Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - April 18, 2024
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Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting - April 18, 2024
The Land Use and Housing Committee met on April 18, 2024, at 10:15 AM. The committee considered a consent agenda, several discussion items including fee schedule updates, building code and permit extension changes, the Affordable Housing Fund annual plan, an informational grant report, and a state housing budget update. Public comments were heard on each item. Votes were taken on consent and discussion items.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Ordinance to set aside dedicated parkland (Palm Ridge Park) for street opening and maintenance as part of the Palm Avenue I-805 interchange project (CIPS 00869). Item 2: Lease for 411 Raven Street, San Diego. Item 3: Third Amendment to Kerasoft e-plan contract for electronic plan review. All three items were approved unanimously. One public commenter questioned parkland return and cloud security.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Public Comment: Multiple speakers addressed various topics. One speaker expressed concerns about toxic air pollution from a ceramics business in a residential zone, citing violations of land use and planning laws. Another speaker, on behalf of the Council of Infill Builders, urged deeper review of building code updates to weigh costs and benefits. Other speakers discussed cannabis access, environmental impacts of illegal marijuana farms, and public health policies to create a smoke-free generation. Some speakers criticized the city's governance and global agendas. One speaker supported the city's climate action plan and recommended objective design standards for transit corridors.
- Item 4 - Fee Proposal: Craig Benedetto (BOMA/NAOP) expressed concern about fee increases and processing times, requesting process improvements. Laurie Feyler (BIA) supported the bottom line but noted the impact on housing costs. Stephen Russell registered support. A virtual speaker supported the fee proposal and operational improvements. Another speaker opposed the fees, citing inefficiency and pay-to-play. A speaker raised equity concerns about regressive fee structures.
- Item 5 - Building Code Updates: Craig Benedetto (NAOP/BOMA) supported the permit extensions, citing economic headwinds. Melanie Cohn (Biocom California) supported the extensions for life science projects. Laurie Feyler (BIA) supported the measure, noting the difficult financial environment. Virtual speakers supported the extensions and requested revisiting if conditions worsen. One speaker questioned the need for continual extensions and funding priorities.
- Item 6 - Affordable Housing Fund Plan: Stephen Russell (San Diego Housing Federation) supported the plan, emphasizing the need for housing production and leveraging funds. A virtual speaker supported the plan and asked for more public input. Another speaker criticized fund allocation and diversion from storm infrastructure.
- Item 7 - Grant Report: No public comments from chambers; two virtual speakers. One requested updates on a working group and expressed concern about pending grants and the shallow subsidy program. Another criticized limited help given the scale of need.
- Item 8 - State Budget Update: No public comments from chambers; two virtual speakers. One emphasized the importance of prevention and state-local partnerships. Another criticized the governor and border policies.
Discussion Items
- Item 4: Development Services, Local Enforcement Agency, and City Planning Fee Proposal - Staff presented the fee study, noting a 12% increase to achieve full cost recovery (from 88% currently). The study involved 493 positions, a single hourly rate of $145, and consolidation of 500+ fee types to about 300. New fees and increases were detailed for single-family dwellings, ADUs, and commercial TIs. City Planning proposed replacing classification-based fees with discipline-based rates and updating historic preservation fees. The IBA noted the plan's fiscal impact and suggested monitoring cost recovery levels. The motion passed 3-1, with Vice Chair LaCava voting no due to insufficient information.
- Item 5: Building Code Updates and Permit Application Rules - Staff proposed extending building and grading permit applications by up to two additional 180-day extensions, and extending residential building permits to three years. The change aims to help projects facing financing challenges due to high interest rates. Eligibility criteria include compliance with current life safety standards, public interest, and circumstances beyond the applicant's control. A catch-up fee will be applied to cover increased inspection costs. The IBA noted about 200 building permit applications were set to expire. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 6: Fiscal Year 2025 Affordable Housing Fund Annual Plan - The Housing Commission proposed allocating $23.1 million of the $34.7 million fund balance to prior commitments, with $6 million for new NOFA, $2 million for homeownership, and $6 million+ for homelessness programs. Inclusionary fee revenue declined in FY23. The IBA cautioned that the plan should be considered in the broader budget context, noting potential cuts to housing commission programs. The committee recommended approval unanimously.
- Item 7: Housing Commission Semi-Annual Grant Report (July-Dec 2023) - Informational only. The commission reported 19 grant opportunities, six awards totaling $66.8 million (including $45 million for IIG, $20.8 million Homekey), and $84.6 million pending. No comments from committee members.
- Item 8: 2024 State Housing and Homelessness Budget Update - Informational only. The state faces a $38-78 billion deficit, with proposed cuts to housing programs ($1.2 billion), including $300 million REAP reversion, $250 million MHFP cuts, and no new Homekey round. The city is advocating for restoration of funds and ongoing funding. The committee discussed the impact of the audit and need for sustained funding.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (Items 1-3): Approved unanimously.
- Item 4 (Fee Proposal): Passed 3-1 (LaCava opposed).
- Item 5 (Building Code Updates): Passed unanimously. Staff will implement the permit extension rules.
- Item 6 (Affordable Housing Fund Plan): Recommended for approval by full council unanimously.
- Items 7 & 8: Informational; no action taken.
- The next meeting is scheduled for June 13, 2024, at 1:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
From the city attorney's office, Raishin Chen with the independent budget analyst office. And if you're in person, please complete a speaker's lip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on the box indicated at the speaker's lecture in the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. Members of the public can also join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link which is listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. To join the zoom web to join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please style 16692545252. The webinar ID is 160, no 161, excuse me, 2865933 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. Please note that if you are watching via city TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. If you wish to speak on a particular item, please wait for that item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon. Or if you're a call-in participant, please press star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Chair. Thank you, Natalie, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public. A quorum is now present. We will now dispense with the approval of the committee minutes of March 21st, 2024. Natalie, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. The public comment period for the past committee minutes is now open. And Chair, we have not received any speaker slips from individuals in chambers. So we will move to the virtual queue. We currently have one hand raised. Uh, the original, please provide your comments. You'll have one minute. Yeah, as far as the minutes go, when um it's when I was talking about the border invasion, community resources and human trafficking. What I'm saying is we are facilitating this human trafficking. They have all the resources that they need. They're being fed three meals a day, they're being very well taken care of, all while our community suffers. And it's a wonder that you know FEMA can get, you know, uh ha or distribute um 75 almost million dollars to the Catholic charities diocese last year to provide um shelter and services program to these illegals, and also they've just gotten another 19.6 million, um, as well as you know, the county getting 19.6 to make another migrant center, all while, you know, FEMA barely is giving any money to these people who have lost everything in the storm and don't even have enough to rebuild their lives. So it should be sad to you to see that that's taking place, but you're the ones that are complicit in this invasion. So I mean you don't really care about the community when you're allowing this to happen. Thank you. This does conclude your time and chair. That will conclude public comment on the past committee minutes. Thank you. We'll now vote on the approval of the committee minutes of March 21st, 2024. Uh, do we have a motion to approve the committee minutes? We have a motion by Vicefield Kava, followed by a second by committee member Whitburn. And with that, uh please call the rule. Thank you. And Chair, that passes three one with Councilmember Moreno absent. Thank you. I believe just to correct that, I believe that's two one. Oh, three zero, correct. Yes, thank you. Um we will now take up non-agenda public comment. The council members respect and appreciate the public's input and are fully committed to protecting every participant's free speech rights at council and committee meetings. Natalie, please proceed with non-agenda public comment. Rule 2.7, non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee.
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