Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05_24-25_2017 PC Correspondence - San Luis Ranch (Anderson) Keeping SLO County Business Vital May 24, 2017 City of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Attn: City of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission Commissioner Kim Bisheff Commissioner Scott Mann Commissioner Ronald Malak Commissioner Nicholas Osterbur Commissioner Hemalata Dandekar Commissioner John Fowler, Vice-Chair Commissioner Charles Stevenson, Chair Re: Support Workforce Housing in San Luis Obispo County Dear Chairman Stevenson and Commissioners, On behalf of the Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC) Board of Directors, I want to express the EVC’s support for housing affordable to the San Luis Obispo County workforce. As a non-profit organization, we do not advocate for projects but we are proponents of a vibrant, well-balanced local economy. As such, addressing the local housing shortage and affordability is a subject that is a high priority for the EVC. As background, in 2009 the EVC partnered with the County of San Luis Obispo and business community to develop a countywide Economic Strategy Project. This project was the first-ever public/private partnership to perform an in-depth assessment of, and economic strategic plan for, our County. Specifically, this project identified the six largest clusters of industry in our region, convened local industry leaders, and identified balanced opportunities for job growth. A key challenge that remains across all industry clusters is the need for more affordable workforce housing. Workforce Housing is defined by the County of San Luis Obispo’s Housing Element as a dwelling that can be rented or purchased by persons making 120% to 160% of the County’s median household income. Employee retention and attraction here is highly challenged by this housing dilemma. In 2013, the Building Design and Construction cluster, part of the countywide Economic Strategy Project, conducted a housing survey of both employees and employers that determined that approximately one- third of our workforce indicated that they will leave the County because of the lack of safe and affordable housing. Since the release of our survey, the situation has only worsened as wages are not keeping pace with rising housing prices (both rentals and purchases). As the EVC cannot endorse projects, however, we urge you to consider the increasing severity of the housing challenge on the Central Coast, to have a balanced and vital economy. Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County 735 Tank Farm Road, Suite 264 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Tel (805) 788-2012 Fax (805) 781-6293 www.sloevc.org Non-profit 501(c)(3) Keeping SLO County Business Vital Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michael E. Manchak, President & CEO Kris Vardas, Chair Economic Vitality Corporation Economic Strategy Project Economic Vitality Corporation Ziyad Naccasha, Chair & Board Counsel Economic Vitality Corporation cc: EVC Board of Directors Building Design & Construction Cluster, Economic Vitality Corporation Katie Lichtig, City of San Luis Obispo Lee Johnson, City of San Luis Obispo ABOUT THE EVC The Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC) is a non-profit, economic development organization serving all of San Luis Obispo County and is a public/private partnership funded by businesses and local government. As the voice of the countywide business community, the EVC has active involvement from senior leadership in every private industry sector and public jurisdiction within the County and partnerships with the surrounding counties. The EVC’s mission is to stimulate the economic vitality of the County, generate jobs, increase investment in the community and promote the start-up, growth and attraction of businesses. Keeping SLO County Business Vital Economic Vitality Corporation Board of Directors 2016-2017 Chair & Board Counsel – Ziyad Naccasha Partner, Carmel & Naccasha Vice-Chair – Brian Tietje Vice Provost for International, Graduate & Extended Education, Cal Poly Past-Chair – Bruce Ray Chief Financial Officer, Cannon Treasurer – Steven Harding Chairman of Community Leadership Groups, Rabobank Secretary - Jolie Ditmore CEO & Co-Owner, Medicorp Member-At-Large – Kris Vardas Chair, Economic Strategy Project Michael Cannon President, Cannon Wendell Cottle Vice President Chief Financial Officer Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Ken Dalebout Chief Administrative Officer Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Chuck Davison President & CEO, Visit SLO CAL Henry Dubroff Pacific Coast Business Times Carl Dudley VP/Sr Relationship Manager Pacific Western Bank Gina Fitzpatrick Chair, SLO County Chamber Executives Devon Goetz General Manager, The Tribune Stacie Jacob Chief Strategist, Solterra Strategies Tom Jones Director, Corporate Affairs Pacific Gas & Electric Lori Keller CEO, Martin Resorts John E. King Principal, Boutique Hotel Collection Dawn Legg Assistant Project Manager, External Affairs, First Solar Tim Mahoney District Manager, So. Cal. Gas Company Kevin Meyer Managing Partner, Gemba Academy Brendan Morris CEO, Morris & Garritano Chris Richardson Managing Partner Richardson Properties Ty Safreno CEO/CTO, Trust Automation Eric Schwefler Partner, Caliber Accounting & Tax Mike Silacci Regional Vice President AT&T External Affairs Darren Smith CEO, Compass Health Gil Stork Superintendent & President Cuesta College Tim Williams Founder & CEO, Digital West Dave Juhnke Board Member Emeritus Charley Senn Board Member Emeritus Tom Sullivan Board Member Emeritus PUBLIC SECTOR LIASON REPRESENTATIVES Lynn Compton Supervisor 4th District Board of Supervisors, County of SLO John Headding Mayor Pro Tem, City of Morro Bay Jeff Lee Mayor Pro Tem, City of Grover Beach Steven Martin Mayor, City of Paso Robles Heather Moreno Mayor Pro Tem, City of Atascadero Andy Pease Council Member, City of San Luis Obispo AT&T External Affairs John Peschong Supervisor 1st District Board of Supervisors, County of SLO Caren Ray Council Member, City of Arroyo Grande Edward Waage Mayor, City of Pismo Beach