San Jose rules committee defers proposed changes to inclusionary housing ordinance pending cost study

The Rules and Open Government Committee on Nov. 12 voted 5-0 to defer consideration of agenda item 8.4, proposed amendments to San Jose's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, until as soon as practicable after the city's cost-of-development study session.

Housing advocates who addressed the committee during public comment urged a delay. "We're asking you to defer agenda item 8.4 amending the inclusionary housing ordinance," said Emily Ann Ramos of SB at Home, telling the committee she wanted more clarity on why the changes are being proposed and more time for stakeholder outreach. Lisonbee Singalani, director of policy with SV at Home, said the IHO "produces at least 3 an average of almost 300, units of affordable housing every year" and urged the council to allow analysis of how policy changes would interact with other housing programs.

Jorge Casas of The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley warned that the proposed changes "threaten to reduce deeply affordable housing options" and predicted the changes could lead to "more evictions" and increased homelessness if enacted without careful study. Kira Kazantzis of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, representing the Real Coalition, asked that the item be moved to January after the cost study and requested clearer guidance on what data should accompany the staff analysis.

Councilmember Kumay, following the public comments and the committee's review of the agenda, moved to defer the item "until such time as soon as practicable after the cost of the development study session." The motion was seconded and, after brief discussion about scheduling options, the chair announced, "Motion carries 5 0." Staff noted there was room on the Dec. 16 agenda but committee members and several speakers said they preferred waiting until after the Dec. 8 study session to ensure the council had the study's findings and more time for community engagement.

The committee's action delays formal consideration of the IHO municipal code update (item 8.4) and signals that council-level deliberation will follow the forthcoming cost-of-development study session scheduled for Dec. 8. No amendments to the ordinance were adopted at the meeting; the committee approved the meeting consent calendar earlier in the session by voice vote.

Next steps: the committee deferred the ordinance for later council consideration after the cost study; staff and councilmembers indicated they expect further analysis and community outreach before the item returns to a meeting agenda.