COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chenin Dow, Director of Community Development
DATE: August 4, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Designating an Elected Official as the Continuum of Care Board Representative
Description:
The City Council will designate an elected official to serve as the City's representative on the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (CoC) Board and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to submit the required CoC Board Cit y Elected Officials Form to the County of Santa Barbara.
Environmental Notice: This activity is not a "Project" as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a Resolution designating an elected official as the City's representative on the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (CoC) Board; and
2. Designate a staff member to serve as an alternate representative in the event that the designated elected official is unavailable for a given meeting; and
3. Authorize the City Manager , or designee , to execute and submit the required documents.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (CoC) Board is the regional body responsible for coordinating policies, strategies, and programs to prevent and end homelessness throughout Santa Barbara County. Its responsibilities include overse eing federal and state homelessness funding, the County's Coordinated Entry System (CES), and the annual Point -in-Time (PIT) Count. The Board generally meets via Zoom every other month (usually on a Thursday afternoon) , with occasional special meetings.
Historically, the City of Santa Maria has been represented on the CoC Board by Community Programs Division staff.
On March 12, 2026, the CoC Board amended its Governance Charter to require each participating city to be represented by an elected official. The Charter also allows the elected official to designate a delegate, a City staff member, to participate in CoC Board meetings and activities on their behalf during the official's two-year term.
These changes are intended to align the CoC's governance structure with federal funding requirements and strengthen the region's competitiveness for homelessness funding. 2 As the CoC Lead Agency, the County of Santa Barbara has requested each participating city to submit a CoC Board City Elected Officials Form identify ing the City's elected representative and, if applicable, their designated City staff delegate.
DISCUSSION:
To comply with the updated Governance Charter, the City Council is requested to designate an elected official as the City's CoC Board representative. The designated official may appoint a delegate to participate in Board meetings and activities on their behalf. Submitting the required form will establish the City's official representation. The Council may update its representative or del egate at any time by submitting a revised form.
Alternative(s)
If the City Council does not designate an elected official, the City Manager, or designee, may appoint a City staff member to participate in CoC Board activities , with the understanding that this does not technically satisfy the Governance Charter's requirement for an elected official to serve as the City's representative.
Fiscal Considerations
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this action.
Impact on the Community
Participation by an elected official supports the City's continued involvement in regional homelessness planning and may enhance the region's competitiveness for federal homelessness funding.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. CoC Board Representation Resolution
B. Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care Board Form C. Summary of Governance Charter Amendments