Hillsborough staff outline recent Calle Diaz work, form community advisory committee and seek anti-displacement strategies

City staff updated the Hillsborough City Council on recent work in the Calle Diaz/Tenth Avenue area, saying recent small-scale projects and community engagement are moving the neighborhood toward more pedestrian-friendly streets and strategies to reduce displacement.

Staff lead Justin summarized a market analysis completed by consultant Eco Northwest showing Cayadias (the study area) has a Latino/Hispanic population near 70 percent, a median household income of about $35,000—roughly one-third of the city average—and an owner/renter mix skewed heavily toward renters. "Forty-four percent of owners and 59 percent of renters are cost-burdened," Justin said, highlighting that many households in the study area pay more than 30 percent of income toward housing.

The presentation described concrete near-term efforts: a neighborhood cleanup that served about 28 vehicles and removed roughly 11 tons of bulky waste, seasonal roofline lighting installed Sept. 19, tree-planting and storefront-improvement grants, and a lighting study that found much of the area at 'low' or 'very low' illumination levels. Staff told council they are preparing fee estimates and budgets to implement lighting improvements.

A major milestone announced was the formation of a Community Advisory Committee (CAC). "We have 11 CAC members," Edma said, noting members meet monthly at Lincoln Elementary and that meetings include childcare, dinner, stipends and bilingual facilitation. Staff said the CAC has moved community conversation from general concerns to very specific, actionable feedback—examples include requested pedestrian improvements at Twelfth Avenue intersections and requests for sweeping, enforcement, and information about who to call for nonemergency concerns.

Councilors pressed staff for more data and follow-up. Several asked for tenure-by-renter metrics so the city can understand mobility and displacement risk; staff said tenure data exists but was not emphasized in the existing-conditions report and pledged to provide more detail at a future meeting. Staff also described next steps on the consultant’s process: Eco Northwest compiled an extensive list of possible anti-displacement strategies drawn from other jurisdictions; staff and the CAC will filter that long list to identify measures compatible with city policy and local priorities.

On homelessness and the nearby bridge shelter site, staff said initial county conversations are underway about changes to the property's long-term use. "The county is obligated by funding to maintain supportive or affordable housing uses," Justin told the council, but the county is not obligated to continue operation as a low-barrier shelter. County staff have signaled a willingness to align any future use with the community-informed vision.

Staff also noted a $400,000 Metro planning grant that will fund continued equitable-development work and a community-driven redevelopment plan for the police-department block.

Council members thanked staff for the engagement approach and asked that the CAC and councilors meet soon so elected officials and community advisers can connect as the strategy phase begins. Staff said the next CAC meeting is the third Monday of each month and promised to supply the council with the consultant’s two-page summary and presentation materials.

Next steps: staff will supply additional renter-tenure data, follow up on lighting budgets, continue the CAC process to vet potential anti-displacement strategies, and report back to council at a future work session.