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There is a subcommittee of two Councilmembers and several senior staff to review some of those options. Program 44.2 Amend , Tax-Exempt Bonds and Other Financing Mechanisms: Utilize tax-exempt bonds and other financing mechanisms to finance the construction of very-low- and low-income housing units, to purchase land for such a use, and to reduce mortgage rates. Because getting financing from tax exempt bonds are getting more difficult, staff wants to widen the pool of available financing approaches. Program 48.2 Amend , Universal Design: Require as many low- and very-low-income units as is feasible within large rental projects to utilize Universal Design standards to meet the needs of disabled persons. Design features may include adjusted counter heights, wider doorways, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, etc. The language previously only addressed accessibility; a broader approach looks at universal design standards both for persons with disabilities and also for people aging in place. Program 51.10 Add a new , Lower-Income Housing Fund: Utilize the City Lower Income Housing Fund for low-interest loans or grants to support alternative energy usage in exchange for securing very-low- and low-income new and/or existing rental housing units. The total cost of housing is partly based on energy expenditures, so it makes some sense to use low-income housing funds to fund some energy and alternative energy technologies to apply to affordable housing. Review and amend energy-related programs to make sure they are consistent with our current requirements relating to green building and the General Plan. Ms. Stern stated that there a number of new programs being considered that are not yet fully developed; these will be included when the complete Draft Housing Element is presented to the Commission. These new programs include: Aging in place with respect to universal design: The City has a large demographic of age groups moving into older age and wants to be able to adapt some of the existing homes to allow people to age in place by adopting universal design aspects. More public improvements and maintenance in neighborhoods: As an incentive for affordable housing, consider the City providing more public improvements in neighborhoods and more public maintenance. This addresses helping neighborhoods that accept additional multi-family housing with some additional investments such as parks and improvements in other public use items such as street maintenance, which would add to neighborhood quality. PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MINUTES, April 27, 2011 Page 36 of 40