Title
a. Adopt a Resolution to allow the Department of Social Services to create and implement a temporary Safe Parking Program to assist those living in their vehicles (4/5th vote required);
b. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Orphan Productions for $150,000 to provide a safe parking program for the period of November 30, 2017 through November 29, 2018;
c. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the original contract amount ($15,000), and do not significantly change the scope of work;
d .Find the project Categorically Exempt per Section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines as an Urgent Threat to the Public Health and Safety;
e. Approve the attached Resolution with findings and evidence supporting this recommendation for consideration. Staff recommends approval; and
f. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller to increase appropriations in the adopted FY 17/18 Community Programs Budget 001-5010-SOC004-8258 in the amount $87,500 using funds from one of the options discussed in the Financing Section of this Board Report (4/5ths vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Adopt a Resolution to allow the Department of Social Services to create and implement a temporary Safe Parking Program to assist those living in their vehicles (4/5th vote required);
b. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Orphan Productions for $150,000 to provide a safe parking program for the period of November 30, 2017 through November 29, 2018;
c. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the original contract amount ($15,000), and do not significantly change the scope of work;
d .Find the project Categorically Exempt per Section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines as an Urgent Threat to the Public Health and Safety;
e. Approve the attached Resolution with findings and evidence supporting this recommendation for consideration. Staff recommends approval; and
f. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller to increase appropriations in the adopted FY 17/18 Community Programs Budget 001-5010-SOC004-8258 in the amount $87,500 using funds from one of the options discussed in the Financing Section of this Board Report (4/5ths vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In the County of Monterey, there are increasing numbers of homeless individuals living in their vehicles as a last resort form of housing. Vehicle dwelling by persons experiencing homelessness is scattered throughout the County, with some areas having greater density of occupied vehicles than others. Vehicles provide a sense of security for persons experiencing homelessness, as they help alleviate fears that are commonly associated with living on the streets or in a shelter. Throughout the County, several ordinances have been enacted that do not allow for overnight parking. Thus, homeless individuals living in their vehicles must move repeatedly, or risk citations and towing. This lack of stability further entrenches individuals into homelessness, and negatively impacts their path to self-sufficiency and housing.
In response to a referral from a member of the Board of Supervisors, as well as the issues of homeless vehicle dwellers on Lapis Road, in Monterey County, a meeting was convened to discuss emergent Safe Parking needs in the County. Several subsequent meetings were held with multiple County departments represented. These discussions resulted in a recommendation that a location for Safe Parking be identified to avoid imposing additional hardships on vehicle dwellers and that a formal solicitation for a service provider to manage and operate the Safe Parking program in multiple sites throughout Monterey County be released by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
In August 2017, DSS released Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #10639 to find a qualified vendor to provide the Safe Parking Program. DSS received one response to the RFQ and Pass the Word Ministry (PTWM) was tentatively awarded the contract through this formal solicitation process. PTWM later withdrew from contract negotiations due to liability concerns. A new vendor has been identified and a sole source justification has been approved by the County’s Contracts/Purchasing Officer.
This agreement with Orphan Productions provides a Safe Parking Program that allows for overnight parking in the lot of the District 4 Supervisor Office, in the Coastal Office Building at 2616 First Ave. Marina, CA 93933. Hours of operations of the site will be 7PM to 7AM seven days a week. The term of planned operation is November 30, 2017 to November 29, 2018. The Safe Parking Program also includes information about, and referral to, community resources to connect persons experiencing homelessness with homeless service providers.
Other locations may emerge as sites for the program to expand, if necessary, to accommodate the large need for parking sites. Any future sites will be brought back to the Board of Supervisors for approval and discussed with County Counsel and the Resource Management Agency - Planning Department for a CEQA evaluation before approval of any new sites.
Resource Management Agency - Planning Department, evaluated the Coastal Office Building parking lot site and found it is Categorically Exempt per Section 15269(c) of CEQA Guidelines, as an Urgent Threat to the Public Health and Safety.
As part of this resolution to create and implement a temporary Safe Parking Program to assist those living in their vehicles, the Board of Supervisors makes the following findings:
a) Homelessness is a serious and ongoing problem within the County of Monterey which requires immediate action by the Board of Supervisors for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
b) According to the 2017 Monterey County Homeless Census and Survey, the population experiencing homelessness within the County of Monterey has increased by 23% since 2015, with a 57% increase being experienced in the City of Salinas.
c) Lapis Road is a County road just north of the City of Marina and just west of Del Monte Boulevard and east of Highway 1 in the unincorporated area of Monterey County. Homeless individuals are living in vehicles along the side of this road without appropriate services. These individuals park a variety of vehicles, including motor homes, cars, and trailers, on the shoulder of the road and use these vehicles to sleep and live in. The uncontrolled use of the road for this purpose has resulted in serious health and safety problems with the condition and use of the road and the County right-of-way, including crime and dumping of trash and refuse, that required County intervention to control. Implementation of a temporary Safe Parking Program will give these individuals a place to park their vehicles overnight and also to receive services to help them break the cycle of homelessness.
d) The Board of Supervisors has recently directed staff to pursue short and long term solutions for homeless housing, including but not limited to, development of a Safe Parking program, as proposed in this Resolution.
e) Creation and implementation of a temporary Safe Parking Program to assist those living in their vehicles, is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines because it is necessary to mitigate an immediate threat to public peace, health, and safety and to address an immediate need for shelter for some homeless in the upcoming winter pending development of a longer-term solution.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This policy has been reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel.
Purchasing has reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
The recommended action will result in a total financial commitment of $87,500 in the current year and $62,500 in FY 2018-19. On October 10, 2017, the Board of Supervisors received the First Quarterly Budget Update from the County Administrative Budget Office that disclosed over $13 million in unfunded issues that have emerged since the adoption of the FY 2017-18 Budget. The County Administrative Budget Office proposed using transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenues in excess of the required road fund maintenance of effort to finance various community needs. The Board requested follow up reports come back to discuss the impacts to the road fund under the TOT proposal and any other possible alternative funding solutions. Options to fund the $87,500 appropriation required to implement recommended actions in FY 17/18 include:
• Option 1 - Use $87,500 from savings in the County Contributions-Other Budget 001-CAO013-1050-8029 that come from reduced financing needs for the Monterey Bay Community Power Project.
• Option 2 - Use of $87,500 from Transient Occupancy Taxes currently allocated to the Road Fund above the required maintenance of effort as proposed by the County Administrative Office during the October 10,2017 Quarterly Budget Update by reducing the operating transfers out from the General Fund (001-CAO017-1050-8038).
• Option 3 - Use of $87,500 unrecognized Cannabis Revenues.
• Option 4 - By reducing appropriations by $87,500 in Social Services Budget 001-5010-SOC005-8282 for child abuse prevention contracts. These services offer cost effective support to families in overcoming challenges and concerns that could otherwise result in foster care placement for children.
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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Homelessness is an issue that has compounding effects on those experiencing it and the average life expectancy for individuals experiencing homelessness is 25 years less than those in stable housing. This safe parking program provides a safe and sanitary short-term solution for homeless individuals who are living in their vehicles while they are paired with support services that will assist them in finding permanent housing. Services that support families in obtaining stable, permanent housing create a pathway to other systems that can ultimately lead to better health and quality of life.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Lauren Suwansupa, MA II, x3584
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director Social Services, x4430
Attachments: Orphan Productions Agreement, Orphan Productions Sole Source
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report