AgdaPkt 2019-07-22 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

6.H. - Page 2 of 7 ANALYSIS Since March 2019, the City has had a staffing vacancy in the Housing Division due to the departure of the CDBG/HOME Administrator. In recognition of the City Council's top priority on housing, and the critical importance of meeting residents' needs for housing, staff recommended and the City Council approved an organizational change to the Housing Division as part of the FY 2019-20 adopted budget. The reorganization moved the Housing Division from the Community Development and Transportation Department to the City Manager's Office, and upgraded the current CDBG/HOME Administrator classification to the position of Housing Leadership Manager in order to provide leadership and oversight on housing initiatives. During the Housing Division transition and hiring period, there is a need for staff support to backfill the existing staff vacancy in order to work on critical housing initiatives and continue momentum in this area. Over the past month, Ms. Parks has provided interim Housing Division assistance, and is currently working on a number of important housing -related initiatives, including drafting the Housing Division Work Plan and processing two affordable housing project funding agreements, among other tasks that are cited below. Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement with Ms. Parks is to provide interim housing assistance until the City hires a new Housing Leadership Manager, which is expected to occur this fall 2019, and to finalize certain Economic Development critical tasks. Ms. Parks has strong institutional knowledge along with over 23 years of public sector experience providing consulting services to other Bay Area cities. Ms. Parks served as the Director of Economic Development for the City of San Jose from 1995 to 2001 and was the Director of Downtown and Industrial Development for the San Jose Redevelopment Agency from 2007 to 2011. Ms. Parks also has six years of affordable housing experience. During her tenure at the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, Ms. Parks was involved in entitling affordable housing projects in the City's downtown and in other redevelopment project areas. Furthermore, Ms. Parks served as acting Community Development Director and Redevelopment Manager for the City of Millbrae. In that capacity, Ms. Parks negotiated affordable housing agreements and administered below market rate housing requirements for mixed-use projects in the City of Millbrae. The City has been pleased with Ms. Parks' work, and staff recommends continuing the contract for Ms. Parks to provide interim support until a new Housing Leadership Manager is hired, which includes the following tasks: • Housing assistance: administering the City's affordable housing programs; developing a work plan for the housing program; assisting with City land use and housing policy issues; assisting with communications and community engagement activities/efforts; monitoring local, state and federal affordable housing legislation; and identifying and accessing new affordable housing funding sources and grants. • Specialized economic development assistance: completing the City's cannabis business permit processing; developing a Downtown Retail Action Plan; analyzing and processing a development project fee deferment request for City Council approval; and other efforts that are identified in Attachment A. • Ms. Parks provides on-site housing staff assistance one day a week, remote assistance one and a half days a week, and on-call assistance as needed. City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 153