Affordable housing in Westminster: what would a new manager mean for you?

What would the manager handle?

Affordable housing needs oversight even after a project is approved. For example, the city must check grant requirements, manage contracts and monitor housing projects for lower-income residents.

Westminster’s City Council is scheduled to consider changing the position responsible for that work on the evening of October 28, 2026. The Community Development Department’s proposal is agenda item 5.1.

The staff report says the Housing Specialist position is currently vacant. The city proposes eliminating that authorized position and replacing it with a Housing Manager.

This would replace one authorized position with another. It does not describe dismissing an employee who currently holds the job.

According to the report, the manager would oversee housing programs, budgets, contracts and compliance with grant requirements. The work also includes coordinating with developers, other agencies and consultants.

144 existing homes are different from more than 2,900 planned units

The scope of that oversight helps explain why staff wants a management-level position.

The report describes a portfolio of 144 existing homes and more than 2,900 planned lower-income housing units. The proposed manager would have an oversight role for those units.

The two groups are at different stages. The planned-unit figure does not tell readers how many homes are complete, occupied or accepting applications.

That distinction matters for families looking for a rental. The staffing proposal is not a vacancy list and does not announce a new application period.

The report does not break down the more than 2,900 units by project and stage. The figure therefore cannot establish when residents might gain access to additional homes.

Higher costs, but no additional funding requested this year

A higher level of responsibility would also change the position’s cost.

The report estimates annual salary and benefit costs at the highest pay step as follows:

• Currently budgeted specialist position: $147,184.
• Proposed manager position: $206,499.
• Difference: $59,315.

These figures are not take-home pay. They include benefits and reflect estimates at the highest pay step.

About 33% of the specialist position’s funding currently comes from CDBG, the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The remainder comes from the city’s Housing Authority funds.

According to the report, the current position does not use the General Fund, which supports many city operations.

For fiscal year 2026–2027, staff proposes using salary savings from the vacant position. The report therefore requests no additional budget appropriation for this fiscal year.

If the proposal is approved, the Housing Authority and CDBG budgets would be adjusted for the manager’s costs beginning in fiscal year 2027–2028. The report says no General Fund money would be used.

Not requesting more money immediately does not mean the new position would have no additional ongoing annual cost.

The council still has to decide

The proposal follows a reduction in housing staff.

According to the report, the division previously had a manager, an analyst and a housing specialist. After the first two employees left, the city did not refill their positions because of budget constraints.

Staff argues that the workload and complexity now require a management-level employee. That is the proposing department’s reasoning, not yet the council’s conclusion.

The immediate decision rests with the council on October 28, 2026. For residents, the next question is how the person in charge would oversee housing programs, not just how the job title changes.

Want to comment?

• Public session: 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 2026, California time.
• Location: Council Chambers, 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.
• Housing item: 5.1.
• Written comments: [eComments@westminster-ca.gov](mailto:eComments@westminster-ca.gov). The agenda requires receipt at least two hours before the meeting: by 4 p.m. that day.
• Speaking in person: complete a green speaker slip for an agenda item and give it to City Clerk staff. The city’s guidance allows three minutes per speaker.
• Livestream and records: Westminster meeting portal.
• City Clerk — participation or interpretation questions: (714) 548-⁠3237.
• Website: westminster-ca.gov.

The agenda says timely written comments will be provided to the council but will not be read aloud. Submissions may become public records; do not include private information you do not want published.