In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 804-1424, extension 2220 or [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Agenda Items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for public inspection during normal business hours. For your convenience, the Agenda is also posted on the City’s Website at www.bellflower.org with links to each Agenda Item (unless they are too lengthy or unavailable at the time of posting). Any supplemental material distributed to a majority of the members of the City Council after the posting of this Agenda will be made available for public inspection during normal business hours in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower. (Privileged documents and Closed Session documents are exempted.)
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2023, 4:00 P.M.
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1 CALL TO ORDER
2 ROLL CALL: Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Y. Hamada
Council Member Ray Dunton
Council Member Dan Koops
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), the public may address the City Council on matters listed on the Agenda. Those wishing to speak on a listed item should come to the podium, be recognized by the Mayor, and state your name for the record. Each speaker will be given three (3) minutes to address the City Council.
AGENDA
T h e C i t y o f B e l l f l o w e r
Families. Businesses. Futures.
16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706
Tel 562.804.1424 Fax 562.925.8660 www.bellflower.org
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Agenda
June 12, 2023
4 STUDY SESSIONS
A Consideration and possible action to conduct a City Council Study Session to discuss and consider a proposal from Care Solace for mental health care coordinator services.______________________________________________ Recommendation to City Council: 1) Provide direction to the City Manager on the City Council’s desire to enter into an agreement, approved by the City Attorney, with Care Solace for mental health care coordinator services. If approved, the authorized amount will be incorporated into the Op erating Budget for fiscal year 2023-24; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
B Consideration and possible action to implement a city-wide Vehicle Replacement Program through Enterprise Fleet Management Inc.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Approve the implementation and framework of a Vehicle Replacement Program; and 2) Direct staff to develop an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. for a Vehicle Replacement Program, in a form approved by the City Attorney, to be brought back for City Council consideration; or 3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
5 ADJOURNMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF BELLFLOWER )
I, Jennifer Poole-Eidd, Management Assistant, of the City of Bellflower, do hereby declare under penalty of perjury, that the Agenda for the Special Meeting of the Bellflower City Council to be held on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., was posted Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the following locations in the City of Bellflower:
City Hall Lobby and Doors, 16600 Civic Center Drive
City Website at www.bellflower.orq
Clifton M. Brakensiek Library
Executed this 8t'' day of June 2023 at Bellflower, California.
Jennife Poole- -�d, Management Assistant
�
4-A
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to conduct a City Council Study Session to discuss and consider a proposal from Care Solace for mental health care coordinator services.
DATE: June 12, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 23, 2023, the City Manager, Mayor Sonny Santa Ines, and Council Member Dan Koops met with Chad Castruita, Founder and CEO of Care Solace, to discuss a proposal to provide mental health care coordinator services to City of Bellflower residents.
Following the meeting with Mr. Castruita, the City Manager thought it would be prudent to have Mr. Castruita present his proposal to the full City Council for discussion and consideration. Mr. Castruita’s proposal for the City of Bellflower is attached to the Staff Report for reference.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL
1) Provide direction to the City Manager on the City Council’s desire to enter into an agreement, approved by the City Attorney, with Care Solace for mental health care coordinator services. If approved, the authorized amount will be incorporated into the Operating Budget for fiscal year 2023-24; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost for a one-year pilot program (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) is $100,500.
ATTACHMENT
Care Solace Proposal ..................................................................................................... 2
-1-
Term: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
67,000 residents
$1.50 per resident
Annual Cost: $100,500
Chad Castruita
CEO/Founder
[email protected]
818-437-5609
Proposal for City of Bellflower
-2-
4-B
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Jeffrey L. Stewart, City Manager
FROM: Len Gorecki, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to implement a city-wide Vehicle Replacement Program through Enterprise Fleet Management Inc.
DATE: June 12, 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Receive input from the City Council regarding the implementation of a city-wide Vehicle Replacement Program with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. to replace the City’s aging vehicle fleet.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the implementation and framework of a Vehicle Replacement Program; and
2) Direct staff to develop an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. for a Vehicle Replacement Program, in a form approved by the City Attorney, to be brought back for City Council consideration; or
3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item
FISCAL IMPACT
Vehicle lease expenditures totaling $60,000 in FY 2023-24 and $100,000 in FY 2024-25 have been allocated as part of the proposed biennial 2023-2025 budget under Account Nos. 010-48002-3100 (Street Maintenance) and 010-48002-3900 (Facility Maintenance) for a Vehicle Replacement Pilot Program.
DISCUSSION
Currently, the City’s fleet of light and medium duty vehicles consists of 46 vehicles assigned to various departments. The types of vehicles range from SUVs to specialty trucks primarily utilized by the Public Works Department. This includes 26 vehicles (over half of the fleet) that are over 15 years of age, several of which are near or over 100,000 miles, that are used for critical daily operations. As a result, the majority of the City’s fleet is aged to the point that, in many cases, the annual cost of maintaining an aged unit exceeds its salvage value.
Staff Report – Enterprise Fleet Management Vehicle Replacement Program June 12, 2023
DISCUSSION – Continued
A review of fleet replacement programs in others cities indicates that over the course of the past few years, a number of cities have opted to adopt a vehicle lease program and use contract services for the replacement of their fleets. This includes several neighboring cities such as Paramount, Downey, Norwalk and Lynwood. Their lease programs have resulted in substantial cost savings while allowing them to benefit from use of vehicles for 3- to 5-year cycles; which in turn has contributed to the reduction in maintenance and fuel costs, and significantly increased the resale values.
For the past several months, City staff has worked with representatives from Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. (Enterprise) to put together a pilot program that would allow the City to test this process and determine if it represents a viable, efficient and long-term plan of action for future acquisition of fleet vehicles. In doing so, certain parameters for a lease program have been established including:
• The City will establish a list of vehicles marked for replacement. • Develop a model that represents a viable proactive replacement cycle of 3 - 5 years depending on economic feasibility and vehicle market conditions. • City staff would identify the required specifications and types of replacement vehicles in order to “right type” the fleet for current job use. • Lower the average age and improve overall safety of the fleet knowing that 26 of the current vehicles are over 15 years old including one vehicle that pre-dates Airbag standards (1998) and 21 vehicles that pre-date Anti-Lock Brake Standards (2007).
• Reduce net operating costs, knowing that newer vehicles significantly lower maintenance expenses and have increased fuel efficiency.
The proposed program offered by Enterprise is an “open -ended” lease structure which would allow the City to replace vehicles with less upfront capital. A suitable replacement plan will allow the City to replace its vehicles more consistently and maintain all the rights of ownership. The following is a list of highlights of this program:
• No mileage restrictions, no abnormal wear and tear and no early termination penalties.
• The City has all the rights of ownership and can equip vehicles with the aftermarket equipment required (i.e. utility bodies, tool boxes, specialty bodies, lights, etc.). • All the equity after resale of a lease vehicle belongs to the City and can be used to fund/lower costs of future replacement vehicles or as credit back to the City. • Leasing will minimize the amount of large capital outlays necessary for purchasing vehicles.
• If the pilot program is successful, the City would establish a proactive fleet replacement plan to acquire additional vehicles on a more consistent basis while significantly reducing maintenance cost and improving fuel economy, safety and vehicle down time.
Staff Report – Enterprise Fleet Management Vehicle Replacement Program June 12, 2023
DISCUSSION – Continued
Refreshing the aged fleet will have a positive impact on fuel expenses . With Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards and technology increasing the MPGs of newer vehicles, the process of replacing aged vehicles will allow the City to leverage the best technology and best MPG possible vs the current plan of keeping vehicles for 15+ years.
Enterprise will provide a local Account Team to assist the City with implementing and executing the program at no additional cost to the City. Staff will meet with the Enterprise team annually to proactively evaluate the pilot plan, budgets, and market conditions.
The following is a list of services provided by Enterprise:
• Make recommendations on the most cost-effective vehicles in each class • Review the best time to order or sell vehicles
• Monitor the fleet to ensure efficiencies with maintenance and fuel • Compile analysis on the best alternative fuel vehicles • Review mileage patterns and fuel miles per gallon
• Establish a future long-term replacement plan
For the upcoming 2023-25 budget cycle, the total cost of the pilot program will be determined by the number and type of vehicles selected for replacement. The proposed budget currently has $60,000 in FY 2023-24 and $100,000 in FY 2024-25 earmarked for such a program. Should the City determine at any point in the future that the pilot program is not a good fit, the City can easily cancel services with a 30 -day notice and pay off the loan balances on the leased vehicles in order to take title. Furthermore, while staff intends to move forward with the pilot program, the City is under no contractual obligation to proceed with vehicle replacements in future years.
An agreement with Enterprise can be executed without going through the traditional bidding process by piggybacking off of the existing Sourcewell (formerly NJPA) RFP & contract for Fleet Management Services. Sourcewell is a government agency that has been providing cooperative purchasing programs throughout North America for over 40 years. This cooperative purchasing system enables member entities to purchase on an “as needed” basis from competitively awarded contracts with high performance vendors. The City is a current member of Sourcewell and since Enterprise has been awarded a contract with Sourcewell through a competitive process for Fleet Management Services, the City can enter into an agreement with Enterprise pursuant to the Sourcewell contract.
FLEET VEHICLE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
1 Existing Fleet Overview
Currently, the City’s fleet of light and medium duty vehicles totals 46 units assigned to various departments used for critical daily operations 26 of these vehicles are over 15 years in age with a handful of them over or near 100,000 miles 1 unit pre-dates 1998 air-bag standards
21 units pre-date 2007 anti-lock brake standards
The majority of the fleet is aged to the point that, in many cases, the annual cost of maintaining an aged unit exceeds it salvage value
2 3
Vehicle Purchase & Surplus Process
The City’s current purchase process of vehicles is done through a standard RFP Staff defines the type of vehicle needed and develops vehicle specifications which are then sent to local dealerships for pricing With City Council approval, the lowest bid is awarded to the respective dealer.
The order is subsequently placed and delivery date is estimated.
Delivery dates can be extremely long (in excess of a year) as vehicle inventory continues to be limited post-covid Units are surplused through a third party auction service at the end of their useful life – typically around 18 years
4 Recent Vehicle Surplus History
5 Vehicle Replacement Program
For the past several months ,staff has researched options to improve the status quo of vehicle acquisition as factors such as high vehicle pricing, lack of vehicle availability & long delivery times can be arduous at times.
A review of fleet replacement programs in surrounding cities revealed that several cities have adopted a vehicle lease program in the last few years including Downey, Norwalk, Paramount & Lynwood.
Their programs have resulted in substantial cost savings while allowing them to benefit from the use of vehicles, generally less than 3 to 4 years which contributes to reduction in fuel and maintenance costs.
These cities have successfully partnered with Enterprise Fleet Management Inc.
Staff has spent several months meeting with Enterprise to develop a pilot program as well as a long-term replacement program for Bellflower.
6 C a l m i n g t h e C h a o s o f M e n t a l H e a l t h C a r e
Our Story
We are tireless allies on a mission to make access to
mental health care easy, inclusive, and dignified.
We exist to connect people to the support they
need with respect and trust.
We deliver this through a mental health network of
over 320K verified providers, and through the care
coordination and navigation services of 500 Care
Companions.
I have been trying in vain for 8 months to find counseling for both [my kids] to help fight their depression. I go through intake interviews just to be put on 6-8 month waiting lists. I leave voice messages and emails for therapists that go unreturned. Trying to navigate the chaos of mental health has been exhausting. Our insurance is extremely limited in this area and we can not afford to pay out-of-pocket for private counseling.
Within one hour of speaking to [my Care Companion] at Care Solace, he found a provider willing to work with us. Both [my kids] met with their provider yesterday. She was patient, kind, and connected well with both my children.
From personal experience, I can tell you this company is an asset. Especially with the rise in stress and anxiety, having a company like Care Solace be there to support families is a resource you can't put a price tag on. This company accomplished in ONE HOUR what I have been struggling to accomplish on my own in 8 months.
For parents like me that struggle to find their children the care they desperately need, this company takes all that stress away. They do the work so I can concentrate on my children.
Unsolicited
Parent
Testimonial
Stacy Meheen
My Story
We are committed to providing equitable and effective access to mental health care. Our results demonstrate our impact. 761
Communities/
Clients
15M
Individuals
with Access
9.5M
Support
Interactions
83 NPS Score
500
Care Companions
320K
Verified Providers
47%
Intensive Pathways
It takes 50-60 calls to find available help matched to specific needs Access to mental health care is complicated.
80% of people don't receive the help they need
Care Solace brings a human touch to mental health care, calms the chaos, and provides a culturally-relevant, personalized, and empathetic experience for everyone.
Our Provider Network: 320K+ in 50 states
Location and current contact information
Preferred communication method
Accepted insurances
Age groups
Specializations (DSM-5)
Availability
Care Solace has an unbiased - no “pay to
play” relationship with providers.
Matches are made using many factors,
including:
Care Solace delivers access to care through its best-in- class Care Companions and robust provider network.
Our Care Companions are with you
every step of the way.
1: Complete Screening
Our empathetic screening is designed to build
trust and better understand the individual’s
need.
3: Book Appointment
The best provider options are presented to
the individual for selection and we assist them
in booking the first available appointment.
2: Get Matched
Individuals gain access to more than 380K
specialized providers across the country to
find care matched to their specific needs.
4: Check-In
We follow-up after the appointment to ensure
we delivered on all of the individual’s requests
and they are satisfied with their provider.
Who takes my insurance?
What if I don’t have
insurance?
Who is in my area?
Who treats children?
Who speaks Spanish?
Who is accepting
new patients?
Who offers teletherapy?