TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
George Gabriel, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Update on the City’s Homelessness Initiatives Including:
A) A Cost Estimate for Contracting with the City of Redondo Beach for Homeless Court and Prosecution Services;
B) Possible Engagement with Los Angeles County to Develop a Regional County-Run Homeless Court;
C) Grant Applications with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) for Measure H Grant Funding for Homeless Services;
D) Amendment No. 2 to an Agreement with Los Angeles County for an Additional $14,519 of Grant Funds for Homeless Services Provided by Measure H; and
E) Appropriate the Amount of $14,519 (City Manager Moe).
a) DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
b) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 21-0087 APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 2
c) APPROPRIATE FUNDS
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
(1) discuss and provide direction regarding prosecution services,
(2) adopt Amendment No. 2 with the County of Los Angeles for additional grant funds, and
(3) appropriate $14,519 for homeless services from anticipated grant funds.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no net fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. The $330,666 Measure H grant was funded by the County of Los Angeles’s Homelessness Initiative in October 2019. The County is proposing an additional $14,519 in grant funding as a result of the grant period being extended from March 2021 to December 2021. In order to spend those grant extension funds an appropriation of those moneys is necessary. Should City Council direct staff on prosecution services, fiscal impacts will be identified upon contract consideration.
BACKGROUND:
At the July 20, 2021, meeting, City Council received an analysis of prosecution and homeless court services (See Attachment). Following discussion, City Council directed staff to:
1. Apply for Measure H grant funds by August 10, 2021, to seek funds for homeless court services in addition to funds dedicated toward outreach provided by Harbor Interfaith Services;
2. Report back to the City Council once the City of Redondo Beach provides a cost estimate for prosecution and homeless court services; and
3. Engage with Los Angeles County on the possibility of developing a County-run homeless court program.
The report below summarizes staff’s efforts following City Council direction.
DISCUSSION:
Cost Estimate for Redondo Beach Prosecution and Homeless Court Services
The Los Angeles County District Attorney (DA) currently provides prosecutorial services for the City of Manhattan Beach for violations of state law. Recently, per City Council direction, staff has explored whether the City can transfer prosecution of state law misdemeanors to the Redondo Beach City Prosecutor to facilitate Manhattan Beach’s participation in Redondo’s homeless court services. The City of Redondo Beach is one of ten cities in Los Angeles County that prosecutes state misdemeanors occurring within their jurisdiction. Other cities in the County utilize the DA’s office for such services.
Should the City of Manhattan Beach seek an alternative source to prosecute state law misdemeanors committed within city limits, the City must first receive consent from the Los Angeles County District Attorney. The prosecution of state law misdemeanors has significance on this topic because Redondo Beach has provided information that the individuals who participated in Redondo’s homeless court diversion program were charged with state misdemeanor crimes.
Consistent with City Council direction, staff received a cost estimate for services prior to requesting consent from the Los Angeles County District Attorney. The City of Redondo Beach estimates annual costs amounting to $300,000 for prosecuting crimes occurring in City of Manhattan Beach and providing homeless court services. At the time the agenda packet was printed (September 15, 2021), a proposal from the City of Redondo Beach City Attorney was not available. However, the City of Redondo Beach City Attorney expects to provide a proposal prior to the Council meeting on September 21. Upon receipt of the proposal staff will include it as a supplemental document and distribute it to the City Council.
Engagement with Los Angeles County to Develop a Regional County-Run Homeless Court
Following City Council direction, staff scheduled a meeting on August 5, 2021, with representatives from the City of Redondo Beach, City of Hermosa Beach, City of El Segundo, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Office and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. At the meeting, the DA’s Office indicated verbal support for a homeless court that would be provided in coordination with all cities. The District Attorney’s Office is considering providing a letter to strengthen their support for the initiative.
Grant Applications with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG)
Since November 1, 2019, the City has utilized Measure H grant funding to provide homeless coordination, case management (i.e. street outreach) and training services for our regional homeless population in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. This first round of Measure H grant funding will end on December 31, 2021.
To continue these services in the future, the City of Manhattan Beach must apply for Measure H grant funding with the South Bay Cities Council of Government (SBCCOG) who has been tasked with distributing grant funding totaling $1,905,000. The term of the new funding will be for 18-months: January 2022 through June 2023. On behalf of the cities of Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and El Segundo, the City of Manhattan Beach applied for two projects on August 10, 2021. The two projects and respective funding requests are as follows:
1. South Bay Outreach and Housing Services - $404,741 (See Attachment)
2. South Bay Housing Initiative Court - $474,429 (See Attachment)
While the initial call for projects indicated the grant award would be announced in late September, the SBCCOG has recently indicated that timeline has been delayed by a month to allow incoming staff to thoroughly evaluate proposals and interview each grant applicant. The SBCCOG now anticipates grant awards to be announced in late October/early November when all proposals from the 9 cities submitting proposals totaling $3.6 million will be discussed.
Grant Funds Appropriation
In October 2019, the South Bay Beach Cities group (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach) were jointly awarded $330,666 in grant funds for homeless services until March 2021. However, in recognition of homeless service impacts throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the County of Los Angeles extended the duration of grant funding to last until December 2021. Additionally, the City submitted a request for additional “bridge funding” to ensure homeless services are not impacted by a lack of funding. The South Bay Beach Cities were selected to receive the requested bridge funding and awarded an additional $14,519 in grant funding.
As of June 2021, the City has utilized $230,328 of the total grant funding. The City expects the remaining funds as well as the additional $14,519, to last until December 2021. So that additional funds can be utilized, staff recommends that the City Council approve Amendment No. 2 and appropriate an additional $14,519 in grant funding, totaling $345,185 for the entire project.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction regarding prosecution services, approve Amendment No. 2 and appropriate funds for homeless services.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has determined that no legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 21-0087
2. Amendment No. 2 - Los Angeles County
3. Staff Report - July 20, 2021
4. SBCCOG Grant Application - South Bay Outreach and Housing Services
5. SBCCOG Grant Application - South Bay Housing Court