Council OKs workforce housing needs assessment tied to Navy base hiring

Ridgecrest — The City Council authorized a professional services agreement on Wednesday with Lisa Wise Consulting to conduct a workforce housing needs assessment focused on housing needs related to the China Lake naval base and its anticipated workforce requirements. Council members approved the agreement by voice vote (4 ayes, 1 absent).

City staff said the work is part of a larger project funded through an Office of Local Defense Community grant (as presented to council) and that the contract will be funded entirely with grant funds; no city general fund monies are required. Staff emphasized the consultant’s California experience working with military facilities and said the study will analyze demographics, income levels and potential housing types that would meet future base and community workforce needs.

Councilmembers asked whether the study overlaps with the city’s recently prepared housing element and were told the housing element and the new assessment have different focuses: the housing element is the state-required planning document with a regional housing needs allocation, while the base-focused study will identify practical paths forward and potential public–private partnerships to address Navy-driven housing demand. During discussion a small discrepancy between dollar amounts shown in the resolution and the consultant agreement was noted; staff confirmed the resolution figure is the authoritative amount to be used for the contract.

Council approved the agreement and directed the city manager to execute the contract.