Title
Report regarding a resolution approving the Community Advisory Committee Charter for the Residential and Commercial Anti-Displacement Roadmap. (Nori Dubon, Housing Fellow)
label
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends adopting a resolution approving the Community Advisory Committee Charter for the Residential and Commercial Anti-Displacement Roadmap (Roadmap).
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At the January 10, 2024 City Council meeting, Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) to prepare an Anti-Displacement Roadmap in an amount not to exceed $387,600. The multi-year effort, spanning two different fiscal years, is currently funded with $200,000 from the General Plan Maintenance Reserve. Funding to complete the effort will be drawn from housing funds, and will be presented to Council for approval with the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.
The Roadmap includes research and data gathering, community engagement, and policy recommendations and reporting. For the community engagement portion of the scope of work, the consultant team will design, assemble, and manage the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) with broad representation of the residential and business communities in South San Francisco. The first step in establishing the CAC is drafting a charter to be approved by the City Council.
CAC Mission and Scope of Work
The charter for the CAC outlines the vision, objectives, timeline, membership guidelines, and expected outcomes for the committee. The CAC will represent South San Francisco business owners, residents, landlords, and subject matter experts from professional organizations and advocacy communities.
The CAC will:
• Bring together property owners and tenants to find common ground and provide insight on what policy recommendations could be presented for City Council consideration;
• Examine anti-displacement measures that exist in other communities, including neighboring communities and the region;
• Provide input and feedback on consultant’s recommendations to Council regarding policies and programs to reduce and prevent displacement pressures;
• Discuss how specific policies would help mitigate displacement of city residents and businesses, to reduce the risk of displacement overall, and stabilize at-risk businesses and residents;
• Identify partnerships with community-based organizations, agencies, and social justice organizations to support the implementation of policy recommendations; and
• Collaborate with the community and other institutions/partners to develop successful models and best practices.
CAC Composition
Below is the breakdown of each category and suggested number of participants for the CAC.
|
Representative Type |
Suggested Number of Participants |
Description |
|
Residential Landlord |
2 |
Someone who leases residential units to tenants in South San Francisco. This may include small-, mid-, and large-size market rate and affordable housing landlords and developers. Example: An individual who leases properties to tenants in South San Francisco. |
|
Residential Renter |
2 |
Someone who rents a residential property in South San Francisco. Example: A tenant who lives in naturally occurring affordable housing in the Downtown. |
|
Local Business Owner/Business Organization |
3 |
Someone who owns or manages businesses in South San Francisco that sell goods or services to individuals on site at their business location (businesses may include small, medium, and larger scale organizations) and/or someone affiliated with an organization that provides support to local businesses, such as a merchant’s association, business improvement district, chamber of commerce, or similar organization. Business owners should be operating for 5+ years and have an active business license. Example: This can include someone who is a member of South San Francisco’s Chamber of Commerce or someone who has owned a small business in South San Francisco for more than five years and currently has an active business license. There will be an effort to select businesses in three different sectors. |
|
Real Estate Professional |
1 |
Someone who actively participates in the buying, selling, or leasing of residential and/or commercial real estate in South San Francisco; and/or someone who actively participates in the operations, management, or administration of residential or commercial units in South San Francisco. Example: An experienced and locally active member representative from San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR) or the California Apartment Association (CAA). |
|
Community-Based Organization |
1 |
Someone affiliated with a community-based organization or local human service organization that supports individuals in securing housing, providing support to local businesses, and/or other services. Example: Representative from organizations like YMCA with regular access to tenants in need. |
|
Commercial Landlord |
1 |
Someone who leases commercial units to business tenants in South San Francisco. |
|
Mayor or Councilmember |
1 |
Serving as Chair of the committee. |
|
Total |
11 |
|
CAC Membership Marketing & Outreach Strategy
Following the approval of the CAC Charter, Staff will work with the City Clerk’s office to conduct outreach efforts for the recruitment process. Staff will use the “Boards and Commissions Application” for recruitment purposes and include an additional form to request that each applicant self-select the group they want to represent on the committee and their Council District. Although not mandated, an effort will be made to ensure representation across the five City Council districts if possible.
City staff and the City’s project consultant will create and implement a comprehensive awareness campaign. This will involve drafting tailored content specifically designed for various platforms, a dedicated webpage or announcement on the City's website, social media posts, emails to appropriate mailing lists, and a press release. City staff will also share the information with stakeholder groups through appropriate communication channels: word of mouth, emails to distribution lists, written letters, and at public events such as City Council meetings or City Commission meetings. The awareness campaign should be launched four weeks before the application period opens.
During the application period, regular social media posts will be made to provide ongoing reminders and updates, especially as the application deadline approaches. Additionally, City staff will hold at least one brief public information session. This hybrid meeting (can be attended in person or virtually) will provide interested individuals with an understanding of the CAC’s purpose and their potential roles as members, as well as an overview of the application and selection process.
A sample application, the supplemental form, and marketing strategy are attached to the staff report. CAC meetings will be held in person in South San Francisco on a monthly basis.
Additional Community Outreach for Roadmap Input
The consultant and staff have also discussed additional outreach efforts to ensure a wide range of data. In addition to the CAC, HR&A will now conduct additional community outreach efforts to collect feedback from both residential and commercial community members. HR&A, along with the support of community outreach specialists Kearns & West, will conduct additional community outreach efforts to complement the data gathered throughout the CAC meetings. This additional outreach will give community members who are non-members of the CAC an opportunity to weigh in on the factors affecting commercial and residential displacement in South San Francisco.
HR&A will conduct two rounds of general in-person engagement to support research and policy development. The first round of engagement will help the consultant understand how displacement occurs in South San Francisco and gain valuable insights and perspectives from community participants. The second round of engagement will help test conceptual policy frameworks and support for proposed recommendations. All community outreach efforts will be conducted in an inclusive manner, featuring multiple languages, childcare, and meals. HR&A will conduct outreach to community-based organizations, general outreach via flyers and social media posts, and direct outreach to community leaders identified by Staff.
HR&A will create focus groups to collect information on small business trends and displacement pressures. Focus groups of 8-10 individuals from the South San Francisco small business community, intentionally selected from specific neighborhoods and sectors, will allow the team to probe more deeply into the causes, effects, and threats of commercial displacement. The consultant will work with the City and nascent Business Improvement District outreach to recruit participants, develop a detailed facilitation plan, and provide a financial incentive for participating to be reimbursed by the City. These focus groups will convene and engage through virtual meetings. For tabling events, the consultant will partner with a community-based organization to table at a scheduled event; table in a public place (such as on Grand or Linden Avenues or at Westborough Square) on a weekend day; or table at a community event such as the Orange Park Farmers Market.
The Community Advisory Committee is one essential component of the Residential and Commercial Anti-Displacement Roadmap and the charter for the committee will establish the foundation and guidelines for the members.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund from adopting the recommended resolution.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
This contract assists in supporting the City of South San Francisco with its effort to prevent commercial and residential displacement and implements adopted programs of the Housing Element and General Plan.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends adopting a resolution to have City Council approve the Community Advisory Committee Charter for the Residential and Commercial Anti-Displacement Roadmap.
Attachments
1. CAC Charter
2. CAC Application
3. CAC Application - Supplemental Form
4. CAC Marketing Plan