Policy Watch: Week of 4/22

Santa Clara County

Approving RFP for $128M Phase II of West Tasman Drive TI project

On June 19, 2018, Item 9, the Board approved the establishment of Capital Project 263-CP19011 “Tenant Improvements at West Tasman Drive” to provide design funding for the renovation of the interior space of the existing buildings accommodate the relocation of County staff and equipment. On November 6, 2018, Item 56, the Board approved to award a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contract to XL Construction Corporation for Phase I of the project (Building 150 renovation). On February 26, 2019, Item 76, the Board approved a budget augmentation for renovations for the temporary use of Building 150 and the Phase II design effort of all four buildings.

This item seeks authorization of the Construction Manager at Risk Contract Documents for Tenant Improvements at West Tasman Drive (Project No. 263-CP19011) for Phase II tenant improvements and building systems replacement, with proposals due by Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

If approved, FAF will distribute a Request for Proposals (RFP) Package that includes CMAR Division 0 and Division 1 specifications and Concept Design documents.

The estimated cost for the base Bid for this work is: $104,000,000 to $128,000,000. The Work consists of renovating four existing B occupancy buildings with approximately 435,000 SF total area for office use to accommodate the relocation of County staff and equipment.

This Project is subject to a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) entered into between the County and the Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building and Construction Trades Council (CBCT) and the Signatory Unions.

Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

When: April 23, 2019, 9:30AM

Link to item: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=SplitView&MeetingID=11029&MediaPosition=&ID=95919&CssClass=

Link to agenda: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=11029

Report on performance metrics for OLSE Outreach and Education Initiative

On February 12, 2019 (Item No. 12), the Board of Supervisors directed the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (“OLSE”) to report back with information relating to performance metrics that will be used to evaluate the Labor Standards Outreach and Education Initiative (the “Initiative”).

This report provides OLSE’s approach to developing performance measures relating to the Initiative and an update of the Request for Proposal (“RFP”) process, a competitive bid process that is currently active and soliciting proposals from community-based organizations and non-profit entities to carry out activities aimed at accomplishing the goals of the Initiative.

Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

When: April 23, 2019, 9:30AM

Link to item: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=SplitView&MeetingID=11029&MediaPosition=&ID=96049&CssClass=

Link to agenda: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=11029

Direction on community outreach & master planning on Civic Center site

The County has hired an on-call architect (Gensler) to test strategies on the Civic Center Campus to deliver permanent supportive housing under the City’s existing General Plan land use designations (without limiting the ability to perform long term planning for the site). This feasibility study looks at options to provide permanent supportive housing, temporary housing in a new permanent structure, and potential temporary structure or structures to provide temporary or interim housing for the homeless, involving about between 15 and 20 homeless families.

The Administration is also working with Gensler to prepare a separate scope of work in order to work with the City during the upcoming City led Urban Village Planning process for North First Street, which would explore integrating residential uses into the Civic Center Master Plan. The County has the unique opportunity to shape a major planned growth area in San José. The master plan will explore the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the County’s objective to develop the site for government and public uses and residential opportunities.

The purpose of this report is to review the draft Community Outreach Program.

Community outreach will occur in conjunction with three planning initiatives:

1.     The City of San José’s Urban Village Planning process

2.     The Civic Center Master Plan process to further explore options for incorporating residential into the mix of anticipated uses

3.     Near term efforts to explore facilitating housing at the Civic Center under the City of San José’s existing General Plan and Zoning designations (Public/Quasi Public)

Administration seeks Board direction regarding the planned community engagement strategy and the timing of next steps.

Where: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

When: April 23, 2019, 9:30AM

Link to item: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=11029&MediaPosition=&ID=95944&CssClass

Link to agenda: http://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=11029

 

City of San Jose

2 NEW MEMOS FROM STAFF & Council Member Peralez – Changing DSAP and Downtown Area design guidelines

2 NEW MEMOS –

Staff memo 4/19: Provides additional guidelines on bird-safe design


Peralez memo 4/19: Recommends approval of staff guidelines on bird-safe design, with the addition that these guidelines be mandatory for all projects along the riparian corridor.

Original item: Council will consider making changes to design guidelines within the 2014 Diridon Station Area Plan, changes related to “site planning, access and circulation, building form, and open space.”

Council will also discuss approving a new “San José Downtown Design Guidelines and Standards” document to replace the existing “2004 Downtown Design Guidelines” for projects generally located in the Downtown area.

Where:    San Jose City Council

When:  April 23, 2019, 1:30pm

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3918267&GUID=77D2AF70-273F-4E4E-9DD5-2EDC0D82DAA8

Link to agenda:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=21676&GUID=ACCCCFF5-F14A-4E1A-8540-9065F45A8A90  

DEFERRED TO 5/7 – Direction on Ellis Act Ordinance; staff recommends research on alternatives to recontrol requirements

Deferred from 3/26 –

The Ellis Act regulates how landlords of rent-controlled properties (San Jose properties built before 1979 with rent raises restricted to 5% a year) may take their properties off the market, effectively evicting all current tenants. They are required to give tenants 120 days’ notice and pay relocation costs.

Council will receive a staff report providing research on the Ellis Act Ordinance’s recontrol provisions. “Recontrol” refers to the full or partial reinstatement of rent control when a landlord places the property back on the market. The specifics of recontrol terms can have significant effects. In Santa Monica, for example, local government passed an ordinance stating that Ellis Act properties that were taken off the market, rebuilt, and back on the market within 5 years of an Ellis Act eviction were subject to full rent “recontrol.” This resulted in some landlords waiting for 5 years to lapse before putting their properties back on the market.

The staff report will include different options for meeting recontrol requirements. City Housing Director Jacky Morales-Ferrand argues that 100% recontrol provisions can lead to a net loss of rent controlled units.

The Housing and Community Development Commission on 3/28 released a letter urging the Council to vote against any changes to the Ellis Act Ordinance, arguing that the Ellis Act Ordinance has not impeded ongoing development projects and that tenants cannot afford to lose more protections.

SVO, the Building Industry Association, and the Santa Clara Association of Realtors have all submitted letters urging Council to reduce rent recontrol requirements to a 1-1 rent-controlled unit replacement ratio. All make the argument that a 50% re-control rule makes developing new projects financially infeasible.

Where:    San Jose City Council

When:  April 23, 2019, not to be heard before 3:30 p.m.

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3915582&GUID=38A38777-E913-48F7-A8CE-F3DCC5E6AD51

Link to agendahttps://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=21676&GUID=ACCCCFF5-F14A-4E1A-8540-9065F45A8A90

Progress update on goal of 25K housing units, including 10K affordable

The committee will review and discuss the status of housing construction and progress toward the goal of 25,000 residential units by 2023, including 10,000 affordable units. The update will be given verbally, no memo was attached.

Where:    Ad-hoc Committee for Housing Construction & Development Services

When:  April 25, 2019, 9am

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3923177&GUID=8A87E88C-C4EF-4212-8F78-EA6721645B10

Link to agenda:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=36549&GUID=86A322E7-ED37-4211-A317-E454EAD937A2

Proposing 2020 ballot initiative to ensure Planning Commission diversity

In order to address issues of lack of diversity on the Planning Commission, the Councilmembers Jones, Carrasco, and Esparza as well as the Mayor propose a Nov 2020 ballot measure to align the Planning Commission to the structure of other Council nominated commissions, to include 11 members with one from each Council District and one at-large member. The proposed Municipal Code changes would, going forward, provide that no more than two members of the commission can reside in the same Council District, and apply a two-term limit to the Planning Commission.

Where:    Rules & Open Government Committee

When:  April 24, 2019, 2pm

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3924900&GUID=AA95252C-0E79-4730-8515-38A28BAB820F

Link to agenda:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=36262&GUID=C61F4090-B945-4162-94EC-A504FDB7035D

Update on progress of Urban Villages

The development of urban villages is among the major strategies in the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan, the blueprint for how development unfolds in the City. Urban villages provide active, walkable, bicycle-friendly, transit-oriented, mixed-use urban settings for new housing and job growth, consistent with the General Plan’s environmental goals.

The status report includes updates on the progress of Urban Villages, such as the points below:

  • The City Council has approved 11 urban village plans since the 2011 adoption of the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan. In 2018, the City Council approved 3 plans: West San Carlos, South Bascom (North), and East Santa Clara St.
  • 8 villages were moved into “Horizon” (phase) 1, which increased planned housing capacity to 9,000 units, moving closer to Liccardo’s 25,000 goal.
  • Grants totaling approximately $1.74M are helping to move along the process of villages that are already planned, including Berryessa BART and North 1st Street.
  • South De Anza Boulevard Urban Village has been designated a “Priority Development Area”

Where:    Community & Economic Development Committee

When:  April 22, 2019, 1:30PM

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3899143&GUID=4CAA9636-48F0-44B8-831A-E9D57FA5119D

Link to agenda:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=669966&GUID=7757DDC2-97C2-4CCA-BDBB-BD96BD4860F5    

4 affordable housing exemption programs will lead to $138M+ in public subsidies for developers

CA state law requires public hearings for development projects receiving any economic development subsidy over $100,000. The hearing on 4/30 will focus on exemptions to the Affordable Housing Impact Fee or the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.  

Under the Affordable Housing Impact fee, developers of new rental housing developments of 3 or more apartments must pay an impact fee of $17 per net rental square foot, to go to the funding of ELI, VLI, low- and moderate-income housing. AHIF exempted projects that were already in the pipeline as well as a Downtown High-Rise exemption.

The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance requires developers to build 15% on-site affordable units or else pay an in-lieu fee for 20% affordable units. Council had allowed a “Grace Period” so that any development issued permits prior to June 30, 2016 was exempted; high-rises in the Downtown Core area were also exempted.

City analyses show that these exemption programs cover 8,310 units, and an estimated $138.5 million in projected subsidies will be given if the exemptions are met.

Where:    San Jose City Council

When:  April 30, 2019, 1:30pm

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3922087&GUID=BDBA3758-C0CA-47EC-9248-CCB37A12CB3B

Link to agenda:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=21676&GUID=ACCCCFF5-F14A-4E1A-8540-9065F45A8A90

$23M in additional financing for Community Energy Department

Barclay’s Bank has entered an agreement with the City to finance the start-up cost of the City of San José’s Community Energy Program as well as other costs associated with the Community Energy Implementation Plan.

The City will negotiate with Barclays Bank to increase their financing – specifically: increase line of credit by $10M to $30M; increase the “standby letter of credit” from $35M to $65M, and increase commitment to “issue revolving loans and standby letters of credit” from $50M principal to $80M.

As a result, the City will increase appropriations to the Community Energy Department by $23M. This will be offset by offset by a decrease to the Debt Service – Principal – Revolver appropriation ($20.0 million) and the Community Energy Rate Stabilization Reserve ($3.0 million).

This decision was made as a result of factors such as volatility in the power supply market and possible disruptions in revenue related to the bankruptcy filings of Pacific Gas & Electric (“PG&E”) in January 2019.

Where:    San Jose City Council

When:  April 30, 2019, 1:30pm

Link to item:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3922088&GUID=2D286B74-1F52-43B4-B8C1-ABE9DDD24A22

Link to agenda:   https://sanjose.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=21676&GUID=ACCCCFF5-F14A-4E1A-8540-9065F45A8A90  

City of Mountain View

Prioritizing City projects for the year; proposals include wage theft prevention, public works PLA/CWA, anti-displacement, other policy initiatives

Council will hold a study session with the purpose of confirming the four Major Goals statements, reviewing potential projects proposed by Councilmembers, receiving input from advisory bodies and department staff, hearing public comments, and prioritizing a limited number of specific projects for Fiscal Years 2019-20 through 2020-21. Staff will then analyze the highest-priority projects and recommend projects to be included in the City Council Major Goals Work Plan for adoption on May 21, 2019.

The draft Major Goals are:

• Promote a Community for All with Strategies to Protect Vulnerable Populations and Preserve the Mountain View’s Socioeconomic and Cultural Diversity;

• Improve the Quantity, Diversity, and Affordability of Housing, Providing Opportunities for Subsidized, Middle-Income, and Ownership Housing;

Develop and Implement Comprehensive and Coordinated Transportation Strategies to Achieve Mobility, Connectivity, and Safety for People of All Ages; and

• Promote Environmental Sustainability and the Quality of Life for the Enjoyment of Current and Future Generations, with a Focus on Measurable Outcomes.

Staff requests that Council review and prioritize the new projects suggested to fulfill the four goals, as well as the projects that Council proposed at the February 28 Study Session which are unrelated to the Major Goals. There is an attachment with a list of 87 potential projects, including 70 proposed by Councilmembers as well as 17 potential new projects identified by staff and advisory bodies. Some examples of projects include: a study session and workplan on displacement; declaring a housing emergency and piloting safe parking pilots; exploring a partnership with Destination Home to address homelessness in Mountain View.

Following the prioritization exercise, staff will analyze the projects with the broadest support and return to the City Council on May 21, 2019 with a recommended list of projects that staff believes can be undertaken to accomplish Council’s Major Goals within available and sustainable resources. Any budget impacts will be identified. The Council Major Goals and final list of associated projects will be included as an attachment to the Proposed Budget on June 11, 2019 for Council’s adoption. Any additional associated resource needs will be identified at that time and will be brought to Council with the Adopted Budget on June 18, 2019.

Where: Mountain View City Council

When: Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 5pm

Link to item: https://mountainview.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3925564&GUID=7105FADB-66A5-43BB-A403-BBD7B56C8E10&Options=&Search=

Link to agenda: https://mountainview.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=655808&GUID=929B89AE-11EC-472C-8076-1F514C8D1878&Options=info&Search=

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