HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 2026-022 N.C.S. 02-23-2026
Resolution No. 2026-022 N.C.S. Page 1 of 2
Resolution No. 2026-022 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AUTHORIZING A
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR AB 1708 (SOLACHE), ACCESS TO HOMELESS HOUSING,
ASSISTANCE, AND PREVENTION GRANT TO ALL CITIES
WHEREAS, since 2019, the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Grant Program (HHAP) has
provided direct and flexible state-funded grants to cities with populations over 300,000, all 58 counties, and
the 44 Continuums of Care (CoCs) across California; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) oversees the
HHAP program. Funding is awarded to eligible jurisdictions through an annual application process and
is allocated based on point-in-time counts; and
WHEREAS, currently, only 14 of the state’s 483 cities can access HHAP funding directly; and
WHEREAS, a 2024 League of California Cities survey of 205 cities across the state found that 60% of
cities have been unable to access HHAP funding as subrecipients and 87% of cities have invested their own
general fund revenues to address homelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows:
1. Finds that the Recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Finds that the proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), in that approving this action does not
meet CEQA's definition of a “project,” because the action does not have the potential for resulting either a
direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment.
3. Authorizes the City Manager to submit a Letter of Support (Exhibit A) to the California Legislature and the
League of California Cities in support of AB 1708 (Solache).
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 23rd day of
February 2026, by the following vote:
Approved as to
form:
__________________________
City Attorney
AYES: Mayor McDonnell, Vice Mayor DeCarli, Council Members Barnacle, Cader
Thompson, Nau, Quint, Shribbs
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:
None
ATTEST: ______________________________________________
City Clerk
______________________________________________
Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 8518CA7D-FFC9-4EE8-AF46-3F645F3FBE7E
Resolution No. 2026-022 N.C.S. Page 2 of 2
Attachments: Exhibit A – Letter of Support for AB 1708 (Solache)
Docusign Envelope ID: 8518CA7D-FFC9-4EE8-AF46-3F645F3FBE7E
Exhibit A
February 23, 2026
The Honorable José Luis Solache
California State Assembly
1020 N St. Rm. 5110
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 1708 (Solache) HHAP Pathways for Cities Act.
Notice of SUPPORT (As Introduced 2/4/2026)
Dear Assembly Member Solache,
The City of Petaluma is pleased to support AB 1708 (Solache), which would create a new pathway
for cities with populations under 300,000 to access state homelessness funding.
Since 2019, the state’s flagship homelessness grant program, the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and
Prevention (HHAP) Grant program, has provided direct funding to cities with populations over
300,000, all 58 counties, and the 44 Continuums of Care (CoC) across California.
This structure has left most cities without a consistent pathway to access HHAP funding, despite
investing significant General Fund resources to prevent and reduce homelessness in their
communities. AB 1708 would address this by creating a new opportunity for the 469 California cities
with populations under 300,000 to apply for HHAP funding through their CoC.
Specifically, AB 1708 would require CoCs, before allocating funding to other subrecipients in their
region, to accept applications for 30 days only from cities with populations under 300,000. This
measure would strike a reasonable balance between access an d accountability, requiring interested
cities to commit to regionally coordinated action plans and adhere to state housing and
encampment policies.
Docusign Envelope ID: 8518CA7D-FFC9-4EE8-AF46-3F645F3FBE7E
AB 1708 would also require CoCs to prioritize applications from cities that have existing partnerships
with non-profits, other cities, or have already leveraged state and local funding for existing projects
in their communities. This would ensure that limited state resources are deployed efficiently and
deliver measurable results in reducing homelessness.
As the Governor and the Legislature consider future investments in the HHAP program, it is
important to ensure the program is structured to maximize its reach and impact. Providing all cities
with a pathway to participate in HHAP would strengthen regional collaboration and ensure state
resources are deployed where they can most effectively serve unhoused Californians.
Local governments are best positioned to identify the programs and partnerships that will have the
greatest impact in our communities. AB 1708 recognizes this, creating a clearly defined opportunity
for all cities to compete for state resources, so that communities of all sizes can have a meaningful
role in the state’s homelessness response efforts.
For these reasons, the City of Petaluma is pleased to support AB 1708 (Solache).
Sincerely,
Peggy Flynn
City Manager
City of Petaluma
cc. Hon. Senator Mike McGuire
Hon. Assemblymember Damon Connolly
League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org
Docusign Envelope ID: 8518CA7D-FFC9-4EE8-AF46-3F645F3FBE7E