San Diego Land Use & Housing Committee Meeting - November 12, 2020
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San Diego Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - November 12, 2020
The Land Use and Housing Committee of the San Diego City Council met on November 12, 2020, via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee discussed two major items: a proposed pet-friendly housing ordinance for city-funded affordable housing, and proposed amendments to the city's Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotel regulations. Both items received unanimous support from the committee (with one member absent for the first vote) after amendments and direction for further stakeholder engagement.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved the committee actions (3-0) without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comment: Several callers spoke on various topics, including concerns about marijuana dispensaries and crime, and a request for smoke-free affordable housing.
- Pet-friendly housing ordinance (Item 1): Numerous callers expressed support, sharing personal stories of difficulty finding housing with pets, the emotional and health benefits of pet companionship, and the trauma of giving up pets due to housing restrictions. Speakers included a veterinary hospital worker, law students, a lifelong resident, a representative from Best Friends Animal Society, and private citizens. The Southern California Rental Housing Association offered neutral comments, urging the committee to mirror Los Angeles' approach, include education and grace periods, and consider tenants with allergies or fears.
- SRO hotel regulations (Item 2): Callers included representatives from property owner groups (Procopio, Downtow San Diego Partnership, Tom Hom Group, SRO managers), who raised concerns about the right of first refusal, relocation fees (proposed at $6,330 per resident plus $2,000 for special needs), the definition of SRO hotels, and the potential impact on mixed-use properties with commercial spaces. Several requested another round of stakeholder input before council consideration. One caller, Martha Welch, advocated for lower Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds (30-40% instead of 60%) and criticized the city's housing policies.
Discussion Items
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Item 1: Proposed Pet-Friendly Housing Ordinance to Permit Pets in City-Funded Affordable Housing
- Brittany Bailey (Councilman Ward's office) and Susan Riggs (ASPCA) presented the proposal. They noted that housing-related issues are the second most common reason families give up pets voluntarily, and that 46% of San Diego households have pets. The proposal would require all city-funded affordable housing (including funds from the San Diego Housing Commission) to allow pets, modeled after the City of Los Angeles ordinance, with refundable pet deposits and compliance with health/safety laws.
- Councilmember Sherman raised concerns about applying the ordinance to market-rate units in mixed-income projects that receive some city funds. After clarification that the intent was to apply only to affordable units, Councilmember Sherman changed his vote from no to yes.
- Vice Chair Hercy and Councilmember Campbell expressed support. Councilmember Campbell noted that the ordinance would help people move into permanent housing without giving up their pets.
- The committee amended the motion to: restrict the ordinance to affordable units only, ask the city attorney to work with the committee consultant and Housing Commission to draft the ordinance, using the LA model, direct the IBA to perform a fiscal and operational analysis, and have the Housing Commission bring the measure forward to the full council.
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Item 2: Proposed Amendments to the City of San Diego's SRO Hotel Regulations
- Wendy DeWitt and Marcus Sprohl (San Diego Housing Commission) presented 11 amendments aimed at preserving SRO stock, increasing relocation assistance, and enhancing administration. Key proposals: a certification process for SRO properties, an exemption from replacement requirements in exchange for 30-year affordability at 60% AMI, allowing off-site replacement with findings, reducing parking requirements, requiring a 30-year useful life for replacement units, allowing conversion of 20% of units for affordability on the balance, providing a right of first offer/refusal to qualified nonprofits, enabling density bonus for new SROs, allowing SROs to be receiver sites, and updating preservation financing options.
- Stakeholder feedback was summarized, with concerns about the right of first refusal, notice procedures, relocation fee levels, and the definition of SRO. The Housing Commission indicated openness to further stakeholder input.
- Councilmember Ward expressed support and asked the Housing Commission to work with the Downtown San Diego Partnership on their concerns, and to add a provision for current residents' right to return after rehabilitation. He also noted that the ordinance should not apply to commercial spaces.
- Councilmember Campbell asked questions about the SRO definition and the use of the term "hotel." She suggested removing the word "hotel" to avoid confusion with short-term rentals. The Housing Commission agreed to consider that.
- Councilmember Sherman supported the motion and requested at least one more stakeholder meeting before the ordinance goes to council. The Housing Commission agreed.
- The committee voted unanimously to approve the staff recommendation as amended, directing the city attorney to work with the Housing Commission and committee consultant to draft the revised ordinance, incorporating additional stakeholder input.
Key Outcomes
- Pet-Friendly Housing Ordinance (Item 1): Motion passed 4-0 (Councilmembers Campbell, Hercy, Sherman, Ward) after being trailed. The city attorney, Housing Commission, and IBA will draft the ordinance and perform a fiscal/operational analysis, with a focus on affordable units only. The measure will go to the full council at a future date.
- SRO Hotel Regulations (Item 2): Motion passed unanimously (4-0). The Housing Commission will work with stakeholders (including the Downtown San Diego Partnership and SRO owners) to hold at least one more round of feedback before the revised ordinance is presented to the full council. The city attorney will draft the ordinance based on the 11 proposed amendments and committee direction.
- The committee adjourned without a December meeting; next meeting is expected in 2021.
Meeting Transcript
Hi, Dr. Jen. And hello everybody. Yes, you can begin. Thanks. Great. Thank you. Well, good afternoon, everybody. I want to welcome everybody to the November 12th Land Use and Housing Committee. Per Executive Order 2920, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act. Some of the council members will be participating via teleconference. And no members of the public will be in attendance at the meetings in the interest of public health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website and in the committee lead our committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment by phone and electronically. And we do appreciate the public's cooperation. Each council member is potentially attending virtually via Zoom. Vice Chair Hercy will be joining us momentarily, and those on the teleconference currently include Councilmember Campbell and Councilmember Sherman. Also on the call is I think Charles Motica. Welcome back, Charles. Good to see you. Uh from the office of the IBA. Um and Leslie Fitzgerald, our deputy city attorney, and Conrad Weir from the Office of the Mayor. I will turn it over to Kathleen Furrier, our committee consultant for a little bit more logistics information. Kathleen. Thank you. The public may call in following the instructions posted on the agenda by calling 619-541-6310 and entering conference ID 877-861 pound to be placed in the queue for public comment. You should do this when the item you wish to speak to is introduced. Please do not call in prior to that time. Our consultant the committee, me will announce when the public comment period is open for an item, and a slide will go up on City TV. When the phone queue is empty, the public comment period will be closed. The same process will be used for each agendized item. When you're in the queue, you will be able to hear the meeting and all others that are providing comment. You'll know that it is your turn to speak when you hear the system prompt saying your phone has been unmuted. When you hear the prompt, immediately state your name and make your comment and then hang up. Each speaker will have one minute. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. If you call in during a non-comment period, your call will not be taken. Please monitor the meeting and ensure you are calling at the appropriate time. The public may view the meetings on public television on City City TV, Channel 24 for Cox Communication, and Time Warner Cable, or Channel 99 for ATT, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandiego.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. Thank you, Kathleen. Uh a quorum is now present. We will begin with the approval of the committee actions. Unless there's any comment from our IBA city attorney or mayor staff. I'll look forward to a motion to approve the actions. So moved. Councilmember Sherman. Motion by Councilmember Sherman, which I will second. We will have each council member register their vote. I believe Councilmember Kercy is absent at the moment. Councilmember Campbell. I vote yes.
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