REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Al Zelinka, City Manager
VIA: Travis K. Hopkins, Assistant City Manager
PREPARED BY: Jason Austin, Deputy Director of Homeless and Behavioral Health Services
Subject:
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Consider for approval the City’s responses to Grand Jury Report “How Is Orange County Addressing Homelessness?”
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Statement of Issue:
In June 2022, the Orange County Grand Jury (OCGJ) released its 2021-22 report, How Is Orange County Addressing Homelessness, which contains an assessment of the effectiveness of the County’s efforts to collaborate with cities and address issues of homelessness throughout the County.
The City Council is requested to approve the attached response by the City to the OCGJ report and authorize the Mayor to sign the attached transmittal letter to Honorable Erick L. Larsh, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court and the Orange County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury report cites Penal Code requirements that the City provide responses to the report findings and recommendations.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the City’s responses to the findings and recommendations in the Orange County Grand Jury report “How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness?” and authorize the Mayor to sign the attached transmittal letter to The Honorable Erick L. Larsh, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County and the Orange County Grand Jury.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the responses to the Grand Jury report, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
In 2021-2022, the Orange County Grand Jury prepared the report “How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness” (Attachment 1), which discusses and evaluates the effectiveness of the Continuum of Care, the Continuum of Care Board and the County’s Office of Care Coordination in collaborating and addressing homelessness. In their evaluation, the Grand Jury determined that there has been progress made in some areas of homeless services including cities opening Navigation Centers, including Huntington Beach. The report commends the City of Huntington Beach for operating a Navigation Center to provide critical shelter and services to the homeless.
Addressing homelessness in Huntington Beach has been one of five strategic goals of the City Council. The City has developed a System of Care to address the growing issues related to homelessness over the last several years. This system includes the Huntington Beach Navigation Center, the Homeless Task Force and the Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Program. These programs work collaboratively to support those experiencing homelessness in the City and create a pathway to housing by providing a safe shelter with support services and connecting the dots between City and County homeless-focused resources. The City’s System of Care collaborates regularly with other Continuum of Care programs funded through the County, Cal Optima and community non-profit providers to access mental health, substance use, housing, employment, physical health and other supportive services.
As required by California Penal Code Section 933.05, the governing bodies of the public agencies, which the Grand Jury has reviewed, are required to comment on any applicable findings and recommendations in the report. The City of Huntington Beach, along with all cities in Orange County, were provided with two findings and three recommendations, and responses must be sent to the Honorable Erick Larsh, the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. City staff has prepared a letter to the Presiding Judge with a response to each of the five items (Attachment 2).
The City responses include our agreement with their two findings and a summary of three recommended actions that the City has already been implementing as outlined in the report. The responses must be approved by the City Council and submitted by September 21, 2022.
If approved, staff will obtain the Mayor’s signature and submit to the Honorable Erick L. Larsh to satisfy the requirements of this Grand Jury report.
Environmental Status:
N/A
Strategic Plan Goal:
Homelessness Response
Attachment(s):
1. Orange County Grand Jury Report: How is Orange County Addressing Homelessness
2. Letter from Mayor Delgleize and City’s Response to the 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report