HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2022 0706 CCSA REG ITEM 10HCITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of July 6, 2022
ACTION APPROVED STAFF
RECOMMENDATION. (ROLL CALL VOTE:
UNANIMOUS)
BY A. Hurtado.
H. Consider Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Ventura
to Conduct a Farmworker Housing Survey and Contribute $9,000 Towards
Conducting the Survey. Staff Recommendation: Approve Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the County of Ventura to conduct a Farmworker
Housing Survey and contribute $9,000 towards conducting the Survey, and
authorize the City Manager to execute the MOU, subject to final language approval
of the City Manager. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) (Staff: PJ Gagajena,
Assistant City Manager)
Item: 10.H.
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: PJ Gagajena, Assistant City Manager
DATE: 07/06/2022 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Consider Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with the
County of Ventura to Conduct a Farmworker Housing Survey and
Contribute $9,000 Towards Conducting the Survey
BACKGROUND
During the first half of the 20th century, Moorpark was known as a farming community.
Today the City has 400 acres of agricultural land consisting of 2% of the City’s total land
use. Immediately outside the City, agriculture remains a predominant land use and
includes farms such as Apricot Lane, Underwood, Muranaka, and various agricultural
operations in the Santa Rosa Valley. In Ventura County, agriculture is a $3.3 billion
dollar industry supporting 32,000 jobs in production, processing, and distribution,
according to the Economic Development Collaborative. The 2017 Agricultural Census
estimates 1,151 farms on approximately 260,000 acres of farmland countywide.
As part of the County of Ventura’s Housing Element adoption process, a Farmworker
Housing Study (Study) was identified as a goal to affirmatively further fair housing and
meet the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) obligations of the County and
cities. The last Study was completed in 2002. Through a survey of farmworkers,
employers, and housing providers, the Study would identify the special housing needs
of farmworkers based on current agricultural trends and population of farmworkers and
their families. Cities would benefit from the Study by identifying housing needs for
farmworkers in their jurisdiction.
The City of Moorpark’s Draft Housing Element for 2021-2029 contains a list of proposed
Housing Programs in Section 4.6.2. Under Program 20 (Farmworker Housing), it states
“Developing a coherent strategy for addressing local and regional housing needs for
farmworkers has been challenging because of the lack of a reliable count of
farmworkers and lack of understanding of their need for housing. The County is leading
a regional effort to document the housing needs of farmworkers. The City seeks to
participate in this countywide effort and contribute resources to address its share of the
Item: 10.H.
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region’s need for farmworker housing and/or services.” The objectives of this program
include the following:
• Amend zoning code to define and permit employee housing as a by-right use in
zones allowing single-family housing in accordance with Health and Safety Code
§17021.5.
• Work with the County-led coalition to support, fund and implement a countywide
survey of farmworkers, employers, and housing providers to define housing
conditions, needs, and barriers.
• Support and participate in the Housing Trust Fund and the creation of a
dedicated source of funding for affordable housing that will meet the needs of
farmworkers.
• Use the survey results to develop targeted programs and strategies to address
the verified needs of farmworkers and to support agricultural businesses with a
stable and healthy workforce.
DISCUSSION
On May 5, 2022, the County of Ventura presented the Farmworker Housing Study
(Study) at the Ventura County City Managers monthly meeting. The Study contains the
following five phases:
1. Advisory Council Formation
2. Farmworker Housing Survey Design
3. Survey Implementation
4. Farmworker Housing Study and Action Plan
5. Community engagement in implementing the Action Plan
The County completed Phase 1 by creating an Advisory Council that includes cities,
nonprofits, housing groups and developers, agricultural employers, and farmworkers.
The next steps are to complete Phase 2 (Survey Design) and Phase 3 (Survey
Implementation), which will cost $235,000. The County is contributing $115,000
($60,000 from Local Early Action Plan funds and $55,000 from County funds) and is
requesting the 10 cities in Ventura County to contribute a total of $120,000. The
funding distribution from each city is based on population, acreage, and RHNA numbers
required by the State. The requested contribution from the City of Moorpark is $9,000.
Staff recommends supporting the County’s efforts to conduct a Farmworker Housing
Survey and making the required financial contribution because it would help identify the
housing needs of farmworkers and their families in Moorpark, meet the City Council’s
goals to provide housing for all economic and age ranges, and fulfill the City’s Housing
Element goals that are required by the State of California to make provisions for
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farmworker, employee, and agricultural housing (Health and Safety Code §§17021.5
and 17021.6.). The survey data collected can be filtered by jurisdiction so the City of
Moorpark will be able to assess the housing needs of farmworkers within and outside
the community. Note the City has built farmworker housing before – the Villa
Campesina neighborhood was a housing project specifically for farmworkers built by
People’s Self-Help Housing consisting of 62 single-family homes located north of Villa
Campesina Park and west of the Vintage Crest Senior Apartments.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City’s $9,000 contribution towards the Ventura County Farmworker Housing Survey
will be drawn from the City’s General Fund as this was not originally budgeted for in
Fiscal Year 2022/23.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE
This action is consistent with City Council Goal 1: “Identify Options and Solutions to
Barriers for Housing for All Economic and Age Ranges.”
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED)
Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Ventura to conduct
a Farmworker Housing Survey and contribute $9,000 towards conducting the survey,
and authorize the City Manager to execute the MOU, subject to final language approval
of the City Manager.
Attachment: Letter of Funding for Ventura County Farmworker Housing Study and
Action Plan dated June 15, 2022
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HALL OF ADMINISTRATION L#1940
(805)654-2681 • FAX (805) 658-4500 • 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Sevet Johnson, PsyD
Interim County Executive Officer
Mike Pettit
Assistant County Executive Officer
Kaye Mand
County Chief Financial Officer
Shawn Atin
Assistant County Executive Officer/
Human Resources Director
Labor Relations
June 15, 2022
Ventura County City Managers VIA EMAIL
RE: Funding for Ventura County Farmworker Housing Study and Action Plan
Dear City Leaders:
On May 5, 2022, the County of Ventura provided an update to all City Managers during a
Ventura County City Managers meeting regarding the Countywide Farmworker Housing
Study and Action Plan. At this meeting, the County presented a funding distribution and
plan for the cities to collectively fund $120,000 towards the work effort in Fiscal Year
2022-2023 (FY 2022-23) with the County contributing $115,000. The funding distribution
for each city is attached to this letter in Attachment 1. The very low-income housing
resulting from this project will ultimately benefit the progress towards the 6th cycle
Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for each city as mandated in the respective
Housing Elements.
Study Context and Goal
During the County’s recent Housing Element adoption process, a need for an updated
countywide Farmworker Housing Study (Study) was identified, which can provide an
overview of the needs of the farmworkers based on current agricultural trends and current
worker and family members. It is widely known that official counts of farmworkers in
Ventura County significantly underestimate the true population. The last Countywide
Farmworker Housing Study was conducted in 2002. As a result, the County included the
following Program E in the County’s adopted and certified Housing Element1, tentatively
scheduled to be completed by 2024:
"The County, working with advocacy groups, agricultural organizations and
Ventura County cities, will: (1) take on a coordinating role to seek funding for, and
to implement, a countywide survey of farmworkers, employers, and housing
providers to further define housing conditions, needs and barriers to farmworker
housing; and, (2) utilize the survey results to develop targeted programs and
strategies to address the identified housing needs of farmworkers and to support
agricultural businesses with a stable and healthy workforce.
In implementing this program, the County shall strive to affirmatively further fair
housing by providing housing opportunities (farmworker units or complexes) under
the County’s RHNA obligation and for both County and cities to provide services
for the farmworker population throughout the County."
1 County of Ventura Housing Element, adopted October 12, 2022, certified December 23, 2022, https://vcrma.org/housing‐element‐
update
ATTACHMENT
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Ventura County City Managers
June 15, 2022
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Overall, the Study will be instrumental in assisting cities and the county to identify the
housing needs for farmworkers and their families in their jurisdiction and opportunities to
better align their local ordinances with the Government code section 65583(a), which
identifies farmworkers as having special housing needs that warrant additional
consideration.
The County’s Planning Division, in partnership with the local nonprofit House Farm
Workers!, commenced work on the project in fall 2021, outlined the phases for this multi-
year project and launched a project website2. In May 2021, the County provided an
overview of this project and the various phases to the City Managers, after the concept
and programmatic discussions had been held by the County Planning Director during
several County/Cities Planning Directors bi-monthly meetings throughout 2020. The five
phases for the project include:
1. Advisory Council Formation
2. Farmworker Housing Survey Design
3. Survey Implementation
4. Farmworker Housing Study and Action Plan
5. Community engagement in implementing the Action Plan
As part of Phase 1, the County and House Farm Workers! worked together to convene
an Advisory Council which includes key stakeholders and agency staff representing local
cities, transportation, agriculture, nonprofit organizations, healthcare groups, small and
large agricultural employers, housing advocacy groups, affordable housing developers,
and farmworkers; and circulated an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a Survey Consultant
to conduct the survey of farmworkers, stakeholders, and employers in Ventura County
(Phases 2 and 3).
Funding Request
It is vital that all cities and the county work together for this project, as residents within all
jurisdictions benefit from the agricultural community, and farmworkers and their
household members are not bound by jurisdictional boundaries for housing or where they
contribute economically for purchasing retail and service needs.
The project anticipates that the following tasks will be completed in FY 2022-23, with an
anticipated cost of $235,000:
Phase 2 (Survey Design); and
Phase 3 (Survey Implementation).
Of this, the County of Ventura has allocated $60,000 of their Local Early Action Plan
(LEAP) funds, and will be allocating an additional $55,000 from the FY 2022-23 budget,
in addition to dedicated County Planning Division staff time to lead and manage the
project.
____________________
2 Ventura County Farmworker Housing Study and Action Plan, Project page: https://vcrma.org/vc-farmworker-housing-study
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Ventura County City Managers
June 15, 2022
Page 3
The project update provided during the May 5, 2022 Ventura County City Managers
meeting, included a funding request for the remaining $120,000 from the cities. The
County provided a funding distribution based on key characteristics for each city, such as
population, acreage, and number of housing units included in the jurisdictions regional
housing need provided by the state. Additionally, the County considered the amount of
crop acreage within each city as well as their area of interest.
By funding the above-mentioned tasks, the cities will directly benefit from the information
collected through the extensive survey of farmworkers and members of their household,
employers and stakeholders in the county through:
A survey report with details of the survey results, including an assessment of farm
labor patterns in the County and their current housing needs, land use constraints,
and infrastructure barriers;
Survey Data collected, which may be filtered by jurisdiction; and
A draft scope of work for the Study Consultant for Phases 4 and 5, to be conducted
in FY 2023-24.
In order for the County to receive the funding from your city, please submit the
attached Memorandum of Understanding (Attachment 2), no later than August 31,
2022 to Ruchita.Kadakia@ventura.org.
The County of Ventura would like to extend our appreciation in your continued
involvement in the preparation of the Ventura County Farmworker Housing Study and
Action Plan. If you have any additional questions, please contact my staff Ruchita
Kadakia, Housing and State Mandates Manager at 805-654-2414.
Sincerely,
Sevet Johnson, PsyD
Interim County Executive Officer
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Funding distribution, by jurisdiction, for Countywide Farmworker Housing
Study for FY 2022-23
Attachment 2: Sample Memorandum of Understanding between the County and City
regarding commitment of partner funds for FY 2022-23
c: Mike Pettit, Assistant County Executive Officer, County of Ventura
Kim Prillhart, Director, Resource Management Agency, County of Ventura
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Attachment 1
Funding distribution, by jurisdiction, for Countywide Farmworker Housing Study for FY 2022-23
Funding Source Total Population
(ACS 2014-2018)
Total acres in
jurisdiction
Total RHNA
(2021-29)
Population/RHNA
LEAP grant (County) $60,000
City of Camarillo 67,543 12,640 1,376 $15,000
City of Fillmore 15,598 2,111 415 $9,000
City of Moorpark 36,274 7,982 1,289 $9,000
City of Ojai 7,555 2,795 53 $5,500
City of Oxnard 207,568 17,341 8,549 $22,000
City of Port Hueneme 22,215 2,884 125 $5,500
City of Santa Paula 30,258 3,654 657 $9,000
City of Simi Valley 126,199 27,053 2,793 $15,000
City of Thousand Oaks 128,481 35,486 2,621 $15,000
City of Ventura 110,234 14,208 5,312 $15,000
County of Ventura 96,187 1,046,593 1,262 $55,000 TOTAL $235,000
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DRAFT
FARMWORKER HOUSING SURVEY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
COUNTY OF VENTURA AND CITY OF _______________
This Farmworker Housing Survey Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is
entered into by and between the County of Ventura (County) and the City of
______________ (City) and shall become effective on the date last signed by the
parties below (Effective Date). The County and City are collectively referred to herein
as “Parties” and each individually as “Party.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the last countywide farmworker housing study was conducted in
2002 and current counts of farmworkers and their household members significantly
underestimate the true population;
WHEREAS, it is vital that City and County work together to get updated
information regarding the current needs of farmworkers and their household members in
Ventura County, as residents within all jurisdictions benefit from the agricultural
community and farmworkers are not bound by jurisdictional boundaries for housing or
where they contribute economically for purchasing retail and service needs;
WHEREAS, County included the following Program E in County’s adopted and
certified Housing Element, tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2024:
“The County, working with advocacy groups, agricultural organizations and
Ventura County cities, will: (1) take on a coordinating role to seek funding for,
and to implement, a countywide survey of farmworkers, employers, and housing
providers to further define housing conditions, needs and barriers to farmworker
housing; and, (2) utilize the survey results to develop targeted programs and
strategies to address the identified housing needs of farmworkers and to support
agricultural businesses with a stable and healthy workforce.
In implementing this program, the County shall strive to affirmatively further fair
housing by providing housing opportunities (farmworker units or complexes)
under the County’s RHNA obligation and for both County and cities to provide
services for the farmworker population throughout the County.”
WHEREAS, a countywide survey of farmworkers, employers, and housing
providers will assist City and County to identify the special housing needs for
farmworkers and their household members in their jurisdiction and to assess the
potential constraints relevant to meeting those needs (Farmworker Housing Survey);
Attachment 2
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WHEREAS, County’s Planning Division, in partnership with the local nonprofit
House Farm Workers!, commenced work on Program E in Fall 2021 and outlined five
phases for this multi-year program, as follows:
Phase 1 – Advisory Council Formation
Phase 2 – Farmworker Housing Survey Design
Phase 3 – Farmworker Housing Survey Implementation
Phase 4 – Farmworker Housing Study and Action Plan
Phase 5 – Community engagement in implementing the Action Plan
WHEREAS, as part of Phase 1, the County and House Farm Workers! worked
together to convene an advisory council which includes key stakeholders and agency
staff representing local cities, transportation, agriculture, nonprofit organizations,
healthcare groups, small and large agricultural employers, housing advocacy groups,
affordable housing developers, and farmworkers; and circulated a request for proposals
(RFP) for a survey consultant to conduct the farmworker housing survey of farmworkers
and their household members, stakeholders, and employers in Ventura County for
Phases 2 and 3;
WHEREAS, the following program activities will be completed in Fiscal Year
2022-23, with an anticipated total cost of $235,000:
Phase 2 (Farmworker Housing Survey Design); and
Phase 3 (Farmworker Housing Survey Implementation).
WHEREAS, the anticipated $235,000 cost to complete Phases 2 and 3 includes
the cost of hiring a Survey Consultant to design and implement the Farmworker
Housing Survey;
WHEREAS, County will contribute $115,000 to the anticipated costs of
completing the Farmworker Housing Survey, in addition to dedicated County Planning
Division staff time to lead and manage the aforementioned program activities for Fiscal
Year 2022-23, at County’s own expense;
WHEREAS, County has requested that each city within Ventura County
contribute some funds for the remaining $120,000 of the total cost anticipated for
completing the Farmworker Housing Survey;
WHEREAS, County requests a funding contribution amount from each city
toward the Farmworker Housing Survey as set forth in Attachment 1 hereto based on
each city’s respective, key characteristics including population, acreage, number of
housing units included in each city’s regional housing need allocation provided by the
state, and estimated crop acreage in each city and its area of interest;
WHEREAS, City desires to contribute the funding requested by County for the
Farmworker Housing Survey; and
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WHEREAS, the parties desire to memorialize their mutual understanding of
these matters in this MOU.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The above recitals are incorporated by reference and made a part
of this MOU.
Section 2. County agrees to contribute One-Hundred Fifteen Thousand
Dollars ($115,000.00) of the total anticipated cost of completing the Farmworker
Housing Survey (Phases 2 and 3). County also agrees to contribute County staff time,
at County’s own expense, to lead and manage completion of the Farmworker Housing
Survey by the Survey Consultant.
Section 3. City agrees to pay to County its respective contribution amount as
stated in Exhibit A to this MOU toward the anticipated cost of completing the
Farmworker Housing Survey (Phases 2 and 3) within 60 days of the Effective Date.
Section 4. Following completion of the Farmworker Housing Survey, County
will provide City with the following:
A. A survey report with details of the survey results, including an assessment of
farm labor patterns in the County and their current housing needs, land use
constraints, and infrastructure barriers;
B. Survey data collected, which may be filtered by jurisdiction; and
C. A draft scope of work for the Farmworker Housing Study Consultant for
Phases 4 and 5, to be conducted in FY 2023-24.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
A. Integrated Agreement. This MOU is an integrated agreement and
constitutes the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements,
communications, representations, or warranties, whether oral or written, by
either party or any agent, officer, partner, employee, or representative of
either party.
B. Amendments. This MOU may not be modified, altered, amended, or
rescinded except by an instrument in writing, which is signed by both
parties hereto.
C. Notices. All notices pursuant to, or in furtherance of the purposes of, this
MOU shall be in writing and personally delivered, or sent by overnight mail,
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registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or facsimile, addressed as
follows:
To City: _________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
To County: _________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Such addresses may be changed from time to time by the addressee by serving
notice as heretofore provided. Service of such notice or demand shall be deemed
complete on the date of actual delivery as shown by the addressee’s registry or
certification receipt or at the expiration of the third day after the date of mailing (whether
or not actually received by the addressee), whichever is earlier in time.
D. Third Party Beneficiaries. No term or provision of this MOU is intended to
or shall be for the benefit of any person or entity not a party hereto, and no
such other person or entity shall have any right or cause of action
hereunder.
E. Defense and Indemnity. County agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and
defend at its sole expense, with counsel reasonably acceptable to City, any
third party claims, actions, proceedings, demands, judgments, damages,
fines and liabilities of whatever nature (Claims and Liabilities) against City
and all of City’s officials, boards, agencies, departments, officers,
employees, agents and volunteers (City Parties) arising from or related to
this MOU or the Farmworker Housing Survey, unless the Claims and
Liabilities be caused by the sole active negligence or willful misconduct of
City Parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned each has executed this MOU as of
the date written below.
COUNTY OF VENTURA
Date: By:
CITY OF _____________________
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By: Date:
Attachment 1
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