Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President David J. Canepa, District 5
Subject: Appointment and Reappointment to the Housing and Community Development Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
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Confirm the following two (2) representatives to the Housing and Community Development Committee:
A) Appointment of Rachel Horst, representing City of San Mateo in the County HOME Consortium, for an initial partial term ending December 31, 2027; and
B) Reappointment of Nell Selander, representing City of South San Francisco in the County HOME Consortium, for a third full 4-year term effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.
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BACKGROUND:
The Housing and Community Development Committee (HCDC) makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors related to the expenditure of all housing and community development funds. The HCDC also reviews and provides a forum for public comment on affordable housing and community development needs and priorities related to the development of the Consolidated Plan and related Annual Action Plans.
One member appointed by each entitlement city in the County HOME Consortium (currently Cities of San Mateo and South San Francisco), is confirmed by the Board of Supervisors by board action, upon approval of this memorandum.
DISCUSSION:
The City of San Mateo has nominated Rachel Horst to serve as their County HOME Consortium representative, a seat carrying an existing term ending December 31, 2027, vacated mid-term by Eloiza Murillo-Garcia.
On February 12, 2025, the City Council of South San Francisco approved by their Resolution Enactment Number RES 19-2025 for Nell Selander to serve a third full term on the HCDC as its County HOME Consortium representative, upon confirmation of this reappointment by the Board of Supervisors. Nell has served on the HCDC since 2016.
Rachel Horst is the City of San Mateo’s Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager. Rachel held prior roles as Housing Management Analyst in City of Redwood City and Housing and Economic Development Manager in City of East Palo Alto.
Beyond local government, Rachel brings several years of experience in policy analysis and the nonprofit sector to her work in housing. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from UCLA. Based on her past experience and current role with the City of San Mateo, Rachel is an excellent candidate to represent the City of San Mateo as County’s HOME Consortium representative on the San Mateo County Housing and Community Development Committee.
Nell Selander serves as the Director of the Economic & Community Development Department with the City of South San Francisco. In this role, she oversees the City’s Building, Planning, Housing, and Economic Development functions. Beyond simply entitling and permitting projects, funding and monitoring affordable housing, and supporting the business community, the Department is also charged with winding down the former South San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, administering the City’s Community Development Block Grant, and managing the North San Mateo County Economic Advancement Center.
Nell previously held the Deputy Director position in the same Department at the City of South San Francisco, served as Economic Development Coordinator and then Economic Development & Housing Manager with the City of San Carlos, and prior to that worked on various, large capital projects for the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation in Columbus, Ohio.
Nell received her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Stanford University and a Master of Urban Planning degree from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.