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She said she and Councilmember Thorne are on the liaison committee with the school district <br /> and attention should be paid about how children are educated in the community. The City made <br /> a commitment to work with the school district in terms of how this will impact schools and it will <br /> be helpful to commence with the East Side Specific Plan because there is an opportunity to <br /> make this a gateway for the City. She thanked everybody for coming to the City and <br /> participating. <br /> Mayor Hosterman said she agrees with comments made by Councilmembers, and echoed <br /> Councilmember Sullivan's concerns. She thanked everybody for their participation and <br /> appreciated hearing from speakers. She said the Council is trying to balance the needs of the <br /> community to the best of its ability. She briefly described the difficulty in dealing with the lawsuit <br /> and said the Council will do what it can to do the right thing in addressing the needs of the entire <br /> community and not let the towr's quality of life slip. <br /> Mayor Hosterman asked staff to present the second part of Agenda Item 16, which is to <br /> consider goals, policies and programs to include in the Draft Housing Element. <br /> Ms. Stern gave the staff report, stating that the goals, policies and programs in the existing 2003 <br /> Housing Element meet the City's needs and the Housing Element requirements; however, there <br /> are changes recommended to address the new housing needs, new housing law and some of <br /> the settlement agreement items. <br /> She said staff presented the information to the Housing Task Force and will return again to them <br /> next week. She requested the Council's input on some of the changes contemplated, as follows: <br /> Adding Program 12.5 to review the City's condominium conversion ordinance to identify <br /> changes made to minimize the impact and displacement of low income tenants. There have <br /> been no requests to convert condominiums in the last couple of years but anticipate they may <br /> come up in the future. <br /> Councilmember Sullivan clarified that staff was proposing to add Program 12.5 back into the <br /> goals, policies and programs of the Housing Element. Councilmember McGovern noted it is <br /> included in Policy 12 which begins with regulation of condominium conversions, and she <br /> clarified that staff was adding to this section. Ms. Stern said yes, it is to identify the changes <br /> made to minimize impacts of displacement. <br /> Add a new Program 20.2 to coordinate public information with surrounding communities in an <br /> attempt to minimize the effort required to identify affordable housing opportunities and programs <br /> in the region. They recognize there are similar housing needs in adjacent communities and <br /> often can provide services and information on a regional scale. For example, staff found they <br /> have been able to provide counseling to people through the Housing Opportunities Center, <br /> particularly who are first time homebuyers. <br /> Add a new Program 21.2 reviewing the City's inclusionary ordinance to determine the feasibility <br /> and benefits of potentially increasing the affordability requirements for multi-family <br /> developments of more than 15 units, making this more consistent with the Housing Element and <br /> other affordable housing requirements, and identifying incentives for new development to <br /> include 3 bedroom units for large families. This is a settlement agreement item. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 15 of 19 May 3, 2011 <br />