San Bernardino council signs on to regional housing trust JPA, citing grant deadlines

The San Bernardino City Council voted April 1 to authorize the city to join the San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority (JPA) designed to pool local jurisdictions’ resources to access regional and state housing funding.

City staff explained the trust is a financing entity intended to help jurisdictions access funding for affordable housing production, preservation and rehabilitation. Staff emphasized the trust will not have land‑use authority: "All local control remains with the city and this council," the presenter said. The housing trust must be formed and hold an initial board meeting by May 13 to remain eligible under the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) REAP 2 timeline; the program includes approximately $3.7 million in funding that would be administered by the trust.

Staff estimated the city's membership cost at roughly $31,000 to $55,000 annually — a number that depends on participation levels and population strata — and projected total administrative costs for a fully operational trust at about $475,000 per year, subject to board refinement. Staff also noted a 180‑day withdrawal notice would be required if a member jurisdiction later chose to exit the JPA.

Councilmembers asked how voting parity would work alongside population‑based contributions. Staff said each member agency receives one vote on the trust board and that the Council of Governments and an ad hoc board vetted the proposed cost strata; participation by more jurisdictions would reduce per‑jurisdiction cost allocations. Councilmember Juan Figueroa was nominated as the city's voting member and Mayor Pro Tem Canas as alternate; the motion to join passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The JPA is intended to boost smaller and mid‑sized cities’ capacity to assemble complex financing for housing projects and compete for regional grant rounds. Council members said participating early would give the city a seat at the table to shape scoring, eligibility and funding priorities.

Next steps: Staff will finalize membership paperwork, identify the city's appointed representative and monitor the trust's board formation and early funding allocations.

Council vote: Motion to authorize city participation and appoint a voting member and alternate passed unanimously.