HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-04; City Council; Resolution 2021-101RESOLUTION NO. 2021-101
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE WORK PLAN AND AUTHORIZING THE USE OF
GENERAL FUND RESERVES AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO ACHIEVE THE
CITY COUNCIL GOAL OF "REDUCING THE HOMELESS UNSHELTERED
POPULATION, AMONG THOSE WHO WANT HELP, BY 50 PERCENT WITHIN
FIVE YEARS"
WHEREAS, homelessness is a local, state, and national problem. Seventeen out of every 10,000
people or 567,715 total experienced homelessness in the United States in 2019 according to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, California has the highest homeless population in the country with 151,278 people,
and the counties of Los Angeles (58,936), Santa Clara (9,706), and San Diego (8,102) all rank in the top
five across the United States; and
WHEREAS, recent estimates of the number of people experiencing homelessness in the City of
Carlsbad ranges between 147 and 507 'persons depending on data source; and
WHEREAS, these data only reflect the minimum scope of the problem and that, while the
magnitude of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those at-risk or newly homeless are not fully
understood, the community impacts of homelessness in Carlsbad are acutely felt; and
WHEREAS, the City Council engaged in goal-setting workshops on Feb. 4, Feb. 11, and March 11,
2021 to establish strategic goals and develop short-term and long-term objectives in fulfillment of
those goals; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the City Council established a Fiscal Year 2021-22 priority goal
to "Reduce the homeless unsheltered population, among those who want help, by 50% within five
years, with quarterly reports until we decrease the unsheltered homeless population or five years,"
and directed staff to develop a work plan to achieve a set of specific objectives over the next 12 to 18
months toward achieving this goal; and
WHEREAS, parallel to the goal-setting process the City Council received a report on March 23,
2021, to consider possible programs to address homelessness in Carlsbad; and
WHEREAS, after receiving the March 23, 2021 staff report and considering the various options
presented, the City Council approved the following program options with amendments:
0 Option 1 — Hire an employment and benefits specialist (program manager);
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 10 of 18
9 Option 2 — Hire one police sergeant and two police officers to be primarily deployed
on bike and foot patrol as homeless outreach officers providing additional four-day-a-
week coverage, and contract with a service provider for two additional social workers;
•Option 3 — Enhance clinical services at La Posada Emergency Shelter by entering into a
contract for two licensed clinicians;
•Option 4 — (A) Initiate a pilot hotel/motel voucher program for one year; (B) amend the
city's contract with the San Diego Humane Society to provide temporary shelter for
pets if necessary; (C) hire a program manager to administer the hotel/motel voucher
program and other homelessness-related programs and responsibilities;
•Option 5 — Increase contract amount for Community Resource Center services;
a Option 6 — Formation of a standing committee on homelessness; and
WHEREAS, these approved program options have been incorporated into a work plan as
Objectives 1-6 as described in Attachment A; and
WHEREAS, to successfully implement the City Council's goal of increasing the supply of available
affordable housing, while also developing and implementing the programs and services needed to
reduce homelessness levels by 50% within five years, the attached work plan includes Objective 7 to
create a new Housing and Homeless Services Department; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to begin immediate implementation of approved program
options to employ additional homeless outreach officers (Objective 2), initiate the hotel/motel voucher
pilot program (Objective 4) and hire a new director to start up a new Housing & Homeless Services
Department (Objective 7); and
WHEREAS, initiating work to reduce the homeless unsheltered population by 50% will achieve
savings by enabling the city to avoid future costs associated with calls for Police and Fire Department
services, emergency transports, the provision of homeless services, property cleaning and maintenance
activities, as well as the cost of potential fire risk associated with hornelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.The above recitations are true and correct.
2.The City Council approves the work plan for Objectives 1 through 7 as reflected in
Attachment A and C;
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 11 of 18
3.The City Council finds that the one-time opportunity cost of $5,135,700 associated with
work described in the work plan will achieve savings by enabling the city to avoid future
costs associated with calls for Police and Fire Department services, emergency
transports, the provision of homeless services, property cleaning and maintenance
activities, as well as the cost of potential fire risk associated with homelessness.
4.The Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services, is authorized to appropriate
$435,700 of the unassigned General Fund reserve balance for one-time Fiscal Year
2020-2021 General Fund expenditures.
5.The Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services is authorized to assign $3,740,000 of
the unassigned General Fund reserve balance at fiscal year-end 2020-2021 to pay for
one-time opportunity costs as described in the work plan (Attachment A).
6.The City Manager is authorized to include in the city's FY 2021-2022 Preliminary
Operating Budget the $3,740,000 of one-time opportunity costs as well as the additional
budget necessary to carry out all the City Council approved program options described
in Work Plan Objectives 1-7 as reflected in Attachment B.
7, The City Manager is authorized to increase the city workforce by three new full-time
personnel, including a Police Sergeant and two Homeless Outreach Officers.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 4th day of May, 2021, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Acosta, Bhat-Patel, Schumacher.
NAYS: Hall.
ABSENT: None.
MATT HALL, Mayor
ICV1r.
BARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk
(SEAL)
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 12 of 18
Attachment A
Goal Reduce the homeless unsheltered population, among those who
want help, by SO% within five years, with quarterly reports until
we decrease the unsheltered homeless population or five years'.
Lead Community Development/ Police Department
Supporting City Attorney's Office Parks & Recreation
Communications Public Works
Finance City Clerk's Office
Human Resources City Manager's Office
Resource needs
Estimated
completion
•4 new positions (Community Services Branch)
•3 new positions (Police Department)
•Funding: See Attachment B to Exhibit 2: "Summary of Homeless
Workplan Objective Costs"
Refer to individual objectives
1. Employments and benefits specialist
Contract for services to help connect people to disability and social security benefits,
general relief, CalWORKS, CalFresh, Veterans benefits, stimulus checks, employment
programs, and other aid programs (March 23, 2021 City Council direction).
Tasks
•Develop scope of work for consultant services
o Two-year contract, no extensions
Operational in three to nine months
2. Additional homeless outreach officers and social workers
Expand the existing Homeless Outreach Team by adding one police sergeant and two
police officers, and pursue options for up to two additional social workers (March 23,
2021 City Council direction).
Tasks
•Homeless Outreach Team
o Promote an additional sergeant to the team
o Recruit for two new homeless outreach officers
o Develop roles, responsibility and deployment model for enhanced HOT
o Develop and provide necessary training
o Identify metrics for data collection
Operational within 30 days of funding authorization
1 As part of the established goal, the City Council adopted a series of related "goal points" that support and
provide additional information about the goal's intent. A Goal Point Priorities Matrix (Attachment C to
Exhibit 2) has been created that shows how the City Council goal points are being addressed through the
objectives of this workplan.
FY 2021-22 City Council Goals
Work Plan May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 13 of 18
•Social Workers
o Partner with the San Diego County for the duration of its North County
Homeless Pilot program2
Operational within three to six months
3. Enhancing clinical services at La Posada Emergency Shelter
Enter into an agreement with Catholic Charities to hire two licensed clinicians, and a third-
party consultant to provide its staff with training in order for the facility to operate as a
"low-barrier" shelter (March 23, 2021 City Council direction).
Tasks
•Develop scope of work for expanded consultant services
o Two licensed clinicians and additional training for staff
o Three-year contract, no extensions
Operational in three to nine months
4. Operate a Carlsbad hotel/motel voucher pilot program
Operate a 12-month pilot program in the City of Carlsbad that provides low-barrier
shelter for women, families, individuals living in encampments, high utilizers, individuals
with an underlining medical condition, and age 65+. Additionally, a 12-month case
management contract is required to help individuals find permanent housing resources
(March 23, 2021 City Council direction).
Tasks
•Hotel/motel voucher program
o Identify and partner with hotel/motel vendors
o Develop and implement service provider contract
o Develop and implement a supplemental case management contract
o Coordinate with the county on FEMA reimbursements
o Develop program rules, policies, and expectations
o Prepare public informational materials
Operational by June 2021. If this date cannot be met, additional City Council
direction will be requested.
Program manager
o Create a new position
o Develop budget and purchase resources
o Advertise, recruit, hire for the position
o Design program, forms, and eligibility criteria
o Develop a training program for the new position
Operational in three to nine months
•Animal contract
o Review animal shelter options
o Develop a contract for animal services
2 County Board of Supervisors' April 6, 2021 Meeting Agenda, Item #7: Pilot Program to Address
Homelessness in North County San Diego (Districts: 3 & 5)
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 14 of 18
o Establish program criteria, rules, and forms
Operational in three to six months
5. Community Resource Center services
Contract with Community Resource Center to implement a rapid rehousing program for
households currently experiencing homelessness in the City of Carlsbad (March 23, 2021
City Council direction).
Tasks
•Contract with the Community Resource Center
o Develop scope of work for services
o Two-year contract with three, one-year extensions
•Revise policies and procedures based on lessons learned from year one
Operational in three to six months
6. Homeless Action Subcommittee
Provide staff support to a homeless action subcommittee comprised of two City
Councilmembers that will focus on local and regional issues related to homelessness
(March 23, 2021 City Council direction).
Tasks
•Schedule first meeting —target May 2021
•Staff support
Operational in one to two months
7. Create a new Housing & Homeless Services Department
The League of California Cities ranks affordable housing and homelessness as the top
issues facing all local governments across the State of California. To successfully
implement the City Council's goal of increasing the supply of available affordable
housing, while also developing and implementing the programs and services needed to
reduce homeless levels by 50% within five years, a new department within the
Community Services Branch with the necessary technical expertise and leadership is
needed, for the following reasons:
•Leadership and staffing singularly focused on housing and homeless services
•Ensures appropriate oversight and a reasonable span of control to achieve the
mission
•Confirms focused attention on a critical need
•Strengthens collaboration and coordination with outside agencies
•Pairs complementary functions (housing and homeless) to improve internal
collaboration, communications and resource management
•Ensures that the 5-year City Council Homeless Goal can be achieved
•Centralizes the expertise and programing needed to advance individuals and
families through the full spectrum — from homelessness to fully housed and self-
sufficiency
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 15 of 18
Tasks
•Create new positions (director, housing services manager and management
analyst)
.Develop budget and purchase resources
•Advertise, recruit, hire the new positions
Operational in approximately six months
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 16 of 18
Summary of Homeless Workplan Objective Costs Attachment B
GOAL OBJECTIVE
Proposed Staffing/Program
FY
2020-21
FY
2021-22
FY
2022-23
FY
2023-24
FY
2024-25
FY
2025-26 TOTAL
1.Employments & Benefits Specialist
Contract Services
$120,000 $120,000 $0 $0 $0 $240,000
Operational expenses
$20,0006 $20,0006 $0 $0 $0 $40,0006
2.Additional Homeless Outreach Team
Officers & Social Workers
Homeless Outreach Team staffing $330,1172,3 $614,9842 $645,7332 $678,0202 $711,9211,2 $747,5172 $3,728,2922,3
Social workers (Co. of SD Pilot Program)
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
3.Enhancing Clinical Services at La Posada
Emergency Shelter
Agreement with Catholic Charities
$180,000 $180,000 $180,000 $0 $0 $540,000
4.Operate a Carlsbad Hotel/Motel Voucher
Pilot Program
Hotel/Motel Voucher Program4 $260,0006 $2,940,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $3,200,000
Program Manager
$123,795' $124,735' $130,971' $137,520' $144,396" $661,417"
Animal services contract
TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
5.Community Resource Center Services
Agreement with CRC
$350,000 $350,000 $0 $0 $0 $700,000
6.Homeless Action Subcommittee
Program Costs
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
7.Create a new Housing and Homeless
Services Department
Director $20,593 $247,1131 $259,469' $272,442" $286,064' $300,368" $1,386,049'
Housing Services Manager.
$182,2261 $186,0871 $195,392" $205,161' $215,419" $984,2851
Management Analyst
$123,795" $124,735" $130,971' $137,5201 $144,396" $661,4171
TOTAL $610,710 $4,901,913 $2,010,759 $1,587,796 $1,478,186 $1,552,096 $12,141,460
'Mid-range personnel costs (salary, benefits) plus one-time equipment purchases in FY2021-22 (Director position reflects upper-range). Personnel cost increased 5% per year.
2 Personnel costs for one sergeant and two officers (salary, benefits, overtime, vehicle replacement). Personnel costs increased 5% per year.
3 Reflects two months personnel costs plus one-time equipment purchases.
4 Voucher related expenses potentially 100% reimbursable through FEMA/Project RoonnKey until September 30, 2021, which would proportionally reduce city costs.
5 One month estimated program cost. Any unexpended amount to carry forward to FY 2021-22.
6 Covers expenses helping individuals secure employment such as bus passes, clothing vouchers, background checks, printing.
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 17 of 18
GOAL POINT MATRIX Attachment C
How Each Workplan Objective Addresses the City Council's Goal Point Priorities
City Council Goal:
Reduce the homeless unsheltered population, among those who want help, by 50% within five years, with quarterly reports until we decrease the
unsheltered homeless population or five years.
City Council Work Plan Objectives
Goal Point Priorities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fully fund, staff and implement the city's Homeless Response Plan • • • • • • •
Create specific and measurable targets and timelines for reducing homelessness (within first year or two) • • • • • • •
Preventing and ending homelessness among youth and veterans • • • • • • •
Increase social services/social workers • • • • • • •
Partner with county • •
•
• •
Work with entities with our city (region) to increase transitions to permanent supportive housing • •
• • • •
Advocate for legislative changes needed to effectively address homelessness
• •
Prevent homelessness by supporting those at risk of becoming homeless/losing their housing • •
• •
Work through a regional group to develop regional action plan that includes integrated services within/among cities
• •
Develop an encampment policy
•
• •
Focus on trauma informed care • • • • • • •
Focus on aggressive individuals to address their needs (substance abuse, mental health, other) • • • • • • •
Explore expansion of La Posada
•
• •
Complete financial analysis to identify opportunities for quickest results
• •
No visible encampments • • • • • • •
Identify city and regional goals
•
• •
Emphasize affordable housing
• •
1. Employments & Benefits Specialist; 2. Additional Homeless Outreach Team Officers & Social Workers; 3. Enhancing Clinical Services at La Posada Emergency Shelter;
4. Operate a Carlsbad Hotel/Motel Voucher Pilot Program; 5. Community Resource Center Services; 6. Homeless Action Subcommittee; 7. Housing and Homeless
Services Department
May 4, 2021 Item #10 Page 18 of 18