The Commission shall consist of nine or 11 members, consisting of the following:
(A)
Each Supervisor shall nominate one person who may reside within the Supervisor's district to serve on the Commission, and one alternate commissioner. Whenever possible, Supervisor's nominees should be residents who represent the broad demographics of the County's population in terms of age, income level, education level, and housing tenure, and who may be members of any of the following groups: senior citizens, students, farmworkers, low-income families, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, realtors, construction workers, or educators interested in housing.
(B)
In addition to the five members outlined in subsection (A) of this section, the Board of Supervisors shall appoint four or six at-large members to the Commission representing the following stakeholder types:
(1)
Affordable housing advocates and/or non-profit affordable housing developers;
(2)
Farmworkers and lower-income renters (may be filled by a representative of a nonprofit organization that serves them);
(3)
Lower-income residents with special housing needs; for example seniors, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and/or those at risk of homelessness (may be filled by a representative of a non-profit organization that serves them);
(4)
Market-rate housing developers and/or real estate industry representatives; and
(5)
Employees or representatives of local public agencies working in relevant areas (e.g., Continuum of Care, Housing Authority, Workforce Development Board) and/or major local employers (e.g., health care, school district).
(C)
At least one of the HAC members (either at-large or district-appointee) shall be a young adult between 18 and 25 years of age.
(D)
At least three of the HAC members shall be renters (either district appointee(s) or at-large appointees, or a combination of both).
(Prior code § 3.17.030; Ord. 2110, 1975; Ord. 5498, 9/9/2025)
Each district-specific member shall serve for a term of four years, commencing on April 1st of the year in which the member's nominating Supervisor begins a full term. At-large members shall serve a term of four years commencing on April 1st of the year in which they were appointed.
(Prior code § 3.17.040; Ord. 2110, 1975; Ord. 5498, 9/9/2025)
(B)
Staff Support. The Planning Division of the Community Development and Infrastructure (CDI) Department shall provide staff support for the Commission. The CDI Assistant Director for Policy Planning, Housing and Code Enforcement, or their designated representative, shall serve as the Administrative Secretary to the Commission and shall receive copies of all minutes, reports and recommendations submitted to the Board of Supervisors by the Commission.
(Prior code § 3.17.050; Ord. 2110, 1975; Ord. 5279 § 12, 2018; Ord. 5498, 9/9/2025)
The Commission shall advise the Board of Supervisors on housing policy; advise the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission on matters relating to the Housing Element of the General Plan, developed pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 65302(c) and Cal. Health & Safety Code § 50459; conduct a continuous study of housing in Santa Cruz County; and may conduct public hearings on housing problems and potential solutions. The Commission shall assess the housing needs in this County and study, prepare, review and make recommendations on public policies and/or programs designed to meet those needs. The Commission may also study, review and make recommendations on private housing programs.
(Prior code § 3.17.020; Ord. 2110, 1975; Ord. 3620 § 18, 1985; Ord. 5498, 9/9/2025)