Council authorizes city manager to execute trilateral MOU to pursue land swap, park expansion and 100% affordable housing

City Manager Melvin Gaines asked council to authorize him to execute a nonbinding trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with San Mateo County and EPA Can Do. Gaines said the MOU would create a structured, phased approach to move forward on a long-discussed land swap: the city would grant an option on 1266 Beach Street while the county would grant an option on 2277 University Avenue (currently county-occupied reentry center), and EPA Can Do would pursue acquisition of 2263 University and act as co-developer. If pursued, the approach is intended to preserve rent-stabilized units on 2263 University in the near term, allow light rehab and interim operation by EPA Can Do, and enable a later competitive process run by the county to select an affordable-housing developer for the combined parcels.

Staff emphasized the MOU is nonbinding and does not itself transfer property or authorize development; any property transfers, ground leases or development agreements would require independent approvals by the city council, the county board and EPA Can Do's governing board. Staff said the MOU carries no immediate fiscal impact and tenant protections and surplus-land procedures have been addressed.

Public comment included a range of perspectives: some residents urged faster action to convert underused county land into park and housing assets, while others raised concerns about traffic, displacement and maintaining neighborhood input. Several council members spoke in support of authorizing the MOU as a way to unlock a long-stalled transfer and advance the city'019s strategic priorities.

Council action: a motion to authorize the city manager to execute the trilateral MOU passed by voice vote. Staff will work with county and EPA Can Do to complete due diligence and bring subsequent agreements and any required approvals back to the council and to the county board.