TITLE:
Receive Report on the Extreme Weather Shelter (EWS) Operations and Consider Approval to Designate $25,000 from the City Council Goals Budget for Continued EWS Operations ISSUE:
Because of the back-to-back storms Fort Bragg has experienced this winter, the City has sheltered individuals at Motel 6 for many more nights than originally anticipated. As of January 11, 2023, the County funding of $36,208 is completely exhausted. Staff requests that the City Council approve $25,000 from the City Council Goals budget (110-4110-0319) for continued EWS operations.
ANALYSIS:
Unlike last year, this has been a cold, wet winter. Beginning in December, Fort Bragg experienced severe storms that were dangerous to homeless individuals. Beginning two weeks ago, back-to-back storms drove the need to house more individuals for many consecutive nights. This need quickly drained the EWS contract of $36,208. See below for current program statistics.
Month
Unique Individuals
Total Rooms
Children
Elderly
Non-coastal
Homeward Bound
Non-coastal placed HH
November
14 11
0 3
2 0
1 December
62 130
12 9
8 0
7 January (1/11/23)
65 101
11 8
4 3
1 The need for rooms jumped from 11 to 130 rooms between November and December. In the first 11 days of January, EWS provided 101 rooms to 65 unique homeless individuals. Consequently, as of January 11, 2023, the EWS program is completely out of money.
The Police Department has moved forward on a number of fronts to keep the EWS program going, given that more storms are forecast. The Chief is negotiating the current Motel 6 room rate from $149.99+tax per room to $67.88+tax per room. He is awaiting confirmation from Motel 6. The Mayor identified potential funding of $25,000 in the City Council Goals budget. He has also tentatively confirmed with the County to match the City’s contribution, with the stipulation that City funds would be expended first before County funds are accessed.
Staff has also confirmed that funds spent to shelter homeless individuals is reimbursable from the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) under the State and federal disaster declarations. Finance is now carefully tracking all disaster-related expenditures to ensure the City recoups all eligible costs permitted by the State and federal government.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Consider approval to direct $25,000 from the City Council Goals budget (110-4110-0319) to support continued Extreme Weather Shelter operations for Fiscal Year 2022/23.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Provide staff with further direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funds are currently budgeted for FY 2022/23 specifically for Council goals. Finance has reviewed this and recommended approval.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IMPACT:
None.
IMPLEMENTATION/TIMEFRAMES:
Immediately upon Council approval.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
NOTIFICATION:
None.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2A
AGENCY: City Council MEETING DATE: January 16, 2023DEPARTMENT: City ManagerPRESENTED BY: Peggy DuceyEMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]: City Council MEETING DATE: January 16, 2023DEPARTMENT: City ManagerPRESENTED BY: Peggy DuceyEMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: January 16, 2023
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
PRESENTED BY: Peggy Ducey
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: January 16, 2023
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
PRESENTED BY: Peggy Ducey
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY