HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-2024_Open Session_Item 4_Aguayo, Rocio_RedactedRe:2024-25 Budget Proposal
Q
City of San Bernardino
290 North D Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
May 14, 2024
RE: 2024-25 Budget Public Comment
Dear Mayor, City Council, and Staff,
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we are writing to provide comments
and feedback on the City of San Bernardino's 2024-25 Budget. The Just San
Bernardino (Just SB) Collaborative, comprising eight organizations, united in
2020 to engage residents and community members in assessing resources and
developing a plan to actively address the conditions contributing to San
Bernardino's decline.
Members of the Just SB collaborative include Arts Connection Network, BLU
Educational Foundation, Congregations United for Prophetic Engagement
(COPE), Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), Inland Empire Labor
Council (IELC), People's Collective for Environmental Justice (PC4EJ), Time for
Change Foundation (TFCF), and Warehouse Worker Resource Center (WWRC).
Our collective efforts aim to create innovative models and strategies for
economic growth in the City of San Bernardino, emphasizing participatory and
inclusive community engagement.
As concerned community members and leaders in San Bernardino, we have
witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by residents due to rising rent costs
and housing insecurity. While we recognize that affordable housing production is
the ultimate solution to the housing crisis, we understand that this process takes
time. Therefore, we believe that the City must implement immediate measures to
protect and alleviate the financial hardship of its renters, who constitute a large
population in the city. We write to you today to advocate for critical measures
aimed at addressing these pressing issues and safeguarding the well-being of
our community.
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Re:2024-25 Budget Proposal
In the November 2020 election, Measure S passed. The Measure "S" Citizens
Oversight Committee was established by Resolution No. 2020-248, replacing the
Measure "Z" Citizens Oversight Committee. This nine (9) member oversight
committee is charged with reviewing and reporting annually on the use of the
proceeds from the quarter -cent general sales tax established by Measure "Z"
beginning on April 1, 2007, for a 15 year period (Ordinance No. MC-1229). The
funding guidelines are public safety, emergency response, and violence
intervention services, cleaner and safer neighborhoods, retaining and attracting
new businesses, street, park, and library maintenance improvements, and youth,
senior, and homeless service programs. Measure S is the city's second-largest
revenue source, as it represents approximately 24% of the City's General Fund
revenue, and is estimated for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 at $56,000,000. (See
City of San Bernardino, Measure S Committee meeting report last accessed on
April 18, 2024.) This is why it's so important to use these funds to address the
ultimate issue concerning residents, which is the lack of affordable housing.
We commend the City staff and representatives for finally adopting its 6th Cycle
2021-2029 Housing Element Update (Housing Element), and we applaud the
efforts made by the City in its 5th Cycle 2013-2021 Housing Element Update,
particularly Program 3.2.2 Single -Family Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation
Program, which has been slowly but surely adding to the housing stock in our
City. Additionally, we appreciate the repeal and removal of Program 3.2.3 from
the Housing Element, which included repealing the crime -free multi -housing
program and replacing it with a property maintenance program to ensure that
landlords adequately maintain their rental property per state and local
habitability laws.
In the current Housing Element, the City outlines as one of its primary goals "Goal
4: Assist in the provision of affordable housing through homeowner and rental
assistance, preservation of affordable housing, deed -restricting new affordable
housing, and other efforts to improve housing affordability and housing security."
(Housing Element (January 2024), p. 7-5,)
Re: Public Comment for Housing Element
This includes crucial initiatives such as Program 4.2 Rent Control/Stabilization,
which aims to continue the Mobile Home Rent Stabilization program and
provide fair housing education to tenants. (Housing Element (January 2024), p
7-20.)
Furthermore, the Housing Element emphasizes the importance of inclusionary
housing policies under Program 4.7, including conducting studies, hosting
sessions with the City Council and development community, and exploring
options for inclusionary housing requirements and in -lieu fee options.
(Housing Element (January 2024), p. 7-23.) The Housing Element further
discusses the possibility of exploring mechanisms such as community land
trusts to create, facilitate, and maintain affordable housing opportunities in
the City. (Id. at Program 4.8, p. 7-23.)
Additionally, we appreciate and respect that under Program 5.1 Fair Housing
Services, there is a commitment to implementing pilot tenant protection
programs to provide legal representation to City residents on tenant rights,
free of charge. (Housing Element (January 2024), pp 7-24.)
We are proud to see the city manager's proposal of a $1.5 million increase in
Community Development & Housing to support the implementation of the
General Plan update. We believe it is crucial to implement the general plan
and hope to see some of these funds allocated for some of the goals
aforementioned from the housing element. Additionally, we propose an
additional $1 million allocated from Measure S funds for the establishment of
a fund dedicated to supporting renters and enabling research on ordinances
such as Inclusionary Housing, Rent Stabilization, Tenant Opportunity to
Purchase Act, Tenant Anti -Harassment, and increased Tenant/Landlord
Mediation services. We also suggest hiring a new staff member to execute
and administer this fund.
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Re: Public Comment for Housing Element
Furthermore, as a recommendation to meet the goal under Program 4.6 Assist
in the Development Of Extremely Low -Income Housing (Housing Element
(January 2024), p. 7-24), we advocate for the allocation of funds towards the
development of affordable housing initiatives, including the adoption of a Pro
HousingDesignation • an Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, and implementation
support of Senate Bill 4 to incentivize church participation in housing
development efforts.
While we appreciate the City's efforts to expand the staff within the
Community Development and Housing department, we believe that additional
focus on renter support and affordable housing development, separate from
existing City Planners, is necessary. Therefore, we recommend the hiring of a
dedicated staff person to ensure focused attention on the needs of renters
and the implementation of affordable housing initiatives.
In conclusion, we believe that these proposed measures represent crucial
steps towards ensuring housing stability and affordability for all residents of
San Bernardino. By investing in these initiatives, we can create a more
equitable and thriving community for generations to come. We urge the
Measure S committee members and city council to prioritize these
recommendations and take decisive action to address our city's housing
challenges.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to working
together to create positive change in our community.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Perez, TFCF
ROCio Aguayo, Just SB
Sonya Gray-Hunn, COPE
Christian Flores, ICUC
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