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Good evening, everyone. If you can take your seats, we're going to get it started.

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Thank you for joining our regular city council meeting of June 8th, 2020.

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We hold meetings in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation available.

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Given the number of time-sensitive matters before us this evening, we appreciate your cooperation

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in keeping comments as concise as we can so that all speakers have the opportunity to

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be heard tonight. And the city welcomes public comments on topics within the city's subject

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matter jurisdiction. And members of the public may provide comments as follows. In-person

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speakers will be called first, speaker cards are located at the back table in the council

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chambers and must be turned into the City Clerk here at the dais. Please be sure to indicate

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the agenda item number you wish to speak on. Attendees who have joined us by Zoom will

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be called to speak after in-person comments have been given. Detailed instructions for

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public comment will be provided on the screen when the time for public comment begins.

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And with that, we'll now turn it over to our City Clerk to call the roll.

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Thank you and good evening everyone. Council member Chu is absent this evening.

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Councilmember G.

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Present.

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Councilmember Howard.

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Here.

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Councilmember Padilla.

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Present.

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Councilmember Sturkin.

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Here.

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Vice Mayor Aiken.

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Here.

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Mayor Martinez-Ebios.

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Here.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, everyone.

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We'll move to the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Vice Mayor, could you do the honors?

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Please join me in saluting our flag.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic

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for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Thank you Vice Mayor.

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And item four on the agenda does not apply for this evening.

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It's only a procedural item.

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So we'll move on to our next item.

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We have no presentation.

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Public comment section of the agenda will take public comment on the consent calendar, matters

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of council interest, as well as items that are not listed on tonight's agenda. We welcome

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speakers providing public comment, but please be advised that this is a limited public forum.

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As such, speakers must address matters within the subject manager's section of the city,

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and if speakers do not they'll be warned and if they continue to disregard city

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rules their opportunity to speak will be limited. If you're attending in person

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please fill out a speaker card and submit it to the city clerk here at the

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dais and if you're attending virtually feel free to raise your hand on zoom at

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this time or press star 9 if you've joined by phone. Once we've gathered

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all the speaker cards and raised hands and have begun public comment no

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additional speakers will be allowed to queue up to speak and I'll turn it

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to facilitate public comment.

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Thank you, Mayor.

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At this time, we have three speakers.

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Potentially four. Oh, another item, okay.

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Three speakers for public comment. I'll give one last call to the audience or our folks on Zoom to be recognized for public comment.

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Once we begin public comment, as the mayor stated, we will close the list of speakers.

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So I'll give you a few more seconds for any more public comment on general comment this evening.

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Okay. We will begin closing the speakers list and we'll start with Tony Gapastone.

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I'm

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wearing a shirt that says stories save lives because I really believe when we tell

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a powerful and brave story or see ourselves in film and TV or have someone lean over and

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talk about the pain that they've endured and survived, we can save a life, literally.

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Hi, I'm Tony Gappison.

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I'm the founder and executive director of BraveMaker.

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We're a film festival.

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Here in Redwood City. That happens in July. This is our eighth year. And I want to tell you this year. We're opening up on July 8th with Kevin Hines who is a survivor of a suicide attempt off the Golden Gate Bridge.

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He tried to take his own life in 2000 when he was 19 years old and survived with a broken back. He immediately regretted it when he jumped off. A sea lion pushed him to the top.

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and he was rescued. And since 2000, he's been making movies and telling his story all around

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the world. And he'll be here in Redwood City on July 8th at the Chan Zuckerberg Community

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Space. I want to invite you to come to this film festival because I really believe the

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107 films that we have are so life-changing. They talk about affordable housing. They talk

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about gender equality, LGBT rights. They talk about racial justice. And I'm so passionate

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about filmmaking, especially here in this city because I'm a 30-year resident

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and I believe the arts make us better.

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So thank you to everybody who's been a part of our film festival for the past eight years.

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The redwood city cultural commission, arts commission just gave us a grant this week, but

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we're down for grandfers from the past. We're down $20,000 from the past years we've had

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and your support and ticket sales help us to be great. So thank you so much. You're all

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invited.

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Thank you, Tony. We'll now move to our Zoom speakers. We'll start with

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Kelly Boyett, who will be followed by Tony Godbuske, and you may unmute yourself and

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begin your comments.

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Hi, my name is Kelly. I'll be commenting on agenda item 11a about the

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tobacco ordinance. Sorry Kelly, I don't mean to interrupt you but we are only taking comments

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for item 6 at this time when you can raise your hand again for item 11a. Gotcha, okay

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I'm sorry about that. Sorry about that, thank you.

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Okay, looks like the other raised

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hand went down so it

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Looks like that concludes public comment, Mayor.

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Thank you, City Clerk. Thank you, everybody, for making public comment on consents.

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Excuse me, on all of our items this evening, we'll move to consents.

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Items on consent are routine in nature and approved by one motion.

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And are there any items on consent from which council members are recused?

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Councilor Ampedia.

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Mayor, I'll be recusing myself from item 7D.

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My house was on the street where we're prayers

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for the replacement program was made

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and so I won't be participating.

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Thank you.

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Great, thank you council member.

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That's item 7D as in David.

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And are there any other items on consent?

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Not seeing any.

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So we will take a motion on item 7D first.

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Motion to approve item 7D. Second.

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Thank you. That was a motion from Councilmember Howard, a second from Vice Mayor Akin. Could we get an electronic vote, please?

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The motion passes with five votes. Councilmember Chu is absent, and Councilmember Padilla is recused.

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Thank you. May I like to make a motion to approve consent without this item we just voted on separately?

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motion from Council Member G, a second from Council Member Howard. Could we get

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electronic vote please?

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The motion passes with six votes. Council Member Chu is absent.

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Thank you everyone. With that, we'll move right into staff reports and we'll go

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into our first item, 8A, Spanish and

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Interpretation is being provided for this item, and I'd like to turn it over to our interpreter

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for instructions on how to participate in the meeting in Spanish.

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Buenas tardes. Esta noche se está proveyendo interpretación español. Si usted necesita

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escuchar la interpretación español, por favor, llame al 669-900-6833. Ingrese el AID de la

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y la contraseña 1017.

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Para hablar durante un comentario público, notifique a las personas de atrás de la sala

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y para recibir también interpretación en la sala,

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por favor reciba un receptor en la parte posterior de la sala.

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Muchas gracias.

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Gracias mucho.

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Con eso, voy a ponerlo a la ciudad de Clark,

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Jessica Castro,

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nuestro líder de la casa,

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Elin Lancaster

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y nuestro consultor, Jason Moody,

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con EPS, para dar la presentación.

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Thank you, mayor. My name is Jessica Castro. I'm the city clerk and I will be kicking off

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the presentation. I will be structured in three parts this evening.

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I'll begin with an overview

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of the initiative petition and election process, including a recap of events that led to tonight's

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recommended actions. Next, our housing leadership manager, Lynn Lancaster, will then give an

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overview of the proposed ordinance submitted by the proponents. And finally, Jason Moody

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with EPS, the City's Consultant, will present a comprehensive analysis of potential impacts

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referred to as the 9212 report.

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So before you are the three questions that will be

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asked for the Council to keep in mind, we will be pausing at every section of the presentation

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for questions.

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On this slide is sort of the overview of the timeline of the process. On October 29th, 2025, the City Clerk's Office received a notice of intent to circulate an initiative petition and a proposed ordinance, which will refer to tonight as the measure from three Redwood City residents known as the proponents.

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Following receipt of these documents and in accordance with the California elections code, the city attorney prepared a ballot title and summary.

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With this ballot title and summary, the proponents prepared a petition to circulate for signatures among redwood city voters.

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On April 22 of this year, the proponents submitted their petition and the City Clerk's Office conducted a Prima-Facia or on its face review and determined that the raw count of signatures presented met the minimum number of petition signatures required to accept the petition for filing.

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Following acceptance, the

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City Clerk's office transferred the petition to the San Mateo County Elections Office to conduct

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signature verification of each signature. On May 13th, I was notified by the elections

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office that of the 6,045 signatures reviewed, the petition received 4,751 valid signatures,

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achieving the minimum number of required signatures to qualify the proposed measures per elections

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Code section 9210, Subdivision A. As a result, I have certified the

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sufficiency of the petition. Tonight, the City Council will be asked to accept the

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certification and receive the 9212 report, and the City Council must act on one of the

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following options.

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So the recommendation this evening, because the 9212 report will be

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presented this evening, the elections code requires that the City Council take one

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of two possible

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Council actions. At this meeting, the city council must determine whether to, number one, adopt

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the proposed ordinance without alteration within 10 days, or, number two, call for an election

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to place the proposal on the ballot for voter consideration at the November 3, 2026 election.

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Should the city council choose to call an election, staff prepared a resolution which

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is Attachment E to the Council Agenda Packet,

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allowing such action to occur tonight.

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And before we move to the questions for this section,

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I wanna call out a revision that was made to Attachment E,

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which is the resolution calling the election

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on November 3rd, 2026 for this initiative measure,

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specifically a change to the ballot question,

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which is detailed on this slide.

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Copies of the updated resolution

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were provided to each Council member

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in the agenda packet for public viewing in the back of the

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The revised ballot question reads, shall the measure that caps annual rent increases for

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units built before February 1st, 1995 to 60% of the increase in the consumer price index

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with maximum increase of 5% and for rental units regardless of when built, increases requirements

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for just cause evictions, requires relocation payments of at least $12,000 for no fault

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evictions, provides additional tenant protections, and creates a new city

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administered renters rights protection program funded through annual landlord

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assessments be adopted.

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And with that I'll take any questions on the election

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or the initiative petition process that the council may have.

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Thank you city

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clerk, colleagues, any clarifying questions on the elections process? Have

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we got here.

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Great. We'll keep moving. Thank you. And with that, I'll turn it over to housing leadership

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manager Lynn Lancaster. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening mayor, vice mayor, and city council

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members. I'm a Lynn Lancaster housing leadership manager. As our city clerk noted, I'll be

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providing an overview of the proposed ordinance. And Jason Moody with economic planning systems

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or EPS will be giving the presentation on the 9212 report. I also want to note that we are joined

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this evening by Lalita Fernandez, Deputy City Attorney, Karen Tiedemann, Outside Legal Counsel,

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and Victor Gaetan, Housing Management Analyst, to also help answer any questions.

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Before going into the proposed ordinance, I do want to provide some state context.

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there is the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act which impacts how local cities

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can implement rent control. The Costa Hawkins

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Hawkins Act went into effect in 1995 and places limits on local rent stabilization ordinances

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by exempting single-family homes, condominiums, and any new construction built after February

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1st of 1995 from local rent control requirements.

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Costa Hawk Hawkins also requires vacancy decontrol, which means that landlords must be allowed

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to reset rental rates for their units at the start of a new tenancy.

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And

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so now I'll go over the key elements of the proposed ordinance.

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It includes a rent stabilization requirement where annual rent increases would be limited

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to 60% of the percent change in the consumer price index or CPI with a maximum of 5%.

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This requirement also includes an initial rollback of rents to October 29th of 2025

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and landlords would be not would not be allowed to bank or roll

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Roll over rent increases from year to year. Landlords can also not charge tenants for utilities

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in addition to rent unless the utility is separately or individually metered. Landlords are also

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not allowed to use a ratio utility system commonly referred to as rubs to divide utility

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costs among tenants. Landlords may file a fair return petition for higher rent increases.

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The proposed ordinance also includes just cause for eviction protections.

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These include expanded protections compared to the State Tenant Protection Act, also referred to as TPA,

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or the city's Tenant Protection Ordinance referred to as TPO.

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And it includes additional protections for students, educators, elderly, disabled, or terminally ill tenants.

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These just cause eviction protections would go into effect immediately, as opposed to the state TPA or city TPO where protections go into effect after one year of tenancy.

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Similar to the city TPO, the proposed ordinance includes right to return requirements, but these

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requirements are expanded to cover all no fault just cause termination reasons, which include

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owner move in, substantial renovation, demolition, and withdrawal from the rental market.

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Generally, the right to return has to be offered at the same rent in lease terms,

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and the right to return never expires.

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Additionally, the ordinance

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requires that

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landlords pay relocation assistance for all no fault just cause terminations and

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this is four months of fair market rent or $12,000 minimum and fair market

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rents which will often refer to as FMR are annually published rents by the

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US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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For elderly tenants disabled or terminally ill tenants, they would receive an additional

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$6,000. And these rates are adjusted annually by the change in CPI.

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For any construction, landlords are required to provide a tenant safety plan, and this must

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be approved by the city. There's also requirements for optional short-term relocation assistance

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for construction less than 30 days.

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If the landlord is providing the short-term relocation assistance,

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the tenant would still need to continue paying rent.

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It also provides for anti-harassment protections

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and calls for the establishment of a rent stabilization

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and tenant protection program that the city would administer

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that includes a rent registry,

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whereas city would track rent increases,

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changes to tenancy.

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The city would also be responsible for processing petitions and appeals related to rent increases

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or decreases, as noted approving tenant safety plans, and any appeals regarding relocation

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assistance eligibility. The city would also contract with a third party to provide free

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legal counsel for low-income tenants, and this would need to be a fee-funded system

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costs and those fees would be paid by the landlord and costs could not be covered by the general fund.

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And so I'm going to go over now the kind of applicability of the proposed ordinance.

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So there are two tiers of applicability, which we refer to, the first is fully covered.

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So this covers units that are subject to all requirements of the proposed ordinance,

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including the rent stabilization.

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Fully covered units include multifamily properties built prior to February 1st of 1995. This is

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inclusive of deed restricted affordable units and ADUs also built prior to that February

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1st, 1995 date. Fully covered units does include mobile homes.

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Partially covered units are units that are not subject to the rent stabilization requirements

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but are still subject to all the other requirements of the proposed ordinance. This includes single

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family homes and housing built after 1995 also inclusive of deed restricted

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affordable units built after 1995.

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So this this chart that's quite large on

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here is a comparison of the key elements of the proposed ordinance compared

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to the city's tenant protection ordinance as well as state law. As noted on

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the previous slide the proposed ordinance has broader applicability

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compared to state law or the city's TPO.

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For example, the state law and the city TPO generally exempt single family homes, condos, deed restricted affordable housing, and ADUs.

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While state law includes rent stabilization, the proposed ordinance would place stricter limits on the amount that rents can be increased annually.

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State law has a range of 5 to 10%, and the maximum of the proposed ordinance is 5%.

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Like state law and the city's TPO, the proposed ordinance includes just cause for eviction

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protections, but protections would apply immediately.

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State law and the city TPO do require a 12-month waiting period, however the city's TPO does

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include minimum lease term requirements where landlords must offer a one-year lease.

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The proposed ordinance includes expanded right to return requirements by requiring,

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and I will review this more in depth on the next slides.

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It also includes expanded relocation assistance requirements,

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and again, I'll go over that in more detail.

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On the next slides. Lastly, state law includes anti-harassment protections, the proposed ordinance

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specifically outlines the anti-harassment protections that would protect all tenants.

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So going over

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in more depth the right to return requirements. The proposed ordinance requires landlords to

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offer a right to return for all no fault just causes. And as I've noted before, this

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right to return does not expire. For owner move-ins, a landlord cannot evict

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for an owner move-in if the tenant is elderly or disabled and has lived in the

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unit for at least three years or if the tenant is certified as terminally ill. A

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landlord can also not evict during the school year if the tenant has children

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or educators in the household. For substantial renovation, as noted

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earlier a tenant safety plan would be required and there are

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There are optional short-term relocation assistance requirements if that renovation takes less than

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30 days. Similar to owner movements, there are limitations, again, on evicting during the

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school year. For demolition, the rent control provisions of this ordinance would apply to

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the newly constructed rental units if they are constructed on the same property within

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five years. There are also extended noticing timelines ranging from 120 days to one

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year for elderly or disabled tenants.

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And with withdrawal from the rental market,

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there are the same expanded noticing requirements

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as demolition.

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And landlords can be held liable for punitive damages

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if the unit is returned to the rental market

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within certain time frames.

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All right. So, this table, because there are quite a few scenarios outlines kind of all

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of the right-to-return scenarios and compares the proposed ordinance to the city's tenant

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protection ordinance. For owner move-in, both ordinances require that the owner move-in within

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90 days and maintain the property as their primary residence for a set period of time.

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If the owner fails to reoccupy the unit following these requirements, they have to

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offered the tenant the right to return of the same rent and lease terms and I'll

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note that this requirement is also consistent with state law. If the owner

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moves in and follows all of the occupancy timely requirements then the

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city's ordinance does not require the right to return if eventually the

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owner returns the unit back to the rental market. However the proposed

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ordinance does require a right to return and at the same rent and lease

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terms. For substantial renovation both ordinances require a right to

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return, whether the remodel was completed or not.

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For un-

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When completed remodels or renovations, the right to return requirements are the same for

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both the city's ordinance and the proposed ordinance and state law. If the remodel is completed,

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the city's ordinance requires same rent with allowable increases by state law and also provides

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a fair rate of return appeals process. The proposed ordinance just requires the same

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rent and lease terms.

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For demolition, if it's not completed, the right to return requirements

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again are the same for both ordinances as well as state law.

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However, completed demolitions,

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the city's TPO does not require a right to return whereas the ordinance again does require

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that at the same rent and lease terms. I will note though that depending on the

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situation, state laws such as SB 330 can also require the right to return following

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a completed demolition.

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Proposed ordinance requires to return for withdrawal from the city, whereas the city's

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ordinance does not.

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And then lastly, here's the comparison of the relocation

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assistance requirements for both the city's ordinance and the proposed

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ordinance. Under the proposed ordinance, all tenants would receive four months of

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FMR or $12,000, whichever is greater. And as you can see here in the blue

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table, these are the current FMR rates. For elderly, disabled, or

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They would receive an additional 6,000.

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Under the city's ordinance, all tenants would receive one month of their current rent.

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Tenants that qualify as low income would receive three months of FMR rent.

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And tenants that are special circumstance, which means they are low income

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and also have a household member who's elderly, a child, disabled,

330
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or if the tenant has lived there for at least five years,

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would receive four months of FMR rent.

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And so just to give a little bit of background on what a 92-12 report is, it's a comprehensive

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analysis prepared by jurisdiction or consultant in response to a voter initiative. The report

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is named after section 92-12 of the California elections code and is intended to provide

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decision makers in the public with an understanding of the initiative's potential impacts.

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And the listed on the screen are the elements that are evaluated in a 92-12 report. We

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We have contracted with EPS to prepare this report, and I'm going to have Jason give

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an overview of the report.

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And just to clarify, we were intending to answer questions about the prohizontist and

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the report after that.

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Thank you. My name is Jason Moody. I'm a managing principal at Economic and Planning Systems.

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We're a real estate economics firm located in Oakland. We've been around for about 42 years.

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I've been with the firm for about over 30 years, so I've been doing this for a while.

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As was mentioned, we were commissioned to do a 92-12 report, which is pretty broad latitude in terms of what you can cover.

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but we focus on the economic and fiscal implications of this proposed ordinance or measure, as we're calling it, in the city, in Redwood City.

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So our scope and our methodology. First, we took a good look at the law itself and how it compares with existing state law and local policies.

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This is important because we're really trying to evaluate the impact of this measure,

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and the impact is really dependent upon the change from existing baseline conditions.

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So we didn't, we're not looking at the impact of all tenant protection because there's already

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some tenant protection. So we're just looking at the net increase in tenant protection and

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those factors as well as the rent control measures. The other area that we looked at is we looked

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at previous studies on rent control and other jurisdictions, primarily in California, but

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there's been a lot of studies on rent control and less studies on tenant protection but

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mostly on rent control. So we took a look at those studies to see what they found.

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The third element of our scope was to apply these two things to the existing city's housing stock and demographic situations to see how these laws like to apply locally.

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And then another big part of our task was to estimate the implementation and administration costs of this proposed measure, which would fall primarily on the city.

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And finally, we looked at the fact that this measure does require that there would be

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We estimate fees on rental units and we estimated what those fees might be, although if this measure

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is actually approved, those fees would have to be recalculated based on actual study. So

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we just provided an estimate of those fees.

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So next I'm going to go quickly over the key

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findings and then go into detail on some of these elements. So if the measure is approved,

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We found that, you know, existing tenants will likely benefit from both lower rent growth

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and from stronger protection against evictions above and beyond what they currently have.

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And in the city, about 48% of the housing stock is rental.

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So the tenant protection elements would apply to all the rental stock.

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About 19% would be subject to the rent control provisions,

368
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given the number of units in the city that are

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The impacts on new housing investment, new housing development are complicated, but will

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be limited by the application of Costa Hawkins because Costa Hawkins does protect any unit

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that is exempt from rent control in a unit that was built after 1995. So they wouldn't

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be subject to the rent control provisions, but they would be subject to the other provisions

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of the law. So its impact on new construction will be mixed, but clearly some of the landlords

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and owners will be subject to all tenant protection requirements. And some of them may be concerned

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about the fact that investing in their property or making a property available for rent,

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And this law would bring restrictions and so they may think twice about doing that.

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New development.

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Probably less affected because new developments exempt from the rent control component, but

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they would be, again, subject to the other elements. The other element is that there is a possibility

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that Costa Hopkins is amended in the future. So there may be some investors who would be

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concerned about that outcome and they may be, again, hesitant to invest in a city that

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if that happened their units would be subject to rent control.

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So new development could in an indirect way be affected from that perspective.

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The program administration costs are substantial.

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And we estimated between $4 and $10 million.

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It's hard to read this.

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So this was a way of being enlarged.

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But $4 to $10 million in costs, which can't come from the general fund.

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It has to come from another source.

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Most likely that would come from fees that are charged to rental units.

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And we made a preliminary estimate of what those fees would be, and those fees, which we'll

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see later, are much higher than the fees that are actually specified in the ordinance. So most

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likely the city would need to increase those fees, which would impose those fees on all units.

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The final element of this is the impact on affordable housing, which we found to be kind

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00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:28,460
of unique because affordable housing developers can't raise their rent to the market when

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00:46:28,460 --> 00:46:34,300
a tenant decides to leave unlike market rates. So they can't really catch up on rent and

397
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recover their costs. So they will face some challenges with regard to not only the fees

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themselves that they have to pay, but also with regard to paying for their maintenance

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costs, which clearly maintenance costs go up with inflation and this measure limits

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their increase in rent to 60% of inflation. So technically rents in real terms will

401
00:46:58,200 --> 00:46:59,700
will be declining, but their obligation

402
00:47:07,060 --> 00:47:15,000
Okay, so this slide just kind of gives you an indication of how this proposed rent cap would

403
00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:26,220
apply versus state law. So, again, it's 5%. The state law is 5% of the CPI plus the change

404
00:47:26,220 --> 00:47:33,220
in CPI. So technically the state law allows you to increase rent up to 10% but 5% plus

405
00:47:33,220 --> 00:47:39,140
inflation essentially. The proposed ordinance says you can only increase rent as 60% of the

406
00:47:39,140 --> 00:47:45,400
change in CPI. So up to 5%. So that's a pretty big difference. This illustrates an example

407
00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:53,080
of a particular unit that was renting for $2,500 in year one under the proposed

408
00:47:53,080 --> 00:47:59,800
ordinance after five years of occupancy, the per month rent would be $900.

409
00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:09,260
$37 less per month than the situation in which a property owner wasn't controlled by this measure

410
00:48:09,260 --> 00:48:14,920
and increased the rent at the maximum level every year. So that's kind of an extreme case,

411
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but it shows you the potential magnitude of the difference in rent that could occur over

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00:48:18,960 --> 00:48:22,800
a five-year period with this measure versus the existing state law.

413
00:48:25,360 --> 00:48:26,960
A number of cities

414
00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:30,660
cities do have similar ordinances as this one.

415
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Roughly 30 plus California cities have some form of rent control.

416
00:48:37,680 --> 00:48:45,260
That accounting for about 22% of the state's population, so about 22% of the state's population

417
00:48:45,260 --> 00:48:46,400
has some rent control.

418
00:48:46,520 --> 00:48:50,720
However, this rent control, these existing rent control ordinances throughout the state

419
00:48:50,720 --> 00:48:51,880
vary significantly.

420
00:48:52,920 --> 00:48:59,900
Most of them are based on CPI, but the proposed ordinance has 60% CPI.

421
00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:04,680
On the more strict end of the spectrum, the average, as you can see there is, and I can't

422
00:49:04,680 --> 00:49:11,280
see it, but I think it says 79%. I haven't committed all these numbers to memory, so my apologies.

423
00:49:12,160 --> 00:49:18,020
The others are not based on CPI at all. They're based on a maximum level, which is about 5%.

424
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So this one is on the more strict side of the equation. There's only one that we were

425
00:49:22,940 --> 00:49:27,300
able to identify that it's stricter at 50%.

426
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So it's certainly more stricter than what

427
00:49:32,360 --> 00:49:34,960
you see elsewhere in the cities that have this.

428
00:49:36,700 --> 00:49:42,160
Just quickly focus on renter demographics in Redwood City,

429
00:49:42,200 --> 00:49:43,380
which we think is important.

430
00:49:44,140 --> 00:49:45,580
I really should have bought my computer

431
00:49:45,580 --> 00:49:47,200
because I have a hard time seeing these.

432
00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:48,980
Oh, thank you.

433
00:49:49,060 --> 00:49:49,740
This is so much better.

434
00:49:50,360 --> 00:49:51,040
I'm going to look at this one.

435
00:49:52,040 --> 00:49:59,920
Okay, in Redwood City about the Redwood City already facing

436
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:04,940
This is a fair amount of rent burden among its renters. About 46 percent of the renter

437
00:50:04,940 --> 00:50:09,020
households are what they call rent burden. That means you have 30 percent or more of your income

438
00:50:09,020 --> 00:50:18,520
is spent on rent. But in that comparison, compared to say California or San Mateo County

439
00:50:18,520 --> 00:50:25,240
in general, a little bit higher than San Mateo, but a little bit lower than California in

440
00:50:25,240 --> 00:50:31,020
general. But rents in Redwood City have been declining in the last, say, five or six years.

441
00:50:33,640 --> 00:50:39,860
So while rents are high in Redwood City, they have been declining in real terms in the last

442
00:50:39,860 --> 00:50:47,880
five years. Prior studies, actually a study that was done between 2016 and 2021, found

443
00:50:47,880 --> 00:50:53,060
that about 25 percent of Redwood City's residents were displaced during that period.

444
00:50:53,060 --> 00:50:57,860
So it has, again, renter pressure in Red City is real.

445
00:50:59,580 --> 00:50:59,840
A quick.

446
00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:03,540
Overview of the housing stock, and this is going to repeat some of the stuff in the key

447
00:51:03,540 --> 00:51:09,700
finding in Redwood City. Forty-eight percent of the units are renter-occupied, so 52 percent

448
00:51:09,700 --> 00:51:16,040
aren't renter-occupied, they're owner-occupied. Overall, about 19 percent of the units would

449
00:51:16,040 --> 00:51:22,960
be subject to the rent control ordinances, the measures, the 60 percent of CPI component.

450
00:51:23,920 --> 00:51:29,120
However, all units, all rental units would be subject to the just cause eviction, right

451
00:51:29,120 --> 00:51:31,780
to return and the other provisions that are included in the ordinance.

452
00:51:35,020 --> 00:51:43,120
So a quick summary of how this measure is likely to affect housing supply and investment.

453
00:51:44,480 --> 00:51:49,200
So again, the key finding, the original key finding, I'm sorry, I'm not, thank you for

454
00:51:49,200 --> 00:51:49,320
that.

455
00:51:49,340 --> 00:51:49,720
I have a switch.

456
00:51:50,580 --> 00:51:50,880
Hopefully.

457
00:51:54,660 --> 00:51:59,820
One more because we saw this slide, and this is the slide we're on now.

458
00:52:00,980 --> 00:52:07,040
So, how does this law affect housing supply and investment impacts? We talked about how it

459
00:52:07,040 --> 00:52:13,000
obviously supports renters in the city. And there is concern that it may also affect new

460
00:52:13,000 --> 00:52:20,100
development for development as well as investment in existing property. Again, the cost of Hawkins

461
00:52:20,100 --> 00:52:28,200
currently limits the impact on new development because new development can continue to increase

462
00:52:28,200 --> 00:52:30,000
increase rent based on state law.

463
00:52:30,320 --> 00:52:31,720
So they won't be subject to this.

464
00:52:31,900 --> 00:52:34,520
Anything built after 1995 can be that.

465
00:52:36,500 --> 00:52:41,180
But as I mentioned before, there has been attempts to repeal cost of Hawkins over the

466
00:52:41,180 --> 00:52:41,360
years.

467
00:52:41,540 --> 00:52:45,860
I think three attempts through from 2018.

468
00:52:46,300 --> 00:52:50,240
So again, if you're an investor in the city, you would be thinking in the background

469
00:52:50,240 --> 00:52:55,240
about reinvest money and if cost of Hawkins is repealed, I will not be able to recover

470
00:52:55,240 --> 00:52:57,040
for my investment on rent.

471
00:53:01,700 --> 00:53:06,560
So, in that case, I do believe that it was most likely that you would have an incentive,

472
00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:11,520
you might have a distance to invest as well as conversion from rental units out of rental

473
00:53:11,520 --> 00:53:18,800
into ownership so people would no longer want to rent their properties. But that's, again,

474
00:53:19,060 --> 00:53:22,720
dependent on a variety of factors and would also depend on whether cost of Hawkins is ever

475
00:53:22,720 --> 00:53:26,720
amended or changed. In terms of investment in older properties

476
00:53:26,720 --> 00:53:37,160
that were built prior to 1995, this again, a very complex issue, but it could potentially

477
00:53:37,160 --> 00:53:43,360
affect an incentive for owners to invest in their property because they would have maybe

478
00:53:43,360 --> 00:53:49,120
a difficult time recovering their rent in the form of increased, recovering their investment

479
00:53:49,120 --> 00:53:53,220
in the form of increased rent because by definition you can't raise your rent.

480
00:53:53,220 --> 00:53:59,860
Now, they may be allowed to petition for a rent increase through a process.

481
00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:06,780
That has not been fully clarified in the ordinance, but the ordinance does suggest that you can

482
00:54:06,780 --> 00:54:10,180
file a petition to increase your rent to recover your investment.

483
00:54:12,280 --> 00:54:13,880
But those two things together

484
00:54:13,880 --> 00:54:22,920
could potentially affect the decision of property owners or operators to invest in property built

485
00:54:22,920 --> 00:54:25,140
prior to 1995 because of their concern

486
00:54:25,140 --> 00:54:26,680
of recouping their investment.

487
00:54:33,860 --> 00:54:34,440
Next slide.

488
00:54:35,980 --> 00:54:40,780
The preliminary estimate of program costs to the city.

489
00:54:41,280 --> 00:54:43,180
So in order to do this, first of all,

490
00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:44,700
it's established that the city does not

491
00:54:44,700 --> 00:54:48,660
have an excess capacity to, at this time, existing capacity

492
00:54:48,660 --> 00:54:50,660
to administer a program of this scale

493
00:54:50,660 --> 00:54:51,720
with the existing staff.

494
00:54:51,820 --> 00:54:54,300
So they would most likely have to hire a staff

495
00:54:54,300 --> 00:54:59,080
and office space and equipment, et cetera, so there would be a cost there.

496
00:55:00,580 --> 00:55:08,480
And the costs will likely include registry, petitions, hearings, counseling, outreach, legal support, enforcement, a whole range of things would be required.

497
00:55:09,120 --> 00:55:18,980
So in order to estimate this, we interviewed and did an analysis of probably about 10 to 12 cities that have rent control ordinances.

498
00:55:19,200 --> 00:55:23,280
And we figured out what their costs were on a per unit, per rental unit basis.

499
00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:29,440
in order to estimate, kind of, apply that kind of parallel basis to Redwood City.

500
00:55:29,800 --> 00:55:37,660
And so we established a minimum, average, and maximum cost, which includes the staff costs,

501
00:55:37,780 --> 00:55:39,920
as well as other costs in office space and whatnot.

502
00:55:40,700 --> 00:55:43,740
I would note that this one-time cost of, sorry,

503
00:55:43,840 --> 00:55:48,780
an annual cost of between $4 million, up to $10 million a year doesn't include

504
00:55:48,780 --> 00:55:54,900
the start-up costs of the program, which would be around $300,000 to $700,000.

505
00:55:55,160 --> 00:55:57,140
So that is our preliminary estimate.

506
00:55:58,440 --> 00:55:59,920
And in order to recover.

507
00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:06,860
To recover these costs, the city would most likely charge

508
00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:13,560
a fee on rental units to recover

509
00:56:13,560 --> 00:56:19,220
those costs. So we made a calculation of what that estimated fee would be, and we found that

510
00:56:19,220 --> 00:56:29,580
to be in the range of $545 per unit per year to a lower of $300. Actually, this is a tiered

511
00:56:30,180 --> 00:56:37,220
So units that are not covered by rent control would be less at $3.38 and the ones that are would be higher at $4.45.

512
00:56:37,480 --> 00:56:42,900
So that's a quick estimate of the essential fee burden that would be on a per-unit basis.

513
00:56:43,960 --> 00:56:54,720
Again, these numbers would need to be recalculated if the measure is approved to actually have a more official nexus analysis of those relationships.

514
00:56:57,280 --> 00:56:59,760
Finally, I want to talk a little bit about the unique challenges

515
00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:07,640
Facing affordable housing with this ordinance because affordable housing, again, is not exempted

516
00:57:07,640 --> 00:57:10,140
from the rent control provisions of this ordinance.

517
00:57:12,600 --> 00:57:16,660
So we estimate there's about 625 affordable

518
00:57:16,660 --> 00:57:21,660
housing units in the city that would be subject to the rent control provisions of this ordinance.

519
00:57:22,360 --> 00:57:26,140
Again, all affordable housing units would be subject to the tenant protection provisions,

520
00:57:26,140 --> 00:57:34,080
but only 625 would be affected by the, and this does present some complexity and challenges

521
00:57:34,080 --> 00:57:37,240
for affordable housing developers because they operate on very low margins.

522
00:57:37,860 --> 00:57:39,880
Many of these older properties have deferred maintenance.

523
00:57:40,580 --> 00:57:45,740
They depend very much on rental income to maintain and to operate their buildings,

524
00:57:47,000 --> 00:57:52,040
but they would not be able to keep up with their costs, not just the management costs

525
00:57:52,040 --> 00:57:55,900
but insurance, utilities, a whole host of deferred maintenance issues,

526
00:57:56,020 --> 00:57:58,460
a whole host of things which do increase at the rate of inflation,

527
00:57:58,860 --> 00:57:59,980
but their rents would not be.

528
00:58:01,660 --> 00:58:10,260
In addition to that, they would be charged a fee to support the implementation of the program.

529
00:58:10,400 --> 00:58:15,480
So their costs would go up just from that fee alone, and then they would also have additional costs

530
00:58:15,480 --> 00:58:22,400
that they would not be able to recoup. So there is some challenges that existing

531
00:58:22,400 --> 00:58:28,000
or deed restricted affordable housing operators would face if the ordinance or the measure was approved.

532
00:58:30,890 --> 00:58:34,050
I think I'm going to end it there. There's a lot of information there and we have a lot

533
00:58:34,050 --> 00:58:39,190
of back pocket slides that we can refer to during the Q&A section, but I think for now

534
00:58:39,190 --> 00:58:41,510
we're going to leave it open for questions.

535
00:58:51,400 --> 00:58:57,940
I'll just wrap up with one slide before going over the recommendations and the questions.

536
00:59:00,000 --> 00:59:05,440
With regards to, you know, if the measure is approved, what that implementation would look

537
00:59:05,440 --> 00:59:11,600
like. So if the city council adopted the ordinance without alteration, you know, this would go

538
00:59:11,600 --> 00:59:16,580
into effect within 30 days after the second reading, like our standard ordinance process.

539
00:59:17,340 --> 00:59:22,060
If it is placed on the ballot and approved by the voters, it would go into effect 10

540
00:59:22,060 --> 00:59:29,540
days after the vote is declared by the city council. Either way, these are accelerated

541
00:59:32,280 --> 00:59:38,640
And so initial implementation and administrative tasks would really fall on existing city staff.

542
00:59:39,440 --> 00:59:42,800
This would require a deep prioritization of other work.

543
00:59:43,300 --> 00:59:50,580
And we would make our best efforts to implement this to the minimum level needed of enforcement as prescribed in the ordinance.

544
00:59:51,480 --> 00:59:57,420
But we anticipate as noted that at a minimum this would require seven new staff,

545
00:59:57,420 --> 00:59:59,900
as well as likely reclassifying existence.

546
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:02,940
I would like to thank all of the existing staff to take on these additional responsibilities

547
01:00:02,940 --> 01:00:08,300
and ensure adequate capacity to manage both this new program as well as all of our other housing

548
01:00:08,300 --> 01:00:14,440
programs. Full implementation would not be possible until these new staff positions are

549
01:00:14,440 --> 01:00:22,000
created and filled. Again, based on our experience with implementation of the city's tenant

550
01:00:22,000 --> 01:00:27,560
protection ordinance, we estimate kind of the initial implementation taking four to

551
01:00:28,260 --> 01:00:34,440
This would include establishing base rent, initial outreach and education to tenants and landlords,

552
01:00:35,360 --> 01:00:41,360
setting the fee rate that's prescribed in the ordinance and mechanisms to collect that fee,

553
01:00:42,340 --> 01:00:49,160
setting up an interim database and process to collect notices until we can actually put to forth

554
01:00:49,160 --> 01:00:51,700
a more comprehensive rental registry software.

555
01:00:52,560 --> 01:00:55,320
We would have to put together rules and regulations,

556
01:00:55,860 --> 01:00:59,900
as well as hire third-party consultants to provide the free legal.

557
01:01:00,000 --> 01:01:06,340
Local services for low-income tenants as well as setting up hearing officers. Full implementation

558
01:01:06,340 --> 01:01:12,720
and scaling would likely take up to one year or more. The big elements of this, again, are

559
01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:17,680
the hiring and creating of positions. We think this could take up to from seven to nine months.

560
01:01:18,440 --> 01:01:23,640
We would need to find new office space. And if there's any related tenant improvement

561
01:01:23,640 --> 01:01:30,960
We don't have sufficient facilities, existing facilities to accommodate that level of staffing.

562
01:01:32,080 --> 01:01:41,240
We would do, as Jason mentioned, a more in-depth fee study and establish a fee along with more proactive enforcement of that fee.

563
01:01:41,980 --> 01:01:47,360
We would procure and implement a rent registry software as well as managing that database over time,

564
01:01:48,440 --> 01:01:52,580
proactively enforcing any requirements and again continued outreach and education.

565
01:01:57,600 --> 01:01:59,960
And so on the side again are the...

566
01:02:00,000 --> 01:02:07,620
City recommendations before city council, which is to by motion accept the certification of the

567
01:02:07,620 --> 01:02:13,340
signature verifications, and then elect to take one of the two options, which is again

568
01:02:13,340 --> 01:02:19,600
is adopt within 10 days without alteration, or adopt a resolution calling for the election

569
01:02:20,880 --> 01:02:26,180
for this to be placed before the voters. And without I do want to invite our city

570
01:02:26,180 --> 01:02:32,700
I think Patrick Heisinger to just share final few remarks before we go into questions and public comment.

571
01:02:33,200 --> 01:02:35,900
Great. Thank you, Lynn. Patrick Heisinger, City Manager.

572
01:02:36,220 --> 01:02:40,360
I just wanted to add one piece of information regarding the 92-12 report as well.

573
01:02:40,940 --> 01:02:46,260
Under the statute, the 92-12 report really is a report for the decision-makers for the City Council.

574
01:02:47,180 --> 01:02:52,000
I directed staff to pursue the 92-12 report because we had a really short timeline.

575
01:02:52,740 --> 01:02:55,060
And so we did, and we made our timelines.

576
01:02:55,160 --> 01:02:58,080
I really appreciate staff's work and our consultants' work.

577
01:02:58,500 --> 01:02:59,980
That does not mean that more...

578
01:03:00,000 --> 01:03:03,600
Your questions can be asked tonight and information can be sought tonight that we can also bring

579
01:03:03,600 --> 01:03:08,460
back to the city council. I'd also like to acknowledge that we've received several letters with really

580
01:03:08,460 --> 01:03:12,860
good poignant questions that we just didn't have time to research. And so, as part of

581
01:03:12,860 --> 01:03:16,060
the process tonight, there might be questions that we might recommend, say, we'd like

582
01:03:16,060 --> 01:03:22,080
to come back with some more detail on those. So the 9212 report is your report, council.

583
01:03:22,300 --> 01:03:26,260
And so please ask any and all questions and we'll do our best to try to answer

584
01:03:26,260 --> 01:03:28,720
those questions in a tight turnaround. Thank you.

585
01:03:28,720 --> 01:03:29,400
Great,

586
01:03:34,080 --> 01:03:38,840
Patrick. Thank you, Alynn. Mr. Moody, thank you so much for all the work to get us to this point

587
01:03:38,840 --> 01:03:45,860
and so that we could have a 9212 to discuss. With that, colleagues, if anyone has any questions,

588
01:03:47,020 --> 01:03:51,120
we can relay some of those now. If not, we can move into public comment.

589
01:03:52,540 --> 01:03:55,340
Okay. City Clerk, let's move into public comment.

590
01:03:56,460 --> 01:03:57,140
Thank you, Mayor.

591
01:03:57,720 --> 01:03:59,720
So at this point we have 29.

592
01:04:00,000 --> 01:04:04,900
Signed speaker cards. And if we have any folks on Zoom who would like to speak on this

593
01:04:04,900 --> 01:04:09,280
item, please raise your hand at this time. And again, we close the speakers list once

594
01:04:09,280 --> 01:04:13,480
we begin public comment. So I'll give it a few more moments. If there's any last speaker

595
01:04:13,480 --> 01:04:16,840
cards out there in the audience that need to be turned in, please bring them forward

596
01:04:16,840 --> 01:04:20,740
now. And if you've joined us on Zoom, please raise your hand.

597
01:04:35,330 --> 01:04:36,490
Okay, with that, I will

598
01:04:36,490 --> 01:04:45,490
close the speakers list we have two raised hands on zoom in addition to 29

599
01:04:45,490 --> 01:04:52,090
in-person speaker cards totaling 31 speakers on this item mayor how would

600
01:04:52,090 --> 01:04:56,730
you like to allocate the public comment time let's decrease the speaking time for

601
01:04:56,730 --> 01:04:59,970
each comment and see how productive that lets us

602
01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:00,980
Let's get into the conversation.

603
01:05:03,640 --> 01:05:05,220
Decrease to one minute per comment.

604
01:05:05,460 --> 01:05:06,420
Right, for individual comment.

605
01:05:06,760 --> 01:05:11,460
Okay. So as the mayor said, each of you will have one minute to provide public comment.

606
01:05:11,780 --> 01:05:14,380
We'll run the timer that will begin as soon as you begin speaking.

607
01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:16,720
I'll call speakers two at a time.

608
01:05:17,920 --> 01:05:22,820
I also understand that we might have some folks giving public comment in Spanish this evening.

609
01:05:23,420 --> 01:05:27,720
And as the mayor mentioned earlier, we have Spanish interpretation available for this item.

610
01:05:27,720 --> 01:05:35,580
I do ask if you're giving comments in Spanish to please speak slowly to give the opportunity to the interpreter to

611
01:05:35,580 --> 01:05:42,660
Interpret the comments and you will only be timed for your comments not for the interpretation the English interpretation

612
01:05:43,480 --> 01:05:50,520
Okay, let's get started. We'll call John Mendez to the podium who will be followed by Amy Mendez

613
01:05:50,520 --> 01:05:51,540
Thank

614
01:05:59,860 --> 01:05:59,980
you

615
01:06:00,000 --> 01:06:03,640
Thank you for the opportunity to speak. One minute is not much time, so I'll jump right

616
01:06:03,640 --> 01:06:09,580
to the points. The reality is that the covered properties are owned by mom-and-pop landlords,

617
01:06:10,740 --> 01:06:16,840
operating under very thin margins and struggling under the weight of inflation, driving up interest

618
01:06:16,840 --> 01:06:22,980
rates, insurance, repairs, costs, utilities, et cetera, and that doesn't even get into

619
01:06:22,980 --> 01:06:29,580
the increasing burdens of taxes. I urge the council to do two things. One, do not

620
01:06:29,580 --> 01:06:33,820
adopt this ordinance tonight and refer it to the ballot so that voters can have a fair

621
01:06:33,820 --> 01:06:40,500
opportunity to vote on it. Second, go back to EPS and require that they expand the report

622
01:06:40,500 --> 01:06:46,520
to cover the numerous other provisions in the ordinance that directly impact operation

623
01:06:46,520 --> 01:06:52,900
of the subject properties. Council should then inform the citizenry to reject the

624
01:06:52,900 --> 01:06:59,980
advised ordinance, just like Cap Moon Bay has recently had to do, the 9212

625
01:07:04,100 --> 01:07:09,160
Our next speaker is Amy Mendez, who will be followed by Jeffrey Shabowski.

626
01:07:09,840 --> 01:07:15,900
Hello, good evening. I just want to say that all of us, I think here, agree that with the

627
01:07:15,900 --> 01:07:20,760
goals of promoting neighborhood stability, healthy housing, and affordability for renters, but

628
01:07:20,760 --> 01:07:26,920
this ordinance will not achieve those goals. The devil's in the details and the unintended consequences

629
01:07:26,920 --> 01:07:30,840
will include shrinking of the housing stock that you're hoping to protect,

630
01:07:31,220 --> 01:07:34,300
an increase in costs for the city, landlords and tenants,

631
01:07:35,180 --> 01:07:38,980
and a degradation of the quality of the housing and the character of the community.

632
01:07:40,080 --> 01:07:40,860
Thank you.

633
01:07:41,480 --> 01:07:42,160
Thank you.

634
01:07:42,680 --> 01:07:46,260
Our next speaker is Jeffrey Shabowski, who will be followed by Denise.

635
01:07:47,980 --> 01:07:51,360
Thank you, city leaders, for allowing me to speak.

636
01:07:51,360 --> 01:07:59,980
On the 92-192-12 report, two of the objectives were to cut

637
01:08:00,000 --> 01:08:06,400
Cover existing state laws and policies and, in particular, previous studies on impact of

638
01:08:06,400 --> 01:08:15,320
similar tenant protection ordinances. And I would like to hear about that every city that

639
01:08:15,320 --> 01:08:20,960
really attempted to do this has failed. They either adopted the ordinance and then it's

640
01:08:20,960 --> 01:08:27,700
been rejected, conquered, being the most recent, Half Moon Bay, where they had to stop it

641
01:08:27,700 --> 01:08:29,260
because there's no more housing stock.

642
01:08:29,620 --> 01:08:31,980
Also, Salinas, San Pablo,

643
01:08:35,270 --> 01:08:37,210
too quick.

644
01:08:38,550 --> 01:08:42,270
So I would like to move to not adopt this ordinance.

645
01:08:43,250 --> 01:08:47,830
You're going to need $4 to $10 million from the landlords.

646
01:08:48,150 --> 01:08:49,230
We don't have that kind of money.

647
01:08:49,370 --> 01:08:50,610
You're going to end up with a slum.

648
01:08:52,270 --> 01:08:52,890
Thank you.

649
01:08:53,470 --> 01:08:57,310
Our next speaker is Denise, who will be followed by Lupe

650
01:08:57,310 --> 01:08:58,090
Areola.

651
01:09:00,020 --> 01:09:10,740
So I brought one of my clients here tonight. She's a 95-year-old landlord, and she has worked hard on her properties for over 50 years.

652
01:09:11,240 --> 01:09:16,420
And she said tonight to me, what about us? So what about the voice of the landlords?

653
01:09:17,300 --> 01:09:27,960
She has rented out places helping the Hispanic community with low rents, a three bedroom one bath for $2,400, a one bedroom house for $800.

654
01:09:27,960 --> 01:09:36,340
And if you're asking the landlord to pay relocation in the amount of $12,000 plus another $6,000

655
01:09:36,340 --> 01:09:38,380
for four months, that's $18,000.

656
01:09:38,780 --> 01:09:45,100
And you're basically, you know, you're in the red because her $800 unit, that's only

657
01:09:45,100 --> 01:09:52,000
$3,200 rent for four months, or the other unit, you know, is about $10,000, and you're

658
01:09:52,000 --> 01:09:56,740
asking her to pay out $18,000 for these rents that

659
01:09:56,740 --> 01:09:57,540
are below market.

660
01:09:58,040 --> 01:09:58,920
So what about us?

661
01:09:59,200 --> 01:09:59,900
What about the land?

662
01:10:04,320 --> 01:10:11,700
Thank you. Our next speaker is Lupe Arreola, who will be followed by Eduardo Torres.

663
01:10:14,110 --> 01:10:21,710
Hello, good afternoon. Good evening, council members. My name is Lupe Arreola. I'm the executive director for Tenants Together,

664
01:10:22,010 --> 01:10:28,410
we're a statewide tenor and rights organization. And the reason I'm here is because I have been all around California

665
01:10:28,410 --> 01:10:30,850
and hearing the same thing from tenants everywhere.

666
01:10:31,570 --> 01:10:34,510
We are paying too much for our housing.

667
01:10:34,690 --> 01:10:36,050
We cannot sustain.

668
01:10:36,710 --> 01:10:38,290
This is unsustainable for us.

669
01:10:38,690 --> 01:10:40,270
Our wages have not gone up.

670
01:10:41,290 --> 01:10:43,370
Commiserate to how the rents have been rising.

671
01:10:43,870 --> 01:10:45,090
This is unsustainable.

672
01:10:45,370 --> 01:10:45,890
It's unhealthy.

673
01:10:46,650 --> 01:10:49,930
And it actually creates crowded, unhealthy conditions.

674
01:10:50,590 --> 01:10:53,330
It causes people to have to commute hours to go to work.

675
01:10:54,350 --> 01:10:57,470
These are drastic times that require drastic action.

676
01:10:57,470 --> 01:10:59,830
and by drastic action.

677
01:11:00,000 --> 01:11:06,220
It means keeping rent stable and affordable to people long term, right? It should not be a

678
01:11:06,220 --> 01:11:12,260
drastic action, but it's one that is needed right now. So we urge you to accept this proposal

679
01:11:12,260 --> 01:11:18,140
to approve this proposition, save the taxpayers the money of an election, and please approve

680
01:11:18,140 --> 01:11:23,640
this tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Eduardo Torres, who will be followed

681
01:11:23,640 --> 01:11:24,580
by Emily Morris.

682
01:11:34,930 --> 01:11:38,150
Good evening, council. My name is Eduardo Torres. I'm also from Tennessee

683
01:11:38,150 --> 01:11:42,030
together. I'm the Northern California Regional Coordinator. I actually drove out here tonight

684
01:11:42,030 --> 01:11:46,450
from Pittsburgh, which is in Contra Costa County, just to speak tonight to support the

685
01:11:46,450 --> 01:11:49,870
tenants. It's such an important issue that's happening across the state, as our Executive

686
01:11:49,870 --> 01:11:53,890
Director just mentioned. I just also want to point out that the city is out there

687
01:11:53,890 --> 01:11:58,610
of Concord and Aeneok in recent years took the initiative to adopt a rent stabilization

688
01:11:58,610 --> 01:11:59,130
ordinance.

689
01:11:59,130 --> 01:11:59,970
And so.

690
01:12:00,000 --> 01:12:04,160
So I know that the city of Redwood City has tried to do that in the past, and so you have

691
01:12:04,160 --> 01:12:08,040
a perfect opportunity to adopt the ordinance tonight. And so I'm really encouraging the city

692
01:12:08,040 --> 01:12:11,800
council to listen to your constituents, to the folks who are not only going to get a chance

693
01:12:11,800 --> 01:12:17,380
to possibly vote for this in November, but also vote for future city council members who

694
01:12:17,380 --> 01:12:21,080
don't support this, right? So it's really important to listen to the constituents,

695
01:12:21,320 --> 01:12:24,460
to the voters, to democracy, because we know we're living in a time where democracy

696
01:12:24,460 --> 01:12:26,360
is being demolished every single day. Thank you.

697
01:12:26,360 --> 01:12:26,680
Thank

698
01:12:29,240 --> 01:12:34,160
you. Our next speaker is Emily. Before we go on to the next, I just want

699
01:12:34,160 --> 01:12:37,740
a friendly reminder to everybody that for us to be able to get through the

700
01:12:37,740 --> 01:12:42,000
meeting, there is no cheering, no applause. Please keep that to yourself.

701
01:12:42,060 --> 01:12:46,160
You're more than welcome to do jazz hands, something nonverbal, but just so

702
01:12:46,160 --> 01:12:49,960
that we aren't interrupting our next speaker. If we could contain that, that

703
01:12:49,960 --> 01:12:53,780
would be great. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Emily Morris. Welcome.

704
01:12:57,980 --> 01:12:58,440
And Martha

705
01:12:58,440 --> 01:12:59,860
volunteer with faith in action.

706
01:13:00,000 --> 01:13:04,860
Bay Area. And I'm among the many volunteers who collected signatures from the community

707
01:13:04,860 --> 01:13:10,060
to qualify rent control for the ballot. I went all over the city and knocked on doors. People

708
01:13:10,060 --> 01:13:15,380
I talked to, both homeowners and renters, were clamoring to sign. So many people I spoke

709
01:13:15,380 --> 01:13:20,340
to told me about how the cost of rent was out of control. We collected well over the

710
01:13:20,340 --> 01:13:24,440
required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot, and we know why. The cost

711
01:13:24,440 --> 01:13:28,620
of rent is way, way too high. Wages are not keeping up. People are working two

712
01:13:28,620 --> 01:13:32,880
to three jobs to pay the rent. Families are leaving. I love Redwood City for so

713
01:13:32,880 --> 01:13:36,900
many reasons, among them the vibrancy and diversity of the city. Rent control and

714
01:13:36,900 --> 01:13:39,920
tenant protections will help keep families together in Redwood City so it

715
01:13:39,920 --> 01:13:43,820
can continue to be the diverse welcoming place that we love. The solution

716
01:13:43,820 --> 01:13:49,800
is needed now and we can't afford to delay. Thank you. Thank you. Our next

717
01:13:49,800 --> 01:13:52,600
speaker is Martha Beatley who will be followed by Clara Jekyll.

718
01:13:57,000 --> 01:13:57,440
Good

719
01:13:57,440 --> 01:13:59,880
rent control initiative because our neighbors need

720
01:14:00,000 --> 01:14:04,240
We want to help to stay in our community and our neighborhoods benefit from the stability

721
01:14:04,240 --> 01:14:09,860
of long-term residency. I want kids to grow up in a home where they know their neighbors

722
01:14:10,720 --> 01:14:17,320
and where they have deep relationships with their school classmates. Rising rents cause

723
01:14:17,320 --> 01:14:23,200
families to feel economic stress, to look for less expensive housing farther away, and

724
01:14:23,200 --> 01:14:29,740
to double up in cramped living spaces. None of this is healthy for families. Rent control

725
01:14:29,740 --> 01:14:34,060
will give all of us in Redwood City the chance to share our city with a variety of residents,

726
01:14:34,460 --> 01:14:39,920
mechanics, nurses, teachers, firefighters, and others who want to thrive in the Bay Area,

727
01:14:40,200 --> 01:14:43,560
but whose salaries do not keep up with the high cost of living here.

728
01:14:44,100 --> 01:14:50,060
When we say climate best for government test, I hope that we mean economic climate and

729
01:14:50,060 --> 01:14:55,120
housing climate and a welcoming climate, not just the temperature on the thermometer.

730
01:14:55,120 --> 01:14:59,960
Thank you. Our next speaker is Clara Jekyll, who

731
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:01,840
We'll be followed by Al-Heli Kang.

732
01:15:02,880 --> 01:15:06,620
Thank you. My name is Clara Jekyll. I've been a renter in Redwood City for 10 years.

733
01:15:07,280 --> 01:15:10,200
Everyone deserves a safe and dignified place to live.

734
01:15:10,800 --> 01:15:16,580
And the fair and affordable housing ordinance is a measure that stems out of years of Redwood City residents' experiences.

735
01:15:17,360 --> 01:15:21,160
A dirtily response to the issues my neighbors and tenants across the city are facing.

736
01:15:21,960 --> 01:15:24,980
Unsustainably high rents, harassment, and unsafe living conditions.

737
01:15:24,980 --> 01:15:29,380
These problems have led to families either being displaced out of the city altogether

738
01:15:29,380 --> 01:15:33,400
or forced into extreme measures like working two or three jobs

739
01:15:33,400 --> 01:15:35,040
to attempt to keep up with rent increases.

740
01:15:35,720 --> 01:15:38,540
The protections in this ordinance will help families stay in their homes,

741
01:15:38,920 --> 01:15:40,920
keep our neighborhoods and schools more stable,

742
01:15:41,500 --> 01:15:43,700
protect seniors and disabled people on low incomes,

743
01:15:44,020 --> 01:15:46,520
and allow essential workers to live where they work.

744
01:15:47,040 --> 01:15:50,460
It strikes a good balance for landlords to ensure a fair return on their investment

745
01:15:50,460 --> 01:15:52,100
and will reduce tenant turnover.

746
01:15:52,620 --> 01:15:56,660
This measure can be a real cornerstone for the diverse and thriving city we all want.

747
01:15:57,000 --> 01:15:59,900
I urge you to implement tonight, otherwise under your ministerial

748
01:16:01,420 --> 01:16:04,980
I'm really excited about the chance for us to do something really good for our city.

749
01:16:06,720 --> 01:16:11,860
Thank you. Our next speaker is Aheli Kang, who will be followed by Andrea Gill.

750
01:16:12,320 --> 01:16:16,920
I'm a community advocate and a youth development practitioner at Youth Leadership Institute.

751
01:16:17,480 --> 01:16:21,040
Our youth leaders have spent three years learning about how they can make change in their community,

752
01:16:21,340 --> 01:16:24,320
and when it came to an issue they cared about, it was housing affordability,

753
01:16:24,520 --> 01:16:26,180
and more specifically, rent control.

754
01:16:26,180 --> 01:16:30,280
We are here in solidarity with faith in action and in support of rent control.

755
01:16:30,500 --> 01:16:34,380
Our youth leaders and their families have gone too long without common sense protections.

756
01:16:34,820 --> 01:16:37,660
We urge you to adopt what the community members have before. Thank you.

757
01:16:39,960 --> 01:16:44,000
Thank you. Our next speaker is Andrea Gill, who will be followed by Elizabeth Prado.

758
01:16:44,860 --> 01:16:47,020
Good evening, Mayor Martinez and City Council.

759
01:16:47,300 --> 01:16:51,060
My name is Andrea Gill and I'm here today with Faith in Action Bay Area and Youth Leadership Institute.

760
01:16:51,740 --> 01:16:54,660
I have the honor to work alongside youth leaders here in Redwood City.

761
01:16:54,660 --> 01:16:59,440
Over the past years when asking them what issues or challenges do you face in your community?

762
01:17:00,000 --> 01:17:04,740
It's always been housing. It's always about them envisioning, can I even say in a city that

763
01:17:04,740 --> 01:17:09,660
I grew up in? And that is why we also partner with Faith in Action, because in those spaces

764
01:17:09,660 --> 01:17:15,760
they felt heard and seen of the words they couldn't say out loud. And we said, many have

765
01:17:15,760 --> 01:17:19,720
shared fears of being in this place, and many find it hard to envision long-term housing

766
01:17:19,720 --> 01:17:24,500
because of the cost of living. We heard today that 46% are rent burden. I just asked

767
01:17:24,500 --> 01:17:27,320
y'all, listen to the folks in the room and the signatures that were gathered

768
01:17:27,320 --> 01:17:30,620
why we should pass tenant protection and rent control measures.

769
01:17:31,140 --> 01:17:34,980
Families more now and ever need stronger protection to live a dignified life.

770
01:17:35,280 --> 01:17:36,580
Thank you for listening to us tonight.

771
01:17:37,520 --> 01:17:38,260
Thank you.

772
01:17:38,860 --> 01:17:43,200
Our next speaker is Elizabeth Prado, who will be followed by Teresa Barrowman.

773
01:17:44,260 --> 01:17:49,060
Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I am speaking in support of strong rent control measures.

774
01:17:50,720 --> 01:17:59,980
Many renters are working overtime taking extra shifts and sometimes working two or three jobs just to keep a roof over their heads, instead of being present with their families.

775
01:18:00,000 --> 01:18:01,500
They're forced to spend more time working.

776
01:18:02,600 --> 01:18:09,460
Speaking for the next generation, I'm concerned about what this means for us. Many of us might be unable to live in this city where we grew up.

777
01:18:09,840 --> 01:18:15,360
A city cannot be successful if the people who work here study here and hope to build their futures here can't afford it.

778
01:18:15,980 --> 01:18:25,220
Rent control is not just about housing costs. It's about community protecting families and ensuring that Redwood City remains a place where working future generations have a chance to live and succeed.

779
01:18:25,720 --> 01:18:29,560
I urge the council to implement red control that provides stability and protection for

780
01:18:29,560 --> 01:18:29,960
renters.

781
01:18:30,600 --> 01:18:34,340
Speaking for many youth, as a teenager myself, I shouldn't have to be here worried about

782
01:18:34,340 --> 01:18:36,360
whether my parents have enough for next month.

783
01:18:38,980 --> 01:18:39,420
Thank you.

784
01:18:39,840 --> 01:18:44,140
Our next speaker is Teresa Berumen, who will be followed by Hyun-mi Kim.

785
01:18:45,040 --> 01:18:45,360
Yes.

786
01:18:45,760 --> 01:18:47,080
Good evening, council members.

787
01:18:47,580 --> 01:18:51,940
My name is Teresa Berumen, and I lived in Redwood City for over 50 years.

788
01:18:52,380 --> 01:18:54,940
And I'm a leader with faith in action.

789
01:18:54,940 --> 01:18:59,180
I urge you to pass the stand-in protection and rent control measure today.

790
01:19:00,000 --> 01:19:04,960
Protect families, seniors, and working residents from this placement.

791
01:19:05,600 --> 01:19:10,860
I have watched family members in a long time neighborhood forced to leave the city because

792
01:19:10,860 --> 01:19:16,600
they could no longer afford the rising rents, including my elderly parents, which they had

793
01:19:16,600 --> 01:19:22,160
to move away because they couldn't afford it here anymore.

794
01:19:22,600 --> 01:19:28,140
When seniors are pushed out, they lose vital support networks and their health and dignity

795
01:19:28,140 --> 01:19:28,680
suffer.

796
01:19:28,680 --> 01:19:34,480
When workers and family members are forced to move further away, our local businesses

797
01:19:34,480 --> 01:19:37,060
and schools lose customers and students.

798
01:19:37,560 --> 01:19:40,360
Commutes get longer and community life weekends.

799
01:19:40,980 --> 01:19:43,780
This is not just for policy issues, it's for moral one.

800
01:19:44,180 --> 01:19:48,640
Protecting tenants prevent unfair and excessive rent increases.

801
01:19:49,300 --> 01:19:50,400
Please vote now.

802
01:19:51,000 --> 01:19:51,480
Thank you.

803
01:19:52,300 --> 01:19:56,340
Our next speaker is Hyun-mi Kim, who will be followed by Taylor Brady.

804
01:19:56,340 --> 01:19:59,980
Okay. Good evening. My name is

805
01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:05,500
Ms. Hyun-mi Kim, I am a senior housing rights attorney, a community legal services in Palo Alto,

806
01:20:05,800 --> 01:20:11,520
also known as CLASPA. CLASPA, along with the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, represent

807
01:20:11,520 --> 01:20:16,760
almost all unrepresented vulnerable loan-income tenants from every corner of San Mateo County

808
01:20:17,240 --> 01:20:21,300
who face losing their homes at the County of San Mateo's eviction court, also known

809
01:20:21,300 --> 01:20:26,620
as unlawful detainment proceedings every Tuesday. We also regularly receive calls

810
01:20:26,620 --> 01:20:32,020
from the tenants in Redwood City asking legal advice or representation after having received

811
01:20:32,020 --> 01:20:39,480
on-law for eviction and rent increase notices. I personally represented several tenants from

812
01:20:39,480 --> 01:20:45,660
Redwood City including a case involving a landlord who filed a meritless on-law for

813
01:20:45,660 --> 01:20:50,780
detainer suit based on illegal rent increase notice. In that case, I was able to successfully

814
01:20:50,780 --> 01:20:57,820
dismiss the suit. Every week I directly witness how local based tenants protection

815
01:20:57,820 --> 01:20:59,660
ordinances, for example,

816
01:21:03,420 --> 01:21:08,400
Ms. Kim, that's your time. Ms. Kim, that's your time.

817
01:21:08,460 --> 01:21:11,720
Ms. Kim, that's your time. Ms. Kim, that's your minute.

818
01:21:16,600 --> 01:21:23,420
Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Taylor Brady, who will be followed by Nicholas Kennan.

819
01:21:30,340 --> 01:21:34,600
Good evening, City Council. My name is Taylor Brady, and I've been a resident of Redwood

820
01:21:34,600 --> 01:21:40,000
City for six years. As a public employee myself in Mountain View, I appreciate the stress of

821
01:21:40,000 --> 01:21:46,580
your job. So thank you for listening to us tonight. I urge you tonight to vote to adopt

822
01:21:46,580 --> 01:21:52,460
the ordinance as proposed. Rent control is an absolutely vital piece of the slate of

823
01:21:52,460 --> 01:21:57,760
policies that are needed to provide affordable housing, consistency, and dignity for the

824
01:21:57,760 --> 01:21:59,980
people of this community. There's a great

825
01:22:00,000 --> 01:22:05,100
Everyday symmetry between the information available to renters and that available to landlords who

826
01:22:05,100 --> 01:22:09,820
are able to use algorithmic pricing and cartel-like behavior to exploit tenants.

827
01:22:12,400 --> 01:22:13,700
The people who

828
01:22:13,700 --> 01:22:19,980
make up our community and enliven it need safe and dignified housing. I hope that you show

829
01:22:19,980 --> 01:22:25,840
the courage to pass this measure rather than demurring this evening. I understand it's

830
01:22:25,840 --> 01:22:27,100
the politically safe option.

831
01:22:27,780 --> 01:22:30,060
But there has been a great and resounding call

832
01:22:30,060 --> 01:22:31,520
from the people of this community

833
01:22:32,100 --> 01:22:33,740
to provide and safe housing.

834
01:22:34,160 --> 01:22:35,000
Oh, yes, thank you.

835
01:22:35,600 --> 01:22:36,140
Thank you.

836
01:22:36,460 --> 01:22:38,340
Our next speaker is Nicholas Kennan,

837
01:22:38,660 --> 01:22:42,320
who will be followed by Sophia Gonzalez Rodriguez.

838
01:22:43,600 --> 01:22:45,940
My name is Nick Kennan, district six resident.

839
01:22:46,320 --> 01:22:48,580
I'm here to speak in favor of the rent control ordinance.

840
01:22:49,400 --> 01:22:50,820
When I think about housing solutions

841
01:22:50,820 --> 01:22:52,060
and what we have to do,

842
01:22:52,180 --> 01:22:53,540
I picture this long timeline.

843
01:22:54,060 --> 01:22:58,140
One end is the building of housing which we are all deeply engaged in, trying to flood

844
01:22:58,140 --> 01:22:59,980
the system with housing to meet everyone's needs.

845
01:23:00,000 --> 01:23:05,860
But this is not a quick endeavor when it takes years to get housing built. So we move to the

846
01:23:05,860 --> 01:23:11,420
other end of the timeline with rent control, which we can implement more quickly. We need

847
01:23:11,420 --> 01:23:15,920
to bring people along when the overarching vision is supplying housing for all and the

848
01:23:15,920 --> 01:23:21,280
time that will take. People need that immediate relief in the meantime to prevent displacement.

849
01:23:22,220 --> 01:23:26,800
And our political upsides to consider with rent control and increased tenant protections,

850
01:23:27,520 --> 01:23:33,840
residents will feel secure, not left behind, and more willing to allow change with respect

851
01:23:33,840 --> 01:23:34,640
to housing development.

852
01:23:35,140 --> 01:23:35,640
Thank you for your time.

853
01:23:36,560 --> 01:23:37,360
Thank you.

854
01:23:38,000 --> 01:23:42,100
Next speaker is Sophia Gonzalez Rodriguez, who will be followed by Amanda Chang.

855
01:23:44,240 --> 01:23:44,800
Good evening.

856
01:23:45,040 --> 01:23:46,000
My name is Sophia Gonzalez.

857
01:23:46,460 --> 01:23:50,400
I work at the Council of San Mateo County, a local nonprofit organization that has

858
01:23:50,400 --> 01:23:54,540
been providing direct services to the Redwood City community from our office down on Middle

859
01:23:54,540 --> 01:23:55,880
Field for over 45 years.

860
01:23:56,700 --> 01:23:59,880
Every day we see firsthand how the near 50%

861
01:24:00,000 --> 01:24:04,720
And burden statistic plays out in our clients. A city rent control ordinance is a necessary

862
01:24:04,720 --> 01:24:07,060
and urgent step to address the needs of our community.

863
01:24:09,600 --> 01:24:11,300
High rents create economic strain

864
01:24:11,300 --> 01:24:15,300
for residents leaving less income available to purchase healthy foods or cover medical expenses.

865
01:24:16,080 --> 01:24:20,040
A lot of our clients come in for help with affordable housing applications, but even these

866
01:24:20,040 --> 01:24:25,380
can now be outside of people's budgets requiring monthly incomes up to $3,000 to $5,000.

867
01:24:26,220 --> 01:24:31,000
This reality is why we see our clients entering cramped living conditions, living as many

868
01:24:31,000 --> 01:24:35,720
as 8 to 10 people in a two bedroom apartment or moving out east as their rents increase.

869
01:24:36,520 --> 01:24:38,600
I myself live in Berkeley in a rent control unit.

870
01:24:39,980 --> 01:24:44,500
These conditions are not conducive to economic flourishing, let alone holistic stability

871
01:24:44,500 --> 01:24:45,040
or well-being.

872
01:24:46,560 --> 01:24:50,240
I ask the City Council to stand with the tenants and implement the ordinance tonight.

873
01:24:50,500 --> 01:24:50,740
Thank you.

874
01:24:51,000 --> 01:24:51,380
Thank you.

875
01:24:51,880 --> 01:24:53,680
Our next speaker is Amanda Chang.

876
01:24:53,680 --> 01:24:56,140
will be followed by Salvador Herrera.

877
01:25:04,270 --> 01:25:10,250
Good evening, City Council. My name is Amanda Chang, and I'm here as a staff member of Urban Habitat.

878
01:25:10,770 --> 01:25:16,330
We released a report on the impact of tenant protections in Redwood City back in April. I

879
01:25:16,330 --> 01:25:22,270
encourage you to read this. Among some of our findings in this report, we found that the

880
01:25:22,270 --> 01:25:31,130
average rent in Redwood City has increased 47% from 2010 to 2025. And that two out of

881
01:25:31,130 --> 01:25:35,230
three low-income families are paying more than half their income on housing

882
01:25:35,230 --> 01:25:41,530
up just from 44% just 10 years ago. And approximately 40,000 people could have

883
01:25:41,530 --> 01:25:45,350
increased housing stability through just cause and anti harassment protections

884
01:25:45,350 --> 01:25:49,950
which is about half the city. This includes nearly 5,000 children under

885
01:25:49,950 --> 01:25:56,520
the age of 18 and over 6,000 seniors. And approximately 22,000 people in

886
01:25:56,520 --> 01:25:59,840
with city, a quarter of the population could be protected by rent stable.

887
01:26:00,840 --> 01:26:06,880
You can vote to approve this measure now or wait for November for the ballot for the people to pass it. Thank you.

888
01:26:07,560 --> 01:26:12,860
Thank you. Our next speaker is Salvador Herrera, who will be followed by Michael Pierce.

889
01:26:12,860 --> 01:26:13,700
Good

890
01:26:23,330 --> 01:26:28,470
afternoon, gentlemen of the Council. My name is Salvador Herrera and I am in the

891
01:26:28,470 --> 01:26:33,870
Fey Action Organization, for which we have joined because we are seeing the increase

892
01:26:33,870 --> 01:26:40,270
in rent and then the number of elderly people of the third age who do not have where to

893
01:26:40,270 --> 01:26:46,110
stay, where to have a place, because the truth for them is very difficult to pay

894
01:26:46,110 --> 01:26:51,910
un una renta de dos mil dólares y queremos para ellos un lugar digno y para

895
01:26:51,910 --> 01:26:55,530
todas esas familias para todas esas mujeres solteras que tienen hasta tres

896
01:26:55,530 --> 01:26:59,970
cuatro niños y sólo ellas trabajan yo creo que justo que nos ayude a

897
01:27:26,740 --> 01:27:29,940
Thank you. And now we'll hear the English interpreter.

898
01:27:29,940 --> 01:27:30,860
of the comments.

899
01:27:32,720 --> 01:27:34,420
My name is Salvador Herrera,

900
01:27:35,060 --> 01:27:37,460
and I am a resident of Robert City.

901
01:27:42,710 --> 01:27:44,410
And we were here,

902
01:27:44,590 --> 01:27:46,530
and I'm part of their faith in action,

903
01:27:46,690 --> 01:27:48,950
and we're here because we're seeing the increase of rent,

904
01:27:49,370 --> 01:27:51,390
and also a lot of elderly people

905
01:27:51,390 --> 01:27:53,590
that they do not have a place to stay.

906
01:27:53,710 --> 01:27:55,410
They don't have a place

907
01:27:55,410 --> 01:27:57,450
because honestly, for them,

908
01:27:57,570 --> 01:27:59,630
it's very difficult to pay a rent

909
01:27:59,630 --> 01:27:59,830
Thank you.

910
01:28:00,000 --> 01:28:07,380
For $2,000 and we want for them a good place for all of those families, for all of those single

911
01:28:07,380 --> 01:28:13,240
moms that have like three, four kids and it's just them working. So I think it's fair for

912
01:28:13,240 --> 01:28:19,980
you guys to help us for this ordinance to pass for you guys to be with us because there's

913
01:28:19,980 --> 01:28:24,220
a lot of need. There's a lot of families that are doing bad. I think that you guys

914
01:28:24,220 --> 01:28:30,380
have seen the places, not only drug addicts are sleeping in those places, healthy families

915
01:28:30,380 --> 01:28:34,060
are sleeping in those places because they don't have work to sleep, they don't have

916
01:28:34,060 --> 01:28:34,660
a good place.

917
01:28:35,080 --> 01:28:39,200
So this is why we are here, all of the city that we're here, and we are all united.

918
01:28:39,540 --> 01:28:39,920
Thank you.

919
01:28:41,730 --> 01:28:42,850
Thank you very much for that.

920
01:28:43,370 --> 01:28:48,150
And we'll move on to our next speaker, Michael Pierce, who will be followed by Conor O'Brien.

921
01:28:52,240 --> 01:28:55,660
I'm Michael Pierce, Chair of the Board of the St. Francis Center on Nonprofit in

922
01:28:55,660 --> 01:28:56,120
Redwood City.

923
01:28:56,120 --> 01:28:59,720
We operate 267 units of low-income housing in San Mateo County.

924
01:29:00,000 --> 01:29:06,240
90 of which are in the city of Redwood City. I'm gravely concerned about the impact this will

925
01:29:06,240 --> 01:29:11,940
have on nonprofits like us and others because of the impact. If we lose our property tax abatements,

926
01:29:12,120 --> 01:29:15,860
it grossly affects our ability to continue to operate low-income housing, and that risk

927
01:29:15,860 --> 01:29:22,200
is very great under this proposed ordinance. I urge you to go back and revisit the 9212

928
01:29:22,200 --> 01:29:26,140
report and really study these impacts on other low-income housing providers. For the

929
01:29:26,140 --> 01:29:29,360
in Francis Center alone that would be $468,000 a year

930
01:29:29,360 --> 01:29:31,520
across our five parcels in Redwood City

931
01:29:31,520 --> 01:29:33,200
if we lost those property tax abatements.

932
01:29:33,720 --> 01:29:36,560
It also dictates the removal of rubs.

933
01:29:37,200 --> 01:29:39,340
We have voluntarily lowered rents for tenants

934
01:29:39,340 --> 01:29:41,600
in order for them to participate with utility costs.

935
01:29:41,920 --> 01:29:43,380
They'd have no incentive to lower costs.

936
01:29:43,720 --> 01:29:45,780
Under this ordinance, our rents would be capped,

937
01:29:46,240 --> 01:29:47,140
absent those costs,

938
01:29:47,200 --> 01:29:48,580
because there's no provision to add that back.

939
01:29:48,660 --> 01:29:50,240
So it's a great concern for us

940
01:29:50,240 --> 01:29:51,640
and other low-income housing providers.

941
01:29:52,160 --> 01:29:53,460
I think this is ill-conceived

942
01:29:53,460 --> 01:29:54,120
in the way it's formed.

943
01:29:54,360 --> 01:29:54,680
Thank you.

944
01:29:55,460 --> 01:29:59,920
Thank you, our next speaker is Connor O'Brien who will be followed by

945
01:30:00,080 --> 01:30:01,200
Mayor Slackie.

946
01:30:06,930 --> 01:30:12,850
Good evening. My name is Connor O'Brien. I am a member of Silicon Valley DSA and

947
01:30:12,850 --> 01:30:18,050
have been as a volunteer signature gathering for this initiative have been hearing from residents

948
01:30:18,050 --> 01:30:23,710
here about the urgency of adopting it. I'm also a resident and renter in Mountain View where this

949
01:30:23,710 --> 01:30:27,630
year will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of winning our own renter protections and rent

950
01:30:27,630 --> 01:30:32,290
control. And so I wanted to speak to the benefits that we've seen from that in terms

951
01:30:32,290 --> 01:30:37,310
of residents gaining stability, gaining some peace of mind that unexpected rent increases

952
01:30:37,310 --> 01:30:40,290
or unjust evictions won't displace them from their neighborhood.

953
01:30:40,590 --> 01:30:45,710
One testament to that is that four years into our adoption of rent control in 2020, voters

954
01:30:45,710 --> 01:30:50,070
had the opportunity to weaken the measure and overwhelmingly chose to maintain it by

955
01:30:50,070 --> 01:30:52,510
a margin of a 70% majority.

956
01:30:53,330 --> 01:30:58,370
So I think that looking to that experience, you have the opportunity now to allow renters

957
01:30:58,370 --> 01:30:59,970
to benefit immediately from this.

958
01:31:00,000 --> 01:31:04,640
The same protections that have been such a benefit to the tenants in our city. Thank you.

959
01:31:05,800 --> 01:31:11,720
Thank you. Our next speaker is Mayor Sleiki. We'll be followed by a Silly Morrison.

960
01:31:14,930 --> 01:31:21,590
Hello. Mark Sleiki for the record, but Mark Sleiki, I'm a lifelong resident here in the peninsula.

961
01:31:22,010 --> 01:31:26,830
Renter here in Redwood City, a member of Peninsula DSA and a local leader for this campaign as well.

962
01:31:28,430 --> 01:31:32,450
From my point of view, this is the bare minimum we can do for hunters at this point.

963
01:31:32,750 --> 01:31:35,930
We are well behind an insane affordability crisis.

964
01:31:36,350 --> 01:31:38,250
We talk a lot about who can afford what.

965
01:31:38,650 --> 01:31:40,230
I'll give you some simple numbers.

966
01:31:40,570 --> 01:31:42,690
I work at the cafe across the street at the yard.

967
01:31:42,850 --> 01:31:46,410
I've had the pleasure of serving some people in this chamber, many of my community members.

968
01:31:46,930 --> 01:31:48,610
We make $19 an hour.

969
01:31:49,450 --> 01:31:50,330
That is minimum wage.

970
01:31:51,050 --> 01:31:54,830
If you have a studio apartment like mine, which is the cheapest one in Redwood City,

971
01:31:54,830 --> 01:31:57,010
you're paying $19.29 for rent.

972
01:31:57,410 --> 01:31:59,790
That means almost 90% of your income.

973
01:32:00,000 --> 01:32:05,060
is going to rent. It's unreal. We cannot afford to not pass something like this.

974
01:32:05,760 --> 01:32:10,800
Beyond that, last I checked, it's citizens who have voted you in, not investors,

975
01:32:11,260 --> 01:32:15,140
not the investments that could be affected, not affordable housing providers, even.

976
01:32:15,760 --> 01:32:21,960
I love what they do. However, it's 48% of the population will be affected immediately by this,

977
01:32:22,040 --> 01:32:24,080
rather than the 1,000. Thank you, Mark. Thank you.

978
01:32:24,120 --> 01:32:26,620
Thank you, Mark. Sorry about that.

979
01:32:26,620 --> 01:32:31,420
Next speaker is Vasili Morrison, who will be followed by Paul Boca Negra.

980
01:32:33,680 --> 01:32:36,600
Hi, I'm Vasili Morrison. I'm a member of Silicon Valley DSA.

981
01:32:37,120 --> 01:32:42,560
I have members of my community and family that have personally been affected by rent evictions

982
01:32:42,560 --> 01:32:46,480
and had to have families who have not been able to afford housing.

983
01:32:46,740 --> 01:32:49,100
They've had to stay in my house, my family's house.

984
01:32:49,600 --> 01:32:54,280
I am fortunate enough to be able to have my family own a house.

985
01:32:54,280 --> 01:32:59,980
Hundreds of thousands of people of this community do not have that affordability.

986
01:33:00,000 --> 01:33:04,600
That affordability that many landlords here do, who have more than one housing, aren't able

987
01:33:04,600 --> 01:33:10,280
to rent said housing out to other people. It is the thousands of workers in this community

988
01:33:10,280 --> 01:33:15,960
who provide the teachers, who provide the construction labor, who could provide the value

989
01:33:15,960 --> 01:33:22,220
that the thousands that the landlords here may benefit from with their land raises and

990
01:33:22,220 --> 01:33:26,660
rents. This rent control measure would provide those laborers with the ability to stay

991
01:33:26,660 --> 01:33:30,940
in this community and not have to worry about their rents increasing and have to worry about

992
01:33:30,940 --> 01:33:37,440
getting a second or third job just to stay in their house. Thank you guys. Thank you. Our next

993
01:33:37,440 --> 01:33:43,360
speaker is Paul Volconegra who will be followed by David Gonzalez. Good evening Mayor Ceballos,

994
01:33:43,420 --> 01:33:48,720
council members. My name is Paul Volconegra. I am executive director of Unlocked Futures.

995
01:33:49,260 --> 01:33:57,200
I am also a homeowner and a landlord. We need to pass rank control. As executive director

996
01:33:57,200 --> 01:33:59,920
of Unlocked Futures, I work with system-impacted youth.

997
01:34:00,000 --> 01:34:05,260
Many of these youth do not know if they're going to be living in the same location that

998
01:34:05,260 --> 01:34:12,420
they did when they returned home. Many of these youth are also willing to work at 14-15 just

999
01:34:12,420 --> 01:34:18,480
to be able to assist their parents to pay rent so they have extra money for food and clothing.

1000
01:34:19,040 --> 01:34:25,180
This is a problem. We have thousands of voters who have already signed onto this, and I believe

1001
01:34:25,180 --> 01:34:31,820
that we should adopt this tonight and be leaders in ranked control rather than continue to trail

1002
01:34:32,300 --> 01:34:34,220
in the Bay Area. Thank you so much. Have a good night.

1003
01:34:35,440 --> 01:34:40,520
Thank you. Our next speaker is David Gonzalez, who will be followed by Roe V. Antonio.

1004
01:34:45,630 --> 01:34:49,810
Good evening. Good evening, city representatives. My name is David Gonzalez,

1005
01:34:50,030 --> 01:34:54,630
and I moved here in 2022 to the beautiful Redwood Shores, and every year I experienced

1006
01:34:54,630 --> 01:34:57,650
a rental increase of 10% until I could no longer afford to stay.

1007
01:34:58,190 --> 01:34:59,970
Each time, I would see the V-

1008
01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:04,140
Taking neighboring units on their online website being priced hundreds of dollars below what

1009
01:35:04,140 --> 01:35:08,220
they were asking me to renew with. So I know for a fact that this was not due to increasing

1010
01:35:08,220 --> 01:35:14,080
costs. City representatives, I implore you to pass this ordinance now and protect your

1011
01:35:14,080 --> 01:35:22,380
constituents from algorithmic pricing and greed and supply and demand. I promise you we won't

1012
01:35:22,380 --> 01:35:23,680
forget this. Thank you.

1013
01:35:25,260 --> 01:35:30,840
Thank you. Our next speaker is Roevee Antonio, who will be followed by Fernando Peña.

1014
01:35:43,740 --> 01:35:46,980
Good evening, Mayor and City Council. Roevee Antonio with the California Apartment Association,

1015
01:35:47,620 --> 01:35:51,560
a non-profit trade association representing rental property owners in Redwood City.

1016
01:35:52,140 --> 01:35:56,740
Tonight we are asking you to slow this process down. This is not a city-sponsored measure.

1017
01:35:57,360 --> 01:35:58,640
You did not write this.

1018
01:36:00,000 --> 01:36:06,200
I cannot write this. Unless you were in the room when these 46 pages were drafted, you cannot

1019
01:36:06,200 --> 01:36:12,100
note tonight whether the city has fully understood every consequence. In fact, tonight is the first

1020
01:36:12,100 --> 01:36:19,040
time that this has been presented to the city council to have a public discussion. The 9-1-2

1021
01:36:19,040 --> 01:36:24,860
report is useful, but incomplete. It analyzes rent control, which is fewer than two pages,

1022
01:36:25,040 --> 01:36:29,440
but more than 40 pages create rules affecting single-family rentals, condos, accessory

1023
01:36:29,440 --> 01:36:34,500
dwelling units, mobile homes, and affordable housing. The rules include relocation payments,

1024
01:36:34,700 --> 01:36:39,020
owner move and restrictions, and renovation restrictions. Due diligence require more than

1025
01:36:39,020 --> 01:36:43,180
a partial report. Before taking final ballot action, you need to study the full fiscal

1026
01:36:43,180 --> 01:36:45,500
housing and economic picture. Thank you.

1027
01:36:46,460 --> 01:36:51,200
Thank you. Our next speaker is Fernando Peña, who will be followed by Steven Howard.

1028
01:36:51,700 --> 01:36:55,320
Good evening, Mayor and Council Members. My name is Fernando Peña here on behalf

1029
01:36:55,320 --> 01:36:59,860
of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors. The proposal caps ranked

1030
01:37:00,000 --> 01:37:06,460
Regulatory increases at just 60% of CPI, ignoring the reality that insurance, maintenance, utilities,

1031
01:37:06,960 --> 01:37:13,040
property taxes, labor, and regulatory costs continue to rise far faster than that formula

1032
01:37:13,040 --> 01:37:19,460
allows. It also calls for increased taxpayer expense and imposes significant new regulations

1033
01:37:19,460 --> 01:37:25,580
beyond rent control that could affect a broader range of housing in Redwood City. While section

1034
01:37:25,580 --> 01:37:28,220
Section 9212 analyzes the rent control provisions.

1035
01:37:28,800 --> 01:37:33,660
It does not fully evaluate the economic impacts of these additional regulations.

1036
01:37:34,060 --> 01:37:39,840
I respectfully request that the Council direct staff to prepare supplemental Section 92 analysis

1037
01:37:39,840 --> 01:37:45,420
so voters can fully understand the potential impacts on housing availability, production,

1038
01:37:45,900 --> 01:37:47,220
and on our local economy.

1039
01:37:47,700 --> 01:37:52,260
Redwood City residents deserve balanced objective information before casting their ballots.

1040
01:37:52,680 --> 01:37:53,040
Thank you.

1041
01:37:55,820 --> 01:37:56,400
Thank you.

1042
01:37:56,400 --> 01:37:59,840
The next speaker is Steven Howard, who will be followed by Nancy Moya.

1043
01:38:01,520 --> 01:38:07,180
Good evening, council. This ordinance will have significant unintended consequences, too

1044
01:38:07,180 --> 01:38:12,760
numerous to mention in one minute. The organizers have very good intentions but are naive about

1045
01:38:12,760 --> 01:38:18,180
basic economics and the laws of supply and demand. Rents are what they are due to supply

1046
01:38:18,180 --> 01:38:25,620
and demand. In order to increase, if we want to decrease the rents, we need to increase

1047
01:38:25,620 --> 01:38:30,280
the supply. So you want to do as much as you can to encourage developers to come into

1048
01:38:30,280 --> 01:38:35,100
community, not discourage them. If you have less development, you will have less supply,

1049
01:38:35,740 --> 01:38:39,660
and therefore you will have increased prices of rents, exactly the opposite of what the

1050
01:38:39,660 --> 01:38:44,480
organizers had intended. We need to look no further than the price of eggs and the

1051
01:38:44,480 --> 01:38:50,300
price of gasoline as to far as what happens when supply is reduced. California is already

1052
01:38:50,300 --> 01:38:54,140
the most tenant-friendly state in the country, and there are plenty of protections

1053
01:38:55,140 --> 01:38:59,480
I would urge you not to support this measure and let it go to the ballot.

1054
01:39:00,000 --> 01:39:04,920
Hopefully to educate the public of the damage that will do, including the people who have put

1055
01:39:04,920 --> 01:39:06,080
this forward. Thank you.

1056
01:39:07,200 --> 01:39:12,520
Thank you. Our next speaker is Nancy Moya and I can give you a handheld microphone as

1057
01:39:12,520 --> 01:39:12,700
well.

1058
01:39:19,240 --> 01:39:25,480
Buenas tardes, mi nombre es Nancy Moya y estoy aquí en representación de mi hija. Nosotros

1059
01:39:25,480 --> 01:39:34,500
vivimos en un departamento que cuesta $3,500, es compartido, dos recámaras, un solo baño

1060
01:39:34,500 --> 01:39:39,280
en el segundo piso, sin patio, ni a ni balcón.

1061
01:39:39,940 --> 01:39:43,960
Mi esposo trabaja jornadas laborales de 12 horas por la noche,

1062
01:39:44,160 --> 01:39:49,200
seis días a la semana, para cubrir los básicos para nosotros.

1063
01:39:49,560 --> 01:39:53,660
Yo no puedo trabajar debido a que mi hija necesita supervisión,

1064
01:39:53,780 --> 01:39:56,340
24 horas al día, siete días a la semana.

1065
01:39:57,460 --> 01:39:59,980
Nosotros estamos aquí porque nos ponen

1066
01:40:16,840 --> 01:40:19,220
Thank you. And now for English interpretation.

1067
01:40:21,770 --> 01:40:23,850
Good evening. My name is Nancy Moyan. I'm here

1068
01:40:23,850 --> 01:40:31,270
representing my daughter. We are here because we live in an apartment that the rent is $3,000

1069
01:40:31,270 --> 01:40:41,430
and it's a shared unit, two rooms, one bathroom in the second floor, without a patio nor a balcony.

1070
01:40:42,450 --> 01:40:51,790
So my husband works 12 hours a day, six days a week, just to cover basics for us.

1071
01:40:52,250 --> 01:40:59,970
So I cannot work because my daughter needs supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

1072
01:41:00,000 --> 01:41:05,380
So we are here because we are concerned, we are very concerned that we don't have enough

1073
01:41:05,380 --> 01:41:13,360
to have a savings account for emergencies or for whatever comes up and we need to, we need,

1074
01:41:14,120 --> 01:41:18,800
we need affordable housing for people with disabilities. Thank you very much.

1075
01:41:21,210 --> 01:41:26,970
Thank you. And that concludes our in-person speakers. We'll move now to our two speakers

1076
01:41:27,610 --> 01:41:31,910
We'll start with Becca Keeler, and following Becca will be Mae Lamb.

1077
01:41:32,410 --> 01:41:35,110
And Becca, you may unmute yourself and begin your comments,

1078
01:41:35,250 --> 01:41:37,010
and the timer will begin when you start speaking.

1079
01:41:38,310 --> 01:41:42,210
Thank you. My name's Rebecca Keeler, and I've grew up here in the peninsula.

1080
01:41:42,610 --> 01:41:46,170
I've been a homeowner here in Redwood City for the last 20 years.

1081
01:41:46,490 --> 01:41:52,490
I also serve in our community working with underserved youth and working with unlock futures.

1082
01:41:53,710 --> 01:41:57,430
and I'm in solidarity with faith and action. I want to tell you that I have

1083
01:41:57,430 --> 01:41:59,510
seen so many of the families I work with.

1084
01:42:00,000 --> 01:42:07,440
Displaced. I have seen so many of the children be upended from their schools and their places

1085
01:42:07,440 --> 01:42:12,760
of living, and I've seen them with multiple families in the same home. This is not something

1086
01:42:12,760 --> 01:42:19,240
that can continue. One way or the other, we have to find a solution to this. I ask you

1087
01:42:19,240 --> 01:42:27,260
please pay serious attention to this tenant rent control, and please take action on it

1088
01:42:27,260 --> 01:42:32,960
immediately. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is May Lam.

1089
01:42:40,980 --> 01:42:41,940
Hi there, we can hear you.

1090
01:42:42,620 --> 01:42:43,220
Oh, hi.

1091
01:42:45,340 --> 01:42:51,960
So, thank you for this time to speak. So, I just wanted to say, you know,

1092
01:42:52,160 --> 01:42:59,160
please do not adopt the current proposed measure. Let me echo what other small business owners have pointed out.

1093
01:43:00,050 --> 01:43:06,710
This is a very restrictive initiative as it would greatly hurt small mom-and-pop landlords.

1094
01:43:07,170 --> 01:43:14,230
The burden on small businesses will be unsustainable. This is not the solution. We do need better

1095
01:43:15,730 --> 01:43:21,870
help for our tenants, but this is not it. You certainly will reduce the amount of affordable

1096
01:43:21,870 --> 01:43:24,750
housing available in the city. Thank you for your time.

1097
01:43:28,240 --> 01:43:31,620
Thank you very much, and that concludes public comment. Mayor, back to you.

1098
01:43:33,610 --> 01:43:37,070
Thank you, City Clerk. And again, thank you to everybody who made public comment this

1099
01:43:37,070 --> 01:43:40,770
evening, shared your time with us, whether you're in person or joining us online.

1100
01:43:41,570 --> 01:43:44,430
And we'll bring it back to the dais for council discussion.

1101
01:43:45,530 --> 01:43:48,450
Who has any questions? They'd like to start us off with.

1102
01:43:51,410 --> 01:43:55,550
Council Member Sturgeon. Thank you, Mayor. Firstly, thank you to everyone who spoke

1103
01:43:55,550 --> 01:43:59,670
this evening. I really do appreciate your input. And I also saw a lot of the

1104
01:43:59,670 --> 01:43:59,890
email.

1105
01:44:00,000 --> 01:44:08,540
Thank you to those folks who wrote in. Initial question I have with regards to the fee is what

1106
01:44:08,540 --> 01:44:17,020
flexibility is there, if any, to reduce the fee for affordable housing providers, nonprofit

1107
01:44:17,020 --> 01:44:21,940
affordable housing providers? I'm actually going to ask our city attorney

1108
01:44:21,940 --> 01:44:29,980
to answer that question. Thank you, Ms. Lane-Caster, and thank you,

1109
01:44:29,980 --> 01:44:36,260
is if adopted by the council or sent to the voters

1110
01:44:36,260 --> 01:44:38,920
and adopted by the voters is an ordinance

1111
01:44:38,920 --> 01:44:40,700
adopted by initiative petition.

1112
01:44:41,560 --> 01:44:45,020
And the city council is limited in its ability

1113
01:44:45,020 --> 01:44:48,420
to change substantively the ordinance.

1114
01:44:49,340 --> 01:44:51,240
So what we need to do is we need to look

1115
01:44:51,240 --> 01:44:53,740
at the ordinance itself to determine

1116
01:45:01,960 --> 01:45:11,920
If you go to section 42.14d, it identifies how the rental housing fee may be adopted. And

1117
01:45:11,920 --> 01:45:17,800
it makes very clear that the city council shall finance the reasonable and necessary expenses

1118
01:45:17,800 --> 01:45:23,600
of the program by charging landlords an annual rental housing fee. That the council shall

1119
01:45:23,600 --> 01:45:27,860
ensure that the rental housing fee is set at a level sufficient to fund the duties and

1120
01:45:27,860 --> 01:45:32,760
responsibilities under the program. And then it says that the program and staff

1121
01:45:32,760 --> 01:45:38,780
to enforce this chapter shall be funded only by the rental housing fee and not

1122
01:45:38,780 --> 01:45:44,320
from the city's general fund. So understanding those limitations is

1123
01:45:44,320 --> 01:45:49,720
critical in understanding what we can do. If the ordinance is adopted the

1124
01:45:49,720 --> 01:45:54,820
city will need to conduct a fee analysis in order to determine what the

1125
01:45:54,820 --> 01:45:59,920
ultimate rental housing fee will be for those landlords and whether this

1126
01:46:00,000 --> 01:46:08,400
City could exempt, waive, reduce fees for affordable units will depend on this fee analysis and the

1127
01:46:08,400 --> 01:46:15,640
ordinance's limitations, as we will need to ensure that any exemption reduction waiver would

1128
01:46:15,640 --> 01:46:18,420
not disproportionately impact other landlords.

1129
01:46:19,120 --> 01:46:19,880
Thank

1130
01:46:24,900 --> 01:46:26,200
you very much. That's very helpful.

1131
01:46:31,580 --> 01:46:39,020
Since the mayor is momentarily gone, do any of my other colleagues have additional questions,

1132
01:46:39,600 --> 01:46:42,980
clarifications, or if they want to start with comments.

1133
01:46:48,360 --> 01:46:49,640
Council Member G, please.

1134
01:46:50,300 --> 01:46:50,820
Thank you.

1135
01:46:51,040 --> 01:46:51,780
Excuse me.

1136
01:46:51,880 --> 01:46:52,600
Thank you, Vice Mayor.

1137
01:46:53,200 --> 01:46:55,900
And thank you, everyone, that emailed, came here,

1138
01:46:57,000 --> 01:46:59,720
and offered comments online.

1139
01:47:01,220 --> 01:47:09,160
I want to preface my inquiries first by saying this is the first time, or when the packet was

1140
01:47:09,160 --> 01:47:16,320
posted on Thursday, is the first time council got, or at least a lot of information about

1141
01:47:16,320 --> 01:47:22,940
the proposed initiative. Up until then, we haven't seen this. This is the first time.

1142
01:47:23,080 --> 01:47:28,100
So we've had only since Thursday afternoon, I think, when this was posted into tonight,

1143
01:47:28,100 --> 01:47:34,480
to kind of absorb the details, the emails, the letters, and the substance of the proposed

1144
01:47:34,480 --> 01:47:41,640
ordinance. So we have had not a lot of time to dive into it. So I want to thank everyone

1145
01:47:41,640 --> 01:47:48,840
for helping us try to understand both sides, all sides of the issues, but I have a lot

1146
01:47:48,840 --> 01:47:53,400
of questions given the short amount of time we've had to really dive into this.

1147
01:47:56,460 --> 01:47:59,980
So I'm not going to try to guess who's going to answer the questions that I have.

1148
01:48:00,000 --> 01:48:06,360
But I suspect it's going to include staff, our city attorney, our city manager, and our consultant.

1149
01:48:08,900 --> 01:48:17,700
So, the presentation will sort of help answer this, but I want to make sure I understood the 40-something pages of the proposed ordinance

1150
01:48:17,700 --> 01:48:26,460
and all the other associated documents that we even were getting this afternoon, which is kind of hard to absorb if we got it at 2 o'clock

1151
01:48:26,460 --> 01:48:31,320
in our meetings at six and I think most of us still have a regular job to take

1152
01:48:31,320 --> 01:48:36,480
care of. So my first question is to our staff, does Council have all the

1153
01:48:36,480 --> 01:48:40,080
information or are there any missing documents that we don't have?

1154
01:48:42,620 --> 01:48:42,800
Because

1155
01:48:42,800 --> 01:48:46,780
that's what my questions are going to be based on what we have if so there's

1156
01:48:46,780 --> 01:48:49,200
something that we don't have my apologies ahead of time.

1157
01:48:52,190 --> 01:48:53,350
I'm not aware of

1158
01:48:53,350 --> 01:48:58,090
any missing documents. Thank you. So I'm just going to start to dive in and

1159
01:48:58,090 --> 01:48:59,970
All right, my apologies to my colleagues.

1160
01:49:00,000 --> 01:49:05,760
I've got a whole long list of questions. You can feel free, Mayor, to cut me off any time

1161
01:49:05,760 --> 01:49:06,120
you want.

1162
01:49:09,680 --> 01:49:14,700
It appears, and I think you had this in the slide between yourself, Alen, and Jason,

1163
01:49:15,080 --> 01:49:23,760
that if passed, while the rent control portion may not apply to a lot of post-1995 properties,

1164
01:49:24,260 --> 01:49:31,300
the TPO, as proposed, does apply to more properties than the city's ordinance, including ADUs,

1165
01:49:31,300 --> 01:49:39,000
single-family homes, mobile homes, and non-occupied single-family homes. Am I

1166
01:49:39,000 --> 01:49:39,820
reading that correctly?

1167
01:49:42,660 --> 01:49:45,320
Can you rephrase the question? Are you referring to the

1168
01:49:45,320 --> 01:49:51,140
city's tenant protection ordinance or the proposed ordinance would apply the

1169
01:49:51,140 --> 01:49:57,700
tenant protections to these other properties I just listed? Yes, like, sorry,

1170
01:49:57,700 --> 01:49:59,920
We're getting confused with TPO in our city.

1171
01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:06,400
Yes, so this is the slide. So fully covered, and this is just related to the proposed ordinance.

1172
01:50:06,780 --> 01:50:07,100
Correct.

1173
01:50:07,360 --> 01:50:13,100
Means rent stabilization plus all of the other requirements. So that's inclusive of just cause,

1174
01:50:13,400 --> 01:50:19,420
relocation, right to return. Partially covered under the proposed ordinance means those rental

1175
01:50:19,420 --> 01:50:26,040
units are only subject to the just cause provisions, the right to return provisions, the relocation

1176
01:50:26,040 --> 01:50:30,300
and provisions, all the other ones besides rent stabilization.

1177
01:50:30,580 --> 01:50:32,680
All the other ones other than the rent stabilization.

1178
01:50:33,240 --> 01:50:34,800
So I did read that fairly correctly.

1179
01:50:36,280 --> 01:50:39,740
So then now I'm gonna pivot into the EPS report.

1180
01:50:39,960 --> 01:50:44,480
So between you and Jason maybe you can tag team things here.

1181
01:50:46,180 --> 01:50:48,440
Alin just mentioned a whole bunch of stuff.

1182
01:50:51,660 --> 01:50:54,920
And I couldn't find in your report, Jason,

1183
01:50:54,920 --> 01:50:59,960
about the effect or impact of those operating costs on property ownership.

1184
01:51:00,000 --> 01:51:07,260
There are a lot of regulations there that Ellen just mentioned. Was there a clear assessment

1185
01:51:07,260 --> 01:51:10,520
about the cumulative impact on operating costs for property owners?

1186
01:51:15,140 --> 01:51:20,460
Some of those are very difficult to quantify and our analysis was done primarily on secondary

1187
01:51:20,460 --> 01:51:28,040
research and available data. Estimating the cost of some of the other than what's clearly

1188
01:51:28,040 --> 01:51:34,360
in the ordinance, like how much you have to pay for a relocation, we did not do a detailed

1189
01:51:34,360 --> 01:51:41,000
estimate of how much some of the other tenant protection components would affect a landlord.

1190
01:51:41,420 --> 01:51:48,120
That was not, we did not have the schedule and scope and resources to do that during

1191
01:51:48,120 --> 01:51:52,440
the analysis. So we didn't do that detailed analysis of those items.

1192
01:51:53,240 --> 01:51:59,600
Would it be safe to assume that there are going to be financial impacts to property owners?

1193
01:52:00,270 --> 01:52:02,850
Beyond the rent stabilization component.

1194
01:52:03,630 --> 01:52:06,150
There will be financial impacts for sure.

1195
01:52:06,470 --> 01:52:07,810
But they were not quantified.

1196
01:52:08,050 --> 01:52:14,530
Yeah, estimating those would require more analysis than we were able to do during the first round of this analysis.

1197
01:52:14,970 --> 01:52:18,330
And you can say it wasn't in my scope of work. That's fine.

1198
01:52:18,630 --> 01:52:23,450
I mean, I know this was done in a very short amount of time on a very limited fee basis.

1199
01:52:24,310 --> 01:52:25,430
So that's okay to say that.

1200
01:52:25,430 --> 01:52:29,190
two and a half months we did this and so it was there were you know that would

1201
01:52:29,190 --> 01:52:33,190
require a fair to do that analysis require interviewing property owners doing

1202
01:52:33,190 --> 01:52:37,990
a lot of case studies of examples of where this is great it's doable it's

1203
01:52:37,990 --> 01:52:44,650
doable yes okay but wasn't in your scope it was fine similarly and this is

1204
01:52:44,650 --> 01:52:51,110
consistent with the way I look at even our impact fees on developments I have

1205
01:52:51,110 --> 01:52:55,050
been a strong advocate for assessing the cumulative impact of policy ordinance

1206
01:52:55,050 --> 01:52:58,990
fees, assessments, and utility costs on businesses.

1207
01:53:00,080 --> 01:53:08,920
I wasn't able to see the cumulative impact of all these other things on the property owners.

1208
01:53:09,200 --> 01:53:15,220
Was there, did I miss it, or was it out of scope and not able to do in the compressed amount of time?

1209
01:53:16,480 --> 01:53:21,440
When you say cumulative impact, do you mean other policies that already exist?

1210
01:53:21,440 --> 01:53:28,600
policies that the council adopts, increased utility costs, business license tax increases,

1211
01:53:29,300 --> 01:53:33,900
the cumulative impact of all the things we do here at the dais on businesses.

1212
01:53:34,360 --> 01:53:40,040
Was there an assessment on the cumulative impact on property owners if this were to

1213
01:53:40,040 --> 01:53:42,880
move forward by either council or the voters?

1214
01:53:43,840 --> 01:53:48,240
Our analysis focused on the incremental impacts of this particular ordinance, not

1215
01:53:48,760 --> 01:53:52,040
So the answer is no, we did not look at the cumulative impacts.

1216
01:53:52,460 --> 01:53:54,420
We tried to focus on the incremental impacts.

1217
01:53:54,420 --> 01:53:57,480
Is it possible to do that, given more time and more fee?

1218
01:54:00,300 --> 01:54:04,900
I'm going to say tentatively yes, depending on the scope and the time frame. I know we have

1219
01:54:04,900 --> 01:54:11,240
an election in November, so. Beyond that, I'm not asking about, you know, is it doable? It

1220
01:54:11,240 --> 01:54:15,620
is doable, yes. We have to define the scope, but yes. And again, at this day, as we have

1221
01:54:15,620 --> 01:54:23,760
approved a series of utility cost increases, sewer, solid waste, water, but by the way

1222
01:54:23,760 --> 01:54:29,000
I read the ordinance proposed, those are not able to be passed on to the tenants

1223
01:54:29,000 --> 01:54:30,420
unless they're separately metered.

1224
01:54:31,140 --> 01:54:32,420
Am I reading that correctly?

1225
01:54:34,620 --> 01:54:35,500
That is correct.

1226
01:54:36,420 --> 01:54:42,000
So, again, I go back to when you look at the operating impact on property owners,

1227
01:54:42,720 --> 01:54:48,300
the cumulative impact, and the utility cost increases.

1228
01:54:48,640 --> 01:54:51,320
There's got to be a financial impact on the property owner,

1229
01:54:51,440 --> 01:54:56,300
at least administration, that I couldn't find the analysis in the report

1230
01:54:56,300 --> 01:54:59,340
because it probably was out of scope or you didn't have enough time.

1231
01:54:59,340 --> 01:54:59,960
and am I reading?

1232
01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:00,360
Is that correct?

1233
01:55:03,200 --> 01:55:05,560
Yes, we did not do analysis of the cumulative

1234
01:55:05,560 --> 01:55:08,560
impact from all those other regulations that you mentioned or policies.

1235
01:55:09,360 --> 01:55:19,460
Okay. And Jason, your presentation, you started to kind of convey the potential impact of this

1236
01:55:19,460 --> 01:55:24,040
ordinance on our non-profit affordable housing providers.

1237
01:55:26,960 --> 01:55:28,660
I didn't see anything about section

1238
01:55:30,120 --> 01:55:38,440
I didn't see. I think you had a slide about the growing gap over five years. I think you said $937.

1239
01:55:39,880 --> 01:55:46,300
The rents would be falling behind, at least capital replacement. I think that was your slide number three.

1240
01:55:47,360 --> 01:55:52,280
What happens with that continued falling behind? What does that do to the property condition?

1241
01:55:54,200 --> 01:55:54,680
Yes.

1242
01:55:54,840 --> 01:55:59,060
Are you talking about the market rate or deed restrictive affordable?

1243
01:56:00,780 --> 01:56:03,080
It was your slide three.

1244
01:56:04,180 --> 01:56:04,820
Yes.

1245
01:56:05,360 --> 01:56:06,000
The bottom one.

1246
01:56:06,520 --> 01:56:10,360
Yeah, this was referring to all units, not just affordable.

1247
01:56:10,760 --> 01:56:13,900
Okay, well, what happens with the continuing falling behind?

1248
01:56:15,380 --> 01:56:18,740
Pretend it's 10 years or 15 years that continue falling behind.

1249
01:56:18,880 --> 01:56:20,080
What's the impact on the property?

1250
01:56:20,780 --> 01:56:24,720
And this would apply for units built prior to 1995.

1251
01:56:24,720 --> 01:56:33,220
So yes, it would make it difficult in some cases for the property owner operator to cover

1252
01:56:33,220 --> 01:56:40,520
those increased costs without a doubt until the unit is vacated in which time the property

1253
01:56:40,520 --> 01:56:45,260
owner can then go back to the market rate, kind of do it.

1254
01:56:45,360 --> 01:56:51,240
If you're a market rate unit, you can charge the rent that the market will bear once

1255
01:56:51,240 --> 01:56:55,680
to existing tenant leaves, if you are an affordable housing operator, you don't have the liberty

1256
01:56:55,680 --> 01:56:57,240
to rate charge market rate.

1257
01:56:57,360 --> 01:56:59,300
You have to go with the-

1258
01:57:00,050 --> 01:57:03,430
Area median income restrictions of the affordable unit.

1259
01:57:03,570 --> 01:57:15,130
We did hear from at least one not-profit provider, the St. Francis Center, about falling behind and the impact potentially on, was that kind of analysis covered in the report?

1260
01:57:15,730 --> 01:57:19,650
I think it was hinted at, but I didn't see depth in the report.

1261
01:57:21,190 --> 01:57:25,650
That particular analysis is going to be unique to every single property, right?

1262
01:57:25,650 --> 01:57:29,110
So it's generally true that if you are not

1263
01:57:29,110 --> 01:57:31,030
able to raise your rents with the market,

1264
01:57:31,210 --> 01:57:33,330
you are likely to continue to fall behind.

1265
01:57:34,030 --> 01:57:36,250
The way in which it will impact the financials

1266
01:57:36,250 --> 01:57:38,630
of any given property may differ depending

1267
01:57:38,630 --> 01:57:41,290
upon their own operating budget to what

1268
01:57:41,290 --> 01:57:43,950
degree they have deferred maintenance issues, what

1269
01:57:43,950 --> 01:57:45,430
their existing rents are, the turnover.

1270
01:57:45,670 --> 01:57:47,170
There's many factors, variables

1271
01:57:47,170 --> 01:57:49,730
that would go into the calculation

1272
01:57:49,730 --> 01:57:51,310
for an individual property owner.

1273
01:57:51,390 --> 01:57:53,410
But I think it's fair to say that in general,

1274
01:57:53,410 --> 01:57:57,290
you would fall behind and you would not be able to keep up with your operating

1275
01:57:57,290 --> 01:57:59,810
expenses over a longer period of time, particularly

1276
01:58:00,000 --> 01:58:01,320
Really if you do not have tenant turnover.

1277
01:58:04,290 --> 01:58:13,090
So I guess keeping up is a formula of tenant turnover. If I heard you at the converse of what

1278
01:58:13,090 --> 01:58:19,490
you just said, the only way to keep up is tenant turnover, which isn't the intent of this initiative.

1279
01:58:19,770 --> 01:58:23,110
It's to provide housing stability, not tenant turnover.

1280
01:58:25,330 --> 01:58:27,790
I'm just trying to make sure I, using

1281
01:58:27,790 --> 01:58:31,410
Jeff's language, I understand what's in the initiative and the analysis.

1282
01:58:34,500 --> 01:58:36,880
Also, the administration

1283
01:58:36,880 --> 01:58:41,700
fee, I believe, cannot be passed on to the tenant. Is that correct?

1284
01:58:43,060 --> 01:58:43,940
That is correct.

1285
01:58:44,540 --> 01:58:54,620
So in your analysis, the 12084 is substantially less than what it would cost to actually

1286
01:58:55,080 --> 01:58:59,740
And even if the higher number cannot be passed on to the tenants, it's got to be absorbed.

1287
01:59:00,000 --> 01:59:04,960
By the property owner, and its administrative burden or whatever you want to call it, and

1288
01:59:04,960 --> 01:59:10,280
again, going back to my earlier question, that cumulative impact, it's got to have an impact

1289
01:59:10,280 --> 01:59:16,760
somewhere. Whether it's $500 per unit per year or $1,000 per unit per year, there's

1290
01:59:16,760 --> 01:59:22,980
got to be an impact somewhere. And it wasn't, it was just lightly touched on, I guess,

1291
01:59:23,100 --> 01:59:28,480
about the cumulative impact. There is one, but it wasn't too deep.

1292
01:59:28,480 --> 01:59:34,060
Well, the cumulative impact is essentially the fee times the number of units you have.

1293
01:59:35,040 --> 01:59:37,900
So every project has a different number of units.

1294
01:59:38,040 --> 01:59:41,280
So the cumulative impact would be the number of units you have times the fee.

1295
01:59:41,760 --> 01:59:44,300
We haven't finalized what the fee would be if this is approved.

1296
01:59:44,440 --> 01:59:45,920
There would be a study doing that.

1297
01:59:46,080 --> 01:59:51,100
And so every property owner would say, well, if I have 100 units and it's $500 a unit,

1298
01:59:51,680 --> 01:59:53,640
the math is $50,000 in that case.

1299
01:59:53,780 --> 01:59:57,420
So there's going to be impact, but it will vary for each particular unit.

1300
01:59:57,420 --> 01:59:59,860
But based on your previous report on TPO

1301
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:07,820
Can properties owners absorb that kind of fee burden on an annual basis?

1302
02:00:10,080 --> 02:00:18,580
Well, it will be more difficult for affordable housing owners to do so because they can't pass it on rent even when the unit is vacated.

1303
02:00:20,080 --> 02:00:28,320
For post-1995 units, they may be able to pass those costs on, and they can't do it directly

1304
02:00:28,320 --> 02:00:34,540
because that would be illegal, but they can do it once the lease that they have with the

1305
02:00:34,540 --> 02:00:35,620
current tenant expires.

1306
02:00:35,840 --> 02:00:38,180
They said, well, now you have a new lease, and here's our new rent.

1307
02:00:40,550 --> 02:00:44,990
That adds a dimension of complexity to their operating perform, though, doesn't it?

1308
02:00:47,610 --> 02:00:55,030
And on the pre-1995 affordable housing with that constitutive force measure that the funders

1309
02:00:55,030 --> 02:00:59,970
could argue that they're out of compliance with the

1310
02:01:00,000 --> 02:01:05,760
Other pro forma because competing for low interest housing tax credits is a competitive basis.

1311
02:01:06,640 --> 02:01:14,560
It's based on areas of economic desire and need. It's based on rental pro forma. It's based

1312
02:01:14,560 --> 02:01:19,740
on a lot of different things to be competitive and to be awarded those tax credits and other

1313
02:01:19,740 --> 02:01:25,640
funding grants. So if we change the community changes or the council changes of the rules,

1314
02:01:26,420 --> 02:01:31,080
would that put some of the projects potentially in jeopardy

1315
02:01:31,080 --> 02:01:33,820
because the funding requirements and the performance were changed?

1316
02:01:34,140 --> 02:01:34,740
I

1317
02:01:39,830 --> 02:01:43,550
can't speak definitively, but we would need to evaluate

1318
02:01:44,710 --> 02:01:48,830
our own affordability restrictions on those properties along with their funders.

1319
02:01:49,750 --> 02:01:52,930
I can't speak to what actions those funders would take,

1320
02:01:53,270 --> 02:01:59,150
but there could be potential conflicts between what is in the proposed ordinance

1321
02:01:59,150 --> 02:01:59,950
and what's in.

1322
02:02:00,000 --> 02:02:01,980
Existing affordability covenants.

1323
02:02:02,760 --> 02:02:04,520
Thanks, Lynn, for stepping into that.

1324
02:02:04,660 --> 02:02:06,700
Then who has

1325
02:02:09,320 --> 02:02:11,660
responsibility and liability for that conflict?

1326
02:02:16,600 --> 02:02:18,620
And it's okay to say I don't know right now.

1327
02:02:18,700 --> 02:02:21,760
It's a really good question. I think, yeah.

1328
02:02:22,720 --> 02:02:23,940
That's okay to say I don't know.

1329
02:02:24,060 --> 02:02:27,080
I mean, this is a very short timeframe that, again, we just got this stuff.

1330
02:02:27,200 --> 02:02:31,160
I just got the pack of Thursday and spent my weekend reading it.

1331
02:02:31,240 --> 02:02:35,280
I had all these questions that, you know,

1332
02:02:35,280 --> 02:02:39,700
And we've got letters that ask some pretty significant questions too.

1333
02:02:40,760 --> 02:02:46,640
It's okay to say I don't know and we need more time or whatever, but this is kind of important stuff.

1334
02:02:47,100 --> 02:02:52,240
Because this is a big, I think this is a big issue for the community as the community has told us.

1335
02:02:52,420 --> 02:02:53,100
It's a big issue.

1336
02:02:54,040 --> 02:02:56,420
Thank you, Council Member Jay, and you're right.

1337
02:02:56,580 --> 02:02:57,840
I don't have an answer.

1338
02:02:58,520 --> 02:02:59,940
It is something that we would

1339
02:03:00,640 --> 02:03:06,000
It might be that we won't have an answer, right? It will be dependent on what each of

1340
02:03:06,000 --> 02:03:13,560
the funder's requirements are. We do have Ms. Tiedemann on, and I know she does quite a bit

1341
02:03:13,560 --> 02:03:17,480
with housing, and so I do want to provide an opportunity if she knows how this tends

1342
02:03:17,480 --> 02:03:23,300
to work from other agencies' experiences before we let you know that we don't have

1343
02:03:23,300 --> 02:03:24,000
an answer for you.

1344
02:03:25,860 --> 02:03:35,000
Hi, good evening, Karen Tiedemann with Goulter and Litman. I think the issues that affordable

1345
02:03:35,000 --> 02:03:41,220
housing developers are going to have is essentially what Jason said. Eventually, this is going

1346
02:03:41,220 --> 02:03:45,340
to impact their operating income because they're very limited and they can't raise

1347
02:03:45,340 --> 02:03:53,860
sprints when units turn over the way that non-regulated landlords can do.

1348
02:03:55,140 --> 02:03:59,980
So my guess is that there are going to be a reduction in the number of people who are

1349
02:04:00,000 --> 02:04:11,620
Potentially be request for additional subsidy for operating expenses long term. But once again

1350
02:04:11,620 --> 02:04:18,020
it depends on each project and property and their operating expenses and the multiple sources

1351
02:04:18,020 --> 02:04:20,160
of funding that they currently are accessing.

1352
02:04:22,930 --> 02:04:29,630
Thank you. Is it safe to say then that there's potential unintended consequences of this proposed

1353
02:04:29,630 --> 02:04:34,970
ordinance or initiative or the potential for unintended consequences?

1354
02:04:37,370 --> 02:04:38,510
Yes, I mean I

1355
02:04:38,510 --> 02:04:44,590
think that the impact on affordable housing is something that will have to

1356
02:04:44,590 --> 02:04:50,490
be looked at if this were adopted in the long term not a lot of rent control

1357
02:04:50,490 --> 02:04:56,270
jurisdictions cover affordable housing housing that's restricted and how it

1358
02:04:56,270 --> 02:04:56,970
raise its rent.

1359
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:02,100
This initiative here in front of us?

1360
02:05:04,280 --> 02:05:07,740
I don't want to say definitively it is unique.

1361
02:05:08,360 --> 02:05:09,020
Not typical.

1362
02:05:09,480 --> 02:05:14,060
Some rent control jurisdictions cover some subsets of affordable housing.

1363
02:05:17,340 --> 02:05:25,440
This one doesn't have any exemptions for any type of affordable housing unless it's owned

1364
02:05:25,440 --> 02:05:27,100
by a governmental unit.

1365
02:05:27,760 --> 02:05:28,940
That's the only exemption.

1366
02:05:29,780 --> 02:05:32,340
So that is a little more restrictive than

1367
02:05:33,320 --> 02:05:35,160
anyone I can think of at this moment.

1368
02:05:36,160 --> 02:05:37,200
Thank you for that.

1369
02:05:37,480 --> 02:05:39,360
And Mayor, I have a whole bunch more questions,

1370
02:05:39,440 --> 02:05:40,980
but I want to check in with my colleagues.

1371
02:05:41,340 --> 02:05:42,640
I don't want to monopolize the time.

1372
02:05:44,600 --> 02:05:46,320
May I continue? Please continue.

1373
02:05:46,640 --> 02:05:47,200
Thank you, Mayor.

1374
02:05:48,920 --> 02:05:51,320
You know, we heard from a speaker tonight where,

1375
02:05:51,320 --> 02:05:57,420
you know, we have had a long-standing community benefits program and that has

1376
02:05:57,420 --> 02:05:59,920
filled the pipeline of affordable housing in this.

1377
02:06:00,000 --> 02:06:05,160
This has been a council strategic priority, particularly at the lower income and ELI extremely

1378
02:06:05,160 --> 02:06:11,020
low income levels. One of the properties, as part of the community benefits, was to purchase

1379
02:06:11,020 --> 02:06:17,880
an exempt rental property and donate it to a non-profit, and it was deed restricted.

1380
02:06:19,180 --> 02:06:25,440
Under this proposed ordinance initiative, is that a viable option anymore, given the

1381
02:06:25,440 --> 02:06:30,740
dynamics you just shared about not being able to keep up, falling behind, not be

1382
02:06:30,740 --> 02:06:32,600
able to capitalize, things like that.

1383
02:06:34,920 --> 02:06:36,720
And it's okay to say I don't know, it's not

1384
02:06:36,720 --> 02:06:39,440
in scope, but it requires for analysis. It's okay.

1385
02:06:41,590 --> 02:06:43,070
I can't speak to all the

1386
02:06:43,070 --> 02:06:47,270
viability, but I think for future projects, if there is a, you know, if

1387
02:06:47,270 --> 02:06:50,490
there, this is approved and there is a fee, that will have to get

1388
02:06:50,490 --> 02:06:56,070
factored into project performance, which in turn would likely show that

1389
02:06:56,070 --> 02:06:59,690
projects need additional public subsidy, whether that's from the city or other.

1390
02:07:00,000 --> 02:07:01,440
Other funding agencies.

1391
02:07:04,340 --> 02:07:11,160
Yeah, so it would factor in, but they would be able to factor that in, I think, before making any bias.

1392
02:07:11,160 --> 02:07:17,040
So maybe not remove it as a viable option, but make it a little harder because of financial performance.

1393
02:07:17,260 --> 02:07:17,460
Potentially, yeah.

1394
02:07:18,880 --> 02:07:25,760
On a pivot to TEFRA, I mean, we've had as a council been brought items for TEFRA financing on affordable housing,

1395
02:07:25,760 --> 02:07:34,380
Not only on new construction, but also on major repairs like the Woodside Fire and the taxes on financing mechanism.

1396
02:07:35,740 --> 02:07:44,320
Would this proposed initiative affect Tafra or Tafra consideration of financing projects in Redwood City?

1397
02:07:46,970 --> 02:07:53,190
I will say we have not researched that question, so I don't have an answer for you for that.

1398
02:07:53,190 --> 02:07:59,550
Because if I recall correctly, one of the properties on Woodside Road, the major, I think it was Hallmark House.

1399
02:08:06,120 --> 02:08:18,380
That was a pre-1995 building. And would that count as pre-1995 in its renovated state or post-1995?

1400
02:08:23,240 --> 02:08:31,120
That is a good question. I don't know if any of our legal counsel knows how costa-huggins it's based on when you got a certificate of occupancy.

1401
02:08:31,120 --> 02:08:37,600
So I don't know if the new certificate of occupancy post-renovation completion, if that

1402
02:08:37,600 --> 02:08:41,160
would be considered the first, or if the original certificate of occupancy.

1403
02:08:41,820 --> 02:08:43,360
Okay, I guess further start.

1404
02:08:44,060 --> 02:08:45,340
Sorry, excuse me.

1405
02:08:45,620 --> 02:08:45,760
Go ahead.

1406
02:08:46,200 --> 02:08:48,660
There's a series of cases on this.

1407
02:08:49,280 --> 02:08:53,700
The courts actually looked to when it was first used for residential purposes as opposed

1408
02:08:53,700 --> 02:08:58,960
to if a new certificate of occupancy is issued after renovation.

1409
02:08:58,960 --> 02:08:59,280
Thank you very much for your time, and I'll see you in the next presentation.

1410
02:09:00,530 --> 02:09:08,150
So in your example, yes, the units would be covered if they were occupied residential units before 95.

1411
02:09:08,570 --> 02:09:10,910
Which they were in the case of the Hallmark House.

1412
02:09:11,490 --> 02:09:17,770
As well as the other unit across the street that burned down or was severely damaged by fire.

1413
02:09:18,490 --> 02:09:24,110
So in both cases, they would be covered as pre-1995. Karen, thank you.

1414
02:09:25,580 --> 02:09:32,560
Jason, I'm trying to reconcile a couple things here with the initiative saying no city funds

1415
02:09:32,560 --> 02:09:43,800
are to be used, but in the report it says there's start-up fees, there's an administration

1416
02:09:44,840 --> 02:09:51,800
rate of $120 or 84 two tiers, I think your report says substantially below the level

1417
02:09:51,800 --> 02:09:59,960
needed to cover the estimated midpoint program cost and it further goes that the city would

1418
02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:06,140
We'd likely further incur additional administrative expenses not captured in this analysis, including

1419
02:10:06,140 --> 02:10:11,200
staff recruitment, onboarding, and long-term obligations such as pension liabilities.

1420
02:10:12,480 --> 02:10:20,480
So how do I reconcile no-city funds with what you found in the report, as well as the additional

1421
02:10:20,480 --> 02:10:24,400
costs for office space and all the other things?

1422
02:10:24,400 --> 02:10:34,280
How do I say no city fees, or no city general funds, but yet these expenses and real costs

1423
02:10:34,280 --> 02:10:35,520
are included and captured?

1424
02:10:37,130 --> 02:10:45,340
The ordinance does say the city may front fees, and so my look to our finance director

1425
02:10:45,340 --> 02:10:50,660
to explain how this works, but my understanding is we would be able to essentially loan the

1426
02:10:50,660 --> 02:10:53,560
program money from a different fund that would eventually

1427
02:10:53,560 --> 02:10:57,240
need to be repaid back through an inner fund transfer.

1428
02:10:58,100 --> 02:10:59,860
And I'm not probably explaining this quite.

1429
02:11:00,000 --> 02:11:05,520
Accurately, but there is a mechanism where we can front fees up front to implement the program

1430
02:11:05,520 --> 02:11:08,380
and then they would need to be, I believe, repaid by the fees.

1431
02:11:08,900 --> 02:11:15,520
And I know our finance director here is that loan, interest free? Or would you apply internal

1432
02:11:15,520 --> 02:11:17,220
interest to the internal borrowing?

1433
02:11:22,760 --> 02:11:32,460
That is a very good question. So in trying to digest the terms of this, there's a question

1434
02:11:32,460 --> 02:11:40,440
of the start-up fees and whether the start-up fees could be fronted by the city and whether

1435
02:11:40,440 --> 02:11:47,660
that would need to be paid back or not. The language is a little bit unclear. But whether

1436
02:11:47,660 --> 02:11:58,800
it would need to be paid back or not, the challenge is that we, the ordinance contemplates

1437
02:11:58,800 --> 02:11:59,780
it's not using the general

1438
02:12:00,000 --> 02:12:08,160
Fund. But we can't use our other funds either because our other funds are restricted. So if

1439
02:12:08,160 --> 02:12:16,760
we are in a situation where the fees aren't enough to cover the program costs either from

1440
02:12:16,760 --> 02:12:23,260
a startup perspective or on an ongoing basis, we would be in a little bit of a pickle,

1441
02:12:27,120 --> 02:12:27,120
if

1442
02:12:27,120 --> 02:12:33,640
of how you would fund that because of the one source that has the flexibility to do that.

1443
02:12:33,840 --> 02:12:42,720
And I'm not saying we have the financial flexibility, but the legal, the fungibility to do that is the general fund.

1444
02:12:43,400 --> 02:12:49,300
But yet, we're not allowed to use the general fund, so it becomes a little bit of a chicken and egg thing.

1445
02:12:49,300 --> 02:12:54,640
And so that's something that we would have to grapple with.

1446
02:12:55,160 --> 02:12:58,460
And do you scale the program back or not?

1447
02:12:59,000 --> 02:12:59,980
And a lot of the time, you know,

1448
02:13:00,000 --> 02:13:05,500
This starts to happen in real time, so it does potentially present an administrative and

1449
02:13:05,500 --> 02:13:06,480
financial challenge.

1450
02:13:08,220 --> 02:13:13,100
Beth, thank you for answering that, because I couldn't reconcile no general funds, but

1451
02:13:13,100 --> 02:13:19,580
not all costs are included. We've worked really hard, not just this council, but prior councils,

1452
02:13:19,760 --> 02:13:25,720
to manage our unfunded pension liabilities, and that's not even included in this analysis

1453
02:13:25,720 --> 02:13:27,240
or in the fee.

1454
02:13:28,060 --> 02:13:29,620
Did I read that correctly?

1455
02:13:30,880 --> 02:13:35,140
I can't speak to that personally based on my review,

1456
02:13:35,340 --> 02:13:38,820
but it would certainly be something we would want to consider.

1457
02:13:39,820 --> 02:13:43,880
I think the EPS report says it explicitly that it does not include

1458
02:13:43,880 --> 02:13:46,160
potential long-term pension liabilities.

1459
02:13:46,420 --> 02:13:48,780
Did I read that correctly, Jason?

1460
02:13:51,050 --> 02:13:51,930
Yeah, that's correct.

1461
02:13:51,930 --> 02:13:59,970
We did a very quick calculation of the potential cost and to the extent that the wardens is

1462
02:14:00,000 --> 02:14:05,040
Approved or the measure is approved. There would need to be a more detailed analysis to

1463
02:14:05,040 --> 02:14:10,340
get a fully loaded cost and not a midpoint but an actual estimate.

1464
02:14:11,480 --> 02:14:20,400
I mean, I know tonight's budget night, I mean, to just maybe what if is really hard when we

1465
02:14:20,400 --> 02:14:27,300
get to the budget conversation next and the agenda, we see declining revenues and long-term

1466
02:14:27,300 --> 02:14:35,780
deficits pending any proactive action by this council. And so that's why I'm just struggling

1467
02:14:35,780 --> 02:14:42,480
and reconciling it. And to say there's no claim on general fund, yet long-term pension

1468
02:14:42,480 --> 02:14:47,300
liabilities aren't there. It's not fully loaded. And another big question is if there's

1469
02:14:47,300 --> 02:14:52,480
any litigation on this, who pays for the litigation? Is it the proponents?

1470
02:14:56,920 --> 02:14:58,480
The city would pay for it.

1471
02:14:58,480 --> 02:14:59,840
and where's this

1472
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:06,900
City money from that. It will be from the general fund. So is it inaccurate to say there's no general

1473
02:15:06,900 --> 02:15:15,560
fund commitment? I think this ordinance really presents a math problem for the city in that

1474
02:15:15,560 --> 02:15:26,540
we cannot use, we cannot use general fund for the enforcement of the program or the regulation

1475
02:15:26,540 --> 02:15:34,840
of the program but we also if this were to be adopted and the ordinance were to

1476
02:15:34,840 --> 02:15:40,060
be challenged the city would need to defend that and of course we wouldn't

1477
02:15:40,060 --> 02:15:44,760
have any fees yet that we have collected so it will have to be the

1478
02:15:44,760 --> 02:15:49,500
city's general fund that will pay for the defense of this it's one of those

1479
02:15:49,500 --> 02:15:54,680
awkward things that when we've talked about it we can talk about how we how

1480
02:15:54,680 --> 02:15:59,780
the city and it by the way the ordinance provides that the program and staff to enforce

1481
02:16:00,000 --> 02:16:05,580
This ordinance shall be funded only by the rental housing fee and not from the city's

1482
02:16:05,580 --> 02:16:10,800
general fund, which I read to you earlier. It does follow with, however, the city shall

1483
02:16:10,800 --> 02:16:16,320
fund any necessary funds until the city has collected such fees. And so I really do believe

1484
02:16:16,320 --> 02:16:21,100
that the general fund is going to fund all of the start-up costs at any litigation

1485
02:16:21,100 --> 02:16:25,800
that may ensue until fees start getting collected.

1486
02:16:25,800 --> 02:16:34,060
Thank you Veronica. That kind of segues into a follow-up question to Council

1487
02:16:34,060 --> 02:16:40,560
member Sturkin's question earlier. This is a, this is potentially a voter

1488
02:16:40,560 --> 02:16:47,800
approved ordinance. And I've heard stories that the proponents of this

1489
02:16:47,800 --> 02:16:55,020
ordinance may be negotiating a proposed implementation plan to either reduce or

1490
02:16:55,020 --> 02:16:59,340
exempt affordable housing providers from some of the requirements of the ordinance.

1491
02:17:01,650 --> 02:17:09,250
Can that happen? Or can staff change it? Or can council change it? Because this potentially is going to be approved by the voters.

1492
02:17:12,390 --> 02:17:20,730
And even if the council were to decide to adopt this ordinance in lieu of sending it to the electors or to the voters,

1493
02:17:21,170 --> 02:17:30,050
we would still be under the same limitations on the fact that the city council cannot amend this ordinance without sending it back to the voters.

1494
02:17:30,050 --> 02:17:34,870
So it doesn't matter whether it's adopted by the council or it's sent to the

1495
02:17:34,870 --> 02:17:41,490
voters and I understand that maybe there's been statements made but based on

1496
02:17:41,490 --> 02:17:48,470
this language's limitations we really do need to ensure that should there be any

1497
02:17:48,470 --> 02:17:52,010
waivers or reductions in fees by the affordable house for the affordable

1498
02:18:00,000 --> 02:18:04,340
We need to find a way and we're really limited based on what the ordinance says, so I don't

1499
02:18:04,340 --> 02:18:10,860
see how that can be done, but like I mentioned to Mr. Sturkin, to Councilmember Sturkin, it's

1500
02:18:10,860 --> 02:18:14,820
something that we would assess along when we do the fee analysis.

1501
02:18:17,200 --> 02:18:19,400
I just have a question about that question.

1502
02:18:21,440 --> 02:18:24,840
We cannot change this ordinance in any way.

1503
02:18:24,840 --> 02:18:25,760
Is that correct?

1504
02:18:26,260 --> 02:18:33,200
The 4,000 people that signed the petition signed the specific ordinance.

1505
02:18:34,640 --> 02:18:41,420
So we can't just will and nilly choose what we decide to keep or they can't willy nilly

1506
02:18:41,420 --> 02:18:45,360
decide to change it in any way, correct?

1507
02:18:45,840 --> 02:18:46,540
That is correct.

1508
02:18:46,540 --> 02:18:55,580
The ordinance is either the way it is right now forever and becomes law or it doesn't.

1509
02:18:55,780 --> 02:18:57,220
But we can't pick and choose.

1510
02:18:58,260 --> 02:18:59,200
Is that right?

1511
02:19:00,000 --> 02:19:07,340
That is correct. The ordinance gets adopted as is and remains unless and until it is amended

1512
02:19:07,340 --> 02:19:08,360
by the voters again.

1513
02:19:09,400 --> 02:19:15,080
Okay, so Mr. Gee, maybe I didn't understand the question. You were saying there's some

1514
02:19:15,080 --> 02:19:22,260
rumor that affordable housing people are going to be exempted, but I'm hearing from the

1515
02:19:22,260 --> 02:19:24,180
city attorney that's impossible.

1516
02:19:24,180 --> 02:19:28,080
So that doesn't mean that they're not trying.

1517
02:19:29,500 --> 02:19:34,360
I'm just trying to understand the boundaries of what is going on.

1518
02:19:34,520 --> 02:19:38,480
I mean, we were given, you know, an implementation plan,

1519
02:19:38,760 --> 02:19:44,460
and I've been hearing stories that the proponents and the affordable housing

1520
02:19:44,460 --> 02:19:47,540
or the proponents are trying to negotiate exemptions

1521
02:19:47,540 --> 02:19:51,480
or reduce fees for affordable housing providers

1522
02:19:51,480 --> 02:19:56,720
that are not allowed in the initiative for council.

1523
02:19:57,980 --> 02:19:59,720
And so that's the part I'm trying to...

1524
02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:06,780
We can't change it. Any changes to the initiative require voter approval. You can't do it in the

1525
02:20:06,780 --> 02:20:14,320
back room. You can't do it in the implementation plan. If we wanted to exempt affordable, nonprofit

1526
02:20:14,320 --> 02:20:19,320
affordable housing providers, it would have to go back before the voters. We can't do

1527
02:20:19,320 --> 02:20:24,840
that. Staff can't do it and the proponents can't do it. As you indicated, it's what's

1528
02:20:24,840 --> 02:20:28,380
in front of us. We can't change it. Did I say that fairly correctly?

1529
02:20:28,380 --> 02:20:36,140
That is correct. There are places where, and this ordinance is an example of it too, there are places where the ordinance doesn't speak to something.

1530
02:20:36,440 --> 02:20:43,300
And so the city could fill in where there's, you know, where something is not covered.

1531
02:20:43,720 --> 02:20:52,860
But we definitely anything we do in an implementation or in the program would need to be consistent with the ordinance and its limitations.

1532
02:20:54,080 --> 02:20:59,980
And again, the ordinance's limitation provides that this program will be funded only by the

1533
02:21:00,000 --> 02:21:02,980
By the rental housing fee and not general fund.

1534
02:21:05,000 --> 02:21:15,560
Senator, thank you for that. I want to follow up one more thing that you shared is that when we talk about differential fees, I mean to me this is sort of like our utility fees.

1535
02:21:16,240 --> 02:21:22,300
And I believe the voters passed the state law that certain users are not allowed to subsidize other users.

1536
02:21:22,300 --> 02:21:29,960
So are we walking into that state law also that a two-unit provider can't be subsidized

1537
02:21:29,960 --> 02:21:32,100
by an eight-unit provider and there are fees?

1538
02:21:34,700 --> 02:21:39,280
That's exactly what the fee analysis would need to determine for us and why I said that

1539
02:21:39,280 --> 02:21:41,460
we can't definitively answer this.

1540
02:21:42,200 --> 02:21:47,200
But any study we do on determining what the fee is will need to ensure that we don't

1541
02:21:47,200 --> 02:21:52,480
disproportionately impact one type of housing provider as a result.

1542
02:21:52,980 --> 02:21:53,720
Great, thank you.

1543
02:21:54,760 --> 02:21:59,820
And then as we heard and received, we had a lot of questions from different organizations.

1544
02:22:00,000 --> 02:22:09,320
Are we able to answer those questions tonight? HLC, Housing Leadership Council, SAMSEDA, Chamber,

1545
02:22:10,680 --> 02:22:15,280
California Department Association, SAMCAR. There's a whole bunch of questions. Do we have answers

1546
02:22:15,280 --> 02:22:16,500
for all those questions tonight?

1547
02:22:19,890 --> 02:22:26,870
No, we're not able to answer those tonight. In depth. I think we've answered a couple

1548
02:22:26,870 --> 02:22:27,230
of them.

1549
02:22:27,410 --> 02:22:27,830
You answered a couple.

1550
02:22:28,030 --> 02:22:32,530
Yeah, but not. We get into HUD vouchers and how those would be, which is a vital

1551
02:22:32,530 --> 02:22:37,850
resource for funding new for housing so no I think those would be in my opening

1552
02:22:37,850 --> 02:22:41,470
remarks that I talked about a potential information coming back we'd like to

1553
02:22:41,470 --> 02:22:45,470
delve into that we've been focused on just trying to get agendized some of the

1554
02:22:45,470 --> 02:22:48,490
way where you it's not excuses but some of those questions are really nuanced

1555
02:22:48,490 --> 02:22:52,310
into weeds on how pro forma would work in operating budget that deserve to be

1556
02:22:52,310 --> 02:22:57,050
answered well and the HUD vouchers section a I mean we don't we don't

1557
02:22:57,050 --> 02:22:58,270
control those, the requirements.

1558
02:22:58,510 --> 02:22:59,230
Those are...

1559
02:23:00,000 --> 02:23:04,760
Mandated from Yon High. And we can't change those requirements.

1560
02:23:05,980 --> 02:23:11,420
Correct. To keep in mind any development that has HUD vouchers already has a previously recorded restriction.

1561
02:23:11,740 --> 02:23:17,500
And I don't know how that would play, you know, a restriction that obligates certain repayment obligations and whatnot.

1562
02:23:18,100 --> 02:23:22,360
And it gets into some of the questions you talked about earlier on how an underwriter could underwrite a deal like that.

1563
02:23:23,040 --> 02:23:26,440
I'm not sure there's somebody in D.C. that says, oh, we're fine, you know, with this.

1564
02:23:26,440 --> 02:23:30,560
because keep in mind any local payment that doesn't go to the project goes away from current

1565
02:23:30,560 --> 02:23:31,120
debt service.

1566
02:23:35,800 --> 02:23:36,360
Thank you.

1567
02:23:36,500 --> 02:23:37,020
Thank you, Patrick.

1568
02:23:37,300 --> 02:23:46,080
And then, Elin, there's one additional question that you talked about on your Slide 17 about

1569
02:23:46,080 --> 02:23:46,680
implementation.

1570
02:23:48,640 --> 02:23:53,320
And you talked about if this were to be approved by council or the voters,

1571
02:23:55,800 --> 02:23:56,140
I think

1572
02:23:56,140 --> 02:23:59,860
to use the term deprioritize other city.

1573
02:24:09,950 --> 02:24:16,690
We have two things there. One is, what do we have to not do if this were to be approved?

1574
02:24:17,890 --> 02:24:25,390
And two, are there any penalties if we don't implement fully the ordinance as written within the 10 days?

1575
02:24:28,660 --> 02:24:35,040
I will say we've not done a deep dive into this, but I think anything that is not mandated for the ordinance

1576
02:24:35,040 --> 02:24:37,540
like the housing division at the state or federal level,

1577
02:24:37,700 --> 02:24:41,480
we would basically need to drop to start working on this.

1578
02:24:42,340 --> 02:24:44,300
I imagine staff from other departments,

1579
02:24:44,440 --> 02:24:45,640
such as city attorney's office,

1580
02:24:46,300 --> 02:24:49,680
revenue services would also need to deprioritize work

1581
02:24:49,680 --> 02:24:51,840
to get the proposed fees in place

1582
02:24:52,980 --> 02:24:54,600
and do anything like that.

1583
02:24:55,260 --> 02:24:56,740
In terms of what are the consequences

1584
02:24:56,740 --> 02:24:59,520
if we don't have a fully implemented ordinance

1585
02:25:01,500 --> 02:25:08,520
I don't know if I have a great answer to that, and I don't know if any of our attorney's

1586
02:25:08,520 --> 02:25:15,840
staff have any answers, but that would be incredibly difficult to do, to have something fully up

1587
02:25:15,840 --> 02:25:16,800
and running in ten days.

1588
02:25:18,820 --> 02:25:26,260
If I may add, really a huge burden beyond human resources. We don't have any job classifications.

1589
02:25:26,260 --> 02:25:27,520
We would have to start from scratch.

1590
02:25:27,860 --> 02:25:30,840
We would have to, you know, rent controls are completely different.

1591
02:25:30,980 --> 02:25:31,820
You can't just say analysts.

1592
02:25:32,080 --> 02:25:34,320
It's a completely different skill sets.

1593
02:25:34,420 --> 02:25:38,000
Keep in mind every single job description must come before the city council, you know,

1594
02:25:38,220 --> 02:25:39,280
per the charter.

1595
02:25:40,000 --> 02:25:42,400
So as Alynn mentioned, it wouldn't just be the housing department.

1596
02:25:42,740 --> 02:25:44,860
That housing division, we could shift those responsibilities.

1597
02:25:45,480 --> 02:25:50,400
I do think it would be a big initial burden on human resources who's currently actively recruiting

1598
02:25:50,400 --> 02:25:53,360
for, you know, police and fire and all other positions.

1599
02:25:53,360 --> 02:25:55,020
But we have never started that work.

1600
02:25:55,020 --> 02:25:56,560
So we'd have to embark on that process.

1601
02:25:56,840 --> 02:25:59,720
I see that really as the longest, you know, really

1602
02:25:59,720 --> 02:25:59,980
leaping forward.

1603
02:26:00,000 --> 02:26:04,640
And then recruiting positions, and there's not a lot of folks out there with said experience.

1604
02:26:05,000 --> 02:26:11,720
So I think it would really be the human resources component of it and then legal, any aspects on that.

1605
02:26:12,700 --> 02:26:21,320
Patrick, thank you. So Jason, is that considered the HR recruitment job descriptions coming to council for approval part of the start-up costs?

1606
02:26:22,860 --> 02:26:26,660
Or is that in addition to the start-up costs that you identified in your report?

1607
02:26:28,020 --> 02:26:31,540
That would probably be in addition to the startup costs that we included in our report.

1608
02:26:32,600 --> 02:26:38,080
Thank you. I do have some comments, but I'll reserve my comments till later.

1609
02:26:38,180 --> 02:26:42,900
But I thank Mayor, you and my colleagues for indulging me in these questions.

1610
02:26:43,040 --> 02:26:48,140
These are important questions, I think, that we're in four days of trying to figure this out,

1611
02:26:48,400 --> 02:26:49,500
trying to figure it out still.

1612
02:26:49,920 --> 02:26:51,920
And so thank you, colleagues, for the time.

1613
02:26:52,080 --> 02:26:52,780
And Mayor, thank you.

1614
02:26:55,100 --> 02:26:59,820
Thank you councilmember G for the questions and we'll open it up to my

1615
02:26:59,820 --> 02:26:59,960
colleagues.

1616
02:27:00,000 --> 02:27:02,660
Colleagues again, who would like to go next?

1617
02:27:05,920 --> 02:27:06,720
Council Member Howard.

1618
02:27:07,520 --> 02:27:16,240
Thank you. I'd like to thank, first of all, I want to thank the community here. I really appreciate you showing up and speaking up.

1619
02:27:17,360 --> 02:27:26,440
This is such an important topic and we have many different opinions in the room, but I want to thank you all for having the courage to speak up and let us know how you feel.

1620
02:27:27,900 --> 02:27:33,700
As Council Member G said, we did not have a great deal of time to analyze this and there

1621
02:27:33,700 --> 02:27:40,160
are so many questions, just the Housing Leadership Council sent us a list of questions just today

1622
02:27:40,160 --> 02:27:45,700
and I can't answer one of them to be honest with you and I'm sure most of us can't because

1623
02:27:45,700 --> 02:27:47,700
we haven't had a chance to do that analysis.

1624
02:27:48,860 --> 02:27:56,020
But I did want to ask, I think Council Member G has asked very thorough, he's had a

1625
02:27:56,020 --> 02:27:59,740
very thorough questioning and questions I hadn't thought about.

1626
02:28:00,000 --> 02:28:04,980
So I can't think of an additional question, but what I did want to know is I believe in

1627
02:28:04,980 --> 02:28:12,620
the report we received from Faith in Action, it did have forms suggested if you wanted to

1628
02:28:13,260 --> 02:28:18,200
give someone a waiver or an exemption, a non-profit, for instance. There were a number of forms

1629
02:28:18,200 --> 02:28:24,700
there. They were suggesting that we could utilize if, in fact, this passed and a non-profit

1630
02:28:24,700 --> 02:28:32,280
it was impacted. But what I'm hearing is that may not be legally possible. Now, I think

1631
02:28:32,280 --> 02:28:37,960
that's important to know because if faith in action believes it is possible, I think

1632
02:28:37,960 --> 02:28:43,680
we need to find out if it's not possible, that needs to be told to the public that

1633
02:28:43,680 --> 02:28:48,940
if this passes, that means non-profits, and we have many of them in our community

1634
02:28:48,940 --> 02:28:55,900
or doing an admirable job supplying affordable housing and have plans to do much more, they

1635
02:28:55,900 --> 02:28:59,480
need to know and have some certainty on where they stand.

1636
02:29:00,000 --> 02:29:05,900
So would I ask you, the city attorney, would I ask you that question? Are those forms meaningful?

1637
02:29:06,360 --> 02:29:08,380
Are they legal?

1638
02:29:08,900 --> 02:29:13,360
So I understand, I think you're talking about the packet that Faith in Action might have given

1639
02:29:13,360 --> 02:29:17,020
staff a few weeks ago. Is that accurate, Elaine?

1640
02:29:17,300 --> 02:29:17,620
Yes.

1641
02:29:17,800 --> 02:29:17,960
Okay.

1642
02:29:18,300 --> 02:29:18,560
Yes.

1643
02:29:18,880 --> 02:29:27,960
And so I can't definitively answer that. I understand that those forms were provided

1644
02:29:27,960 --> 02:29:36,180
to the city to city staff a bit ago and if the city's fee analysis were to

1645
02:29:36,180 --> 02:29:44,920
conclude that the waiver or exemption of some of these fees for affordable

1646
02:29:44,920 --> 02:29:52,540
housing units would not disproportionately impact the other

1647
02:29:52,540 --> 02:29:56,040
providers, then maybe we could.

1648
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:05,040
We have to rely on a conclusion like that, and I can't give you that conclusion without the analysis

1649
02:30:06,020 --> 02:30:12,260
because typically you've heard us say, oh, well, if you want to provide some type of subsidy,

1650
02:30:12,960 --> 02:30:19,020
you'll use your general fund. And so then I could tell you there are ways that you could do it.

1651
02:30:19,260 --> 02:30:24,240
Here we'd have to do this analysis in order to determine whether this can be done without

1652
02:30:25,100 --> 02:30:30,640
impacting negatively the other landlords and without utilizing the city's general

1653
02:30:30,640 --> 02:30:34,320
fund. So it really does depend on what that analysis shows.

1654
02:30:36,530 --> 02:30:37,770
I would find it so

1655
02:30:37,770 --> 02:30:43,050
hard to believe that it wouldn't impact. Well, but I don't have the the

1656
02:30:43,050 --> 02:30:46,950
information to prove that, but I would find it real difficult to believe. That

1657
02:30:46,950 --> 02:30:50,790
is my concern, but I just can't definitively tell you that. Exactly.

1658
02:30:50,790 --> 02:30:57,390
Exactly. And I also have a concern that, I mean, we are talking budget tonight.

1659
02:30:58,050 --> 02:30:59,970
Our general fund is not an unlimited fund.

1660
02:31:06,840 --> 02:31:14,340
We're still facing a looming deficit. So I have great concerns about how we're going to do this.

1661
02:31:14,740 --> 02:31:21,180
So I think these questions are excellent questions because you don't want to go in blindly as we go forward.

1662
02:31:22,020 --> 02:31:27,880
But thank you. I appreciate everybody's good intentions in trying to answer these questions.

1663
02:31:30,840 --> 02:31:32,020
Thank you, Council Member.

1664
02:31:33,420 --> 02:31:35,560
colleagues, any other questions?

1665
02:31:42,780 --> 02:31:46,860
We do have a lot more meeting to get through, so if anyone

1666
02:31:46,860 --> 02:31:48,300
feels brave, it'd be appreciated.

1667
02:31:49,540 --> 02:31:51,000
We're just doing questions or comments.

1668
02:31:51,620 --> 02:31:53,200
We can do questions and then comments later.

1669
02:31:53,620 --> 02:31:57,780
Oh, okay. All right. I do have a question. Let me just, sorry, my notes are a little

1670
02:31:57,780 --> 02:31:58,580
bit scrambled here.

1671
02:32:06,000 --> 02:32:18,560
I had a question, just how many, when I was reading this, how many opportunities for appeals

1672
02:32:18,560 --> 02:32:27,960
and hearings are there for landlords and tenants in this and who absorbs those costs?

1673
02:32:29,660 --> 02:32:37,060
So, processing any petitions or appeals would be administered by the city and so those costs,

1674
02:32:37,120 --> 02:32:41,120
as we've been discussing, would be paid through the fees imposed on landlords.

1675
02:32:42,440 --> 02:32:43,340
I believe I have.

1676
02:32:47,780 --> 02:32:53,360
We would process appeals for, and I'm trying to find my list here.

1677
02:32:55,860 --> 02:32:59,980
Tenant safety plans, so we are required to approve them.

1678
02:33:00,000 --> 02:33:05,620
And then if there's an appeal of that, we would process petitions for either rent increases

1679
02:33:05,620 --> 02:33:13,240
or decreases. We would process appeals for any relocation assistance eligibility requirements.

1680
02:33:14,760 --> 02:33:18,980
I think those are the three petitions and appeals.

1681
02:33:19,120 --> 02:33:24,000
So there's maybe three buckets for appeals. And then is there a limit to how many times

1682
02:33:24,000 --> 02:33:33,360
one can appeal. I didn't see that in the proposal. Can a landlord or tenant run out of appeals?

1683
02:33:33,560 --> 02:33:37,840
Can you exhaust them or can I keep challenging it? How does that process look?

1684
02:33:39,060 --> 02:33:47,160
I believe in rent increases you could petition annually to increase the rent above what the

1685
02:33:47,160 --> 02:33:52,880
the ordinance prescribes. In terms of, is there an appeal after an appeal? After an appeal,

1686
02:33:53,500 --> 02:33:58,820
I would need to double check that. But I think there is an end date. Typically, as it's described,

1687
02:33:59,060 --> 02:33:59,960
there is a here.

1688
02:34:00,000 --> 02:34:06,100
Hearing officer component, and so I do believe that hearing officer's decision would be final.

1689
02:34:07,540 --> 02:34:09,800
But I know everyone's double checking this.

1690
02:34:10,200 --> 02:34:17,160
Okay, it would be interesting to know, just with cost, I know that all of those have a number assigned to them.

1691
02:34:17,300 --> 02:34:20,500
So if you guys could get back, that would be information I would like to have.

1692
02:34:20,860 --> 02:34:21,840
Thanks. That's it for now.

1693
02:34:23,720 --> 02:34:26,340
Thank you, Council Member. We'll go to Council Member Strickland.

1694
02:34:26,340 --> 02:34:31,320
Thank you, Mayor. Just a quick follow-up on that. On page, I think 39 of the proposed ordinance.

1695
02:34:31,660 --> 02:34:35,640
So who appoints the hearing examiner?

1696
02:34:37,260 --> 02:34:43,420
And how does it compare to the examiner, if you will, for the TPO that we already adopted?

1697
02:34:48,600 --> 02:34:54,400
So this hearing examiner, I think this is one of those where the ordinance is silent.

1698
02:34:54,580 --> 02:34:56,760
We can develop our own rules and regulations.

1699
02:34:57,260 --> 02:34:59,660
The city would need to go through a program.

1700
02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:05,440
You know, requests for qualifications or requests for proposals from potential hearing examiners

1701
02:35:06,100 --> 02:35:11,700
and they would be selected. While we do have under contract a hearing officer right now,

1702
02:35:12,140 --> 02:35:17,960
they're under contract specifically for implementing our tenant protection ordinance. So we would

1703
02:35:17,960 --> 02:35:22,920
still need to go through some kind of procurement process to find hearing officers specifically

1704
02:35:22,920 --> 02:35:24,500
to implement this.

1705
02:35:24,500 --> 02:35:25,440
But

1706
02:35:28,700 --> 02:35:34,720
hearing that we have that kind of flexibility because the ordinance is somewhat silent.

1707
02:35:34,900 --> 02:35:41,520
I think you said on the specifics of the hearing examiner, who they are, who hires, I mean,

1708
02:35:42,080 --> 02:35:51,160
so we can ensure that that person is unbiased, objective, can be an objective third party

1709
02:35:51,160 --> 02:35:56,120
and kind of believing maybe any concerns or might be on the part of any

1710
02:35:56,120 --> 02:35:59,780
landlord or tenant about the...

1711
02:36:00,000 --> 02:36:02,800
Conclusion of their hearing. Right.

1712
02:36:03,680 --> 02:36:08,300
That's correct. That's usually, that's what we ask of a hearing examiner or a hearing officer.

1713
02:36:08,980 --> 02:36:18,060
And I'm still trying to answer Councilmember Badia's question because there are three opportunities for challenging a decision.

1714
02:36:18,620 --> 02:36:25,360
And there is, as Councilmember Sturkin referred to Section 39 for the petitions,

1715
02:36:26,360 --> 02:36:40,480
There is an opportunity for the hearing examiner to look at the record and make a determination and even that decision can be appealed and it's the City Council that is the final appeal body at least in that case.

1716
02:36:40,760 --> 02:36:41,380
So then there's even more.

1717
02:36:41,540 --> 02:36:44,940
So then there's another, then it comes to the next.

1718
02:36:45,520 --> 02:36:50,720
would probably be legal challenge if they weren't satisfied with the council determination.

1719
02:36:51,240 --> 02:36:54,720
But at least in that instance, and I haven't been able to come through that,

1720
02:36:54,820 --> 02:36:59,760
I know there's a couple of other options. I don't know if Deputy City Attorney Lolita Fernandez...

1721
02:37:00,640 --> 02:37:07,440
You are correct about that. The page 42 has the appeal section in there that applies to

1722
02:37:07,440 --> 02:37:13,480
all hearing procedures for hearings and appeals altogether, so it would go to the city council

1723
02:37:13,480 --> 02:37:18,700
for appeal, and if there are no appeals in that, the hearing examiner's decision would

1724
02:37:18,700 --> 02:37:22,700
be final, and then there's a judicial review if they're not, if they're agreed by the

1725
02:37:22,700 --> 02:37:22,920
action.

1726
02:37:35,920 --> 02:37:42,280
I want to thank everyone that came out today, both people that live in Redwood City and people

1727
02:37:42,280 --> 02:37:47,320
that live adjacent to Redwood City and people that live far away from Redwood City, across

1728
02:37:47,320 --> 02:37:48,340
the bay and so forth.

1729
02:37:49,020 --> 02:37:56,520
Thank you all for coming, and I also want to thank my colleagues for asking such probing

1730
02:37:56,520 --> 02:37:59,580
questions and for this.

1731
02:38:03,530 --> 02:38:17,790
So, city attorney, I've already asked this, but let me just ask it again. 4,000 Redwood City residents said they wanted this initiative put on the ballot.

1732
02:38:19,190 --> 02:38:25,630
Can we decide tonight based on all these concerns that have been expressed and all this uncertainty,

1733
02:38:26,250 --> 02:38:30,890
do we have the option to say to vote no, we won't put it on the ballot?

1734
02:38:35,420 --> 02:38:45,100
So under the elections code, the city council is required to consider the petition at the next regular meeting

1735
02:38:45,100 --> 02:38:48,600
after the petition has been certified as sufficient.

1736
02:38:48,600 --> 02:38:52,120
The petition has now been certified as sufficient

1737
02:38:52,120 --> 02:38:55,060
and so that's why it's here before the City Council.

1738
02:38:55,760 --> 02:38:59,760
Typically you have three options at

1739
02:39:00,000 --> 02:39:13,080
This council meeting. One is to adopt the ordinance without any changes. A second is to call an election

1740
02:39:13,080 --> 02:39:26,140
and submit this initiative measure to the voters. And then a third is to order a 9212 report is what

1741
02:39:26,140 --> 02:39:33,980
we call it, which is a report that Ms. Lane-Caster had kind of laid out what those elements were

1742
02:39:33,980 --> 02:39:38,320
and that staff has already provided preliminarily to the council.

1743
02:39:39,360 --> 02:39:44,760
So those are typically the only three actions that can be taken for a council.

1744
02:39:45,360 --> 02:39:52,200
If you find the 9212 report that the staff has brought forward, then you're left with

1745
02:39:52,200 --> 02:39:56,060
the determination, do you adopt the ordinance outright?

1746
02:39:56,280 --> 02:39:58,460
And you heard some public commenters asking

1747
02:39:58,460 --> 02:39:59,620
that the council do that.

1748
02:40:00,340 --> 02:40:05,920
Or submit the measure to the voters. So that's what's before you tonight.

1749
02:40:07,400 --> 02:40:14,380
Thank you so much. And one of the reasons that I ask that is, as the mayor referenced, we have

1750
02:40:14,380 --> 02:40:25,540
a full agenda tonight. We have four other pressing matters. And so I think we've identified a

1751
02:40:25,540 --> 02:40:36,060
of ambiguities and a lot of questions that are unanswered or but it kind of

1752
02:40:36,060 --> 02:40:43,270
doesn't matter I mean we either we either put it on the ballot for November we

1753
02:40:43,270 --> 02:40:47,410
either vote to put it on the ballot for November or we vote to adopt it

1754
02:40:47,410 --> 02:40:53,740
tonight those are our two options is that correct and the third one is to

1755
02:40:53,740 --> 02:40:58,260
order that the 9212 report which we did and that's what we've been

1756
02:40:58,260 --> 02:40:59,920
and discussing for the last two hours.

1757
02:41:00,000 --> 02:41:09,460
The rules and regulations that would implement the ordinance.

1758
02:41:10,280 --> 02:41:20,740
So the 9212 report is an analysis that provides information on the impacts of the ordinance.

1759
02:41:21,500 --> 02:41:26,140
So that's what the 9212 report is. It's not the rules and regulations.

1760
02:41:26,140 --> 02:41:37,540
It really is information to help both the City Council and members of the public understand what the impacts of this proposed ordinance is.

1761
02:41:38,860 --> 02:41:41,600
And thank you to staff for putting that up.

1762
02:41:42,280 --> 02:41:46,600
Well, thank you, and I'm very concerned.

1763
02:41:48,200 --> 02:41:54,440
The thing, I appreciate all the questions, and I'll hand it over to the Mayor to decide what to do next.

1764
02:41:54,440 --> 02:41:59,700
but I think the thing that bothers me the most.

1765
02:42:00,340 --> 02:42:10,460
Is that what I heard the attorney say that we would be forced to legally defend an ordinance

1766
02:42:10,460 --> 02:42:18,280
that we did not craft and that we don't fully understand. And we would have to do it with

1767
02:42:18,280 --> 02:42:26,620
general fund dollars. And that's concerning to me in this economy with the uncertainties.

1768
02:42:30,020 --> 02:42:38,340
But the devil is in the details as they say, but this is for the voters to decide.

1769
02:42:38,520 --> 02:42:40,520
This is not for us to decide.

1770
02:42:43,960 --> 02:42:47,480
I guess I'll leave it there and throw it to you, Mayor.

1771
02:42:49,020 --> 02:42:50,020
Thank you, Vice Mayor.

1772
02:42:50,700 --> 02:42:55,800
A quick clarifying question on what the Vice Mayor just mentioned.

1773
02:42:55,800 --> 02:42:59,160
and if we requested supplemental 92.12.

1774
02:43:00,000 --> 02:43:06,960
Are we then making that ultimate decision whether to adopt the ordinance outright or put it on

1775
02:43:06,960 --> 02:43:09,700
the ballot at that meeting or is that happening still tonight?

1776
02:43:13,640 --> 02:43:22,800
I think the city council can proceed one of two ways. If right now, if the city council

1777
02:43:22,800 --> 02:43:32,260
is interested in obtaining additional information and feels comfortable also

1778
02:43:32,260 --> 02:43:37,980
making the decision whether to adopt the ordinance or place the item on the

1779
02:43:37,980 --> 02:43:44,300
ballot then the council can move forward with both to dine. The City

1780
02:43:44,300 --> 02:43:49,840
Council if it doesn't feel comfortable acting until it's received the

1781
02:43:49,840 --> 02:43:55,520
additional information that's being that would be requested then we would need to

1782
02:43:55,520 --> 02:43:59,740
make sure that we meet the elections code requirements and bring

1783
02:44:00,000 --> 02:44:07,980
Meeting the supplemental report that meets the city council's interests and, you know, direction

1784
02:44:08,880 --> 02:44:16,500
within 30 days in order for it to act because the council must act. So those are, I think,

1785
02:44:16,620 --> 02:44:22,320
the options on the table. If the city council feels like the report in its current state

1786
02:44:22,320 --> 02:44:28,380
is deficient and they need additional information to act, then that's the option you have as

1787
02:44:28,380 --> 02:44:35,100
the second option. Thank you Veronica. Thank you city attorney. I appreciate that. You

1788
02:44:35,100 --> 02:44:40,960
know I'll jump into my comments. I think thank you my colleagues for the great

1789
02:44:40,960 --> 02:44:44,420
questions. They're really helpful. Thank you to everyone who made public

1790
02:44:44,420 --> 02:44:48,420
comments. I think when you have the community engaged in the process like

1791
02:44:48,420 --> 02:44:51,720
this it just it makes the end result better and it has us thinking about

1792
02:44:51,720 --> 02:44:55,620
things that we didn't even consider so I appreciate the level of engagement

1793
02:44:55,620 --> 02:44:59,960
when we've seen and we had housing night a few weeks ago.

1794
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:05,260
I'm going to go where we were celebrating our TPO, which is one of the stronger tenant

1795
02:45:05,260 --> 02:45:10,260
protections on the peninsula, right? And that's been years of work. And I know that's not perfect,

1796
02:45:10,480 --> 02:45:16,180
right? But it was so labor intensive. And I've also heard it from the community. And I've

1797
02:45:16,180 --> 02:45:22,280
seen the community outs and collecting these signatures. And I know that, you know, they've

1798
02:45:22,280 --> 02:45:28,340
done the work and that has been deemed by our county elections officer. And so many

1799
02:45:28,340 --> 02:45:33,160
my colleagues have touched on this, the really sort of funny position that the city is in

1800
02:45:33,160 --> 02:45:39,980
where we are working in such fast timelines to digest the 9212, to look at the ordinance,

1801
02:45:40,080 --> 02:45:47,000
to look at the proposal, and we are also in an awkward position because we don't have

1802
02:45:47,000 --> 02:45:50,780
the ability to pick and choose and adopt certain parts of the policy that we like,

1803
02:45:50,920 --> 02:45:55,900
right? It's all or nothing. So I think just with the level of questions we've

1804
02:45:55,900 --> 02:45:59,680
heard today. I, before we initiate the process, I

1805
02:46:00,000 --> 02:46:05,440
Would want another 92-12 report 30 days. I know it isn't a lot of time, but I think the

1806
02:46:05,440 --> 02:46:10,760
answers we would get in that time period would be really valuable, not just to the people

1807
02:46:10,760 --> 02:46:16,040
who worked on this proposal, but for the voters who are going to make the ultimate decision

1808
02:46:16,040 --> 02:46:20,660
on this. I think they deserve the most information that we can before it's out of our hands.

1809
02:46:22,440 --> 02:46:27,500
I'll open it up to my colleagues if anyone feels differently, but to the Vice Mayor's

1810
02:46:27,500 --> 02:46:33,270
point that's where I'm thinking we should go next. Council Member Sturkin. Thank

1811
02:46:33,270 --> 02:46:39,190
you Mayor. I really appreciate that proposal. I just have one question. If I

1812
02:46:39,190 --> 02:46:46,230
remember correctly, our agendas are packed through the fall, right? So where

1813
02:46:46,230 --> 02:46:50,010
are we going to fit it? It is the question. That's just something I'm

1814
02:46:50,010 --> 02:46:56,010
cognizant of. We already punted, you know, consideration of affordable housing

1815
02:46:56,010 --> 02:46:58,550
on our library parking lot to the fall.

1816
02:47:00,000 --> 02:47:01,960
And that's just the one concern that I have.

1817
02:47:05,660 --> 02:47:06,500
Thank you, Council Member.

1818
02:47:06,680 --> 02:47:09,900
I'll just quickly say that I would work absolutely with our staff

1819
02:47:09,900 --> 02:47:14,500
to find a day where that could work or make another accommodation,

1820
02:47:14,720 --> 02:47:17,700
which I know we've done with the public hearing we had last week, right,

1821
02:47:17,800 --> 02:47:20,020
or a couple of weeks, but it just flies by.

1822
02:47:20,640 --> 02:47:24,240
So I'll say that, you know, I think we can figure something out,

1823
02:47:24,340 --> 02:47:28,320
but any other vice mayor? Sorry about that.

1824
02:47:28,500 --> 02:47:29,740
No, don't apologize.

1825
02:47:29,740 --> 02:47:32,520
I just have a question for staff.

1826
02:47:35,220 --> 02:47:42,940
Assuming that we did request a supplemental 9212 report to address some of the questions,

1827
02:47:44,020 --> 02:47:49,540
or all of the questions, or as many questions that were raised tonight.

1828
02:47:51,040 --> 02:47:54,880
I guess my question is, do you have clarity on what those questions are?

1829
02:47:54,880 --> 02:47:59,760
or are you sort of feeling like our questions are nebulous or...

1830
02:48:00,000 --> 02:48:08,240
You're not really quite sure what the supplemental 9212 would address and worried that then it's

1831
02:48:08,240 --> 02:48:14,220
in an addition would be inadequate or are we asking unanswerable questions that you think

1832
02:48:14,220 --> 02:48:24,460
in a supplemental 9212 wouldn't be able to address either. Do you kind of get my question?

1833
02:48:24,460 --> 02:48:28,240
No, I appreciate the question, Vice Mayor, because I was going to turn my light on as

1834
02:48:28,240 --> 02:48:32,060
soon as you all heard a lot of really good feedback tonight.

1835
02:48:32,520 --> 02:48:35,840
I took lots of notes, but I would like clear direction.

1836
02:48:36,120 --> 02:48:41,600
And I definitely got a lot of feedback from Council Member Gee because, but here's the

1837
02:48:41,600 --> 02:48:45,020
thing, if we're going to do this, you know, and again, we only have a couple of weeks,

1838
02:48:45,100 --> 02:48:48,000
so it's not like, I just want to make sure everybody feels, you know, heard.

1839
02:48:48,120 --> 02:48:52,520
So I do think that we should take a little bit of time to scope it right now on what

1840
02:48:52,520 --> 02:48:57,000
exactly the council has heard. Now, I do have a lot of notes on the, I think, look

1841
02:48:57,000 --> 02:48:59,800
at the cumulative impact, this is very important. Look in.

1842
02:49:00,000 --> 02:49:03,480
A lot on the affordable housing question. I think many of the letters that we got from

1843
02:49:04,100 --> 02:49:08,780
plenty of the stakeholders, probably 75% of where we could be. I do think we'll probably

1844
02:49:08,780 --> 02:49:12,940
come back with some questions. We probably will not be able to answer or we're not uncomfortable

1845
02:49:12,940 --> 02:49:18,060
or sorry, we feel a little uncomfortable maybe guessing on how it would work in implementation.

1846
02:49:19,000 --> 02:49:22,080
But I do think it would be great just to kind of maybe for a few minutes, you know,

1847
02:49:22,120 --> 02:49:26,160
make sure my list is good and then go from there and just to make sure that we don't

1848
02:49:26,160 --> 02:49:28,180
come back and say nope, we missed the mark?

1849
02:49:30,730 --> 02:49:33,030
Exactly because to Mr. Sturkin's

1850
02:49:33,030 --> 02:49:43,050
point, we have other business and so I don't want the tail wagging that I

1851
02:49:43,050 --> 02:49:47,810
myself don't want the tail wagging the dog. We have no discretion. It has to go

1852
02:49:47,810 --> 02:49:57,590
on the ballot or just be implemented without citywide vote. So I think it

1853
02:49:57,590 --> 02:49:59,970
I mean, to the extent, I guess, from my point of view.

1854
02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:11,900
To the extent that a supplemental 92-12 further educate the voters that would be looking at this

1855
02:50:11,900 --> 02:50:21,020
in November, then it's a good, perhaps a good use of staff time and energy.

1856
02:50:24,760 --> 02:50:26,100
I guess I'll leave

1857
02:50:26,100 --> 02:50:26,480
it there.

1858
02:50:28,630 --> 02:50:30,350
Thank you, Vice Mayor. I'll go to Council Member Padilla.

1859
02:50:31,010 --> 02:50:34,890
I just want to thank everyone for attending. I really appreciate the Fort.

1860
02:50:35,090 --> 02:50:38,490
I love things like this, and I wish we had them for everything.

1861
02:50:38,810 --> 02:50:43,470
I know that they are costly and they take time, but they're very important.

1862
02:50:43,810 --> 02:50:50,010
And I hear everyone talking, and I think to myself, I was looking at page 45, I guess, of 151,

1863
02:50:50,110 --> 02:50:55,130
and it says, the program shall publicize this chapter so that all residents of Redwood City

1864
02:50:55,130 --> 02:50:59,670
will have the opportunity to become informed about their legal rights and duties under this

1865
02:50:59,670 --> 02:50:59,870
chapter.

1866
02:51:03,600 --> 02:51:10,660
The thing that stays with me when I'm here is I want everyone to be informed. I don't ever

1867
02:51:10,660 --> 02:51:15,660
want to feel, I know I never want to feel like I'm not given all the information, and I also

1868
02:51:15,660 --> 02:51:20,520
don't want to interpret information for the voters. That's not something I feel comfortable

1869
02:51:20,520 --> 02:51:27,540
with. We've been presented with statistics. It's true. Our community is a mix of renters

1870
02:51:27,540 --> 02:51:34,500
and homeowners. And I think it is important that we have all the information to see how

1871
02:51:35,000 --> 02:51:42,540
our entire community is affected. I read some of the reports and it did, I did find it disheartening

1872
02:51:43,440 --> 02:51:49,100
that I don't want us to demonize some of our mom and pop. You know, just because

1873
02:51:49,880 --> 02:51:56,020
a person may be listed under an LLC, that doesn't mean that they're a faceless corporation.

1874
02:51:56,020 --> 02:51:59,920
Some people have found ways to protect them.

1875
02:52:00,000 --> 02:52:04,800
So I just want us to think that these aren't all giant corporations. These are also our

1876
02:52:04,800 --> 02:52:10,380
family members, our friends. We've had people speak about the communities within communities.

1877
02:52:10,580 --> 02:52:15,240
So I just want, I think we've mentioned unintended consequences. Are we going to hurt the community

1878
02:52:15,240 --> 02:52:19,520
members who have been supporting some of the marginalized members in our community?

1879
02:52:19,760 --> 02:52:25,300
So I just want us to always think, and I would really appreciate additional information

1880
02:52:25,300 --> 02:52:32,810
because I think it also we have to think is this something I saw that it was like

1881
02:52:32,810 --> 02:52:38,050
not seven to nineteen potentially in employees and with the four million to

1882
02:52:38,050 --> 02:52:46,250
ten million dollars that was not even including collection or enforcement so

1883
02:52:46,250 --> 02:52:51,750
these are very conservative numbers and many questions have been asked and so

1884
02:52:51,750 --> 02:52:54,610
many of the answers are we just don't know we don't know and to the vice

1885
02:52:54,610 --> 02:52:57,270
mayor's point, we didn't create this.

1886
02:53:00,000 --> 02:53:08,520
We are just now getting all this information and the details of years and first rights of

1887
02:53:08,520 --> 02:53:13,280
refusal that are never ending. And I just want to make sure we know the financial implications,

1888
02:53:14,200 --> 02:53:19,860
how lasting they are. So I would really welcome additional information in the report because

1889
02:53:19,860 --> 02:53:23,580
at the end of the day, I think we all should be informed. Thank you.

1890
02:53:25,880 --> 02:53:27,900
Thank you, Council Member, Vice Mayor.

1891
02:53:27,900 --> 02:53:33,700
I'm sorry. I have another fundamental question that it's sort of a follow-up to what Mr. G said.

1892
02:53:35,560 --> 02:53:47,940
What is it about the ADUs? So these are buildings on residents' property.

1893
02:53:50,060 --> 02:53:51,380
How does this apply?

1894
02:53:51,380 --> 02:53:54,040
And if you can just,

1895
02:53:56,070 --> 02:53:59,730
so do ADU owners also have to pay this $500?

1896
02:54:00,000 --> 02:54:09,120
$300 fee or $300 fee? Yes, ADUs, depending on when they're constructed, would be either

1897
02:54:09,120 --> 02:54:16,580
fully covered if they are pre-1995 or partially covered and if they're being rented. Now, if

1898
02:54:16,580 --> 02:54:21,920
the unit's not being rented, then there is no fee, but the expectation would be that

1899
02:54:21,920 --> 02:54:26,860
they would pay a fee for those units if they're rented.

1900
02:54:31,100 --> 02:54:32,200
Thank you Vice Mayor.

1901
02:54:32,800 --> 02:54:39,360
Thank you Mayor. Thank you colleagues. Again, thank you everybody for sharing your thoughts and being here.

1902
02:54:39,420 --> 02:54:43,040
This will most likely wind up before the voters for consideration.

1903
02:54:43,500 --> 02:54:49,420
But Patrick, I'm happy to give you all the questions that you didn't have to write down.

1904
02:54:49,560 --> 02:54:51,860
I'm happy to share with you and staff all the questions I wrote.

1905
02:54:52,640 --> 02:54:59,880
But I would be very interested in a supplemental 9212 that really addressed three buckets of issues.

1906
02:55:00,000 --> 02:55:10,600
At the broadest level. The three buckets I think would be the cumulative impact on property

1907
02:55:10,600 --> 02:55:17,720
owners given the breadth of not only the rent stabilization but the tenant protection parts

1908
02:55:17,720 --> 02:55:25,840
of this as well as the administrative burden. The $12,000, the four months of rent or the

1909
02:55:25,840 --> 02:55:30,100
greater number of 12,000. It's going to have an impact, as we heard from one of the speakers.

1910
02:55:30,940 --> 02:55:38,160
Some of these family-owned property owners aren't cash-rich. And so I would want to

1911
02:55:38,160 --> 02:55:44,900
see an analysis to the extent possible of the cumulative impact on property owners

1912
02:55:44,900 --> 02:55:51,820
of the proposed initiative. The second thing is I want to see what the impact is on

1913
02:55:51,820 --> 02:55:55,280
our non-profit affordable housing providers.

1914
02:55:56,620 --> 02:55:57,360
That's a big deal.

1915
02:55:57,800 --> 02:55:59,960
I mean, we have sent the message out.

1916
02:56:00,000 --> 02:56:06,800
Come to Redwood City through community benefits, create your housing here, low income, extremely

1917
02:56:06,800 --> 02:56:13,500
low income. And if this is going to dissuade potential affordable housing development,

1918
02:56:13,660 --> 02:56:19,640
we need to provide that transparency to the public. And we can't change it. But as council

1919
02:56:19,640 --> 02:56:26,340
member Padilla said, we owe the public transparency. And probably the most important part, at least

1920
02:56:26,340 --> 02:56:32,320
for counsel is reconciliation of what the general fund impact of this initiative is.

1921
02:56:34,340 --> 02:56:38,620
I know I'm tired of saying this, but because of other work I'm doing, we are working under

1922
02:56:38,620 --> 02:56:39,900
a compressed timeline.

1923
02:56:41,740 --> 02:56:50,780
So I would be in favor of continuing this item to a date certain for supplemental 9212

1924
02:56:51,060 --> 02:56:55,380
that addresses those three buckets within the timing constraints that we have within

1925
02:56:55,380 --> 02:56:59,820
the election code and to be brought back to council at date certain.

1926
02:57:00,000 --> 02:57:04,700
to be established by the mayor and vice-mayor and staff. Because I think that transparency

1927
02:57:04,700 --> 02:57:10,320
to the public is critical when this goes out, because once this is on the ballot, we can't

1928
02:57:10,320 --> 02:57:16,060
take any action here at council. We can as individual council members, but once it's

1929
02:57:16,060 --> 02:57:21,640
out there, we cannot do electioneering from the dais, good or bad. So this is our opportunity

1930
02:57:21,640 --> 02:57:29,580
to generate information that I think all of us only got four days ago, and to be able to see

1931
02:57:30,280 --> 02:57:36,020
what those impacts are to property owners, to our non-profit affordable housing developers,

1932
02:57:37,700 --> 02:57:43,480
and the impact to our budget. Because I am not, and I said this before,

1933
02:57:43,740 --> 02:57:48,500
willing to sign a blank check on our general fund. That would be irresponsible

1934
02:57:48,500 --> 02:57:52,560
as a council member and elected official for anybody I sit on.

1935
02:57:53,140 --> 02:57:56,220
I cannot give a blank check on a general fund.

1936
02:57:57,940 --> 02:57:59,800
So Patrick, hopefully that's enough clarity.

1937
02:58:01,280 --> 02:58:08,240
And to our secretary, did I say anything wrong there? Is that doable if the council would entertain a motion?

1938
02:58:09,880 --> 02:58:19,880
I think that would be clear if the council was interested in making that a motion. As far as doable, you did add to the extent possible.

1939
02:58:20,520 --> 02:58:24,980
And so I do appreciate that because there is some of that that may not be feasible.

1940
02:58:24,980 --> 02:58:29,940
I understand completely. I mean, on the Financial Efficiency Committee, SB 63 Local Investment,

1941
02:58:30,540 --> 02:58:35,460
talk about compressed timeframe, you know, six weeks. That's not a lot of time. And so

1942
02:58:35,460 --> 02:58:40,460
there are going to be answers we can't answer within 30 days. I get that. But I think the

1943
02:58:40,460 --> 02:58:47,160
buckets of comments, my questioning, the letters from HLC, SAMHSA, all the other

1944
02:58:48,480 --> 02:58:51,200
can fairly fit into those three buckets.

1945
02:58:55,340 --> 02:58:57,840
I will second that motion. And I'd like

1946
02:58:57,840 --> 02:58:59,840
I'd like to say I appreciate the

1947
02:59:00,000 --> 02:59:05,160
That you're trying, really, because the more information we can get, it's the more we can

1948
02:59:05,160 --> 02:59:10,420
share with the public, and we'll all be enlightened. So thank you. Appreciate it.

1949
02:59:11,920 --> 02:59:16,760
I guess I will say I just made a motion since it was seconded. Thank you, Council Member

1950
02:59:16,760 --> 02:59:17,100
Howard.

1951
02:59:17,360 --> 02:59:18,400
Sure sounded like it.

1952
02:59:19,020 --> 02:59:23,440
Thank you both. That was a motion from Council Member Gee, and a second from Council Member

1953
02:59:23,440 --> 02:59:26,420
Howard. Not seeing anyone else's lights up.

1954
02:59:27,420 --> 02:59:28,660
I'm sorry to interrupt.

1955
02:59:28,880 --> 02:59:28,980
Please.

1956
02:59:28,980 --> 02:59:29,800
I just want to make sure.

1957
02:59:29,940 --> 02:59:32,780
Do we also need a motion to certify their certification?

1958
02:59:33,140 --> 02:59:35,140
I don't know if that procedurally needs to happen first.

1959
02:59:36,280 --> 02:59:37,200
Yes, please.

1960
02:59:37,380 --> 02:59:41,920
If we could get, I mean, I don't know if Council Member G

1961
02:59:41,920 --> 02:59:44,580
with Council Member Howard's acceptance

1962
02:59:44,580 --> 02:59:51,980
can amend his motion to do both A and what he said

1963
02:59:51,980 --> 02:59:55,380
where he asked to continue this item to a date

1964
02:59:55,380 --> 02:59:59,800
certain to be determined by the mayor and vice mayor within the elections.

1965
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:07,960
Code provisions to receive a supplemental report. With those three buckets, I'm happy to list

1966
03:00:07,960 --> 03:00:15,020
them out if you would like to provide information regarding the cumulative impacts, including

1967
03:00:15,020 --> 03:00:21,820
rent control, tenant protections, as well as burdens on the landlords of all of the regulations

1968
03:00:21,820 --> 03:00:29,980
that are with the city, impacts on the non-profit affordable housing partners, and reconciling

1969
03:00:29,980 --> 03:00:34,160
the general fund impacts to the extent possible.

1970
03:00:36,760 --> 03:00:40,680
So thank you for clarifying my motion. Yes.

1971
03:00:43,080 --> 03:00:46,240
I also get yes. Perfect. Great.

1972
03:00:46,820 --> 03:00:50,440
Friendly amendment accepted by motion maker and the second.

1973
03:00:50,940 --> 03:00:53,080
Just question of clarification. That's very good.

1974
03:00:53,080 --> 03:00:56,120
Are you adding that we're certifying this then too?

1975
03:00:56,120 --> 03:00:56,720
Is that?

1976
03:01:00,000 --> 03:01:06,540
I'm sorry. I just referred to section A of the recommendation that's right before you.

1977
03:01:07,080 --> 03:01:11,340
By motion, you're accepting certification of signature verification. Would you like me to read?

1978
03:01:11,820 --> 03:01:13,620
I think you've got it. Thank you.

1979
03:01:14,440 --> 03:01:18,880
Great. And I think we're ready for a vote. So, City Clerk, could we get an electronic vote, please?

1980
03:01:31,260 --> 03:01:36,320
One more vote, please. Thank you. The motion passes with six votes. Council Member Chu is absent.

1981
03:01:37,780 --> 03:01:39,420
Thank you, City Clerk. Thank you, colleagues.

1982
03:01:39,420 --> 03:01:41,920
and thank you to the members of the public for joining us today.

1983
03:01:42,640 --> 03:01:45,120
We will continue this conversation very soon

1984
03:01:45,120 --> 03:01:51,160
and move on to item 9A, our public hearing items for the evening.

1985
03:01:52,000 --> 03:01:57,360
We have our Human Resources Director, Michelle Katsuyoshi, who will give a presentation.

1986
03:02:08,050 --> 03:02:16,350
Good evening, Mayor Martinez Sabayos, Vice Mayor Aiken, council members, members of the community, Michelle Katsuyoshi, Human Resources Director.

1987
03:02:16,930 --> 03:02:21,430
Also here with me today is Vanessa Lopez, Human Resources Manager.

1988
03:02:23,430 --> 03:02:26,970
Listed here is the presentation overview for tonight's report.

1989
03:02:31,790 --> 03:02:37,670
Listed on this slide is the question for the city council to consider, and we will return to this slide at the end of the report.

1990
03:02:37,670 --> 03:02:38,810
This

1991
03:02:42,300 --> 03:02:51,920
is staff's recommendation for consideration to receive the informational report on City of Redwood City Employment Vacancies and Employee Recruitment and Retention Efforts.

1992
03:02:51,920 --> 03:02:52,500
We're

1993
03:02:56,980 --> 03:02:59,900
22nd, 2020 for the government.

1994
03:03:00,000 --> 03:03:11,180
The governor signed AB 2561, which imposed new obligations on public agencies related to tracking and presenting information on job vacancies.

1995
03:03:11,860 --> 03:03:20,360
The legislature declared there is a statewide interest in ensuring that public agency operations are appropriately staffed.

1996
03:03:20,360 --> 03:03:28,100
High vacancy rates can lead to heavier workloads, turnout, increased turnover, and negative impacts

1997
03:03:28,100 --> 03:03:29,220
to service delivery.

1998
03:03:29,880 --> 03:03:37,040
Effected January 1, 2025, Government Code requires public agencies to present information

1999
03:03:37,040 --> 03:03:43,380
on their vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts at a public hearing before the City

2000
03:03:43,380 --> 03:03:49,600
Council at least once per fiscal year and prior to the adoption of the final budget.

2001
03:03:49,600 --> 03:03:52,640
The item tonight meets this requirement.

2002
03:03:55,520 --> 03:03:58,680
Keep visions of AB 2561.

2003
03:03:58,980 --> 03:03:59,980
There are three based on AB 2561.

2004
03:04:19,660 --> 03:04:27,860
There are other obligations and reporting requirements that apply if the vacancy rate in a single bargaining

2005
03:04:27,860 --> 03:04:35,960
group exceeds 20%. It is not a requirement this year as no single bargaining unit has

2006
03:04:35,960 --> 03:04:43,860
a vacancy rate of 20% or higher. Listed here are the vacancy rates by employee group.

2007
03:04:44,860 --> 03:04:53,500
For fiscal year 2526, there are a total of 621.68 budgeted full-time equivalent positions,

2008
03:04:53,500 --> 03:04:59,980
FTEs. As of March 17, 2026, there are

2009
03:05:00,000 --> 03:05:05,500
Our 57 vacancies, which correlate to a 9.2 percent vacancy rate.

2010
03:05:07,860 --> 03:05:17,000
Redwood City is not alone. We've surveyed 11 agencies of our labor comparator market, and

2011
03:05:17,000 --> 03:05:21,260
we are at the bottom three vacancy rate at the 9.2.

2012
03:05:25,320 --> 03:05:32,080
Recent successes, our human resources team in collaboration with hiring managers, we completed

2013
03:05:32,080 --> 03:05:39,460
98 requirements or I'm sorry, recruitment in 2025. We've also added capacity to our human

2014
03:05:39,460 --> 03:05:48,060
resources team to add an additional recruiter to assist with our recruitment efforts. And

2015
03:05:48,060 --> 03:05:53,560
we also have a variety of recruitment and retention incentives that are in place for

2016
03:05:53,560 --> 03:05:59,760
eligible teammates and that includes education, incentive, pay, and tuition reimbursement.

2017
03:06:00,080 --> 03:06:05,180
And this benefit supports continuous learning and development.

2018
03:06:05,880 --> 03:06:21,420
It can support educational, such as advancement towards college degree or college courses, professional training, as well as specialized licenses or certificates.

2019
03:06:21,420 --> 03:06:30,260
We also have a police lateral recruitment incentive trying to attract current police officers to join our agency.

2020
03:06:30,780 --> 03:06:41,220
And if a current police officer recruits a lateral candidate and is successful, that individual receives a $500 recruitment incentive.

2021
03:06:41,220 --> 03:06:47,940
We also have a vacation benefit accrual for any lateral police officer.

2022
03:06:48,520 --> 03:06:51,940
You know, typically if somebody were to leave an agency and join another,

2023
03:06:52,580 --> 03:06:59,980
they may lose their vacation and or sick balance and so an incentive to attract officers.

2024
03:07:00,000 --> 03:07:05,200
To our agency, we will front load them a vacation balance to use.

2025
03:07:06,190 --> 03:07:12,220
Areas of improvement, we are in the process of issuing a request for proposal for a cloud-based

2026
03:07:12,760 --> 03:07:20,920
software program to help our human resources team streamline recruitment processes as well

2027
03:07:20,920 --> 03:07:23,400
as to better track vacancy data.

2028
03:07:23,400 --> 03:07:30,400
We are also working with labor groups to establish hiring eligible list protocols, and what

2029
03:07:30,400 --> 03:07:36,360
that means right now is if a department has a vacancy, they are typically referred the

2030
03:07:36,360 --> 03:07:44,200
top three names of a candidate hiring list, and that really limits flexibility for strong

2031
03:07:44,200 --> 03:07:46,820
candidates who may not score in the top three.

2032
03:07:47,400 --> 03:07:52,940
And so we are working with labor groups to look at ways to be more flexible and

2033
03:07:52,940 --> 03:07:59,120
possibly have a hiring rule of the list where if you successfully competed in a recruitment

2034
03:08:00,000 --> 03:08:06,640
Your name has been placed on an eligibility list. You may be eligible for a position, even

2035
03:08:06,640 --> 03:08:12,880
if you didn't score in the top three. Another area of improvement is a time to establish

2036
03:08:12,880 --> 03:08:19,780
a new classification. A classification is just a fancy word of job position. And so when

2037
03:08:19,780 --> 03:08:25,100
the city is interested in creating a new position, it requires us to write a job description,

2038
03:08:25,100 --> 03:08:32,080
determine where the salary range would lie, work with the labor groups to

2039
03:08:32,080 --> 03:08:39,040
identify appropriate bargaining group unit designation, and a lot of this work

2040
03:08:39,040 --> 03:08:43,940
takes time, so we are working with hiring departments to streamline the process

2041
03:08:43,940 --> 03:08:46,640
to create new job descriptions.

2042
03:08:50,300 --> 03:08:51,800
Here again is the slide for the

2043
03:08:51,800 --> 03:08:56,040
recommendation to receive the informational report on City of

2044
03:08:56,040 --> 03:08:59,840
with City Employment Vacancies, Employee Recruitment and Retention Efforts.

2045
03:09:00,000 --> 03:09:01,720
Pursuant to government code.

2046
03:09:03,820 --> 03:09:07,300
Listed here is the question for council and happy to answer

2047
03:09:07,300 --> 03:09:08,900
any questions. Thank you.

2048
03:09:11,370 --> 03:09:17,910
Michelle, thank you for the great presentation and colleagues. Any questions for staff? Council

2049
03:09:17,910 --> 03:09:18,350
Member Howard.

2050
03:09:18,950 --> 03:09:26,010
Well, it's not a question. I just wanted to commend Michelle, you and your HR staff for

2051
03:09:26,010 --> 03:09:32,170
this proactive program that you've put into place as far as recruiting and retaining

2052
03:09:32,170 --> 03:09:42,570
who we currently have. When we have vacancies in our city, our service suffers. And we want to provide great quality service for the people in our community.

2053
03:09:43,430 --> 03:09:50,670
And that you've kept it under 20% of vacancy rate. I know that's an improvement from what we've seen in the past.

2054
03:09:51,050 --> 03:09:58,310
So I do want to thank you because this has shown a real benefit. I'm glad we get to see it once a year to see that we are making improvements.

2055
03:09:58,310 --> 03:09:59,970
improvements, although we'd like to see

2056
03:10:00,000 --> 03:10:07,240
I'd like to see better. It's a problem every city has, but I am glad you're making such a dent. Really appreciate it.

2057
03:10:08,780 --> 03:10:09,260
Thank you.

2058
03:10:10,020 --> 03:10:13,640
Thank you, Council Member. Any other comments? Council Member Sirken.

2059
03:10:14,240 --> 03:10:21,380
Similarly, I just applaud you for your recruitment and retention efforts. It's critical to city services and just thank you.

2060
03:10:22,320 --> 03:10:22,980
Thank you.

2061
03:10:24,700 --> 03:10:28,700
Yes, it was the number 98 for 2025, super impressive.

2062
03:10:29,180 --> 03:10:33,460
Just for everyone, I mean onboarding employees, that's a really big amount.

2063
03:10:33,680 --> 03:10:34,560
That's a huge number.

2064
03:10:34,900 --> 03:10:35,300
Thank you.

2065
03:10:36,080 --> 03:10:36,440
Thank you.

2066
03:10:38,870 --> 03:10:40,410
Not seeing any other lights on.

2067
03:10:40,590 --> 03:10:41,910
Michelle, I'll add my thanks.

2068
03:10:44,170 --> 03:10:48,850
I know there are lots of new labor laws coming from Sacramento that we're staying

2069
03:10:48,850 --> 03:10:51,530
on top of, so I appreciate you maneuvering through that.

2070
03:10:51,530 --> 03:10:57,910
but I think I saw it in the budget that was it at 80% satisfaction rate from our employees.

2071
03:11:00,000 --> 03:11:05,940
I might, I saw a lot of numbers, but I'm pretty sure it was 80% in terms of how happy our employees

2072
03:11:05,940 --> 03:11:13,300
are, right, which is a testament to the culture that's being grown here, but also it's just

2073
03:11:13,300 --> 03:11:18,460
a part of the work now. People don't stay around for 40 years, right? You don't have

2074
03:11:18,460 --> 03:11:24,660
too many examples like Miss Meeks. And yeah, so that's why this work is so important.

2075
03:11:24,660 --> 03:11:26,360
And so I appreciate that.

2076
03:11:26,780 --> 03:11:29,500
And I'll sing any of my other colleagues' slides on.

2077
03:11:29,680 --> 03:11:32,460
I will move the recommendation.

2078
03:11:33,120 --> 03:11:34,780
Actually, Mayor, I'm so sorry.

2079
03:11:35,320 --> 03:11:37,100
Excuse me, I'm moving way too fast.

2080
03:11:37,980 --> 03:11:38,840
Let's open public hearing.

2081
03:11:39,140 --> 03:11:39,460
Thank you.

2082
03:11:40,460 --> 03:11:41,100
Thank you.

2083
03:11:41,180 --> 03:11:42,800
I actually don't have any speaker cards,

2084
03:11:42,900 --> 03:11:44,200
but wanted to give the opportunity

2085
03:11:44,200 --> 03:11:46,320
to anyone in the audience or anyone on Zoom

2086
03:11:46,320 --> 03:11:47,840
to comment on this item tonight.

2087
03:11:51,680 --> 03:11:52,180
Going twice.

2088
03:11:52,780 --> 03:11:54,800
Seeing none, Mayor, please move forward.

2089
03:11:55,000 --> 03:11:55,140
Thank you.

2090
03:11:55,140 --> 03:11:58,540
Now I'll make the motion for staff's recommendation.

2091
03:11:58,900 --> 03:11:59,540
Council Member Howard.

2092
03:12:00,000 --> 03:12:03,480
I'll second the motion. Thank you. Could we get a electronic vote, please?

2093
03:12:09,960 --> 03:12:13,700
Thank you. The motion passes with six votes. Councilmember Chu is absent. Thank you.

2094
03:12:14,360 --> 03:12:20,100
Thank you again, Michelle. And with that, we will move to our staff reports beginning with 10a.

2095
03:12:20,960 --> 03:12:27,880
Our fiscal year 26 to 27 recommended budget, and our city manager Patrick Heisinger will give an overview,

2096
03:12:28,300 --> 03:12:31,400
and finance director, Beth Goldberg, will lead the presentation.

2097
03:12:31,400 --> 03:12:36,260
Great. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everybody. Patrick Heisinger, City Manager.

2098
03:12:37,140 --> 03:12:43,000
I'm pleased to produce or I should say introduce my first budget as your City Manager.

2099
03:12:43,920 --> 03:12:47,940
Before doing so, I did want to express a lot of gratitude to our entire staff.

2100
03:12:48,440 --> 03:12:51,680
So all the staff that are here, please raise your hand and really appreciate,

2101
03:12:52,340 --> 03:12:58,340
called for a little more enthusiasm than that, you know, but I really appreciate it.

2102
03:12:58,340 --> 03:12:59,960
I mean, for folks, no.

2103
03:13:00,000 --> 03:13:04,700
So literally every member of every department is involved to some extent into the budget process.

2104
03:13:05,060 --> 03:13:11,540
And so I really, really appreciate that. And Beth and Molly here as well from Finance, thank

2105
03:13:11,540 --> 03:13:16,640
you for crowling us all to get together. It truly does take a village. And I also want

2106
03:13:16,640 --> 03:13:20,680
to thank the council. You know, a lot of this work starts at the mid-year, then the

2107
03:13:20,680 --> 03:13:24,880
off-site, then the CIP. You know, I'm still in on your thunder, Beth, some of your slides.

2108
03:13:24,880 --> 03:13:30,000
but it really is a comprehensive approach that we embark on and, you know, I take feedback

2109
03:13:30,000 --> 03:13:35,640
from you, you take feedback from me and we, you know, come together in this big huge document.

2110
03:13:36,740 --> 03:13:41,800
The document you have before you, it's a balanced budget, but make no mistake, there

2111
03:13:41,800 --> 03:13:45,480
are asks about using one-time reserves, and that makes me nervous.

2112
03:13:46,240 --> 03:13:50,920
The reason why I say it makes me nervous is it's something that I will not recommend

2113
03:13:50,920 --> 03:13:54,800
doing a second year. You know, we really, I've seen other cities that get

2114
03:13:54,800 --> 03:13:59,380
comfortable continuing to dip into reserves and whatnot. This next year, as

2115
03:13:59,380 --> 03:13:59,980
we've talked about...

2116
03:14:00,000 --> 03:14:04,360
At the mid-year, and as we talk about, it's really a year for planning and to really figure

2117
03:14:04,360 --> 03:14:11,060
out how can we increase revenues but also keep our costs in check. So in this presentation,

2118
03:14:11,280 --> 03:14:14,580
you'll see some doom and gloom, you'll see some real exciting stuff, but you'll also see

2119
03:14:14,580 --> 03:14:20,440
a lot of reality checks. And look forward to the discussion as a reminder. This would

2120
03:14:20,440 --> 03:14:24,740
come back on June 22 for final approval. So we look forward to the feedback tonight.

2121
03:14:25,020 --> 03:14:28,000
And with that, I will turn it over to Beth Goldberg. Thank you.

2122
03:14:28,000 --> 03:14:36,350
Thank you city manager greetings mayor vice mayor and council members happy

2123
03:14:36,350 --> 03:14:44,330
budget night as the city manager pointed out we are on our budget journey and we

2124
03:14:44,330 --> 03:14:49,290
are on the penultimate stop on our budget journey where we are going to

2125
03:14:49,290 --> 03:14:53,830
present the recommended budget to the city council tonight and then we'll be

2126
03:14:53,830 --> 03:14:59,130
back in two weeks for the budget public hearing and for final adoption.

2127
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:02,800
And as you're listening to the presentation tonight,

2128
03:15:03,920 --> 03:15:08,140
I would like you to think about a couple of questions.

2129
03:15:08,500 --> 03:15:13,400
Do you have feedback for us on the tenure forecast

2130
03:15:13,800 --> 03:15:18,200
and the financial trends, as well as city department

2131
03:15:18,200 --> 03:15:21,180
operations as proposed in the recommended budget?

2132
03:15:21,780 --> 03:15:23,700
And the feedback we hear from you tonight,

2133
03:15:23,900 --> 03:15:28,320
we will incorporate and get ready to come back in two weeks.

2134
03:15:28,320 --> 03:15:29,540
Okay,

2135
03:15:33,130 --> 03:15:40,830
so from a presentation overview, first I'm going to provide an overview of the budget economic outlook tenure forecast.

2136
03:15:41,630 --> 03:15:49,970
And then we'll hand it back over to City Manager Heisinger to talk about advancing City Council priorities and community priorities.

2137
03:15:49,970 --> 03:15:54,210
And then we'll have time for questions and answers.

2138
03:15:54,810 --> 03:15:59,490
And then at the end, we will be asking the council to pass a resolution to set

2139
03:16:00,000 --> 03:16:02,480
June 22nd as the public hearing.

2140
03:16:06,360 --> 03:16:13,980
Okay, so overview of the 26-27 operating budget. The budget totals

2141
03:16:13,980 --> 03:16:32,860
more than $410 million across the funds displayed on this chart. In addition, we and we'll talk

2142
03:16:32,860 --> 03:16:39,240
As is the case typically, we will spend most of our time talking about the general fund,

2143
03:16:39,420 --> 03:16:40,120
the mother fund.

2144
03:16:41,160 --> 03:16:44,160
So we'll go into that in more details.

2145
03:16:45,580 --> 03:16:52,720
But before I do that, I want to quote our fearless leader, City Manager Patrick Keisinger.

2146
03:16:52,720 --> 03:16:57,700
He included in the budget transmittal letter

2147
03:17:00,620 --> 03:17:10,140
A statement echoing his comments earlier today about, you know, times are changing fiscally and

2148
03:17:10,140 --> 03:17:16,260
we're at a bit of a crossroads and this does require increased fiscal discipline, prioritization,

2149
03:17:16,440 --> 03:17:23,380
and long-term planning. And this is a different situation than what the city has seen previously

2150
03:17:23,860 --> 03:17:28,880
and I'll go into some of that as we go through the 10-year forecast portion.

2151
03:17:28,880 --> 03:17:29,880
So,

2152
03:17:37,860 --> 03:17:42,940
what has changed this year? Why is this year different than past years?

2153
03:17:43,960 --> 03:17:51,800
First of all, what is unique about this year is we actually are seeing a slight contraction in revenues.

2154
03:17:52,600 --> 03:17:59,460
Not huge on a dollar basis, but we know we're in inflationary times.

2155
03:18:00,000 --> 03:18:08,780
Costs are increasing, and the fact that revenues are tempered is a changing dynamic.

2156
03:18:09,380 --> 03:18:15,860
Another thing that has changed, and this is where the city manager was speaking to use

2157
03:18:15,860 --> 03:18:24,760
of one-time funds, for a variety of reasons, we don't have the one-time fund balances, unassigned

2158
03:18:24,760 --> 03:18:26,800
and fund balances that we've had in the past.

2159
03:18:27,400 --> 03:18:31,720
And this is stemming from the deliberate drawdown

2160
03:18:31,720 --> 03:18:36,100
of one-time balances in the 2526 budget

2161
03:18:36,100 --> 03:18:38,240
to meet some long-standing needs

2162
03:18:38,940 --> 03:18:43,080
or also taking a more proactive and precise approach

2163
03:18:43,080 --> 03:18:44,360
to revenue forecasting,

2164
03:18:44,820 --> 03:18:49,680
which is meaning we're not ending with unfound money,

2165
03:18:49,780 --> 03:18:51,460
so to speak, at the end of the year,

2166
03:18:51,520 --> 03:18:54,080
which is what was contributing to those fund balances.

2167
03:18:54,080 --> 03:18:59,980
So for this year's budget, we are recommending that we...

2168
03:19:00,000 --> 03:19:04,600
Draw down the remaining fund balance to help balance the budget, and I'll talk about that

2169
03:19:04,600 --> 03:19:10,760
in a moment, but that does start to really limit our flexibility moving forward. I do

2170
03:19:10,760 --> 03:19:18,020
want to note, however, that our 15 percent council-established general fund reserve, emergency

2171
03:19:18,020 --> 03:19:25,280
reserve, is fully funded at about $31 million. So we've got that as a question.

2172
03:19:25,280 --> 03:19:26,420
So

2173
03:19:28,660 --> 03:19:32,440
what's contributing to this weaker revenue outlook?

2174
03:19:32,800 --> 03:19:35,860
There's a myriad of issues going on here.

2175
03:19:37,060 --> 03:19:42,180
And the first of which is something that the council is keenly aware of,

2176
03:19:42,380 --> 03:19:45,840
and that is the state appears,

2177
03:19:46,040 --> 03:19:48,420
unless something has changed in the last couple of days,

2178
03:19:48,920 --> 03:19:56,300
to not be providing us our vehicle license fee backfill monies

2179
03:19:56,300 --> 03:19:59,960
that are owed to us, that are obligated to us.

2180
03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:10,020
And that is creating $5.3 million loss of revenues that we cannot count on for the 26-27 budget.

2181
03:20:10,860 --> 03:20:18,060
In addition, we're seeing sales tax declining since its peak in 2022-2023.

2182
03:20:18,540 --> 03:20:21,280
I'll talk about that more in a few minutes.

2183
03:20:21,280 --> 03:20:29,720
Business license tax, Measure BB was approved by our voters last November, implemented, or

2184
03:20:29,720 --> 03:20:38,060
maybe it was anyway, it was implemented, this budget, with 50% or a 50% rate change happening

2185
03:20:38,060 --> 03:20:43,880
in 2526 and the remaining increase happening in 2627.

2186
03:20:43,880 --> 03:20:50,980
This was a new tax and it's difficult because of the way we were taxing before

2187
03:20:50,980 --> 03:20:55,360
and the information that we had to really get a precise forecast.

2188
03:20:55,640 --> 03:20:59,480
So we are seeing this perform slightly below forecast.

2189
03:21:02,260 --> 03:21:10,760
But we've also this year stepped up our efforts through one of our consultants, HDL, to step up

2190
03:21:10,760 --> 03:21:17,880
the administration of this tax and follow up with taxpayers to ensure payment.

2191
03:21:18,620 --> 03:21:25,580
So you may recall earlier this year, coming to you with concerns that this was really

2192
03:21:25,580 --> 03:21:35,400
falling short. HDL's efforts since they expanded their role in October has really yielded results

2193
03:21:35,400 --> 03:21:44,120
and doing some analysis of our latest results, I would suggest that about a million dollars

2194
03:21:44,120 --> 03:21:50,240
additional has been brought in by HDL than what we would have had had they not had

2195
03:21:50,240 --> 03:21:58,740
this expanded role. And of that million dollars, that includes about $377,000 from prior year

2196
03:21:58,740 --> 03:21:59,720
delinquent payments.

2197
03:22:00,000 --> 03:22:05,700
So really kind of helping us get caught up with those taxpayers that hadn't been paying.

2198
03:22:06,640 --> 03:22:11,960
Council is very familiar with loss of certain grant revenues, particularly at the federal

2199
03:22:11,960 --> 03:22:15,620
level that is having impacts on general fund revenues.

2200
03:22:17,220 --> 03:22:24,720
We in our work on ensuring best practices, financial management best practices, we've

2201
03:22:24,720 --> 03:22:29,040
determined that some longstanding general revenues should actually be allocated to

2202
03:22:29,040 --> 03:22:33,440
other funds so that represents a reduction to the general fund.

2203
03:22:34,180 --> 03:22:42,500
And then looking ahead, we have seen some recent commercial property sales that have

2204
03:22:42,500 --> 03:22:51,560
sold at a lower valuation, and so that may temper our property tax revenues in the

2205
03:22:51,560 --> 03:22:51,920
future.

2206
03:22:52,080 --> 03:22:54,780
And so that's going to be something we're going to have to watch.

2207
03:22:54,780 --> 03:22:59,620
which property tax has been a bright spot for us over these years.

2208
03:23:04,370 --> 03:23:12,350
So, next I want to just expand a little bit on the VLF backfill. And as the council is aware,

2209
03:23:12,510 --> 03:23:19,890
this has been a fairly volatile revenue source. But we have always, the state has always provided

2210
03:23:19,890 --> 03:23:30,290
what they have owed us until last year, fiscal year 24-25. We were owed about $5.3 million

2211
03:23:30,290 --> 03:23:37,670
dollars and we're only awarded about two-thirds of that. So we're shorted 1.8 million. This

2212
03:23:37,670 --> 03:23:43,870
year the state budget includes no money for us. Again, we were owed another 5.3 million

2213
03:23:43,870 --> 03:23:53,770
dollars and that appears as of now to not be materializing. So that creates a significant

2214
03:23:53,770 --> 03:23:56,190
financial hit for our general fund.

2215
03:24:00,000 --> 03:24:09,400
Sales tax is another revenue that has not been performing as well as we would like. So this

2216
03:24:09,400 --> 03:24:17,700
chart, what you'll see here is that sales tax has been down every year since fiscal year

2217
03:24:17,700 --> 03:24:27,700
2223 and is expected to drop a little bit further in 2627. This is down about 8.6 percent

2218
03:24:27,700 --> 03:24:40,800
from 2022-23. And a variety of factors are in play here. First, for fiscal year 2022-23,

2219
03:24:40,900 --> 03:24:45,320
that was when we were coming out of the COVID pandemic. And that's also when a lot of the

2220
03:24:45,320 --> 03:24:54,820
stimulus checks were out among the people being spent. And so I've heard several presentations

2221
03:24:54,820 --> 03:24:59,660
from HDL that, you know, as they look in hindsight.

2222
03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:08,920
Right. Suggest that 23, 2223, that performance was probably not sustainable because it was driven

2223
03:25:08,920 --> 03:25:15,980
so much by pent-up demand from COVID and those stimulus checks. But then every year since,

2224
03:25:16,220 --> 03:25:23,200
it's been dropping. And what we're seeing, there's variation locally, but where we're

2225
03:25:23,200 --> 03:25:31,500
challenging challenges locally is particularly in auto sales is contributing to our decline

2226
03:25:31,500 --> 03:25:39,900
in sales tax. And, you know, there's a number of economic variables in play, but, you know,

2227
03:25:39,920 --> 03:25:45,400
the fact of the matter is we have over the last three or four years seen sales tax drop.

2228
03:25:49,770 --> 03:25:50,530
So this is...

2229
03:25:50,530 --> 03:25:53,150
Sorry, Beth. Sorry to interrupt, just have a quick question.

2230
03:25:53,310 --> 03:25:55,310
Go ahead. Beth, could you go back to that slide?

2231
03:25:55,310 --> 03:25:59,590
I can thank you but use the trend is moving up

2232
03:26:00,000 --> 03:26:07,520
27, 28, 29. Can you explain? You're hopeful. I can see this. You're hopeful. You are projecting

2233
03:26:07,520 --> 03:26:20,080
something. So can you share? Yes. So the first two years, 26, 27, 27, 28 and 28, 29 are based

2234
03:26:20,080 --> 03:26:27,560
on HDL's forecasts. When they provide us our quarterly sales tax reports, they look out

2235
03:26:27,560 --> 03:26:34,120
two years into the future. So we're using those forecasts then and then beyond

2236
03:26:34,120 --> 03:26:40,340
that 29 through 30 and then beyond that we use you know a standard like 3%

2237
03:26:40,340 --> 03:26:45,560
inflation rate. So this does project that that there is going to be a

2238
03:26:45,560 --> 03:26:51,460
recovery but we also know that we live in really weird times and you know who

2239
03:26:51,460 --> 03:26:57,240
knows what the next shoe could be to drop. So we just have to watch this

2240
03:26:57,240 --> 03:26:59,020
this really, really closely.

2241
03:27:00,210 --> 03:27:02,050
Thank you. Appreciate it.

2242
03:27:07,790 --> 03:27:14,950
Okay, this is kind of the whiney slide where I've entitled it Can't

2243
03:27:14,950 --> 03:27:25,950
Win for Losing. So we made, you know, the council made a significant move a couple years ago in

2244
03:27:25,950 --> 03:27:35,210
putting Measure BB on the ballot and the voters of Redwood City approved it. And this was supposed

2245
03:27:35,210 --> 03:27:43,170
to be kind of our pathway to nirvana or whatever, budget bliss, whatever you want to call it.

2246
03:27:44,350 --> 03:27:53,110
But simultaneously, the world is striking out against us and the VLF backfill is a loss

2247
03:27:53,110 --> 03:27:59,870
and then we're seeing weakness in sales tax and cumulatively those hits from sales tax

2248
03:27:59,870 --> 03:27:59,970
Thanks.

2249
03:28:07,220 --> 03:28:08,780
Okay, so now this is, so we went from the complaining slide to now we're going to go to the gloom-and-doom

2250
03:28:08,780 --> 03:28:16,240
So we're kind of a little bit of right back where we started from, which it's not great,

2251
03:28:16,500 --> 03:28:23,180
but it helps explain this kind of, this stasis that we're finding ourselves in.

2252
03:28:28,880 --> 03:28:33,760
Okay, so now this is, so we went from the complaining slide to now we're going to go

2253
03:28:33,760 --> 03:28:44,140
of the gloom and doom slide. So this is a visual of our 10-year forecast and what you'll see on

2254
03:28:44,140 --> 03:28:53,580
this chart is our actual results from 2223 and 2324. And what you'll see there is that we ended

2255
03:28:53,580 --> 03:28:59,340
those years with a surplus, better than we anticipated.

2256
03:29:00,000 --> 03:29:12,680
And then what you're seeing in 24, 25, 25, 26, and 26, 27 is that we're actually projecting

2257
03:29:12,680 --> 03:29:20,860
– thank you for making that bigger – what we're seeing is that we're projecting shortfalls

2258
03:29:21,320 --> 03:29:28,400
that we would be using what remains of the unassigned fund balance to help balance the

2259
03:29:28,400 --> 03:29:36,180
budget for these years. And Matt gets us through partway through 26, 27, but

2260
03:29:36,180 --> 03:29:41,900
there's still a bit of a gap. And to close that remaining gap, what you're

2261
03:29:41,900 --> 03:29:49,620
seeing that blue represents in there is use of a partial use of our section 115

2262
03:29:49,620 --> 03:29:56,880
trust that the council proactively set aside starting in 2017 to meet future

2263
03:29:56,880 --> 03:29:59,980
pension costs, so we are as part of

2264
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:05,860
We have this budget recommending that we draw that fund down by about $4 million to help balance

2265
03:30:05,860 --> 03:30:12,280
the budget. There's still a healthy balance in the Section 115 trust, about $36 million,

2266
03:30:13,300 --> 03:30:20,080
and we are not recommending at this point continuing to use that for the reasons that

2267
03:30:20,080 --> 03:30:26,580
City Manager Heisinger outlined in his opening comments is, you know, once it's gone, it's

2268
03:30:26,580 --> 03:30:30,140
So we need to be judicious about how we use that.

2269
03:30:30,640 --> 03:30:34,980
So the remaining, and this is where the gloom and doom comes in,

2270
03:30:35,200 --> 03:30:40,720
the remaining years on this chart shown in red are the projected deficits.

2271
03:30:41,280 --> 03:30:47,480
So our work, you know, once we get this budget adopted is to start figuring out

2272
03:30:47,480 --> 03:30:50,920
how are we through a combination of revenues,

2273
03:30:50,920 --> 03:30:59,040
potentially budget reductions, strategic use of reserves, how do we start closing those gaps?

2274
03:31:00,000 --> 03:31:06,220
We'll start closing those gaps on an ongoing basis that helps the subsequent years. So it's

2275
03:31:06,220 --> 03:31:13,620
the one-time measures that would start to kick the can. So this is the work that is ahead of

2276
03:31:13,620 --> 03:31:20,210
us is to turn those red bars into above the line.

2277
03:31:22,580 --> 03:31:24,440
Okay. And then this is the last gloom

2278
03:31:24,440 --> 03:31:31,320
and doom slide before I hand it over for the happy news from our city manager. And

2279
03:31:31,320 --> 03:31:37,920
And as you are all aware, economic uncertainty seems to be the new normal.

2280
03:31:38,660 --> 03:31:46,700
It's the new reality of the century we find ourselves in, and not to bring everyone down,

2281
03:31:47,060 --> 03:31:55,060
but have listed a couple of the variables that we're watching closely on this slide.

2282
03:31:55,060 --> 03:31:59,900
and some of these are potentially game-changer.

2283
03:32:00,000 --> 03:32:09,840
So, for example, the state of California is considering changes to the pension program that would, if enacted,

2284
03:32:10,440 --> 03:32:18,280
would lead to significantly more costs to us. So, if those come into play, that would make

2285
03:32:18,280 --> 03:32:25,600
those red bars on the previous slide worse and really be a game changer for us. Some of

2286
03:32:25,600 --> 03:32:30,620
So these are more external factors such as, you know, tech sector layoffs, it's affecting

2287
03:32:30,620 --> 03:32:34,680
the local economy, but not as much of a direct hit.

2288
03:32:34,840 --> 03:32:39,300
Certainly what's going on in the Middle East is something to watch with oil prices.

2289
03:32:39,840 --> 03:32:45,240
But the things like the pension changes, rent control, as we talked about previously,

2290
03:32:45,800 --> 03:32:51,440
really could, we could start seeing some immediate impacts on our budget that would

2291
03:32:51,440 --> 03:32:53,640
further exacerbate things.

2292
03:32:54,160 --> 03:32:58,540
And so with that, enough bad news, I'm going to turn it over for a little bit of the news.

2293
03:32:59,260 --> 03:32:59,620
Great.

2294
03:33:00,000 --> 03:33:11,660
So before you, I just have a couple slides. I know everybody read every page in the 600 page document before you, but there'll probably be some departments I don't hit on.

2295
03:33:12,180 --> 03:33:23,060
I do just want to let folks know that every single department is pushing forward some really interesting, you know, whether it's policies, programs, things that the community is really excited about.

2296
03:33:23,620 --> 03:33:27,940
For the purposes of my slides, I really just kind of want to hit a couple high level things.

2297
03:33:29,140 --> 03:33:33,140
Really bread and butter, you know, back to basics as much as possible.

2298
03:33:33,200 --> 03:33:35,940
And I feel like we've been like that for a couple of years.

2299
03:33:36,180 --> 03:33:39,280
But a lot of this came from listening to residents and, you know,

2300
03:33:39,460 --> 03:33:42,620
every single email that comes in and really trying to, you know, figure out,

2301
03:33:42,660 --> 03:33:44,120
okay, what can we do to help?

2302
03:33:44,260 --> 03:33:47,440
And so you'll see there'll be some elements around quality of life,

2303
03:33:48,760 --> 03:33:51,660
definitely public safety infrastructure.

2304
03:33:51,660 --> 03:33:56,820
I think folks are probably tired of hearing about infrastructure with me from me, I should say.

2305
03:33:56,940 --> 03:33:59,980
I know my staff is very tired of hearing about modernization, so we'll talk a little bit more.

2306
03:34:00,000 --> 03:34:04,300
And then we'll talk about some of the key policies that are already on our work plan and

2307
03:34:04,300 --> 03:34:09,580
then some other ones that we're proposing. And then we'll talk about, you know, new regulations

2308
03:34:09,580 --> 03:34:16,060
moving forward. Next slide, please. So looking at quality of life, you'll see an item being

2309
03:34:16,060 --> 03:34:21,040
proposed that we refer to as the neighborhood response team. One thing that we've noticed

2310
03:34:21,040 --> 03:34:26,280
is we get a lot of inquiries around, you know, illegal dumping. It might be,

2311
03:34:29,280 --> 03:34:29,980
you

2312
03:34:29,980 --> 03:34:33,480
And every time we deploy staff from there, whether it's public works or PD,

2313
03:34:33,900 --> 03:34:36,220
we have to pull them off of other jobs that they're working on.

2314
03:34:37,120 --> 03:34:42,340
And so what we're recommending this neighborhood response team would be a team of three to four individuals

2315
03:34:42,820 --> 03:34:47,760
that would report directly to Assistant City Manager, Derek Wolfgram,

2316
03:34:48,280 --> 03:34:53,860
that would be out in the field and be able to be deployed immediately to address a mattress that's on the side of the sheet

2317
03:34:53,860 --> 03:34:57,520
or a cart that was left so it doesn't have to be there for a couple of days.

2318
03:34:58,160 --> 03:34:59,760
And I know folks are saying, wait a minute.

2319
03:35:00,000 --> 03:35:04,880
Budget's tight. You know, what do you recommend? Not recommending full-time equivalents here.

2320
03:35:05,260 --> 03:35:07,900
You know, trying to look at a way to kind of use some contract staff for it.

2321
03:35:08,220 --> 03:35:12,760
Also want to see if there's a way to connect My Redwood City to this team, My Redwood City, the app,

2322
03:35:12,860 --> 03:35:16,080
where folks can do it and it can just be picked up without having to call.

2323
03:35:16,400 --> 03:35:17,860
I almost said TK, but I meant Adrian.

2324
03:35:18,500 --> 03:35:21,580
But you know, the director of Public Works said, hey, can you get to this?

2325
03:35:21,640 --> 03:35:25,880
Because when we do that, we do pull them off of, you know, a sewer improvement or whatnot.

2326
03:35:26,200 --> 03:35:28,040
So I can answer more questions about that.

2327
03:35:28,040 --> 03:35:32,460
You'll definitely see some language around the pedestrian mall and beautification.

2328
03:35:33,360 --> 03:35:37,000
And then other things around quality of life, improving the restrooms of the downtown library

2329
03:35:37,000 --> 03:35:43,280
and then lots of traffic calming and other traffic related, I would say, infrastructure projects.

2330
03:35:43,520 --> 03:35:44,020
Next slide, please.

2331
03:35:45,760 --> 03:35:53,540
With regard to public safety and operational readiness, there are two previously frozen police officer positions

2332
03:35:53,540 --> 03:35:55,640
that I am recommending that we put back into the budget.

2333
03:35:55,640 --> 03:35:59,980
For those who may recall, there was a side letter with the POA.

2334
03:36:00,000 --> 03:36:07,340
In the past about those positions, where we got them to agree for us to hire CSA officers,

2335
03:36:07,700 --> 03:36:13,460
and so this year I do think we could phase it in mid-year and absorb those costs. With

2336
03:36:13,460 --> 03:36:17,480
the fire department, they have training and other professional development in their budget.

2337
03:36:18,240 --> 03:36:23,200
We added a nice goat in there for Council Member Padilla, who I know likes the goats on the

2338
03:36:23,200 --> 03:36:27,680
fire mitigation. We're not saying goats, but there's other fire mitigation, but we

2339
03:36:27,680 --> 03:36:30,760
go would be cute to kind of lighten the mood here in the light in the late

2340
03:36:30,760 --> 03:36:35,280
evening and then another big one is cyber security so you'll see in the budget we

2341
03:36:35,280 --> 03:36:39,960
are looking and last year the council you know authorized other investments in

2342
03:36:39,960 --> 03:36:43,740
cyber security we're very grateful but we are you'll see that is another huge

2343
03:36:43,740 --> 03:36:48,620
need as well next slide please with regards to infrastructure I won't go

2344
03:36:48,620 --> 03:36:52,400
over the the specific projects we did this at the the CIP and it's in the

2345
03:36:52,400 --> 03:36:52,740
packet.

2346
03:36:54,120 --> 03:36:57,940
Beth, right, 40.1 million total in capital improvements?

2347
03:36:58,340 --> 03:36:59,980
Yeah, something happened to this slide.

2348
03:37:00,660 --> 03:37:03,040
Yes, 40.5 million.

2349
03:37:04,560 --> 03:37:11,780
Plenty of worthwhile projects. I'll just name a few. We have the Redwood Shores Levy, continue to plan on that.

2350
03:37:12,020 --> 03:37:20,020
We have the stormwater master plan, the recycled water master plan that we have several other actual real capital projects moving forward as well.

2351
03:37:20,520 --> 03:37:21,040
Next slide, please.

2352
03:37:22,740 --> 03:37:25,320
I'm getting into modernization and service delivery.

2353
03:37:25,320 --> 03:37:29,260
The one thing I just wanted to highlight is, every time we talk about modernization, everybody

2354
03:37:29,260 --> 03:37:32,580
always thinks about technology, technology, and that's true.

2355
03:37:33,200 --> 03:37:35,980
I mean, you'll see some key elements here, and you actually heard our HR director talking

2356
03:37:35,980 --> 03:37:40,600
about a technology that they're looking to get as well to help with recruitment.

2357
03:37:41,720 --> 03:37:47,400
But sometimes modernizing is removing some regulations or doing away with past ways we used to do things

2358
03:37:47,400 --> 03:37:49,120
to try to streamline.

2359
03:37:49,120 --> 03:37:58,460
So some of the work you see here is really technology focused, but in the packet we have a whole attachment in there of what departments are looking at.

2360
03:38:00,000 --> 03:38:05,180
We'll have several items that will be coming to council in July, especially around the zoning

2361
03:38:05,180 --> 03:38:09,440
code that we're hoping will be of excitement to the council. I'm trying to make things a

2362
03:38:09,440 --> 03:38:15,040
little bit easier on the permitting side so folks can redo their roof and other things

2363
03:38:15,040 --> 03:38:18,640
around there. But one of the key things I do want to talk about because it really

2364
03:38:18,640 --> 03:38:22,500
affects everybody in the organization is the ERP system. We are committed to the

2365
03:38:22,500 --> 03:38:27,920
fall to release the RFP to start reevaluating our options on the ERP and we have a whole

2366
03:38:27,920 --> 03:38:31,020
team together now and really making some strides there.

2367
03:38:31,840 --> 03:38:32,420
Next slide, please.

2368
03:38:34,000 --> 03:38:38,640
So as far as some existing really large policy work we're already working on, this is just

2369
03:38:38,640 --> 03:38:44,100
to frame our current workload as, and this might be some of the stuff that Council Member

2370
03:38:44,100 --> 03:38:47,460
Sturgeon was kind of referring to, is in the next couple months, there's some meaty

2371
03:38:47,460 --> 03:38:49,020
topics coming to Council.

2372
03:38:49,240 --> 03:38:55,060
So the mobile vending ordinance, that says SR79, that should be SB79, apologies.

2373
03:38:55,700 --> 03:38:58,160
Historic preservation, the Milzak work.

2374
03:38:58,760 --> 03:38:59,980
We have the recycled water map.

2375
03:39:00,000 --> 03:39:04,340
Master plan coming forward, objective design standards. I know that sounds like an innocuous

2376
03:39:04,340 --> 03:39:08,700
thing, but I think everybody's going to have a lot of input. And I know Jeff's ready to

2377
03:39:08,700 --> 03:39:12,140
offload that. I think he's been working on it for about two and a half years. Then some

2378
03:39:12,140 --> 03:39:17,920
really big study sessions that I think we've been waiting for on parking, the GDAP, and

2379
03:39:17,920 --> 03:39:21,760
then the children and youth initiatives. And then, as you all know, we're always tracking

2380
03:39:21,760 --> 03:39:26,700
large development projects. So I listed a few there, but there's far more. So already

2381
03:39:26,700 --> 03:39:32,200
a pretty full plate of I would say policy work that the staff is working on. Next slide please.

2382
03:39:32,780 --> 03:39:37,840
But within your budget, you know, we do have other work that we are proposing. We do feel like we

2383
03:39:37,840 --> 03:39:42,980
can, you know, fit into the work plan. A lot of this came from the offsite that we had with

2384
03:39:42,980 --> 03:39:48,320
the council on that Saturday in February. So you may recall that the council gave me the

2385
03:39:48,320 --> 03:39:53,280
nod to explore project labor agreements. I know our economic development manager, I mean,

2386
03:39:53,280 --> 03:39:55,280
and Anthony is really excited about the five-year economic

2387
03:39:55,280 --> 03:39:56,460
fatality strategy.

2388
03:39:57,240 --> 03:39:59,980
As we talk about our financial picks,

2389
03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:04,820
Sure, you know, I know a lot of time folks think about, you know, maybe taxes are cutting

2390
03:40:04,820 --> 03:40:09,600
or what not. Our economic development ability here in Redwood City is probably our biggest

2391
03:40:09,600 --> 03:40:14,540
driver that we can do. So, really investing the time and money into that project is going

2392
03:40:14,540 --> 03:40:19,380
to be essential to how we continue to, you know, attract, you know, businesses here as

2393
03:40:19,380 --> 03:40:25,240
well as great residents. Investigate new revenue options. You'll see in the staff

2394
03:40:25,240 --> 03:40:31,720
report that we added language in there about investigating a fire recovery fee or if our

2395
03:40:31,720 --> 03:40:35,820
fire department goes out and there's a fee, can we bill insurance companies? Not individuals

2396
03:40:35,820 --> 03:40:40,540
but insurance companies. A lot of other cities are starting to do it but most of our calls

2397
03:40:40,540 --> 03:40:44,540
are EMS related and we're trying to see can we recapture some of that. We'd like to study

2398
03:40:44,540 --> 03:40:51,540
that. Also looking at the new things around adding fees around the YouTube TVs as opposed

2399
03:40:51,540 --> 03:40:56,140
to the cable. I don't know if you want to explain a little bit more about that. There's

2400
03:40:56,140 --> 03:40:57,360
an opportunity there as well, correct?

2401
03:41:00,000 --> 03:41:07,340
There was a case recently out of Santa Barbara where they were testing their communications

2402
03:41:07,340 --> 03:41:17,160
user tax about applying that tax to streaming services. And there have been some favorable

2403
03:41:17,160 --> 03:41:27,180
court rulings that have allowed them to proceed with that tax. So we're going to be doing

2404
03:41:27,180 --> 03:41:34,920
some work to see if we believe our current language allows for that and we'll be exploring

2405
03:41:34,920 --> 03:41:42,300
whether that's something that we can start doing here. Obviously, you know, we will be

2406
03:41:42,300 --> 03:41:47,440
coming back to the council with more information about that. And that could be a really important

2407
03:41:47,440 --> 03:41:51,880
source because that goes in with the UUT to supporting our capital program.

2408
03:41:52,880 --> 03:41:59,980
Thank you. Sorry to put you on the spot, Beth. And this wrapping up here, we have put money in the budget.

2409
03:42:00,000 --> 03:42:06,420
Budget around the comprehensive facility, infrastructure, planning, a lot of Zodin Code

2410
03:42:06,420 --> 03:42:10,740
amendment work I had mentioned, really around customer service and trying to lower costs

2411
03:42:10,740 --> 03:42:15,020
for those that are utilizing our services. And those will be coming forward as early

2412
03:42:15,020 --> 03:42:21,880
as July. Already hit on ERP. And then the final thing is really intergovernmental relations.

2413
03:42:22,320 --> 03:42:27,600
There's a lot going on right now with the county, with Caltrain, with Silicon Valley

2414
03:42:27,600 --> 03:42:33,000
clean water with the port. And I listed a bunch of cities that we partner with on all the stormwater

2415
03:42:33,000 --> 03:42:38,400
work, whether it's San Carlos Menlo Park in Belmont. And we do this work, but really being

2416
03:42:38,400 --> 03:42:41,940
intentional and really trying to make strides in some of these areas as they're trying to

2417
03:42:41,940 --> 03:42:45,960
accomplish their goals. We want to make sure we have the seat at the table. So there's

2418
03:42:45,960 --> 03:42:50,220
a lot of time just trying to show on the list of work that takes time and resources.

2419
03:42:50,500 --> 03:42:53,900
And many of you are also involved in those on the various boards and whatnot. So we

2420
03:42:53,900 --> 03:42:59,980
appreciate your your commitments as well. Next slide please. And the final thing is

2421
03:43:00,000 --> 03:43:04,700
It's just a slide around. And I am the worst. I know my staff is looking at me probably right

2422
03:43:04,700 --> 03:43:10,780
now saying that Patrick really put this slide together. But as we think about regulation,

2423
03:43:11,160 --> 03:43:15,700
as we think about the tough financial position that we're in, is I'm going to try to exercise

2424
03:43:15,700 --> 03:43:20,540
discipline and restraint from, you know, I read a lot and I read, oh, city's doing

2425
03:43:20,540 --> 03:43:25,400
this and that's great, is chasing down that next policy. So what I would say in a very

2426
03:43:25,400 --> 03:43:30,960
respectful way is this next year maybe two is if we could really not refrain but

2427
03:43:30,960 --> 03:43:34,100
just have a little bit of a measured approach as it come to new policy and

2428
03:43:34,100 --> 03:43:38,600
regulation that could affect whether or not a business relocates here or whether

2429
03:43:38,600 --> 03:43:43,160
or not somebody decides to repaint their house or redo a new roof you

2430
03:43:43,160 --> 03:43:46,460
know is really think about you know sometimes we'll see that a city that

2431
03:43:46,460 --> 03:43:50,120
are really cool new policy you don't think about the unintended costs of

2432
03:43:50,120 --> 03:43:53,440
said policy and so just trying to have a little restraint again I know my

2433
03:43:53,440 --> 03:43:57,060
staff is probably laughing at me because I am always trying to say yeah we can

2434
03:43:57,060 --> 03:43:59,860
absolutely take that on but I'm just asking as we weather

2435
03:44:09,780 --> 03:44:15,000
Next slide, please. So, with that, I will turn it over to Beth just to wrap it up. But thank you.

2436
03:44:16,140 --> 03:44:24,580
Okay, thank you. So, a reminder for the council is you're contemplating what we've presented to you.

2437
03:44:24,820 --> 03:44:28,840
We're looking for feedback on the 10-year forecast and financial trends.

2438
03:44:28,840 --> 03:44:37,200
and city department operations and budget recommendations that are included in the recommended budget.

2439
03:44:37,620 --> 03:44:48,920
And we have a crowd of city staff here who I also want to echo my thanks to for partnering with the finance department

2440
03:44:48,920 --> 03:44:54,760
as we built this budget who are here to answer any questions that you might have.

2441
03:44:54,760 --> 03:44:59,940
and then just previewing previewing

2442
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:07,380
And what we'll be asking after the questions is, oops, is, okay, we've got dual things going

2443
03:45:07,380 --> 03:45:14,580
on here, is, after providing the feedback, we'll be asking the council to adopt a resolution

2444
03:45:14,580 --> 03:45:21,700
setting June 22nd as the date for the public hearing and adoption of the budget.

2445
03:45:22,280 --> 03:45:25,020
So with that, open it up to all of you. Thank you.

2446
03:45:27,690 --> 03:45:32,510
Thank you, Beth. Thank you, Patrick and the whole team for getting us to this point.

2447
03:45:32,670 --> 03:45:36,210
I know it's a lot of work and we will open the public hearing.

2448
03:45:36,390 --> 03:45:38,410
So I'll turn things over to our city clerk.

2449
03:45:39,230 --> 03:45:41,670
Thank you, Mayor. We don't have any speaker cards at this time.

2450
03:45:42,310 --> 03:45:43,690
Looks like we might have one.

2451
03:45:45,210 --> 03:45:48,210
And if you're on Zoom, please raise your hand for public comment on this item.

2452
03:45:48,410 --> 03:45:48,690
Thank you.

2453
03:45:49,890 --> 03:45:52,530
You can stay close, Michael, because you'll be called up.

2454
03:45:54,700 --> 03:45:56,900
All right. We'll close the speaker's list.

2455
03:45:56,900 --> 03:45:59,800
Just no comments on Zoom, but we will call up Michael.

2456
03:46:01,600 --> 03:46:02,120
Hello,

2457
03:46:12,470 --> 03:46:18,010
my name is Michael Arusa. Just wanted to note a couple of things in the budget. Really

2458
03:46:18,010 --> 03:46:27,750
excited to see zoning, streamlining, and objective design standards on the 26-27 policy. I did

2459
03:46:27,750 --> 03:46:31,610
want to tie some of those back to the budget since I know that there's a deficit, a protected

2460
03:46:31,610 --> 03:46:37,670
deficit. And I do want to note, because of Prop 13, there is an inability to assess properties

2461
03:46:37,670 --> 03:46:43,070
properties, or increased property taxes on properties more than 2% every year, but that

2462
03:46:43,830 --> 03:46:47,510
does reassess every time a property changes hand or if there's sufficient redevelopment.

2463
03:46:48,030 --> 03:46:51,850
So I think it is important to stress that a lot of the work that will make it easier

2464
03:46:51,850 --> 03:46:58,030
to build missing middle housing or develop on certain plots of land throughout the

2465
03:46:58,030 --> 03:46:59,890
city can measurably improve.

2466
03:47:00,000 --> 03:47:04,800
The city's financial situation by allowing for reassessments of the property taxes on those

2467
03:47:04,800 --> 03:47:10,720
lots, which could go a long way towards helping with the long-term financial situation. So I

2468
03:47:10,720 --> 03:47:16,200
know I'm the housing guy, I always tie back to housing, but I think especially with zoning

2469
03:47:16,200 --> 03:47:23,540
reform and streamlining in the 26-27 budget, just wanted to stress that that could be

2470
03:47:23,540 --> 03:47:24,600
very important for revenue. Thank you.

2471
03:47:26,420 --> 03:47:28,420
Thank you. That concludes public comment, Mayor.

2472
03:47:30,460 --> 03:47:37,020
Thank you to our public commenter and bring it back to the dais for any council questions or comments.

2473
03:47:38,440 --> 03:47:40,120
Does anyone want to get us started?

2474
03:47:46,270 --> 03:47:47,510
Yeah, let's remember start and thank you.

2475
03:47:48,650 --> 03:47:49,650
We're sending time here.

2476
03:47:49,930 --> 03:47:54,990
So thank you. Thank you to all the staff who prepared this fantastic job.

2477
03:47:55,270 --> 03:47:58,290
I wanted to highlight some things I liked if I could find my notes.

2478
03:48:00,640 --> 03:48:06,820
Just adding that, admin clerk number three, to save the costs associated with consultants,

2479
03:48:07,580 --> 03:48:13,220
I really appreciate you adding a project coordinator, number one on page 224. It's kind of all over

2480
03:48:13,220 --> 03:48:18,160
the place here, sorry. And I really appreciate the investment in youth and teens on the

2481
03:48:18,160 --> 03:48:22,860
youth and teens division on page 309. So there's just a couple of quick highlights

2482
03:48:22,860 --> 03:48:27,680
that I have there. And then I wanted to delve into some of the other hiring recommendations.

2483
03:48:28,520 --> 03:48:30,000
very much appreciate it all.

2484
03:48:30,840 --> 03:48:35,940
But I want to start with a data point that I saw on page 326 first and foremost.

2485
03:48:37,360 --> 03:48:40,780
So yeah, colleagues, page 326 if you want to follow along.

2486
03:48:42,200 --> 03:48:46,300
The number of contacts with individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis

2487
03:48:46,300 --> 03:48:51,380
who were referred to a mental health facility for evaluation was over 300.

2488
03:48:52,020 --> 03:48:52,740
That's a lot.

2489
03:48:52,740 --> 03:48:59,680
But when I read that I thought to myself, wow, that's like about almost one a day.

2490
03:49:01,640 --> 03:49:07,020
And, you know, we have one crisis response clinician in the city, Dr. Baker, who's fabulous,

2491
03:49:08,140 --> 03:49:13,540
but she hasn't worked 365 days a year, and we don't want her to work 365 days a year, right?

2492
03:49:15,640 --> 03:49:20,440
So I thought to myself, you know, what can we do to address that? You know, we know

2493
03:49:20,440 --> 03:49:26,900
from the community dashboard that follows Dr. Baker's responses to calls for service

2494
03:49:26,900 --> 03:49:29,740
that there's really a great need, right?

2495
03:49:30,560 --> 03:49:32,660
Especially during the week, Tuesdays, Wednesdays,

2496
03:49:32,680 --> 03:49:36,560
Thursdays, but it doesn't tell us

2497
03:49:36,560 --> 03:49:39,760
what those calls for service look like.

2498
03:49:40,120 --> 03:49:44,720
What calls would have required a clinician

2499
03:49:44,720 --> 03:49:49,420
to respond outside Dr. Baker's availability,

2500
03:49:49,950 --> 03:49:52,420
which is only nine to five Monday through Friday,

2501
03:49:52,560 --> 03:49:53,980
I believe, generally speaking.

2502
03:49:53,980 --> 03:49:59,840
So, that's something I'm kind of interested in going forward, kind of getting

2503
03:50:00,000 --> 03:50:07,780
And that type of data on how we can determine whether and when an additional clinician is

2504
03:50:07,780 --> 03:50:14,800
needed. Because, you know, based on the limited data I have here in the community dashboard and

2505
03:50:14,800 --> 03:50:23,640
then also in the budget, it seems like we're not quite meeting that need. And with a licensed

2506
03:50:24,560 --> 03:50:34,860
It's great to know that our officers, 90-70% of them have conducted, have completed mental

2507
03:50:34,860 --> 03:50:36,240
health crisis response training,

2508
03:50:38,270 --> 03:50:41,990
but that's not their primary job, right?

2509
03:50:43,270 --> 03:50:51,150
We've heard time and time again in our community survey from public comment, me personally

2510
03:50:51,150 --> 03:50:58,490
at the doors when, you know, meeting voters that our neighbors want our

2511
03:50:58,490 --> 03:50:59,970
officers to enforce our law.

2512
03:51:00,000 --> 03:51:04,020
Traffic laws, specifically our traffic laws. You know, a lot of, you know, we know that the

2513
03:51:04,020 --> 03:51:09,260
top three reasons why we have traffic-related incidents in the city is running red lights,

2514
03:51:09,560 --> 03:51:17,700
DUIs, and speeding. And so we need our officers doing that proactive enforcement to ultimately,

2515
03:51:18,160 --> 03:51:23,560
you know, bring down those number of accidents in the city and save people's lives ultimately.

2516
03:51:25,860 --> 03:51:33,080
So when I saw that we are recommending adding unfreezing, rather, to police officer positions,

2517
03:51:33,480 --> 03:51:34,040
I understand.

2518
03:51:34,900 --> 03:51:41,640
Because of the burden on our officers, the overtime that is costing taxpayers money as

2519
03:51:41,640 --> 03:51:41,880
well.

2520
03:51:42,620 --> 03:51:47,940
But with that said, it seems like a little bit of a mismatch, and maybe we need another

2521
03:51:47,940 --> 03:51:54,540
clinician to help take some of those mental health crisis response calls so that our officers

2522
03:51:54,540 --> 03:51:59,880
are freed up to respond to what residents are asking for and clamoring for.

2523
03:52:00,000 --> 03:52:06,460
Which is traffic-related incidents and proactive enforcement, among many other things, right?

2524
03:52:07,240 --> 03:52:14,600
So that's just a piece of kind of feedback I wanted to provide. Now I'm open to alternatives,

2525
03:52:15,520 --> 03:52:22,800
such as maybe I'm freezing one position and then hiring another Dr. Baker, or maybe at

2526
03:52:22,800 --> 03:52:26,580
the mid-year budget hearing, mid-year budget check-in,

2527
03:52:26,700 --> 03:52:30,580
if you will, re-evaluating what funds are available,

2528
03:52:30,760 --> 03:52:35,020
if any, to hire another clinician at that time instead.

2529
03:52:35,980 --> 03:52:40,280
But I just want to kind of proctor that question

2530
03:52:40,740 --> 03:52:43,880
to my colleagues, what is the best way

2531
03:52:43,880 --> 03:52:47,580
to meet the need of a mental health crisis response

2532
03:52:47,580 --> 03:52:50,440
in Redwood City, thank you.

2533
03:52:50,440 --> 03:52:51,140
Thank

2534
03:52:54,280 --> 03:52:59,980
you, Council Member. Any colleagues have any immediate reactions to

2535
03:53:03,800 --> 03:53:11,960
Thank you. I was looking at the number of staff with crisis intervention and training, and I

2536
03:53:11,960 --> 03:53:17,480
see that our numbers are pretty high with the sworn personnel, but it looks like as of now

2537
03:53:17,980 --> 03:53:27,220
80% of our dispatch personnel have that training. So I think at least at a minimum, I think it

2538
03:53:27,220 --> 03:53:32,920
It would be great if we could have a focus on getting dispatch personnel the crisis training

2539
03:53:32,920 --> 03:53:35,820
because they're the ones who are first receiving that call.

2540
03:53:36,580 --> 03:53:43,200
All the information that they obtain is so valuable for whoever they're bringing next

2541
03:53:43,200 --> 03:53:43,940
on the scene.

2542
03:53:48,000 --> 03:53:52,620
I would like to have two police officers and another mental health clinician.

2543
03:53:53,140 --> 03:53:56,420
I think we need enforcement.

2544
03:53:56,700 --> 03:53:57,140
I hear that.

2545
03:53:57,140 --> 03:53:59,780
that I see the way we do it.

2546
03:54:00,000 --> 03:54:07,620
City kids dodging cars, and I know how much our residents appreciate that, but I do also think

2547
03:54:07,620 --> 03:54:11,960
that we do have this need. But then I might want to ask the city manager, how does this

2548
03:54:11,960 --> 03:54:18,940
play in with, I know we have a coordinated effort with another agency that's potentially

2549
03:54:18,940 --> 03:54:25,840
working with some of their unhoused population. Could you speak to how that partnership works

2550
03:54:25,840 --> 03:54:26,400
with us?

2551
03:54:26,400 --> 03:54:28,120
Yeah, it's a great question.

2552
03:54:28,400 --> 03:54:29,360
I haven't seen Chief.

2553
03:54:29,360 --> 03:54:29,980
Where's Chief Bell?

2554
03:54:30,160 --> 03:54:30,340
Where's she?

2555
03:54:30,760 --> 03:54:31,680
If she could come in, yeah.

2556
03:54:33,680 --> 03:54:37,200
I want to real quick address Council Member Sir.

2557
03:54:37,360 --> 03:54:39,240
I had the exact same thought when I saw the data.

2558
03:54:39,340 --> 03:54:41,280
I was like, wow, this is really impressive.

2559
03:54:41,620 --> 03:54:43,660
And we're beyond the pilot stage now, right?

2560
03:54:43,740 --> 03:54:44,320
We've been doing this.

2561
03:54:44,820 --> 03:54:46,680
So I think your instincts are dead on,

2562
03:54:46,820 --> 03:54:50,360
on utilizing data to make informed decisions.

2563
03:54:50,520 --> 03:54:52,760
I'd love to hear Chief Bell kind of speak to it on,

2564
03:54:53,040 --> 03:54:54,440
because she and I had a really brief conversation

2565
03:54:54,440 --> 03:54:57,300
on what potential expansion could look like.

2566
03:54:57,960 --> 03:54:59,880
But I can't remember to your question.

2567
03:55:00,000 --> 03:55:04,800
As we start working and we firm up our agreements with life moves and other folks out in the field,

2568
03:55:04,900 --> 03:55:10,060
we will have to ask ourselves how do these folks work together? Right now they do work really,

2569
03:55:10,080 --> 03:55:13,760
really well together on our homeless response side of things, but there's more to it than

2570
03:55:13,760 --> 03:55:17,660
just the homeless side. So I think it's a good point, something that I'll work closely

2571
03:55:17,660 --> 03:55:22,400
with Derek Wolfgram, our city manager, to make sure that we get aligned on that. But no,

2572
03:55:22,580 --> 03:55:26,740
I appreciate that. And Chief Bell, if you want to talk about the clinician aspect

2573
03:55:26,740 --> 03:55:31,000
things would be great. Thank you. Hello everyone, Christina Bell, Chief of Police.

2574
03:55:31,600 --> 03:55:37,620
So I believe the question is the can we add to the question or do we need more?

2575
03:55:38,120 --> 03:55:44,740
Is that all right? So we are still kind of in the early stages of having

2576
03:55:44,740 --> 03:55:50,260
Patricia a part of our staff full-time and so we've grown a lot in her

2577
03:55:50,260 --> 03:55:54,260
ability to the different types of responses whereas before she was

2578
03:55:54,260 --> 03:55:59,760
limited in scope because of the contract. So as we get to look at the data more and understanding

2579
03:56:00,000 --> 03:56:05,040
Where the need is. And when Patricia comes on scene, that doesn't automatically alleviate

2580
03:56:05,040 --> 03:56:10,020
the officers that are on scene with her. So it wouldn't, if we had another clinician, it

2581
03:56:10,020 --> 03:56:17,340
wouldn't free up more officers to do other things. Sometimes her response doesn't necessitate

2582
03:56:17,340 --> 03:56:24,100
us, but that is very much a case by case basis. For future expansion, you know, there has

2583
03:56:24,100 --> 03:56:29,660
been like very low level talks about partnering with a county, potentially to have another,

2584
03:56:29,660 --> 03:56:35,540
but again like very very minimal for the future but something to look forward to.

2585
03:56:42,500 --> 03:56:45,340
Thank you Chief. Council Member any other questions?

2586
03:56:48,190 --> 03:56:52,630
Okay great colleagues who would like to go next?

2587
03:56:52,990 --> 03:56:59,830
Council Member Gee. Thank you Mayor. Patrick the entire team thank you. This is not a budget.

2588
03:57:00,370 --> 03:57:07,490
That is just put on the Excel spreadsheet, typed up, and here it is. It's a lot hard work.

2589
03:57:08,210 --> 03:57:13,790
And I think it would be safe to say this is a constrained budget, Beth. I mean, we don't

2590
03:57:13,790 --> 03:57:18,030
have enough money, so we have to figure out how to fit the services within the money we

2591
03:57:18,030 --> 03:57:28,400
have. So, thank you for that. A couple questions to dive into before I share my, what I'd

2592
03:57:28,400 --> 03:57:32,640
like to see coming back on the 22nd is, you know,

2593
03:57:33,020 --> 03:57:34,400
I think you alluded to this, Beth,

2594
03:57:34,540 --> 03:57:35,740
but this will be the third budget,

2595
03:57:35,980 --> 03:57:37,900
and I'll look at another one on Thursday.

2596
03:57:38,560 --> 03:57:40,240
It happens to be that time of year

2597
03:57:40,800 --> 03:57:43,140
where sales tax projections are all over the place.

2598
03:57:45,260 --> 03:57:47,340
CalTrain is up 1.8%,

2599
03:57:47,340 --> 03:57:48,540
Sam Chance is at zero.

2600
03:57:49,900 --> 03:57:52,940
A director from Palo Alto says they're looking at 2% up

2601
03:57:52,940 --> 03:57:54,080
and here we're looking at,

2602
03:57:54,720 --> 03:57:56,080
we haven't hit the bottom yet.

2603
03:57:56,080 --> 03:57:59,380
And we all hire the same consultants.

2604
03:58:00,180 --> 03:58:03,500
So maybe you can offer a comment on that?

2605
03:58:04,120 --> 03:58:13,880
Yeah, it really depends on what each jurisdiction's sales tax base is based on.

2606
03:58:14,680 --> 03:58:23,880
And we are heavily reliant on sales tax from auto sales because of our auto dealerships.

2607
03:58:23,880 --> 03:58:29,560
and that has been a drag on our sales tax performance.

2608
03:58:30,780 --> 03:58:37,060
Interestingly, luxury cars performance has been holding up,

2609
03:58:37,320 --> 03:58:41,000
but it's a smear mortals that are buying cars

2610
03:58:41,000 --> 03:58:45,320
where there's softening in that market.

2611
03:58:45,720 --> 03:58:48,100
So that's the biggest driver.

2612
03:58:48,100 --> 03:58:59,860
I am monitoring closely our sales tax results and comparing that with what HDL is projecting.

2613
03:59:00,000 --> 03:59:10,700
And for 2526, my projections based on what's coming in this data through March, I'm within

2614
03:59:10,700 --> 03:59:25,600
$200,000 of what their projection is. They're projecting that we'll bring in 34 million, 34.4

2615
03:59:25,600 --> 03:59:31,940
million and I'm sorry, there's too many sixes and fours. Let me start over again. They're

2616
03:59:31,940 --> 03:59:40,140
projecting 34.6 million based on data through March and our trajectory of the last months

2617
03:59:40,140 --> 03:59:50,440
of the fiscal year last year. I've got us at 36.6 million. So our sales tax is performing

2618
03:59:50,440 --> 03:59:54,620
pretty closely in alignment with their current year forecast.

2619
03:59:55,200 --> 03:59:59,980
Obviously, next year remains to be seen, but right now we're trying to

2620
04:00:01,280 --> 04:00:10,080
Well, very good. And that just reminded me of a request I made last year, and maybe it's

2621
04:00:10,080 --> 04:00:16,260
part of why we need to consider a new ERP system is to have more regular updates on where we

2622
04:00:16,260 --> 04:00:22,760
are from a revenue standpoint. I mean, my other boards, we see it monthly. And I'm not asking

2623
04:00:22,760 --> 04:00:29,020
for monthly yet, but at least quarterly to see where we're headed rather than every

2624
04:00:29,020 --> 04:00:35,440
June, oh, by the way, we came up short $10 million. At that point it's too late, but if

2625
04:00:35,440 --> 04:00:40,600
we can be more proactive about looking at whatever the right cadence is, monthly or quarterly,

2626
04:00:41,540 --> 04:00:43,740
I think that would be very helpful for the Council and the public.

2627
04:00:44,320 --> 04:00:52,180
Yes. And I do have a quarterly report ready to go that we can distribute to everyone,

2628
04:00:52,180 --> 04:00:57,380
but we can provide this, you know, monthly.

2629
04:00:57,580 --> 04:00:58,580
I'm looking at it monthly.

2630
04:01:00,000 --> 04:01:05,720
Look to the city manager or other places I've worked. It's something that we've provided.

2631
04:01:06,320 --> 04:01:13,260
So it is something, it's a manual process, but we finances got it down to a pretty good

2632
04:01:13,260 --> 04:01:23,340
cadence where by the 15th middle of each month, like June 15th, we'll have data for April.

2633
04:01:24,020 --> 04:01:26,260
And we can get on that pretty quickly.

2634
04:01:26,260 --> 04:01:31,220
I mean, I'll kind of look to my colleagues about what cadence they want, but I'll look

2635
04:01:31,220 --> 04:01:37,780
to the city manager to lead that, but I think more than once a year is important and no less

2636
04:01:37,780 --> 04:01:42,740
than quarterly, and if the council would like it monthly, and you're able to do that, I

2637
04:01:42,740 --> 04:01:43,380
think that'd be great.

2638
04:01:44,560 --> 04:01:45,180
Thank you.

2639
04:01:46,640 --> 04:01:52,080
To your transmittal letter to city manager, I mean, you know, and we're seeing the

2640
04:01:52,080 --> 04:01:58,920
business license tax, kind of do what we thought it might do, but not everything we thought

2641
04:01:58,920 --> 04:01:59,500
it might do.

2642
04:02:00,780 --> 04:02:06,640
And so my question, consistent with my previous comments earlier this evening, is to what extent

2643
04:02:07,960 --> 04:02:14,860
do our policies here, an accumulative standpoint, make Redwood City less attractive for employers?

2644
04:02:15,820 --> 04:02:20,300
And I think we need to take a very hard look at that. Employers these days have choices.

2645
04:02:21,900 --> 04:02:27,260
You know, there's plenty of empty buildings in St. Carlos. We're competing against Mountain View.

2646
04:02:27,960 --> 04:02:30,740
when the business license tax was put on the ballot.

2647
04:02:31,140 --> 04:02:33,520
There was a large tech company that was ready to sign a lease

2648
04:02:33,520 --> 04:02:34,400
and they said no thanks.

2649
04:02:35,760 --> 04:02:39,720
We've seen at least Amanda share with us

2650
04:02:39,720 --> 04:02:43,140
six or seven potential employers pass on Redwood City.

2651
04:02:43,920 --> 04:02:46,680
So I think we need to take a very, very hard look

2652
04:02:46,680 --> 04:02:51,140
at what policies cumulatively that council has put in place

2653
04:02:51,140 --> 04:02:54,000
that make us less attractive, less competitive

2654
04:02:54,000 --> 04:02:58,680
and really begin to decide is that where we want to be.

2655
04:03:00,000 --> 04:03:04,180
I mean, we'd love the community benefits that commercial developers have brought to

2656
04:03:04,180 --> 04:03:07,980
Reverend City, but if they're struggling to fill those buildings,

2657
04:03:08,980 --> 04:03:14,940
and, you know, that has an impact on our fiscal health, empty office buildings don't help us.

2658
04:03:15,740 --> 04:03:22,060
And so, to your slide number, whatever it was, City Manager, about looking at policies that we've

2659
04:03:22,060 --> 04:03:26,960
put in place, we need to be very disciplined and very thoughtful and look at the strong,

2660
04:03:26,960 --> 04:03:32,080
look at the long-term impacts of that, that make us pass.

2661
04:03:33,500 --> 04:03:45,880
Council Member Strickland, I appreciate your comment, but I'm going to go in a different direction in the sense that I did not see reserves in both the capital CIP or in the budget.

2662
04:03:46,760 --> 04:03:50,880
Beth, you put that slide with all those bubbles on it about the unknowns.

2663
04:03:53,180 --> 04:03:57,040
You know, I know some of my colleagues here might say we weren't elected to save money,

2664
04:03:57,860 --> 04:03:59,780
but when we know that there's potential,

2665
04:04:02,860 --> 04:04:19,340
We need to strategically plan for that and not dip into that 15% from my standpoint. We know for example that there is the likelihood of a litigation or claim or at least financial stress on the veteran's senior center.

2666
04:04:19,340 --> 04:04:27,600
We know that what we heard earlier, there may be a potential impact on an initiative before the voters.

2667
04:04:29,000 --> 04:04:36,900
We know AB 1383, I would say, has a likelihood of being adopted, which changes the pension liabilities for public safety,

2668
04:04:36,980 --> 04:04:39,700
which was going to have a ripple effect to other labor groups.

2669
04:04:41,040 --> 04:04:44,100
We know that 101.84 has financial stress on it.

2670
04:04:44,720 --> 04:04:50,480
And to not plan for that from my standpoint, speaking as one council member, is irresponsible

2671
04:04:51,620 --> 04:04:58,540
because we don't have any other fund source to go and fund these things and others that I haven't mentioned.

2672
04:05:00,000 --> 04:05:07,700
And we need to have some sort of reserve or set aside for the likelihood, and some of these

2673
04:05:07,700 --> 04:05:13,320
are beyond likelihood. They're very real about happening. We do not have a litigation reserve.

2674
04:05:13,960 --> 04:05:19,940
There's no line item in the budget for litigation. It just comes out of the general fund. And

2675
04:05:19,940 --> 04:05:26,620
we need to, from my standpoint, plan for these likelihoods and things that are actually

2676
04:05:26,620 --> 04:05:31,100
on our table, like this issue with the senior center.

2677
04:05:31,520 --> 04:05:32,240
That is not pretend.

2678
04:05:32,600 --> 04:05:37,420
That is very real, and zero is not going to be the right answer on that.

2679
04:05:37,840 --> 04:05:44,640
There will be legal fees, and there will be some sort of mediated or court resolution,

2680
04:05:44,880 --> 04:05:46,020
but it's not going to be zero.

2681
04:05:46,600 --> 04:05:47,820
So we should plan for that.

2682
04:05:49,160 --> 04:05:54,540
My last request for coming back on the 22nd

2683
04:05:54,800 --> 04:05:59,440
is there's great detail in the department by department.

2684
04:06:00,000 --> 04:06:08,020
Budget. Every department, thank you all for doing that. But I couldn't reconcile that against

2685
04:06:08,020 --> 04:06:15,600
the details. And then I think the problem or the challenges when there's initiatives with

2686
04:06:15,600 --> 04:06:23,520
multiple fund sources. So like the tenant protection ordinance says it's only $24,000 on the spreadsheet.

2687
04:06:24,300 --> 04:06:29,400
But when you dive into the department budget, it's a lot more than that. So what I'd

2688
04:06:29,400 --> 04:06:34,440
What I'd like to see is a schedule that shows the total

2689
04:06:35,320 --> 04:06:38,300
expand for that initiative on a spreadsheet.

2690
04:06:39,480 --> 04:06:42,140
And I think every council member and every previous council

2691
04:06:42,140 --> 04:06:44,280
says the budget reflects council priorities.

2692
04:06:45,380 --> 04:06:49,300
On that spreadsheet that ties, I'd like to see at top to bottom

2693
04:06:49,300 --> 04:06:54,240
those initiatives, whether it's 0 to 10 million or whatever,

2694
04:06:54,240 --> 04:06:58,800
to reinforce that we are spending consistent with the council priorities.

2695
04:07:00,000 --> 04:07:03,400
Right now, not everything ties to that detailed spreadsheet.

2696
04:07:04,180 --> 04:07:09,360
And so when you look at some of the initiatives like the homeless or TPO and things like that,

2697
04:07:09,820 --> 04:07:14,040
the number on the detailed spreadsheet compared to the department spreadsheet, they're not the

2698
04:07:14,040 --> 04:07:17,420
same number. And I think the issue is the multiple fund source.

2699
04:07:18,820 --> 04:07:24,780
So I'd like to see that number tie back. And then I'd like to see top to bottom from a

2700
04:07:24,780 --> 04:07:28,200
a miracle standpoint to reinforce that we are spending

2701
04:07:28,800 --> 04:07:31,420
on the initiatives consistent with the priorities

2702
04:07:31,420 --> 04:07:31,960
of the council.

2703
04:07:33,560 --> 04:07:36,120
So with that, I think hopefully that's helpful.

2704
04:07:36,300 --> 04:07:37,720
Hopefully that made sense first, Beth.

2705
04:07:38,280 --> 04:07:39,560
Was I hopefully clear?

2706
04:07:41,680 --> 04:07:43,060
We'll put our heads together.

2707
04:07:43,660 --> 04:07:45,780
Okay, I mean, I think Patrick understands

2708
04:07:45,780 --> 04:07:47,940
what I'm looking for and I talked to him about it,

2709
04:07:47,940 --> 04:07:49,520
but I was just trying to connect the dots

2710
04:07:49,520 --> 04:07:52,060
and they weren't connecting Apple for Apple, so.

2711
04:07:52,340 --> 04:07:53,220
So thank you, Mayor.

2712
04:07:54,780 --> 04:07:57,560
Thank you, Council Member Chi, and we'll go to Council Member Sturgeon.

2713
04:07:57,760 --> 04:07:59,300
Apologies, just two quick responses.

2714
04:08:01,880 --> 04:08:07,900
So I think as part of that spreadsheet, I think you put it, one thing that we didn't talk

2715
04:08:07,900 --> 04:08:17,100
about earlier is that that petition would replace the current TPO, right? It replaces a number

2716
04:08:17,100 --> 04:08:21,160
of tenant protections that we have already enacted. So there's a, I'm not going to say

2717
04:08:21,160 --> 04:08:28,300
it's a net savings because it's not, but there is a net difference there. So that's

2718
04:08:28,300 --> 04:08:30,080
something that should be factored into that spreadsheet.

2719
04:08:31,580 --> 04:08:34,700
Cost savings, anyway.

2720
04:08:35,480 --> 04:08:37,280
And then the biggest thing I forgot to mention

2721
04:08:37,280 --> 04:08:40,900
with regards to the two unfrozen police officer positions

2722
04:08:40,900 --> 04:08:44,240
is that on page three, 29 or so,

2723
04:08:44,440 --> 04:08:46,920
it states that the cost is $350,000.

2724
04:08:47,580 --> 04:08:48,740
That's only for six months.

2725
04:08:48,960 --> 04:08:51,380
So the true cost per year is $700,000

2726
04:08:51,380 --> 04:08:52,380
for those two officers.

2727
04:08:52,960 --> 04:08:56,900
And I thought to myself, with an anticipated deficit

2728
04:08:56,900 --> 04:08:59,720
instead of $22 million starting next fiscal year.

2729
04:09:00,000 --> 04:09:06,300
It's really hard to justify adding new staff when we may have to cut them in the future.

2730
04:09:06,780 --> 04:09:10,280
So that is just one of the other reasons I brought that up.

2731
04:09:11,880 --> 04:09:21,480
Concern over adding new staff who are very expensive when there are alternatives that are available.

2732
04:09:22,240 --> 04:09:22,680
Thank you.

2733
04:09:23,420 --> 04:09:24,320
Thank you, Council Member.

2734
04:09:24,420 --> 04:09:24,880
Council Member G.

2735
04:09:25,520 --> 04:09:33,120
I just want to be very clear, the reserve is for the future unknowns that we don't know,

2736
04:09:33,760 --> 04:09:39,720
and so the spreadsheet, for example, like I said, TPO, tenant protection, and the detailed

2737
04:09:39,720 --> 04:09:42,480
operating fund, it says it's only $24,000.

2738
04:09:44,060 --> 04:09:49,980
We know it's not, but because in the department detail, it's a lot more because of multiple

2739
04:09:49,980 --> 04:09:50,700
fund sources.

2740
04:09:51,520 --> 04:09:57,720
That number needs to be tied to that spreadsheet and then be sorted by whatever, so we can

2741
04:09:57,720 --> 04:09:59,400
see that investment.

2742
04:10:00,000 --> 04:10:05,200
Alliance with council priorities. The reserve I'm talking about is to deal with the net difference

2743
04:10:05,780 --> 04:10:10,860
if that initiative passes, because we don't know what it's going to be. We don't know how

2744
04:10:10,860 --> 04:10:16,740
much of it is going to replace our current ordinances, what the increase cost is, but

2745
04:10:16,740 --> 04:10:20,820
that's why we need to plan for some sort of reserve. Since we heard clearly earlier

2746
04:10:20,820 --> 04:10:27,940
this evening, the city is probably going to have to front that startup of some magnitude

2747
04:10:28,400 --> 04:10:30,440
and wind down what we have, too.

2748
04:10:30,800 --> 04:10:33,460
I mean, you can't just turn the switch overnight and say,

2749
04:10:33,460 --> 04:10:35,060
here's what we have and here's what's different.

2750
04:10:35,500 --> 04:10:37,020
So that's what the reserve is for,

2751
04:10:37,220 --> 04:10:39,880
because we know there's going to be a cost.

2752
04:10:40,780 --> 04:10:43,500
We just don't know how much and what the net number is going to be.

2753
04:10:44,160 --> 04:10:47,000
So that's why I argue there needs to be a reserve,

2754
04:10:47,140 --> 04:10:49,100
because we know if it does pass, there's going to be something.

2755
04:10:49,900 --> 04:10:51,980
We know there's a claim on the senior center.

2756
04:10:52,420 --> 04:10:55,080
We know AB 1383 is likely to pass.

2757
04:10:55,080 --> 04:10:57,900
We know it's likely we're not going to get VLF.

2758
04:10:58,620 --> 04:10:59,960
So knowing those things...

2759
04:11:00,000 --> 04:11:01,260
We should plan for them financially.

2760
04:11:04,510 --> 04:11:05,350
Thank you both.

2761
04:11:05,690 --> 04:11:06,210
Councilmember Padilla.

2762
04:11:07,710 --> 04:11:12,090
I would like to say, I would like to focus on something that I think is important.

2763
04:11:12,730 --> 04:11:15,770
And it's only going to become increasingly more important.

2764
04:11:16,010 --> 04:11:20,130
And it's something we've talked about a lot, and it's our PCI index.

2765
04:11:21,410 --> 04:11:26,550
I think I saw in the budget that we've allocated $5 million annually.

2766
04:11:26,550 --> 04:11:31,830
annually, but everything that I read said it, the road, the quality of our pavement.

2767
04:11:33,430 --> 04:11:37,510
And I know Ms. Warner has educated us a lot on it.

2768
04:11:38,210 --> 04:11:43,070
But with everything we're talking about and with Beth's, I know that you use green to

2769
04:11:43,070 --> 04:11:51,510
make it a little happier, but inflation, tariffs, oil gas, all of these prices, our roadwork

2770
04:11:51,510 --> 04:11:55,390
is only going to become increasingly more expensive those costs.

2771
04:11:55,390 --> 04:11:57,130
and it is needed.

2772
04:11:57,770 --> 04:11:59,530
And when we talk about when...

2773
04:12:00,000 --> 04:12:07,080
Councilmember G talks about welcoming new developers or companies or even quite

2774
04:12:07,080 --> 04:12:12,160
frankly people who want residents who want to move into our neighborhood. The quality

2775
04:12:12,160 --> 04:12:18,300
of a city's roads is an indicator of a lot. I think it speaks volumes without

2776
04:12:18,300 --> 04:12:21,660
having to say it. You know that feeling you have when you're driving somewhere in

2777
04:12:21,660 --> 04:12:26,120
the road is smooth. It sends a message and I think that it is an investment

2778
04:12:26,120 --> 04:12:31,580
worth making, so I actually think that we should be finding the money to put in,

2779
04:12:32,180 --> 04:12:35,740
I think they should have asked for closer, because of what we're doing now,

2780
04:12:36,180 --> 04:12:40,300
we're not ever going to catch up, look at us, we were at 70, the last time she

2781
04:12:40,300 --> 04:12:45,840
talked to us we were at 69, now we're dropping back to 68. If we kick this

2782
04:12:45,840 --> 04:12:49,240
can, it's only going to get more expensive and the road work is only

2783
04:12:49,240 --> 04:12:53,200
going to get more needed and more complex, so I actually would like to

2784
04:12:53,200 --> 04:12:56,880
see more money in the budget allocated to fixing our roads.

2785
04:12:57,460 --> 04:12:59,500
So I wanted to put that out there for discussion

2786
04:12:59,500 --> 04:12:59,980
because I

2787
04:13:00,000 --> 04:13:05,820
I believe it was said that we needed to have seven million a year to actually have a better

2788
04:13:05,820 --> 04:13:08,640
quality of roads. So I'd like to put that out there to the group.

2789
04:13:10,320 --> 04:13:12,720
Thank you, Council Member Padilla. We'll go to Vice Mayor Aiken.

2790
04:13:13,120 --> 04:13:20,120
Well, I'm just going to, on the road thing, we allocated more $2 million of our surplus

2791
04:13:20,120 --> 04:13:28,080
last year to the roads. And we, I believe we hired a consultant with that money who

2792
04:13:28,080 --> 04:13:37,680
prioritized, who did a whole new assessment of the roads and priority areas, and that's

2793
04:13:37,680 --> 04:13:38,800
kind of work that's ongoing.

2794
04:13:39,220 --> 04:13:42,800
So my feeling about that is let's let that play out.

2795
04:13:43,540 --> 04:13:46,840
Let's get, we're going to get reported back on that.

2796
04:13:47,220 --> 04:13:54,500
And again, because of all the unknowns, I feel like we're working on that right

2797
04:13:54,500 --> 04:13:58,520
now from the 2 million, the extra 2 million that we allocated last year.

2798
04:14:02,060 --> 04:14:02,560
That's all.

2799
04:14:03,380 --> 04:14:10,920
I appreciate that. And I remember I was one who was asking for that extra two months. And I do appreciate the gentleman. He gave us a nice talk about the different slurries.

2800
04:14:11,200 --> 04:14:19,120
But my point was we're just constantly playing catch up. So even then we're just going to go farther and farther and it's going to be more costly.

2801
04:14:19,280 --> 04:14:28,160
So I just want us to think we're going to need our roads. We're going to use them. I'm just, if we kick this can, it's a very expensive can. That's it. Thank you.

2802
04:14:28,160 --> 04:14:31,460
Thank you, Council Member.

2803
04:14:32,000 --> 04:14:35,380
And I'll just make a quick comment that, absolutely.

2804
04:14:35,880 --> 04:14:38,320
And that's why we have, I mean, so many capital needs, right?

2805
04:14:38,500 --> 04:14:43,360
And the budget went into detail about just the revenue sources

2806
04:14:43,360 --> 04:14:45,660
that we used to be able to fund all of our needs,

2807
04:14:45,780 --> 04:14:46,920
like street services, right?

2808
04:14:47,040 --> 04:14:49,080
Is just not meeting the cut anymore.

2809
04:14:49,420 --> 04:14:53,160
So just want to appreciate that comment

2810
04:14:53,160 --> 04:14:55,800
and also the work that staff is doing to start

2811
04:14:55,800 --> 04:14:58,160
that conversation and get a sense of what that total sum

2812
04:14:58,160 --> 04:14:58,660
is going to be.

2813
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:03,780
Just wanted to add that comment, but colleagues, any other?

2814
04:15:05,000 --> 04:15:05,500
Council Member Howard.

2815
04:15:06,480 --> 04:15:11,480
Well, I really appreciate all the comments and from all my colleagues.

2816
04:15:11,780 --> 04:15:19,020
But I also want to thank our staff for the budget that you have presented to us because I feel so totally informed.

2817
04:15:19,740 --> 04:15:28,340
I'm not happy with some of the unexpected outcomes and things that are very disappointing like DLF.

2818
04:15:28,340 --> 04:15:36,500
But being transparent and letting us know, letting the public know this is where we're at will make us a better city.

2819
04:15:36,680 --> 04:15:40,020
Because we'll pull together and we'll try to solve these problems.

2820
04:15:40,680 --> 04:15:45,360
I do believe we're going to have to exercise a great deal of discipline these next several years.

2821
04:15:45,620 --> 04:15:49,520
There's just no doubt about it as much as I want to have many things done.

2822
04:15:49,920 --> 04:15:55,560
Our needs exceed the amount of money that we have and that's just being totally realistic and honest.

2823
04:15:55,560 --> 04:15:59,980
And I think the public needs to know that if they

2824
04:16:00,000 --> 04:16:05,760
We haven't already seen that, but I did want to ask if we could ask Amanda, because I have

2825
04:16:05,760 --> 04:16:11,380
concerns we've spent so much money on our downtown, spent so much money on beautifying

2826
04:16:11,380 --> 04:16:17,860
our city and making an attractive destination. I do have concerns that businesses are not

2827
04:16:17,860 --> 04:16:23,920
locating here, especially larger ones, and I was wondering if she could give us a report

2828
04:16:23,920 --> 04:16:28,480
on that, not necessarily tonight, because we have a lot more business to take care

2829
04:16:28,480 --> 04:16:33,320
But I really would like to know what could we be doing better?

2830
04:16:33,720 --> 04:16:35,100
What can we be doing differently?

2831
04:16:35,380 --> 04:16:39,720
Are there needs we're not meeting that these companies decide not to come here?

2832
04:16:39,840 --> 04:16:42,880
I think we're a very desirable place for a company.

2833
04:16:43,140 --> 04:16:49,920
We have attorneys moving from certain cities because the vibrancy here is what is bringing them.

2834
04:16:50,560 --> 04:16:54,840
So I think it's important that we understand what's the disconnect here

2835
04:16:54,840 --> 04:16:59,980
because maybe we can resolve that and that might help because certainly we

2836
04:17:00,000 --> 04:17:02,960
We need more companies locating here to help pay the bills.

2837
04:17:04,000 --> 04:17:11,180
So I think if Amanda could do that for us and maybe with her, Patrick, come up with, well,

2838
04:17:11,440 --> 04:17:15,960
it seems like maybe we didn't streamline this enough or this is what didn't meet their needs.

2839
04:17:16,580 --> 04:17:22,060
Maybe we figure out, well, maybe we needed to look at it more closely and meet their needs.

2840
04:17:22,620 --> 04:17:25,500
So that would be something I'd really like to see.

2841
04:17:25,500 --> 04:17:29,820
I don't want to stop lobbying Sacramento for the vehicle license fees.

2842
04:17:30,280 --> 04:17:34,560
I think if we do that, that would be a major mistake on our part.

2843
04:17:35,120 --> 04:17:40,180
If we stop going, they'll think we don't care anymore, and they'll just write us off.

2844
04:17:40,820 --> 04:17:48,260
So I think it's important that either by email, by phone call, contact your legislators in Sacramento.

2845
04:17:48,560 --> 04:17:50,720
I'm asking everyone in Redwood City.

2846
04:17:50,720 --> 04:17:59,640
San Mateo County is one of three, three counties in the state of California that has been chosen

2847
04:18:00,000 --> 04:18:07,360
Not to get vehicle license feeds based on an outdated formula, and so that's truly upsetting

2848
04:18:07,360 --> 04:18:11,880
to me because last year they said they were going to fix the formula and solve the problem,

2849
04:18:12,280 --> 04:18:19,540
and they pushed it off. So if you don't become the thorn in their side, we're going to be

2850
04:18:19,540 --> 04:18:25,380
treated like they can do without five and a half million dollars. Well, we can't. So

2851
04:18:25,380 --> 04:18:31,620
So if anyone here in the audience has an interest in contacting your legislators, they're easy

2852
04:18:31,620 --> 04:18:36,780
enough to get those numbers, write an email, write a letter, make a phone call because

2853
04:18:36,780 --> 04:18:39,560
we can't back down, we have to keep talking.

2854
04:18:39,720 --> 04:18:43,200
The county is being very aggressive and we're working with the county.

2855
04:18:43,480 --> 04:18:49,140
So I strongly advise you, these are monies that are owed to our city that are owed

2856
04:18:49,140 --> 04:18:53,920
to our county and they're depriving us of that money and that's wrong.

2857
04:18:53,920 --> 04:18:57,040
So we're asking for your help on that.

2858
04:18:57,800 --> 04:18:59,980
But other than that, I think this...

2859
04:19:00,000 --> 04:19:05,620
The staff has done a marvelous job of really highlighting what we need to do, that we do

2860
04:19:05,620 --> 04:19:12,400
need to be disciplined. You're putting emphasis on the right areas, in my opinion, and I think

2861
04:19:12,400 --> 04:19:20,200
we just have to be careful that we don't jump into new projects or a lot of new things when

2862
04:19:20,200 --> 04:19:25,700
we really haven't cleaned up what we already have. So that's where I'd like to focus.

2863
04:19:25,700 --> 04:19:31,240
because one thing I would say is modernizing our service delivery I'm very excited about.

2864
04:19:31,780 --> 04:19:36,780
So thank you Patrick for not losing that vision that you presented to us when you interviewed

2865
04:19:36,780 --> 04:19:37,380
with us.

2866
04:19:37,720 --> 04:19:38,940
Really appreciate that.

2867
04:19:39,380 --> 04:19:44,560
But other than that I just think the staff has done a wonderful job and appreciate their

2868
04:19:44,560 --> 04:19:49,720
honesty in coming to us with the real facts so that we can make good solid decisions.

2869
04:19:50,480 --> 04:19:51,120
Thank you.

2870
04:19:53,050 --> 04:19:54,350
Thank you Council Member Howard.

2871
04:19:54,490 --> 04:19:55,270
We'll go to the Vice Mayor.

2872
04:19:56,290 --> 04:19:59,970
So, first of all, it's fun to see so many of the

2873
04:20:00,000 --> 04:20:03,560
The staff here tonight, thank you for staying up with us.

2874
04:20:05,000 --> 04:20:11,240
And you know, our, this budget, or last year's budget, won an award.

2875
04:20:12,020 --> 04:20:18,040
I wrote it down somewhere, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government

2876
04:20:18,040 --> 04:20:20,200
Finance Officers Association.

2877
04:20:21,320 --> 04:20:26,320
And it's no coincidence, you guys are just amazing pros.

2878
04:20:26,320 --> 04:20:29,420
And I'm so glad you're here with us tonight.

2879
04:20:30,980 --> 04:20:37,200
On both my colleagues, so I don't like to, you know, when it's sparse like this budget

2880
04:20:37,200 --> 04:20:41,040
where we're really tightening the belt, I don't like to second...

2881
04:20:41,040 --> 04:20:45,980
I personally don't like to second guess staff's choices.

2882
04:20:46,660 --> 04:20:48,860
We do policy, they do implementation.

2883
04:20:50,300 --> 04:20:52,060
I do love the clinician.

2884
04:20:52,060 --> 04:20:58,180
I'm thrilled and I'm thrilled that she's on staff instead of a consultant and thank you.

2885
04:21:00,000 --> 04:21:11,000
Councilmember Sturkin for asking about it, and thank you for your answer, Cable, that you're still assessing it and improving it, and that's good.

2886
04:21:11,860 --> 04:21:18,360
I'm fine with hiring the new police officers. We do need more traffic safety. We do need all of that.

2887
04:21:20,360 --> 04:21:26,240
So I just, this one, I'm just going to go through, well, actually, let me do my question, though, to Beth.

2888
04:21:27,480 --> 04:21:43,080
So is it accurate, Beth, that Stanford is our fourth largest employer and is exempt from paying the business license tax?

2889
04:21:43,280 --> 04:21:43,920
Is that accurate?

2890
04:21:44,300 --> 04:21:45,140
Yes, that's accurate.

2891
04:21:45,360 --> 04:21:46,040
Okay, thank you.

2892
04:21:46,040 --> 04:21:59,020
So now with the Greater Downtown Area Plan, so Amanda, I just think it's amazing that the engagement

2893
04:21:59,020 --> 04:21:59,980
Thank you.

2894
04:22:06,020 --> 04:22:13,980
I read it on page 96 of the budget. That's you, Jeff. So, is that because people are just

2895
04:22:13,980 --> 04:22:20,240
so excited and they want to be involved? I mean, that's just awesome. Please tell me more.

2896
04:22:25,890 --> 04:22:32,830
Jeff Wabb, Community Development Director. Yes, I think in part it's the excitement about the possibilities of what the future holds.

2897
04:22:32,830 --> 04:22:39,490
And in part, I do think it was staffs reaching out in multiple formats to the community, going

2898
04:22:39,490 --> 04:22:45,990
out door to door, going in various meetings, having the speakers come speak about some of

2899
04:22:45,990 --> 04:22:46,970
the topics.

2900
04:22:47,210 --> 04:22:49,150
I think it was a combination of things.

2901
04:22:49,790 --> 04:22:56,250
Well, I mean, it's the best kind of building of your built environment is what the community,

2902
04:22:56,690 --> 04:22:58,110
you know, getting community feedback.

2903
04:22:58,110 --> 04:22:59,550
We're the ones who live here.

2904
04:23:00,000 --> 04:23:07,340
We're the ones who use everything, and so I'm just so thrilled that we're not facing apathy and it's kudos to

2905
04:23:08,060 --> 04:23:15,400
our community and to our staff. So thank you. Keep up the good work.

2906
04:23:17,380 --> 04:23:31,780
This one floored me. 69% of the acreage in Redwood City is open space. That fascinated me.

2907
04:23:32,780 --> 04:23:39,580
I can't remember the page, but in Patrick you're going to get me a map of all that open space.

2908
04:23:39,580 --> 04:23:43,620
And then this one is kind of fun.

2909
04:23:45,720 --> 04:23:51,780
255 days a year are sunny in Redwood City, according

2910
04:23:51,780 --> 04:23:56,880
to page 49 of our award-winning budget report.

2911
04:23:56,880 --> 04:23:59,980
Um, I-I tell-

2912
04:24:00,000 --> 04:24:03,360
I've been telling my neighbors that since I read it.

2913
04:24:05,700 --> 04:24:10,640
The police statistics, K-Bell, what

2914
04:24:10,640 --> 04:24:15,260
is it? Human to human crime is down 17 percent. What's that statistic?

2915
04:24:27,000 --> 04:24:34,000
I took a picture of it. So it's the crimes against persons is down from 2024 to 2025.

2916
04:24:35,760 --> 04:24:36,320
Yes.

2917
04:24:36,640 --> 04:24:38,160
And it sounds 17 percent.

2918
04:24:38,420 --> 04:24:38,620
Yes.

2919
04:24:40,340 --> 04:24:48,180
And I asked you about this in writing and it's just, you said the reason it's hard to know

2920
04:24:48,180 --> 04:24:49,760
but it's a combination of factors.

2921
04:24:49,960 --> 04:24:50,760
Is that accurate?

2922
04:24:51,220 --> 04:24:51,420
Yes.

2923
04:24:52,320 --> 04:24:58,600
And crime in all three categories is down year over year from 24 to 25.

2924
04:24:59,500 --> 04:24:59,780
Yes.

2925
04:25:00,000 --> 04:25:03,740
And the greatest is human to human, or whatever you call that.

2926
04:25:03,760 --> 04:25:04,660
Crimes against persons.

2927
04:25:04,920 --> 04:25:06,040
Crimes against persons.

2928
04:25:06,640 --> 04:25:08,900
So I want to thank you and all your staff.

2929
04:25:09,080 --> 04:25:11,700
And it's important because, as people may know,

2930
04:25:13,320 --> 04:25:17,440
65% of our general fund budget is police and fire.

2931
04:25:18,720 --> 04:25:22,840
It's the bulk of our taxpayer money.

2932
04:25:22,840 --> 04:25:33,200
And so I thank you for really producing some good results in improving public safety.

2933
04:25:33,840 --> 04:25:35,260
And thank you.

2934
04:25:35,480 --> 04:25:41,080
And then can you just, you wrote about this, but if you could just talk a little bit about the success

2935
04:25:41,080 --> 04:25:44,860
that the community service officer at the high schools.

2936
04:25:45,640 --> 04:25:47,040
Yeah, our school liaison officer.

2937
04:25:47,260 --> 04:25:49,040
Your school liaison officer.

2938
04:25:49,580 --> 04:25:49,740
Yes.

2939
04:25:49,740 --> 04:25:52,780
Can you talk a little bit about that?

2940
04:25:53,980 --> 04:25:57,100
Yeah, so since Officer Aaron Sussman has been on campus

2941
04:25:57,100 --> 04:25:59,900
at Sequoia about October, he's built.

2942
04:26:00,000 --> 04:26:04,780
We've really done a lot of work building relationships with the youth and meeting them

2943
04:26:04,780 --> 04:26:10,120
where they're at and building such a relationship to where they have been comfortable to report

2944
04:26:10,120 --> 04:26:16,300
crimes or things that may happen in the future to the officer as opposed to letting them happen

2945
04:26:16,300 --> 04:26:21,400
and someone getting hurt. So just our mere presence on campus has really helped develop

2946
04:26:21,400 --> 04:26:25,340
that trust with our youth. And then there was something in your written

2947
04:26:25,340 --> 04:26:31,300
answer about like that kids understand he's not enforcing school rules like

2948
04:26:31,300 --> 04:26:34,980
he's not going to send them to the principal because they didn't do their

2949
04:26:34,980 --> 04:26:38,940
homework kind of thing. Could you talk a little bit about that? Yes, so he is not

2950
04:26:38,940 --> 04:26:44,520
responsible for anything school related as it pertains to their school work or

2951
04:26:44,520 --> 04:26:48,220
any discipline that the school would handle and the school would call us in

2952
04:26:48,220 --> 04:26:52,480
if they requested us but or if there was an officer or a safety issue at

2953
04:26:52,480 --> 04:26:56,480
school or even a possibility of a crime then we would be involved but it's

2954
04:26:56,480 --> 04:26:59,980
completely separate. Okay so so thank you that

2955
04:27:00,000 --> 04:27:02,280
That's helpful. Thank you. Thank you for all you do.

2956
04:27:03,880 --> 04:27:12,000
I was surprised to learn on page 67 that our transit center, and Mr. G, I'm sure you already

2957
04:27:12,000 --> 04:27:20,240
know this, but I was surprised that our transit center is the largest in the county other than

2958
04:27:20,240 --> 04:27:27,540
daily city and I'm sort of surprised that it's, I'm sort of surprised that we're

2959
04:27:27,540 --> 04:27:29,200
bigger than Milbray with Bart.

2960
04:27:32,120 --> 04:27:35,960
So I think that's a huge selling point for us to

2961
04:27:35,960 --> 04:27:41,180
bring those big employers because we're such a transit hub.

2962
04:27:43,240 --> 04:27:46,580
I'm almost done. I'm

2963
04:27:46,580 --> 04:27:47,920
excited about Mr.

2964
04:27:50,420 --> 04:27:54,900
Baraka, I'm really excited about the training facility, the fire training

2965
04:27:54,900 --> 04:27:59,760
facility. Would you care to give us an update on how

2966
04:28:01,900 --> 04:28:07,420
So, that long-awaited fire training facility that we've been waiting for, if you wanted to

2967
04:28:07,420 --> 04:28:08,680
say a few words about that.

2968
04:28:09,100 --> 04:28:15,520
Yeah, good evening. Thank you, Baraka Carter, Fire Chief. So, this is actually a great opportunity

2969
04:28:15,520 --> 04:28:19,420
to highlight some of the areas where we're currently doing our training, right? So,

2970
04:28:20,320 --> 04:28:25,680
with absence of having a dedicated training facility, which would be a staple facility

2971
04:28:25,680 --> 04:28:27,740
for the community and the fire department.

2972
04:28:29,440 --> 04:28:34,900
We're currently doing our training at the three-story parking garage right across from the fire station,

2973
04:28:35,460 --> 04:28:39,400
which impacts the community, impacts traffic,

2974
04:28:40,100 --> 04:28:46,600
and then we also would utilize the open parking lot behind the sports basement and coals,

2975
04:28:46,640 --> 04:28:52,540
which has its challenges as well because the time that we're actually doing our training,

2976
04:28:52,540 --> 04:28:57,560
delivery trucks. So we're really having to coordinate with the local businesses to ensure we're

2977
04:28:57,560 --> 04:28:59,020
not impacting them and residents.

2978
04:29:00,000 --> 04:29:07,780
So we're really hopeful that we're able to identify and move this project forward. It is

2979
04:29:07,780 --> 04:29:16,280
in a long time making, and it will be a dedicated training facility for our staff, which really

2980
04:29:16,280 --> 04:29:23,420
emphasizes our ability to be more resilient with responses, tactics, our ability to ensure

2981
04:29:23,420 --> 04:29:27,380
that we have a safe community, and then it also being an environment where with our youth,

2982
04:29:27,380 --> 04:29:31,240
our cadet programs, they'll have a dedicated training facility as well to

2983
04:29:31,240 --> 04:29:34,800
enhance those skill sets to hopefully get them into the fire service as well.

2984
04:29:35,180 --> 04:29:39,220
Thank you so much and I know I speak for myself and probably all my

2985
04:29:39,220 --> 04:29:44,640
colleagues that we will help you in any way we can in making sure

2986
04:29:44,640 --> 04:29:47,500
you get that fire training facility as soon as possible.

2987
04:29:47,940 --> 04:29:48,680
Appreciate the support.

2988
04:29:51,260 --> 04:29:53,020
The sales tax, Beth,

2989
04:29:55,400 --> 04:29:59,980
I guess, and Jeff, you don't need to get up there, but or maybe

2990
04:30:02,080 --> 04:30:08,940
I would really love with our greater downtown area plan, and I know part of it is just magic

2991
04:30:08,940 --> 04:30:16,960
like you can't just wave a wand, but this really speaks to the need of more retail downtown.

2992
04:30:18,480 --> 04:30:26,240
And I don't know, we've needed it for a long time, and we've tried all sorts of things

2993
04:30:26,240 --> 04:30:35,540
over the years, but maybe this greater downtown area plan, maybe there's some

2994
04:30:35,540 --> 04:30:45,420
exciting way to reignite retail downtown. I go to some other towns nearby and

2995
04:30:45,420 --> 04:30:52,620
they'll have like unique shops, maybe not chain stores or I'm not a retail

2996
04:30:52,620 --> 04:30:59,820
expert. But Amanda, if you have any thoughts, or if there's any way we can turbocharge our

2997
04:30:59,820 --> 04:30:59,980
Bye.

2998
04:31:00,000 --> 04:31:03,560
Budget to, oh, did you want to say anything, Amanda, please?

2999
04:31:06,130 --> 04:31:09,250
Yes, please. Because, you know,

3000
04:31:09,350 --> 04:31:15,770
sales tax, if we had some really exciting retail stores that could help our sales tax.

3001
04:31:16,410 --> 04:31:23,290
Amanda Anthony, Economic Development Manager. A lot of our sales tax comes from our auto dealers,

3002
04:31:23,290 --> 04:31:31,190
As Beth mentioned, a great deal of it comes from our discount retailers like Costco and Target,

3003
04:31:31,950 --> 04:31:34,310
and then we have a lot from appliance stores.

3004
04:31:35,110 --> 04:31:42,170
So the small retailers that I think that you dream of are not huge sales tax producers,

3005
04:31:42,350 --> 04:31:44,310
like in the aggregate, I think that they could be.

3006
04:31:45,030 --> 04:31:50,650
The other thing that's really been hitting us is Amazon, but not in the way that you think.

3007
04:31:50,650 --> 04:31:57,110
part of it is how the state allocates Amazon revenues so although we have quite

3008
04:31:57,110 --> 04:31:59,870
a few I'm sure

3009
04:32:00,000 --> 04:32:05,480
We have a ton of people here who order on Amazon. One of the things that has changed in

3010
04:32:05,480 --> 04:32:11,880
the last five years and has impacted our sales tax revenues is that the state allocates the

3011
04:32:11,880 --> 04:32:19,920
pool, and so most Amazon sales go to the pool, and it's allocated by what your percentage

3012
04:32:19,920 --> 04:32:24,600
of sales tax is. So like if you're already doing better in sales tax, then you get more

3013
04:32:24,600 --> 04:32:25,540
sales tax from the pool.

3014
04:32:26,300 --> 04:32:31,000
And so that's great, but also kind of self-fulfilling.

3015
04:32:31,700 --> 04:32:40,460
But Brisbane opened two Amazon fulfillment centers in the last year, and what it means

3016
04:32:40,460 --> 04:32:46,420
is that all of those Amazon sales are allocated now to Brisbane, and there are 4,000 people

3017
04:32:46,910 --> 04:32:50,400
instead of the pool and maybe our 82,000 people.

3018
04:32:50,400 --> 04:32:54,560
So that's been a really big hit that we kind of don't have a control over.

3019
04:32:55,200 --> 04:32:59,980
I think one of the things that we would like to do is continue to figure out how to

3020
04:33:00,000 --> 04:33:06,140
How to make retail work. But we do get quite a bit from restaurants, from auto dealers, from

3021
04:33:06,880 --> 04:33:12,280
appliance stores, and our discount retailers. Well, thank you. That's really informative.

3022
04:33:14,420 --> 04:33:24,560
Very supportive of the NRT. Do feel that people are frustrated with illegal dumping, carts,

3023
04:33:24,560 --> 04:33:29,820
you know, grocery carts just willy-nilly all over the place.

3024
04:33:30,280 --> 04:33:37,460
I hear a lot about it in my district, and I'm really hopeful that we can activate that.

3025
04:33:37,540 --> 04:33:38,820
So thank you for thinking of it.

3026
04:33:38,980 --> 04:33:47,780
And as I put in my email, I'm excited about opportunities to partner with the county,

3027
04:33:48,340 --> 04:33:51,160
who I'll just say when I did the math,

3028
04:33:52,240 --> 04:33:55,740
We would need to spend our $200 million

3029
04:33:55,740 --> 04:33:59,960
general fund every year for 20 years.

3030
04:34:00,000 --> 04:34:09,320
25 years to make up what the county spends in its general fund in one year. So some of these,

3031
04:34:10,020 --> 04:34:16,860
you know, we have the county courthouse, we have the county seat, we have the county jails,

3032
04:34:17,620 --> 04:34:23,720
and I'm looking for opportunities for, you know, some of our issues are health issues,

3033
04:34:23,720 --> 04:34:27,260
And we don't have a health department, but the county does.

3034
04:34:28,420 --> 04:34:35,140
And so I really feel that they have tools that we don't have.

3035
04:34:35,300 --> 04:34:36,900
They have money that we don't have.

3036
04:34:37,760 --> 04:34:48,060
And I'm looking in the next 12 months and beyond that we show the county how much

3037
04:34:48,060 --> 04:34:56,220
were helping them and how much, if they gave us money, they would be better off and that

3038
04:34:56,220 --> 04:34:58,720
it would be a more fair thing and that the N.R.T.

3039
04:35:00,140 --> 04:35:05,880
It is an example of it because some of it is mental health issues that people steal grocery

3040
04:35:05,880 --> 04:35:18,410
carts and dump stuff and I just see some opportunities there. I think I'm done. Let me just, I guess

3041
04:35:18,410 --> 04:35:26,570
I'll just say one final comment and that is the budget was award-winning and it was amazing,

3042
04:35:26,570 --> 04:35:33,570
particularly the redwood city history page was outstanding. I was chagrined a little bit disappointed

3043
04:35:34,490 --> 04:35:42,590
that our veteran's center was not had a two or three cursory sentences without an amazing picture.

3044
04:35:43,450 --> 04:35:50,710
So I hope next year that we tout our amazing veteran's center a little bit more. I'll leave

3045
04:35:50,710 --> 04:35:51,030
it there.

3046
04:35:53,060 --> 04:35:59,600
Thank you Vice Mayor. Any? Councillor Serkin, we'll go to you. Two quick responses.

3047
04:36:00,760 --> 04:36:07,760
So I support the idea of like allocating $2 million more to our payment program to get

3048
04:36:07,760 --> 04:36:12,060
us up to 75. I'm just like asking myself, where do we pull it from? Because we have to make

3049
04:36:12,060 --> 04:36:15,780
a tradeoff. And I don't know what the answer to that question is, but if we can figure

3050
04:36:15,780 --> 04:36:22,300
that out today or June 22nd or somewhere in between, I'm open to that. So I just wanted

3051
04:36:22,300 --> 04:36:25,740
to express my support and openness to that. I just don't have the answer to the question.

3052
04:36:26,840 --> 04:36:32,940
And finally, on the topic of being cognizant of unintended consequences of policies or taxes

3053
04:36:32,940 --> 04:36:38,240
or what have you, now they may affect our desirability to attract new business.

3054
04:36:39,660 --> 04:36:43,960
I think, aside from that, it's also our job to be ambassadors to the business community, right?

3055
04:36:44,100 --> 04:36:49,740
And, like, I go to RCIA, the Robert City Improvement Association, meetings on a monthly basis,

3056
04:36:49,960 --> 04:36:52,760
and it'd be nice to see some of my colleagues there as well.

3057
04:36:52,760 --> 04:36:59,740
I know we all can't make it, but you know kind of showing up to these spaces the chamber hosts

3058
04:37:00,700 --> 04:37:06,860
You know, that RCIA has, and developing those relationships, that's something I learned from

3059
04:37:06,860 --> 04:37:11,240
Councilmember G very early on, that we have to build those relationships with the business

3060
04:37:11,240 --> 04:37:16,360
community to attract them to Rapid City. So putting it out there. Thank you.

3061
04:37:19,910 --> 04:37:25,990
All right, not seeing any other lights on. I guess it's my turn. Staff, again, thank

3062
04:37:25,990 --> 04:37:31,810
you for all the work. I know there are so many more names than what are included

3063
04:37:31,810 --> 04:37:35,950
in the first couple of pages of the budget of people who played some role in developing

3064
04:37:35,950 --> 04:37:36,270
this.

3065
04:37:36,550 --> 04:37:43,170
So to everyone who's listed and everyone who's tuned in or have helped, thank you.

3066
04:37:43,730 --> 04:37:48,530
And I start with my talking points first.

3067
04:37:49,090 --> 04:37:53,330
I feel like this budget really speaks to all of the unknowns that we've been dealing

3068
04:37:53,330 --> 04:37:54,970
with over the course of the year.

3069
04:37:55,910 --> 04:37:59,970
the things that we're tracking to see what the outcome is, right, like our...

3070
04:38:00,520 --> 04:38:06,020
Our funding streams at the state and federal levels, BLF, right? Councilmember Howard and

3071
04:38:06,020 --> 04:38:13,100
I went up to Sacramento to let them know what we thought of that change, pension laws at

3072
04:38:13,100 --> 04:38:18,480
the state level, the ordinance we heard earlier tonight. And then there are things that we

3073
04:38:18,480 --> 04:38:24,800
aren't even on our radar yet that we haven't planned for. So it's not an easy thing to

3074
04:38:24,800 --> 04:38:30,640
do, but I think this budget really speaks to our staff trying to answer those questions

3075
04:38:30,640 --> 04:38:35,500
the best that they can. So thank you. And I think there are a lot of strengths that were

3076
04:38:35,500 --> 04:38:42,820
included in this budget that were highlighted. Our restaurants, our hotels, the discount

3077
04:38:42,820 --> 04:38:48,560
retailers, our car dealerships had a little bit less than projected, but still a very

3078
04:38:48,560 --> 04:38:54,000
strong year. There are highlights in parts of our economy that are doing well, and

3079
04:38:54,000 --> 04:38:58,380
I don't want that to be lost in 451 pages of our budget.

3080
04:39:00,460 --> 04:39:06,400
And there are really interesting ideas. The neighborhood response team, I think, rises to the top.

3081
04:39:06,980 --> 04:39:17,760
That is definitely the concerns that are always going to rise at the top of the inbox for people who are worried about illegal dumping or are noticing shopping carts in their community, right, abandoned.

3082
04:39:18,280 --> 04:39:27,480
And, you know, I think being able to change the way that people see government, our government in action, I think just builds confidence.

3083
04:39:27,480 --> 04:39:29,920
and I could see this being something

3084
04:39:29,920 --> 04:39:31,160
that will generate more costs

3085
04:39:31,160 --> 04:39:32,460
because people will want to see

3086
04:39:33,020 --> 04:39:34,740
a neighborhood response team, right?

3087
04:39:34,960 --> 04:39:35,900
We're going to start seeing

3088
04:39:35,900 --> 04:39:37,140
that many more complaints come in

3089
04:39:37,140 --> 04:39:38,820
and because people will expect

3090
04:39:38,820 --> 04:39:40,740
that we're going to be on top of it that much more.

3091
04:39:41,100 --> 04:39:43,940
So really excited to see how that rolls out.

3092
04:39:44,440 --> 04:39:46,800
I mentioned, you know, to Council Member Padilla's

3093
04:39:47,460 --> 04:39:49,380
point around the pavement quality,

3094
04:39:50,160 --> 04:39:53,580
our work around capital needs is really important, right?

3095
04:39:54,660 --> 04:39:55,960
From everything from street pavement

3096
04:39:55,960 --> 04:39:59,980
into replacing buildings, and I'm really proud of that.

3097
04:40:00,000 --> 04:40:07,220
You know, we are going to be having a conversation around PLAs as to how we build and who is constructing

3098
04:40:07,220 --> 04:40:14,060
these projects. So, I'm excited for that work to continue. The economic vitality plan, right,

3099
04:40:14,420 --> 04:40:20,720
that Amanda and her team are going to be working on, that is really exciting. I've heard it at the

3100
04:40:20,720 --> 04:40:26,620
dais before that so many of us want to nurture our local businesses and also

3101
04:40:28,380 --> 04:40:29,980
So we need to be self-resilient.

3102
04:40:30,180 --> 04:40:34,980
So the more that we can nurture who we have here and attract more businesses to Revit City,

3103
04:40:35,580 --> 04:40:36,800
it's only going to make us stronger.

3104
04:40:37,240 --> 04:40:44,680
So the last thing that I just want to mention on the strengths here is going to use a line

3105
04:40:44,680 --> 04:40:50,340
from our city manager modernizing our city operations, including not just the ERP which

3106
04:40:50,340 --> 04:40:56,200
is so important for our staff internally every day, but cybersecurity is something

3107
04:40:56,200 --> 04:40:59,980
that so many local jurisdictions are playing catch up on, so to make it

3108
04:41:00,000 --> 04:41:05,180
And investments now before we need to react to something is really important. So thank you

3109
04:41:05,180 --> 04:41:06,380
for including that staff.

3110
04:41:08,460 --> 04:41:12,400
And with all that said, lots to love, but also I felt like there

3111
04:41:12,400 --> 04:41:17,560
were still some things that were missing. My colleagues mentioned a few things. I wanted

3112
04:41:17,560 --> 04:41:23,360
to throw my support behind quarterly updates on city revenues. I think especially if we're

3113
04:41:23,360 --> 04:41:27,640
coming up with an economic plan, it makes sense for us to start familiarizing ourselves

3114
04:41:27,640 --> 04:41:29,540
with what the picture is on the ground.

3115
04:41:30,760 --> 04:41:34,460
I think we had a conversation maybe last year,

3116
04:41:34,540 --> 04:41:36,040
the year before around reserve funds.

3117
04:41:36,320 --> 04:41:38,020
I think it's time for us to talk about that

3118
04:41:38,660 --> 04:41:40,780
so that we can be ready for the things

3119
04:41:40,780 --> 04:41:41,920
that aren't even on our radar.

3120
04:41:43,300 --> 04:41:45,780
And then the last couple of ideas are just,

3121
04:41:47,280 --> 04:41:49,000
it feels like these are responding

3122
04:41:49,000 --> 04:41:51,540
to the level of homelessness

3123
04:41:51,540 --> 04:41:53,400
that we're still seeing in our city

3124
04:41:53,400 --> 04:41:55,860
and the work that our staff are doing

3125
04:41:55,860 --> 04:41:58,040
to address that for our residents.

3126
04:42:00,000 --> 04:42:04,620
I really liked the idea of a new clinician for our police department. I think we're already

3127
04:42:04,620 --> 04:42:10,700
heading in that direction with community service officers who are taking on more work that has

3128
04:42:10,700 --> 04:42:18,040
traditionally taken up police time. So I think building that into our work plan makes a lot

3129
04:42:18,040 --> 04:42:23,060
of sense. And there is a different purpose than the outreach workers that we've hired.

3130
04:42:23,500 --> 04:42:27,780
I think the outreach workers are really trying to just build trust, build a relationship,

3131
04:42:27,780 --> 04:42:32,940
whereas our clinicians, I'm thinking of Patricia,

3132
04:42:33,540 --> 04:42:35,000
is de-escalating those situations

3133
04:42:35,000 --> 04:42:37,460
where I think in how each worker typically

3134
04:42:37,790 --> 04:42:39,880
just wouldn't engage out of their own safety, right?

3135
04:42:40,120 --> 04:42:43,260
So I see the value in the clinicians

3136
04:42:43,630 --> 04:42:48,520
and I also am cognizant that our labor groups

3137
04:42:48,520 --> 04:42:51,740
are expecting some extra support and some backup there.

3138
04:42:51,960 --> 04:42:55,500
So I don't wanna lose the conversation piece

3139
04:42:55,500 --> 04:42:59,820
around our clinicians and we'd like to see ourselves

3140
04:43:00,000 --> 04:43:05,680
And I've sort of explored what that pathway to hiring a new clinician in the next budget

3141
04:43:05,680 --> 04:43:10,720
cycle would look like. Chief Bell, you mentioned that there are some questions you are still

3142
04:43:10,720 --> 04:43:18,100
developing what, you know, our current clinician's role is. And I'm curious to see what questions

3143
04:43:18,100 --> 04:43:24,040
we can help answer and, you know, what policy questions the council can weigh in on. But

3144
04:43:24,040 --> 04:43:28,920
I think there's a lot of value in hiring another clinician. And in the same way, I

3145
04:43:28,920 --> 04:43:31,860
I feel like I've heard from our city staff,

3146
04:43:32,540 --> 04:43:36,800
our first responders who are addressing

3147
04:43:37,440 --> 04:43:39,300
issues around homelessness every day,

3148
04:43:40,080 --> 04:43:43,200
talk about the housing pipeline being backed up,

3149
04:43:43,420 --> 04:43:46,300
that we have the beautiful navigation center

3150
04:43:46,300 --> 04:43:47,360
on the other side of 101,

3151
04:43:48,000 --> 04:43:50,120
and not enough people are moving out for us

3152
04:43:50,120 --> 04:43:51,740
to be able to start transitioning people

3153
04:43:52,200 --> 04:43:54,280
into the spaces that we have at the NAV center.

3154
04:43:54,280 --> 04:43:59,880
And last year, we had talked about how this council unanimously

3155
04:44:00,000 --> 04:44:07,560
I honestly wanted to explore Prop 1 as a potential funding source for this kind of housing, and

3156
04:44:07,560 --> 04:44:13,460
I think, again, baking this into the work plan so that we can be ready so that if a grant

3157
04:44:13,460 --> 04:44:18,020
became available, we're not being reactive, but we already have an idea of where we want

3158
04:44:18,020 --> 04:44:23,280
to place the housing, where it makes sense, and this won't happen overnight and it's

3159
04:44:23,280 --> 04:44:27,560
going to need intergovernmental support, so I think having that conversation now, building

3160
04:44:27,560 --> 04:44:34,620
it in as a policy discussion so that we're prepared when the opportunity arises. We're

3161
04:44:34,620 --> 04:44:42,760
ready to go into it 50-50 with the county and hopefully tap into some of the revenues

3162
04:44:42,760 --> 04:44:50,360
that the county has because this is social safety network. So I think all of those circulate

3163
04:44:50,360 --> 04:44:56,200
around just homelessness and how we best support our unhoused neighbors. And I know

3164
04:44:56,200 --> 04:44:59,780
that won't happen this year so

3165
04:45:00,000 --> 04:45:03,900
So how do we just start those conversations? How do we start answering questions for ourselves

3166
04:45:04,580 --> 04:45:12,540
so that we can start taking advantage if, let's say, we see veal of money, right? That would

3167
04:45:12,540 --> 04:45:21,960
be amazing. Or another bucket of funds that a grant that we've secured. So I know it's

3168
04:45:21,960 --> 04:45:28,000
late. I'd be open to just hearing some of my council colleagues' reactions to that about

3169
04:45:28,000 --> 04:45:31,400
out baking this into the work plan for the next budget year,

3170
04:45:31,640 --> 04:45:34,960
but I'll leave it there.

3171
04:45:35,280 --> 04:45:37,960
I think this has been a lot of work to answer

3172
04:45:37,960 --> 04:45:39,940
a lot of the unknowns that the city's facing.

3173
04:45:40,200 --> 04:45:42,900
So I appreciate that work from staff,

3174
04:45:43,280 --> 04:45:46,480
but we'll open it up to my colleagues

3175
04:45:46,480 --> 04:45:48,760
if anybody has any reactions to that.

3176
04:45:49,920 --> 04:45:50,880
Council Member Sarkin.

3177
04:45:51,860 --> 04:45:55,180
Yes, I wanna bake that into the work plan.

3178
04:45:55,840 --> 04:45:57,680
Referring to Prop 1, you mentioned yes.

3179
04:45:58,040 --> 04:45:59,900
Okay, and then we already have a couple little.

3180
04:46:00,000 --> 04:46:07,080
Properties kind of in the pipeline, but continuing to just explicitly place on the work plan would

3181
04:46:07,080 --> 04:46:12,620
be really helpful in advancing our shared priorities and goals as a city. And I also want to throw

3182
04:46:12,620 --> 04:46:17,040
my support behind the quarterly reporting on sales tax revenue. Thank you for reminding

3183
04:46:17,040 --> 04:46:20,160
me about that. Thank you, Council Member Sturkin. Council

3184
04:46:20,160 --> 04:46:24,180
Member Howard. Yes, I'm certainly in favor of looking

3185
04:46:24,180 --> 04:46:32,180
into that, but I'd like to let our city manager and our police chief determine when and how

3186
04:46:32,180 --> 04:46:32,960
it's implemented.

3187
04:46:33,480 --> 04:46:38,800
I don't want to push something if it's not ready because it sounds like Chief Bell has

3188
04:46:38,800 --> 04:46:40,920
some more research to do and a number of other things.

3189
04:46:41,100 --> 04:46:43,260
So I'm going to keep putting your capable hands.

3190
04:46:43,560 --> 04:46:46,360
You've heard the desire, the need is certainly out there.

3191
04:46:46,700 --> 04:46:50,600
So I think it's something good to plan for when it comes.

3192
04:46:50,880 --> 04:46:52,960
That's something you can bring back to us.

3193
04:46:52,960 --> 04:46:54,820
And was there something else?

3194
04:46:55,220 --> 04:46:55,580
I'm sorry.

3195
04:46:56,020 --> 04:46:59,980
What you said I agreed with, let's be shovel ready to work with.

3196
04:47:00,960 --> 04:47:05,980
I'd like to do that very much, and maybe we can do some projects together in the future.

3197
04:47:06,660 --> 04:47:06,940
Thank you.

3198
04:47:07,440 --> 04:47:08,620
Thank you, Council Member Howard.

3199
04:47:09,840 --> 04:47:11,380
Colleagues, anybody else?

3200
04:47:12,700 --> 04:47:20,400
I would just like to throw out that I was thinking about something that Vice Mayor mentioned about how we do.

3201
04:47:20,780 --> 04:47:23,420
We hold, we are the county seat.

3202
04:47:23,520 --> 04:47:26,480
We have the navigation centers. We have the jails.

3203
04:47:26,480 --> 04:47:28,680
So I would like to just put it out there

3204
04:47:28,680 --> 04:47:31,300
that I think we are a fantastic neighbor

3205
04:47:31,300 --> 04:47:34,180
and I would welcome the county working with us

3206
04:47:34,180 --> 04:47:35,500
in any way they can.

3207
04:47:35,620 --> 04:47:36,880
I think you did mention, Vice Mayor,

3208
04:47:36,980 --> 04:47:39,020
that they have a much larger budget than we do.

3209
04:47:39,920 --> 04:47:42,420
And I would, I don't know, I would think

3210
04:47:42,420 --> 04:47:45,980
that wasn't the clinician originally funded by the county?

3211
04:47:46,480 --> 04:47:48,320
Could someone correct me if I'm wrong?

3212
04:47:48,420 --> 04:47:50,700
Was that originally funded as a pilot?

3213
04:47:51,140 --> 04:47:53,380
Okay, well I do think there is a connection there.

3214
04:47:53,760 --> 04:47:55,200
I don't know if we can always distinguish

3215
04:47:55,200 --> 04:47:59,020
between a Redwood City resident or a county resident but I do think there's

3216
04:47:59,020 --> 04:47:59,900
an opportunity for

3217
04:48:00,000 --> 04:48:01,740
The county to help.

3218
04:48:05,330 --> 04:48:09,210
Definitely. Thank you, Council Member Padilla. Any other thoughts?

3219
04:48:12,880 --> 04:48:13,740
Okay. Council.

3220
04:48:14,160 --> 04:48:14,600
Council.

3221
04:48:15,000 --> 04:48:18,160
Staff. Patrick, is that enough feedback for you all?

3222
04:48:18,500 --> 04:48:25,100
Yeah, that was great. And what we'll do from here in the 22nd is fine tune and we'll definitely see the clinician put in.

3223
04:48:25,180 --> 04:48:28,480
It might be on the work plan with some recommended approaches, you know.

3224
04:48:29,380 --> 04:48:31,380
But there's a myriad of other items on here.

3225
04:48:31,520 --> 04:48:34,940
I took feverish notes and I saw some of my staff take notes,

3226
04:48:35,040 --> 04:48:36,260
but not everybody appreciate that.

3227
04:48:36,360 --> 04:48:38,520
But anyway, we'll put our comprehensive packets together

3228
04:48:38,520 --> 04:48:40,740
on the 22nd, but I really appreciate it.

3229
04:48:40,860 --> 04:48:41,120
Thank you.

3230
04:48:41,420 --> 04:48:41,600
Great.

3231
04:48:41,780 --> 04:48:46,460
Patrick, just to make sure we're not also losing the actual housing,

3232
04:48:46,620 --> 04:48:48,620
the permanent supportive piece to that, right?

3233
04:48:49,680 --> 04:48:50,480
Sorry, say that again?

3234
04:48:51,200 --> 04:48:54,360
The permanent supportive housing, just exploring that idea.

3235
04:48:54,600 --> 04:48:54,820
Correct.

3236
04:48:54,980 --> 04:48:55,240
Making sure.

3237
04:48:55,300 --> 04:48:56,520
Yeah, thank you.

3238
04:48:56,520 --> 04:48:58,280
Obviously, there's already false support.

3239
04:49:00,000 --> 04:49:04,540
We'll come back with recommended approaches on how it would lay out with the funding strategy

3240
04:49:04,540 --> 04:49:06,700
on our housing fund. So, cool. Thank you.

3241
04:49:07,140 --> 04:49:08,160
Thank you, City Manager.

3242
04:49:08,560 --> 04:49:15,280
Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we adopt the resolution setting June 22nd, 2026 is the

3243
04:49:15,280 --> 04:49:18,920
date for the public hearing and adoption of our fiscal year budget.

3244
04:49:19,660 --> 04:49:20,140
Raise.

3245
04:49:20,200 --> 04:49:20,580
Is there a second?

3246
04:49:20,980 --> 04:49:21,400
Second.

3247
04:49:21,960 --> 04:49:25,140
How's the motion from Council Member Howard, a second from Vice Mayor Aiken. Could we

3248
04:49:25,140 --> 04:49:26,520
get an electronic vote, please?

3249
04:49:35,230 --> 04:49:36,070
Motion passes.

3250
04:49:36,310 --> 04:49:36,950
With six votes.

3251
04:49:36,950 --> 04:49:42,490
Councilmember Chu is absent. Thank you. Thank you again colleagues for doing the

3252
04:49:42,490 --> 04:49:47,850
homework and a great discussion tonight. We'll move on to item 11 which is our

3253
04:49:47,850 --> 04:49:53,410
public hearings on the smoking regulations related to tobacco retail

3254
04:49:53,410 --> 04:49:57,930
permits and our economic development manager Amanda Anthony will give a

3255
04:49:57,930 --> 04:49:59,930
presentation and I'll now

3256
04:50:00,780 --> 04:50:02,740
And I'll now pass things over to Amanda.

3257
04:50:03,720 --> 04:50:06,640
Thank you so much. Amanda Anthony, economic development manager.

3258
04:50:07,240 --> 04:50:11,240
We have a short presentation just going over some of the pieces from last time.

3259
04:50:13,260 --> 04:50:14,200
Crystal, next slide.

3260
04:50:18,040 --> 04:50:21,540
I'm going to give you just a brief recap of the April 27th presentation.

3261
04:50:21,980 --> 04:50:25,760
A reminder of the staff recommendation, the action taken, and then tonight's recommendation.

3262
04:50:26,500 --> 04:50:37,460
On May 11th, on April 27th, City Council received information regarding the tobacco retailer regulation in Redwood City, including the city's ordinance, the county's ordinance and potential approaches.

3263
04:50:38,060 --> 04:50:38,760
You go to the next slide.

3264
04:50:41,800 --> 04:50:52,280
Just a reminder that one of the things we talked about on April 27th is how state laws have evolved to ban flavored tobacco in most forms.

3265
04:50:52,280 --> 04:50:56,660
This was done as part of a ballot measure in November of 2022.

3266
04:50:57,900 --> 04:50:59,960
There's also been a lot of evolution in.

3267
04:51:00,000 --> 04:51:06,180
In local law, Redwood City adopted an ordinance banning flavored tobacco in all cases except

3268
04:51:06,180 --> 04:51:12,080
for three businesses who were offering on-site adoption. It was any business that had their

3269
04:51:12,080 --> 04:51:17,420
permit at that time. We also, in San Mateo County in Redwood City, also banned e-cigarettes

3270
04:51:17,420 --> 04:51:24,320
and vapes. The effect of these bans has been positive. I don't know if you guys remember

3271
04:51:24,320 --> 04:51:29,680
of the slide, but lots of down direction arrows on youth access and use.

3272
04:51:30,520 --> 04:51:36,980
Not only youth access and use, we are also seeing decreases in adult access and adult

3273
04:51:36,980 --> 04:51:37,820
use as well.

3274
04:51:38,420 --> 04:51:39,840
And so these are really positive outcomes.

3275
04:51:41,260 --> 04:51:49,160
In 2023, San Mateo County updated its law to add restrictions on locations, discounts

3276
04:51:49,160 --> 04:51:50,360
and types of products sold.

3277
04:51:50,360 --> 04:51:59,400
The impact of that is that they also started enforcing for any city that adopted their ordinance by reference or verbatim.

3278
04:52:00,000 --> 04:52:05,500
So these are the background. We talked about a lot of these things at length, and I'm happy

3279
04:52:05,500 --> 04:52:13,060
to go through any, answer any questions if you've got some. Next slide, please. So on April

3280
04:52:13,060 --> 04:52:20,120
27th, we recommended that the city council adopt the county's ordinance for regulating

3281
04:52:20,900 --> 04:52:26,420
tobacco retailers. And these are the reasons why. The county would manage all the administration

3282
04:52:26,420 --> 04:52:30,940
and no cost to the city's general fund, the retailers would pay significantly less for

3283
04:52:30,940 --> 04:52:31,460
their permits.

3284
04:52:32,280 --> 04:52:37,600
The county would be able to implement effectively immediately after the ordinance effective

3285
04:52:37,600 --> 04:52:37,980
date.

3286
04:52:38,180 --> 04:52:45,260
So if it were adopted tonight, they would be able to start enforcing as of July 7th.

3287
04:52:45,780 --> 04:52:49,660
The county would be managing enforcement in all cases where retailers are unpermitted

3288
04:52:49,660 --> 04:52:51,320
or selling illegal products.

3289
04:52:51,320 --> 04:52:56,800
and the county permits hookah lounges to continue to offer non-tobacco hookah to

3290
04:52:56,800 --> 04:52:59,820
keep operating, but they would not be able to sell tobacco.

3291
04:53:01,500 --> 04:53:07,720
So those are the reasons. On April 27th, we read the first, we raved the first reading and

3292
04:53:07,720 --> 04:53:11,840
introduced the ordinance and city council voted to approve that staff recommendation five to

3293
04:53:11,840 --> 04:53:18,440
two. And we also set the hearing date. So today is the public hearing. We are required to

3294
04:53:18,440 --> 04:53:22,800
do a public hearing because we are adopting this or we are recommending that this be adopted

3295
04:53:22,800 --> 04:53:28,840
by reference. And in order to adopt a ordinance by reference, you have to have a public

3296
04:53:28,840 --> 04:53:35,040
curing on the second date. So that is what is before you tonight and we can move

3297
04:53:35,040 --> 04:53:37,760
to the next slide. The recommended action is to waive the second reading and

3298
04:53:37,760 --> 04:53:42,820
adopt an ordinance. I'm ending Redwood City Municipal Code to repeal what is

3299
04:53:42,820 --> 04:53:47,380
currently there, adopt by reference the county ordinance and then amend some

3300
04:53:47,380 --> 04:53:50,000
definitions. Thank you.

3301
04:53:56,110 --> 04:53:58,730
Thank you Amanda. Appreciate the great presentation and

3302
04:53:58,730 --> 04:53:59,830
and with

3303
04:54:00,000 --> 04:54:04,000
With that, we will now open the public hearing, and I'll pass things over to our city clerk

3304
04:54:04,000 --> 04:54:06,000
to help facilitate public comment.

3305
04:54:07,200 --> 04:54:13,720
Thank you, Mayor. I do have 11 speaker cards at the moment, and I've got a few hands on

3306
04:54:13,720 --> 04:54:21,320
Zoom. So last call for any remaining public comment on this item tonight. I'll let the

3307
04:54:21,320 --> 04:54:24,120
Zoom folks queue up. We've got a few more coming in.

3308
04:54:30,620 --> 04:54:33,860
So we have a total of 18 speakers.

3309
04:54:34,680 --> 04:54:37,940
We've got 11 in person and seven on Zoom.

3310
04:54:38,560 --> 04:54:40,780
How would you like to proceed with the public comment, Mayor?

3311
04:54:40,960 --> 04:54:41,940
Two minutes, one minute.

3312
04:54:43,120 --> 04:54:44,280
We had 11 speakers.

3313
04:54:44,600 --> 04:54:46,000
We have a total of 18, actually.

3314
04:54:46,260 --> 04:54:46,700
18? Yeah.

3315
04:54:46,940 --> 04:54:47,560
Let's go with one minute.

3316
04:54:47,680 --> 04:54:47,840
Okay.

3317
04:54:48,460 --> 04:54:50,860
So everyone will be allotted one minute.

3318
04:54:51,020 --> 04:54:52,760
The timer will begin when you start speaking.

3319
04:54:53,180 --> 04:54:57,120
We will call the in-person speakers first, beginning with David Kasuf.

3320
04:54:58,220 --> 04:54:59,820
who will be followed by Neil.

3321
04:55:00,000 --> 04:55:02,900
Lundy. And then we'll move to our Zoom folks. Thank you.

3322
04:55:22,310 --> 04:55:26,770
Good evening, Mayor and council members. My name is David Kasouf, and I'm the owner of

3323
04:55:26,770 --> 04:55:32,150
the Sandwich Spot. For more than 15 years, I have employed local residents, paid taxes,

3324
04:55:32,410 --> 04:55:35,670
invested in our community, and built a business that serves Redwood City.

3325
04:55:36,890 --> 04:55:40,090
I'm here tonight because of the issue is not just about the hookah.

3326
04:55:40,950 --> 04:55:44,830
It's about jobs, small businesses, and the families who depend on them.

3327
04:55:44,830 --> 04:55:51,970
I respectfully ask you to consider the real-world consequences of eliminating the grandfathered

3328
04:55:51,970 --> 04:55:59,430
exception that existing businesses such as the sandwich pasha and rock n' wrap replied

3329
04:55:59,430 --> 04:55:59,630
slide.

3330
04:56:00,140 --> 04:56:06,540
Relyed on four years. Many of our customers come for Huca, but they also buy food, drinks,

3331
04:56:06,660 --> 04:56:13,000
and support our business throughout the evening. If that reason for visiting is removed, customer

3332
04:56:13,740 --> 04:56:18,380
traffic will decline, sales will decrease, employee hours will be cut, and job will

3333
04:56:18,380 --> 04:56:18,840
be lost.

3334
04:56:21,180 --> 04:56:23,860
I wish you gave us two minutes like many others.

3335
04:56:23,860 --> 04:56:31,540
Thank you. Our next speaker is Neil Lundy, who will be followed by Ayub Gochi.

3336
04:56:34,840 --> 04:56:38,760
Good evening, Mayor, members of the Council. My name is Neil. I'm a local business owner.

3337
04:56:38,920 --> 04:56:46,680
The retail enforcement you're adopting is overdue. Protecting our young people with you on that, I definitely agree with.

3338
04:56:47,280 --> 04:56:55,660
Concerns most about the message that a business can follow our city's own law to the letter and still have the ground pulled out from under it.

3339
04:56:55,660 --> 04:56:59,440
When businesses face more regulations reduced operating flexibility

3340
04:57:00,000 --> 04:57:04,840
An uncertainty about their future. Customers spend less, businesses invest less, and sales

3341
04:57:04,840 --> 04:57:09,580
tax revenue suffers. If the city continues, adding restrictions on long-standing businesses,

3342
04:57:09,780 --> 04:57:15,140
investors will turn a right. Don't think these three businesses are fully considered when

3343
04:57:15,140 --> 04:57:21,020
this was drafted. Even California statewide flavored tobacco ban exempts on site Shisha

3344
04:57:21,020 --> 04:57:25,900
at 21 and over venues. We're not asking the council to invent anything. We're asking

3345
04:57:25,900 --> 04:57:28,760
them to stay aligned with the state law. That's it.

3346
04:57:29,560 --> 04:57:35,960
Thank you. Our next speaker is Ayub Gokshi, who will be

3347
04:57:35,960 --> 04:57:37,980
followed by Jameson Fong.

3348
04:57:39,690 --> 04:57:43,820
My name is Ayub. I am Pasha owner. I would like to speak about our

3349
04:57:43,820 --> 04:57:45,100
investment debt business.

3350
04:57:47,640 --> 04:57:50,180
Over the years we have invested

3351
04:57:50,180 --> 04:57:54,260
a significant amount of money into our business, our facilities,

3352
04:57:54,260 --> 04:57:58,780
equipment, outdoor space permits, furniture, and improvements.

3353
04:58:00,000 --> 04:58:06,320
All with understanding that could continue operating under grandfather's expectation. This

3354
04:58:06,320 --> 04:58:13,040
investment was not made overnight. It was made over many years based on the city's provost's

3355
04:58:13,040 --> 04:58:18,940
decision and the expectation that existing business would be allowed to continue operating

3356
04:58:18,940 --> 04:58:26,100
responsibly. Many people don't realize that Huca sports much more than just Huca sales.

3357
04:58:26,100 --> 04:58:30,920
It's bring customers who also purchase food, drinks, and other services.

3358
04:58:31,580 --> 04:58:37,600
Many business depend on that customer traffic to survive, employees depend on those job,

3359
04:58:38,060 --> 04:58:43,080
vendors depend on those orders, and local business depend on those customers continue

3360
04:58:43,080 --> 04:58:44,160
to visit the Resort City.

3361
04:58:44,620 --> 04:58:45,160
Thank you.

3362
04:58:45,920 --> 04:58:50,320
Next speaker is Jamison Fong, who will be followed by Ali Ahmad.

3363
04:58:53,100 --> 04:58:56,540
Good evening, Vice Mayor, Mayor, Council members.

3364
04:58:56,540 --> 04:58:59,760
My name is James Sinfong and I represent the owners of

3365
04:59:03,940 --> 04:59:09,840
I think it's very clear, and I don't want this to be missed, that the restaurant members

3366
04:59:10,380 --> 04:59:16,860
are all in favor of protecting the youth and supporting as much regulation as that is necessary.

3367
04:59:17,320 --> 04:59:23,680
I think the issue was misframed as it was an either or situation. The situation was we

3368
04:59:23,680 --> 04:59:30,440
We must and can go with just the county ordinance or self-regulate the same way that Berlin

3369
04:59:30,440 --> 04:59:32,920
game has done and Foster City has done.

3370
04:59:33,520 --> 04:59:38,920
I think it's very, very poignant that today was the budget and you're talking about looking

3371
04:59:38,920 --> 04:59:44,020
at losing significant revenue from three standing businesses that have been here for

3372
04:59:44,020 --> 04:59:45,140
over a decade.

3373
04:59:45,900 --> 04:59:50,800
I think there is still an opportunity to, instead of going with the county's way,

3374
04:59:50,800 --> 04:59:57,600
self-regulate, continue to use your own your own resources. Thank you. Thank you.

3375
04:59:57,920 --> 04:59:59,520
Next speaker is Ali Ahmad.

3376
05:00:00,000 --> 05:00:04,020
We'll be followed by Gabrielle M.

3377
05:00:05,260 --> 05:00:06,900
Hi. Good evening everybody.

3378
05:00:11,830 --> 05:00:15,910
My name is Aliya, owner of Rock and Raps. I've been here like 13, 14s.

3379
05:00:16,450 --> 05:00:20,970
It's, when I came here, it was very slow business in Ridwis City, downtown empty.

3380
05:00:21,670 --> 05:00:27,950
We, we helped, how we're going to make it busy. We opened the restaurant, the hookah spot, and,

3381
05:00:28,530 --> 05:00:31,730
and invite people to come Ridwis City. It become a culture.

3382
05:00:31,730 --> 05:00:37,190
So a lot of people they like to get together night time, day time, with this hookah and

3383
05:00:37,190 --> 05:00:42,530
drinking tea, come to downtown Ridwiss city and we invest a lot of money in our businesses.

3384
05:00:43,090 --> 05:00:46,290
In just a bucket cost me over, it's going to cost me over a hundred thousand dollars

3385
05:00:46,290 --> 05:00:49,770
because I was dependent in that I keep the hookah in my business.

3386
05:00:50,290 --> 05:00:55,550
All of us, three of us, the hookah, rock and raps, passion and self spot, we build

3387
05:00:55,550 --> 05:00:57,190
a lot of taxes for Ridwiss city.

3388
05:00:58,010 --> 05:00:59,970
I mean we want to keep it the way it is.

3389
05:01:00,000 --> 05:01:04,200
Please, if you don't mind and keep the city alive. Thank you.

3390
05:01:05,460 --> 05:01:11,600
Thank you. Next speaker is Gabrielle Mihajlovic, who will be followed by Omar Salim.

3391
05:01:12,680 --> 05:01:17,780
Good evening. My name is Gabrielle Mihajlovic, and I am here to speak against this motion.

3392
05:01:18,480 --> 05:01:24,960
Redwood City is a community that supports the American values of business entrepreneurship, culture, and celebrating diversity.

3393
05:01:24,960 --> 05:01:29,380
community. Our community leads the peninsula in highlighting multiple cultures through channels

3394
05:01:29,380 --> 05:01:34,820
such as restaurants, festivals and other community gatherings. The establishments listed are prime

3395
05:01:34,820 --> 05:01:40,860
examples of honoring the roughly 20,000 plus Arab Americans living in San Mateo County and

3396
05:01:40,860 --> 05:01:45,200
Northern Santa Clara. Year after year the establishments have followed and supported

3397
05:01:45,200 --> 05:01:50,820
American federal regulations respectfully moderating the sale of any tobacco products to adults

3398
05:01:50,820 --> 05:01:55,100
ages 20 and over and they stand with the community on supporting minors not

3399
05:01:55,100 --> 05:01:59,900
participating. If any of you were to go to these establishments you would see a

3400
05:01:59,900 --> 05:01:59,980
lot of

3401
05:02:22,580 --> 05:02:28,080
Thank you, our next speaker is Omar Salem, who will be followed by Jeffrey Vasalo.

3402
05:02:29,460 --> 05:02:33,960
Respectful Mayor and Council Members, I want to start with this.

3403
05:02:34,140 --> 05:02:38,480
In April's hearing, many people spoke but none was truly heard.

3404
05:02:38,660 --> 05:02:40,360
Today I want to speak to you differently.

3405
05:02:41,020 --> 05:02:44,060
Not as policy makers, not as politicians, but as leaders.

3406
05:02:45,380 --> 05:02:49,060
You have the power to create a redwood city ordinance.

3407
05:02:49,920 --> 05:02:52,880
One that targets the actual problem.

3408
05:02:52,880 --> 05:02:59,820
Do the work differentiate between irresponsible, unregulated smoke shops and regulated 21-plus establishments?

3409
05:03:00,050 --> 05:03:07,910
Not because it's easy, we know it's not. But because it's right, because leadership is measured by whether you stood up when it matters.

3410
05:03:08,250 --> 05:03:12,770
Years from now, people will not remember how efficiently this moved through committee.

3411
05:03:13,270 --> 05:03:18,270
But they will remember whether you listened, they will remember whether you stood up for inclusivity,

3412
05:03:18,930 --> 05:03:23,990
and they will remember whether you had the courage to say, we're not just going to follow, we're going to lead.

3413
05:03:24,850 --> 05:03:31,690
As Vice Mayor Aikin said earlier, we haven't created this about AA.

3414
05:03:33,370 --> 05:03:37,330
Please listen to the 700 petition signatures you've received.

3415
05:03:37,810 --> 05:03:38,290
Thank you.

3416
05:03:38,430 --> 05:03:38,790
Thank you.

3417
05:03:39,350 --> 05:03:40,530
Our next speaker is...

3418
05:03:40,530 --> 05:03:42,150
And City Clerk, sorry to interrupt you.

3419
05:03:42,330 --> 05:03:43,930
It's almost 11 o'clock.

3420
05:03:44,110 --> 05:03:45,790
I think we've got a vote to extend the meeting.

3421
05:03:46,270 --> 05:03:49,290
Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to extend the meeting to 1130.

3422
05:03:49,930 --> 05:03:50,330
Thank you.

3423
05:03:50,370 --> 05:03:50,770
Is there a second?

3424
05:03:50,990 --> 05:03:51,390
Second.

3425
05:03:51,390 --> 05:03:55,730
That was a motion from G and a second from Council Member Howard. Could we get a vote please?

3426
05:04:00,020 --> 05:04:01,740
Hello, my name is Jeffrey Vassallo.

3427
05:04:02,280 --> 05:04:04,920
Sorry, Jeffrey, one second. Sorry, we're taking a quick vote.

3428
05:04:06,280 --> 05:04:07,480
And we'll give you your full time.

3429
05:04:07,740 --> 05:04:10,760
Motion passes with six votes. Councilmember Chiu is absent. Thank you.

3430
05:04:12,160 --> 05:04:13,340
Thank you. Over to you.

3431
05:04:14,600 --> 05:04:23,620
My name is Jeffrey Vassallo, and I noticed a few speakers ago, you're looking for ways to investigate ways to add revenue to the county.

3432
05:04:23,620 --> 05:04:31,400
In the meantime, you're taking away hundreds of jobs of people of Redwood City that have

3433
05:04:31,400 --> 05:04:38,960
families and these establishments entertain thousands of people a week and bring in millions

3434
05:04:38,960 --> 05:04:40,480
of dollars of business a year.

3435
05:04:41,280 --> 05:04:47,380
So it kind of contradicts what you guys are trying to do here, close businesses down and

3436
05:04:47,380 --> 05:04:48,220
increase revenues.

3437
05:04:49,400 --> 05:04:55,060
So, I've noticed recently in the 45 years in this county, we've taken away entertainment.

3438
05:04:55,900 --> 05:04:59,980
We've taken away the Redwood City Drive-ins, the GO Cards, the miniature...

3439
05:05:00,000 --> 05:05:06,400
What's your golf? What's next? We take away the parks? So I'm just saying to help your city

3440
05:05:06,400 --> 05:05:14,860
by leaving these establishments going and having these employees keep their jobs and more entertainment

3441
05:05:14,860 --> 05:05:16,660
in Redwood City, not less.

3442
05:05:20,820 --> 05:05:24,580
Thank you. Next speaker is Trisha Barr, who will be followed

3443
05:05:24,580 --> 05:05:25,820
by Astrid Ryber.

3444
05:05:39,710 --> 05:05:43,970
Thank you. Mayor, council members, thank you for the opportunity to

3445
05:05:43,970 --> 05:05:48,530
speak tonight. My name is Trisha Barr and I'm a mom of three kids and the chair of the

3446
05:05:48,530 --> 05:05:54,070
San Mateo County Tobacco Education Coalition. I'm asking you tonight to please adopt the

3447
05:05:54,070 --> 05:05:59,670
county's tobacco retailer ordinance. This past weekend I visited two local retailers

3448
05:05:59,670 --> 05:05:59,970
Thank you for watching.

3449
05:06:00,110 --> 05:06:06,310
One downtown, I'd asked for a flavored tobacco product, which is illegal to sell here in Redwood

3450
05:06:06,310 --> 05:06:11,490
City and in the state. The clerk pulled hidden flavored product from behind the counter and

3451
05:06:11,490 --> 05:06:18,470
sold it to me at the vape shop on El Camino. There were walls of flavored vapes and other

3452
05:06:18,470 --> 05:06:24,450
illegal flavored tobacco openly on display, which they also sold to me. So that tells

3453
05:06:24,450 --> 05:06:31,250
me this is not an exception. This tends to be the norm. So right now, last time we heard

3454
05:06:31,250 --> 05:06:35,690
about the $100 fine that is really not taken seriously by retailers. It's just sort of

3455
05:06:35,690 --> 05:06:42,750
a cost of doing business. You have the opportunity today to close that, to strengthen the existing

3456
05:06:42,750 --> 05:06:50,210
ordinance with some teeth and I'm happy to pass this around. I have receipts in here.

3457
05:06:50,210 --> 05:06:55,150
Thank you. Next speaker is Astrid Reiber, who will be followed by David Reiber.

3458
05:06:56,070 --> 05:06:59,970
Good evening. My name is Estridied Reiber, and I'm a proud

3459
05:07:00,000 --> 05:07:03,980
About Redwood City resident and parent, I raised my three children here who all attended

3460
05:07:03,980 --> 05:07:08,320
Redwood City schools. I'm here to ask for your vote in support of adopting the county's

3461
05:07:08,320 --> 05:07:12,660
tobacco retailer permit ordinance. I worried for years when my children were teenagers

3462
05:07:12,660 --> 05:07:17,240
about how easily they and their friends could so easily access vaping and tobacco products.

3463
05:07:17,680 --> 05:07:21,020
So I completely understand what parents in this situation today are going through.

3464
05:07:21,460 --> 05:07:25,720
I want our local businesses to thrive and I believe they can continue to do so while

3465
05:07:25,720 --> 05:07:29,680
adhering to the guidelines that help ensure the health and safety of our children. The

3466
05:07:29,680 --> 05:07:33,320
The adoption of the ordinance will also help with the resources needed for regulation and

3467
05:07:33,320 --> 05:07:38,240
enforcement in order to protect our youth since this would be handled by San Mateo County

3468
05:07:38,240 --> 05:07:41,340
staff versus our already spread thin city resources.

3469
05:07:42,000 --> 05:07:46,600
Although parents in schools can educate students in support prevention efforts, education alone

3470
05:07:46,600 --> 05:07:49,780
is not enough if there's no consistent enforcement in the community.

3471
05:07:50,180 --> 05:07:54,360
Until Redwood City adopts the stronger ordinance, there's very little the city can actually

3472
05:07:54,360 --> 05:07:56,600
enforce as heard by Ms. Barr.

3473
05:07:56,600 --> 05:07:59,760
Our students deserve to grow up happy and healthy in a community

3474
05:08:00,000 --> 05:08:04,920
That takes our safety seriously. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is David Reaver.

3475
05:08:08,900 --> 05:08:13,600
I live in Redwood City for 25 years now and raised three children in the public schools

3476
05:08:13,600 --> 05:08:19,880
right here. This is about the health of our community, of our children, and our adults.

3477
05:08:20,680 --> 05:08:25,320
Tobacco use is starting to increase again in our schools. Redwood City is currently by

3478
05:08:25,320 --> 05:08:31,100
far the city with easiest access to vaping and tobacco products. If nothing is done,

3479
05:08:31,100 --> 05:08:37,400
tobacco use will continue to go up in our city. We do not want to be an island of

3480
05:08:37,400 --> 05:08:42,620
tobacco and vaping consumption in the Bay Area. Some vaping products are

3481
05:08:42,620 --> 05:08:46,880
equivalent to 18 packs of cigarettes, others are equivalent to 30 packs of

3482
05:08:46,880 --> 05:08:52,780
cigarettes. Things change. Sixty years ago cars didn't have seatbelts, a hundred

3483
05:08:52,780 --> 05:08:57,500
years ago there were no semi-forces street corners, maybe not everyone

3484
05:08:57,500 --> 05:08:59,480
want to agree to those changes at first.

3485
05:09:00,000 --> 05:09:03,280
But they were implemented for the benefit of the community to save lives.

3486
05:09:03,940 --> 05:09:10,660
Please adopt the county's ordinance. Let's catch up to the rest of the county and the rest of the state. Thank you.

3487
05:09:12,980 --> 05:09:19,360
Thank you. That concludes our in-person speakers, but, Mayor, I just wanted to apologize because for public hearings,

3488
05:09:20,440 --> 05:09:29,680
we can have up to an hour of public comment. And I had asked for your feedback on public comment timing because it was the late hour.

3489
05:09:29,680 --> 05:09:41,220
But I wanted to say that maybe we can offer the opportunity for the in-person speakers to speak for an additional minute before we move on to our Zoom speakers, if you're okay with that.

3490
05:09:41,460 --> 05:09:42,980
And again, I apologize for the confusion.

3491
05:09:43,800 --> 05:09:47,520
No worries city clerk. I think that makes a lot of sense to offer that up.

3492
05:09:47,820 --> 05:09:48,620
Okay. Thank you.

3493
05:09:49,160 --> 05:09:58,160
So if you have given public comment in person this evening, and if you would like to speak for one additional minute, feel free to approach the podium at this time.

3494
05:09:58,160 --> 05:09:58,440
Thank you.

3495
05:10:00,000 --> 05:10:01,700
David Kasoof, welcome.

3496
05:10:02,260 --> 05:10:02,440
Thank

3497
05:10:06,600 --> 05:10:13,640
you for this opportunity. I'm not going to talk from the paper. As the lady respectfully

3498
05:10:14,160 --> 05:10:21,520
has the cigarettes with her, it's not a hookah. So she brought here to show all of you guys

3499
05:10:21,520 --> 05:10:29,000
what the kid's doing and you know exactly who is violating every single law in Redwood

3500
05:10:29,000 --> 05:10:33,760
City. So the job of the city council and everybody else in Redwood City to be responsible

3501
05:10:33,760 --> 05:10:40,160
to save us as residents of Redwood City, which we respected every single rule that you did.

3502
05:10:41,200 --> 05:10:45,100
And another thing, you were talking about South San Francisco restaurant.

3503
05:10:45,900 --> 05:10:53,080
It's open and they sell food. They are not selling no nicotine free hookah at all yet.

3504
05:10:53,680 --> 05:10:59,740
The restaurant is under construction and all what you showed on board here for statistics

3505
05:11:00,180 --> 05:11:07,140
They were really wrong. And somebody needs to read and get educated about the hookah. I

3506
05:11:07,140 --> 05:11:10,920
have never seen a kid walking on the street with a hookah and two charcoals on top.

3507
05:11:11,820 --> 05:11:13,500
Thank you, David. None.

3508
05:11:16,140 --> 05:11:20,120
Thank you. Are there any other speakers that spoke in person this evening that would like

3509
05:11:20,120 --> 05:11:20,900
an additional minute?

3510
05:11:27,890 --> 05:11:33,230
Thank you. Thank you again, council. I did just want to reiterate because one aspect

3511
05:11:33,230 --> 05:11:38,350
that was brought up at last here at the last council meeting was that there have

3512
05:11:38,350 --> 05:11:44,630
been other instances of successful businesses running with non non nicotine

3513
05:11:44,630 --> 05:11:50,250
or non tobacco hookup and I think that that was misstated just because that

3514
05:11:50,250 --> 05:11:55,210
hasn't happened yet there is one there was one establishment in South

3515
05:11:55,210 --> 05:11:59,970
San Francisco that previously without a permit was selling hookup

3516
05:12:00,000 --> 05:12:06,800
Hukka. Since the implementation by the county, they have been told that they have mentioned

3517
05:12:06,800 --> 05:12:13,280
that they would try to sell tobacco-free hukka. That still has not happened yet. And that business,

3518
05:12:13,640 --> 05:12:17,380
as I've spoken to the owner quite a few times, is not sure if they are going to be able

3519
05:12:17,380 --> 05:12:24,140
to survive. I think that does need to be considered because it is not just a, oh, they can just

3520
05:12:24,140 --> 05:12:30,900
pivot to something else because there's evidence of this success in other cities and it just

3521
05:12:30,900 --> 05:12:31,420
is not there.

3522
05:12:32,760 --> 05:12:33,980
Thank you Mr. Fong.

3523
05:12:34,840 --> 05:12:36,860
Any other speakers for one additional minute?

3524
05:12:43,310 --> 05:12:45,450
Hi, my name is Ayup Pashaonar.

3525
05:12:46,010 --> 05:12:49,030
I checked the police record last 20 years.

3526
05:12:49,350 --> 05:12:53,730
We didn't find any record young kids smoking hookah.

3527
05:12:54,210 --> 05:12:59,410
Hookah is different, web is different, web size is like that, they can put it in

3528
05:13:00,000 --> 05:13:05,340
They can smoke everywhere. Hookah sizes is like that, and then you have to get an electrical

3529
05:13:05,840 --> 05:13:11,980
heater for the charcoal. They can put it in the pocket or back. They can smoke in the street

3530
05:13:11,980 --> 05:13:19,320
or anywhere. We need to understand, hookah is different. Wave is different. We are not

3531
05:13:19,320 --> 05:13:25,160
selling the tree location here, sandwich spot, rock n' wrap, and pasha. We are not selling

3532
05:13:25,160 --> 05:13:29,320
tobacco. We are selling hookah. Any kids or any adults come they want the

3533
05:13:29,320 --> 05:13:34,740
tobacco. We are not selling to them. You have to understand we are selling

3534
05:13:34,740 --> 05:13:41,020
hookah. Like Redwood, Burlingame and Foster City, two hookah place and they

3535
05:13:41,020 --> 05:13:45,480
give the permission to them to sell hookah. They sell hookah no problem. Do

3536
05:13:45,480 --> 05:13:51,340
it the same thing in Redwood City. Thank you. Any other speakers?

3537
05:13:52,980 --> 05:13:54,320
Trisha Barr, welcome back.

3538
05:14:00,000 --> 05:14:06,160
Regarding hookah, no one is talking about taking away jobs. Hookah businesses are also restaurants

3539
05:14:06,160 --> 05:14:12,100
and bars. They also have other options other than flavored tobacco, including switching to

3540
05:14:12,100 --> 05:14:17,440
non-tobacco products like steam stones and herbal products, so that you can keep that

3541
05:14:17,440 --> 05:14:23,940
social experience without tobacco. Council members, you have the opportunity tonight

3542
05:14:23,940 --> 05:14:28,860
to align your policies and your values and truly protect Redwood City kids. We just

3543
05:14:28,860 --> 05:14:32,780
Just heard about the budget challenges and city staff spoke last time about the cost of

3544
05:14:32,780 --> 05:14:34,080
implementing your own program.

3545
05:14:34,580 --> 05:14:37,080
We know that there is a gap here in enforcement.

3546
05:14:37,960 --> 05:14:42,180
Please adopt the county ordinance and put real enforcement and compliance behind your

3547
05:14:42,180 --> 05:14:42,960
tobacco law.

3548
05:14:45,260 --> 05:14:45,680
Thank you.

3549
05:14:46,620 --> 05:14:47,960
And Mr. Salem, welcome back.

3550
05:14:50,970 --> 05:14:52,290
Three very quick points.

3551
05:14:52,810 --> 05:14:55,610
Cultures do change, but they change from within.

3552
05:14:55,930 --> 05:14:58,970
They don't change by telling people what to do.

3553
05:15:00,000 --> 05:15:08,900
Number two, I want to talk about if Vice Mayor allows me again to quote her, we have not done

3554
05:15:08,900 --> 05:15:20,080
this. This place exists, local government exists, so we can adhere to local needs. We can keep

3555
05:15:20,080 --> 05:15:26,960
Redwood City a special place. We can stay as a magnet for people from all over the Bay

3556
05:15:26,960 --> 05:15:33,660
area. Third point is you were talking about budgetary constraints, and I absolutely understand

3557
05:15:33,660 --> 05:15:41,020
we have an issue with finding the budget or finding the money to have our own regulation.

3558
05:15:41,820 --> 05:15:49,740
But if convenience becomes the go-to, then this place should not exist. We should just

3559
05:15:49,740 --> 05:15:52,000
have government in SAC. Thank you.

3560
05:15:55,870 --> 05:15:57,390
Thank you. Mr. Ahmad.

3561
05:16:00,560 --> 05:16:06,760
One more time. I just want to tell you about the hookah, the beaver company. You see beaver

3562
05:16:06,760 --> 05:16:11,280
smoking hookah, but didn't see how many beaver smoking cigarettes in the streets and smoking

3563
05:16:11,280 --> 05:16:16,300
marijuana. Did you go force him to stop cigarette? Did you get the count? Did you get somebody

3564
05:16:16,300 --> 05:16:20,820
to force him to smoke the cigarette? Your employees listening in the corner over there,

3565
05:16:21,220 --> 05:16:26,200
city employees, everybody have a cigarette in his hand. Why don't you go stop them?

3566
05:16:26,200 --> 05:16:28,600
Why are you going to stop our business doing these things?

3567
05:16:29,400 --> 05:16:34,120
I see a lot of your employees sitting down in the beach by the boss office.

3568
05:16:34,520 --> 05:16:38,160
And I see a lot of people in the parking lot smoking cigarettes and marijuana.

3569
05:16:38,560 --> 05:16:41,300
How are you going to oppose the law of nobody smoking cigarettes?

3570
05:16:43,990 --> 05:16:45,910
Does anybody could answer my question?

3571
05:16:46,350 --> 05:16:47,390
How are you going to stop these people?

3572
05:16:47,630 --> 05:16:48,570
Somebody smokes cigarettes.

3573
05:16:48,870 --> 05:16:52,110
You can tell them, don't stop smoking or you're going to send the police.

3574
05:16:52,390 --> 05:16:54,510
Tell them, don't stop the cigarette and you give them a ticket.

3575
05:16:55,330 --> 05:16:55,850
Thank you.

3576
05:17:00,850 --> 05:17:01,530
Thank you.

3577
05:17:03,570 --> 05:17:04,810
Amila welcome back.

3578
05:17:09,920 --> 05:17:13,300
Hi again. I just want to say that I agree with you

3579
05:17:13,300 --> 05:17:16,600
parents that the sale of those products should not be allowed to our children.

3580
05:17:17,080 --> 05:17:21,540
I've worked in child care for 12 years. I've worked with the city in our schools for six

3581
05:17:21,540 --> 05:17:27,800
years and I still volunteer with child care organizations here. Within the last three

3582
05:17:27,800 --> 05:17:31,820
to four years you guys have approved three different marijuana businesses to

3583
05:17:31,820 --> 05:17:38,620
to sell their products here, that is the growing evil within our child care system.

3584
05:17:39,300 --> 05:17:41,880
These businesses, they do not allow minors in there.

3585
05:17:42,900 --> 05:17:49,800
I would push this committee to enforce if they need electronic scanning of identification

3586
05:17:49,800 --> 05:17:52,880
within their businesses before you get rid of the services altogether.

3587
05:17:53,280 --> 05:17:59,660
But all of these businesses support letting those services not be available to minors.

3588
05:18:00,000 --> 05:18:09,320
Additionally, our community promotes drinking. We have an Oktoberfest. That's a high cause for drunk driving, impaired sexual engagement.

3589
05:18:10,000 --> 05:18:20,380
That does not happen with smoking hookah. It is a leisure activity done by consenting adults that understand the cognitive effects that it's going to have on their bodies.

3590
05:18:20,800 --> 05:18:24,020
Thank you for listening and we agree with your point.

3591
05:18:25,140 --> 05:18:29,700
Thank you. Anyone else who hasn't spoken yet for an additional minute?

3592
05:18:37,190 --> 05:18:46,150
Thank you. To answer the ladies' question here, these employees could find jobs at bars and dance places amongst Broadway.

3593
05:18:46,850 --> 05:18:51,130
Sure, these are bars where people leave and they get DUIs and they're drinking.

3594
05:18:51,790 --> 05:18:56,490
If you go to these hookah lounges, most people are smoking the hookah and drinking tea.

3595
05:18:57,090 --> 05:18:59,970
Did everybody find a couple of people that have a drink or so?

3596
05:19:00,000 --> 05:19:06,960
But most 90% of the people are having tea. So you're making actually Redwood City safer by

3597
05:19:06,960 --> 05:19:13,280
not letting in alcohol and have these employees go to the bars. And I also notice people come

3598
05:19:13,280 --> 05:19:18,140
from San Jose, they come from Fremont, they come from San Francisco to go to these places.

3599
05:19:18,440 --> 05:19:24,460
So you're bringing revenue from other cities into Redwood City, which benefits everybody

3600
05:19:24,460 --> 05:19:27,140
here in Redwood City. That's all I have to say.

3601
05:19:27,140 --> 05:19:27,940
Thank

3602
05:19:30,180 --> 05:19:39,120
you. With that, I will move to our Zoom speakers, and we will give everyone two minutes.

3603
05:19:39,480 --> 05:19:45,760
Sorry again, Mayor. We'll start with Zubin Modi, who will be followed by Blythe Young.

3604
05:19:46,560 --> 05:19:53,380
You may begin speaking. You may unmute yourself and begin speaking.

3605
05:19:54,680 --> 05:19:55,920
Perfect. Can you hear me?

3606
05:19:56,340 --> 05:19:57,100
Yes, we can.

3607
05:19:58,380 --> 05:19:58,740
Excellent.

3608
05:19:59,400 --> 05:19:59,980
So, I find...

3609
05:20:00,000 --> 05:20:05,860
Given this proposal to be one of the most self-defeating racist ideas I've seen from this council, these

3610
05:20:05,860 --> 05:20:10,160
establishments are one of the few businesses in Redwood City that consistently attracts

3611
05:20:10,160 --> 05:20:15,820
customers from all over the Bay Area. If you don't believe me, we'll visit Tasha on a

3612
05:20:15,820 --> 05:20:20,600
Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. The wait times and the lines speak from themselves.

3613
05:20:21,400 --> 05:20:26,780
People here are coming from San Francisco, San Jose, SREMA, and the East Bay to spend

3614
05:20:26,780 --> 05:20:32,580
their money here in Redwood City. These are all 21 and over establishments serving consulting

3615
05:20:32,580 --> 05:20:38,880
adults. They are licensed, regulated, tax-paying businesses that create jobs and bring economic

3616
05:20:38,880 --> 05:20:43,920
activity into Redwood City. Yet, instead of supporting local businesses, the city is trying

3617
05:20:43,920 --> 05:20:49,700
to shut them down and let's be honest, who's being affected? Hoka has deep cultural roots

3618
05:20:49,700 --> 05:20:55,320
in many Middle Eastern and South Asian communities. For a city that prides itself in diversity

3619
05:20:55,320 --> 05:20:58,460
to be an inclusion, this proposal sends the wrong message.

3620
05:20:59,440 --> 05:20:59,860
Most important,

3621
05:21:00,000 --> 05:21:05,880
Currently, this ban won't accomplish its stated goals. People won't stop. They'll drive across

3622
05:21:05,880 --> 05:21:11,640
the 84 to Fremont and spend their money there instead. The customers leave, the jobs leave,

3623
05:21:12,180 --> 05:21:19,460
the tax revenue leaves. Fremont and Alameda County wins. Redwood City and San Mateo County

3624
05:21:19,460 --> 05:21:24,180
loses. So I urge you to reject this proposal. Thank you.

3625
05:21:24,180 --> 05:21:31,910
Thank you. Our next speaker is Blythe Young who will be followed by AROC.

3626
05:21:35,930 --> 05:21:39,850
Good evening, Mayor and City Council members. My name is Blythe Young. I'm the Regents Senior

3627
05:21:39,850 --> 05:21:44,090
Lead of Community Government Relations for the American Heart Association. I'm here tonight

3628
05:21:44,090 --> 05:21:48,530
to express support for the proposal to adopt the San Mateo County model ordinance. This

3629
05:21:48,530 --> 05:21:52,990
proposed policy will reduce access to products that are the tobacco industry's key strategy

3630
05:21:52,990 --> 05:21:57,570
for targeting and addicting new smokers, Redwood City's youth. The American Heart

3631
05:21:57,570 --> 05:21:59,430
Association spent three years helping develop

3632
05:22:00,000 --> 05:22:05,460
The policy at San Mateo County and turned into a model for incorporated studies. We've

3633
05:22:05,460 --> 05:22:12,220
since seen this policy be adopted by South San Francisco, by San Bruno, and others that spent

3634
05:22:12,220 --> 05:22:16,860
a bit more time considering the ordinance. The ordinance does not prevent hookah businesses

3635
05:22:16,860 --> 05:22:21,860
from staying in business. San Francisco, not South San Francisco, but San Francisco proper

3636
05:22:22,380 --> 05:22:27,920
has had a comprehensive flavored tobacco ban for many, many years at this point. Their

3637
05:22:27,920 --> 05:22:29,580
where hookah businesses are still in business.

3638
05:22:30,560 --> 05:22:35,600
The fact that hookah is exempted at the state in terms of the flavor ban was a policy compromise

3639
05:22:36,160 --> 05:22:39,740
and we know that there's a best practice in the Bay Area that has been here long before

3640
05:22:39,740 --> 05:22:42,580
that policy was passed and we expect to continue.

3641
05:22:43,260 --> 05:22:45,860
Hookah businesses have many routes to stay in business.

3642
05:22:46,420 --> 05:22:47,340
We're not closing doors.

3643
05:22:47,660 --> 05:22:50,680
Businesses have not closed doors since we've had comprehensive flavor tobacco

3644
05:22:50,680 --> 05:22:52,200
bans in Bay Area cities.

3645
05:22:53,200 --> 05:22:56,700
So adopting the county's policy I think makes a lot of sense for the reasons

3646
05:22:56,700 --> 05:22:59,880
that staff recommended in terms of the enforcement.

3647
05:23:00,000 --> 05:23:10,400
Actual enforcement protocol offered by the county and cost savings. At the end of the day, if you do decide to adopt your own TRL and enforce it yourselves, I really hope that you'll match the same best practice standards.

3648
05:23:11,100 --> 05:23:20,680
But I think that the county's model was developed in with a lot of thought given to impact both economic and health and is a really sound model to go with.

3649
05:23:21,500 --> 05:23:27,140
So looking forward to your decision outcome. And thank you all for hanging in there past 11pm.

3650
05:23:27,140 --> 05:23:35,160
Thank you. Our next comment is from AROC, who will be followed by Kelly Boyet.

3651
05:23:41,880 --> 05:23:47,100
Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members. My name is Mohamed Shek. I'm the

3652
05:23:47,100 --> 05:23:53,200
Organizing and Advocacy Director at the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, or AROC. We're

3653
05:23:53,200 --> 05:23:56,940
a non-profit serving the Arab and Muslim community here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

3654
05:23:56,940 --> 05:23:59,980
I'm calling in tonight to urge you not to adopt...

3655
05:24:00,000 --> 05:24:05,500
The county tobacco enforcement ordinance, but instead to fully explore the city-run alternative.

3656
05:24:06,220 --> 05:24:11,540
All of you should have received an email with a preliminary breakdown of how a city-run enforcement

3657
05:24:11,540 --> 05:24:17,080
program could be self-funded without tapping into the general fund, and we believe it makes

3658
05:24:17,080 --> 05:24:22,060
a compelling case for a fuller analysis to be done before taking this vote that would

3659
05:24:22,060 --> 05:24:27,320
harm cherished Redwood City small businesses serving Hookah. Many of our constituents

3660
05:24:27,320 --> 05:24:31,280
live in Redwood City and as you know a significant number of our Arab and

3661
05:24:31,280 --> 05:24:35,980
Muslim and Swana community do not drink so do not go to bars and many choose the

3662
05:24:35,980 --> 05:24:39,860
option of enjoying hookah together instead. It's a long-standing social and

3663
05:24:39,860 --> 05:24:43,720
cultural practice unique to Middle Eastern communities and having these

3664
05:24:43,720 --> 05:24:48,280
spaces for our community together have become ever more important especially

3665
05:24:48,280 --> 05:24:53,040
in these times. Unfortunately non-tobacco hookah is not really a

3666
05:24:53,040 --> 05:24:59,400
viable alternative. I mean, imagine what would happen to the revenue for our local bars if

3667
05:24:59,400 --> 05:24:59,980
we told them they

3668
05:25:00,000 --> 05:25:03,440
They can only serve non-alcoholic beer and wine. It wouldn't be good.

3669
05:25:04,280 --> 05:25:10,880
To be clear, we all agree that we need a policy to address flavor tobacco products, vapes, e-cigarettes

3670
05:25:10,880 --> 05:25:16,800
and the like, particularly those targeted and marketed toward our youth. We can do this

3671
05:25:16,800 --> 05:25:22,280
without jeopardizing hookah-serving businesses, but the issue is that the city-run enforcement

3672
05:25:22,280 --> 05:25:28,680
option was not fully analyzed, particularly with regards to cost recovery options. I've

3673
05:25:28,680 --> 05:25:33,720
sitting through this entire meeting and suffice it to say that you all really know how to ask

3674
05:25:33,720 --> 05:25:39,540
rigorous questions and request more information to make informed decisions. So we're asking at the

3675
05:25:39,540 --> 05:25:45,520
very least that we do our due diligence and fully explore that alternative option before moving

3676
05:25:45,520 --> 05:25:51,660
on to the county ordinance tonight. Thank you. Our next comment is from Kelly Boyet who will

3677
05:25:51,660 --> 05:25:53,560
will be followed by Tony Godluschi.

3678
05:25:56,050 --> 05:25:58,250
Hello, thank you so much for listening.

3679
05:26:07,340 --> 05:26:09,900
Kelly, sorry about that. Can you please unmute yourself?

3680
05:26:10,620 --> 05:26:14,740
Oh, I'm sorry about that. Thank you for taking public comment tonight.

3681
05:26:15,480 --> 05:26:23,160
I understand that Redwood City is facing budgetary constraints that limit their capacity to properly fulfill tobacco complaints and permitting issues,

3682
05:26:23,480 --> 05:26:28,940
and I'm also very passionate about limiting access for youth to sales and use of tobacco products.

3683
05:26:29,380 --> 05:26:32,900
But how can we advocate for one demographic while undermining another?

3684
05:26:32,900 --> 05:26:37,440
Huka is an important cultural practice for many communities here in Medwood City as many

3685
05:26:37,440 --> 05:26:41,720
folks have said tonight and for many other consenting adults, it's a medium for connection

3686
05:26:41,720 --> 05:26:42,320
and leisure.

3687
05:26:42,860 --> 05:26:48,260
There are many businesses here, most of which are in attendance that have been compliant.

3688
05:26:48,580 --> 05:26:49,920
They do not sell to underage kids.

3689
05:26:50,060 --> 05:26:56,980
They pay their annual fees and they offer tax profit and offer popular third space

3690
05:26:56,980 --> 05:26:59,880
for friends and family to get together, eat, talk and smoke huka.

3691
05:27:00,000 --> 05:27:05,540
It's not unfortunate that these businesses have been lumped in with other non-compliant businesses.

3692
05:27:06,200 --> 05:27:13,340
It is lazy oversight by our city council. We elected you to support and represent our community, which this ordinance does not do.

3693
05:27:13,700 --> 05:27:22,600
So I urge you to find another way to protect our youth from tobacco access without disregarding the many establishments that make Redwood City so great and unique. Thank you.

3694
05:27:23,840 --> 05:27:29,080
Thank you. Our next speaker is Tony Godluschi, who will be followed by Daniel Moltke.

3695
05:27:41,160 --> 05:27:45,460
Tony, we can't hear you if you're speaking. I do see you're unmuted.

3696
05:27:47,120 --> 05:27:48,900
Hello. Can everyone hear me okay?

3697
05:27:49,200 --> 05:27:50,140
Yes, we can. Thank you.

3698
05:27:50,840 --> 05:27:55,300
Okay. All right. Perfect. Well, yes. As you've heard, my name is Tony. I live here in District 4.

3699
05:27:56,360 --> 05:27:59,960
And I work from home, and whenever I get the opportunity, I like to...

3700
05:28:00,000 --> 05:28:05,940
You work from various coffee shops, cafes, lounges, and hookah lounges around the city.

3701
05:28:07,300 --> 05:28:11,980
It's not really news to anybody, especially here in Silicon Valley, that there's a loneliness

3702
05:28:11,980 --> 05:28:15,340
epidemic across our country, including in our own neighborhood.

3703
05:28:16,280 --> 05:28:21,680
The American Journal of Epidemiology, the American Psychology Association, and other

3704
05:28:21,680 --> 05:28:28,260
organizations have linked chronic isolation to increases in cognitive

3705
05:28:28,260 --> 05:28:35,400
decline, depression, cardiovascular disease, and Cassandra Alcarez with the

3706
05:28:35,400 --> 05:28:40,780
American Journal of Epidemiology shared that the magnitude of risk presented

3707
05:28:40,780 --> 05:28:46,460
by social isolation is very similar in magnitude to that even of smoking. I'm

3708
05:28:46,460 --> 05:28:50,700
I'm not a doctor like I said I work from home I'm not sure how accurate

3709
05:28:50,700 --> 05:28:59,640
any of that really is, but I do find it weird that in this age of social isolation that we would

3710
05:29:00,000 --> 05:29:07,720
Take this step against third spaces in our community. As we heard tonight from all these business

3711
05:29:07,720 --> 05:29:18,840
owners, nobody is against selling tobacco to younger kids. And while this ordinance is

3712
05:29:18,840 --> 05:29:26,020
well-meaning, then it will surely exacerbate the epidemic of loneliness by closing the city's

3713
05:29:26,020 --> 05:29:31,900
lounges. Honest to God, small business proprietors who, as the city notes in its own equity impact

3714
05:29:31,900 --> 05:29:37,340
statement, are disproportionately South Asian or Middle Eastern descent. They're going to be forced

3715
05:29:37,340 --> 05:29:44,000
to shudder friendly third spaces while consenting adults go to eat, work, gossip, and even smoke.

3716
05:29:45,200 --> 05:29:51,060
I encourage you to put your heads together and think of something more creative than a blanket

3717
05:29:51,060 --> 05:29:51,340
Thank you, Ben.

3718
05:29:52,460 --> 05:29:52,860
Thank you.

3719
05:29:55,560 --> 05:29:57,780
Our next speaker is Daniel Moltke.

3720
05:29:58,580 --> 05:29:59,140
What was it?

3721
05:30:06,860 --> 05:30:12,300
Hey, can you hear me? Good evening, Mayor and council members. My name is Daniel Shane Mulkey.

3722
05:30:12,460 --> 05:30:16,900
I'm with the National Hookah Community Association with, which along with AROC submitted a joint

3723
05:30:16,900 --> 05:30:22,960
proposal today, really just asking for one thing. Don't close the door tonight. Give us the time

3724
05:30:22,960 --> 05:30:27,220
to build a solution that protects youth, doesn't cost the city anything, and keeps

3725
05:30:27,220 --> 05:30:32,400
it away from cultural spaces alive in your city. Your staff report shows that a city-run program

3726
05:30:32,400 --> 05:30:37,120
can be nearly self-funded through permit fees alone, and that's before accounting for two

3727
05:30:37,120 --> 05:30:41,700
key revenue sources that the report didn't consider. That's first, that the three hookah

3728
05:30:41,700 --> 05:30:46,720
establishments have volunteered to pay enhanced permit fees through three times what standard

3729
05:30:46,720 --> 05:30:51,160
retailers would pay because they want this program to work they're willing to pay for it.

3730
05:30:51,620 --> 05:30:55,920
The second big one was that the report doesn't account for the impact of financial penalties

3731
05:30:55,920 --> 05:30:59,960
for non-compliance, which the city could easily increase to $1,000 each.

3732
05:31:00,000 --> 05:31:05,240
Each, potentially more. I think it's also worth noting the county program only checks permit

3733
05:31:05,240 --> 05:31:11,120
holders roughly twice a year, so that would mean 110 visits across the 55 retailers in Redwood

3734
05:31:11,120 --> 05:31:17,340
City. Meanwhile, Redwood City's current complaint-based code enforcement generally would be 558 actions

3735
05:31:17,340 --> 05:31:22,400
in 2020. So we think a locally run program is more responsive, more accountable, and really

3736
05:31:22,400 --> 05:31:26,980
better positioned to actually protect kids. So with regard to the county ordinance, there

3737
05:31:26,980 --> 05:31:31,640
There are parts that we could get behind and we'd love to talk about them, but really adopting

3738
05:31:31,640 --> 05:31:35,780
that that ordinance tonight forecloses the only option that would preserve our Redwood

3739
05:31:35,780 --> 05:31:40,420
City's three existing hookah-serving restaurants, which are cultural gathering places for the

3740
05:31:40,420 --> 05:31:41,240
Middle Eastern community.

3741
05:31:41,780 --> 05:31:46,820
For many people in our community, they don't drink, and so these places don't have a substitute.

3742
05:31:47,060 --> 05:31:51,840
It's like having a sports bar without alcohol or bringing alcohol-free wine to your dinner

3743
05:31:51,840 --> 05:31:53,760
party doesn't have the same impact, right?

3744
05:31:53,760 --> 05:31:58,420
So, we're just asking you please reject the ordinance and direct your staff to fully

3745
05:31:58,420 --> 05:31:59,920
analyze the options for the city.

3746
05:32:09,130 --> 05:32:13,310
Thank you. And with that, Mayor, I turn it back to you. It includes public comment.

3747
05:32:14,490 --> 05:32:18,850
Great. Thank you, City Clerk. And again, thank you to everyone who joined us in person or online

3748
05:32:18,850 --> 05:32:23,210
and make some public comment on this, especially with the lateness of the hour. We appreciate

3749
05:32:23,210 --> 05:32:30,010
just getting engagement on this. So with that, I will pass it over to our colleagues with

3750
05:32:30,010 --> 05:32:30,790
Council Member Strickland.

3751
05:32:30,790 --> 05:32:33,590
May I make a motion to extend the meeting to midnight, please?

3752
05:32:34,890 --> 05:32:35,690
Is there a second?

3753
05:32:37,230 --> 05:32:38,070
Sadly, second.

3754
05:32:39,790 --> 05:32:40,590
Thank you both.

3755
05:32:41,110 --> 05:32:43,330
Motion from Sturkin and a second from Gee.

3756
05:32:43,490 --> 05:32:44,250
Could we get a vote, please?

3757
05:33:01,010 --> 05:33:03,910
Motion passes with six votes. Councilmember Chu absent.

3758
05:33:06,040 --> 05:33:07,900
Great. Thank you for the fast vote, everybody.

3759
05:33:08,360 --> 05:33:12,560
And who would like to get us started with any questions or comments?

3760
05:33:17,920 --> 05:33:22,020
We're so close, y'all. Councilmember Gee, thank you.

3761
05:33:22,260 --> 05:33:25,000
Thank you, Mayor. Just some clarifying questions.

3762
05:33:25,960 --> 05:33:28,340
Excuse me. Amanda, you've been working on this for a while.

3763
05:33:28,540 --> 05:33:32,940
So can you just remind all of us just because it's getting late

3764
05:33:32,940 --> 05:33:35,380
and we still have more agenda after this?

3765
05:33:35,380 --> 05:33:40,780
your work and the team's work on trying to bring something to council.

3766
05:33:41,560 --> 05:33:50,020
And not only the timeline, but how many meetings and the journey to get to tonight.

3767
05:33:51,420 --> 05:33:53,040
Yes, I'd be happy to talk about that.

3768
05:33:53,440 --> 05:33:58,180
We had a study session in September of 2024 on two topics.

3769
05:33:58,540 --> 05:33:59,980
One was smoking in the public right away.

3770
05:34:00,000 --> 05:34:07,200
And one was the regulation of tobacco retailers. We were able to bring back an ordinance on smoking

3771
05:34:07,200 --> 05:34:14,460
in the public right-of-way in January of 2025. Following that, we proceeded with work on addressing

3772
05:34:15,040 --> 05:34:24,060
the concerns of council throughout the spring of 2025 into the summer of 2025. We met with

3773
05:34:24,060 --> 05:34:32,900
business, all of our tobacco retailers in April of 2025 working to get a solution

3774
05:34:32,900 --> 05:34:40,220
throughout the summer. City Attorney Ramirez was meeting with or seeking

3775
05:34:40,220 --> 05:34:44,140
seeking to meet with representation from the hookah attorneys throughout the

3776
05:34:44,140 --> 05:34:53,340
last summer throughout the fall. Starting in the spring we started to

3777
05:34:53,340 --> 05:34:57,360
And I think we've been trying to get on an agenda since November of last year.

3778
05:34:57,360 --> 05:34:58,520
and so

3779
05:35:00,000 --> 05:35:04,240
We finally brought it in April of this year. Prior to that, we did additional outreach to

3780
05:35:04,240 --> 05:35:07,000
the hooker retailers and also all of the tobacco retailers.

3781
05:35:09,240 --> 05:35:13,260
Thank you, Maniki. Spent a little bit more time about the outreach over the last year

3782
05:35:13,260 --> 05:35:21,520
to the three establishments and what kind of engagement the people show up and as well

3783
05:35:21,520 --> 05:35:23,540
as the other tobacco retailers in the city.

3784
05:35:23,540 --> 05:35:32,260
Yeah, the hookah retailers, understandably, were very invested in helping us understand

3785
05:35:32,260 --> 05:35:34,720
their perspective and their needs.

3786
05:35:35,420 --> 05:35:41,460
So when we would meet with them, they would come and bring their perspective and ask for

3787
05:35:41,460 --> 05:35:42,500
what we would want.

3788
05:35:43,100 --> 05:35:48,800
A number of times we sought compromise, for example, with the non-tobacco hookah and

3789
05:35:48,800 --> 05:35:59,980
heard that they were not interested in on tobacco hookah and I can understand that if your demand is for tobacco hookah.

3790
05:36:00,000 --> 05:36:03,860
I can understand that there's probably not a lot of demand for non-tobacco hookah, but we

3791
05:36:03,860 --> 05:36:09,620
were looking for a way of figuring out how to regulate the tobacco retailers, and we're

3792
05:36:09,620 --> 05:36:14,120
looking for a compromise on what that looked like. As far as the other tobacco retailer

3793
05:36:14,120 --> 05:36:21,960
outreach meetings, we had probably about 10, so we have 55 retailers. We had about 10

3794
05:36:21,960 --> 05:36:29,060
folks attend, so about 20% of the retailers. Those were mixed across smoke shops, gas

3795
05:36:29,060 --> 05:36:33,660
stations and convenience stores and so they they brought up a lot of thoughts as

3796
05:36:33,660 --> 05:36:41,160
well they you know I think would like to have less regulation themselves but

3797
05:36:41,160 --> 05:36:47,780
also recognize that you know it is normal to have regulation and that they

3798
05:36:47,780 --> 05:36:51,460
would prefer to pay less for regulation than more.

3799
05:36:56,450 --> 05:36:57,630
Thank you for that

3800
05:36:57,630 --> 05:36:58,070
history.

3801
05:37:00,000 --> 05:37:05,380
It's, you know, thank you all for being here at 11.30 and getting later at night.

3802
05:37:06,080 --> 05:37:14,320
You know, we have two speakers offer, I guess, a self-funded solution, but it feels like they

3803
05:37:14,320 --> 05:37:21,100
just showed up. Is my perception inaccurate? I mean, given the history and the timeline

3804
05:37:21,100 --> 05:37:26,700
you just shared, the conversation could have and should have probably began in the beginning,

3805
05:37:26,700 --> 05:37:30,180
not when this matter comes before council tonight.

3806
05:37:31,420 --> 05:37:34,020
The businesses did propose earlier

3807
05:37:34,020 --> 05:37:36,000
that they would be willing to pay more

3808
05:37:36,000 --> 05:37:38,920
for a tobacco retailer permit for themselves.

3809
05:37:39,760 --> 05:37:42,960
My understanding is that there wouldn't be

3810
05:37:42,960 --> 05:37:46,820
a significant difference in that our proposition 26,

3811
05:37:47,000 --> 05:37:49,720
which is about fair fees and paying for the cost

3812
05:37:49,720 --> 05:37:51,480
of service, the cost of service

3813
05:37:51,480 --> 05:37:52,920
wouldn't be significantly different

3814
05:37:52,920 --> 05:37:59,760
for issuing a permit and doing inspections and that for these businesses.

3815
05:38:01,260 --> 05:38:15,820
And so, we wouldn't be able to charge them more. That's one thing. The other thing is, is that it did feel like there was a lot of organization here at this moment.

3816
05:38:16,860 --> 05:38:21,820
And that did surprise me, but I'm glad that people are using their voice.

3817
05:38:22,740 --> 05:38:26,400
You're going to demand a thank you, so I'm going to pivot to our city attorney.

3818
05:38:27,700 --> 05:38:32,860
And this is a question similar to earlier this evening, which seems like forever ago.

3819
05:38:33,600 --> 05:38:40,220
But because of Prop 218 or whatever that number is, are we allowed to disproportionately

3820
05:38:42,440 --> 05:38:45,840
charge fees for permits that may subsidize others?

3821
05:38:47,300 --> 05:38:56,020
No, as we spoke about this earlier, Prop 26 does not allow for one subgroup, two subsidized

3822
05:38:56,020 --> 05:38:59,900
and other subgroups responsibilities and so the city does have

3823
05:39:00,000 --> 05:39:04,940
We have to determine what the proper fee is based on the services that are being provided

3824
05:39:04,940 --> 05:39:07,580
and charge that fee across the board.

3825
05:39:10,380 --> 05:39:14,400
Thank you, City Attorney Amanda, thank you for answering some clarifying questions.

3826
05:39:15,100 --> 05:39:15,260
Thank you.

3827
05:39:15,460 --> 05:39:15,900
Thank

3828
05:39:18,100 --> 05:39:18,980
you, Council Member Gee.

3829
05:39:20,440 --> 05:39:21,480
Will's has questions.

3830
05:39:30,860 --> 05:39:32,480
Council Member Strickland, we'll go to you.

3831
05:39:32,680 --> 05:39:33,320
Thank you, Mayor.

3832
05:39:34,020 --> 05:39:35,680
Thank you to everyone who made public comments.

3833
05:39:35,980 --> 05:39:38,140
I very much appreciate both online and in person.

3834
05:39:38,640 --> 05:39:42,060
And thank you, Amanda, as well for all your hard work on this over the course of

3835
05:39:42,060 --> 05:39:43,320
couple years at this point.

3836
05:39:45,640 --> 05:39:51,320
So looking at the staff report, at the very bottom there is an alternative.

3837
05:39:52,160 --> 05:39:59,960
And I would just like to ask, I think I already know the answer to this question because we were presented with an alternative back in the

3838
05:40:00,000 --> 05:40:07,740
April. But if we were to entertain the idea of doing our own program, what would that look

3839
05:40:07,740 --> 05:40:13,860
like? What's the timeline? What resources can we leverage from the county or otherwise

3840
05:40:13,860 --> 05:40:21,480
to meet the needs of the entire community, you know, to enforce our regulations, protect

3841
05:40:21,480 --> 05:40:30,480
youth while also supporting our local businesses and local cultures.

3842
05:40:31,320 --> 05:40:41,180
Sure. If we did not adopt the ordinance tonight and we came back and you directed staff to come back with our own ordinance,

3843
05:40:42,100 --> 05:40:48,800
we wouldn't be able to rely on the county for much. Their policy is that either you adopt it by reference or verbatim,

3844
05:40:48,800 --> 05:40:50,920
or they don't really get involved.

3845
05:40:51,520 --> 05:40:55,020
So we wouldn't be able to rely on them for anything.

3846
05:40:55,780 --> 05:40:58,060
They might be so kind as to give their time

3847
05:40:58,060 --> 05:40:59,980
to train us on all of this.

3848
05:41:00,000 --> 05:41:05,360
Unflavored tobacco and how to regulate tobacco, but I don't know that that's a given.

3849
05:41:07,160 --> 05:41:14,680
You know, I say this very carefully because I love what I do, but you guys have a lot of my plate,

3850
05:41:15,040 --> 05:41:22,060
and if you direct me to also bring back other stuff that either pushes street vending and mobile vending

3851
05:41:22,060 --> 05:41:30,860
and entertainment zones and small business supports, there's just a lot of things that will get pushed.

3852
05:41:30,860 --> 05:41:36,160
So either it will take me several months to develop this ordinance and we'll bring it back in 2027.

3853
05:41:36,880 --> 05:41:46,480
Or we'll prioritize that and we can maybe do that in three or four months if Veronica has some time to really dig into this.

3854
05:41:46,900 --> 05:41:52,080
We would probably need to come back and have a study session with you to understand what your priorities are.

3855
05:41:52,220 --> 05:41:58,120
Do you want to follow something that's very similar to the county or do you want to have other parameters before we go back?

3856
05:41:58,120 --> 05:41:59,980
So there's a lot of steps that what it would do.

3857
05:42:00,000 --> 05:42:06,840
What do we take to develop that ordinance? And it's also figuring out what is the priority.

3858
05:42:07,660 --> 05:42:10,440
We are priorities, right? What do we want to include in that ordinance?

3859
05:42:11,080 --> 05:42:18,120
And so, you know, I think minimally, most likely, it would be six to nine months just to develop the ordinance.

3860
05:42:18,500 --> 05:42:26,160
We have to train staff on the work, on who is doing the work, how to regulate what is this.

3861
05:42:26,160 --> 05:42:31,420
I attend a quarterly meeting right now from the Alameda County Tobacco Regulation Enforcement

3862
05:42:31,420 --> 05:42:37,240
Network and there are new flavored tobacco products coming out literally every month

3863
05:42:37,800 --> 05:42:43,060
and we sit on that call and we learn all about these new regulated products, but I'm not

3864
05:42:43,060 --> 05:42:43,980
the regulator, right?

3865
05:42:44,120 --> 05:42:45,100
I'm the policymaker.

3866
05:42:46,380 --> 05:42:49,040
We would have to get code enforcement to understand that.

3867
05:42:49,160 --> 05:42:53,020
We'd have to figure out where code enforcement is going to have time to go and do a proactive

3868
05:42:53,680 --> 05:42:54,200
program.

3869
05:42:54,200 --> 05:42:58,380
So, I mean, minimum six to nine months, quite a bit of staff effort.

3870
05:42:59,360 --> 05:42:59,960
Not important.

3871
05:43:00,000 --> 05:43:06,560
It's possible, right? I mean, it's anything's possible. I do want to be honest about that, but there are trade-offs.

3872
05:43:09,300 --> 05:43:13,200
Thank you very much. It's very helpful just to wrap up my comments.

3873
05:43:17,140 --> 05:43:21,360
Councilmember, sorry, I didn't want to rush you to wrap up. It's just our city attorney.

3874
05:43:24,380 --> 05:43:33,020
And thank you to Ms. Anthony for answering that question. I just wanted to point out, and she made a reference to it,

3875
05:43:33,020 --> 05:43:41,040
but just wanted the council to be aware that the city doesn't currently have a permit process

3876
05:43:41,040 --> 05:43:50,140
for this. We don't have any program to regulate. Ms. Anthony spoke a lot about the enforcement

3877
05:43:50,140 --> 05:43:54,560
part after the ordinance gets adopted, but the very first thing is creating a permit

3878
05:43:54,560 --> 05:43:57,860
its system for this and understanding how to process that.

3879
05:43:58,180 --> 05:43:59,980
So, and once that's

3880
05:44:00,000 --> 05:44:06,000
If the system is put together, then it's implementing it and getting the applications out and helping

3881
05:44:06,000 --> 05:44:12,040
all of the tobacco businesses, and we have 55 currently, to understand what that means.

3882
05:44:12,400 --> 05:44:19,720
So there's a big process after adoption and before enforcement as well that will take

3883
05:44:19,720 --> 05:44:25,640
some ramp up. And I want the council to understand that so that we don't get surprised a year

3884
05:44:25,640 --> 05:44:29,540
later when we're still trying to figure it out.

3885
05:44:33,260 --> 05:44:35,320
Thank you, City Attorney. We'll bring it back to,

3886
05:44:35,480 --> 05:44:44,380
okay, thank you. Any other questions? Member Howard? I don't have questions, but I'm ready to make

3887
05:44:44,380 --> 05:44:51,580
my comments if that's okay. Okay, thank you. I just wanted to say that I received,

3888
05:44:58,920 --> 05:44:58,920
I think

3889
05:44:58,920 --> 05:44:59,780
just at Stanford.

3890
05:45:00,000 --> 05:45:07,740
University and she does research on tobacco prevention and the damages that it causes nicotine

3891
05:45:07,740 --> 05:45:16,640
and tobacco. And it was a very moving and very impressive letter talking about the dangers

3892
05:45:16,640 --> 05:45:24,520
of flavored tobacco products because continued use, it makes it easier and it masks the harshness

3893
05:45:24,520 --> 05:45:31,060
of the tobacco in the nicotine. It makes smoke and aerosol easier to inhale. It's easier

3894
05:45:31,060 --> 05:45:38,520
on the throat. And it creates the misperception that these products are less harmful than

3895
05:45:38,520 --> 05:45:45,940
traditional cigarettes. And she states, that is just not true, that tobacco and the

3896
05:45:45,940 --> 05:45:52,080
toxic chemicals that are in flavored tobacco as well as cigarettes are very harmful.

3897
05:45:52,080 --> 05:45:59,380
and people exposed to it can develop lung disease as well as the person smoking it.

3898
05:46:00,000 --> 05:46:07,140
And she said a one-hour hookah session, which is the typical timeframe use that she says is

3899
05:46:07,140 --> 05:46:13,400
equivalent, if I'm exposed to it, not smoking, if I'm exposed to it, it's the equivalent of

3900
05:46:13,400 --> 05:46:22,180
smoking 100 cigarettes a day. Now, I'm a nurse. People know that I'm a nurse and I cannot

3901
05:46:22,180 --> 05:46:31,440
take any other stand on this other than my desire to do what's best for our whole community.

3902
05:46:32,740 --> 05:46:38,580
And I find tobacco and its products, when I was teaching nursing, I always spoke to young

3903
05:46:38,580 --> 05:46:42,880
people because I thought if we get to them young, then maybe you prevent them from smoking

3904
05:46:42,880 --> 05:46:43,900
into their old age.

3905
05:46:44,360 --> 05:46:45,420
It's a tough one.

3906
05:46:45,520 --> 05:46:48,360
Once they become addicted, it's very hard to quit.

3907
05:46:48,360 --> 05:46:59,860
Now I know we're talking about young people and it's really important, but I'm also very, very worried about the adult population who smoke nicotine products.

3908
05:47:00,560 --> 05:47:15,380
And being exposed to it. So back when COVID was, when we had COVID, we made an agreement that we would try to help our three businesses in Redwood City who did serve hookah.

3909
05:47:15,860 --> 05:47:27,780
And we made it possible for them to do it. And then we even gave an extension of a year while we studied the information that we were giving about the state and the county.

3910
05:47:29,240 --> 05:47:34,800
During that time, I made it clear that I could not guarantee this was a permanent solution.

3911
05:47:35,640 --> 05:47:36,560
I made it clear.

3912
05:47:36,680 --> 05:47:41,120
I don't know about anyone else, but I always felt sooner or later the state's going to

3913
05:47:41,120 --> 05:47:45,960
step in and then the county, and we were going to have to make some tough decisions.

3914
05:47:46,500 --> 05:47:48,080
And that's where we are right now.

3915
05:47:48,080 --> 05:47:58,640
So I can only say, as a nurse, my responsibility is the health and well-being of our community.

3916
05:48:00,000 --> 05:48:08,500
And our community needs to eliminate as much as possible exposure to nicotine and smoking

3917
05:48:08,500 --> 05:48:17,120
products. I know that's going to hurt our friends in business. I know this is going to have an

3918
05:48:17,120 --> 05:48:24,380
impact on your business as well as the social and cultural practices that you do. But my

3919
05:48:24,380 --> 05:48:29,520
responsibility has to be the public health and safety of the community of

3920
05:48:29,520 --> 05:48:36,940
Redwood City and that's why I will support this. I'm sorry but I don't feel I

3921
05:48:36,940 --> 05:48:42,600
have a choice in this matter if I'm going to be true to my profession so I'll

3922
05:48:42,600 --> 05:48:43,880
just leave it at that. Thank

3923
05:48:46,090 --> 05:48:48,050
you, Council Member Howard. Who else has

3924
05:48:48,050 --> 05:48:48,370
comments?

3925
05:48:53,890 --> 05:48:54,470
Council Member Shurken.

3926
05:48:56,680 --> 05:48:59,660
I feel like I've been presented that I am

3927
05:48:59,660 --> 05:48:59,920
consider.

3928
05:49:00,000 --> 05:49:10,420
We're considering just a false choice. And there, I think we can address each of the issues

3929
05:49:10,420 --> 05:49:22,740
and needs presented tonight, enforcing our smoking regulations, allowing communities to continue

3930
05:49:22,740 --> 05:49:34,600
expressing their culture while also supporting our local economy. So both ordinances that we were

3931
05:49:34,600 --> 05:49:42,360
presented with back in April accomplish those things. The largest difference that I recall

3932
05:49:42,360 --> 05:49:46,320
us discussing was the cost. And I

3933
05:49:48,720 --> 05:49:51,940
understand that based on our previous conversation we don't

3934
05:49:51,940 --> 05:49:56,040
have very much wiggle room to accommodate said cost.

3935
05:49:56,640 --> 05:49:57,060
But.

3936
05:50:00,530 --> 05:50:08,710
As we did with the business license tax, when we received feedback from the business community,

3937
05:50:08,990 --> 05:50:16,790
we pivoted and made accommodations. And I think it's important for us to,

3938
05:50:20,590 --> 05:50:23,230
when we realize

3939
05:50:23,230 --> 05:50:28,250
maybe there were folks that we didn't get the chance to talk to, or maybe that we should

3940
05:50:28,250 --> 05:50:31,430
that have engaged the first go-around,

3941
05:50:31,930 --> 05:50:35,390
that we accommodate them and continue the conversation

3942
05:50:35,390 --> 05:50:37,750
until we can find the right solution

3943
05:50:37,750 --> 05:50:40,130
that meets all of our needs.

3944
05:50:40,870 --> 05:50:44,450
So I will leave it there.

3945
05:50:44,650 --> 05:50:45,890
I would like to make a motion,

3946
05:50:46,010 --> 05:50:49,270
but I will wait until I've heard from my other colleagues

3947
05:50:49,270 --> 05:50:51,570
should anyone else like to contribute.

3948
05:50:52,090 --> 05:50:52,770
Thank you, Mayor.

3949
05:50:54,640 --> 05:50:55,600
Thank you, Council Member.

3950
05:50:55,840 --> 05:50:56,660
We'll go to Council Member Pideo.

3951
05:50:57,020 --> 05:50:57,800
Thank you.

3952
05:50:57,800 --> 05:50:59,980
So, um, I've given...

3953
05:51:00,000 --> 05:51:04,980
And this is a lot of thought. I've talked to many people and I've read, if I haven't

3954
05:51:04,980 --> 05:51:07,960
responded, I've read every e-mail, I've listened to voicemails,

3955
05:51:10,140 --> 05:51:14,280
and I come from many perspectives.

3956
05:51:14,860 --> 05:51:21,280
I also value community health. I'm a parent, I'm a resident. I care about all the same

3957
05:51:21,280 --> 05:51:26,840
things. I care about our businesses. I care about the diversity in valuing everything

3958
05:51:26,840 --> 05:51:29,300
thing that makes us such a special place.

3959
05:51:30,920 --> 05:51:32,540
And I just want to share something.

3960
05:51:32,960 --> 05:51:35,140
From our last meeting, I had mentioned with a neighbor,

3961
05:51:35,580 --> 05:51:37,460
and I was just mentioning some things.

3962
05:51:37,540 --> 05:51:40,220
And she said to me, oh, I go to the sandwich spot.

3963
05:51:40,280 --> 05:51:41,680
And she said, they have hookah?

3964
05:51:42,580 --> 05:51:46,020
And I thought, wow, what a compliment

3965
05:51:46,020 --> 05:51:48,080
to that business and that establishment

3966
05:51:48,500 --> 05:51:52,020
that I had a neighbor who has been buying sandwiches there

3967
05:51:52,020 --> 05:51:56,660
and did not even know that the establishment sold hookah.

3968
05:51:57,540 --> 05:51:59,840
And then I thought to myself, in a world

3969
05:52:00,000 --> 05:52:04,640
That's where I thought our city manager mentioned just how we should be cautious of regulation

3970
05:52:04,640 --> 05:52:12,200
and unintended consequences. I don't smoke cigarettes and I don't do hookah, so I don't go to those

3971
05:52:12,200 --> 05:52:19,960
establishments. That's a personal choice that I make. And so often, more increasingly I find

3972
05:52:19,960 --> 05:52:25,160
in society and in our times, we're being told how to live our lives and what to do.

3973
05:52:26,480 --> 05:52:32,840
And I want to still believe that we raise our families, we teach them, no, I don't want

3974
05:52:32,840 --> 05:52:33,440
children smoking.

3975
05:52:33,640 --> 05:52:38,220
I remember being little and ice cream man coming and there were bubblegum cigarettes.

3976
05:52:38,660 --> 05:52:41,020
And that was a really popular thing to get.

3977
05:52:41,140 --> 05:52:45,280
And we didn't even know, but you wanted to blow them and see the powdered sugar come

3978
05:52:45,280 --> 05:52:45,460
out.

3979
05:52:45,840 --> 05:52:51,620
And it added some sort of glamour as a little kid, and you didn't.

3980
05:52:51,900 --> 05:52:54,420
And so I think about that, that impact you have on children.

3981
05:52:54,420 --> 05:52:59,980
But then I also think, you know, what is the role of the family?

3982
05:53:00,000 --> 05:53:05,040
Family unit. You know, when it comes down to us legislating when, how old someone can be

3983
05:53:05,040 --> 05:53:10,260
when they have a cell phone, who can go on Facebook, what decisions should be made in our own home.

3984
05:53:10,700 --> 05:53:15,520
If I don't like the way that hookah smells or I don't want my child exposed to it, then

3985
05:53:15,520 --> 05:53:22,320
I won't go to Pasha or Rock and Raps or if that's my concern. So that's where I'm struggling

3986
05:53:22,320 --> 05:53:27,680
right now. I want to balance our public health, but I also want to value the budget

3987
05:53:27,680 --> 05:53:32,560
situation we're in, we have businesses that are contributing to the vibrancy of our community.

3988
05:53:33,440 --> 05:53:39,280
And also, it is connection. We had a person call and there is an epidemic of loneliness.

3989
05:53:40,520 --> 05:53:46,800
Smoking, you know, passing a pipe, it's connection. It's connecting with people. It's dialogue

3990
05:53:46,800 --> 05:53:52,180
in a world where we increasingly don't know how to talk to each other. There are fewer

3991
05:53:52,180 --> 05:53:57,040
in fewer spaces for people. We don't, you know, not everyone fits. This isn't

3992
05:53:57,040 --> 05:53:59,740
Sweden. We don't all look the same. So cultural

3993
05:54:00,000 --> 05:54:05,600
Safe spaces for certain communities are more than just a place to work, so you're not lonely.

3994
05:54:05,720 --> 05:54:10,560
It's somewhere where you feel seen, somewhere where you don't have to wear a mask, somewhere

3995
05:54:10,560 --> 05:54:17,080
where you don't have to explain. It's hard to put a value on that, but it is valuable.

3996
05:54:17,440 --> 05:54:22,180
I just want us to make sure that we're considering these things because I don't always feel

3997
05:54:22,180 --> 05:54:28,360
good about regulating people's freedom of choice and free will. I know that there is

3998
05:54:28,360 --> 05:54:35,060
a state law but it seems like what we're doing is superseding the state law and it's hard

3999
05:54:35,060 --> 05:54:39,900
for me to reconcile this when we're talking about a budget where all I see are red going

4000
05:54:39,900 --> 05:54:45,460
into the red and the red and I see businesses that are employing workers that are adding

4001
05:54:45,460 --> 05:54:45,900
to things.

4002
05:54:46,140 --> 05:54:53,240
So I just, I'm struggling at the moment because I will say that I have always been

4003
05:54:53,240 --> 05:54:53,640
a proponent.

4004
05:54:53,640 --> 05:54:59,280
And I don't think it's fair, as Council Member Sirken says, that we're given that it's this

4005
05:54:59,280 --> 05:54:59,760
or that.

4006
05:55:00,000 --> 05:55:01,920
I don't know if it has to be that way.

4007
05:55:05,240 --> 05:55:11,360
I heard that caller. I don't want to, you know, it's hard to hear to think that we're lazy when we're here at, you know, 11.59.

4008
05:55:11,600 --> 05:55:21,060
I don't think anyone on our staff or council is lazy, but I think we are working with limited resources financially and from a staff perspective.

4009
05:55:21,400 --> 05:55:24,300
But I don't want that to be the excuse not to do what's right.

4010
05:55:25,220 --> 05:55:26,860
So I'll leave it at that for now. Thank you.

4011
05:55:28,840 --> 05:55:31,160
Thank you, Council Member Padeo. We'll go to the Vice Mayor.

4012
05:55:31,800 --> 05:55:38,800
So I want to thank everyone who came out here tonight, and especially at this late hour.

4013
05:55:39,760 --> 05:55:45,160
When we studied this two years ago, and Council Member Gee, thanks for asking, and Amanda,

4014
05:55:45,520 --> 05:55:54,700
thank you for reminding us of that. We, and you as well, you know, a hookah had

4015
05:55:54,700 --> 05:55:59,980
been grandfathered in. And at that time, two years ago, we

4016
05:56:00,000 --> 05:56:06,140
We directed staff to go back to the county and see if they would do that grandfathering

4017
05:56:06,140 --> 05:56:15,420
for us. Because we do, I just speak for myself, I do value the culture and I do like this culture

4018
05:56:15,420 --> 05:56:23,780
in Redwood City. I like the diversity. I do see it as a fun recreational cultural thing.

4019
05:56:23,780 --> 05:56:31,780
And so we did, we asked, we directed the then city manager, Melissa, Steven,

4020
05:56:31,940 --> 05:56:33,920
and Diaz to go back to the county and say,

4021
05:56:34,020 --> 05:56:39,940
look, please grandfather us in, please grandfather this in.

4022
05:56:40,520 --> 05:56:49,280
And I really was hoping they would, but the county will not.

4023
05:56:49,740 --> 05:56:52,280
And we have no control over that.

4024
05:56:52,280 --> 05:56:59,260
And meanwhile we have 55 tobacco retailers

4025
05:57:00,000 --> 05:57:08,880
This woman here who just three days ago or one day ago was able to buy all sorts of illegal

4026
05:57:12,340 --> 05:57:23,700
tobacco products. Subsequent again to two years ago, I also discovered that there is flavorless

4027
05:57:23,700 --> 05:57:30,140
tobacco. There is hookah that's, you know, tobacco-free, and that other jurisdictions,

4028
05:57:30,580 --> 05:57:37,860
the reference was to San Francisco, are doing that. So the fact that San Mateo will not compromise,

4029
05:57:38,180 --> 05:57:43,080
the fact that there is an alternative, the fact that our staff has been bending over

4030
05:57:43,080 --> 05:57:54,200
backward for a year to try to craft some kind of a compromise. I am really sorry, but we

4031
05:57:54,200 --> 05:57:59,920
have to have the enforcement of the county. The county has a health department. We do

4032
05:58:00,000 --> 05:58:13,780
And so it's just untenable. It's not the tobacco-less product, the flavorless product.

4033
05:58:14,600 --> 05:58:22,340
These tobacco purveyors, these 55 purveyors, what really struck me was the mom from Menlo

4034
05:58:22,340 --> 05:58:32,020
Park a month ago who said, all the kids know, oh yeah, just come to Redwood City and you're

4035
05:58:32,020 --> 05:58:34,280
14 years old, you can get whatever you want.

4036
05:58:34,880 --> 05:58:37,760
These businesses are very profitable.

4037
05:58:39,620 --> 05:58:45,720
Sometimes doing a legal activity is extraordinarily profitable and we're behind.

4038
05:58:45,720 --> 05:58:46,420
We're behind.

4039
05:58:47,400 --> 05:58:54,320
We've been spending two years to try to accommodate, to try to recognize the cultural aspect.

4040
05:58:55,360 --> 05:58:58,680
But now we don't have an option.

4041
05:59:00,000 --> 05:59:07,040
The option is flavorless tobacco. Who can still exist? We have to have the county in force.

4042
05:59:07,780 --> 05:59:15,340
We don't have the time and we do not have the money. And we don't. So I am going to be supporting,

4043
05:59:15,620 --> 05:59:18,800
as I did in April, I am going to be supporting this ordinance.

4044
05:59:21,320 --> 05:59:23,580
Thank you, Vice Mayor. We'll go to Council Member G.

4045
05:59:25,670 --> 05:59:31,790
Thank you, Mayor. You know, this is sort of a Sophie's choice. The way we have it right here.

4046
05:59:33,810 --> 05:59:38,330
And I want to pick up, Vice Mayor, a comment you just made and that we heard in April.

4047
05:59:38,590 --> 05:59:45,950
I went home and I try not to talk about politics at home, but I was talking to my daughter about this specific subject.

4048
05:59:46,250 --> 05:59:49,350
And she said the same thing you just shared that the woman that spoke in April.

4049
05:59:49,830 --> 05:59:54,910
All the youth know they want to buy tobacco or flavored tobacco or paraphernalia.

4050
05:59:55,390 --> 05:59:59,030
They just come to River City. The young people know that.

4051
05:59:59,030 --> 05:59:59,310
Thank you for watching.

4052
05:59:59,310 --> 05:59:59,990
I'll see you in the next video.

4053
06:00:00,000 --> 06:00:01,500
And that's because we don't have enforcement.

4054
06:00:02,240 --> 06:00:10,600
And so let's not forget the amount of time that we've been trying to do something here and work a compromise.

4055
06:00:10,960 --> 06:00:20,020
And if we do say, let's take the time to study, we're looking at two to three years of no enforcement.

4056
06:00:21,500 --> 06:00:26,360
The year and a half behind us and maybe a year in front of us, whatever, two to three years.

4057
06:00:26,360 --> 06:00:32,650
When I look at resources, it's not just money. Time is resource.

4058
06:00:33,850 --> 06:00:42,930
But more importantly, that's two years where youth have had an opportunity to come and buy product here in Redwood City.

4059
06:00:46,160 --> 06:00:51,640
And whether they get addicted, whether they tell their friends, that is a cost too.

4060
06:00:54,160 --> 06:00:58,840
We can't quantify it from a dollar standpoint. We can't quantify it from a general fund standpoint.

4061
06:00:58,840 --> 06:00:59,080
point.

4062
06:01:00,000 --> 06:01:02,180
But we know that they can buy it here.

4063
06:01:03,400 --> 06:01:06,020
They told us. It's easy. They all know.

4064
06:01:06,440 --> 06:01:09,120
The young people in the region know they just come to Redwood City.

4065
06:01:10,720 --> 06:01:15,780
So, you know, it's not easy being here at the desk at this late hour,

4066
06:01:15,780 --> 06:01:19,560
but it's not easy trying to figure out what's more important.

4067
06:01:21,890 --> 06:01:25,610
The community at large, as councilmember Howard stated,

4068
06:01:26,910 --> 06:01:29,430
or some of our businesses here.

4069
06:01:30,570 --> 06:01:33,210
And that is the kind of Sophie's choice we have.

4070
06:01:35,430 --> 06:01:41,850
At the end of the day, as I said in April, we've been very clear at Council and previous Councils

4071
06:01:41,850 --> 06:01:43,330
what our importance are.

4072
06:01:43,970 --> 06:01:47,170
And one of our strategic principles is youth and children.

4073
06:01:47,830 --> 06:01:49,070
That has been consistent.

4074
06:01:50,090 --> 06:01:52,850
Council Member Howard, I think that's gone back at least 10 years.

4075
06:01:52,850 --> 06:01:58,250
And that's been a guiding principle along with housing and transportation.

4076
06:01:59,050 --> 06:01:59,970
And that's not a mystery.

4077
06:02:01,280 --> 06:02:06,700
That's reported in every year budget at this time, what our strategic guiding principles

4078
06:02:06,700 --> 06:02:13,780
are. And so, unfortunately, if I have to make a Sophie's choice, I have to pick our young

4079
06:02:13,780 --> 06:02:16,780
people and our community's health.

4080
06:02:19,030 --> 06:02:22,330
I wish there were more choices, but when we look at a year

4081
06:02:22,330 --> 06:02:26,890
and a half gone or whatever that number is and another nine months forward, that's two

4082
06:02:26,890 --> 06:02:32,350
years of our young people being able to come to Redwood City and buy whatever they want,

4083
06:02:32,790 --> 06:02:39,370
whatever they want, irregardless of law at the state level and at the county level.

4084
06:02:40,450 --> 06:02:43,370
And that's a terrible choice to have to be made here at the council.

4085
06:02:44,330 --> 06:02:46,790
But that's what we have to do this evening.

4086
06:02:52,640 --> 06:02:53,640
Thank you, council members.

4087
06:02:54,720 --> 06:02:55,820
Not seeing any other lights.

4088
06:02:56,240 --> 06:02:57,680
I'll jump into my remarks.

4089
06:02:57,880 --> 06:02:59,460
Thank you again to the members of the public.

4090
06:03:00,000 --> 06:03:03,580
In person and online, it's almost Tuesday, and we're still here.

4091
06:03:06,700 --> 06:03:14,740
I want to just first say, I know that there has been an incredible amount of community time, staff time to get us to this point.

4092
06:03:17,380 --> 06:03:24,280
And I know this isn't an easy decision, and, you know, I said this in April that I would be,

4093
06:03:24,280 --> 06:03:31,880
And I said this in the previous fall that I would be open to coming up with the city

4094
06:03:31,880 --> 06:03:32,820
ordinance, right?

4095
06:03:32,960 --> 06:03:36,580
And as we got more information, it made it harder and harder to see that as a viable

4096
06:03:36,580 --> 06:03:36,980
path.

4097
06:03:37,060 --> 06:03:44,640
But I'm curious, if we went down this path and I heard some comments around enforcement,

4098
06:03:45,660 --> 06:03:49,480
what level of enforcement could we offer in the meantime if we gave this another

4099
06:03:49,480 --> 06:03:59,980
two years and knowing the cost recovery issues or complexities there what would be a, I guess

4100
06:04:00,000 --> 06:04:05,960
It's a potential solution for cost recovery, knowing that Prop 26 won't let us get full recovery

4101
06:04:05,960 --> 06:04:06,600
through the fees.

4102
06:04:11,020 --> 06:04:18,380
I'll take a shot at this. I think, keep in mind, when we first looked at this about a

4103
06:04:18,380 --> 06:04:23,060
year and a half ago, we looked at PD having a heavy role. If we were going to do something

4104
06:04:23,060 --> 06:04:27,900
to enter them, I would probably lean on the police chief to implement. I don't know

4105
06:04:27,900 --> 06:04:30,920
how folks feel about that. The reason why I say that is because they do work closely

4106
06:04:30,920 --> 06:04:36,720
with the county now, they are involved in many task force that are in this space, that

4107
06:04:36,720 --> 06:04:41,520
would come at a considerable cost in the interim while we would put a program together.

4108
06:04:42,600 --> 06:04:48,320
So I'd say, because I agree with the sentiment, a lot of folks here is, my concern isn't the

4109
06:04:48,320 --> 06:04:48,840
three hookah business.

4110
06:04:48,980 --> 06:04:50,280
I think they're standout businesses.

4111
06:04:50,760 --> 06:04:54,260
I've gotten to know David well and I've really tried to learn the business.

4112
06:04:55,060 --> 06:04:58,040
I'm not saying all 52 of the other businesses are bad actors.

4113
06:04:58,740 --> 06:04:59,640
I think we know 15.

4114
06:05:00,460 --> 06:05:06,120
That's a lot. And so if we were to consider something in the short term, I think we would

4115
06:05:06,120 --> 06:05:10,040
have to make some decision to have some level enforcement that would probably be led by our

4116
06:05:10,040 --> 06:05:15,500
police department. Now the chief isn't here, but I think they're the only one. Our co-enforcement

4117
06:05:15,500 --> 06:05:23,420
has no idea how to implement this. Our co-enforcement right now has 300 cases per person. I wouldn't

4118
06:05:23,420 --> 06:05:27,300
feel comfortable giving them this right now in the interim why we figured it out. So

4119
06:05:27,300 --> 06:05:30,540
So I think we could put a plan together, but it'd probably be led by the police department.

4120
06:05:33,310 --> 06:05:33,770
Thank you, Patrick.

4121
06:05:33,930 --> 06:05:36,250
And the second question was just around cost recovery.

4122
06:05:38,730 --> 06:05:40,130
Are you talking near term or long term?

4123
06:05:41,110 --> 06:05:41,330
Both.

4124
06:05:41,750 --> 06:05:42,370
Yeah, I'm just curious.

4125
06:05:42,530 --> 06:05:43,830
In the interim, I guess, before we came up with.

4126
06:05:43,830 --> 06:05:45,250
In the interim, I think, yeah.

4127
06:05:45,490 --> 06:05:49,590
I mean, it was not in the budget, but I think the general fund would have to bear

4128
06:05:50,290 --> 06:05:54,670
it right now until we went through a process and we, you know, just because we have

4129
06:05:54,670 --> 06:05:59,050
a handful of businesses that said, we're willing to pay this, there's 52 businesses

4130
06:05:59,050 --> 06:05:59,830
is to have no pie.

4131
06:06:01,300 --> 06:06:06,660
We just got the proposal on Friday. That's the first I saw it. So it's almost like starting

4132
06:06:06,660 --> 06:06:12,680
over, right? You know, I mean, those fees that were being proposed are a lot higher than what

4133
06:06:12,680 --> 06:06:16,500
the county's program would be. So I think, and who's leading the effort, is that, you

4134
06:06:16,500 --> 06:06:19,160
know, so I think there's a lot to think through on that process.

4135
06:06:20,860 --> 06:06:24,640
Thank you. And did you have something to add?

4136
06:06:24,640 --> 06:06:34,500
I just had a clarifying question, because the assumption of your question, we can't just

4137
06:06:34,500 --> 06:06:39,100
start enforcing we first have to write a regulation.

4138
06:06:39,460 --> 06:06:47,280
So it's not like just tomorrow, like in 15 minutes we could go bust the 15 bad actors

4139
06:06:47,280 --> 06:06:49,400
even if the police could, right?

4140
06:06:49,560 --> 06:06:51,560
We would still need a year.

4141
06:06:51,700 --> 06:06:53,000
There is no short term.

4142
06:06:53,000 --> 06:06:58,000
We would still need a year or more to craft an ordinance.

4143
06:06:58,320 --> 06:06:59,660
Is that not correct?

4144
06:07:00,000 --> 06:07:06,620
So that's correct. We don't currently have anything regulating our tobacco retailers.

4145
06:07:06,960 --> 06:07:16,100
And so we cannot enforce the tobacco retailers and their selling of, you know, kind of tobacco product.

4146
06:07:16,700 --> 06:07:24,780
What we can do in the interim is we do have prohibitions in our code, and to the extent

4147
06:07:24,780 --> 06:07:29,760
And any of our retailers, whether they're tobacco retailers or not, because there is

4148
06:07:29,760 --> 06:07:35,540
no such thing right now, Redwood City doesn't have a program, and the county stopped issuing

4149
06:07:36,080 --> 06:07:38,680
any tobacco permits to anyone.

4150
06:07:39,800 --> 06:07:46,520
But anyone who is selling products that are not allowed, we can enforce.

4151
06:07:46,520 --> 06:07:56,000
So, any illicit activity, any flavored tobacco that's prohibited under our code, any paraphernalia

4152
06:07:56,000 --> 06:07:58,680
that's prohibited under our code, we can...

4153
06:08:11,330 --> 06:08:22,750
I don't understand your answer. You're saying we can, but we can't. I don't understand the difference. You're saying we can't do it without an ordinance, but if there's a prohibition, we can. I don't understand.

4154
06:08:22,750 --> 06:08:24,950
Okay, let me try again.

4155
06:08:25,630 --> 06:08:34,070
So right now, the city has code, has ordinances that prohibit certain products and prohibit

4156
06:08:34,070 --> 06:08:35,690
the sale of certain products.

4157
06:08:36,570 --> 06:08:40,730
And so we can enforce those, any violations of those.

4158
06:08:42,730 --> 06:08:49,250
What we don't have is any, well, we have an ordinance that regulates tobacco retailers

4159
06:08:49,250 --> 06:08:54,430
but it points to the county and so there's no effect to that. That's what we can't enforce.

4160
06:08:55,230 --> 06:08:59,810
We cannot go against any tobacco retailers for not having a

4161
06:09:11,160 --> 06:09:19,460
And then I have a question. So if I'm understanding correctly, then if there are stores, I won't

4162
06:09:19,460 --> 06:09:24,160
even call them tobacco retailers because they don't have permits at this time. So if there

4163
06:09:24,160 --> 06:09:30,960
are stores that are selling flavored vapes, e-cigs, which are currently illegal in the

4164
06:09:30,960 --> 06:09:35,980
of California and we have so that is a prohibition then by what you're saying

4165
06:09:35,980 --> 06:09:43,300
could we not now, could we not now, then could we not now be allowing our PD to go

4166
06:09:43,300 --> 06:09:45,080
in and enforce that now?

4167
06:09:47,600 --> 06:09:50,540
Would someone speak to that? I'm happy to speak to that.

4168
06:09:52,200 --> 06:09:55,880
So vapes and e-cigarettes are not banned at the state only flavored tobacco

4169
06:09:55,880 --> 06:09:59,960
was banned at the state so that's one thing. But yeah,

4170
06:10:00,000 --> 06:10:08,780
Yes, we could. We have not traditionally done a proactive code enforcement or proactive seeking

4171
06:10:08,780 --> 06:10:16,220
out of this. So that would be a change in practice. If we did do it, we could do it. Our current

4172
06:10:17,310 --> 06:10:23,560
administrative citation for having a prohibited product is $100 for the first violation, $200

4173
06:10:23,560 --> 06:10:29,380
for the second violation and $500 for the third violation. So I don't think we can issue

4174
06:10:29,380 --> 06:10:30,600
do that on every single one.

4175
06:10:31,400 --> 06:10:33,540
I think it's just you have it or you don't.

4176
06:10:34,160 --> 06:10:37,420
So it's not a great stick.

4177
06:10:38,680 --> 06:10:39,600
What do you mean?

4178
06:10:39,660 --> 06:10:41,640
Do you mean per violation, per visit?

4179
06:10:43,020 --> 06:10:45,720
It's not like you get to give $100 violation

4180
06:10:45,720 --> 06:10:49,160
for every single flavored tobacco product that

4181
06:10:49,160 --> 06:10:49,840
is in the store.

4182
06:10:49,920 --> 06:10:50,800
OK, it's for the store.

4183
06:10:51,240 --> 06:10:53,320
Yeah, one flavored tobacco citation.

4184
06:10:53,960 --> 06:10:55,400
But then are they then confiscated?

4185
06:10:55,540 --> 06:10:56,300
Can someone just explain?

4186
06:10:56,480 --> 06:10:58,540
The California Department of Public Health

4187
06:10:58,540 --> 06:10:59,600
doesn't force.

4188
06:11:00,000 --> 06:11:04,760
And they can confiscate. You would have to report that. We wouldn't be involved in that.

4189
06:11:05,000 --> 06:11:11,860
And so that would be within their own enforcement actions, and we wouldn't have anything to do with that.

4190
06:11:12,000 --> 06:11:12,820
But you could report it.

4191
06:11:13,800 --> 06:11:14,460
Thank you.

4192
06:11:17,310 --> 06:11:19,470
Thank you, Amanda. Councilmember Gee.

4193
06:11:20,870 --> 06:11:24,850
Unfortunately, having to make a motion to extend the meeting to 1230.

4194
06:11:27,360 --> 06:11:27,860
Is there a second?

4195
06:11:28,740 --> 06:11:31,880
Thank you. That was Gee and Sturkin. Could we get a quick vote, please?

4196
06:11:31,880 --> 06:11:32,860
Motion

4197
06:11:44,540 --> 06:11:47,040
passes with six votes. Councilmember Chiu is absent.

4198
06:11:49,640 --> 06:11:50,500
Thank you for the motion.

4199
06:11:50,860 --> 06:11:56,820
Councilmember Serkin, your light's still on. That's one final comment from myself.

4200
06:11:57,440 --> 06:11:59,980
That's really helpful clarification because I think I

4201
06:12:00,000 --> 06:12:04,700
That was under the impression that we could not enforce, period, currently. And that's not

4202
06:12:04,700 --> 06:12:11,680
the case with specifically flavored tobacco products. And so to Councilmember Gee's concern and our

4203
06:12:11,680 --> 06:12:19,140
shared concern about prioritizing youth and families and protecting them from the danger

4204
06:12:19,140 --> 06:12:24,760
of tobacco, we could do something about that right now in answer him while we explore

4205
06:12:24,760 --> 06:12:26,360
or our alternative option.

4206
06:12:26,480 --> 06:12:29,080
So I just wanted to clarify that that is an option

4207
06:12:30,120 --> 06:12:34,000
that we are choosing either to pursue or not.

4208
06:12:34,440 --> 06:12:38,580
And that's all I wanted to say.

4209
06:12:38,780 --> 06:12:38,980
Thank you.

4210
06:12:40,580 --> 06:12:41,700
Thank you, Council Member Serkin.

4211
06:12:41,920 --> 06:12:44,580
And I just wanted to clarify,

4212
06:12:46,500 --> 06:12:48,200
wasn't it our understanding

4213
06:12:48,200 --> 06:12:50,320
that some of these problem actors

4214
06:12:50,320 --> 06:12:52,640
were getting targeted enforcement

4215
06:12:52,640 --> 06:12:56,140
and were just able to address these fines

4216
06:12:56,140 --> 06:12:58,380
with their income that they're already receiving.

4217
06:13:02,480 --> 06:13:13,140
Yes, and so, you know, Ms. Anthony kind of identified what those fines are, and some of the businesses just see that as the cost of doing business.

4218
06:13:13,500 --> 06:13:16,300
And so it's why it hasn't been very effective.

4219
06:13:17,400 --> 06:13:22,650
And I know, Amanda, you had mentioned $500 was the top fine.

4220
06:13:22,650 --> 06:13:25,610
then is there within the current framework an ability to,

4221
06:13:26,510 --> 06:13:30,190
there is no permit, so it's not like you could strip them of their license,

4222
06:13:30,510 --> 06:13:34,150
but would it just go back to $100 or how does that work?

4223
06:13:34,530 --> 06:13:38,430
No, the third and subsequent violations would be $500,

4224
06:13:38,990 --> 06:13:42,710
so it would be continuing to go out, and if they

4225
06:13:42,710 --> 06:13:45,770
continued to sell it, then it would be another $500 and another $500.

4226
06:13:46,090 --> 06:13:50,950
The discussion is how often do you visit? I mean, if you had the capacity,

4227
06:13:50,950 --> 06:13:55,430
you could visit every day. But I don't know that we have the capacity to do that.

4228
06:13:56,190 --> 06:13:56,870
Right, okay.

4229
06:13:58,070 --> 06:13:59,010
One last question, Mayor.

4230
06:14:00,000 --> 06:14:09,020
Then, that just gave me an idea. So I'm thinking, if you said, if it's a 500, who sets this fine,

4231
06:14:09,140 --> 06:14:15,420
who determines this fine and is there ability for the fine to be, I mean clearly if it's

4232
06:14:15,420 --> 06:14:20,760
being considered as a cost to play to play, then it's too low, then it's not high enough.

4233
06:14:20,880 --> 06:14:22,040
So who sets this fine?

4234
06:14:24,480 --> 06:14:30,340
I believe right now it is set by resolution. And so we could bring

4235
06:14:30,340 --> 06:14:35,820
a resolution to update that, we would have to do some research on what other cities are

4236
06:14:35,820 --> 06:14:40,120
using as fines, and we could use the county's framework as a possibility.

4237
06:14:40,720 --> 06:14:41,020
Thank you.

4238
06:14:41,400 --> 06:14:46,440
Just to finish then, that actually, that seems like, I don't know why we wouldn't be doing

4239
06:14:46,440 --> 06:14:50,640
that in parallel, because it seems like that there is this fallacy that we've had

4240
06:14:50,640 --> 06:14:56,060
this like either do your own or the county or you can't afford to do it, but it appears

4241
06:14:56,060 --> 06:14:59,780
that we actually have resources to address the need which is of

4242
06:15:00,000 --> 06:15:20,500
I'm concerned to all of us, which is people under 21, youth getting flavored tobacco. So it seems like we have enforcement mechanisms, and then we also have the ability as a council to maybe make a new resolution that has a higher fee where these businesses wouldn't think it's just a slap in the wrist.

4243
06:15:20,720 --> 06:15:26,840
And it could also be revenue generating and address some of the problems we're having in our future. So I would like to put that out there. Thank you.

4244
06:15:28,060 --> 06:15:30,300
Thank you, Council Member Weissmeyer.

4245
06:15:31,280 --> 06:15:35,860
Again, I just want to add that that's that runway of two years.

4246
06:15:36,220 --> 06:15:43,880
It's not like we click our fingers, we have to draft, we have to study, we have to do all that.

4247
06:15:44,260 --> 06:15:53,700
And I don't think we're looking enough at the fact that there is tobacco-less, flavorless hookah.

4248
06:15:53,700 --> 06:15:59,340
And, you know, you're going like, on the one side,

4249
06:16:00,000 --> 06:16:09,180
14-year-olds easily accessing super illegal stuff that's highly profitable, even if we made

4250
06:16:09,180 --> 06:16:18,340
the fine, $2,000. This is highly, highly profitable to do because it's the entire Bay Area that

4251
06:16:18,340 --> 06:16:27,780
comes to Redwood City. None of these tobacco places exist in Atherton, Menlo Park, San Carlos.

4252
06:16:28,380 --> 06:16:35,860
They run out of town on a rail, 50, you know, we have 15 of them in Redwood City and everyone knows that.

4253
06:16:36,500 --> 06:16:43,680
So they're highly profitable. They've got customers from all over the county, 800,000 people.

4254
06:16:43,960 --> 06:16:50,920
So I just don't want us to think that, oh, we have a snap of the finger solution.

4255
06:16:51,700 --> 06:16:59,980
Again, this is like two years away at the soonest, and I don't think we've put

4256
06:17:00,000 --> 06:17:06,480
There's enough on flavorless hookah, tobacco-less hookah, which San Francisco already does.

4257
06:17:10,880 --> 06:17:12,960
Thank you, Vice Mayor, Councilor Schurkin.

4258
06:17:13,040 --> 06:17:21,120
Final, final comment, I swear. So I support Councilor Morrardia's suggestion or line of

4259
06:17:21,120 --> 06:17:26,320
questioning. I think that it sounds like that is a resolution that could be done much

4260
06:17:26,320 --> 06:17:40,780
more quickly in parallel with a city-run program as an interim solution to discourage these

4261
06:17:40,780 --> 06:17:48,180
businesses from continuing to sell flavored tobacco. So I just wanted to throw my support

4262
06:17:48,180 --> 06:17:48,820
behind that.

4263
06:17:48,820 --> 06:17:51,630
Thank you both.

4264
06:17:51,850 --> 06:17:52,470
Council Member Howard.

4265
06:17:53,850 --> 06:17:59,790
I also don't want, I don't want us to forget that we're talking about using our police department.

4266
06:18:00,500 --> 06:18:06,180
That really concerns me. We have so many issues going on in our community.

4267
06:18:08,140 --> 06:18:14,860
I'm sorry. I can't support this because, I mean, from a public health aspect, I've made that clear.

4268
06:18:15,300 --> 06:18:22,800
But to have our police department be doing this job when the county is already offering to do it.

4269
06:18:23,500 --> 06:18:26,680
I can't support that. That doesn't make economic sense.

4270
06:18:26,680 --> 06:18:31,440
I think that would just, well, if we're going to have trouble, we're going to have even more

4271
06:18:31,440 --> 06:18:35,920
trouble because that money is just going to add up and add up.

4272
06:18:36,200 --> 06:18:39,020
I don't think you're going to make it back just by raising the fines.

4273
06:18:39,740 --> 06:18:42,480
I think that's just very naive to think that.

4274
06:18:43,040 --> 06:18:47,360
So I can't support doing this, I just can't.

4275
06:18:48,380 --> 06:18:53,700
Here we are talking about being disciplined and trying to save our money and make sure

4276
06:18:53,700 --> 06:18:59,780
that we run a very sustainable community and we're not doing that if we go down this path.

4277
06:19:00,400 --> 06:19:06,700
I'm sorry, I respect every one of you and you're all entitled to the opinion, but that's how I personally feel.

4278
06:19:09,150 --> 06:19:11,590
Thank you, Council Member Howard. State Manager.

4279
06:19:12,070 --> 06:19:25,730
Yeah, I'd like to clarify my comment earlier on, so about 20 minutes ago when I mentioned the police department, I was just trying to think on the five who in this organization would even have the ability to scratch the surface on this and it would be the police department.

4280
06:19:25,910 --> 06:19:30,130
I didn't want anybody to take that, we absolutely don't have the capacity to do that.

4281
06:19:31,070 --> 06:19:39,050
You know, Chief Bell isn't here to ask, I mean, what I was talking about in so far as we get a lot of complaints from smoke shops,

4282
06:19:39,170 --> 06:19:41,130
not in Hookah Lounge, but from smoke shops.

4283
06:19:41,450 --> 06:19:47,470
And I think we have the right to investigate those complaints outside of a regulatory framework of an ordinance.

4284
06:19:48,090 --> 06:19:54,830
And so that's what I was getting at by saying we could in the event, you know, if there was like an emergency, the police department could step in.

4285
06:19:55,310 --> 06:19:58,410
I too don't think it's the best use of the police department to do it.

4286
06:19:58,410 --> 06:19:59,930
I think it would be, you know.

4287
06:20:00,600 --> 06:20:05,740
Overly expensive. Also, it's very similar to the rent control discussion in that what happens

4288
06:20:05,740 --> 06:20:11,700
if there's five litigations? Wrong hook for that. You know, if there's 55 shops and we're

4289
06:20:11,700 --> 06:20:15,940
going to go proactively code and force, you know, and there's the counties heading towards

4290
06:20:15,940 --> 06:20:19,640
litigation on several fronts right now in some of these shops. Again, not the hook

4291
06:20:19,640 --> 06:20:23,960
or establishments. I'm not mentioning that. It could turn into an open end of check.

4292
06:20:24,140 --> 06:20:27,800
Very similar. One thing that's nice about the county ordinance is they're on the

4293
06:20:27,800 --> 06:20:29,400
hook for the litigation, you know,

4294
06:20:29,480 --> 06:20:31,120
or maybe there's some reason why we have to get involved,

4295
06:20:31,220 --> 06:20:33,420
but for the most part, that's my biggest fear.

4296
06:20:33,700 --> 06:20:36,020
I know a cause is the litigation of enforcement

4297
06:20:36,020 --> 06:20:37,280
on this program.

4298
06:20:38,440 --> 06:20:40,260
Yes, I just wanted to proffer that and clarify.

4299
06:20:40,760 --> 06:20:41,080
Thank you.

4300
06:20:42,240 --> 06:20:43,020
Thank you, Patrick.

4301
06:20:44,140 --> 06:20:45,680
And I'm seeing anyone else's lights on.

4302
06:20:48,320 --> 06:20:53,380
Again, I'll take the mic and I said this

4303
06:20:53,380 --> 06:20:57,040
at our last meeting that there are a few things

4304
06:20:57,040 --> 06:20:57,840
things going on here.

4305
06:21:00,460 --> 06:21:07,580
There aren't words, but how unfortunate it is that hookah lounges who have been good actors, who are great businesses in Robert City,

4306
06:21:07,940 --> 06:21:19,180
are being pulled into this. And that being said, I appreciate my colleagues helping us get creative and think about this, right?

4307
06:21:21,020 --> 06:21:27,360
I was right there with you all when we had this conversation last fall because I see the value of these businesses.

4308
06:21:28,020 --> 06:21:40,380
And I'm stuck on these businesses, these 15 businesses who are knowingly and openly breaking

4309
06:21:40,380 --> 06:21:45,400
the law and selling to a vulnerable population of people who don't know what they're doing.

4310
06:21:45,980 --> 06:21:50,780
I have a hard time imagining that if we raise the fines, that they're not going to keep

4311
06:21:50,780 --> 06:21:52,020
paying those fines, right?

4312
06:21:52,740 --> 06:21:59,960
We need the ability to shut these businesses down and having the permit right is our ability to pull

4313
06:22:00,000 --> 06:22:05,780
Roll that and make sure it doesn't happen again, right? But although, you know, charging these

4314
06:22:05,780 --> 06:22:09,940
folks some fines in the interim could be a revenue driver, we would just, we would be allowing

4315
06:22:10,540 --> 06:22:13,880
a problem to continue going on. So that just, that gives me such heartburn.

4316
06:22:16,380 --> 06:22:17,140
And we've put

4317
06:22:17,140 --> 06:22:20,100
in so much time to get to this point. And so I,

4318
06:22:22,390 --> 06:22:23,590
it's a tough call, but I'm sticking

4319
06:22:23,590 --> 06:22:28,750
with staff's recommendation. And to our hookah lounges, I'll make this commitment

4320
06:22:28,750 --> 06:22:32,650
that with the economic vitality plan,

4321
06:22:32,930 --> 06:22:35,630
I mean, absolutely, I think as council members,

4322
06:22:36,530 --> 06:22:38,310
as policy makers, we could think about

4323
06:22:38,310 --> 06:22:43,410
more creative ways to help support your businesses, right?

4324
06:22:43,730 --> 06:22:47,010
And I'll leave it there.

4325
06:22:47,230 --> 06:22:49,650
I think there are more opportunities.

4326
06:22:50,690 --> 06:22:53,690
I know the non-tobacco hookah

4327
06:22:53,690 --> 06:22:58,090
isn't the hot idea that I think we all would love it to be

4328
06:22:58,090 --> 06:22:59,050
as a replacement.

4329
06:23:00,000 --> 06:23:10,800
But I think we have put in so much time and staff time and council conversations that we've got to make that worth it.

4330
06:23:11,580 --> 06:23:15,960
So I'll stick with staff's recommendation and I'll make that motion.

4331
06:23:17,180 --> 06:23:17,760
Second.

4332
06:23:20,200 --> 06:23:25,740
Thank you. That was a motion for myself, a second from the vice mayor. Could we get an electronic vote please?

4333
06:23:25,740 --> 06:23:26,580
The

4334
06:23:40,120 --> 06:23:45,300
motion passes with four votes. Council Member Sturkin and Council Member Padilla

4335
06:23:45,300 --> 06:23:49,040
Opposed and Council Member Chu with absent. Thank you.

4336
06:23:51,200 --> 06:23:52,120
And thank you to my

4337
06:23:52,120 --> 06:23:55,860
colleagues. Thank you to our public commenters again for being here.

4338
06:23:57,960 --> 06:23:58,500
Thank

4339
06:23:58,500 --> 06:23:59,860
you all the time for public

4340
06:24:00,000 --> 06:24:03,200
Common ended. So we're going to continue with our meeting here.

4341
06:24:05,760 --> 06:24:07,780
Thank you. We're going to get

4342
06:24:07,780 --> 06:24:14,180
back to our item here at the dais. And we're moving right into 11B, our sewer service charges.

4343
06:24:20,620 --> 06:24:23,540
And we will give folks a few minutes to walk out.

4344
06:24:42,530 --> 06:24:46,990
Good evening, Mayor Martinez. Savio's members of city council and members of the public.

4345
06:24:47,430 --> 06:24:54,330
I'm Linda Chang and I'm filling in as the acting superintendent for Wastewater at

4346
06:24:54,330 --> 06:24:54,890
public works.

4347
06:24:55,450 --> 06:24:58,470
Thank you for the opportunity to present a proposal to you

4348
06:24:58,470 --> 06:24:59,970
this evening for continuing to work with us.

4349
06:25:00,000 --> 06:25:04,740
Continuing the collection of sewer service charges on the tax roll for residential customers

4350
06:25:04,740 --> 06:25:06,420
in the upcoming fiscal year.

4351
06:25:10,540 --> 06:25:13,520
As we approach the fifth consecutive year for this initiative,

4352
06:25:13,780 --> 06:25:19,540
this item may be quite familiar. Prior to the public hearing and council discussion, I will

4353
06:25:19,540 --> 06:25:24,220
provide a brief background about the reasons for this initiative and share an update on

4354
06:25:24,220 --> 06:25:26,380
the progress of this five-year pilot program.

4355
06:25:30,740 --> 06:25:33,120
The main question staff is bringing for council

4356
06:25:33,120 --> 06:25:39,040
consideration is if there is support to continue billing sewer service charges on the county tax

4357
06:25:39,040 --> 06:25:46,860
roll for residential customers with one dwelling unit per parcel in the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

4358
06:25:49,560 --> 06:25:55,200
The initiative to collect sewer charges on the property tax roll stemmed from an effort to

4359
06:25:55,200 --> 06:25:59,980
improve efficiencies and reduce costs for the city. The city

4360
06:26:00,000 --> 06:26:04,740
City council first approved the collection of sewer charges on the tax roll for certain

4361
06:26:04,740 --> 06:26:11,500
residential customers beginning with fiscal year 2022-23. The program began as a five-year

4362
06:26:11,500 --> 06:26:20,400
pilot program and next year marks our fifth year. The notable anticipated benefits of this

4363
06:26:20,400 --> 06:26:25,520
initiative first and foremost was revenue reliability. The county guarantees payment

4364
06:26:25,520 --> 06:26:29,780
of the total amount submitted for collection and so in addition to greatly

4365
06:26:29,780 --> 06:26:34,860
aiding and forecasting and budgeting this revenue reliability also aids in

4366
06:26:34,860 --> 06:26:39,400
improving the city's financial position which is particularly beneficial when

4367
06:26:39,400 --> 06:26:45,360
the city is considering pursuing outside financing such as bonds. A dependable

4368
06:26:45,360 --> 06:26:49,740
revenue source has the potential to improve the city's bond rating which

4369
06:26:49,740 --> 06:26:54,020
could lead to lower interest rates and a subsequent benefit of cost

4370
06:26:54,020 --> 06:26:55,780
savings during

4371
06:26:58,470 --> 06:26:59,890
this five-year pilot period.

4372
06:27:00,000 --> 06:27:06,400
Staff is monitoring trends in two areas to ensure this initiative is not having an unintended

4373
06:27:06,400 --> 06:27:12,060
consequence for our customers. One trend we are monitoring is the enrollment rate in our

4374
06:27:12,060 --> 06:27:18,780
utility rate assistance program, which provides utility credits for eligible customers on their

4375
06:27:18,780 --> 06:27:24,360
utility bill and operates on a calendar year basis. The chart graphs the enrollment of

4376
06:27:24,360 --> 06:27:27,160
our sewer utility rate credits over the last six years,

4377
06:27:27,640 --> 06:27:29,800
with 2021 being the year

4378
06:27:29,800 --> 06:27:32,160
before this billing initiative went into effect.

4379
06:27:33,000 --> 06:27:35,080
We have not observed a marked change

4380
06:27:35,080 --> 06:27:37,080
in the rate of enrollment over the course

4381
06:27:37,080 --> 06:27:38,520
of this pilot program period

4382
06:27:38,520 --> 06:27:40,860
to raise concerns about this transition

4383
06:27:40,860 --> 06:27:42,040
and the billing method.

4384
06:27:42,900 --> 06:27:46,060
The number of customers receiving sewer utility credits

4385
06:27:46,060 --> 06:27:48,220
through our utility rate assistance program

4386
06:27:48,960 --> 06:27:50,420
across the last five years

4387
06:27:50,420 --> 06:27:52,620
suggests that many parcel owners

4388
06:27:52,620 --> 06:27:59,140
have adjusted to the new billing method and that there are no significant impacts to vulnerable communities.

4389
06:28:00,000 --> 06:28:02,720
Staff can attribute to the change in sewer billing method.

4390
06:28:03,700 --> 06:28:09,680
Staff will continue to assess the program annually, track trends and fluctuations in default rates,

4391
06:28:10,320 --> 06:28:15,680
and you wrap enrollment numbers and share any learnings and recommendations as appropriate.

4392
06:28:19,460 --> 06:28:24,960
In addition to the enrollment rate, another metric we track is the county's property tax default rate,

4393
06:28:25,140 --> 06:28:29,180
which is made available following the end of each fiscal year from the county.

4394
06:28:29,180 --> 06:28:35,100
A parcel is considered in default if one or both of the property tax installments payments

4395
06:28:35,100 --> 06:28:36,100
is outstanding.

4396
06:28:37,060 --> 06:28:42,580
Staff receive a list of parcels in default from the county, and this list is refined to

4397
06:28:42,580 --> 06:28:46,520
reflect only our sewer customers, which we compare year to year.

4398
06:28:47,220 --> 06:28:52,140
Even before the introduction of the pilot program to the most current data for fiscal

4399
06:28:52,140 --> 06:28:58,480
year 24-25, the property tax default rate has remained consistently below half a percentage.

4400
06:29:00,000 --> 06:29:06,760
For the current fiscal year 2025-26 is not yet available as the county only considers a

4401
06:29:06,760 --> 06:29:13,300
parcel in default if the entire property tax bill remains unpaid as of June 30th of the

4402
06:29:13,300 --> 06:29:19,700
billing year. So I'm pleased to report for neither of these two metrics that we are currently

4403
06:29:19,700 --> 06:29:25,780
tracking that the utility rate assistance program enrollment nor the rate of default

4404
06:29:25,780 --> 06:29:28,260
out from the county seem to indicate concerns

4405
06:29:28,260 --> 06:29:30,000
with transition of the billing method.

4406
06:29:35,100 --> 06:29:37,080
So in closing staff's recommendation

4407
06:29:37,760 --> 06:29:39,420
is that following the public hearing

4408
06:29:39,420 --> 06:29:42,220
if there is no majority protest for the city council

4409
06:29:42,220 --> 06:29:44,560
to consider adopting a resolution

4410
06:29:44,560 --> 06:29:46,600
to continue the collection of sewer charges

4411
06:29:47,340 --> 06:29:50,140
for one dwelling unit parcels on the tax roll

4412
06:29:50,140 --> 06:29:53,160
for next fiscal year 2026, 27.

4413
06:29:56,510 --> 06:29:58,210
This concludes my presentation

4414
06:29:58,210 --> 06:29:59,970
and I would like to thank you very much.

4415
06:30:00,000 --> 06:30:05,760
Thank you for the opportunity to share the information to you. I'll now turn this back to Mayor Martinez-Savaios.

4416
06:30:07,200 --> 06:30:14,540
Thank you, Linda, for the great presentation and for sticking with us. Let's open the public hearing for any public comment.

4417
06:30:15,280 --> 06:30:22,460
Thank you, Mayor. No comment cards. So last call in person or on Zoom for public comment on this item.

4418
06:30:26,400 --> 06:30:27,820
Seeing none, Mayor, I'll turn it back to you.

4419
06:30:27,820 --> 06:30:28,540
Great.

4420
06:30:31,000 --> 06:30:35,360
Thank you, City Clerk. And I'll bring it back to the City Council. Council Member Howard.

4421
06:30:36,140 --> 06:30:54,320
Great report. Great results. I'd like to make the motion that we, I guess that we support to continue the billing sewer service charges on the county tax roll for residential customers with one dwelling unit per parcel in fiscal year 26-27.

4422
06:30:56,370 --> 06:30:56,890
Second.

4423
06:30:57,670 --> 06:30:58,410
Great, that was a motion.

4424
06:30:58,770 --> 06:30:59,750
Council Member Howard.

4425
06:31:00,000 --> 06:31:02,220
Second from councilmember G. Could we get a vote, please?

4426
06:31:03,640 --> 06:31:10,300
And while we're waiting for the vote, I will confirm that a majority protest was not received for this. Thank you.

4427
06:31:10,740 --> 06:31:11,560
Thank you, City Clerk.

4428
06:31:18,700 --> 06:31:22,180
Motion passes with six votes. Councilmember Chu is absent. Thank you.

4429
06:31:23,240 --> 06:31:26,040
Thank you, colleagues. Thank you again, Linda. Appreciate the presentation.

4430
06:31:26,520 --> 06:31:30,940
And we'll move right into item 12, matters of council interest.

4431
06:31:31,820 --> 06:31:35,660
12A, city council member report of meetings and conferences attended.

4432
06:31:36,480 --> 06:31:43,420
Not seeing anyone, we'll keep going to 12B, and we have an update from our Climate Action Subcommittee,

4433
06:31:44,100 --> 06:31:45,680
and I'll pass things over to Council Member Sturkin.

4434
06:31:46,160 --> 06:31:49,260
Thank you, Mayor. The Climate Action Subcommittee met on Wednesday, May 20th.

4435
06:31:49,520 --> 06:31:53,280
San Mateo County Sustainability Staff presented on compost for climate solutions,

4436
06:31:53,960 --> 06:31:59,420
a program to meet the city's recovered organic product procurement requirements under SB 1383.

4437
06:31:59,420 --> 06:31:59,560
3.

4438
06:32:00,000 --> 06:32:07,200
An economic development staff presented on the Innovate Rebit City Speaker Series inaugural event featuring a

4439
06:32:07,200 --> 06:32:13,200
Rebit City-based heat pump company. And public works staff presented an update on the Bay Area

4440
06:32:13,200 --> 06:32:20,960
Air Districts Regulation 9, Rule 6, which regulates emissions from boilers and water heaters. The

4441
06:32:20,960 --> 06:32:24,840
committee received and discussed these presentations and provided their comments to the presenters.

4442
06:32:25,480 --> 06:32:29,040
Thank you, Council Member. We'll go to Council Member Gee for transportation.

4443
06:32:29,040 --> 06:32:30,040
Thank you, Mayor.

4444
06:32:30,620 --> 06:32:32,280
The Transportation and Mobility Subcommittee

4445
06:32:32,280 --> 06:32:34,000
comprised of Mayor Martina Cevillos,

4446
06:32:34,160 --> 06:32:36,800
Council Member Chu and myself, met on June 2nd.

4447
06:32:36,960 --> 06:32:40,420
Staff and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, TA,

4448
06:32:41,060 --> 06:32:42,140
provided an update on the development

4449
06:32:42,140 --> 06:32:44,260
of the Peninsula Shuttle Program Optimization

4450
06:32:44,260 --> 06:32:50,500
and Funding Strategy for the years 2028 to 2033 funding cycle.

4451
06:32:51,160 --> 06:32:53,540
The subcommittee suggested modifications to two routes,

4452
06:32:53,680 --> 06:32:56,200
encouraged early discussions with private funding partners

4453
06:32:56,760 --> 06:32:58,620
regarding future local match requirements

4454
06:32:58,620 --> 06:32:59,980
are recommended that the TAU

4455
06:33:00,000 --> 06:33:04,860
Is a data-driven approach when selecting final routes and reconsider the proposed seven-year

4456
06:33:04,860 --> 06:33:10,140
local match commitment. The subcommittee inquired about the Caltrans El Camino Real Shop Bike

4457
06:33:10,140 --> 06:33:17,870
Safety Project and Broadway Pedestrian Mall. Thank you, Council Member, and quickly an

4458
06:33:17,870 --> 06:33:24,630
update on the ad hoc committee on special events. The ad hoc, which is comprised of

4459
06:33:24,630 --> 06:33:30,070
myself, Council Members Chu and Council Member Padilla, met on May 21st to discuss plans

4460
06:33:30,070 --> 06:33:33,010
for the upcoming summer schedule of community events.

4461
06:33:33,570 --> 06:33:35,230
The committee will reconvene in the fall

4462
06:33:35,230 --> 06:33:36,590
to assess the summer events.

4463
06:33:37,370 --> 06:33:40,370
The soccer on the square series is scheduled

4464
06:33:40,370 --> 06:33:43,790
to begin Tuesday, June 23rd and multiple watch parties

4465
06:33:43,790 --> 06:33:45,770
are scheduled throughout the World Cup tournament

4466
06:33:45,770 --> 06:33:49,850
through the final on Sunday, July 19th.

4467
06:33:49,850 --> 06:33:53,370
Fan zone match day events will include big screen viewing,

4468
06:33:53,790 --> 06:33:55,770
beer and wine sales by the Robert City Parks

4469
06:33:55,770 --> 06:33:57,610
and Art Foundation, Cornhole

4470
06:33:57,610 --> 06:33:59,170
and an inflatable play area.

4471
06:34:00,000 --> 06:34:07,260
And a select number of events will include a youth interactive zone with soccer club activations,

4472
06:34:07,740 --> 06:34:14,300
climbing walls, lawn games, and slack lines for kids. In addition, on Saturday, July 18,

4473
06:34:14,820 --> 06:34:19,620
Redwood City will activate its new entertainment zone as a part of the final weekend of playoffs.

4474
06:34:20,360 --> 06:34:25,060
The entertainment zone will allow adults to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating

4475
06:34:25,060 --> 06:34:31,560
businesses and consume them on Broadway between Jefferson and Main Streets from 11.30 a.m.

4476
06:34:31,580 --> 06:34:37,780
to 1 p.m. that day in coordination with the July 18th soccer on the square watch party.

4477
06:34:38,200 --> 06:34:41,700
And I'll turn things over to our city manager for 12 C.

4478
06:34:42,380 --> 06:34:47,180
No report tonight. Thank you. Thank you. And that leads us to adjournment.

4479
06:34:47,340 --> 06:34:52,900
Thank you everybody for joining us this evening and now morning and we'll see you June 22nd.