Notes from 1/28/2020 Regional Meeting on Homelessness
Supervisor Keith Carson began by abjectly apologizing to people who came here to “work.” The cities hadn’t been told what the meeting was about or given much in the way of advance notice. Carson promised to do better. Supervisor Wilma Chan said there was some confusion. She doesn’t quite know who is on the working group from the mayors’ sides. Reference was made to the July 22, 2019 meeting (the last one). She noted that there was subsequently a collective tour of the former jail facility that had been discussed with some interest in July, but that the facility now seemed more problematic. They plan to develop a more collaborative process... Berkeley Mayor Arreguin had to leave early, but had four requests to make: • Schedule meetings for a day other than Tuesday; • Produce a schedule for ongoing meetings; • Convey from the County to the cities information about the HHAP (state) money; • Provide an expenditure plan for the proposed sales tax – he noted that the cities want to participate in developing this plan. Alameda Mayor Ashcraft was unhappy that this was not a working meeting. She hopes that the mayors in attendance are the mayors of the working group. She noted that the mayors’ council meeting in February (10th or 11th?) is to be preceded by a meeting of the mayors on homelessness. She called the mayors crucial “boots on the ground” for passing a county sales tax in November. Supervisor Chan said that the County Policy Committee intends to get mayoral input. Discussion turned to County efforts on the sales tax proposal. Kerry Abbott, newly appointed Health Care Coordinator (works for Colleen Chawla) is in charge of a project to develop the $.005 sales tax grant request and expenditure process. Mayor Schaaff doesn't want the money entirely tied to coordinated entry system. San Leandro Mayor Pauleen Russo Cutter stressed the need for mayoral input in the proposed County program. Supervisor Carson asked something about the mayors’ council deciding to send representation to the County. Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday said that they HAD selected representatives and she thought THIS was the meeting. But it’s not. She went on to describe the establishment of a homeless Navigation Center, modeled on Berkeley’s. She had gotten donations to support various activities including the mobile navigation center, but needed ONGOING support and hoped this would be available maybe from the sales tax funds? She thinks the November ballot will be a tax measure nightmare because so much will be on the ballot. The point is that County funds should be available at cities’ discretion and not all pinned down, in order to focus on areas of greatest needs (by city). Supervisor Carson said that the cities and County need to discuss how best to SELL the tax measure to voters. Livermore Mayor John Marchand continues to be unhappy that Livermore homeless people were undercounted in the 2019 point-in-time count and he has yet to receive an explanation. The city did its part. If they don’t know why this happened, they don’t know how to avoid it next time (when the new money will be at stake). There was some discussion of general undercounting and the difficulties especially in non-urban settings. County people pointed out that EVERYONE HOME carries out the count, so complaints will be relayed to them. Mayor Marchand said he’d called them five times and received no response. Fremont Mayor Lily Mei talked about how there’s likely going to be a parcel tax on the fall ballot in Fremont for the schools, and it might be hard to convince people to vote for a sales tax too, especially in the absence of clear details. She says Fremont has been receiving about $.70 on the dollar from their Measure AA funds, so people are very negative. Public safety is a huge issue. She is unsure and dubious about the point-in-time count (people disappear into the woods, vehicles are counted – not people – so there are families being undercounted who live in cars). She’s not happy so far with the promised allocation system and it may be hard to support the tax. It’s bad timing. Supervisor Chan said that the County’s aims are the same as the cities’. Albany Mayor Peggy McQuaid noted limits to the services that small cities like Albany can provide, and called for provision of regional services, a cooperative navigation center Hayward Mayor Halliday noted cooperation at the city-to-city level. Discussion moved to the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program HHAP(state) program and the need for proposals by February 15. Request for Information RFI responses due Feb 7. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf talked about discussions at the Governor’s Council on Homelessness. They are working on a proposal for a State Constitutional Mandate to End Homelessness. A “legally enforceable mandate” for which an Inspector General would be created. The “legal” part is that the IG could apparently charge cities and/or other entities with not upholding the mandate (no individual cause of action). She says this would not be declaration of a right to shelter, but would clarify, create accountability, and demonstrate effort at the state level. 2/3 of the legislature would have to approve a ballot measure. She says the intent would not be to mandate something for which funds are not available. Supervisor Miley worried about unfunded mandates and possible legal ramifications. Mayor Schaaf said the intent was to make the state more responsible. Toward the end of the two hour meeting, the public was invited to speak. Two people called for better advance notice of meetings and publication of agendas; one noted that community involvement might produce good ideas AND publicize the good works that were underway, about which the mayors’ and supervisors’ constituents would be glad to hear. The mayors engaged in some further description of efforts and activities underway in their cities on the homelessness front, including mobile navigation centers, showers, refuse collection, health, housing, shelter, and food programs. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf introduced Peter Radu, new Homeless Policy Director to the Office of the Mayor. Notes prepared by Ben Schiff; edited and iPhotos by John Kirkmire
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This Mayors/County task force meeting confirms previous observations on how insular the county is from both the public and also City governance. The meeting took place on a Tuesday when most cities hold their Council meetings. No agenda was available before the meeting. It was obvious that this was a rushed meeting. There was plenty of time from the last meeting about 6 months ago to plan a well organized and productive meeting.
There was an introduction and a few Q&A for Colleen Chawla, the new Director of County Health Services, some time for the County to tell about their new outreach health services for encampments, and the establishment of a single triage point of contact for identifying available shelter beds in the County, and for the mayors to share their progress, mostly for additional beds in temp sheds, safe parks or overnight shelters.
Mayor Schaaf gave an update on the work of the State Homelessness Council.....the possibility of making a State Constitution change mandating that cities do their best to eliminate homelessness. There could be an Inspector General of Homelessness. California is big enough to have a Czar to run a program and a General to enforce it. The big cities thought that this could be a good idea, the smaller cities not so much.
Lastly, we came to the real reason that the normally very efficient and organized County called this seemingly impromptu meeting. The County needs to prepare a budget for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program funds, HHAP, due Feb 15. They need to know what the cities want to do with the 275 M for big cities and 175 M to the County.
Also the County wants to propose a sales tax increase as a ballot item for the November 2020 Election, and it would be good if the cities would support that request.
There was an introduction and a few Q&A for Colleen Chawla, the new Director of County Health Services, some time for the County to tell about their new outreach health services for encampments, and the establishment of a single triage point of contact for identifying available shelter beds in the County, and for the mayors to share their progress, mostly for additional beds in temp sheds, safe parks or overnight shelters.
Mayor Schaaf gave an update on the work of the State Homelessness Council.....the possibility of making a State Constitution change mandating that cities do their best to eliminate homelessness. There could be an Inspector General of Homelessness. California is big enough to have a Czar to run a program and a General to enforce it. The big cities thought that this could be a good idea, the smaller cities not so much.
Lastly, we came to the real reason that the normally very efficient and organized County called this seemingly impromptu meeting. The County needs to prepare a budget for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program funds, HHAP, due Feb 15. They need to know what the cities want to do with the 275 M for big cities and 175 M to the County.
Also the County wants to propose a sales tax increase as a ballot item for the November 2020 Election, and it would be good if the cities would support that request.