CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
6/22/2026
1 SUBJECT:
Authorize Execution of a Cooperation Agreement Amendment with San Mateo County for Participation in Housing and Community Development Programs RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Cooperation Agreement Amendment with San Mateo County for participation in Housing and Community Development Programs administered by the San Mateo County Department of Housing.
STAFF CONTACT:
Samantha Updegrave, Community Development Director
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The County of San Mateo (the County) receives funding allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under three programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program. The County Housing Department administers these programs for jurisdictions that have a population of less than 50,000 and therefore do not qualify to receive a direct allocation from HUD for these programs. These smaller cities are called “non-entitlement cities” and, in San Mateo County, include: Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, Colma, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half-Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Bruno, San Carlos and Woodside.
In September 2017, San Mateo County and the City of Pacifica entered into a Cooperative Agreement whereby the City, a public entity which would not be eligible for CDBG funds on its own, could cooperate and participate in the San Mateo County Urban County Program to access CDBG funding. The Cooperation Agreement provides for automatic renewals every three years unless an amendment to the Agreement is required, which is the case for this program cycle.
Benefits of participation include eligibility to apply for CDBG funds through the Urban County’s annual CDBG funding cycle as well as participation in the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) programs. The CDBG Cooperative Agreement between the County of San Mateo and the City of Pacifica, requires renewal for Federal Fiscal Years 2027, 2028 and 2029.
In this qualification period, HUD updated the processing requirements to mandate Amendment approval by the governing body (City Council) and execution (signature) by the chief executive officer (City Manager). The two levels of authorization are now required for any updates to the Cooperative Agreement and will be mandatory henceforth.
Pacifica City Council 2
June 22, 2026
The deadline for submitting fully executed agreements to the County is July 15, 2026.
The Council is being asked to authorize execution of the attached Amendment to the Urban County Cooperation Agreement with the County, which has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office. The Agreement term is three years and can be automatically renewed in writing. The Agreement will not change existing obligations or expectations for the City.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Do not authorize execution of the Cooperation Agreement Amendment. This alternative action is not recommended as it may disqualify Pacifica residents from receiving the assistance provided by these programs.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND STRATEGIC PLAN:
Participating in County Housing and Community Development programs will further the following Council goal identified in the City of Pacifica Strategic Plan 2023 to 2030:
· Goal #3: Prioritize protection and development of affordable housing.
FISCAL IMPACT
No significant impact. There may be some negligible staff time necessary to assist with reporting requirements for programs that the City is directly involved in. However, the significant benefit of the Cooperation Agreements is that smaller cities are able to be served by the CDBG, HOME, and ESG programs while also benefiting from economy of scale by having the County administer the federal grants including reporting requirements. Administration of these programs by each individual small city would not be efficient and would result in the direction of funds toward staff/overhead instead of the communities they are intended to serve.
ORIGINATED BY:
Community Development Department
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Resolution Authorizing Execution of the Cooperation Agreement Amendment (DOCX) Exhibit 1 - 2026 Cooperation Agreement Amendment (PDF)
Exhibit 2 - 2017 Cooperation Agreement w/ signed Resolution (PDF)