DATE: May 21, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing an Extension to the Term of the Homelessness Housing Task Force (HHTF) through June 2024
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopts a resolution authorizing an additional meeting for the Homelessness Housing Task Force (HHTF) to discuss the continuation and term of the expired HHTF.
SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council adopts the attached resolution authorizing an additional meeting to take place on a date in June 2024 to be defined for the Homelessness Housing Task Force (HHTF) to discuss whether the HHTF should be maintained as a temporary task force and extend the term, convert it to a standing committee of a City Council, or allow the term of the HHTF to lapse without further action.
BACKGROUND
On January 29, 2019, the City Council established the Homelessness-Housing Council Task Force (HHTF) to address the homeless-housing crisis. The HHTF met on a quarterly basis for a two-year period. Council extended the timeframe of the HHTF twice through consent. The first extension occurred on December 8, 2020, in which Council approved a two-year extension through March 2023. On February 7, 2023, Council approved a one-year extension of HHTF through March 2024, at which point the HHTF would determine the future of the task force. The HHTF had scheduled to discuss the future of the task force at the March 2024 meeting; however, due to the cancellation of the March 2024 HHTF quarterly meeting, HHTF members did not have an opportunity to discuss the body’s future. Consequently, the term of the task force has since lapsed.
On April 23, 2024, Staff presented before the Council the options that the full body should consider converting the task force into a committee, reestablishing the task force on its limited-term basis, or disbanding the task force (allowing Staff to refer relevant agenda items to the full Council directly). The Council discussed the ongoing concerns with housing, especially the layered concerns with the City’s homelessness crisis as factors to consider for determining the future of the Task Force. Council determined that they would like staff to facilitate an additional meeting with the HHTF for members to discuss the future of the Task Force and return to the Council with a recommendation.
DISCUSSION
Following Council’s direction during the April 2024 City Council Meeting, Staff requests an authorization for extending the term of the Task Force to June 2024 to accommodate an additional meeting with the task force prior to Council recess. The purpose of this meeting would be for the task force to determine:
If the HHTF should continue, be converted to a taskforce, or disband, and The purpose or goals for the body should they elect to extend the term or convert it to a standing committee.
Staff heard feedback from the members of the public and Council members. Most public commenters expressed a desire to convert the HHTF into one of the Council’s standing committees due to the longstanding issues surrounding homelessness and housing that have persisted within the Hayward community. Furthermore, public commenters shared that a committee could allow for a prospective committee to drive housing policy.
During the April 2024 City Council meeting, several members of the Council desired additional information regarding homelessness through the Task Force. Members expressed concerns with ensuring the items related to homelessness are sufficiently addressed. Given the feedback from Council and the current State of Emergency on homelessness, adopted by Council in January 2024, Community Services staff recommend that items related to the City’s homelessness response go directly to Council for the duration of the State of Emergency. Staff plan to bring a comprehensive homelessness response update to Council at the end of calendar year 2024 which will cover Point-in-Time Count data and state of emergency updates along with program updates for the Hayward Navigation Center, Keep Hayward Housed shallow subsidy program, HEART, Homekey award for a scattered site program, and the St. Regis project. Staff will also share updates on affordable housing development accomplishments and pipeline and eviction prevention efforts. The goal of this update will be to share updates with the full Council and give all Councilmembers the opportunity to ask questions, provide input, and share concerns regarding the City’s comprehensive efforts to prevent and respond to homelessness.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
There is no immediate economic impact with the consideration of this report.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item pertains to the Strategic Priority of Preserve, Protect & Produce Housing.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no initial fiscal impact with the consideration of this report.
PUBLIC CONTACT
On January 29, 2019, the Council reviewed and discussed staff’s recommendation to establish the HHTF. No public comments were received on this agenda item. Over the duration of the task force’s terms, public participation has diminished.
NEXT STEPS
If Council provides authorization to allow an the HHTF to convene for an additional meeting, Staff will schedule a meeting in June 2024 to discuss the future of the HHTF with task force members. Staff will return to the full Council with the recommendation from the HHTF before the end of September 2024.
Prepared by: Ayush Patel, Management Analyst I
Recommended by: Adam Kostrzak, Acting Assistant City Manager Sara Buizer, AICP, Director of Development Services
Christina Morales, Housing Division Manager
Approved by:
____________________________________________
Dustin Claussen, Interim City Manager
January 29, 2019 City Council Meeting Agenda and Materials:
https://hayward.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3846296&GUID=CA787A4B-E77D-4818-BC82-B022B6B4649D December 8, 2020 City Council Meeting Agenda and Materials:
https://hayward.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4711809&GUID=0131C7CC-7CF2-4D08-B76D-6979B7979BEA&Options=&Search= February 7, 2023 City Council Meeting Agenda and Materials:
https://hayward.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6016042&GUID=C496D77A-40FE-428C-A02A-8857121D52B9&Options=&Search= April 23, 2024 City Council Agenda and Materials:
https://hayward.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6642371&GUID=A5C506D8-AE00-47BF-B889-9F3856C0DE90&Options=ID|Text|&Search= January 30, 2024 City Council Meeting Agenda and Materials:
https://hayward.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6497824&GUID=27C372BA-05E2-4727-B184-0EB72948365B&Options=&Search=