21 (09)
Susana Barrios
From: Alkaid Ramirez <
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 4:16 PM
To: Public Comment <publiccomment@anaheim.net>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] Comment on Anaheim inclusionary housing ordinance
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Hello Mayor Aitken,
I am an Anaheim resident, born and raised in the 3rd district. I am in support of agenda item #21 to
establish an inclusionary housing ordinance in the City of Anaheim.
I will begin with the facts: The 2021 - 2029 Housing Element's Regional Housing Needs Assessment
Allocation requires that the City builds 9,109 sites affordable housing units (not including the 8,344
above moderate income units). The City fell short of its production allocation for the 2012 - 2020
period, and if it doesn't create an affordable housing inclusionary ordinance it will likely fall short of
the 2021 - 2029 allocation as well.Additionally, about ten cities have a version of an inclusionary
housing ordinance including: the cities of Brea, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, San Clemente,
Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, La Habra, and Laguna Woods and Costa Mesa. The cities, with a
wide variety of political inclinations, have demonstrated that having an inclusionary housing ordinance is
necessary.
I am concerned with the staff report's (agenda item #21) recommendations for an in-lieu fee. The report
recommends an in-lieu fee of $5 per square feet (for-sale projects), and a $10 per square foot (for rental
projects). These small amounts will likely make an ineffective policy from the beginning. With such a
small in-lieu fee developers will not be incentivized to build units on site and instead choose to pay the
fee, which can create additional challenges for the City of Anaheim to produce affordable housing at a
higher rate. I urge you to consider a higher in-lieu fee.
Many of my friends, younger millennials and generation z, have left the City of Anaheim in pursuit of a more
affordable cost of living due to the high cost of rent and unreachable home prices. Out of my four sisters, only half of
us live in Anaheim and the other two now live out of state and will not be coming back. Additionally, many of my family
members, neighbors and friends are forced to live in overcrowded conditions due to a lack of affordable housing.
Anaheim needs to produce more affordable housing at the Extremely Low Income, Very Low Income, and Low Income
levels especially.
I really hope you keep this in mind as you deliberate in tonight's Council meeting, and that you fulfil your promise to
build more affordable housing as you shared in your campaign for mayor. Thank you for your time
Respectfully,
Alkaid Ramirez
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