Policy Watch: Week of 8/29

County of Santa Clara

Receive report from the Office of the County Executive and Facilities and Fleet Department relating to submissions received in response to the Fairgrounds Request For Qualifications Process.

On June 21, 2016, the Board approved the release of a Request for Qualifications, provided 60 days for interested parties to respond with their concepts and qualifications, and delegated authority to conduct the Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposal process for the Fairgrounds property. The deadline for responses to the RFQ was August 23, 2016 at 9:30 AM. Responses that were received from the following:

  • Global Opportunities and Investments Corp.
  • San Jose Giants
  • San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation, Henry Cord, Cord Assoc.
  • Public Market @ The Faire
  • El Mercado Popular: Farmer’s Market
  • 408 MX
  • Silicon Valley Curling Center
  • SCC-FMC
  • Recreational Entertainment Global LLC

In addition, as part of the RFQ process, each of the proposers listed will be requested to make a 15 minute presentation beginning at 6:30 PM on August 30, 2016 in Fiesta Hall at the County Fairgrounds, which the public is welcome to attend. The schedule for the evening will be 15 minute presentations by the respondents to the RFQ, with only enough time between for set up of any visuals. Due to the potential for a large number of presenters and to assure that all presenters have equal opportunity, there will be no question and answer period or public comment. Contact information for each of the presenters will be made available for follow-up questions. When the results of the RFQ process are reported to the Board at a subsequent Board meeting, members of the public will have an opportunity to comment.

Subsequent to the public presentations, the responses will be evaluated in detail by Facilities and Fleet and Asset and Economic Development staff, with support from the County’s consultants, and the results of that analysis will be brought back to the Board at a future meeting. Depending on the results of the analysis, the Board may direct staff to prepare a detailed Request for Proposals to bring back for Board approval, or provide other guidance.

Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

When:  Aug. 30, 2016, 9 am

Link to item: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=7196&MediaPosition=&ID=82766&CssClass=

Link to agenda:  http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=7196

 

Simitian referral regarding possible County positions on ballot measures

Simitian memo: At the August 16th Board Meeting I asked that the Board have a conversation regarding if and when the Board of Supervisors takes official stances on local ballot measures, state ballot measures, and issues that arise on the national and international stage.

Possible discussion points include:

  • Relevance to the County’s work,
  • Impact on the election and/or national or international issue,
  • Possible bundling of issues in advance of an election,
  • Involvement of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations,
  • Practices in other counties and cities,
  • Responsiveness to timely issues, and
  • Distinction between ballot measures and legislative matters.

Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

When:  Aug. 30, 2016, 9 am

Link to item:  http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=7196&MediaPosition=&ID=82921&CssClass=

Link to agenda:  http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=7196

 

City of San Jose

Declaring an emergency for SJPD staffing levels

Council to consider a Resolution determining an emergency under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act based on the findings in the memo to address the threat to public safety created by the unprecedented low staffing levels in the Patrol Division, including the redeployment of Police Officers from other assignments into Patrol and the resulting rebidding of the shift assignments for the upcoming September 2016 shift change.

Where: San Jose City Council

When:  August 30, 2016, 1:30PM, Council Chambers

Link to memo:  http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2151&meta_id=589590

Link to supplemental: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2151&meta_id=589610

Link to agendahttp://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=ab28e86e-82f4-459f-adf2-0e87a8ebb651

 

Deferred from 8/23 – Creating a new landlord petition process for Apartment Rent Ordinance

 Deferred from 8/23/16 – Item 4.1

The Council will consider the adoption of the amendment adding Chapter 9 to the existing regulations to provide needed procedural guidance for the implementation of the fair return hearing process established in the Interim Apartment Rent Ordinance adopted by the City Council on May 17, 2016.

Background: At the May 10, 2016 City Council meeting, the Interim Apartment Rent Ordinance (Interim Ordinance) was adopted. The Interim Ordinance became effective on June 17, 2016, and will be in effect until January 1, 2017 or 60 days after the permanent ordinance is in place, whichever is earlier. The Interim Ordinance adopted by City Council reduced the annual allowable rent increase on tenants from 8% to 5%, eliminated rent increases available through the pass-through provisions (including debt-service, capital improvement, rehabilitation, and operations & maintenance) after September 1, 2016, and implemented a fair return petition process.

The new Chapter 9 — Fair Return Procedures will be added by amendment to the Regulations. The amendment to the regulations will provide direction to allow the Hearing Officers to conduct fair return petition hearings called for under the Interim Ordinance. The fair return petition process is the mechanism that provides owners the opportunity to show the City that they are not receiving a fair return and should be entitled to additional rent increases.

Where: San Jose City Council

When:  August 30, 2016, 1:30PM, Council Chambers

Link to memo:   http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2151&meta_id=589764

Link to resolution:   http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2151&meta_id=589766

Link to agenda: http://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=ab28e86e-82f4-459f-adf2-0e87a8ebb651

 

Modifying rules for schedule & time of Council Evening Sessions

Council will consider a resolution amending the Rules for the Conduct of Its Meetings to limit evening Council meeting sessions to two per month, with the second evening session scheduled only when necessary as prescribed by Council or the Rules Committee, and to schedule evening sessions to commence at 6:00 p.m.

Where: San Jose City Council

When:  August 30, 2016, 1:30PM, Council Chambers

Link to item:   N/A

Link to agendahttp://sanjose.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?event_id=ab28e86e-82f4-459f-adf2-0e87a8ebb651  

 

City of Santa Clara

Study session to direct staff regarding preferred alternative for 45-acre Tasman East Specific Plan Area

Staff will be presenting an update on the progress of the Tasman East area specific plan effort and seeking policy direction from Council on the development of a preferred alternative for the area. Key issues to be discussed include housing density and affordability goals. Specifically, the Council will be providing direction on the below questions and issues:

  1. Should the plan establish an overall goal of up to 4,500 housing units within the planning area, along with establishing a minimum housing yield at buildout?
  2. Should the plan be flexible to facilitate near-term development, or should it contain a strong commitment to a vision in terms of identifying specific tower locations; the locations, sizes and character of parks; the specific locations of pedestrian connections; and the protection and retention of certain industrial uses currently in existence, as well as allowances for some new industrial uses?
  3. Should the plan include parking ratio reduction strategies as one way to promote alternative modes of transportation?
  4. Should the plan incorporate a school site?
  5. What should the affordability goal be?
  6. Examining parity between unit size and impact fee rates, as well as exploring fee-reduction and density bonus incentives to reward such measures as affordability, provision of parkland, retail services and transit support.

On April 19, 2016, the Council approved a contract with Perkins+Will (P-FW), an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm with a local office in San Francisco, to assist the City and community in preparing a master specific plan for the 45-acre (gross) area on the north side of Tasman Drive at the Lick Mill Station of VTA’s light rail line, called the Tasman East area. Since that time, City staff and P-FW have explored concepts and crafted planning principles to guide development of a preferred alternative for development of the area. The adopted 2010-35 General Plan contemplated the possible conversion of this older industrial area from low intensity industrial uses to a high-density residential mixed use neighborhood of up to 50 dwelling units per acre (50 du/ac) within the 2015-23 Phase II of the General Plan. At the time of the contract approval in April, the Council approved a scope of work that included exploring a density of up to 100 du/ac, developing a robust Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM) and crafting a sustainable design strategy for the new neighborhood.

Where: Santa Clara City Council

When: August 30, 2016, 5:00pm

Link to item: http://sireweb.santaclaraca.gov/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=53262

Link to agenda: http://sireweb.santaclaraca.gov/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1816&doctype=AGENDA

 

City of Palo Alto

 Direction on new Housing Impact Fee for residential, hotel, office & retail development

 Staff recommends that the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) hold a public hearing and provide a recommendation on the proposed Affordable Housing Impact Fee Ordinance and recommended fees summarized in this staff report. The Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for their review and consideration.

If adopted, the proposed ordinance and an associated fee ordinance would:

  • increase fees charged to new office/R&D development from $20.37 to $60 per square foot;
  • increase fees charged to new hotel development from $20.37 to $30 per square foot;
  • maintain fees charged to retail/other commercial development at $20.37 per square foot;
  • institute an impact fee for new market rate rental housing of $50 per square foot;
  • modify the in lieu fee for new market rate for-sale housing so that it is no longer calculated at the time of sale (7.5% of the sale price), and is instead collected at the time of building permit issuance, similar to an impact fee ($50 per square foot);
  • modify the in lieu housing requirement for new market rate for-sale housing so that it is triggered when a development includes three or more dwellings, rather than five or more dwellings and so that there is clarity about when fees can be paid instead of providing units on- or off-site; and
  • introduce other provisions to encourage developers to provide affordable housing rather than pay the fees.

The proposed fees are based on two “nexus” studies. The Finance Committee voted to recommend the suggested fee amounts, which in some cases differ from those recommended by the consultant, after their review of the nexus studies’ examination of “maximum” and “maximum feasible” amounts. All fees collected as a result of the ordinance would be used for the preservation, rehabilitation, and development of affordable housing, consistent with the City’s Affordable Housing Fund Guidelines available at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/pln/bmrhousing.asp.

Where: Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission

When:  Aug. 31, 2016, 6 pm

Link to item:  www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=53624

Link to agenda:  http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=53637

 

VTA

Adopting policy for Community Workforce Agreements/Project Labor Agreements

Recommended action: Consider and adopt proposed Policy on Community Workforce Agreements (implemented through Project Labor Agreements) to create pathways for underrepresented workers in our community to access careers in the construction industry. These agreements will apply to VTA construction contracts with an estimated value at or above $2.0 Million and allow VTA projects to move forward without labor disputes, in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.

Where: VTA Board of Directors

When:  Sept. 1, 2016, 5:30 pm

Link to agenda packet:  http://vtaorgcontent.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/bod_090116_packet.pdf

 

Adopting new grant criteria requiring Surplus Lands Act compliance & incentivizing local anti-displacement policies

Recommended action: Adopt two additional One Bay Area Grant 2 (OBAG 2) criteria to comply with Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s requirements for compliance with the California Surplus Lands Act and rewarding jurisdictions with adopted anti-displacement policies.

To implement direction from MTC, VTA staff recommends that the VTA Board of Directors adopts the two following OBAG 2 criteria:

  1. All project sponsors must comply with the California Surplus Lands Act to be eligible for OBAG 2 funding. Charter cities are exempt from this requirement, pending resolution of the legal challenge to the City of San Jose. This criterion applies to all OBAG 2 funds, regardless of PDA status.
  1. Projects located in jurisdictions that have the following anti-displacement policies in place, as of September 1, 2016 shall receive one bonus point per policy, up to a maximum of five (5) bonus points. This criterion only applies to projects in the Complete Streets Competitive Program.

Defined Anti-Displacement Policies:

1 Condominium Conversion Ordinance(s)

2 Just Cause Evictions

3 Rent Stabilization

4 Preservation of Mobile Homes

5 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Preservation Ordinances

6 Other Anti-Displacement Strategies

Where: VTA Board of Directors

When:  Sept. 1, 2016, 5:30 pm

Link to agenda packet: http://vtaorgcontent.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Site_Content/bod_090116_packet.pdf

 

Foothill-De Anza Community College District

Study session to discuss Facilities Master Plan

The Board will be holding a study session to review and discuss the Foothill-De Anza Facilities Master Plan, which has been developed over the past year by Gensler consultants and with input from college constituencies and college facilities committees. The Board will be asked to approve the Plan during the regular meeting.

Where: Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees

When: August 29, 2016, 2:00pm

Link to item: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ACXQL469C635

Link to agenda: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/Public  

 

Approving the Facilities Master Plan

Presidents Murphy and Nguyen and vice chancellor McElroy are recommending that the Board approve and adopt the report as the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s 2016 Facilities Master Plan, which was presented during the earlier study session. The Plan focuses on enhancing student access, improving campus connectivity, improving efficiency of facilities, creating “right-size” facilities to address program needs, enhancing community engagement, enhancing security and safety, and supporting stewardship of resources.

Where: Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees

When: August 29, 2016, 6:00pm

Link to item: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=AD3P8D635ECA

Link to agenda: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/Public

 

San Jose-Evergreen Community College District

Approving Silicon Valley High Tech Apprenticeship Initiative, including use of $3M in Department of Labor funds

Staff are recommending that The Board approve the Silicon Valley High Tech Apprenticeship Initiative between the Department of Labor’s American Apprenticeship Initiative and Evergreen Valley College for the amount of $297,073. The Silicon Valley High Tech Apprenticeship Initiative aims to train high technology apprentices (help desk specialist and data center technician) for employment in Silicon Valley. The grant performance period is October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2020. The Department of Labor will provide $2,999,340 and Evergreen Valley College will receive $297,073.

The Silicon Valley High Tech Apprenticeship Initiative will formalize a high-tech apprenticeship model to qualify students for jobs deploying and maintaining information technology systems and infrastructure. By combining supervised on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, students can earn a wage while learning practical aspects of the job and gaining work experience. In addition, the initiative has developed a strategy to improve industry diversity through intentional recruitment, training, and support for underrepresented populations.

Where: San Jose-Evergreen Community College District Governing Board

When:  August 30, 2016, 6:00pm

Link to item: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/sjeccd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ACZ3JV0368E3

Link to agenda: http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/sjeccd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ABNRMZ6EA9D4    

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