TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: JANUARY 27, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AGENCY (LACAHSA) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVE AND ELIGIBLE JURISDICTION CAPACITY SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH A CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE LACAHSA BOARD (FUNDING SOURCE: MEASURE A FUNDS)
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SUMMARY
In November 2024, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure A. Measure A established a one-half percent sales tax on every dollar of goods sold in Los Angeles County to provide dedicated funding for various purposes, including reducing and preventing homelessness and increasing the supply of affordable housing. Measure A directs the disbursement of proceeds generated to the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency and further directs LACAHSA’s use of Measure A funds.
LACAHSA is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors made up of elected and appointed officials from across Los Angeles County. Functionally, LACAHSA’s service area is divided into four Sectors: (1) North County and San Fernado Valley Sector, (2) Southwest Corridor, (3) San Gabriel Valley Cities, and (4) Southeast Corridor. Each Sector is represented by an elected official from a city within the Sector area.
To build capacity in the support of its Board of Directors, the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency has approved the Sector Representative and Eligible Jurisdiction Capacity Support Program. The Program provides grant funding to Eligible Jurisdictions in each Sector to pay for the costs of consultants to provide administrative and technical support and assistance to members of the LACAHSA Board. The City of Claremont, with Councilmember Jed Leano serving as an appointee to the LACAHSA Board, is an Eligible Jurisdiction in the San Gabriel Valley Cities Sector and is eligible to receive funding through the Program.
Staff proposes to participate in LACAHSA’s Sector Representative and Eligible Jurisdiction Capacity Support Program, and requests that the City Council authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)(Attachment) to receive funding through the program and authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with a qualified consultant to provide technical and administrative support services to the LACAHSA Board.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Authorize the City Manager to execute the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to provide grant-funded administrative and technical support services to San Gabriel Valley Cities Sector appointees to the LACAHSA Board of Directors for the six-month period ending June 30, 2026, and authorize an additional one-year extension to allow for services to be provided through June 30, 2027, subject to the appropriation of funding by the LACAHSA Board; and
B. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Service Agreement with consultant Guido Dominguez to provide administrative and technical support services to the City of Claremont’s appointee to the LACAHSA Board of Directors and Board members representing the San Gabriel Valley Cities Sector in the amount of up to $75,000 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2026, and authorize an additional one-year extension in the amount of up to $155,000 for the period ending June 30, 2027.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Under LACAHSA’s Sector Representative and Eligible Jurisdiction Capacity Support Program, the City of Claremont would receive grant funding in the amount of $75,000 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2026, and $155,000 for the one-year period ending June 30, 2027, to engage the services of a qualified consultant to provide administrative and technical support services to the LACAHSA Board. The City would be eligible to receive funding while a member of Claremont City Council serves as an appointee to the LACAHSA Board. Should Claremont’s appointee’s term on the LACAHSA Board end, the City’s participation in the program would terminate. Councilmember Leano’s current term on the LACAHSA Board expires on January 31, 2027.
Funding would be provided through Measure A, which established a one-half percent sales tax in Los Angeles County for the prevention of homelessness and to increase the supply of affordable housing. No City sources of funding would be used to fund the consultant contract required to participate in the program.
Upon execution of the MOU with LACAHSA, the City would receive a two-moth advance of funding, followed by monthly payments up to the full funding amount for each six-month period. The City would use the funding from LACAHSA to support payments to a qualified consultant to provide administrative and technical support services to the LACAHSA Board.
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer this program is estimated at $800 and is included in the operating budget of the Administrative Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors made up of elected and appointed officials from across Los Angeles County. The composition of the Board includes representatives from large and small cities in Los Angeles County. While large cities generally have dedicated housing staff that can provide support to the appointed board members, small cities like Claremont do not. The requirements for LACAHSA Board Members include participation on at least two LACASHA committees, which involves the review of significant volumes of written reports and documents. Without support, Board Members from small cities like Claremont would be at a disadvantage in preparing for Board discussions compared to larger cities with robustly staffed housing departments.
To ensure equity in representation among large and small cities, and to assist LACAHSA Board members who represent small cities in preparing for meetings and being fully informed on matters coming before the Board, LACAHSA worked to develop a structure to ensure that Board representatives from small cities receive adequate support for them to properly represent their communities. Acknowledging that officials from small cities are generally part-time, with limited staff capacity to support their participation as members of the LACAHSA Board, LACAHSA evaluated various options for providing administrative and technical support to Board members, including increasing full-time permanent staff at LACAHSA at significant cost.
LACAHSA has determined that the most cost-effective option for building capacity in the support of its Board of Directors is through a grant program. Accordingly, the LACAHSA Board unanimously approved the Sector Representative and Eligible Jurisdiction Capacity Support Program. The Program provides grant funding to Eligible Jurisdictions in each Sector to pay for the costs of consultants to provide administrative and technical support and assistance to members of the LACAHSA Board. The City of Claremont, with Councilmember Jed Leano serving as an appointee to the LACAHSA Board, is an Eligible Jurisdiction in the San Gabriel Valley Cities Sector and is eligible to receive funding through the Program.
To participate in the Program and received Measure A funding, the City Council must authorize the execution of an MOU with LACAHSA. Additionally, the City Council must authorize staff to enter into a Professional Service Agreement with a qualified consultant to provide the services required under the program. These services include:
• Attendance at LACAHSA Board meetings and other related committee meetings
• Outreach coordination
• Policy analysis and development
• Technical assistance
• Intergovernmental coordination
• Administrative support
Staff proposes to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with consultant Guido Dominguez to provide these services to the LACAHSA Board. City staff has reviewed Mr. Dominguez’s qualifications and conducted an interview to determine his suitability for the consultant role. Mr. Dominguez is a graduate of Pomona College with experience in managing complex grant funding programs, coordinating with public agencies on policy issues, navigating governmental compliance requirements, and developing program implementation plans. Staff believes this experience makes him a suitable candidate for the proposed consultant role.
Staff recommends participation in LACAHSA’s Sector Representative and Eligible Jurisdiction Capacity Support Program, and requests that the City Council authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to receive funding through program and authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with consultant Guido Dominguez to provide technical and administrative support services to the LACAHSA Board.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed Memorandum of Understanding and approved it as to form.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Economic Sustainability Plan, 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by:
Adam Pirrie
City Manager
Attachment:
Proposed Memorandum of Understanding