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<br />Ms. McGovern asked if the City had a plan to maintain the 150 at-risk units discussed <br />earlier? <br /> <br />Mr. Bocian said staff formulated a plan and made an attempt and met with the owners of <br />a number of developments that were reaching the end of its affordable term. Staff was <br />unsuccessful in its attempts as property owners view these units as an opportunity to make <br />money for profit. The property owners strongly believed they met their obligation to the City. <br />Staff provided a number of incentives but there was no interest. He believed there was a <br />chance the City would lose the 150 at-risk units. Staff has been successful with property <br />owners that want to refinance a project and are willing to work with the City to gain tax-exempt <br />bonds. <br /> <br />Ms. McGovern believed it would be appropriate to encourage the building of secondary <br />units in the City's new housing construction. She inquired about the possibility of increasing the <br />density in the downtown to add additional units and believed it would be appropriate for <br />consideration. She asked staff if the total reserved units for the Kottinger Place development <br />that is focused on producing additional low and very-low income units could be up to 190 units. <br /> <br />Mr. Bocian said yes. <br /> <br />Ms. McGovern inquired about the possibility of additional federal or state legislation that <br />would provide additional funding for affordable housing. <br /> <br />Mr. Bocian said he was not aware of any current state or federal legislation that would <br />provide any additional funding for affordable housing. <br /> <br />Ms. McGovern was pleased to hear that ABAG is willing to work with cities and look at <br />housing numbers that are more consistent with development potential and the economics of the <br />local housing market. She asked if the City had played a role in these discussions? <br /> <br />Mr. Fialho said the City has been invited to a number of meetings in which Mr. Thorne <br />and Mayor Hosterman have represented the City at the ABAG Regional Planning Committee. <br />The Committee is not close to formulating a recommendation for the region. <br /> <br />Mayor Hosterman invited public comments. <br /> <br />Bill Jorgensen, a member of Citizens for A Caring Community, represented Pat Belding, <br />Chair of Citizens for A Caring Community, and on her behalf presented a letter to Council. She <br />concurred with the staff report and its recommendations for action but did not believe it went far <br />enough. While Pleasanton has seen recent quality achievements in senior housing, the City <br />needs a greater quantity of housing for the lower income workers who need to live in <br />Pleasanton if the City is to achieve the minimum standard required by State law. There is <br />clearly a much greater proportion of housing for growing numbers of workers who are employed <br />at lower wages by Pleasanton's businesses. Citizens for a Caring Community has been asking <br />Council to take steps to meet Pleasanton's regional fair share housing for five years. To <br />accomplish this, the City needs to set aside at least 700 to 800 units for housing for very low- <br />income workers and additional units for low and possibly moderate-income workers. Let this <br />reservation of critical units be the first action step of the Council in a plan for affordable housing <br />for Pleasanton's very-low income citizens. And let the second step be the rezoning of the 40 <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council <br />Minutes <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />04/04/06 <br />