Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Approval of Housing Manager Position within Community Development and Removal of Housing Specialist Position.
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From: Richard Rojas Jr., Community Development Director
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Colette Penalosa, Management Analyst
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
A. Approve the addition of one (1) Housing Manager position within the Community Development Department; and
B. Remove the existing Housing Specialist position.
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BACKGROUND
The City currently has a vacant Housing Specialist position within the Community Development Department. Staff recently evaluated the City's Housing function and determined that the scope, complexity, and level of responsibility associated with the City's current Housing programs warrant a management-level position.
The City's Housing function encompasses administration of Federal, State, and local housing programs; affordable housing development and financing; grant compliance and financial oversight; contract and consultant management; Housing Element implementation; project monitoring; and coordination with developers, governmental agencies, and other community partners. The Housing function also requires preparation of City Council and Housing Authority materials and ongoing coordination with Finance, Planning, Legal, City Management, and outside consultants.
The existing Housing Specialist classification is primarily focused on coordinating and monitoring housing assistance programs, grant processing, compliance, and related program activities. In comparison, the Housing Manager classification is a management-level position with responsibility for administering and overseeing housing programs and projects, managing budgets and contracts, coordinating consultants and external partners, monitoring compliance, and exercising greater independent judgment and accountability. The existing Housing Manager job classification is provided in Attachment 1.
The proposed Housing Manager would serve as the City's primary internal Housing professional and provide continuity, accountability, and oversight of the City's Housing portfolio. The position would allow the City to maintain internal expertise and effectively coordinate consultants, funding, contracts, projects, and regulatory requirements while continuing to utilize outside consultants for specialized services. The Housing Manager would play a key role with providing oversight of the 144 existing and more than 2,900 planned lower income housing units in the city.
Based on the current scope and ongoing workload of the City's Housing function, staff recommend removing the vacant Housing Specialist position and utilizing the budgeted funds to establish a Housing Manager position. This classification more appropriately aligns the City's authorized position with the level of responsibility, technical expertise, coordination, and independent judgment required to manage the City's Housing function.
Previously, the Housing Division consisted of a Housing Manager, Housing Analyst, and a Housing Specialist. However, upon the departure of both the Housing Manager and Housing Analyst, previous administration opted not to fill these positions due to budgetary constraints; and since then, functions within the Housing Division were performed by one Housing Specialist. With only one Housing Specialist representing the entire Housing Division, there were limitations to program development, oversight, and technical expertise. By replacing the Housing Specialist position with a Housing Manager, the division will function at an optimal level, using the City’s existing specialized housing consultants as well as department staff such as the management analysts.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City currently has a budgeted Housing Specialist position with an estimated, fully burdened, top-step cost of $147,184, which includes salary and benefits. The position is currently funded with approximately 33 percent of CDBG funds, with the remaining amount funded through Housing Authority funds. No General Fund dollars are currently used to fund the Housing Specialist position.
The estimated, fully burdened, top-step cost of the proposed Housing Manager position is $206,499, which includes salary and benefits. This represents an estimated annual increase of $59,315 over the currently budgeted Housing Specialist position.
The proposed Housing Manager position is currently financially supported within the adopted Fiscal Year 2026/27 budget through salary savings resulting from the vacant Housing Specialist position. No additional appropriation is requested for the current fiscal year. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2027/28, the Housing Authority and CDBG budget will be adjusted to reflect the salary and benefit costs associated with the Housing Manager classification, no general fund dollars will be used. The current Fiscal Year 2026/27 salary schedule includes the salary range for the Housing Manager position, provided in Attachment 2.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommend that the City Council approve the establishment of a Housing Manager position and remove the vacant Housing Specialist position. The Housing Manager classification more appropriately reflects the scope, complexity, and level of responsibility required to oversee the City's Housing programs, funding, contracts, compliance requirements, and partnerships.
Establishing the Housing Manager position will provide the City with a dedicated, senior-level Housing professional to provide ongoing oversight, coordination, and accountability for the City's Housing function.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Housing Manager Job Classification
2. Citywide Employee Salary Schedule (Effective July 11, 2026)
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager