AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: June 6, 2023
Item Number:
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Christopher Paulson, Human Services Administrator Joana Torres, Community Services Manager
Stephanie Harris, Director of Community Services
Subject: A. RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE SAFETY AND
HOSPITALITY SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF
BEVERLY HILLS AND ENHANCE SERVICES TO
FURTHER ASSIST THE UNHOUSED.
B. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH
NASTEC INTERNATIONAL, INC. FOR SERVICES
PROVIDED TO THE UNHOUSED IN BEVERLY HILLS;
AND
APPROVAL OF A CHANGE PURCHASE ORDER FOR
NASTEC INTERNATIONAL, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF
$363,000 FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF
$783,836 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023; AND
APPROVAL OF AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE
GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $363,000 FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 FOR NASTEC
INTERNATIONAL, INC. FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO
THE UNHOUSED.
C. AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH BBB-CA, INC. DBA BLOCK BY
BLOCK, CALIFORNIA FOR SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY
AMBASSADOR SERVICES IN THE NOT-TO-EXCEED
AMOUNT OF $1,437,643 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024;
AND
E-15
Meeting Date: June 6, 2023
APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT
OF $1,437,643 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 FOR BBBCA, INC. DBA BLOCK BY BLOCK, CALIFORNIA Attachments: None
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the first amendment to the agreement with Nastec International, Inc. for services provided to the unhoused in Beverly Hills, approval to issue a change purchase order in the amount of $363,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $783,836 for fiscal year 2022-23 and approval of an appropriation from the General Fund for $363,000.
Additionally, staff requests that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with BBB-CA, Inc. DBA Block by Block, California for safety and hospitality Ambassador services in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,437,643 for fiscal year 2023-24, and approval to issue a purchase order for fiscal year 2023-24 in the amount of $1,437,643.
INTRODUCTION
At the November 15, 2022 City Council meeting, the Council approved a variety of items to enhance the City’s services to further assist the unhoused in Beverly Hills. One of the items approved is the agreement with consultant Abby Arnold to develop successful strategies and action items to identify gaps in services related to engagement, placement, and support of those in need within the community, through the preparation of a homelessness plan. The consultant has been conducting stakeholder meetings and interviews, attending Commission and Council Liaison meetings, and meeting with other organizations in the community over the last few months to develop a background to understand the needs and observations of the community. At this time, the draft plan will be released in early summer, with the goal of returning to the City Council in the fall with a final plan.
Staff plans to act on recommendations in the homelessness plan, if adopted by City Council, but some decisions that could be impacted by recommendations in the yet-tobe-released plan may involve the continuation or extension of certain services provided by contractors. In particular, the services are those provided by Nastec International, Inc. and Block by Block, California, both of which do not currently extend beyond June 30, 2023. The City contracted with Nastec International, Inc. for services to the unhoused at the November 15, 2022 Council meeting on a six-month pilot program as part of the initial enhancement of services to the unhoused; while the City has contracted with Block by Block for safety and hospitality Ambassador services for many years and the current three-year contract comes to an end this fiscal year.
In order to align the City’s contracting needs with the Council’s future homelessness plan, an amended agreement and a one-year agreement, respectively, is recommended with each organization through June 30, 2024, allowing for status quo service levels to continue into the next fiscal year. At such time that a homelessness plan is adopted, staff is then prepared to procure appropriate, efficient, and effective services for a longer period.
Meeting Date: June 6, 2023
DISCUSSION
Nastec International, Inc.
In an effort to provide continuous and robust outreach coverage, the Council approved a contract with Nastec to provide a six-month initial pilot program for an overnight and weekend response team to provide 24-hour outreach coverage.
The coverage consists of two highly trained outreach/security individuals who receive and respond to non-emergency calls to the 2468 Hotline throughout the City limits nightly from 5pm to 8am. Additionally, they provide 24-hour coverage on the weekends.
The total cost for the six-month pilot program was $420,836.00. An increase in the amount of $363,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $783,836 would provide sufficient funding for four and a half months into fiscal year 2023-24 to continue status quo services from Nastec until such time as a homelessness plan is adopted by Council and long-term recommendations can be implemented. This would require an appropriation of $363,000 from the General Fund.
Block by Block, California
The positive impact of the Ambassador team on the Beverly Hills community has been significant. Ambassadors provide 24-hour safety escorts and hospitality services in the City's business triangle, South Beverly Drive, and other designated areas such as the City’s parking garages; providing assistance to residents, merchants, and tourists.
Residents appreciate the quality of life in the downtown core, merchants value the team’s role in promoting hospitality and addressing social service needs, and individuals in-need are getting the assistance they deserve. The Ambassador team has proven to be responsible, reliable, and flexible in response to an ever-growing demand for their services. This also extends to their role in collaborating with the City’s additional outreach teams, such as the Beverly Hills Outreach Team, Mental Health Evaluation Team from the Police Department, Nastec, and Park Rangers, to outreach to the unhoused and connect them with services.
The Ambassador team also provides permit, field and facility management at Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Vista Middle School, Hawthorne Elementary School and Horace Mann Elementary School at their fields and athletic facilities. The Beverly Hills Unified School District has not assisted with any funding for this program. The Ambassadors only supplement the District security staff, and are responsive to City programs held at the schools. Per the JPA, the overall security of District facilities continues to be the responsibility of the District.
Staff is recommending the continuation of the Ambassador Program’s existing coverage to support the high quality of life in Beverly Hills for a one-year agreement covering fiscal year 2023-24 in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,437,643. This amount is based on a quote received for estimated services.
Meeting Date: June 6, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for Nastec International, Inc. was provided by Policy and Management from organization code 48000101-731220 in the amount of $420,836. The additional appropriation required is $363,000 from the General Fund. The agreement and purchase order will be increased by the same $363,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $783,836.
Funding in the upcoming FY 2023-24 proposed budget for the Ambassador Program is a total of $1,209,235, comprised of $1,065,485 from the General Fund and $143,750 from the Parking Enterprise Fund. This funding includes an ongoing appropriation of $512,102 approved in April 2022. The proposal for a one-year agreement for fiscal year 2023-24, to continue to provide existing Ambassador coverage throughout the City and enhanced safety measures at BHUSD sites, is estimated in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,437,643. While service costs have increased, annual expenditures with Block by Block have approximated $1.0 million over the last few years; therefore, no additional appropriation is being requested at this time, but should rising costs reach a level that cannot be covered by the existing proposed budget, a future appropriation request will be brought forward.
Staff recommends City Council waive bidding requirements per Beverly Hills Municipal Code section 3-3-204, E due to the pre-existing relationship between the City and Block by Block. It is in the best interest of the City to continue working with Block by Block as they have become a great resource and have proven to be an asset to the Beverly Hills Community.
Jeff Muir
____ Director of Finance_______
Stephanie Harris
Director of Community Services
Approved By Approved By