pages: CityCouncil/2021-09-07.pdf, 27
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CityCouncil | 2021-09-07 | 27 | COVID-19 has shown how important it is for families to have internet access; since people are not able to participate at meetings in person, wireless hotspots continue to be an important need; schools have tried to step up; however, not every family has children attending schools offering assistance and not every family has children; seniors have especially been left out during COVID-19; expressed concern about the hotel acquisition; stated the hotel is a revenue generating asset which produces Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) for the City and is one of the few hotels in the City; TOT is important to the City; the hotel is operating and generating revenue for the City; she has concerns about removing one of the few hotels that produces a higher level of tax dollars for the City as opposed to looking at other ways of housing those who are unhoused and in need of transitional housing; taking away tax revenue defeats the purpose; the City needs income in order to be able to provide services; she is not sure the bottle parcel is the best use; she would like more information related to the fastest timeline to provide housing; the AHA housing proposals could very well be the quickest to get online; the AHA proposal will likely be the most effective use of any dollars and meet the needs as opposed to the City working alone without the AHA; expressed support for continuing the Feed Alameda program. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she strongly objects to any expenditure to AHA at this time; she would like more information including how much ARPA money AHA has received and why AHA would need the City's ARPA funding; there has been reference to the possibility of AHA completing the North Housing project sooner if the City provides ARPA funding; however, the North Housing project was conceived without ARPA funding; she does not know whether the intent is for AHA to get cheaper money due to zero finance charge from the City; if the funding is needed as supplemental funds, the funding would become a loan; she strongly agrees with Vice Mayor Vella that a community housing trust is something many cities have done; the trust allows the City to purchase properties; the AHA accomplished one transactions recently; however, AHA can find an apartment building for sale and guarantee a certain number of units will remain affordable for a certain amount of time; there is no reason the City cannot do the same; expressed support for the City working with a partner; expressed concern about eviction protections offered by AHA; outlined AHA eviction cases; stated AHA has not helped find alternative housing for some; she feels as though there are complexities associated with AHA; there are enough important matters requiring funding from the first tranche in Option 1 ; expressed support for not extending funds without safeguards in place for AHA at this time, for allocating some ARPA funds to Alameda Sun as a business which has been impacted by COVID-19 and for transitional housing; outlined the supportive transitional housing program; inquired whether the location for the program is the bottle parcel or an alternate location. The Assistant City Manager responded the location could be the bottle parcel; stated the idea is to put up temporary housing which can be put up quickly for fast services; the site can move around; the bottle parcel is ideal as a location. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft outlined a visit to a transitional housing development in the City of Mountain View; stated the units look like containers, are insulated and have Heating, Regular Meeting Alameda City Council September 7, 2021 19 | CityCouncil/2021-09-07.pdf |