Council straw polls keep ADU owner-occupancy for now, with a three-year review and $1 million in intended ADU financing
March 14, 2023, 3:00 p.m.
In straw polls, six of seven Council members supported keeping the owner-occupancy requirement in the ADU ordinance, with a legislative intent to revisit it in three years and to earmark $1 million for ADU construction financing and $200,000 for two enforcement employees in the next budget. Members also heard a consultant briefing on a Public Asset Yield model for city-owned property and discussed police bonuses and other items in Budget Amendment No. 5.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) text amendment follow-up | Discussed |
| Budget Amendment No. 5 for fiscal year 2022-23 follow-up | Discussed |
| Closed session | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Updates from the Administration
Discussed
Staff gave community engagement updates, including the Ballpark Next design entry deadline of March 17 and Earth Day cleanup April 22, and a homelessness update with 34 tracked camps, a March 24 Operation Homeless Connect and winter overflow ramp-down by April 30.
Item 2 · Presentation
Public Asset Yield model to enhance the Community Land Trust
Discussed
The Council Deputy Director presented a study by consultants Urban3 and Common Ground Institute on developing underused city property to raise revenue, including for expanding the Community Land Trust. The study area covered 9.4 square miles of city-owned property assessed at $2.9 billion. Common Ground Institute's Ben McAdams classified assets as legacy, policy and hybrid. Council Members Puy and Fowler left the meeting during the item. Council Member Petro disclosed her employment with Ben McAdams. Members discussed development costs, the city's role as developer, how the model differs from the RDA's work and holding small group meetings.
Item 3 · City code
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) text amendment follow-up
Discussed
Council members took non-binding straw polls on owner occupancy. Six (Petro, Fowler, Wharton, Valdemoros, Dugan, Mano) supported not removing the requirement, with Puy opposed. A proposal to remove it and charge a fee waived for owner-occupied ADUs drew support only from Mano and Puy, as did a two-year sunset. A proposal to require owner occupancy until a number of years of verified owner occupancy with no enforcement actions drew Mano, Petro and Puy. All members supported a legislative intent to revisit removal in three years with data from a recognized organization. Six (all but Fowler) supported a legislative intent to earmark $1 million from General Fund balance for ADU construction financing, and all supported a legislative intent to set aside $200,000 for two civil enforcement employees in the next budget; a proposal to fund them in the current budget drew Puy, Mano and Valdemoros only. Council Member Wharton said data was needed before deciding on alternatives.
- Budget$1.00 million
- Budget$200,000
- Petition No.: PLNPCM2022-000475
- Straw polls are non-binding
Item 4 · Budget
Budget Amendment No. 5 for fiscal year 2022-23 follow-up
Discussed
The Police Chief said 57 people are in the academy or field training and 55 officers are expected to leave by June 30, 2023, and that training a new hire costs $120,000 to $150,000. Members asked whether officers were polled on the proposed bonuses (item A-9) and why the request came now. Staff also reviewed $2.15 million in 300 West roadway bond adjustments (D-3), physical security improvements to City Hall of $1 million to $3 million (I-3) and $208,373 to reconstruct three sections of Lockhart Alley (I-4). A straw poll unanimously supported $80,000 from the General Fund for technology upgrades in the Committee of the Whole and formal chamber rooms (I-2).
- Budget$80,000
- Budget$208,373
- Bond$2.15 million
Item 7 · Other
Closed session
Approved · 6-0
The Council voted to enter closed session to discuss security deployment and attorney-client matters; Council Member Puy was recorded absent. The vote to exit and adjourn was 5-0 with Council Members Dugan and Puy abstaining; the minutes give no reason.
What residents said
ADU owner occupancyPolice staffing