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Ukiah Community Development reports full completion of housing‑element programs, $25M+ in grants
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Summary
Community Development officials told the City Council they have completed implementation programs in the housing element, rolled out electronic permitting, and secured more than $25 million in grants since 2022; staff described ongoing housing rehab grant applications and other projects.
Craig Slaughter, Community Development Director, told the council that the department has completed all implementation programs in Ukiah’s housing element and is moving into the next housing cycle.
Slaughter said the work reflects coordinated efforts across planning, building, grants and housing services. "We have 100% of all the implementation programs in the housing element completed," he said, calling the accomplishment a reflection of sustained team effort.
Presenters described several programs and funding efforts: the department’s new electronic permitting system (CitizenServe) went live in January 2024 and was funded in part by grants; the housing rehab program has completed three projects under the current CDBG grant, and the city has submitted a $1,500,000 CDBG proposal and plans to apply for a $700,000 HOME owner‑occupied rehab grant in May. Jim Robbins, Housing and Grants Manager, told council the department has closed 10 CDBG grants since 2022 and closed three PLHA grants totaling $517,000.
Grants management staff reported that the city received 30 awarded grants for community development projects since 2022 totaling more than $25,000,000. The department said that bringing grant administration in‑house has enabled direct project management for several initiatives, including the Ukiah gigabit fiber project.
Other Community Development updates included code enforcement and business services moving into the CitizenServe platform, an abandoned vehicle abatement program that generates a city fee (about $60 per recovered vehicle), and progress on fire prevention inspections and operational permits. Staff also said they are cross‑checking gross receipts against transient occupancy tax records and have identified approximately $15,000 in underreported business license revenue to date.
Slaughter and division managers asked council to support continued staff capacity for grants and housing work as the city enters another housing element cycle.
