Board splits on hiring PlaceWorks for Lake County housing element; staff warned RFP could delay state deadline

County Community Development staff asked the Board to approve a not‑to‑exceed contract with PlaceWorks to prepare Lake County's 7th‑cycle housing element, arguing PlaceWorks' prior work on the Housing Action and Implementation Plan (HAPE) and an existing sites inventory would save time.

“PlaceWorks is the most applicable consultant option based on work they’ve already done on the HAPE and the site analysis,” Deputy Administrator Shannon Walker Smith said, noting a tight timeline: the housing element is due Aug. 15, 2027 and the state recommends 15 months of work.

Multiple supervisors and public commenters pushed back. “I disagree with the reasoning for waiving bidding,” Supervisor Sabatier said, urging an RFP so the county can compare costs and community‑outreach proposals. Public commenters and advisory‑committee members recommended stronger outreach, contract requirements to incorporate public input and accommodations for the county’s digital divide.

Staff warned that issuing a full RFP with a meaningful proposal window (staff and the CAO advised a minimum of 30 days and possibly 45 days to evaluate proposals) would likely compromise the department’s ability to meet the HCD deadline. County administrative staff said the alternative would be to ask HCD for a waiver or extension if the county chose to run a competitive procurement.

After extended discussion the Board did not authorize the PlaceWorks contract as presented. Instead, members gave staff direction to pursue a competitive procurement process (RFP/RFQ), to explore requesting a deadline extension from HCD if needed, and to return with options; no contract award was finalized on Sept. 22.

The Board emphasized the need for strong public engagement in the housing‑element process and requested staff include explicit community‑outreach deliverables in any future contract.