H.O.M.E.L.E.S.S.A Grassroots Community-Based Organization

June 7, 2017

Mayor Sam Liccardo and the Members of the City Council200 East Santa Clara StreetSan Jose, California 95113

Subject: Proposed City Budget for Sweeps of Homeless Encampments

Dear Mayor Liccardo and the Members of the City Council,

The purpose of this letter is to urge the city council to transfer all funding included in the current proposed budget for encampment sweeps to programs that will help the homeless and the neighborhoods where they are currently living. The Housing Department has estimated that each sweep costs the city approximately $10,000. Last year the city spent more than $2 million on these sweeps.

For several years now the city council, neighborhood residents, and the homeless themselves have struggled with the question of where our homeless population is to live while permanent affordable housing is built. It is time, indeed it is past time, to stop our collective hand-wringing and waiting for the perfect solution (i.e. tiny-house bridge communities); it is time to move forward with the simple solutions we already have for temporary emergency housing for the homeless.

The city’s current program of closing down encampments and destroying the personal property of the homeless who live in those encampments buys nothing but misery for the homeless, risk for the city, and aggravation for the neighborhood residents. Instead, the city needs to immediately (and by “immediately” we mean over the next few weeks, not months) select the best sites to house approximately 400 people in each council district, and provide port-a-potties, trash dumpsters, potable water, and uniform tents — as cities in every part of the world do in response to emergencies.

This immediate action will require courage and leadership (just mentioning the use of tents probably raises the blood pressure of many councilmembers) and funding, but it can and must be done. If the homeless were homeless because of an earthquake, temporary tent camps would be erected in less than a week. Funding to equip the required camps is the easiest problem to solve: simply reprogram the millions of dollars earmarked in the proposed budget for camp sweeps.

Letter to the Mayor and City CouncilJune 7, 2017Page 2 of 2

The council needs to explain to the neighborhood residents that it will take three to five years to build the housing promised by Measure A, and that we all need to work together to provide temporary emergency housing for the homeless during that time. The council will also need to point out that organized and staffed temporary emergency camps employing peer-to-peer management techniques and the participation of the homeless in the running of each camp will provide dignity and stability for the homeless, which will translate into stability for the neighborhoods.

Tents. Nobody likes tents. But the truth of the matter is that tents are the only solution that can be deployed in weeks not years. Tents are relatively cheap, twenty to thirty times cheaper than tiny homes or mobile homes. Camps with matching tents will have neat and tidy appearances, nothing at all like the makeshift tarps many homeless are currently sleeping under. As soon as the residents in one camp are permanently housed the tents can easily be removed from the temporary site. When constituents ask how much longer will the temporary camps be required, councilmembers will have construction schedules for the permanent housing to provide the answer.

Please accept our plea, defund the budget for encampment sweeps and use the funds for temporary emergency housing for the homeless and stability for the neighborhoods.

Sincerely,

Robert Aguirre Jim Clark-Moore Ron Johnson Gail Osmer Sandy Perry

From: Mike Evans rmailto: 1 Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2017 11:25 AM To: District2 <District2(S)sanioseca.gov> Subject: OCF

Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers:

I am writing to urgently request your support for an increase to Our City Forest for $283,000. This amounts brings the City's share of costs to just 27%, and provides needed support for Our City Forest to garner the rest of the necessary funding, as well as operate as the city's urban forest partner to provide core services citywide.

Not only does Our City Forest work throughout our neighborhoods and schools and parks to grow a greener community, but they are raising the money from outside the city to make it all possible. Yet since 1994 the cost of this effort has only received an 8% increase. San Jose needs to invest more in the growth and care of its urban forest and investing in OCF provides an impressive return on that investment. Add to that the value of the 5,000+ volunteers recruited and supported by OCF to assist.

Our City Forest is the only entity advocating for the importance of trees in our city, yet our urban forest is probably the most significant factor that determines the quality of life for all residents. The work of growing the urban forest is largely the city's responsibility, and it was wise that the city had the vision to spawn OCF to assist it by filling a core service void. OCF's work in obtaining state and federal funds to green San Jose has been every bit as remarkable as the planting of some 65,000 large shade trees throughout our neighborhoods, schools, parks, city facilities and yards.

Please support this increase to Our City Forest so they can continue leveraging the resources needed to grow a healthy urban forest for San Jose.

Sincerely, Michael Evans Retired At&T Fiber Optic Engineer

From: Lee Pa user fmailto l Sent: Sunday, June 4, 2017 9:06 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <TheOfficeofMavorSamLiccardo(5)sanioseca.gov>; Districtl <districtl(a)sanioseca.gov>: District2 <District2(5)sanioseca.gov>; District3 <district3(Ssanioseca.gov>; District4 <District4(S)sanioseca.gov>: District5 <District5@sanioseca.gov>: District 6 <district6(5)sanioseca.gov>: District7 <District7(5)sanioseca.gov>; Districts <district8(a>sanioseca.gov>; District9 <district9(S)sanioseca.gov>: District 10 <DistrictlO(S>sanioseca.gov> Subject: Park Maintenance Does Matter

As an Audubon Society volunteer I frequent several city parks where I monitor nest boxes that I have hung in the park's trees for use by cavity nestling birds. The parks are like oases within suburban communities not only for my birds, but for people also. The parks provide areas to get-away for playing games, picnicking, enjoying nature, etc. Parks are important! Visit any park especially on weekends and see how important parks are.

Parks should be an asset for nearby residents. Parks should be also safe for park users. One local park. Almaden Meadows Park, is neither. The view of the park from Meridian Avenue is one of blight with a fence corralling weeds instead of the original decorative plants, dead turf, and a barren area void of plants. On the Camden Avenue side of the park decorative plants have died, and were never replaced leaving bare areas or whatever sprouted up. The turf is riddled with ground squirrel burrows posing a safety hazard. A fence dividing the turf area from the undeveloped area is broken or missing. The non-native Black Mustard grows unabated, and now covers hillsides where wild grasses used to grow.

Park maintenance is important. The problems that Almaden Meadows Park has is largely due to the lack of maintenance. Weeds need to be cut back so as to not be an eye sore. Sprinkling systems need maintenance in order to be functional so as to not have barren areas where plants or turf die due to lack of water. Plants and fences need to be replaced when they fail.

All parks should receive adequate maintenance. We simply need more park maintenance staff.

Lee Pauser District 10 Resident San Jose, CA 95120

From: Patrick Pizzo fmaiito: ' Sent: Sunday, June 4, 2017 1:08 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <TheOfficeofMavorSamLiccardo@sanioseca.gov>; Districtl <districtl@sanioseca.gov>: District2 <District2@sanioseca.gov>: District3 <district3@sanioseca.gov>; District4 <District4@sanioseca.gov>: District5 <District5@sanioseca.gov>: District 6 <district6@sanioseca.gov>: District7 <District7@sanioseca.gov>; District8 <district8@sanioseca.gov>; District9 <district9@sanioseca.gov>: District 10 <DistrictlO@sanioseca.gov> Cc: Subject: Park Maintenance Matters and is Needed!

I see the reluctance of the Council to re-direct more funds to our City Parks in the memorandum- http://www.sanioseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/69140. Essentially, it seems to me, that every effort was made to pick items from the general fund that are very popular with San Jose residence in order to sway a decision away from support of redirection of the funds for maintenance for our parks. This demonstrates a half-hearted support of our Parks by the Council and Staff, and I find that so difficult to understand. Neighborhoods are defined by their streets, the homes, the people and their parks! A well managed park lifts the spirit of the neighborhood and promotes similar care for residential landscaping by homeowners, based on what they see in their park. More people use parks that are will maintained and this promotes health and fitness. People want to see that level of care maintained, so they respond to vandals and others that may make our parks unsafe. In general, a City with well cared for parks improves the quality of life of our citizens. Please, support this re-direction of fund to our parks.

I wish to make a point about those 9 new PRNS employees. Expose them to a proper work ethic. Rotate them through those parks that are well maintained or with a 3.0 or better (PRNS Parks Evaluation). The employees in those parks know what must be done to maintain parks properly and the citizens of those parks respond in a positive manner. There is a good example to follow. As these new employees establish within the PRNS culture, they will want to make each assignment a positive experience and will put their energy into that. Don't throw the newbies into a 1.0 park!

It is time for the City Council to put parks on their radar; and to properly fund them. This is a first step. I challenge the Council to discuss and activate a policy to bring parks to those areas of San Jose that have been long neglected. In this regard, and as example, provide the residents of the Singleton and Seven Trees area with a Children's playground and park. Develop a fund to finally bring the Singleton Landfill, a 90-acre site for recreational focus, to environmental compliance. I challenge the Council to gather funds to ready this landfill for recreational options by Dec of 2022.

Support our City Parks!

Patrick P. Pizzo

Original Message— From: Patrick Pizzo (mailto: l Sent: Monday, June 5, 2017 6:48 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <TheOfficeofMayorSamLiccardo@sanjoseca.gov>; Districtl <districtl@sanjoseca.gov>; District2 <District2@sanjoseca.gov>; District3 <district3@sanjoseca.gov>; District4 <District4@sanjoseca.gov>; Districts <District5@sanjoseca.gov>; District 6 <district6@sanjoseca.gov>; District7 <District7@sanjoseca.gov>; District8 <district8@sanjoseca.gov>; District9 <district9@sanjoseca.gov>; District 10 <DistrictlO@sanjoseca.gov> Cc: Subject: Park Maintenance Matters: a special case

I want to point out a City Park situation that concerns me greatly form the standpoint of maintenance and management. The subject park is the Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in District 10. For about 5 years, a few friends and I have drawn attention to this park because of lack of maintenance practices and preservation policies (i.e., the lack thereof). In cooperation, and with the support of, District 10, we have volunteered many workdays, conducted a survey to see what park users view as maintenance needs. This culminated in the creation of a Vegetation Maintenance Plan for the GOGP. However budget limitations have stifled efforts to preserve this park, per the existing Master and Management Plans. Talks between the SCCOSA and the City to partner in the preservation and vegetation management of the GOGP are at a standstill; and this year, due to the return of rains, weeds abound (black mustard and Italian Thistle); they are taking over the park. A fire load will certainly be an issue with homeowners on the periphery of the park. Evergreen oak are out-competing the Blue and Valley Oaks. This 60 acre Park is only one of two open savannah areas in the County, the other being on the Stanford Campus near the Dish. This unique woodland is in jeopardy. Funding and woodland expertise is required to preserve this park. It would seem to me that the City is in no position to maintain/preserve this park. I project the current plan to redirect funds will have no impact as regards the GOGP.

It is wrong to let this natural gem decay under our (SJ City) watch. I encourage the City to be proactive in working with a partner to preserve the GOGP. If a deal cannot be negotiated in the short term with the SCCOSA, such as the integrated effort in Alum Rock Park, then negotiations should open with the County. The County has the resources and expertise to preserve this special woodland. It is more important to become proactive and save this resource by engaging the help of others than to let continued inactivity and limited funds destroy it.

A concerned citizen.

Patrick P. Pizzo District 10

SAN JOSE CAPITAL OF SILICON VALLEY

Department of Housing HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

June 8, 2017

The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of San Jose 200 E. Santa Clara Street, 18th Floor San Jose, CA 95113

RE: Proposed Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Fee Structure for the Rental Rights and Referrals Program

Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council:

At its May 11, 2017 meeting Housing and Community Development Commission made a series of recommendations concerning the proposed 2017-2018 Fees and Charges for the Rental Rights and Referrals program. The City Council will be considering the 2017-2018 Operating and Capital Budgets and the Schedule of Fees and Charges in a series of upcoming meetings including the public hearing on the evening of June 12th and City Council action on June 13th. The following summarizes the staff recommendation for the fee structure to support the Rental Rights and Referrals Program:

• Apartment Fee: from $ 19.29 to $30.30 per unit annually • Mobilehome Fee: $33.48 to $34.10 per unit annually © Non-Rent Control Fee: $1.98 to $4.10 per unit annually

The Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC) is concerned about the sharp increases in fees for the Apartment Fee and the Non-Rent Control Fee. The HCDC proposed the following alternatives for the City Council's consideration:

Recommendation #1: HCDC recommends the Rental Rights and Referrals Program should be fully funded by the General Fund, eliminating a need for the fees (passed 6-4). Recommendation #2: As an alternative to Recommendation #1, FICDC recommends moving to a 50% cost recovery model for the Apartment Fee and Non-Rent Control fee and funding the remaining 50% of the program costs with the General Fund (passed 6-4). Recommendation #3: HCDC recommends accepting the staff recommendation for the

lobilehome Fees (passed 8-2).

Chair Housing & Community Development Commission

200 East Santa Clara Street, 12th Floor Tower, San Jose, CA 95113 id (408) 535-3860 www.sjhousing.org

From: darryl ospring [mailto ] Sent: Monday, June 12, 2017 4:22 PM To: Districtl <districtl@sanjoseca.gov>; District2 <District2@sanjoseca.gov>; District3 <district3@sanjoseca.gov>; District4 <District4@sanjoseca.gov>; Districts <District5@sanjoseca.gov>; District 6 <district6@sanjoseca.gov>; District7 <District7@sanjoseca.gov>; District8 <district8@sanjoseca.gov>; District9 <district9@sanjoseca.gov>; District 10 <DistrictlO@sanjoseca.gov>; Duenas, Norberto <Norberto.Duenas@sanjoseca.gov>; mayor@sanjoseca.gov; City Clerk <city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov> Subject: Shady Oaks Park & Trail, D-2 Park Users Support Budget Increase for Maintenance Services

To: Mayor & Council Members; City Manager; City Clerk RE: PRNS - Budget Funds Provide for Park Maintenance Needs

This letter is an ongoing request to our "Elected Officials" to make our City's neighborhood parks a priority by speaking up for and ensuring the necessary & appropriate maintenance funds to be allocated and secured for ALL D-l through D-10 parks.

The recent PRNS Park Maintenance review scores reflect the critical need to make this your priority to provide "Safe & Clean Parks" for our community members, toddlers to seniors. As a resident of District 2, it's important to point out that our D-2 parks had the lowest scores on the review scale.

As the Adopt-A-Parlc & Trail neighborhood Lead for Shady Oaks Park & Trail, I speak on behalf the park volunteers who report the following ongoing park frustrations & concerns:

Basketball Court: BB Nets Replaced; Court Cracks Filled In Beer Bottles & Cigarette Butts Broken Glass Condoms - Used Fecies / Canine & Human Gang Activity Gopher Holes Graffiti Abatement: Park Tables & Signs; Concrete walkways Illegal Dumping Litter Park Security Lighting: LED for Best Lighting Practices & Budget TurfNeeds: ' Weekly Mow & Edge; Annual Areate & Fertilize Tree Work: Limbs Lifted for Visibility; Dead Tree Removal Weed Abatement prior to Seeds spreading

In order to support the City of San Jose's theme (LIVE / WORK / PLAY) a recruitment to lure home buyers and families to want to live here is critical. Parks will need to be updated with good, clean, and safe structures and equipment.

Question: "Elected Officials" D-l to D-10

1). Have you reviewed the parks in your own District lately? 2). Would you send your children or aging parents to use broken structures, walk your parks or even be brave

enough to ask your "Loved Ones" if they feel safe at the park?

Note: Theses requests for increase in park maintenance budget are not a reflection of the park crews - PRNS Management and Maintenance staff are stretched so thin and often must rely on old equipment to keep up with the park's safety, plumbing, broken structures, turf management, etc.

Please make our city's neighborhood parks a priority by providing the budget to meet the park maintenance needs.

Danyl Ospring, Board Member & Past President Lead, Adopt-A-Park & Trail Coyote Creek NA, D-2 Neighborhood volunteers serving 870 residential homes within the City of San Jose for 35 years