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Pat Belding, 7703 Highland,' ~ting the Interfaith Poverty Forum, said she <br /> w~. here today to address the needs for affordable homing in Pleasanton. The Interfaith <br /> Poverty Form is a group of people representing the entire community, including many <br /> concerned lay people of Pleasanton churches. They would like to paint a picture of <br /> affordable housing in Pleasanton. She stated that this is not a recitation of blame, but a <br /> statement of fact and need. In the last 10 years the City has lost over 500 units of <br /> affordable housing. The waiting list at the City senior housing developments is well over <br /> 100 people per development. Housing in Pleasanton is beyond the reach of many <br /> firemen, policemen, and teachers; and especially beyond the budgets of the service <br /> personnel who provide the manpower to support our many restaurants and businesses, <br /> both large and small. She is here to urge Council to establish more truly affordable <br /> housing as the highest priority for the City's commissions and committees and to see to it <br /> that affordable housing is to be worked into all development in Pleasanton. Specifically <br /> she is supporting more affordable apa~ianents of 300 square feet and more on the Bernal <br /> Property along Case Avenue. At this locations residents would be within walking <br /> distance of grocery shopping, bus transportation and community services. Secondly, <br /> planning for significant numbers of low to medium size affordable apartments on the <br /> Busch and Staples Ranch properties and the partial rezoning of the Vintage Hills <br /> shopping center on Bernal for truly affordable apartments. Thirdly, use of the City's in <br />· lieu housing fee fund, which is now over $10 million, to build and rehabilitate affordable <br /> apmiments here in Pleasanton. Council should appoint a blue ribbon affordable housing <br /> committee of no more than $ people to present to the Council a high priority action plan <br /> to build or rehabilitate a significant number of living units for residents of all ages and <br /> family groupings in Pleasanton. Council has done many things in the past to promote <br /> affordable housing in Pleasanton but there is much more to be done. She realizes the <br /> question has been raised as to why they are not in front of the City's Housing <br /> Commission right now. They intend to do that, but they are before the Council now <br /> because they feel the situation is dire and it is time to step in and add a sense of urgency <br /> in making affordable housing a policy in Pleasanton. She appreciated Council listening <br /> to the group and will be encouraged by the forceful action taken on this matter. <br /> <br /> Mayor Pico stated that he had a number of speaker cards on this subject. He <br />advised those present that this is pm of the "Meeting Open to the Public" section of the <br />agenda and Council cannot take any action on this item tonight, but certainly Council will <br />listen to those present and determine whether or not Council would want something on a <br />future agenda. He urged the members in the audience to go to the Housing Commission <br />and make their views known the Commission or the Commission will give Council <br />guidance. <br /> <br /> Ms. Belding asked those members of the audience who were present in support of <br />affordable housing to stand up. <br /> <br />Mayor Pico welcomed all of them. <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 9 04/17/01 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />