TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
George Gabriel, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Update on the City’s Homelessness Plan and Appointment of Members to Homelessness Task Force (City Manager Moe).
a) RECEIVE AND FILE
b) APPOINT
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file an update on the City’s Homelessness Plan and appoint members to the homelessness task force.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended actions.
BACKGROUND:
In 2017, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors allocated $2,000,000 in one-time funding to develop comprehensive plans to prevent and combat homelessness. These funds were used to support coordination by the Councils of Governments and planning efforts for cities in the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (an integrated system that guides and tracks homeless individuals and families through a variety of services designed to prevent and end homelessness). In October 2017, 47 cities were awarded planning grants. The response from cities was so great that the Board of Supervisors approved an additional $575,000 to supplement the original funding.
Manhattan Beach was one of the cities to apply for and receive this funding. Funds were based on the 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). In 2017, Manhattan Beach was recorded as having six “unsheltered” persons or individuals living in vehicles, makeshift shelters, tents or the street, which qualified the City to receive $30,000 in funding. Following the award of funding, Manhattan Beach was recorded as having 41 “unsheltered” persons or individuals living in vehicles, makeshift shelters, tents or the street.
On August 21, 2018, the City Council adopt the City’s “Five-Year Plan to Address Homelessness in Our Community.” The plan contains 10 goals aligned with Manhattan Beach’s and Los Angeles County’s objectives to address homelessness. Each goal contains supplemental information and includes: 1) Supported actions to achieve those goals; 2) Associated policy changes and requirements to move forward; 3) How progress will be measured; 4) Who is responsible for each goal and its progress; 5) What City resources will be leveraged; and 6) Timeline to complete each goal.
Following approval of the plan, at the September 4, 2018, meeting, City Council adopted an Ordinance prohibiting the camping and storage of personal property in public areas and private property.
DISCUSSION:
Following the most recent actions by the City Council, staff has taken a variety of steps to address concerns associated with homelessness in the community. To accomplish these steps, the City Manager designated a Homelessness Liaison from the existing Senior Management Analyst position. Recently, the Chief of Police, City Attorney, Police Captain, City Manager and the Homelessness Liaison discussed strategies to address homelessness in the community. Below are a variety of efforts that are being coordinated by the Homelessness Liaison under the direction of the City Manager.
Internal and External Communications
Police, City Attorney, Parks and Recreation and City Manager’s Office meet to discuss observations and address complaints received. When possible, the Homelessness Liaison follows up on these complaints to ensure actions are being taken to address the concern and communicates with the appropriate parties.
In an attempt to offer information to the public on homelessness, a webpage was created on the City’s website. The webpage has a variety of information on the homelessness plan, the anti-camping ordinance, the homelessness count, the mental health evaluation team and the Homelessness Liaison’s contact information. The webpage can be found in a prominent location on the City’s homepage; the public can visit it by going to www.citymb.info/homeless <http://www.citymb.info/homeless> or www.citymb.info/homelessness <http://www.citymb.info/homelessness>.
City Measures
The Police Department conducts systematic patrols of the Civic Center Plaza during the overnight hours to identify any people that may be violating the new ordinance. The City Attorney’s Office is developing a step-by-step protocol for Police personnel. Additionally, staff intends to place signage at the Civic Center and Metlox regarding the prohibition on camping and storage of personal items.
To track data and create metrics of success, staff has begun to create a contact log for documentation or measurement of homelessness contacts. Where possible, staff is looking at the number of contacts made (patrol initiative vs. calls for service), services/outreach offered, enforcement and mental health oriented encounters.
Creation of Homelessness Task Force
Consistent with City Council direction at the August 21, 2018, meeting, staff requests that the City Council appoint members to a task force, consisting of five members, with each City Councilmember appointing one member. The scope of the task force will develop over time but the most immediate tasks of the Task Force will be: 1) assisting City staff with developing a proposal to submit to the County to obtain Measure H funds and 2) community outreach and education on homelessness. Because those proposals are due November 7, 2018, appointment of the Task Force is critical to meeting that timeline. The Task Force will need to meet immediately following Council appointment in order for us to create the proposal and review with the City Council at the November 6, 2018, meeting. This proposal will be discussed further in the report.
Exploration of Funding Opportunities
The County of Los Angeles has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Measure H grant funding. The funding opportunity provides up to $9 million in County Measure H funds and $1 million in private support through the Home for Good Funders Collaborative. These funds will help implement local projects that enhance County service systems for those currently experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in the City of Manhattan Beach. All indications are that the County is looking for multi-jurisdictional (i.e. regional) submissions. For example, individual cities are capped at $300,000 grants, whereas joint submissions from multiple jurisdictions have no such cap. Staff has been meeting internally and with other cities to develop potential proposals of interest. As stated earlier, the deadline for submission is November 7, 2018.
In addition to funding offered by the County, the State of California is allocating one-time funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). LAHSA will be the administrative agency for the program and expects an allocation of approximately $80 million in this funding program titled “Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP).” Staff is currently evaluating potential uses of the $3 million set aside for cities as well, but LAHSA has stated that a “Shelter Crisis Declaration” is required to be passed by resolution from a City Council in order for HEAP funding to be expended on certain uses within a respective City. While declaring such an emergency does not commit the City to developing shelters, the funding uses may be restricted and staff may work with the task force to determine if this is funding the City should pursue by the November 15, 2018 deadline (to submit a resolution).
Conclusion
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file the update on the City’s Homelessness Plan efforts and appoint members to the homeless task force.
LEGAL REVIEW
In light of the 9th Circuit ruling, Martin v. City of Boise, the City has taken measures so that the Ordinance will be enforced in a manner that is entirely consistent with the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in the Martin case and in full compliance with the U.S. and California Constitutions, while addressing homelessness in a deliberate and humane manner.
Attachment:
2018 Cities Homelessness Plan Implementation Request for Proposals