COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

DATE:

December 27, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 11, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Four-fifths Vote

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

John Maltbie, County Manager

SUBJECT:

Formation of the Department of Housing

RECOMMENDATION:

    A. Adopt an Ordinance creating the Department of Housing

    B. Adopt an Ordinance amending the Salary Ordinance

    C. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $100,000 from Intrafund Transfers to Salaries and Benefits and Services and Supplies to cover costs associated with positions and operating expenses

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Offer a full range of housing choices

Goal 9: Housing exists for people at all income levels and for all generations of families.

This activity contributes to the goal by establishing a Department of Housing which will allow for a more focused approach to increasing the supply of affordable housing and creating a greater awareness of housing activities.

 

BACKGROUND:

On December 14, 2004 your Board accepted a report from the Board Housing Committee recommending the creation of a Department of Housing. That report recommended the formation of a new Department of Housing, separate from the Human Services Agency, with a department head who reports directly to the County Manager and the Board of Supervisors. The formation of a Department of Housing would allow for a more focused approach to increasing the supply of affordable housing countywide and create a greater awareness on the activities of the Housing Authority. Additionally, increased emphasis would be placed on long-range planning for housing, redevelopment, and economic development in the unincorporated areas.

The services within this new department would include the Housing Authority and housing and community development activities. Services provided by the Center on Homelessness would remain within the Human Services Agency.

At that time your Board directed the County Manager to bring back the necessary documents to implement the formation of this new department.

 

DISCUSSION:

This item recommends three actions; amending the County Ordinance Code by establishing a new County department, amending the Salary Ordinance, and approving an ATR.

The County Ordinance is amended to 1) establish the Department of Housing, 2) establish a Housing Director for the Department of Housing, 3) define the duties of the Department of Housing to include responsibility for the Housing Authority and housing and community development activities, 4) discharge the duties of the Community Development Commission through the Department of Housing, and 5) remove the administration of housing activities previously performed by the Director of the Human Services Agency.

The Salary Ordinance is amended to 1) add one Housing Director position to the Department of Housing, 2) add one Executive Secretary position to the Department of Housing, and 3) transfer one Management Analyst position from the Human Services Agency to the Department of Housing.

The ATR appropriates funding in the amount of $100,000 to partially cover salary and benefits costs associated with the Management Analyst, Executive Secretary and Housing Director positions, and cover other operating expenses.

In March another Salary Ordinance Amendment and ATR will appear before your Board setting up the remaining Department of Housing staffing structure and associated budget for the remainder of the current fiscal year. It is not anticipated that there will be an increase in the position count as a result of this new department. Full implementation of the Department of Housing is expected to occur in Spring 2005.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the ordinances as to form.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The ATR appropriates funding in the amount of $100,000 from an Intrafund Transfer to cover costs associated with salaries and benefits and other operating costs. Reimbursement is provided by the Human Services Agency. There is no Net County Cost associated with this item.