San Ramon May Form A Housing Authority

The City Council on Tuesday will consider forming a housing authority that would govern low-income housing and related programs in San Ramon.

The plan is a response to Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to eliminate by July 1 all redevelopment agencies, municipal bodies that get state and federal money to build and maintain affordable housing.

To keep that money in local control, San Ramon will need to form a housing authority. Otherwise, city officials fear the state may keep money that would have gone to redevelopment.

Brown's budget proposal would allocate housing money to city housing authorities. By state law, every city has a dormant housing authority, according to a city staff report.

The state gives San Ramon's redevelopment agency $1.8 million every year for low-income housing. All but $600,000 of that is allocated. A new housing authority could use that unallocated amount, according to Brooke Harris, the city's housing-program manager.

San Ramon once had a housing authority, according to Harris' staff report. The City Council founded one in 1991. It was deactivated five years later, after city officials decided the redevelopment agency would oversee affordable housing.

City Council members would double as commissioners if they establish a new housing authority.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 2222 Camino Ramon. Click here to read the agenda. Click on the attached pdf to read the staff report about the proposed housing authority.