Laserfiche WebLink
For these reasons that we oppose the following amendments to the Housing Opportunity <br />Ordinance: <br />Sec. 41-1904. — Options to satisfy Inclusionary requirements <br />(c)(1) The proposed amendment reduces the in -lieu fee from $15 to $5 <br />The city must retain a $15 in -lieu fee and secure this funding source for much needed <br />affordable housing. The city risks losing state and federal housing matching funds by <br />lowering the in -lieu fee, at a time we face economic uncertainty as a result of the pandemic. <br />- (c)(2)(ii) The proposed amendments allow for Entitled Residential Projects to pay a <br />reduced fee of $10 per square foot as an incentive to obtain building permits during the <br />current economic climate. <br />Santa Ana residents are those that are most affected by the current economic climate. The <br />entitled projects in the pipeline would generate well over $30 million in in -lieu fees that is <br />needed urgently to create new affordable housing. Providing this incentive until April 20201 <br />may result in a loss of 3 3 % of the in -lieu fees expected to be collected, or over $10 million <br />dollars, that would be used to build much needed affordable housing in the city. <br />Sec. 41-1909. - Inclusionary Housing Fund <br />- (a)(1)The proposed amendment allows for the use of inclusionary housing for `... one- <br />time programs for code enforcement, and quality of life, and general health and safety <br />activities' <br />The creation of new affordable housing for Santa Ana residents needs to continue to be a <br />priority to address the critical housing shortage for lower income working families. <br />Affordable housing monies should not be diverted to fund code enforcement and health and <br />public safety programs that are funded from the City's budget. The City should not deplete <br />the Inclusionary Housing Fund's limited funds for these programs. Such an amendment goes <br />against the purpose of the HOO. Since its inception the HOO has been clear in its language <br />and purpose in that it states "Monies deposited into the inclusionary housing fund must be <br />used to increase and improve the supply of housing affordable to moderate, low, very low, <br />and extremely low income housings in the city... " (Sec. 41-1909. (a)(1)). <br />We urge you to vote against the proposed amendments to the Housing Opportunity Ordinance. <br />The proposed amendments are inconsistent with the intent of the ordinance and do not advance <br />its goals. <br />'44't <br />Penelope L pez <br />Organizing Director <br />