TO: Napa County Housing Commission
FROM: Jennifer Palmer, Director of Housing & Homeless Services
REPORT BY: Alex Carrasco, Staff Service Analyst
SUBJECT: Housing Commission Duties - Review and Discussion
RECOMMENDATION
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Housing Commission Chair requests discussion of the Commission’s duties under the purview of County Ordinance Chapter 2.102. Several Commissioners have expressed an interest in expanding the Commission’s role regarding the appropriate use of affordable housing funds to include advising on affordable housing issues across the County, including those in the jurisdictional authority of the Cities and Towns within the County.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 22, 2023, County Counsel reviewed and discussed County Ordinance Chapter 2.102, which established the Housing Commission. Several members of the Commission expressed a desire to see an expansion of the duties related to the appropriate use of the affordable housing fund to include advising on affordable housing issues broadly, including recommendations for action in areas under the jurisdictional authority of the Cities and Town within the County. The Commissions role related to affordable housing outside of matters that come before the Housing Authority is defined as an advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors on the appropriate use of affordable housing funds, established under Chapter 18.107, for affordable housing development projects.
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
The Commission’s request to discuss expansion of its roles in affordable housing to include advising on affordable housing issues across the county and in jurisdictional authority of cities and towns with the county directly impacts Subsection C of the current County Ordinance Chapter 2.102 (outlined below):
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.
Prior to current Commissioner memberships, this Commission has held discussions about expansion of its role in affordable housing. The Board of Supervisors declined to expand the Commission’s role. The Housing Commission’s role continues to be advisory, with the Housing Authority playing a lead role in oversight of the Farmworker Centers and use of CSA No. 4 fund and the Board of Supervisors managing the affordable housing fund. The Housing Commission’s advisory role is critical in both areas, including the review of affordable housing fund applications.
The consensus from the March 22, 2023, meeting was to discuss each Commissioner’s perspective on the expansion of roles and strategize how to present the recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.