Speaker 1: I adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for and accept up to $310,000 in Senate Bill two Planning Grants Program Funds for work on general plan updates, zoning ordinance amendments and environmental review consistent with state law to streamline housing production.
Speaker 0: Councilmember Desai, you pull this up. Go right ahead.
Speaker 6: Thank you very much.
Speaker 0: Did you want a report from staff?
Speaker 6: Oh, I'll just kind of introduce the subject and then get to my questions. This item we are seeking state funds to help pay for, among other things, updating what's called the general plan, which is a document in terms of how we plan our neighborhoods, in terms of zoning, allowable uses, and also how we incorporate new state laws with regard to development, etc.. So we're seeking to get state funding through the SB two program to help pay for the general plan update process, among other things, in looking at it. So the question that I have is in looking at the planning document behind SB two, it says that in order to meet it all applicants, in order to get the money, the $310,000, so all applicants must meet the following threshold requirements. And of of the threshold requirements, there was an item called number three, which is quote unquote, nexus to accelerating housing production. So I'm a little concerned about that. I want to know if staff can respond. In what ways do we anticipate following through on that requirement?
Speaker 3: Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the City Council. My name is Allen Tai, Planning Services Manager. I wrote the staff report for this item. I'd like to actually call your attention to the paragraph right below it and the SP2 application. Literally the state is handing out money to cities on to to make to to make things easier for housing, things being applications for approval processes, timing costs and so forth. Specifically, the application process provides priority policy areas. It calls out five, sort of six, six areas. And the application requirements say if the city is applying under those priority policy areas, you do not have to make this nexus argument because you're automatically considered to be accelerating housing production. And so the work program that we've laid out in the South Report is just what the what the council direction was provided back in April are consistent with those priority policy areas, working on edu's, developing objective design review standards, all of the above. We do not have to justify the the city will accept as eligible activities under the grant.
Speaker 6: So we already have kind of an accelerated production process. Yes. In place? Yes. So we could still go after this money without having to re justify that. So if one if one is concerned, for example, about accessory dwelling units in neighborhoods or in Alameda, then we have to deal with that issue as it arises. It's kind of it would be independent of this going after the $310,000.
Speaker 3: Correct. Correct. The grant is just really to pay for the city time to perform the work, the actual work and the decisions to that that will affect the regulations will go through a public process before the planning board, before the city council.
Speaker 6: Okay. Well, in that case, then I'll move approval of the staff report.
Speaker 0: And I'm happy to have a second, but I also like to discuss just a little bit. So Councilmember Vela, who's on the line and I sit on the statewide League of California Cities Policy Committee on Housing, Community and Economic Development, and we have been steeped in the statewide and Bay Area housing crisis for well, I've been on the committee is my second year and she's been all on all this year. And so this is money appropriated through Senate Bill two, which was passed actually in 2017 to allow.
Speaker 4: For.
Speaker 0: More housing production in California. And I was just in Sacramento last week for the Policy Committee meeting, and we were all elated that the governor has put more money in the budget to address homelessness, to address more affordable housing. So I see this as Alameda doing its part along with all the other cities in the Bay Area, most of them to to address the housing crisis. And I think this is a very good use of of the funds in as far as adus accessory dwelling units are concerned. You can look for some legislation to come out of Sacramento streamlining production of accessory dwelling units, but that's not before us tonight. So we've had a motion to approve this, to approve adopting this resolution, to have a second, second vice mayor seconds and then any further discussion, discussion.
Speaker 2: So just since there were some comments that might be construed as council direction, I just want to say, as I as a father, my my family is in town because my my oldest son graduated from college today. And we are starting to really think about the cost of housing as it affects the ability for our next generation to remain close to us and whatnot. So not just for my family, but for all the other families. I just want to suggest that we know the one thing we can do to help long term, keep families together, keep communities together in the Bay Area and whatever else is to actually start producing the housing that our region needs. And so I would like to just register that I'm strongly supportive of this and strongly support this moving forward with both looking to meet those those goals as well as our climate goals and others. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Is there any further discussion before your vote, our roll call vote hearing, then roll call vote, please.
Speaker 1: Councilmember Daza?
Speaker 6: Yes.
Speaker 1: Next flight. I hope.
Speaker 3: I.
Speaker 1: Vela.
Speaker 5: By.
Speaker 1: Mayor as the Ashcraft.
Speaker 0: I.
Speaker 1: So that passes by.
Speaker 0: Passes unanimously. Thank you. All right. So then we are moving on to item six, a.
Speaker 1: Adoption of resolutions appointing Donovan and John John Nolan as members of the Civil Service Board, reappointing Kathleen Kearney and Joyce McConaughey as members of the Library Board, appointing Mustafa Ali, Sarah Lewis and Johanna Peligro as members of the Social Service, Human Relations Board of Approval.
Speaker 0: Second look, we've had a motion in a second. May I have a roll call vote?
Speaker 1: Council members?
Speaker 4: Yes.
Speaker 1: Not quite.
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 1: Odie.
Speaker 3: Yes.
Speaker 1: Bella.
Speaker 4: Yes.
Speaker 1: Mayor, as the. Ashcroft Yes. Okay. So that carries my fine.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And I'm going to come down and hand you your certificates. And the city clerk has something for you to to sign. I'm not sure how many of my nominees are in the audience, but I just want our both most. Great. Come on up, nominees. If you heard your name called. I see, I see. I miss home and I see. Yeah. Mustafa Ali. And while they're coming up, I just want to say that I have as of today, interviewed 34 very qualified candidates for various positions. And it's not that this is required of them, but I just want you to know that among these nominees, we have people who are trilingual. They speak three languages. They've lived in other countries. Some of them have come from other countries. But they all what they have in common is that they're willing to volunteer their time and their talents and their considerable talents to our city. And I'm I'm just so pleased to meet you all, because one of my goals in appointing to boards and commissions is to have our boards and commissions be as diverse as our city is, and that's ethnic and gender and sexual orientation and age and where you live. And we're getting all of that in our boards and commissions. So it was a pleasure to interview all of you and thank you for your service or continued service. In the case of those I'm reappointing. So with that, I'll turn it over the court.
Speaker 1: I'll have you all take the oath in one fell swoop. So if you'll.
Speaker 5: All right.
Speaker 1: Do you solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that you'll well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which you're about to enter?
Speaker 4: Let's do all right. You're all officially.
Speaker 9: I want to. Okay.
Speaker 0: We have no guarantees and. No. Kathleen's out of town.
Speaker 4: She knew she was coming, but. She was arrested for perjury. You. You. So. So. All right, everyone, welcome our new board.
Speaker 0: All right. The next item.
Speaker 1: Is the recommendation to authorize the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Army Unified School District concerning a new city of Alameda Aquatic Facility.
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept up to Three Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($310,000) in Senate Bill (SB) 2 Planning Grants Program Funds for Work on General Plan Updates, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and Environmental Review Consistent with State Laws to Streamline Housing Production. (Planning, Building & Transportation 481005)