El Segundo votes to join South Bay Regional Housing Trust to tap Measure A funds

El Segundo voted 3–1 on Feb. 3 to join the South Bay Regional Housing Trust and authorized the city manager to execute a joint powers agreement, a move proponents said will give the city new tools to finance and administer affordable housing.

Supporters said the trust will expand what Measure A funds can do locally. "This all started because of Measure A in 2024," presenter Mister Chu told the council, explaining the statewide measure resulted in a $13,000,000 pool for the subregion, of which about $7,000,000 is earmarked for production, preservation and ownership programs. He added that La Costa is providing roughly $1,400,000 toward administrative costs and consultants estimate a first-year trust operating cost near $500,000.

The trust, as described by David (COG staff), would be governed by one director from each member city plus two housing experts. The board would set future dues and program rules; staff said the trust cannot regulate land use, levy taxes, require inclusionary zoning, or impose funding obligations on member cities. "A project will not receive funding if it's not approved and supported by the member city," David said, noting local consent remains a requirement.

Council members pressed staff on how the trust would interact with existing projects, who would administer income verification, and whether the trust could expand affordable set-asides in private developments. Staff said some preexisting projects that already used cost-of-funds would not automatically join the trust and that income verification could be centralized only if funding is identified. Councilors discussed master-lease subsidies and NOFA-based public decision-making as possible tools the trust could use to increase affordability.

Mayor Pro Tem Baldino moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the city to join the trust and to authorize the city manager to sign the JPA; the motion was seconded and passed 3–1 (yes: Kjelldorf, Boyles, Baldino; no: Mayor Pimentel). Mayor Pimentel voiced concern about joint powers entities and the potential for money to be reallocated outside the city, saying the arrangement felt "a bit amorphous." Supporters said membership preserves local control while unlocking regional capital and program administration.

The council did not name the city's trustee during the meeting; the council indicated follow-up items (appointment of an elected official to the trust board and any staff direction) will be placed on a future agenda.

What happens next: the JPA execution authorizes the city to join the trust formally and the newly formed trust board will determine staffing, program rules and any future dues. Council members said the trust could also help the subregion apply for additional state and federal grant funding once established.