BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
Study Session on November 6, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
A duly noticed meeting of the Burlingame City Council was held on the above date in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Beach, Brownrigg, Colson, Ortiz, Stevenson MEMBERS ABSENT: None
3. REQUEST FOR AB 2449 REMOTE PARTICIPATION
There was no request.
4. STUDY SESSION
a. DISCUSSION OF HOMELESSNESS IN BURLINGAME
Assistant to the City Manager Jeremy Kirshner explained that each year, the County conducts a “One Day Homeless Count.” He stated that in 2022, the County counted 1,092 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness within the county. He added that ten of those individuals were counted in Burlingame. He noted that in 2019, 25 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness were counted in Burlingame.
However, he stated that it is very hard to determine if the count is accurate due to it being a one-day snapshot by County employees. He also noted that it might not be a typical day in Burlingame and that it is hard to count those who are living in a car.
Mr. Kirshner stated that the Burlingame Police Department has determined that on any given night, there are approximately three to six people experiencing homelessness in Burlingame.
Mr. Kirshner discussed the current LifeMoves services that are available in Burlingame for individuals experiencing homelessness:
• The County contracts with LifeMoves to provide services in Burlingame • One lead case manager shared by San Mateo and Burlingame • Usually responds through Police Department request
• Refers people to shelters and other services
Mr. Kirshner stated that there is a 90-day residency requirement to get into a shelter in San Mateo County.
He explained that there are ways to count this, but it is really difficult. He stated that LifeMoves will work to establish that clients have met the 90-day requirement. If the individual doesn’t meet it the 90 days, then LifeMoves will work to either get them transportation to a place where they may have housing or other services, or LifeMoves will refer them to services for which they are eligible.
Mr. Kirshner discussed Millbrae’s program. He explained that in Millbrae’s 2019 One Day Homeless County, San Mateo County counted nine people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Millbrae. He stated that Millbrae staff suspected that the actual homeless count within the city was significantly higher due to the Millbrae BART Station’s status as a terminus for the BART system. Accordingly, Millbrae staff conducted an informal homeless count and found more people experiencing unsheltered homelessness than the County found.
Mr. Kirshner stated that in August 2021, Millbrae met with Supervisor Pine’s office and the San Mateo County Human Services Agency (“HSA") to develop a homeless outreach pilot program at the Millbrae BART station. The HSA agreed to retain LifeMoves for one year of outreach, utilizing two full-time social workers/case managers. He explained that LifeMoves’ case managers conduct outreach, engagement, and case management services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and they direct people to temporary and permanent shelter, other housing services, transportation services, mental healthcare, detoxification, rehabilitation, and other supportive services. He noted that the pilot program’s total cost was $242,411; the County funded $142,411, and the City paid the balance.
Mr. Kirshner stated that the pilot program in Millbrae was a resounding success. He noted that LifeMoves completed 415 interventions with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and placed 233 people in shelters or temporary housing. He added that the pilot program ended on December 31, 2022. However, he explained that in December 2022, after the success of the pilot program, the County awarded Millbrae an additional $370,572, and Millbrae provided $142,469 in matching funds, staff time, and equipment to keep two full-time LifeMoves case managers in the city and to expand the program to the downtown area.
He stated that the additional funds will keep the program in place through June 2024.
Mr. Kirshner gave an overview of the County shelter system:
• County has coordinated entry system – all the shelters work together • Two congregate shelters: South San Francisco and East Palo Alto • Non-congregate shelters are spread throughout the county (often they are repurposed motels that offer more privacy)
• Those seeking shelter on their own often start with a core services agency – for Burlingame, the core services agency is Samaritan House
• Many times, people contact police, and then LifeMoves refers them to the shelter
Mr. Kirshner gave the background regarding an individual experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Burlingame. He explained that the individual was a local creative design executive who dealt with a loss in the family and other issues. As a result, he lost his housing and was living in a camp by Coyote Point while utilizing services from CALL Primrose. He explained that the individual found it extremely challenging to
receive assistance. He noted that it took this individual nine months to receive housing. He stated that without an advocate, this individual found it very difficult to navigate the system.
Mr. Kirshner reviewed potential options for the City to consider:
Options Ease of City Implementation
(Easy, Moderate, Difficult)
Cost (Low, Medium, High)
City-sponsored homeless count
Moderate Low
Regular LifeMoves office hours
Easy Low
Dedicated LifeMoves employee
Difficult High
Creation of homeless liaison
position/psychologist
Difficult High
Approve additional housing
development, including
affordable housing, and preserve
existing naturally occurring
affordable housing
Moderate Medium
Additional funding for Call
Primrose, HIP Housing,
LifeMoves, and Star Vista
Easy Medium
Councilmember Ortiz asked if the City of Millbrae’s count was done by their staff or an outside source.
Millbrae Assistant City Manager Isabel Carlos replied that Millbrae staff conducted the count.
Police Chief Matteucci explained that the department receives a lot of calls, and officers are trained to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. He discussed the importance of partnering with organizations like CALL Primrose, LifeMoves, Star Vista, and Samaritan House.
Councilmember Beach asked if a psychologist who has experience not only helping individuals experiencing homelessness but also for other calls would be of assistance. Police Chief Matteucci replied that there are four agencies in the County currently conducting pilot programs with in-house mental health professionals.
Councilmember Stevenson asked about the three-month residency requirement to move an individual into a shelter.
CALL Primrose Executive Director Terri Boesch stated that the first thing the City should figure out is if they are trying to get people off the streets or are they trying to assist individuals like the local creative design executive in Burlingame become permanently housed. She noted that only about 4% of the individuals she assists at CALL Primrose are unhoused. She stated that it shouldn’t have taken eight months to get the
local creative design executive housed. She explained that she believed the process is broken and that the system is too hard to navigate.
LifeMoves representative Sarah Fields stated that someone living in an interim housing site is considered sheltered homelessness. She noted if you are seeing the numbers trend towards more sheltered homelessness over unsheltered, that is the first good sign that the services and programs are working. She discussed Councilmember Stevenson’s questions about the three-month residency requirement. She noted that the structure of services for homelessness in the state is county-based. Therefore, it is important to determine where individuals are receiving services.
Vice Mayor Colson asked if individuals entering a facility like the Navigation Center in Redwood City are separated by drug use, individuals with special needs, senior citizens, etc. Ms. Fields replied that the Navigation Center has private rooms with shared bathrooms on the floor. She explained that these rooms are for individuals who are more vulnerable, while the other rooms have bathrooms. She added that if the client is using drugs in the privacy of their own room, that is allowed. However, if the individual is using drugs and it is causing harm to others, then an intervention occurs. She noted that the Navigation Center is meant to acclimate clients to what it is like to live independently.
Mayor Brownrigg asked if homelessness in the county is stable, growing, or diminishing. Ms. Fields replied that she thought it was hard to say as individuals are able to hide their homelessness. She gave examples of people living off the beaten path, in RVs, or in cars.
Mayor Brownrigg asked if LifeMoves has adequate staff to handle the volume of calls from individuals in Burlingame. Ms. Fields replied in the affirmative.
Supervisor Dave Pine’s Chief of Staff Linda Wolin stated that the 90-day policy is a new County policy. She explained that the policy arose from the high interest in people from out of the county wanting to utilize the Navigation Center. She stated that the County decided to prioritize County resources for County residents. She noted that she understands that some individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness are having difficulty proving it. However, she explained that the County is figuring out how to improve this system.
Ms. Wolin stated that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will have a session to review the different mental health pilot programs to see what works and what doesn’t work.
Ms. Wolin stated that the County has been working hard on getting individuals access to shelters, but it is important to work on obtaining access to permanent shelters for individuals. She added that the County is looking to purchase hotels to create interim housing for individuals.
Ms. Wolin discussed the Millbrae pilot program. She noted that although the pilot program is ending in June 2024, Millbrae is trying to obtain State grants to further the program. She added that Millbrae and the County are working together to identify additional resources.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that the City should work with Millbrae as there are no borders to the issue of homelessness. He added that the same group should do the homelessness county for Millbrae and Burlingame.
Councilmember Beach stated that she participated in the 2019 homeless count. She explained that she appreciated Ms. Boesch’s comment about what issue is the City trying to solve. She stated that she thought the City needed to partner with BSD and SMUHSD to better understand the issue. She added that she would like to learn more about the impact of the mental health pilot programs. She noted that she thought the City needed to embrace permanent supportive housing in Burlingame.
Councilmember Stevenson stated that he believed the City was underestimating the actual number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city. He explained that he thought the City should reconsider the amount of funding that is given to non-profit agencies that are assisting on the front lines. He added that the City should look at programs that are working in other cities and countries that assist with homelessness.
Vice Mayor Colson thanked Mr. Kirshner for the work he has done. She discussed her frustration in assisting the local creative design executive. She discussed the importance of the work of the HOPE Committee and ensuring that the residents don’t slip into homelessness. She explained that State funding is needed to address the needs of interim housing.
Mayor Brownrigg thanked the experts for coming to the study session. He asked them to think about what more the City can do to assist with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Burlingame. He concurred with Councilmember Stevenson about potentially providing additional funding to non-profit agencies that are assisting on the front lines.
Councilmember Beach echoed the Vice Mayor’s comment about ensuring that Burlingame residents stay housed. She discussed creating the emergency rental assistance fund.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brownrigg adjourned the meeting at 6:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Meaghan Hassel-Shearer, City Clerk