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Opportunity Ordinance: <br />Sec. 41-1904. — Options to satisfy Inclusionary requirements <br />- (c)(1) The proposed amendment reduces the in -lieu fee from $15 to <br />$5 <br />The city must retain a $15 in -lieu fee and secure this funding source for <br />much needed affordable housing. The city risks losing state and federal <br />housing matching funds by lowering the in -lieu fee, at a time we face <br />economic uncertainty as a result of the pandemic. <br />- (c)(2)(ii) The proposed amendments allow for Entitled Residential <br />Projects to pay a reduced fee of $10 per square foot as an incentive <br />to obtain building permits during the current economic climate. <br />Santa Ana residents are those that are most affected by the current <br />economic climate. The entitled projects in the pipeline would generate <br />well over $30 million in in -lieu fees that is needed urgently to create <br />new affordable housing. Providing this incentive until April 20201 may <br />result in a loss of 33% of the in -lieu fees expected to be collected, or <br />over $10 million dollars, that would be used to build much needed <br />affordable housing in the city. <br />Sec. 41-1909. - Inclusionary Housing Fund <br />(a)(1)The proposed amendment allows for the use of inclusionary <br />housing for `.., one-time programs for code enforcement, and <br />quality of life, and general health and safety activities' <br />The creation of new affordable housing for Santa Ana residents needs to <br />continue to be a priority to address the critical housing shortage for <br />lower income working families. Affordable housing monies should not <br />be diverted to fund code enforcement and health and public safety <br />programs that are funded from the City's budget. The City should not <br />deplete the Inclusionary Housing Fund's limited funds for these <br />programs. Such an amendment goes against the purpose of the HOO. <br />Since its inception the HOO has been clear in its language and purpose <br />in that it states "Monies deposited into the inclusionary housing fund <br />must be used to increase and improve the supply of housing affordable <br />to moderate, low, very low, and extremely low income housings in the <br />city... " (Sec. 41-1909. (a)(1)). <br />We urge you to vote against the proposed amendments to the Housing <br />Opportunity Ordinance. The proposed amendments are inconsistent with <br />the intent of the ordinance and do not advance its goals. <br />Sincerely, <br />Lucero Garcia, Faith -Rooted Organizer, Santa Ana <br />David Jaimes, Faith -Rooted Organizer, Orange County <br />