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CC 12-15-20 Item No. 12 Affordable Housing Density Bonus_Written CommunicationsCC 12-15-20 #12 Affordable Housing Density Bonus Written Comments 1 Cyrah Caburian From:Jennifer Griffin <grenna5000@yahoo.com> Sent:Thursday, December 10, 2020 8:06 PM To:City Council; City Clerk Cc:grenna5000@yahoo.com Subject:AB 2345 Needs to Be Studied In Depth Before Adoption, City Council Item 12 (12/15/20) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Dear City Council: Item Number 12 of the City Council Meeting on December 15, 2020 concerns AB 2345 which the Governor signed this past fall. AB 2345 was backed by Big Money interests. One should proceed cautiously when working with bills of this type as the public has little idea of the ramifications and realities of such a bill. This bill was one of the Big Nine Housing Bills that were being pushed by certain members of the legislature. Big Money was spent on the writing of this bill as the other bills promoting high density housing. I do not think that anyone should do anything with this bill until the public fully understands what this bill is trying to do. The Big Money backing set up red flags on this bill and it should be studied and discussed thoroughly before any part of it is adopted. The public should not be kept in the dark about what this bill is and why Big Money was spent on it. Past experience has shown that the backers these of bills want the public to be clueless about what these bills are attempting to do. Lets study this bill, AB 2345, in depth so that everyone, not just the Big Money Backers, understand what this bill is about and why Big Money Backers wanted it passed. We need to shed light on this bill so that the public knows what is going on. Sincerely, Jennifer Griffin 1 Cyrah Caburian From:SCCAOR Advocacy <advocacy@sccaor.com> Sent:Monday, December 14, 2020 8:57 AM Cc:Cupertino City Manager's Office; City Clerk Subject:SCCAOR Letter Support Density Bonuses Attachments:SCCAOR_Letter_Density_Bonus_December152020.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Honorable Mayor Paul, Councilmembers, and City Staff,     Please see the attached letter with the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR) official support of  Item 12 regarding Density Bonuses on the December 15, 2020, Council Agenda.    Please direct any questions or concerns to the following.  Tim Beaubien, Director of Government Affairs  timothy@sccaor.com, 408‐445‐5079      Kind Regards,  SCCAOR Advocacy Team  December 15, 2020 Cupertino City Council City of Cupertino 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 RE: Item 12 Density Bonuses for Affordable Housing Honorable Mayor Paul and Councilmembers, On behalf of the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR) and our 6,000 members, I write in support of Item 12 on the December 15, 2020 Agenda to allow density bonuses of up to forty percent for the development of affordable housing. SCCAOR supports this initiative and thanks the City of Cupertino for their proactive leadership to bring this proposal forward. We need an innovative and collaborative approach such as this density bonus program to help solve this region’s housing crisis. Silicon Valley needs the support of all communities to help solve this crisis. SCCAOR supports these types of long-term solution to facilitate the production of more affordable housing such as density bonuses, streamlined permitting processes, fee reductions, and delayed construction taxes. With the current shortage of housing in the region SCCAOR advocates for public-private collaboration and partnership to facilitate more production. Affordability is achieved through an increase in supply and not through excessive regulations. Policies such as rent control and higher impact fees for affordable housing only create a short- term solution, further worsening the long-term housing crisis. SCCAOR thanks the City of Cupertino for this density bonus policy as a market-driven approach to help solve the region’s housing crisis. We urge the adoption of the resolution to create a housing program to incentivize the development of affordable housing by allowing for density bonuses up to 40 percent and initiating a zoning code amendment to include the program in the City’s density bonus ordinance. Regards, Sandy Jamison President, Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® 1 Cyrah Caburian From:Jennifer Griffin <grenna5000@yahoo.com> Sent:Tuesday, December 15, 2020 8:25 AM To:City Council; City Clerk Cc:grenna5000@yahoo.com Subject:AB 2345 Backed by Big Money Backers CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Dear City Council: Item Number 12 on the City Council Agenda for 12/15/20 concerns adopting parts AB 2345 by the city. This bill is one of the most insidious of the Big Nine Housing Bills that were backed by Senator Scott Wiener and Senator Toni Atkins in 2020. The bill was backed by Big Money Interests from San Diego and from outside of California. The intent of the bill is highly questionable and the bill's authors, Assembymember Lorena Gonzalez from San Diego and Assemblymember David Chiu from San Francisco, have written other housing bills of questionable content and origin and questionable money backing. The Terner Institute is a mouthpiece for the High Density Housing set, and other groups such as the Embarcadero Institute should be consulted. This bill is too highly controversial and poorly understood for anyone to anticipate adopting now or if ever, especially after the governor just signed it two months ago. These housing bills have been very poorly written in the past with vague wording and potential side effects. AB 2345 is such a vehicle for Big Money Interests and should be studied carefully before taken up as anything the city would want to deal with. As a side note, Senator Wiener has already introduced many of the Big Housing Bills he authored, some with Assemlymember Chiu, from last year back into this new California Legislative Session for 2021 which only started days ago in December 2020. Some of these bills are word for word of what the bill was last year. All they did was put a new Bill number on it. This shows clearly the effect of Big Money Interests on the Big Machinery of Big High Density Housing Bills production. AB 2345 is a product of this assemblyline of Big Housing Bills from Big Money. How is this type of bill in any way democratic? Why do the bill's authors think they are passing democratic bills at all? Since when is democracy supposed to be directed to order by Big Money Interests and Big Money from outside of the state? Whose democracy is that? No, lets study AB 2345 and see what issues it has and what baggage it carries before we adopt it for anything in this city. I think the public is seeing a lot clearer where these bills are coming from and whose interests they are putting first. Perhaps it would be better to postpone this hot mess of a bill to next year. Sincerely, Jennifer Griffin 1 Cyrah Caburian From:Michael Lane <mlane@spur.org> Sent:Tuesday, December 15, 2020 10:48 AM To:City Clerk; City Council; Darcy Paul; Liang Chao; Jon Robert Willey Subject:Item 12 – City’s proposed local density bonus ordinance - Opposition Attachments:Coalition letter Cupertino density bonus.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Dear Mayor Paul, Vice Mayor Chao and Councilmembers:    We write to express our opposition to the proposed City density bonus ordinance that just popped up at the last minute  and respectfully ask you not to adopt it. State Density Bonus Law has been on the books for decades and yet suddenly  you are now considering a local ordinance in an apparent effort to limit the application of new amendments to state  law. Please find attached to this email our correspondence on this issue.    The state statute adopted by the Legislature finds and declares that the intent behind State Density Bonus Law is to  allow the private sector and market‐rate developments to provide affordable housing for lower‐income households  without the need for public subsidies.    We urge you to reject the proposed ordinance before you and allow the new amendments to State Density Bonus Law  to go into effect and be applied to the City of Cupertino and future projects. This is the best way to address the  housing availability and affordability problems the city faces.    We thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.    Sincerely,  Michael Lane ‐ San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR)  David Meyer ‐ Silicon Valley at Home  Matt Regan ‐ Bay Area Council  Vince Rocha ‐ Silicon Valley Leadership Group      SPUR Join | Get Newsletters | Twitter | LinkedIn 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yrah Caburian From:Jon Wizard <jon@yimbylaw.org> Sent:Tuesday, December 15, 2020 2:04 PM To:City Clerk Cc:Cupertino City Manager's Office Subject:Application No. CP-2020-004 Attachments:Cupertino AB 2345.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Hello,     Please find attached a letter related to Application No. CP‐2020‐004 and its agendized hearing this evening at the city  council meeting. We would appreciate your acknowledgement of receipt of this email.    Thank you,  Jon    ‐‐   Jon Wizard     Housing Elements Coordinator  YIMBY Law  1260 Mission Street  San Francisco, CA 94103  YIMBY Law 1260 Mission St̛ San Francisco, CA 94103 hello@yimbylaw.org̛ 12/15/2020̛ City Manager Deborah Feng̛ City of Cupertino 10300 Torre Avenue̛ Cupertino, CA 95014-3202 cityclerk@cupertino.org; Via Email̛ Re: Application No. CP-2020-004̛ Dear City Manager Feng:̛ In Application No. CP-2020-004, applicant City of Cupertino proposes to modify its housing̛ program to incentivize development of affordable housing by allowing for density bonuses up to 40% and initiate a zoning code amendment to include the program in the city’s density̛ bonus ordinance. This action is proposed to be achieved during a public hearing by adoption of a resolution. YIMBY Law submits this letter to notify the city council that the process by which̛ Agenda Item 12 for the city council meeting scheduled on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 has been agendized and presented to the council is improper and unlawful. We also wish to convey̛ our concurrence with the spirit and letter of AB 2345 (Gonzalez, 2019) in supporting increased residential density, as both a sustainable development tool and a responsible public policy̛ response to the city’s current and ongoing RHNA obligations. We find this action improper and unlawful, failing to comport with a well-defined body of case law and statutes addressing the differences between resolutions and ordinances; the adoption̛ or amendment to zoning ordinances, which changes zoning on property; this proposed action’s own basis for approval; and the California Environmental Quality Act.̛ Resolutions and Ordinances̛ In Crowe v. Boyle (1920) 184 Cal. 117, the Supreme Court of California held that a local̛ government agency may bind itself through the adoption of a resolution – as opposed to solely by adoption of an ordinance – if doing so was permitted by that agency’s charter and the intent̛ of the legislative act was both plainly clear and within its legislative authority. The City of Cupertino is a general law city and has no foundational ordinances, policies, or general̛ provisions expressly permitting its city council to interchangeably use ordinances and resolutions in the furtherance of its duties or business. Additionally, neither Chapters 2.12,̛ 19.04, 19.08, 19.12, 19.56, nor 19.152 of the Cupertino Municipal Code identify the adoption of a̛ resolution as an acceptable method by which the city council may amend its zoning code.̛ Moreover, under the concept of equal dignity, it is generally accepted that ordinances are the̛ appropriate vehicle for superseding, amending, and deleting other ordinances, as they are the̛ most binding form of action taken by a local government, whereas resolutions do not carry the̛ full force or weight of law and are generally used to express the opinion of a legislative body.̛ Furthermore, ordinances are generally viewed as providing a permanent rule of government,̛ while resolutions often pertain to temporary or special matters, or act as the factual basis for̛ an ordinance. While there are certain statutorily accepted actions wherein the adoption of a̛ resolution is the prescriptive vehicle for legislative approval, changes to the zoning code are̛ not one, as is codified both in state law and city ordinance (see below). Therefore, it is unlawful̛ to amend Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 19.56 by resolution.̛ Amendments to a Zoning Ordinance̛ Pursuant to California Government Code § 65853, the City of Cupertino shall, for “...an̛ amendment to a zoning ordinance, which amendment...imposes any regulation...or modifies̛ any such regulation theretofore imposed shall be adopted in the manner set forth in Sections̛ 65854 to 65857, inclusive.” California Government Code § 65854 instructs that “[t]he̛ planning commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance or̛ amendment to a zoning ordinance.” California Government Code § 65855 requires the̛ planning commission to “...render its decision in the form of a written recommendation to the̛ legislative body.” California Government Code § 65856 provides that “[u]pon receipt of the̛ recommendation of the planning commission, the legislative body shall hold a public̛ hearing.” California Government Code § 65857 provides that “[t]he legislative body may̛ approve, modify or disapprove the recommendation of the planning commission; provided̛ that any modification of the proposed ordinance or amendment by the legislative body not̛ previously considered by the planning commission during its hearing, shall first be referred tơ the planning commission for report and recommendation...”. State law is explicitly clear:̛ amendments to the zoning code must first be heard at a public hearing held by the planning̛ commission, where one exists, before the city council can call its own public hearing for the̛ final ruling of the proposed amendments. To forgo this process is unlawful.̛ Basis for Approval̛ In its draft resolution in support of this agenda item, the city makes the following recital:̛ “...pursuant to Municipal Code Section 19.152.030(A)(1), the City Council may initiate a zoning code̛ amendment by motion on its own initiative and forward said change to the Planning Commission for̛ its consideration...”̛ While the above-mentioned is true, pursuant to Cupertino Municipal Code Section̛ 19.152.030(B), a line of text immediately following this referenced recital, “[c]hanges initiated̛ by motion of the Council shall be forwarded to the Planning Commission…”. The city council̛ has not forwarded this matter to its planning commission, so this matter in its current form̛ and at this time is unlawfully before the city council. Adopting a desired zoning code change̛ and then sending it to the planning commission is improper; a desired zoning code change̛ YIMBY Law, 1260 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103 should first be referred to the planning commission, avoiding any predecisional ruling(s).̛ Furthermore, pursuant to Cupertino Municipal Code Section 19.152.030(C), “[c]hanges in̛ Zoning Regulations shall be adopted by Ordinance by the City Council pursuant to the̛ procedures described in Section 36931 et seq. of the California Government Code.” Pursuant tơ the city’s own governing body of law, adopting this resolution does not have the effect of̛ making or initiating an amendment to the zoning code, and it is furthermore improper for the̛ city council to hear this matter before the planning commission does, as is described in the̛ staff report. Not only is this matter improperly (read: unlawfully) before the city council, but̛ the process by which this matter is proposed to be adjudicated is in direct contravention of the̛ city’s own municipal code. This new and arbitrary process invented to approve a zoning code̛ amendment to avoid the 50% density bonus prescribed in AB 2345 (Gonzalez, 2019) is both̛ transparent and clumsy, and it is facially illegal.̛ The California Environmental Quality Act̛ In its draft resolution in support of this agenda item, the city makes the following recital:̛ “...the proposed housing incentive program is exempt from environmental review pursuant tơ Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines since there would̛ be no possibility of a significant effect on the environment,” and “the City Council's initiation of a̛ zoning ordinance amendment is not a project pursuant to Section 21065 of CEQA because the̛ initiation of the amendment does not constitute approval of the amendment.”̛ This is both patently false and revealing for several reasons. According to California Public̛ Resources Code § 21065, a project “...means an activity which may cause either a direct̛ physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in̛ the environment, and which is any of the following:̛ (a) An activity directly undertaken by any public agency...”̛ The City of Cupertino is a public agency, and increasing the maximum density bonus for very̛ low-, low-, and moderate-income dwelling units would almost certainly cause either a direct̛ physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the̛ environment. Additionally, until late 2019, pursuant to Rominger v. County of Colusa (2014) 229̛ Cal.App.4th 690, the court held that every amendment to a city’s zoning ordinances was̛ statutorily defined as a project, requiring CEQA analysis. Following Union of Medical Marijuana̛ Patients, Inc. v. City of San Diego (2019) 7 Cal. 5th 1171, the court changed this interpretation,̛ requiring a different analysis to determine what constitutes a project. However, in Muzzy̛ Ranch Co. v. Solano County Airport Land Use Com. (2007) 41 Cal.4th 372, the court found that̛ administrative, discretionary land use decisions d0 constitute a project, even if those specific̛ decisions made in that case were deemed exempt under the commonsense exemption. The̛ facts in this matter are noticeably different, in that Muzzy represents a plan to guide later̛ development that itself will be subject to discretionary review and CEQA analysis while this̛ proposed change in the City of Cupertino represents a right for a developer to intensify̛ development that may, through certain state laws, be statutorily exempt from CEQA analysis.̛ Specifically, an increase in maximum density bonus will allow additional dwelling units to be̛ built in a given building or within a given project, creating impacts to air quality, biological̛ resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gases, site specific hazards and̛ YIMBY Law, 1260 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103 hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, mineral resources, noise, public services,̛ transportation and traffic, and utilities and service systems, to name but a few. Since SB 35̛ (Wiener, 2017) and SB 828 (Wiener, 2018) provide statutory CEQA exemptions for housing̛ construction under certain conditions, the city has a duty to complete an initial study of the̛ impacts, if any, this proposed zoning code amendment may have. Whether impacts related tơ this zoning ordinance amendment exist, and whether any of those impacts are significant, can̛ only be known following the preparation of the initial study and subsequent findings, and the̛ production of this initial study may be both the first and last analysis an enhanced density̛ bonus will have on a project’s impact. To forgo this CEQA analysis is a wilful misreading of the̛ code and case law, and doing so is unlawful.̛ Additionally, the city’s recital clearly states that “the initiation of the amendment does not̛ constitute approval of the amendment.” This claim is contradictory in that the accompanying̛ resolution attempts to affirmatively modify the city’s housing program by intensifying̛ development through an increased maximum density bonus, and the city’s housing program is̛ an element of the city’s zoning code. The city cannot modify a subordinate part of its zoning̛ code by the adoption of this resolution while simultaneously claiming that it has no duty tơ complete a CEQA analysis because it is not modifying its zoning code by merely adopting this̛ resolution. More precisely, this resolution catalyzes a definitive change in the city’s zoning̛ code, which is a project, instead of merely being a formal decision to refer the contemplated̛ change to the planning commission – where it would be rightfully considered first.̛ Protest and Demand̛ Pursuant to California Government Code § 54960.1, we hereby challenge the preparation and̛ presentation of this agenda item and demand that its defects be corrected. In so doing, we̛ recommend the city council delete this item from its agenda and re-notice it for a regularly̛ scheduled meeting of the planning commission as a public hearing in which that body would̛ consider an ordinance amending Chapter 19.56 of the city’s municipal code. We alsơ recommend the city prepare the necessary environmental documents and present clear̛ findings and evidence, pursuant to Topanga Association for a Scenic Community v. County of Los̛ Angeles (1974) 11 Cal. 3d 506, in a supplementary resolution to substantiate its decision.̛̛ Conclusion̛ In closing, AB 2345 (Gonzalez, 2019) increases the maximum state density bonus law to 50%̛ unless a local agency provides its own density bonus ordinance that exceeds the standards set̛ forth in the state’s density bonus law as adopted as of December 31, 2020. Fortunately for the̛ cause of building housing sufficient to meet Cupertino’s needs, the city’s attempt to modify its̛ density bonus in a way that would allow it to avoid being impacted by AB 2345 must fail. There̛ are two reasons for this:̛̛ First, Cupertino cannot modify its density bonus ordinance via resolution. Modification of̛ ordinances –̛or at least ordinances in Cupertino – must occur via another ordinance.̛̛ Next, Cupertino does not have sufficient time to pass an ordinance amending its density bonus̛ program before the end of 2020. Ordinances must have two readings, not less than 15 days̛ apart. Last, this zoning code amendment is subject to CEQA and no initial study has been̛ YIMBY Law, 1260 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103 completed to analyze its impacts. Also, pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21092, the city is̛ required to facilitate a 20-day public review period for notices of intent for negative̛ declarations and mitigated negative declarations. However, pursuant to Public Resources Code̛ § 21091(b), if the state clearinghouse is used to fulfill public noticing requirements, a 30-day̛ public review period is required.̛ YIMBY Law is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, whose mission is to increase the accessibility̛ and affordability of housing in California.̛ I am signing this letter both in my capacity as the Executive Director of YIMBY Law, and as a̛ resident of California who is affected by the shortage of housing in our state.̛̛ Sincerely,̛ ̛ Sonja Trauss Executive Director̛ YIMBY Law CC: Mayor Darcy Paul̛ Vice Mayor Liang Chao Councilmember Jon Willey̛ Councilmember Kitty Moore Councilmember Hung Wei̛ YIMBY Law, 1260 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103 1 Cyrah Caburian From:Neil McClintick <neil.mcclintick@berkeley.edu> Sent:Tuesday, December 15, 2020 3:09 PM To:Cupertino City Manager's Office; City Council; City Clerk Subject:Density Bonus Resolution Tonight CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Dear Mayor, Council, and City Manager Feng,     I am writing out of concern (representing myself only) for tonight's agendized item to implement  zoning code changes that would allow for density bonuses up to 40%. As of today, I saw a YIMBY  Law letter, which the city should have received; it makes a strong case for why tonight's action  would be illegal. As a resident, I would like to see the council delay this item and go through the  proper channels and procedures, such that we do not leave ourselves open to an easy lawsuit.    Now, I want to say that I am not necessarily opposed to the spirit of this resolution. In doing so, I  want to acknowledge 3 key points of likely agreement.  1. State law for housing is working in that it is allowing city's some flexibility while also forcing  necessary changes, such as in the case of tonight's resolution.  2. Housing policy is immensely complex, and it is important for cities to explore options that  are superior to state law, rather than always seeing it as a minimal standard  3. Affordability is a great struggle, and BMR is immensely expensive. We need to make sure  we are pursuing policies that net higher sums of BMR.  That being said, please do this in the right way, such that we may have public hearings and robust  debate. And such that the city's case for this need is better substantiated. This comes across as  last minute ramming through changes to avoid state law. This is a bad precedent to set, and it is  immensely hypocritical considering how much this leadership has emphasized process, hearings,  local control, and resident input. If this gets rushed through tonight, then it is clear that these  values only matter when they are of benefit to council members' own agendas.     Local control and "listen to the residents" should not be a selectively applicable framework.    Thank you for reading this,  Neil        ‐‐   Neil Park-McClintick  2 UC Berkeley '19    Grassroots Organizer, Cupertino for All   Housing Justice Organizer, Working Partnerships USA    "Give people what they need: food, medicine, clean air, pure water, trees and grass, pleasant homes to live in, some hours of work, more hours of leisure. Don't ask who deserves it. Every human being deserves it."  1 Cyrah Caburian From:Connie Cunningham <cunninghamconniel@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, December 15, 2020 4:08 PM To:City Council Subject:Agenda Item 12, Dec 15 City Council, Adoption of a Housing Program CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the  sender and know the content is safe.    Municipal Code Chapter 19.56      SUBJECT  Agenda Item 12: Adoption of a housing program to incentivize development of affordable  housing by allowing for density bonuses up to 40 percent and initiating a zoning code amendment to  include the program in the City’s density bonus ordinance. (Application No. CP‐2020‐ 004; Applicant:  City of Cupertino; Location: Citywide)     Mayor, Vice‐Mayor, and Councilmembers:     I have two points to discuss.  The first is substance; the second is process.    I. Substance:   This Resolution does not achieve a better way to "incentivize development of affordable housing" even  though that is the stated objective on page 1 of the Staff Report.     The summary of the Terner analysis is that AB 2345 represents "a step in the right direction" for legislation that balances  affordability with financial feasibility.  However, “further reform of the state’ density bonus law is still necessary to  significantly increase its utilization across the state.     The third “Whereas" of the City’s proposed Resolution states that AB2345 increases the density bonus for a “minimal  four percentage increase in affordable units.”  However the change offered by the Council increases the density bonus  less than the new law, and for a smaller “minimal two percentage increase in affordable units."    By changing the Cupertino Density Bonus to 40%, downward from 50% allowed under AB2345, the city does not  increase the likelihood of developers using the Density Bonus Units in the future.  It does not improve the balance of  affordability with financial feasibility found in AB2345.    With new RHNA goals for additional housing above 6,000 units, it is critical for the City to expand its tools available to  meet those goals.     I urge the Council NOT to adopt this Resolution, and, instead, to work with AB2345 and other tools to build housing for  all incomes and abilities in   Cupertino.    II. Process Issue:    On page 1, the Staff Reports states in Background   ʺThe City Council’s FY 2020‐21 City Work Program  includes an agenda item related to Affordable Housing Strategies. The stated project objective of this  item is to explore the development of strategies to provide a variety of projects across affordability  levels, including updates to the City’s Density Bonus Ordinance.  2  On page 4, The Staff Report states that ʺIn addition to this item, staff is currently conducting a survey  of other city density bonus ordinances and will present the to hold a study session with the Planning  Commission and City Council in Spring 2021 to discuss more comprehensive updates to the  City’s Density Bonus Ordinance.ʺ  The Housing Commission normally sees the Housing Strategies work item products before it moves  to the Council.  Although this report tonight skipped the Housing Commission (although the HC  would have  been able to review it between November and December), I will just point out here, that  for the Study Session, the Housing Commission should be in the review cycle for this spring.    I urge the Council to NOT adopt this Resolution, and, instead, to work with AB2345 and other tools to build housing for  all incomes and abilities in   Cupertino.    Sincerely,  Connie Cunningham  Housing Commissioner (self only)  Resident 33 years