TO: Napa County Housing Commission
FROM: Scott Wagner, Executive Director
REPORT BY: Alex Carrasco, Project Manager
SUBJECT: Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program Renewal
RECOMMENDATION
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Monthly report on the renewal process for the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program (Serna Grant).
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BACKGROUND
The purpose of the Serna Grant is to fund new construction, rehabilitation, and acquisition of owner-occupied and rental units for agricultural workers, with a priority for lower income households. The program is administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
In 2019, the Napa County Housing Authority (Authority) was awarded Serna Grant funding in the amount of $250,000 annually for a term not to extend beyond 10 years. Eligible uses of the funding are limited to maintenance and operations of the three county-owned farmworker centers. In exchange, the Authority agreed to continue to serve the needs of migrant farm workers in Napa County for 25 years from the first year of disbursement (2020).
Staff are engaged in a concerted effort to extend the existing agreement for an additional 10 years and increase the annual contribution to $500,000. The results of such efforts led to Assembly Bill 1890 (AB1890), sponsored by Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and Senator Cabaldon. The purpose of today’s report is to provide the commission with an update on AB 1890.
On September 30, 2026, AB 1890 was approved by the Governor.
No action needed.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Staff Report
2. Public Comment
3. Discussion
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.