To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Planning and Building Services
Meeting Date: March 24, 2026
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Department Contact: |
Julia Krog |
Phone: |
707-234-6650 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Approval of Agreement with Placeworks, Inc. in the Amount of $334,925 with a Term through June 30, 2028, for Preparation of the 2027-2035 Housing Element and Preparation of Environmental Justice Element
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Approval of Agreement with Placeworks, Inc, in the amount of $334,925 with a term through June 30, 2028, for Preparation of the 2027-2035 Housing Element and preparation of an Environmental Justice element; authorize Planning and Building Services Director to approve any amendments that do not increase the maximum amount; and authorize the Chair to sign same.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
The Housing Element was first adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 24, 1981. Due to changes in the General Plan and California mandates, it has subsequentially been updated regularly starting April 26, 1993, January 27, 2004, December 14, 2004, March 23, 2010, August 4, 2015 and June 19, 2019.
Summary of Request:
The Housing Element is required pursuant to California Government Code Section 65580 et seq. The Housing Element is one of the required elements in the County’s General Plan. The 2027-2035 Housing Element is the seventh cycle and must be adopted by the Board no later than August 2027. In August 2025, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) provided the Final Regional Housing Needs Determination to the Mendocino County Council of Governments (MCOG) projecting a housing need for the Mendocino County region of 6,456 units for the upcoming cycle. This determination concerns local agencies as it is a dramatic increase from the determination provided under the 2018 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). In response, the MCOG submitted a letter of objection to HCD in September 2025 proposing a reduction to 4,936 units for the Mendocino County region. HCD responded on October 29, 2025, and did not accept the objections raised and therefore the final RHNA determination is 6,456 units. The final Regional Housing Need Determination for MCOG is:
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Income Category |
Percent |
Housing Unit Need |
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Acutely Low |
8.3% |
533 |
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Extremely Low |
13.8% |
891 |
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Very Low |
10.5% |
677 |
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Low |
17.8% |
1,151 |
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Moderate |
10.0% |
648 |
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Above Moderate |
39.6% |
2,556 |
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Total |
100% |
6,456 |
MCOG held a public hearing on October 6, 2025, on the draft Regional Housing Needs Allocation methodology and submitted the draft methodology to HCD on October 17, 2025. HCD responded to MCOG on October 28, 2025, rejecting the draft methodology finding that it did not meet the statutory requirements of Government Code section 65584.04 and therefore did not deem it to be MCOG’s statutory submission pursuant to State Law. Until HCD approves MCOG’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation methodology, the County will not know the RHNA determination for the unincorporated area. Nevertheless, there is still work that can be completed before the final RHNA is known.
In 2016, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000). SB 1000 amended Government Code Section 65302 to require that cities and counties with disadvantaged communities incorporate environmental justice policies into their general plans, either in a separate Environmental Justice Element or by integrating related goals, policies and objectives throughout the elements of the General Plan. SB 1000 requires the County to determine whether an Environmental Justice Element is required by identifying the location of any disadvantaged and low-income communities and considering the nature of environmental burdens, health risks and needs experienced by these communities. The update to the General Plan must happen upon the adoption or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018. As described in Government Code Section 65302(h)(1)(A), the purpose of the legislation is to address the “unique or compounded health risks” in disadvantaged communities by decreasing pollution exposure, increasing community assets, and improving overall health.
The Department solicited proposals from qualified vendors via RFP#042-25. Placeworks, Inc. was the recommended vendor based upon review by the RFP panel.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not approve and provide direction to staff.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: A Prepared and Resilient County
Supervisorial District: All
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: 2851 - PB (Designated Reserves) |
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current f/y cost: TBD |
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budget clarification: PB-862189; will be paid from Desig. Reserves from General Plan Maint. |
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annual recurring cost: TBD |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): No |
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revenue agreement: No |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: Yes
CEO Liaison: Steve Dunnicliff, Deputy CEO
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments: n/a
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Item Status |
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Date: Date Executed |
Executed Item Type: item |
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Number: |
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