TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file report on travel to Sacramento, CA on April 10, 2019.
DISCUSSION
On April 10th, I traveled to Sacramento to testify before the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in support of SB 450. This bill by Senator Tom Umberg is sponsored by the City of Long Beach and would exempt the conversion of a motel into supportive or transitional housing that is linked to supportive services from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Currently, many families experiencing homelessness are already temporarily living in motels through motel voucher programs, and some nuisance motels are blights in neighborhoods. While many of these motels are ideal opportunities to convert for affordable housing, the CEQA delays and costs that can be up to $1 million, can make the projects unfeasible.
This bill will help Long Beach take a significant step to address our affordable housing needs, while working to repurpose existing nuisance properties.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with the filing of this report.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT