REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Al Zelinka, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Brian Smith, Lieutenant, Police Department Community Outreach Bureau
Subject:
title
Proposed 90-Day Plan to Address Homelessness in Huntington Beach
body
Statement of Issue:
On December 20, 2022, the City Council approved Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark’s request for a comprehensive report on homelessness, including a full accounting of all City resources and facilities used to address homelessness and a proposed 90-Day Plan to enforce City and State laws.
On January 7, 2023, a report was presented to the City Council. Following this report, the City Council requested additional information to be presented in a study session with a more detailed accounting of the City’s efforts to address homelessness.
On March 7, 2023, the City Council was presented with a comprehensive review of the City’s efforts, including an accounting of all City resources and facilities used to address homelessness.
This Request for Council Action provides a proposed 90-day plan to address homelessness in Huntington Beach.
Financial Impact:
If approved, the proposed 90-Day Plan would require one-time overtime funding of $40,000 for additional staffing during the 90-Day Plan period. There are sufficient funds remaining in both the Police Department and Homelessness Division operating budgets (under personnel) to cover this one-time expense.
If approved, the Plan would allow the City to recruit for a Social Services Supervisor position, which is already budgeted in the FY 22-23 operating budget with a fully burdened annual cost of $102,671.
The Plan would also permit the reclassification of the Director of Homeless and Behavioral Health Services to a Manager position, which will yield an estimated savings of $73,539 per year.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Receive and file this report; and
B) Approve the proposed 90-Day Plan.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the proposed 90-Day Plan and/or receive and file this report. Direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Proposed 90-Day Plan to Address Homelessness in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach Police Department’s (HBPD) proposed 90-day Plan includes a combination of outreach (as recommended by former Chief Rob Handy), improved communications, and a review of our existing systems. To that end, HBPD proposes the following:
Audit Our Programs
a) Explore the feasibility of utilizing an outside consultant to evaluate our programs and services and offer recommendations.
b) Evaluate Case Management Systems and identify one that will help ensure we are collecting accurate and consistent data needed to identify trends, root causes, barriers and the needs of our community.
c) Review compliance of existing service contracts related to homelessness and behavioral health services.
Improve Communications with Our Community
a) Update the City’s Homeless Solutions website to include lists of community resources and an accounting of funding for programs.
b) Provide overtime for Police Homeless Task Force officers to increase education and awareness about community resources and rights on private property.
Focused Outreach and Enhanced Case Management
a) Provide overtime for City social workers to permit additional outreach and enhanced case management, including the review of the files of all clients in the Navigation Center with stays in excess of 180 total days.
b) Participate in collaborative case conferencing with Mercy House staff
Personnel Management
a) Fill the vacant Social Services Supervisor position to ensure adequate supervision of programs and maintain existing social workers staffing levels that includes 2 FTE social workers. This position is fully funded and included in the FY 22-23 operating budget.
b) Reclassify the vacant Homeless and Behavioral Health Services Director to a manager position, which will yield significant savings annually; initiate recruitment.
This plan will increase opportunities for proactive community engagement, particularly in the first 90 days of its implementation. By increasing communications, engaging in additional social work, and auditing our systems, City staff will be more effective in performing their daily tasks, thereby making a positive impact on quality of life issues within our community and on those individuals experiencing homelessness.
All existing positions within the Homeless and Behavioral Health Services Department are currently funded and have been included in the draft FY23-24 budget.
Reclassifying the Director of Homelessness and Behavioral Health Services to a Manager position will yield a savings of $73,539 annually.
To be effective and not impact operational activities, this plan will also require overtime. A summary of those costs are below:
|
Approximate One-Time Overtime Costs |
|
HTF Business Outreach |
$25,000 |
|
Social Worker Overtime |
$15,000 |
|
Total |
$40,000 |
Sufficient funds remaining in both the Police Department and Homelessness Division operating budgets (under Personnel) this fiscal year are available to cover these one-time costs.
Lastly, data remains an important aspect of evaluating the efficacy of the City’s homelessness services. As such, staff will monitor the effects of the proposed 90-Day Plan, with the Police Chief providing a formal update to the City Council this summer.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Homelessness Response
Attachment(s):
1. PowerPoint Presentation