DIRECTOR OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OAKLAND THE CITY AND COMMUNITY OF OAKLAND Theatre and Fox Theatre. The City has completed its part in The City of Oakland is dynamic with 50 distinct and eclectic a $350 million revitalization effort to create a multifaceted neighborhoods, 17 commercial districts, an increasingly government center that links major historical landmarks vibrant downtown, a strong economic base, world-class arts with new developments. Oakland is a mature City that has and entertainment venues, superior cultural and recreational been able to preserve its abundant natural beauty and holds amenities, and a rich multicultural heritage. Oakland is the a wealth of resources and opportunities. eighth largest city in California with an estimated population of 429,082 (2018 U.S. Census Bureau). The City serves as the Oakland, like many major cities, especially in California, is administrative seat of Alameda County and the center of in a housing crisis. Market forces are driving skyrocketing commerce and international trade for Northern California. rents, home prices and land values. In the midst of a thriving Oakland is one of the most diverse and ethnically integrated and robust economy, Oakland is experiencing massive urban cities in the nation, with nearly equal representation displacement, homelessness and economic disparity from African-American, Hispanic and Latino, and Caucasian that creates tremendous challenges and unparalleled residents, speaking over 125 languages and dialects, as opportunities. well as one of the country’s largest Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) communities. Located on the CITY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE bay, six miles east of San Francisco, it encompasses 56 The Mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term and is square miles, with 19 miles of San Francisco Bay coastline head of the executive branch. Oakland’s legislative body is to the west and rolling hills to the east. the City Council and is comprised of eight Council members. One Council member is elected “at-large” while the other Oakland’s landscape is a picturesque mix of coastline to the seven Council members represent specific districts. All west and rolling hills to the east, which provide unparalleled Council members are elected to serve four-year terms. views of the San Francisco Bay. Oakland has more parks and open space per capita than any other city in the Bay The Mayor appoints the City Administrator who is Area. Oakland is at the heart of the East Bay Regional Park responsible for all city operations and is supported by two District, a splendid system of 65 parks covering more than Assistant City Administrators. The City Administrator has 119,000 acres and 29 regional hiking trails stretching 1,200 overall responsibility for day-to-day administrative and miles in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Jack London fiscal operations of the City including hiring of Department Square, the waterfront area, and beautiful Lake Merritt are Directors. destinations enjoyed by both residents and tourists. Sports enthusiasts enjoy professional events including the Oakland HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Raiders and Oakland A’s. DEPARTMENT The Housing & Community Development (HCD) Oakland is a major economic force in the region. As a center Department’s mission is to provide “Affordable Housing for for international trade, the Port of Oakland is the nation’s All.” One of the City’s core values is ensuring all Oakland fifth busiest container port. The Oakland International residents have decent and affordable housing in healthy, Airport is served by 12 major domestic and international sustainable neighborhoods with full access to life-enhancing airlines. Oakland is home to several corporate headquarters services. HCD works to create and preserve affordable including Clorox, Kaiser Permanente, Pandora, Dreyer’s housing by: Grand Ice Cream, and Revolution Foods. Many of these corporations are in close proximity to new businesses and various small retail shops that have sprung up in the • Supporting organizations that develop and preserve downtown area. High quality educational opportunities affordable rental and owner-occupied housing. abound as six major universities, including U.C. Berkeley, are within a 40-mile radius. • Providing direct assistance to first-time homebuyers and existing homeowners. Oakland is enjoying the region’s economic boom, which has spurred increased investment, development and • Administering the City’s programs to stabilize rents building. The former Oakland Army Base is engaged in a and ensure compliance with the Just Cause for Eviction $400 million revitalization and redevelopment process; and Ordinance. $115 million of new construction and improvements have recently been completed in downtown Oakland. In addition, • Supporting organizations that provide economic Coliseum City, a plan to transform the Oakland-Alameda development, public facilities, infrastructure, and social County Coliseum Sports Complex area, is an opportunity services for low to moderate income communities. to create an international gateway to Oakland that is a destination in itself with hotels connected to the Airport Connector, major retail, other entertainment venues, office HCD has an annual operating budget of $48 million for buildings and a residential community. In concert with FY 2019-2020. The department manages CDBG, HOME, ongoing development efforts, the City urgently strives to HOPWA, ESG and FEMA grants that total $14 million and maintain a balance between preserving its cultural, historic a managed housing loan portfolio of 2400 loans totaling and ethnic richness and the unintended consequences of $533 million that generates annual loan payments of $4.7 gentrification. The City is a regional hub for multicultural million. The department is also responsible for deploying arts and boasts one of the largest visual and performing arts capital from a voter-approved bond measure (Measure KK) communities on the West Coast. Oakland is home to two as well as receipts from the City’s Affordable Housing Impact major historic entertainment venues that anchor Oakland’s Fee collected on residential new construction. HCD has a emerging downtown entertainment district—the Paramount dedicated and committed staff of 76 full-time equivalent employees. The department is comprised of six (6) units: Fiscal & Administration, Housing Development Services, developer. Develop housing policy objectives that Rent Adjustment Program, Residential Lending Services, ensure the appropriate funding sources and city-wide Community Development Block Grant, and the Housing buy-in and focus are in place to expedite affordable Resource Center. These units deliver critical housing and housing production and preservation. Ensure the community development programs and services. department is connected to and a participant in regional, state and federal housing policy initiatives. DIRECTOR OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT • Within the context of a severe and ongoing housing The Director of Housing & Community Development is crisis in the City, conduct an assessment of the a key member of the City’s Executive Team and an at- department’s: organizational structure, operations, will management-level position. The Director provides systems, workflow processes, and current housing leadership city-wide on all matters relating to housing and community development programs’ effectiveness; and community development programs and activities, identify capacity gaps and opportunities and including affordable housing development, promoting and recommend a sustainable and fiscally responsible preserving homeownership, rent stabilization, and housing infrastructure that maximizes staff’s skills and abilities, assistance. Reporting to an Assistant City Administrator, enhances fiscal reliability, addresses programmatic the Director plans, directs and leads the work and overall redesigns, systems and technology improvements to management of HCD. accomplish the department’s goals and objectives. The City has issued an RFP to conduct some of this The Director must collaboratively develop and implement assessment prior to a new Director being appointed. a strategic action plan that carefully aligns the work of The Director will be involved in coordinating and the units with the department’s mission of providing managing the process in conjunction with the Assistant “Affordable Housing for All” and accomplish the goals of City Administrator who is currently serving as the the Mayor and Council’s housing strategy ensuring future Interim Director. Underpinning the assessment will be and equitable housing development that preserves and how the department carries out its work in a way that retains the city’s diverse populations. Because of the addresses all aspects of equity and inclusion. urgency to address the housing crisis, it is critical for the Director to collaborate and partner with the Mayor’s office • Create a collaborative, communicative and cohesive and other city departments including Planning and Building, work culture with strong staff accountability and Transportation, Public Works, Race and Equity, Economic performance management that is timely, and results and Workforce Development and Human Services, as well driven. In conjunction with other departments, establish as with other jurisdictions and housing stakeholders. The a housing communication model that is transparent position leads the work of staff and consultants in the and responsive to the needs