Title
Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2021.23 seeking to create a new management position of Monterey County Director of Homeless Strategies and Solutions
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2021.23 and:
1) Direct that staff proceed with completion of referral based on description in this report; or,
2) Direct that staff:
i. Proceed with completion of referral based on modifications by the Board; or,
ii. Return to Board with a more comprehensive analysis of referral and anticipated effort for completion; or,
iii. Rescind referral.
b. Provide further direction, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Referral Summary & Background: Referral 2021.23 was submitted by Supervisor Alejo on 10/29/2021 and assigned by the CAO on 11/2/2021. The referral seeks to create a new management position of Director of Homeless Strategies and Solutions to provide a full time position whose function would be to develop, coordinate and implement strategies to address homelessness in Monterey County. This would include internal as well as external coordination.
Proposed Project Description: Currently the County of Monterey has components within the organization which address various aspects of homelessness, but the County lacks a full time, director level position whose sole purpose is to create, coordinate and implement County homeless response strategies and programs across departmental lines and with external entities such as non- profit homeless service providers, the Continuum of Care and the cities.
Staff proposes to do the following relative to completing this referral:
1. Work with the Human Resources Department to develop a class specification, salary range and preliminary job duties in order to begin recruitment as soon as possible
2. Retain a consulting firm to provide: 1) an analysis of the best organizational placement for this new position; 2) recommendations on coordinating the County’s multi-department response to homelessness; 3) recommendations on coordinating county efforts with those of external stakeholders, such as the Monterey County Continuum of care, local cities, school districts, businesses, and homeless service providers; and 4) analyze potential funding sources for this position, recognizing that there could be funding from the State of California which could help temporarily offset some of the position cost.
Estimated Project Cost: Other than staff costs, the major cost would be the retention of an outside consultant. Staff is in discussion regarding scope and cost. We propose to report back to the Board of Supervisors at a meeting in January 2022.
Staffing Level Estimate: Staff time will involve the Assistant CAO-IGLA, the Director of Human Resources and potentially time from the Directors of HCD, Health and Social Services.
Departmental Challenges: Properly identifying and addressing internal coordinating and reporting responsibilities of the proposed new position.
Proposed Response Date: Staff proposes a response back to the Board in January 2022.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Addressing homelessness is critical priority for the Board of Supervisors. Creation of this new position would be a very important step to improve planning and implementation of the County’s response to homelessness.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
__XAdministration
_X_Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__XPublic Safety
Prepared by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Asst CAO-IGLA
Attachments:
Board Referral No. # 2021.23