MINUTES OF THE

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

HOUSING COMMISSION

Meeting of September 15, 2005

 

 

1.   CALL TO ORDER:     Meeting called to order by Chair Parry at 4:33 p.m.

 

2.   ROLL CALL

Commissioners Present:  Gutierrez, Ludwig, Parry, Steele, Tainsky

Commissioners Absent:    Bird, Gerwitz

Commissioners Late:         None

Also Present:                        Kevin McKeown, City Councilmember

                                                  Jim Kemper, Acting Housing Administrator

 

3.   PUBLIC INPUT (For Items not on the Agenda)

None

 

4.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of August 18, 2005

Motion –Tainsky, That the minutes of the August 18, 2005 meeting of the Housing Commission be approved.

      Second -    Ludwig

      Aye -           Gutierrez, Ludwig, Parry, Steele, Tainsky

      Nay -           None

      Abstain -    None

      Absent -     Bird, Gerwitz

Motion -      Passed

 

5.   ONGOING BUSINESS

      A.  Update on the Civic Center Specific Plan and the development of housing in the Village District

Jim Kemper, Acting Housing Administrator, reported that all three of the design/developer teams that had been invited to participate in the Request for Proposal process submitted their proposals by the due date of September 15, 2005.  Staff plans to return to Council in December or January with a recommendation regarding developer selection.  Council Liaison McKeown informed the Commission that the old Rand buildings are being demolished at the site.

 

B.  Update on the strategies to increase the City’s supply of new affordable units.

Mr. Kemper reminded the Commission that in October, City Council will consider a resolution to increase the Affordable Housing Fee that is paid by developers who choose not to include affordable housing units in their developments, and some other technical revisions to the Affordable Housing Production Program. Staff has been providing public notice about Council’s consideration of these matters since May 30, 2005.   The intent is to have the maximum legal flexibility regarding retroactivity of any Council decision to increase the Affordable Housing Fee.  Staff will notify the Commissioners of the date this issue will be heard.

 

C.    Affordable homeownership approaches.

Mr. Kemper followed-up on the August Commission meeting question regarding approaches to affordable homeownership.  A question was raised regarding the estimated City subsidy of $250,000 per unit for the proposed Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) development to be located at 2018 19th Street, and how this subsidy would be affected if the income targeting was adjusted from very low income households (50% of median income) to low households (60% of median income).  Mr. Kemper explained that if the income targeting was adjusted to low income households, the estimated City subsidy of $250,000 would be reduced by approximately $25,000.  Mr. Kemper also reported that Habitat was negotiating with the California Community Foundation (a non-profit land trust entity that forms, operates and holds land trusts) to partner in the development, which would provide funding of approximately $50,000 per unit to the development and further reduce the City subsidy.  

 

Mr. Kemper further reported that staff is very interested in the land trust model for affordable homeownership developments as it provided an excellent structure for ensuring  the long-term affordability of the units.  He also stated that staff will return to the Housing Commission and City Council early in 2006 for further input on the proposed Habitat development.

 

Finally, Mr. Kemper informed the Commission that on October 25, 2005, staff will ask City Council for support of a moderate homeownership development at High Place, the proposed development that the Commission supported at its August meeting.

 

6.   NEW BUSINESS

Local preferences related to City of Santa Monica affordable housing programs

Chair Parry initiated discussion by questioning the role of our housing programs relative to displaced persons coming from the Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina.  Mr. Kemper stated that households displaced from the Gulf Coast with existing Section 8 vouchers would be assisted by our Housing Authority office toward locating housing in Santa Monica, with the federal government paying any difference between the amount of the Gulf Coast voucher and the (presumably higher) Santa Monica voucher.  Households displaced from public housing in Louisiana would  be referred to the City of Los Angeles, Housing Authority, since the City of Santa Monica does not have public housing for which to relocate Gulf Coast displacees.   

 

Mr. Kemper discussed a handout regarding the City’s local preference policy for affordable housing units.  This policy provides a preference for Santa Monica residents or persons working 36 hours a week in Santa Monica, and persons that are displaced from Santa Monica housing units due to earthquake, fire, flood, the Ellis Act or removal permits. 

 

7.   CHAIR/COMMISSIONERS/COUNCIL LIAISON/HOUSING MANAGER REPORT

 

Mr. Kemper provided an update on the proposed Step Up on Fifth Street development.  The fifth community meeting was held at Silvercrest Apartments (the Salvation Army apartments next to the proposed development).   Ron Barefield, Acting Housing and Redevelopment Manager, Step Up On Fifth representatives, the development architect, and over 100 interested parties attended.  There was no indication at this meeting of opposition to the proposed development. 

 

Council Liaison McKeown commented that we wanted the Commission and other “housers” to focus on putting as much funding into affordable housing as soon as possible.  Council is considering a possible site switch of 1920 Ocean Avenue (the City owned property next to the Casa del Mar Hotel on the beach) with a property owned by Casa del Mar on the corner of Pico Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.  The hotel owners may offer to swap the two above-mentioned properties by offering air rights above a proposed parking structure on the Pico/Ocean site.  This presents an opportunity to the City for creative thinking regarding areas where affordable housing could be built.  In accordance with the update of the Land Use Element, the City’s Light Manufacturing District may become available for affordable housing.

 

8.   ADJOURNMENT

Chair Parry adjourned the meeting at 5:30p.m.

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_________________________________            ______________________________

Lin Finer                                                                     Jason Parry

Secretary                                                                   Chair