Memorandum
Date: February 6, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Mireya G. Turner, Community Development Director
Shannon Walker-Smith, Deputy Community Development Administrator
Subject: (a) Adopt Resolution Approving an Application for Funding and the Execution of a Grant Agreement and any Amendments thereto from the 2023-2024 funding year of the State CDBG Mitigation (CB+DBG-MIT) Resilient Planning and Public Services (MIT-PPS) Program; and (b) Authorize Community Development Department (CDD) Director to submit the grant application
Executive Summary: The Community Development Department intends to apply for $1,000,000 to HCD’s CDBG MIT - Planning and Public Services Grant to support a Code Enforcement Mitigation Team.
The Code Enforcement Division proposes to use grant funds to create a Two Officer Mitigation Team - who will focus on hazardous vegetation and sub-standard housing mitigation, directly related to fire prevention and housing loss due to fire, flood, and earthquake events. This grant would fund the positions for three years.
The Code Enforcement Division currently employs four Code Officers, two assigned to traditional cases (i.e. illegal dumping, nuisance abatement through our Road Map Task Force program), two assigned to illegal cannabis cases (grant-funded) and a Code Enforcement Program Supervisor who handles abandoned vehicles and hazardous vegetation (in Riviera communities only). The division also employees a Code Enforcement Manager who supervises the officers and works the most complex, high-profiles cases and handles litigation. By recruiting, hiring and training two officers dedicated to mitigation effort, Code Enforcement will be able to make an impact on fire prevention and disaster recovery.
The Code Enforcement Mitigation team will assess the community and develop cases from community complaints, focusing their case management on hazardous vegetation education, noticing and abatement; as well as sub-standard housing violations, education, and connection to County rehabilitation funds. Staff will track our cases through data tracking software, review data monthly and report as required. Staff will assess administrative penalties and liens to property owners to recover our costs (according to current county ordinance). As with all our Code Enforcement work, we will first for property owner compliance with county code. We will educate property owners about their responsibilities, and encourage everyone to bring their property into compliance voluntarily. For sub-standard housing cases, our team will encourage and connect residents with the County’s Housing Rehabilitation Fund (currently under development).
There is no match requirement for this grant. The grant application narrative and resolution are included as Attachments 1 and 2.
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☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☒ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: (a) Adopt Resolution Approving an Application for Funding and the Execution of a Grant Agreement and any Amendments thereto from the 2023-2024 funding year of the State CDBG Mitigation (CB+DBG-MIT) Resilient Planning and Public Services (MIT-PPS) Program; and (b) Authorize Community Development Department (CDD) Director to submit the grant application.