CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF HALF MOON BAY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2023
ALL REMOTE PARTICIPATION (SEE NEXT PAGE) Deborah Penrose, Mayor Joaquin Jimenez, Vice Mayor
Robert Brownstone, Councilmember
Harvey Rarback, Councilmember
Debbie Ruddock, Councilmember
5:30 PM
This agenda contains a brief description of each item to be considered. Those wishing to address the City Council on any matter not listed on the Agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the City Council to resolve, may come forward to the podium during the Public Forum portion of the Agenda and will have a maximum of three minutes to discuss their item. Those wishing to speak on a Public Hearing matter will be called forward at the appropriate time during the Public Hearing consideration.
Please Note: Anyone wishing to present materials to the City Council, please submit seven copies to the City Clerk.
Copies of written documentation relating to each item of business on the Agenda are on file in the Office of the City Clerk at City Hall and the Half Moon Bay Library where they are available for public inspection. If requested, the agenda shall be available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132.) Information may be obtained by calling 650-726-8271.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance for participation in this meeting can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at 650-726-8271. A 48-hour notification will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility to this meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II). http://hmbcity.com/
SPECIAL REMOTE PROTOCOLS
This meeting will be held entirely by teleconference. All Councilmembers and staff will only participate via the Zoom platform using the process described below. The meeting is being conducted pursuant to recent amendments to the teleconference rules required by the Ralph M. Brown Act allowing teleconferencing during a proclaimed state of emergency when local officials have recommended social distancing (AB 361). The purpose of AB 361 is to provide the safest environment for the public, elected officials, and staff while allowing for continued operation of the government and public participation during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom Webinar and live Spanish interpretation will be available within the Zoom platform.
Members of the public are welcome to login into the webinar as Attendees. During any public comment portions, attendees may use the “raise your hand” feature and will be called upon and unmuted when it is their turn to speak. The meeting will also be streamed on Channel 27, on pacificcoast.tv, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofhalfmoonbay. Please click to join the webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88482142050 or join by phone at 669-900-9128, using Webinar ID 884-82142050. If joining by phone, use *9 to raise your hand, *6 to mute and unmute.
CONVENE SPECIAL MEETING / ROLL CALL
1.. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1.A. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION FOR THE JOE SERNA, JR. FARMWORKER HOUSING GRANT
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND JOINTLY DEVELOP AN AFFORDABLE FARMWORKER
HOUSING PROJECT
Staff Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of San Mateo to support the submission of an application for a grant award in an amount up to $5,000,000 from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development under the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Homeownership Program, and collaborate in the development of an affordable farmworker housing project in Half Moon Bay or the surrounding San Mateo County Coastside.
ADJOURN SPECIAL MEETING
BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HALF MOON BAY
AGENDA REPORT
For meeting of: February 27, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
VIA: Matthew Chidester, City Manager
FROM: John Doughty, Interim Assistant City Manager
Jill Ekas, Community Development Director
Mike Noce, Housing Coordinator
TITLE: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION FOR THE JOE SERNA, JR. FARMWORKER HOUSING
GRANT HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND JOINTLY DEVELOP AN AFFORDABLE
FARMWORKER HOUSING PROJECT
______________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of San Mateo to support the submission of an application for a grant award in an amount up to $5,000,000 from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development under the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Homeownership Program, and collaborate in the development of an affordable farmworker housing project in Half Moon Bay or the surrounding San Mateo County Coastside.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact anticipated with entering into an MOU with the County, but the City would continue to dedicate significant staff resources to supporting affordable housing efforts and working with the County. The City may also need to provide financial support towards specific activities while working with the County, which may require separate Council action if outside the limits of the City Manager’s authority. Staff may request additional funding to support affordable housing efforts during the mid-year budget process.
STRATEGIC ELEMENT:
This action supports the Healthy Communities and Public Safety, and Inclusive Governance Elements of the Strategic Plan.
BACKGROUND:
On January 6, 2023, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released the 2023 Homeownership Super Notice of Funding Availability, which provides the Serna Homeownership Program approximately $35,000,000 in funds to
address the housing needs of farmworkers in California. One eligible activity under the Program is the acquisition of manufactured homes to address and remedy impacts from the displacement of farmworker families from labor camps, mobile home parks, or other housing.
Acquired manufactured homes must be owner-occupied by a low-income farmworker household.
According to HCD, California farmworkers earn, on average, less than 20% of San Mateo County’s area median income, making farmworkers and their families among the most economically vulnerable members of our community. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant negative economic and health impacts for farmworkers and their families.
The tragic mass shooting event last month underscored the need for safe, affordable housing for farmworkers after surviving farmworkers and their families were displaced from illegal and substandard units located at the two farms where the shootings occurred.
The deadline to apply for the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Homeownership Program for 2023 is February 28, 2023, therefore the City scheduled a special meeting of the Council to consider this action. The County Board of Supervisors is likewise considering resolutions authorizing the grant application and MOU with the City at its February 28, 2023 regular meeting.
DISCUSSION:
With the support of City staff, County staff are preparing to submit an application for the maximum grant award of up to $5,000,000 under the Program to purchase manufactured homes for low-income farmworkers and their families. If funded, these manufactured homes would provide homeownership opportunities for low-income farmworker families in our community, including those displaced by the mass shooting event last month in Half Moon Bay.
City staff are coordinating closely with County staff about this opportunity and to advise about potential development sites within the City.
HCD plans to make grant award notifications in June 2023, by which point the City and County must secure a real property site to locate the manufactured homes. To that end, staff are currently exploring potential sites that can accommodate manufactured homes for qualifying farmworker households. Staff will propose a working session with City Council in the near future to discuss the site options in advance of seeking Council’s recommendation for a preferred site or sites.
In light of this partnership and the shared interest in securing housing opportunities for farmworkers on the Coastside, the City and County may become mutually involved in the administration of this $5,000,000 grant should it be awarded. Thus, staff recommends entering
into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County regarding this timely and important opportunity.
The MOU would not commit any City funds or property, but would likely commit the City and County to be collaborative partners in the development of the application for funding; identification of potential development sites; research and support of predevelopment activities and permitting for appropriate sites; and any other activities necessary to develop affordable farmworker housing in Half Moon Bay or the surrounding San Mateo County Coastside. The MOU would likely require the City and County to work in good faith to identify property, staff, and other resources to support this effort. Any long-term commitments of property, staff and funding would be subject to separate agreements and require further action by the City Council and Board of Supervisors.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of San Mateo
Resolution No. C-2023-____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HALF MOON BAY AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH
THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO TO SUPPORT THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT AWARD IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $5,000,000 FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE JOE SERNA, JR.
FARMWORKER HOUSING GRANT HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM, AND COLLABORATE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFORDABLE FARMWORKER HOUSING PROJECT IN HALF MOON BAY
OR THE SURROUNDING SAN MATEO COUNTY COASTSIDE
WHEREAS, on January 6, 2023, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) released the 2023 Homeownership Super Notice of Funding Availability, which provides the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Homeownership Program approximately $35,000,000 to address the housing needs of farmworkers, one eligible activity under which is the acquisition of manufactured homes to be owned and occupied by low-income farmworker households; and
WHEREAS, according to HCD, California farmworkers earn, on average, less than 20% of San Mateo County’s area median income, making farmworkers and their families among the most economically vulnerable members of our community, a vulnerability that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant negative economic and health impacts for farmworkers and their families; and
WHEREAS, the tragic mass shooting event last month in Half Moon Bay underscored the need for safe, affordable housing for farmworkers after surviving farmworkers and their families were displaced from illegal and substandard units located at the two farms where the shootings occurred; and
WHEREAS, the County, with support from the City, is preparing to submit an application for a grant award of up to $5,000,000 under the Serna Homeownership Program to purchase manufactured homes for low-income farmworkers and their families; and WHEREAS, HCD plans to make Serna Homeownership Program grant award notifications in June 2023, by which point the City and County must secure a real property site to locate the manufactured homes, and staff is currently working to identify potential sites that can accommodate manufactured homes for qualifying farmworker households; and WHEREAS, in light of the partnership between the City and County in preparing the application for the Serna Homeownership Program grant, identifying potential sites to locate the manufactured homes in Half Moon Bay or the surrounding San Mateo County Coastside, and the shared interest in securing housing opportunities for farmworkers on the Coastside, it is recommended that the City Manager or designee(s) be authorized to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the County regarding all of these efforts.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Half Moon Bay hereby authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of San Mateo to support the submission of an application for a grant award in an amount up to $5,000,000 from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development under the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Homeownership Program, and collaborate in the development of an affordable farmworker housing project in Half Moon Bay or the surrounding San Mateo County Coastside.
***************************************************************** I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed and adopted on the 27th day of February, 2023, by the City Council of Half Moon Bay by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
___________________________ _____________________________ Jessica Blair, City Clerk Deborah Penrose, Mayor