Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 23, 2023
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS BASS, HAHN, NAJARIAN, MITCHELL, SOLIS, AND KREKORIAN
Maximizing Use of Metro Property for Temporary and Permanent Housing
Metro has an important role in addressing the current emergency of thousands of people experiencing homelessness countywide. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, an estimated 48,548 unsheltered people experienced housing insecurity in Los Angeles County in 2022. Metro estimates that over 1,000 people experiencing homelessness take shelter on Metro’s system daily.
On February 10, 2023, Mayor Bass issued “Executive Directive 3: Emergency Use of Viable City-Owned Property” to maximize the use of City-owned property for temporary and permanent housing as she moves Los Angeles forward with an urgent and strategic approach to addressing the homelessness crisis.
Executive Directive 3 requires that the Mayor be provided within 20 days an inventory of unused and underutilized city property that could be used for temporary or permanent housing with on-site services; that a formal assessment of each site follow; that based on the assessment, the Mayor’s Office designates what type of housing should be built on which locations; that City departments prioritize temporary and permanent housing with on-site services and eliminate unnecessary reviews, paperwork and red tape.
Executive Directive 3 also requests that other jurisdictions that control real property in the City of Los Angeles, including Metro, consider adopting policies similar to those outlined in the directive to make property available for temporary or permanent housing with on-site supportive services.
Metro holds property across Los Angeles County, which currently hosts three transitional housing sites and one safe parking location in the City of LA. Additionally, Metro’s joint development portfolio includes 793 income-restricted housing units with another 1,494 income-restricted units in construction or under contract. Metro reported to the Board in May 2018 (file 2018-0214) and April 2020 (file 2020-0228) with an inventory of Metro property available for temporary housing. Metro should update this inventory, ensure its policies are consistent with Executive Directive 3, and take steps to increase housing production under the joint development program.
Subject
SUBJECT: MAXIMIZING USE OF METRO PROPERTY FOR TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HOUSING MOTION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Motion by Directors Bass, Hahn, Najarian, Mitchell, Solis, and Krekorian that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to:
A. Report back at the March 2023 Executive Management Committee with a list of all Metro-owned property, including rights-of-way and parking lots, that are vacant, surplus, or underutilized. For any parcel with significant limitation or restriction that might preclude it from being used for temporary or permanent housing with on-site supportive services, Metro should include all covenants, easements, leases or other land use, revenue, or regulatory restrictions that apply to the identified parcel;
B. Report back to the Board in April 2023 on strategies to streamline the production of temporary housing consistent with the policies of Executive Directive 3; and
C. Report back to the Board in April 2023 on a strategy to accelerate affordable housing joint development efforts on Metro properties to achieve 10,000 new housing units.