TO: Napa County Housing Commission
FROM: Jennifer Palmer, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
REPORT BY: Alex Carrasco, Staff Service Analyst
SUBJECT: Review of Housing Commission Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Housing & Homeless Services requests discussion and review of County Ordinance section 2.102.050 regarding the duties assigned to the commission.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Today’s discussion item provides commissioners and staff a brief review of County Ordinance Chapter 2.102, which established the Housing Commission and defines its duties and limitations. The discussion relates to the Commission’s request at the meeting in January 2023 to discuss the Commission’s role in affordable housing.
This is a discussion item, no action necessary.
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.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Today's discussion item provides commissioners and staff a brief review of County Ordinance Chapter 2.102, which established the Housing Commission and defines its duties and limitations.
Health and Safety Code section 34291 authorizes a county to establish a housing commission by ordinance.
Membership on the commission is established by ordinance as well and, in this case, includes: one member of the Napa County Farm Bureau, one member from the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, one member from the Napa Valley Vintners, One member who is an affordable housing developer, one member from the public who is in real estate or a real estate developer, one member of public who is interested and/or experienced in affordable housing or farmworker housing, and two members who are tenant of facilities operated by the Napa County Housing Authority (at least one of these tenant commissioners must be over the age of sixty-two).
Generally, the County Board of Supervisors has authority to change the number of members, the terms of office, the qualifications, and the methods of appointment or removal of all members of the commission, except that Health and Safety Code section 34290 requires the appointment of two tenant commissioners to either the commission or the Housing Authority.
The Commission’s roles are also established by the ordinance and have changed over time. Currently, the Commission’s roles include:
A. Review and make recommendations on all matters to come before the authority prior to authority action, except emergency matters and matters which the commission, by resolution, excludes from its review. Such review and recommendations shall include, but not be limited to:
1. The operation and management of farmworker housing centers operated by the authority.
2. Revisions to those portions of the Napa County Code and General Plan relating to farmworker housing.
3. Expansion of existing farmworker housing centers or the creation of new centers.
4. Identifying and soliciting sources of additional funding that can be utilized to support the farmworker housing centers.
B. Serve in the capacity as the advisory committee to the board advising the board on the allocation of the proceeds of the annual assessment of County Service Area No. 4 pursuant to Government Code Section 25213.2.
C. Serve in the capacity as the advisory committee to the board advising the board on the appropriate use of affordable housing funds, established under Chapter 18.107, for affordable housing development projects.
D. Perform such other duties as the board may delegate to the commission.
Any change in the Commission’s permanent roles will require either a delegation through Subsection D, or an amendment to the ordinance to add it. Staff expects that any future change in the Commission’s role will involve a larger discussion by the Board, possibly involving a discussion of the roles of other boards or commissions.