RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY - B. BARNES

Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between City of Hollister and San Benito County (“SBC”) establishing the rights and responsibilities of the Parties for the recruitment, selection, employment, job duties, and supervision of the City of Hollister Housing Programs Coordinator; and authorizing reimbursement to the City for the costs relating to employment of a Housing Programs Coordinator.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 790

Prior to 2010, the City of Hollister and the County shared a housing programs coordinator who was responsible for coordinating implementation of both County and City grants and affordable housing programs. As a result of the recession, the position was eliminated. With the economic recovery, it is important for several reasons to reestablish the shared position:

·         Adoption of the 2035 General Plan and the Housing Element update establish a strong affordable housing policy and program framework that needs to be implemented;

·         Potential adoption of a housing impact fee requires close monitoring of funds and direction of fund balances to appropriate activities;

·         Planning and implementation of a range of affordable housing projects in the County requires close cooperation with individual developers;

·         Similar policies, programs and activities in the City of Hollister require a high level of coordination so that affordable housing is built in context with the larger community

City and County staff are proposing that an 0.5 FTE position be added to the City of Hollister's staffing to address this need. The City of Hollister has offered to take the lead on a shared Housing Programs Coordinator position, with the incumbent being an employee of the City. The salary in the first year would be $48,000, of which the County’s share is ½ of the base. All benefits, workers compensation, training, etc. would be the responsibility of the City, however the County would be responsible for ½ of travel costs to/from training activities. The full agreement would be memorialized in an MOU between the County and the City (attached).

It is respectfully recommended that the Board of Supervisors:

(1)    Approve the MOU between the County and the City of Hollister establishing the rights and responsibilities of the Parties for the recruitment, selection, employment, job duties, and supervision of the City of Hollister Housing Programs Coordinator and authorize the Chair to sign the MOU;

(2)    Authorize staff to participate in the recruitment and hiring of the City of Hollister Housing Programs Coordinator.