Mono County staff updated the Board of Supervisors on several housing items, including the regional housing needs assessment, an operational update on the county-owned Bridgeport Apartments and potential uses for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program income.

County Administrative Officer Sandra Moberly said the State Department of Housing and Community Development issued the regional housing needs assessment (RHNA) allocation for the county: staff reported a total of 727 units for the eight-year cycle, split evenly with the town-level jurisdiction. The county’s consultant will brief the board on developer and market interviews at a Nov. 4 meeting.

On county-owned housing, staff reviewed the Bridgeport Apartments at 85 Kirkwood. An engineering report identified needed upgrades to the foundation and some electrical work; Public Works is reviewing the engineer’s recommendations and staff said some minor electrical work could be completed in-house. The county currently has two units occupied by employees and two vacancies. The property management plan requires county staff to advertise vacancies to eligible members of the public before filling them with employees; staff said they will follow that process and anticipate advertising within several weeks.

Staff acknowledged operational challenges and said they are exploring contracting with an experienced property-management firm to reduce county staff time and improve tenant turnover and maintenance response. The county is using consultant assistance (including a local consultant with Tahoe-area housing experience) to prepare tenant application review processes and to advise on management options.

Regarding grant opportunities, staff noted the CDBG Notice of Funding Availability was released and that the county has program income on hand — roughly $455,000 in CDBG program income and $92,900 in HOME program income — that could be used for down-payment assistance or small economic-development projects. The housing ad hoc recommended prioritizing program income for a down-payment assistance program and coordinating with economic-development staff on any forgivable-grant proposals for small businesses.

Moberly said the county is refining a job description for a Housing Opportunities Manager and expects to recruit in the coming months; staff said filling that position would increase capacity to run programs such as down-payment assistance, deed-restriction purchases and ongoing property management.

No formal action was taken; staff said they will return with more detailed CDBG proposals and a plan for Bridgeport Apartments marketing and tenant selection.