Brea : Council Upgrades Housing Position

The City Council has decided to upgrade the position of housing development manager to redevelopment services manager after being unable to fill the position for more than a year.

City officials said they hope that the increase in salary, the upgrade to management classification and a change in title would result in more qualified and experienced applicants for the job.

In a report to the council last week, City Manager Frank Benest said recruitment conducted in August, 1991, and May of this year “did not produce a suitable candidate.”

The redevelopment services manager will be responsible for developing and recommending to the council housing development strategies to produce privately owned, affordable housing in the city.

According to Benest, the new position, including salary and benefits, will cost the city $86,000 a year. However, he said, it will be cost-effective in the long term because it will lessen the need to hire consultants for affordable housing-related projects.

The city is using three consultants in housing projects at a cost of more than $100,000, Benest said. The city is paying the Development Group $37,000 to coordinate a home-buyer assistance program and David Rosen & Associates $67,000 for two affordable housing projects.

Although costs are not yet estimated, Benest said the agency’s financial consultant, Keyser Marston, is being used more to study proposed housing development programs and projects.