AS WELL AS A TARGETED INTERVENTION FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. UH, SPECIFICALLY THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION. UH, SO LOS ANGELES COUNTY AT ONE POINT HAD A SHALLOW SUBSIDY FOCUSED ON OLDER ADULTS. SAN DIEGO HAS A SIMILAR, UH, SO THAT IS OUR MAIN FOCUS WITHIN THIS. UH, A SHALLOW SUBSIDY IS A TARGETED TIME-LIMITED RENTAL SUBSIDY. SO IN SOME SENSES IT WORKS SIMILAR TO A HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER, HOWEVER, IT'S NOT AS DEEP IN THAT IT'S NOT PAYING AS MUCH OF SOMEBODY'S RENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS. AND IT'S MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE BUT NOT NECESSARILY INDEFINITE. SO, UH, IT IS A TIME-LIMITED, UM, INTERVENTION. SO FOR OUR PROGRAM, WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE. IT'S NOT DEEP CASE MANAGEMENT. IT IS REALLY ABOUT, UH, ECONOMICALLY SUPPORTING PEOPLE THAT ARE AT RISK WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND CONNECTING TO EXISTING RESOURCES THAT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL SENIOR CENTER AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER RESOURCES, UH, THAT CAN ASSIST OLDER ADULTS WITH OTHER AREAS OF NEED THAT THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING AROUND, UH, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS. SO REALLY THIS IS NOT WORKING TO CREATE THAT, BUT WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THINGS THAT ARE EXISTING. UM, MOVE NEXT SLIDE. UH, AS WE LOOK AT ELIGIBILITY, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS FOCUSED ON OUR OLDER ADULT POPULATION. THERE ARE, UH, SEVERAL REASONS AS WE LOOK AT THAT POPULATION. UH, BETWEEN 2015 AND ABOUT 2022, WE REALLY SAW INCREASING NUMBERS OF OLDER ADULTS BECOMING HOMELESS. LIKE IT WAS A PRETTY ALARMING TREND THAT HAS SOMEWHAT SMOOTHED OUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. HARD TO SAY IF THAT'S AN ANOMALY OR IF WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE HAPPENING AGAIN. UH, BUT WE SAW VERY FEW OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS PERCENTAGE WISE BEFORE 2015. UH, AND SUBSEQUENT TO THOSE YEARS, WE SAW A MARKET INCREASE OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. UH, I THINK THIS CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, INCREASING OLDER ADULT POPULATION, UH, AS WELL AS RISING COSTS OF HOUSING AND OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES WHILE PEOPLE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME. UH, SO AS WE LOOK AT WHO WE'RE TARGETING, WE ARE IDENTIFYING PEOPLE THAT ARE 62 AND OVER KNOWING THAT SOME PEOPLE RETIRE EARLY, UH, AS WELL AS 55 AND OLDER. IF SOMEBODY HAS A DISABILITY, UH, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DOCUMENT PEOPLE THAT ARE BELOW 50% OF, UH, THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME TARGETING PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, LIMITED WITHIN THEIR FINANCIAL MEANS, AND THEN PEOPLE THAT ARE EXTREMELY RENT BURDEN, MEANING THEY'RE PAYING AT LEAST 70% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS THEIR RENT. SO TRYING TO TARGET THOSE THAT, UH, REALLY DO NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SPENDING, UH, OR ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE BAD INCIDENT, WHETHER THAT BE A HEALTH INCIDENT, MAYBE A CAR BREAKS DOWN, MAYBE THEY HAVE A UNEXPECTED FAMILY EXPENSE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT DECISION BETWEEN RENT OR COVERING SOME OTHER LIFE AREA. WE, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE NOT BE IN THAT SITUATION. UM, SO A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WITHIN OUR CONSIDERATIONS. I KNOW MEASURE A WAS, UH, TALKED ABOUT A FAIR AMOUNT WITHIN OUR, UH, LEAD UP AROUND AN OLDER ADULT SHALLOW SUBSIDY. HOWEVER, WITH A NUMBER OF THE EXISTING REGULATIONS THROUGH THE LA CASA RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, IT WOULD BE VERY CHALLENGING TO DO A SHALLOW SUBSIDY DUE TO ONLY ALLOWING FOR SIX MONTHS OF DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND LOOKING AT A PROGRAM THAT ON AVERAGE IS GOING TO, UH, PAY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR ROUGHLY A TWO YEAR PERIOD. LUCKILY, WE HAVE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITH STATE FUNDING THAT'S COME IN, UH, THAT ACTUALLY IS MORE THAN WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITHIN MEASURE A. UH, SO WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE ROUGHLY A LITTLE UNDER 2 MILLION, UH, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WHERE WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT THIS INITIAL PILOT WHILE WORKING TO [00:40:01] IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING OVER THIS INITIAL PILOT PERIOD. WHILE WE, YOU KNOW, WORK FOR, FOR IDENTIFYING, UH, FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, THE PROGRAM WILL BE SERVING BETWEEN 40 TO 50, 35 TO 50 HOUSEHOLDS FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD BASED ON AN ESTIMATED, UH, ASSISTANCE OF AROUND $20,000 PER HOUSEHOLD, UH, EACH YEAR BETWEEN, UH, STAFFING, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE GOING OUT. UM, YOU KNOW, OUR HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY MONEY TO EVEN FURTHER EXPAND THIS, BRING ON ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AS WE GET INTO SECOND, THE SECOND YEAR. UH, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS OUR STARTING POINT AT THE MOMENT. UH, THE TIMELINE FOR THIS, WE ARE WORKING TO GET THIS UP AND GOING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER HOMELESS PREVENTION RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UH, PROGRAM THAT'S COMING THROUGH OUR MEASURE A FUNDING. UH, SO, UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BUCKETS AND TARGETS WITHIN THE MEASURE A PREVENTION FUNDING, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR RIGHT TO COUNSEL, SETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UH, TO KEEP PEOPLE STABILIZED. SO THAT IS OUR FIRST TARGET AREA TO GET GOING. UH, WE'RE TARGETING THAT STARTING UP AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO BE SCREENED AND INTAKE AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. UH, OUR OLDER ADULT SHALLOW SUBSIDY WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY BEHIND THAT. SO WE'RE TARGETING, UH, APRIL OF 2026 THIS YEAR, UH, FOR THE OLDER ADULT SHALLOW SUBSIDY TO START. SO TRYING TO ROLL OUT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS PRETTY QUICKLY HERE. UH, WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THROUGH STAFFING AND GETTING EVERYTHING INTO PLACE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, AS A CITY DIRECTLY ADMINISTER, UH, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS IN BOTH PROGRAMS. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, PAUL. THANK YOU FOR THOSE DETAILS. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING WHAT A SHALLOW SUBSIDY IS. IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK, FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND OTHER FORMS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE SUCH AS SECTION EIGHT THAT COVER THE, THE BULK OF THE COSTS, WHEREAS A SHALLOW SUBSIDY IS JUST A, A SMALLER SUBSET. UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUE AND I, UH, WILL START WITH OUR COMMENTS AND COUNCILWOMAN RICK SODI. UM, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. ONE WAS, I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE GOOD, A GOOD AMOUNT OF CURRENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PILOT. SO THAT'S ENCOURAGING AND THAT WE FOUND ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T, UM, UH, ORIGINALLY IDENTIFY, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS DISCUSSION. SO, UM, IN LIGHT OF ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING FUNDING WISE , UH, ACROSS THE REGION, UH, THERE ARE SMALL WINS RIGHT, THAT WE WILL CELEBRATE. UM, SO I SAW ON THE SLIDE APRIL, 2026. SO IS THAT THE EXPECTED LAUNCH OF THE PILOT PROGRAM? CORRECT. OKAY. THAT WOULD BE WHEN WE START TO MESSAGE IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, START TO SCREEN, UH, POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS AND HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE PROGRAM. UH, WE'D BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER, THE GRAY PANTHERS, OTHER HEART OF IDA, OUR SENIOR SERVING COMMUNITY THAT IS LINKED IN WITH PEOPLE, THEY KNOW PEOPLE ALREADY. SO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM. THE MAC IS ALREADY ONE DAY A WEEK OVER AT THE SENIOR CENTER. SO WE'D KIND OF BE BUILDING ON EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO START SCREENING AND START ASSISTING. SO HOPEFULLY OUR FIRST RENTAL ASSISTANCE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, LIKELY GOING OUT FOR THE MONTH OF MAY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THAT SCREENING WOULD START IN APRIL. OKAY. WONDERFUL. AND SO YOU, SO IT WOULD START IN APRIL AND THEN OUR HOPE IS THE SCREENING PROCESS WOULD THEN NOT TAKE MORE THAN LIKE MAYBE 30 TO 60 DAYS TO THEN ONBOARD, UH, SOME OF OUR OLDER ADULTS INTO THE PROGRAM. CORRECT. THAT PART WOULD BE PRETTY QUICK. UH, THE PART THAT COULD TAKE A MOMENT THAT MAY TAKE MORE THAN YOU KNOW, A QUICK COUPLE MEETINGS IS WORKING WITH THE LANDLORD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO ISSUE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A PROPER LEASE, A W NINE, UH, A UNDERSTANDING OF THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT'S GONNA BE COMING FROM THE CITY VERSUS WHAT'S GONNA BE COMING FROM THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT'S STILL PAYING A GOOD PORTION OF THEIR RENT DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD. EXCELLENT. AND SO THE ONLY THING A REQUEST I WOULD HAVE AS A, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD BE GREAT, UM, UM, AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF DOING THIS IN THE PAST IS MAYBE EVEN PUTTING OUT SOME LIKE INFOGRAPHICS OR KIND OF MATERIALS LIKE A MEDIA KIT THAT WE CAN HELP PROMOTE TO OUR OLDER ADULTS AND THEN JUST SOME LANGUAGE. SO IF WE GET LIKE PHONE CALLS OR AS WE'RE GOING OUT TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ET CETERA, LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DEFINITELY WOULD WANT MY STAFF TO ANNOUNCE TO THE OLDER ADULTS AND HOWTON PARK AND AT SOME OF OUR GROUPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT'S REQUIRED, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, PROPERLY POSITIONED TO APPLY FOR THIS SUBSIDY IF THEY QUALIFY. [00:45:01] AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN, RICK SODI. UM, PAUL AGAIN, THANK YOU. UM, SO THIS PROGRAM, UH, WILL, YOU KNOW, GET STARTED IN APRIL AND EARNEST, UM, AND IT APPEARS THAT IT'S ONE TIME FUNDING, SO THERE WILL BE UM, YOU KNOW, A SUNSET OR AN EXIT THAT WILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE. UM, I'M LOOKING AT, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M PLEASED THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP SENIORS IN THEIR HOMES FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. UM, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT FROM AN EXIT STANDPOINT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, LEAVING THEM IN A GOOD PLACE. SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF CASE MANAGEMENT THAT WILL OCCUR SUCH THAT IF WE KNOW THAT A SENIOR'S GONNA COME TO THE END OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UM, THAT WE ARE MONITORING THAT AND HELPING THEM FIND A NEW SOLUTION. YEAH, I MEAN THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SHALLOW SUBSIDY IS, YOU KNOW, OUR, WE HAVE THAT TWO YEAR, OUR GOAL IS FOR IT TO BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE. SOME PEOPLE MAY NEED A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS, SOME PEOPLE MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS JUST DEPENDING ON SITUATION TIMING. UH, SO A IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM IS LOOKING FOR LONGEVITY FOR THAT PERSON. THAT MEANS ASSISTING THEM IN UH, SIGNING UP FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAIT LISTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT, UH, CAN HELP THEM IN BEING SUSTAINABLE. WE HAVE SOME VOUCHERS THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT ARE TARGETED SPECIFICALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS. WE HAVE AN QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE 55 AND OLD OLDER. THOSE WAIT LISTS TEND TO MOVE A LITTLE FASTER THAN SOME OF OUR OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAIT LISTS. HOWEVER, WILL IT BE EXACTLY TWO YEARS? FOR SOME PEOPLE IT MIGHT BE, FOR SOME PEOPLE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE. I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF CONTINUING TO ASSESS, LOOKING FOR MONEY, CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR ONGOING HAT FUNDING. AND YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. YOU KNOW, WE ARE AT RISK OF POTENTIALLY LOSING SOME, A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING INTO NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD'VE IMPACTED OUR BUDGET IN DIFFERENT WAYS. OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FUNDING AT ALL THOSE ALLOWS US TO DO MORE INCLUDING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. SO I THINK THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT ALL LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN PLACE. THANK YOU. PAUL. POINT WELL TAKEN. I DO THOUGH I THINK THAT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE PUT IN HERE IN THE PROGRAM DESIGN IS THAT CASE MANAGEMENT AND BE EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT, UH, GOING FORWARD A SHALLOW SUBSIDY PROGRAM IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE OF A TRANSITIONAL NATURE FOR PEOPLE AND WE WANNA THINK AND AS WE LEARN FROM HOW LONG IT TAKES TO HELP PEOPLE FIND A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION, UM, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW LONG THEY CAN REMAIN WITHIN THE PROGRAM. AND THEN YOU MENTIONED PAUL, THAT THERE WAS A POLICY AT, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE WERE ALL INTERESTED IN USING MEASURE A DOLLARS IN ORDER TO HELP SUSTAIN UH, THIS KIND OF WORK. UM, YOU NOTED THAT THERE WAS A POLICY MATTER WITH LA CASA AND THE RENTAL RELIEF RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE. I'M WONDERING, PAUL, IS THIS STATUTORY OR IS THIS JUST A POLICY WITHIN LA CASA THAT UM, THE MAYOR AS THE CHAIR COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE INFLUENCE ON? THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME STATUTORY THINGS AROUND RENTAL ASSISTANCE ON THE PREVENTION SIDE. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THERE IS MORE FLEXIBLE LANGUAGE THAT GOT CREATED AROUND, UM, INCOME ASSISTANCE. SO WE COULD PROVIDE SOMEBODY DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS. HOWEVER, IN LOOKING AT OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE OFTEN ON A FIXED INCOME THAT IS TIED TO A BENEFIT, GIVING THEM DIRECT CASH COULD IMPACT THE, THE BENEFITS THAT THEY RECEIVE. THEREFORE, IN THIS CASE, LIKE IT IS STAFF'S OPINION THAT THE DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WON'T IMPACT SOMEBODY'S BENEFITS IS A BETTER APPROACH AND ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE THEIR EXISTING BENEFITS AND DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT TO SPEND THE MOST VERSUS PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, FIVE TO $700 A MONTH YES. IN DIRECT CASH TO THEM. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT PAUL, HAVE WE LOOKED AT PAYING THE LANDLORD DIRECTLY SO THAT THE BENEFIT DOESN'T GO TO THE TENANT BUT IT GOES TO THE LANDLORD? YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR PLAN AT THIS MOMENT IS ALL ASSISTANCE WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD. SO IF WE ARE USING MEASURE A LA CASA PREVENTION DOLLARS, WE CAN ONLY PAY UP TO SIX MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THAT STATUTORILY MANDATED. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH, SO THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. WE'RE WORKING WITH LA CASA, IT IS THEIR FIRST YEAR. SO I THINK WHETHER IT'S ON THE INCOME ASSISTANCE SIDE OR WHAT WE CALL THE PPO SIDE, THE PRODUCTION [00:50:01] SIDE, UM, THERE'S SOME VERY WELL-INTENTIONED RULES THAT ARE NOT WORKING PERFECTLY ON AN IMPLEMENTATION. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY'RE LISTENING TO US, PAUL, UM, AND, UM, MEGAN SORENSON FROM MY STAFF AND OTHERS, WE'RE MEETING WITH LAA EVERY MONTH. WE ARE GIVING THEM FEEDBACK. I THINK SOME OTHER RULES, UM, WILL BE ADJUSTED NEXT YEAR. UM, AND WE'D BE GLAD, UM, IN A YEAR TO, TO TELL YOU HOW THAT SORT OF EVOLVES. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, ONE DOOR CLOSES, WE WANT THE PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE SO WE FIND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS TO KEEP 'EM GOING. THANK YOU. YEAH, PLEASE DO CONVEY THAT THIS COMMITTEE WAS INTERESTED IN, UM, ENSURING THAT THAT BE UPDATED TO ALLOW FOR THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR SENIORS AS THEY TRANSITION. UM, ALRIGHT. AND THEN THE CITY WILL BE, UH, ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM DIRECTLY. THERE WON'T BE A THIRD PARTY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CORRECT. WITH, YOU KNOW, TIMELINESS WITH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS AS WELL AS GETTING THE OTHER LARGER PREVENTION DOLLARS UP. UH, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DIRECTLY ADMINISTER. THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS, THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES FOR WITHIN CITY PROCESS AND THE BUREAUCRACY OF IT IN PAYING RENTAL ASSISTANCE. SO THAT IS ONE THING WE WEIGHED IN THIS, UH, CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE FELT THAT IT WAS BEST FOR THE CITY TO, UH, MOVE THIS FORWARD VERSUS GOING THROUGH AN RFP TO SELECT A PROVIDER. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S STRONG DECISION. ALRIGHT. UH, WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. COUNCILWOMAN RICK SOTE. UH, AND MOSTLY JUST A COMMENT. I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE ARE GONNA PROMOTE THE PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I SEE MEMBERS OF LIBRE HERE. I, I SEE, UH, FOLKS FROM OUR APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. SO I THINK IT'S ALSO GREAT FOR US TO LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERS, UM, THAT WORK IN THE HOUSING SPACE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, LEVERAGE THEIR MEMBERS, THEIR CONTACTS AS WELL, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGING ALL OF THEM TO GET ALL THAT INFORMATION OUT, UH, AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM NOW. I JUST, I JUST ECHO THAT. I THINK, UM, VILLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I THINK ONE OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED OUT OF COVID WHEN THERE WAS RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF SKEPTICAL HOUSING PROVIDERS. AND SO WORKING WITH SOME OF THEIR ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS TO KIND OF HELP BRIDGE THE GAP AND REALLY INVITE INFORMATION EDUCATION AND MAYBE EVEN USING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO LEVERAGE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF INSTANCES OF CASH FOR KEYS AND OTHER THINGS WHERE THERE IS MONEY IN THE ECOSYSTEM, BUT MARRYING IT TO KEY PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES. 'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOUSING PROVIDERS WANT PEOPLE TO RENT FROM THEM. THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO AND, AND GET NEW, UH, TENANTS. SO MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOLLARS AND MARRY THE TWO TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT CAN OCCUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. HI, MY NAME IS CHRISL DOMBROWSKI. I'M A SENIOR AND AS FAR AS I KNOW WITH ALL MY RESEARCH WITH LA VOICE, I KNOW LIBRA, I CLUE I'M NOT HERE TO REPRESENT THEM. THERE IS NO HOMELESS PREVENTION. WE HAVE TO BE SLEEPING, ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SLEEPING IN TENTS ON THE SIDEWALK. I'VE BEEN IN LINE FOR CITY HU FOR FIVE YEARS. MULTI-SERVICE CENTER SAYS, OH, DO YOU HAVE AN EVICTION NOTICE? I SAID, OH, IT'LL BE TOO LATE THEN. MM-HMM . WE NEED HOMELESS PREVENTION THAT WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. AND, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES, UH, ADDICTION SERVICES. MM-HMM . MM-HMM MY PLACE COSTS MORE. I OWE EVERYBODY MONEY. MY PLACE COSTS MORE THAN I MAKE IN MY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. AND I'M HOPPED HERE. I'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD. THAT'S WHEN I GOT MY FIRST PAYCHECK. I'VE BEEN 50 YEARS HERE IN LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DOES THAT CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT? THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. UH, ROLL CALL VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. UH, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A STATUS UPDATE FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE UNIVERSAL JUST CAUSE POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. THANK YOU. UH, I SEE DIRECTOR KUNZ HERE. WE HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION FROM THE STAFF. YES. SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE MARY DOW WHO'S GONNA GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW, UM, JUST [5. 26-54208 Recommendation to receive and file a status update from the Community Development Department regarding the Universal Just Cause Policy and community engagement process.          Suggested Action: Approve recommendation.  ] OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR LANDLORD TENANT POLICIES. MARY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. [00:55:03] SO, UM, THE JUST CAUSE FOR TERMINATION OF TENANCY'S ORDINANCE OR JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE FOR SHORT, IS THE CITY'S TENANT PROTECTION POLICY MODELED AFTER THE CALIFORNIA TENANT PROTECTION ACT OF 2019. IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2020 AND OUTLINES THE SPECIFIC REASONS UNDER WHICH A RESIDENTIAL TENANCY OR LEASE CAN BE LEGALLY TERMINATED. THE POLICY WAS UPDATED IN 2024 IN RESPONSE TO SB 5 67, PROVIDING CLEAR GUIDELINES ON OWNER MOVE IN AND SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTIONS SUCH AS PROHIBITION OF AN OWNER MOVE IN EVICTION. IF A SIMILAR UNIT ON THE PROPERTY IS VACANT, A TENANT'S RIGHT TO RETURN TO THE UNIT IF CONDITIONS OF AN OWNER MOVE IN OR A SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTION ARE UNMET. AND PROVIDING THAT A TENANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO VACATE A PROPERTY BEING REMODELED ON ANY DAYS WHERE THEY COULD CONTINUE LIVING IN THIS SPACE WITHOUT VIOLATING HEALTH SAFETY AND HABITABILITY CODES AND LAWS UNDER JUST CAUSE. AFTER A TENANT HAS OCCUPIED A RESIDENCE FOR 12 MONTHS, THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN ONLY TERMINATE A TENANCY FOR A SPECIFIC REASON. THESE REASONS FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES. THE FIRST CATEGORY BEING WHEN THE TENANT IS AT FAULT OR AT FAULT, JUST CAUSES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THERE'S A DEFAULT IN THE PAYMENT OF RENT, A VIOLATION OF THE LEASE OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BY THE TENANT ON THE PROPERTY. THE SECOND CATEGORY INCLUDES REASONS FOR EVICTION THAT ARE NOT THE TENANT'S FAULT, WHICH ARE CALLED NO FAULT JUST CAUSES. THESE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, THE INTENT TO OCCUPY THE PROPERTY BY THE OWNER, DOMESTIC PARTNER, OR DIRECT RELATIVE AS SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE AS THAT PERSON'S PRIMARY RESIDENCE. REMOVING THE PROPERTY FROM THE RENTAL MARKET, FOR EXAMPLE, TO CONVERT THE PROPERTY TO A DIFFERENT USE. THE OWNER COMPLYING WITH A GOVERNMENT ISSUED ORDER AND THE INTENT TO DEMOLISH OR SUBSTANTIALLY REMODEL THE PROPERTY. CURRENTLY WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER TERMINATES A TENANCY FOR A SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL, THE TENANT MUST BE PROVIDED RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,500 OR TWO MONTHS RENT. WHICHEVER IS GREATER FOR ALL OTHER NO-FAULT JUST CAUSES THE AMOUNT IS EQUAL TO ONE MONTH'S RENT. THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE MUST BE PROVIDED WITHIN 15 DAYS OF SERVICE OF THE TERMINATION NOTICE. NEXT I'LL TALK ABOUT SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL TENANCY TERMINATIONS. SUBSTANTIALLY REMODEL MEANS THE REPLACEMENT OR SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION OF ANY STRUCTURAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, OR MECHANICAL SYSTEM THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR THE ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, INCLUDING LEAD-BASED PAINT, MOLD, OR ASBESTOS IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS THAT CANNOT BE REASONABLY ACCOMPLISHED IN A SAFE MANNER WITH A TENANT IN PLACE. AND THAT REQUIRES THE TENANT TO VACATE THE PROPERTY FOR AT LEAST 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. A TENANT IS NOT REQUIRED TO VACATE ON ANY DAYS WHERE THEY COULD CONTINUE LIVING IN THE UNIT WITHOUT VIOLATING HEALTH SAFETY AND HABITABILITY CODES AND LAWS. AN OWNER MUST OBTAIN ALL REQUIRED PERMITS BEFORE ISSUING A NOTICE TO TERMINATE A TENANCY FOR SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL OR DEMOLITION. AND IF THE WORK IS NOT COMPLETED, THE OWNER MUST OFFER THE TENANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RE-RENT THE UNIT UNDER THE PREVIOUS RENTAL AGREEMENT TERMS, CERTAIN TYPES OF PROPERTIES ARE EXEMPT FROM THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING OWNER OCCUPIED SHARED HOUSING, SINGLE FAMILY OWNER OCCUPIED RESIDENCES, INCLUDING A RESIDENCE IN WHICH THE OWNER OCCUPANT RENTS OR LEASES. NO MORE THAN TWO UNITS OR BEDROOMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN A DU OR JUNIOR. A DU OWNER OCCUPIED DUPLEXES HOUSING THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 15 YEARS AND CONDOS AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS LONG AS THE OWNER IS NOT A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST A CORPORATION OR AN LLC. WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE POLICY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO TRACK SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL JUST CAUSE EVICTIONS, THE CITY HAS RECEIVED NOTICES FOR THE DISPLACEMENT OF AT LEAST 217 TENANTS FROM AT LEAST 164 UNITS. AND 28% OF THESE FILINGS OCCURRED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 2024. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HELD THREE IN-PERSON HOUSING POLICY FORUMS AS WELL AS ONE FOCUS GROUP MEETING TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON SEVERAL HOUSING AND PLANNING POLICY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE STAFF RECEIVED OVER 270 WRITTEN COMMENTS. TO SUMMARIZE THE COMMENTS, STAFF SAW BROAD TENANT SUPPORT FOR ELIMINATION OF THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL JUST CAUSE RIGHT OF FIRST RETURN AFTER SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL UNIVERSAL JUST CAUSE, WHICH MEANS NO PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS. UM, ACCUMULATION OF TWO TO THREE MONTHS OF FAIR MARKET RENT DEBT BEFORE ALLOWABLE EVICTION AND RAISING THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AMOUNT. PROPERTY OWNER CONCERNS INCLUDED THE ABILITY TO SUBSTANTIALLY REMODEL UNITS WHEN NEEDED, ESPECIALLY WITH AGING BUILDINGS, KEEPING THE 12 MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR PROTECTIONS [01:00:01] TO APPLY. AND THAT RAISING RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AMOUNTS WOULD INCREASE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL COSTS. IN PARALLEL WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, STAFF REVIEWED TENANT PROTECTION POLICIES FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE TENANT PROTECTION LANDSCAPE AND FINDINGS FROM THE COMPARABLE CITIES. RESEARCH INCLUDE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS VARY WIDELY ACROSS CITIES. AMOUNTS RANGE FROM THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO MONTHS RENT TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL PROVISION PROVISIONS ALSO VARY ACROSS CITIES. EXAMPLES OF SUCH PROVISIONS INCLUDE PROVIDING RELOCATION ASSISTANCE TO EACH TENANT INSTEAD OF PER UNIT. UM, PROVIDING A RIGHT OF FIRST RETURN, ALLOWING ONLY TEMPORARY EVICTION AND HAVING A 45 DAY THRESHOLD FOR TENANCY TERMINATION. SEVEN OF THE NINE CITIES LISTED DO NOT HAVE A WAITING PERIOD FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS TO APPLY. AND LASTLY, EIGHT OF THE NINE CITIES HAVE SOME KIND OF REGULATORY ENTITY SUCH AS A RENT STABILIZATION BOARD OR A RENTAL HOUSING DIVISION. SINCE 2024, STAFF HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH BUILDING AND SAFETY TO REFINE THE DEFINITION OF SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL AND PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE TO BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. STAFF CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY NEEDS AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. WHEN A PROPOSED PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL THRESHOLD. STAFF ISSUES AN OPINION LETTER TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PROVIDE CLARITY AND CURB IMPROPER TENANCY TERMINATIONS AND STAFF ALSO PROVIDES TENANTS WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR RIGHTS AND REFERRALS TO LEGAL AID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATEHOUSE LA, THE FAIR HOUSING FOUNDATION AND LOCAL TENANTS RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. SO OVERALL STAFF'S WORK IN THIS AREA IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CLARITY TO THE COMMUNITY ON THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE TRACKING TRENDS AND SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL ACTIVITY AND REDUCING UNNECESSARY TENANT DISPLACEMENT THROUGH GUIDANCE, COORDINATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU MARY. APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. UM, AT THIS TIME WE WILL, UH, GO TO COMMENTS. SO COUNCILWOMAN RICK SODI, I JUST HAD TWO. UM, AND THEY'RE MORE LIKE DEFINITIONAL QUESTIONS. UM, SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE SEPARATELY ALIENABLE PROPERTIES? CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THOSE ARE? YEAH, THOSE ARE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALIENABLE FROM THE TITLE TO ANY OTHER UNIT. SO THOSE WOULD BE LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND CONDOS. OKAY. SO HOW IS THATS, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE YOU MENTIONED THE SEPARATELY ALIENABLE PROPERTIES? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS. YEAH, THAT'S FINE. OKAY. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE POLICY EXEMPTIONS 'CAUSE WE HAVE OWNER OCCUPIED SHARED HOUSING, OWNER OCCUPIED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND THEN WE HAVE THE SEPARATELY INALIENABLE PROPERTIES. BUT THE SEPARATELY INALIENABLE PROPERTIES IS DIFFERENT THAN OWNER OCCUPIED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. YES. SO LET ME GIVE YOU A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE. THANK YOU. SO, UM, IF WE HAD A 18 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING, IT CAN ONLY BE SOLD AS AN 18 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING. EVERY UNIT IN THERE IS SUBJECT TO JUST CAUSE AND OTHER TENANT PROTECTIONS, EXCEPT UNDER A VERY NARROW SET OF EXCEPTIONS. WE COULD HAVE A CONDO BUILDING THAT HAS THE SAME 18 UNITS, BUT EACH UNIT WITHIN IT CAN BE SOLD SEPARATELY. THOSE 18 UNITS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME PROTECTIONS THAT THE 18 UNITS IN THE APARTMENT BUILDING ARE, UM, SUBJECT TO SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE EXCEPTIONS, BUT THAT, THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS QUITE, UM, STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF OTHER, UM, HOUSING TYPOLOGIES AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS REALLY GETTING AT. EXCELLENT. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS, I, THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED CLARITY ON. UM, AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION WAS WHAT IS CONSIDERED A, I KNOW WE GAVE EXAMPLES OF, UH, POLICIES IN OTHER CITIES AND ONE OF THEM WAS SOMETHING CALLED A TEMPORARY EVICTION. AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE, WHAT IS CONS? WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A TEMPORARY EVICTION? UM, A BETTER WAY TO, I THINK PHRASE IT IS LIKE A TEMPORARY RELOCATION. SO FOR, UM, SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY TERMINATE THE TENANCY. RATHER, THEY WOULD, UM, TEMPORARILY RELOCATE THE RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR THAT AND THEN BRING THEM BACK TO THE UNIT. OKAY. SO NOT PERMANENTLY RELOCATING THEM, BUT POTENTIALLY THE PROPERTY OWNER PAYING TO RELOCATE THEM TEMPORARILY WHILE THE, UM, PROPERTY ITSELF, THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY ITSELF IS UNDER REMODEL AND THEN ALLOWING THE TENANT THE OPPORTUNITY THEN TO RETURN AFTER, UM, SUCH, UH, REMODELS ARE DONE? YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING WE SEE MORE IN, UH, RENT CONTROL JURISDICTIONS WHERE THEN, UM, IT'S MORE DIRECTLY [01:05:01] REGULATED AND THEY WOULD'VE TO EITHER ACCOMMODATE THEM IN THAT BUILDING OR ACCOMMODATE THEM IN LIKE A HOTEL SETTING AND THEN BRING THEM BACK AT THE COMPLETION OF THE, THE PHYSICAL WORK ON THE UNIT. UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN. RICK SOTE, UM, LOOKING AT PAGE 12, I WOULD REALLY, UM, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE NARRATIVE UPDATE ON THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GET A TABLE THAT HIGHLIGHTS EACH OF THE CITIES IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT ARE HERE. UM, JUST SO WE COULD GET A SENSE OF, UH, WHICH CITIES IN COMPARISON TO LONG BEACH HAVE VARIOUS DIFFERENT POLICIES, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, PROVISIONS WITHIN, UH, THEIR CODE. SO THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, HELPFUL FOR, UM, MAYBE A NEXT TIME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC AGAIN, IS TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. UM, SO SPEAKING ABOUT, UM, RIGHT OF FIRST RETURN, UM, WE NOTE THAT SOME CITIES, UH, HAVE THAT, UM, WHAT IS THE ABILITY TO REALLY ENFORCE THAT? SO IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A TENANT TO RETURN AND WE, YOU KNOW, HAD A POLICY THAT SAID AFTER SOME LEVEL OF REMODEL THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHANCE FOR THE TENANT TO RETURN, HOW, HOW MIGHT WE BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THAT? I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE THE CHALLENGE. SO TYPICALLY, UM, WHERE THOSE REQUIREMENTS EXIST, IT'S A RENT CONTROL JURISDICTION. SO THE LANDLORD IS ALREADY PROVIDING, UM, INFORMATION TO THE CITY ABOUT WHAT EVERY TENANT, WHO EVERY TENANT IS, AND THEIR RATE OF, UM, RENT AND THERE'S MORE TRACKING. UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE CITY TODAY. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE COULDN'T, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR. UM, SO I MEAN WE CAN CREATE, UM, A REQUIREMENT ON ANY GIVEN TUESDAY THAT, UM, COUNCIL FEELS APPROPRIATE. BUT THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW DOES THAT GET ENFORCED? HOW DOES THAT GET IMPLEMENTED? UM, SO BASICALLY YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A, A STAFF, UM, THAT WOULD TRACK, UM, CREATE A REQUIREMENT, UM, GO OUT AND SPOT CHECK THAT PEOPLE WERE FULFILLING THAT REQUIREMENT AND THEN TRACK COMPLIANCE, UM, THAT HAVE TO BE PAID FOR EITHER BY A FEE ON, UM, HOUSING PROVIDERS, WHICH HAS PROS AND CONS OR THROUGH SOME KIND OF APPROPRIATION IN THE GENERAL BUDGET. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUST EXPLORING A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS HERE. YEAH. UM, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THE LANDLORD MAY PULL A PERMIT AND IT WILL BE FOR SOMETHING VERY MINOR. UM, AND THAT WILL TRIGGER, UM, AN EVICTION. UM, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN A LANDLORD DECIDES THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE, UM, A REMODELING THAT WILL IMPACT AND REQUIRE THAT A, A TENANT MOVE OUT, UM, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT WORK IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE BY THAT LANDLORD? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER. BUT, UM, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS WHERE, UM, WHEN YOU PULL A PERMIT ON A MULTI-FAMILY UNIT, SO THAT'S A UNIT, UM, WITHIN AN APARTMENT BUILDING, UM, OR A FOUR UNITS OR MORE, UM, YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM, UH, DOES THAT IMPROVEMENT RESULT IN A, UM, UH, JUST CAUSE EVICTION OR NOT. AND THEN IT'S THE JOB OF THE BUILDING FOLKS AT THE COUNTER TO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION. BUT THEN THAT GOES UP TO HOUSING THAT GOES, UH, LANDS ON MARY'S DESK. UM, AND WE DO TRACK ALL OF THOSE AND WE SPOT CHECK THEM, UM, TO BE CORRECT. UM, AND WE'VE STARTED ASKING, YOU KNOW, MORE AND ROBUST, UH, QUESTIONS. UM, AT THE SAME TIME MARY GETS A LOT OF PHONE CALLS EVERY DAY. SO IT'S PART OF OUR JOB TO ADVISE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND WE POST BUILDING PERMITS ONLINE, BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN'T FIND THEM. AND, AND WE WILL HELP, UM, WORK THROUGH THAT. IF THE ISSUE IS, UH, MORE COMPLEX, THEN THE STAFF CAN, UM, IMMEDIATELY, UH, HANDLE, UM, WE PARTNER, UM, BOTH WITH FAIR HOUSING FOUNDATION AS WELL AS STAY HOUSED LA UM, TO, TO MATCH TENANTS THAT MAY NEED, UM, FURTHER LEGAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH WE DON'T PROVIDE. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PART OF WHY I'M, WE WANNA HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IS SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THE COUNCIL AND THIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE IN THE PAST, GET A SENSE OF SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS. UH, WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE QUESTIONS THAT I'M ASKING AND JUST WANTED TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE AT THE CITY LEVEL. SO, UM, CURRENTLY YOU NOTED THAT OUR, UH, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IS AT $4,500. UM, AND LOOKING AT THE CURRENT MARKET, UH, HERE IN LONG BEACH IN 2026, JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE AS TO WHETHER WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT'S GROUNDED IN REALITY. SO OFTEN WHEN SOMEONE MOVES, IT'S NOT JUST THE [01:10:01] MONTH'S RENT, BUT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THE FIRST MONTH, THE LAST MONTH, AND OFTEN A DEPOSIT. UM, SO BEING MORE THAN TWO MONTHS RENT. UM, IS THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE WE RE-LOOKED AT THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE, UH, THAT THAT IS IN OUR POLICY FOR LANDLORDS TO PAY FOR RELOCATION? YEAH, SO WE'VE LOOKED AT A COUPLE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND AS MARY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE WENT OUT, WE DID PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE DIDN'T FIND A LOT OF CONSENSUS AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, OKAY, UM, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CONSENSUS WITH THE, THE WHOLE OF THE NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, BUT THINGS THAT WE POINTED OUT WERE NOT SO MUCH THE AMOUNT, BUT CERTAIN EVICTIONS REQUIRE ONE MONTH. OTHER EVICTIONS REQUIRE TWO MONTHS, I THINK IN THE VIEW OF THE STAFF, UM, A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENCY WOULD BE GREAT. AND THEN IT'S UP TO, TO THE COUNCIL TO KIND OF, UM, IDENTIFY WHAT THAT CORRECT AMOUNT, UH, WOULD BE. AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT POLICY POLICYMAKING EXERCISE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HOUSING THAT'S OWNED BY BIG CORPORATIONS AND IT'S KIND OF, UH, MUCH EASIER TO TACKLE A LARGER AMOUNT. WE ALSO HAVE HOUSING FOURPLEXES THAT ARE OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL. UM, AND SOMETIMES THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY ORDERS THEM TO MAKE CERTAIN, UH, REPAIRS AND THEY, THEY DO, UM, HAVE TO PROCEED WITH A JUST CAUSE EVICTION. UM, AND, AND IT MAY BE EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT, UM, WHEN YOU, YOU START TALKING ABOUT MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS. SO JUST FINDING THAT PERFECT BALANCE IS, IS A DIFFICULT, UM, WISDOM, A SOLOMON SORT OF EXERCISE, UM, THAT, THAT WE HADN'T FOUND A LOT OF, UM, CONSENSUS AROUND, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT. AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO OPEN UP THE CONVERSATION FOR TODAY. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT BACKGROUND. UM, I'M INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, UH, ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS DONE IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, MY OFFICE MAY BE INTERESTED IN DIVING INTO SOME OF THAT SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE. ALL OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, COUPLE HUNDREDS OF, UH, COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED, UM, JUST SO THAT WE CAN GET UP TO SPEED 'CAUSE WE WERE NEW TO THIS OFFICE. UM, AND THEN, UH, THE ISSUES THAT I'VE RAISED HERE TODAY REGARDING, UH, THE RIGHT TO OF RETURN, UM, AND JUST KIND OF GETTING INTO SOME OF THOSE NUANCES IN THE FUTURE. UM, AND EVENTUALLY INTO THE ELIMINATING POTENTIALLY THE, THE WAITING PERIOD. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT GOING FORWARD. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN IT UP, UH, TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT I'LL LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW. HI, CHRIS DOKI AGAIN. UH, THE THING THAT I FORGOT TO SAY IS THAT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S LEGAL. IF YOU WANNA MOVE SOMEPLACE CHEAPER, UH, THEY CAN DO A CREDIT CHECK, BACKGROUND CHECK, UH, HERE IN LONG BEACH. THEY CAN CHARGE, I BELIEVE THAT'S $66 AND 60 CENTS MAXIMUM, BUT THEY KEEP THE MONEY AND THEN THEY KEEP THE APARTMENTS EMPTY. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. YES, I HAVE. THAT NEEDS TO BE, WE NEED TO GET THAT OFF THE TABLE. THANK YOU. OH, AND THE OTHER RELOCATING THING, PEOPLE NEED TO MOVE THEIR FURNITURE. IF THEY HAVE ANY, THAT COSTS MONEY TOO. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, STAFF, CITY CLERK. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE STAFF'S TIME. THEY, THEY CONVENED A MEETING OF, UH, MANY OF THE HOUSING PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION. DEFINITELY HEARD OUR INPUT. UM, I THINK THAT, UM, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON CHRIS KOONS, IT, I THINK THE FEAR IS WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE, UM, LIKE BLACKROCK AND ALL THESE KIND OF SPECULATION COMING IN AND, AND DISPLACING OUT OF FOR-PROFIT, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT BOTH TENANT GROUPS AND HOUSING PROVIDERS, WHICH I REPRESENT MAJORITY ARE SMALL OWNERS, WHICH CONSIDER THERE'S AT LEAST CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING AND PEOPLE KIND OF WORK IT OUT. BUT I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE A VERY LARGE CORPORATE BACKED, UH, IT CAN BECOME A LITTLE BIT LESS PERSONAL AND VERY, YOU KNOW, DISCERNING WHERE WITH SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS YOU READ IT ABOUT HOW THEY BOUGHT NEW, YOU KNOW, ENTIRE SLOTS OF HOUSING, NEW PRODUCTION. SO I THINK WE ACTUALLY STAND KIND OF IN THE SAME PAGE OF LIKE, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN, IN TERMS OF THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY. I THINK WHAT WE SAW ON SLIDE SEVEN IS HEALTHY, RIGHT? SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS AND HOW MANY UNITS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING TO DO SUBSTANTIAL REMODELS, AND THERE IS A CHECK THE BOX AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE IF THE WORK'S DONE, AND IT [01:15:01] COULD BE A CRIMINAL REFERRAL BECAUSE YOU'RE LYING ON THE APPLICATION. AT LEAST I'M SAYING IT COULD BE, RIGHT? I'VE TALKED TO DOUG HALBERT ABOUT THAT. SO IS THERE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE IN THAT? MAYBE THERE'S A OUTLIER, BUT IT'S NOT THE NORM AND WE'RE NOT REALLY SEEING THAT. BUT COULD IT HAPPEN? THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE COULD SPEND TIME AND, AND TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT DISTINCTION. SO CERTAINLY THERE'S WORK THERE AND, AND WHAT THE COSTS ARE TO RELOCATE. AND I WOULD SAY TO TAKE THIS AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, THE NECESSITY TO BUILD FOR EARTHQUAKE, RETROFITTING, UM, AND BALCONY INSPECTIONS ARE NOW DONE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF FUTURE MANDATES ARE GONNA BE ON HOUSING, UH, PROVIDERS TO GET THEIR PROPERTY UP TO SNUFF. AND BECAUSE OUR, OUR HOUSING IS TYPICALLY VERY OLD, ABOUT 75% ARE BUILT MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO. AND SO THERE WILL, THERE WILL BE MORE HOUSING UPGRADES, IF YOU WILL, THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF ANY FUTURE POLICY THAT HAS PASSED FOR RETROFITTING. SO WE, I THINK TAKING IT ALL AS A, A HOLISTIC APPROACH WOULD BE A KEY. AND FINALLY, AS IT RELATES TO THE CITIES, IF WE COULD HAVE MORE, LIKE WE'RE BIG CITY, BUT I, EVERY, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE CITY ON THERE ARE VERY LARGE, LARGER THAN LONG BEACH CITIES. AND I THINK AND HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING POLICY THAT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN LONG BEACH. SO I THINK ALSO LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE SIMILAR TYPES OF POLICIES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A GOOD INTROSPECTION. SO YOU HAVE LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE AT THESE OTHER CITIES, BUT THEN IN OTHER CITIES THAT ARE MORE SIMILAR TO US AS IT RELATES TO OUR CURRENT HOUSING POLICY AND HOW IT, AND HOW THEY WORKS. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I PROMISE NOT TO TURN INTO LIKE A GAT FLY, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THIS AND THIS OPEN TRANSPARENT DISCUSSION AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, WE WELCOME, UM, HOUSING GAD FLIES WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE, UH, RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO, UM, FEEL FREE TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. UM, I'LL JUST REITERATE, I THINK HAVING THE LIST OF THE CITIES AND THEN CHARACTERISTICS, THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHO WE'RE COMPARING WITH, UM, GOING FORWARD. UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, WE WILL CALL THE VOTE ON THIS MATTER. ITEM FIVE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AND AT THIS TIME, UM, WE CAN ADJOURN. OH, TAKE NON AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, NON-AD AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT. I FORGOT ABOUT THAT. AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE FOR NON-AG AGENDA? PUBLIC COMMENT, MADAM CLERK, PUBLIC SHY. SEEING NONE. SEEING NONE. WE'LL ADJOURN. THANK YOU. OH, WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAS RAISED HER HAND. HELLO, MY NAME IS KAYLA BENNETT. UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ALL THE NEW PRODUCTION OF, UM, APARTMENT HOMES AND THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT ARE BEING, UM, ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF THE TIME, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE NEW PLACES ARE COSTING AND A LOT OF 'EM, A SINGLE BEDROOM IS THREE K, IF NOT MORE. UM, AND MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT THAT MUCH. SO, UH, I KNOW THAT I PAY 1600 IN RENT AND THAT IS PRETTY LOW FROM MY RESEARCH. UM, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Housing and Public Health Committee on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.] MAKE SURE THAT THESE NEWER DEVELOPMENTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S ALREADY HERE THAT CAN BARELY AFFORD THE RENT THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, AT SOME POINT WE'LL TALK ABOUT INCLUSIONARY, UH, HOUSING AND HOW IT'S GOING WITHIN THE CITY, UM, TO ADDRESS, UH, THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEETING ADJOURN. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.