Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Meeting Mendocino County’s Needs for Housing Requires Coordination and Planning July 16, 2021

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Findings and Recommendations 11 findings

F1
The areas around cities have the best developed sewer and water systems for new housing in Mendocino County. Rural areas of the County do not have adequate public infrastructure and amenities to meet HCD projections. (R1, R3) 5 https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/homekey.shtml 6 August 5, 2020 | Ukiah Daily Journal
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
by January 1, 2022, County Administration provide direction to PBS to establish periodic meetings to work cooperatively with cities, infrastructure oriented special districts, and Tribal governments on meeting the needs established in the Housing Element. (F1, F7)
R3
by FY 2022-23 County Administrators organize a coalition with cities to establish a framework for annexations through tax-sharing agreements. (F1, F9)
F2
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, PBS has developed more efficient digital options for routine matters which has created a more streamlined process to free PBS to pursue new opportunities for solving departmental issues and verifying State regulations and statistics.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
PBS continue the development of digital systems to deal with routine applications so there is more time for researching innovative ways to plan for economic and housing development. (F2)
F3
MCOG is designated by the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development to coordinate the housing need allocation process for Mendocino County. By default, this has become the regional planning agency.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Lack of housing forces the price of existing housing to be unaffordable for working families as well as preventing new potential employees to choose to work in Mendocino County.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The Median income of county residents and the higher cost of goods and services does not keep pace with the cost of new single-family homes, which discourages contractors from building here when they can profit from building in other areas.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The current shortage of affordable housing will continue without Mendocino County hiring qualified housing and community development planners. Such assets would assist in locating funding sources for infrastructure improvements, attracting appropriate developers, and informing the BOS what effect proposed regulations may have on the development of new housing. (R6)
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
by December 1, 2021, the BOS direct PBS to set-up the Mendocino County Building In- Lieu Fund as a Building Trust Fund and report back to the BOS before the end of fiscal year 21-22. (F6, F9)
F7
There is no formal or consistent communication between PBS and its counterparts in the cities of Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Ukiah and Willits which is indicative of the lack of planning on a regional basis in this County.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
by January 1, 2022, County Administration provide direction to PBS to establish periodic meetings to work cooperatively with cities, infrastructure oriented special districts, and Tribal governments on meeting the needs established in the Housing Element. (F1, F7)
R2
by January 1, 2022, PBS host bi-monthly meetings with all housing development entities including the four incorporated cities to monitor progress of goals in the Housing Element. (F7)
F8
The prohibitive cost of new construction and limited income of most area residents makes new market-rate projects risky for builders.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The activation of a Mendocino County Building Trust Fund (In-Lieu fund) would give Mendocino County leverage in encouraging proactive development to meet the county’s needs for infrastructure and housing projects.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
by FY 2022-23 County Administrators organize a coalition with cities to establish a framework for annexations through tax-sharing agreements. (F1, F9)
R6
by December 1, 2021, the BOS direct PBS to set-up the Mendocino County Building In- Lieu Fund as a Building Trust Fund and report back to the BOS before the end of fiscal year 21-22. (F6, F9)
F10
Federal and State funding is targeted to urban areas and the BOS does not direct PBS to actively seek mitigations on these restrictions to acquire funding for housing projects when State & Federal funds become available.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
As a result of restrictions on the use of local budget monies, Mendocino County’s Native American Tribes may only be invited to the table when discretionary funds for housing are available through Federal sources.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
by FY 2022-23 the BOS establish a framework to enact Policy 4.3b of USC, which encourages the development of additional housing for Native Americans. This will help the County to meet their obligation under State law to provide housing, including for special communities by 2027. (F11)

No Responses Found 2

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Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Ukiah City