City Council December 4, 2023
AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council FROM: Councilmember Kaplan At-Large District Council President Fortunato Bas District 2 Councilmember Fife District 3 SUBJECT: Safe Parking Program DATE: December 4, 2023
RECOMMENDATION Councilmembers Kaplan, Fife, and Council President Fortunato Bas recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution. RESOLUTION AWARDING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF ALAMEDA COUNTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 TO PROVIDE ONE OR MORE SAFE PARKING PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS LIVING IN VEHICLES FOR A GRANT TERM COMMENCING ON JANUARY 1, 2024 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024, UTILIZING FUNDS FROM MEASURE Q FUND BALANCE (FUND 2244) AND MAKING CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In January 2022, the Point-In-Time Homeless Count and Survey found that there are over 3,337 unsheltered individuals in Oakland. The survey also revealed that 47% of unsheltered individuals in Alameda County reside in Oakland. The City Council appropriated funding for multiple interventions in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 budget to address the homeless crisis. Three hundred thousand dollars ($450,000) was allocated to the Human Services Department (HSD) to fund health and hygiene services to the unsheltered population. These funds are being used for the creation of the Safe Parking program.
Honorable Mayor & City Council Subject: Safe Parking Program Date: December 4, 2023 Page 2 City Council December 4, 2023
During the grant term, the Safe Parking program can receive up to $450,000 from the Measure Q fund balance. This money will prevent current beneficiaries of the program from returning to unauthorized dwelling units on public property. Additionally, the resolution aims to extend the program to provide safe parking for more homeless individuals who are currently living in public areas. The following report is an extension of previous staff reports. It proposes that the City Council grants permission to the City Administrator to grant an agreement with the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) to establish Safe Parking locations for individuals without shelter who reside in their vehicles. REASON FOR URGENCY The sponsors of this proposal are asking for it to skip the committee process using Rule 24. With winter coming, the extreme cold can severely impact the health and well-being of a population that is already vulnerable. It is urgent that we allow those currently benefiting from Safe Parking sites to continue to do so and that we also allow more homeless individuals to enter the Safe Parking Program. BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY On November 15, 2016, an informational report titled, “Homeless Encampments/ Compassionate Communities,” was presented to the Life Enrichment Committee. This report recommended several interim housing options to serve unsheltered people in Oakland, which included the development of a Safe Parking program (Attachment A). On April 13, 2017, an informational report titled, “Funding Strategies To Reduce Homelessness In Oakland,” was presented to the Life Enrichment Committee and outlined funding options for encampment health and safety, interim housing, permanent housing development, safe parking locations, and other direct and indirect programs that would mitigate the homeless crisis. Shortly thereafter, the City engaged in discussions with faith leaders and business owners to explore the prospect of using empty parking lots to provide a safe space for unsheltered individuals to park their vehicles. Vehicle dwellers face the same challenges as other unsheltered persons, and the Safe Parking program aims to provide a safe place for vehicle dwellers to park while enhancing access to critical services. The City Council appropriated funding for multiple interventions in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 budget to address the homeless crisis. Three hundred thousand dollars ($450,000) was allocated to the Human Services Department (HSD) to fund health and hygiene services to the unsheltered population. These funds were utilized for the creation of the Safe Parking program. ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES Honorable Mayor & City Council Subject: Safe Parking Program Date: December 4, 2023 Page 3 City Council December 4, 2023
Many of Oakland’s homeless population are living in their vehicles. This includes single adults, couples, and families with small children. For these individuals and families, finding a safe and legal place to park is challenging. Vehicle dwellers experience health issues, safety concerns, and a lack of stability. Additionally, this population faces the risk of losing a sheltered place to rest due to unpaid parking tickets or a lapsed vehicle registration. For some, their vehicle is solely used as their dwelling. For others, their vehicle is also their only means of transportation to take children to and from school or to seek employment. A Safe Parking program would provide a secure environment for those persons living in their vehicles, while simultaneously reducing the impact in neighborhoods where individuals currently sleep in vehicles on residential streets. Model Staff is working with the Interfaith Council of Alameda County to finalize the operational model. There are several models currently being explored, including (but not limited to) a single lot to house many vehicles, or several lots that will dedicate a set number of parking spaces to vehicle dwellers. All sites will provide basic amenities that include portable toilets, access to showers, grey and black water dumping, and site management, in addition to a secure location for vehicle dwellers to park. The grantee shall ensure all sites: 1. Are extremely low barrier with minimal rules and restrictions for participation. 2. Provide access to portable toilets and mobile showers. 3. Accept pets. 4. Provide staffing and services that are adequate to ensure safety within the site. Impact The Safe Parking program will provide stability, safety, and critical services. Having people living in a specific location reduces the impact the vehicle or RV may have on housed residents in an area - it reduces debris, human waste, illegal dumping, and hazardous materials, such as oil and fluids from the vehicle. Additionally, it reduces the impact on the vehicle or RV owner as well. . Vehicle dwellers will not constantly be uprooted or incur additional citations or other punitive measures for being in violation of local vehicle codes. The program also provides a platform to engage clients further in services and housing opportunities. Safe Parking locations are a temporary intervention for unsheltered persons seeking a path to housing. The implementation of a Safe Parking program at designated locations will offer a nexus of services all working toward ending the unsheltered status for its participants. FISCAL IMPACT The funds are available in the amount of up to $450,000 as identified in the table below:
Honorable Mayor & City Council Subject: Safe Parking Program Date: December 4, 2023 Page 4 City Council December 4, 2023
These funds will be disbursed in a grant agreement with ICAC, in an amount not to exceed $450,000, for a grant term commencing on January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2024, to provide secure parking locations using the local faith-based organizations’ parking lot properties or similar properties in their control. The proposed resolution also authorizes the City Administrator to amend the grant agreement and increase the grant amount, if additional funding becomes available, to expand access to additional sites within the grant term. PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST This report did not require public outreach other than the posting of this report on the website. COORDINATION Coordination on the proposed Resolution has occurred between the Human Services Department, Office of the City Attorney, Budget Bureau, Interfaith Council of Alameda County, and the City Administrator’s Office. PAST PERFORMANCE This resolution awards a new agreement in ICAC in an amount not to exceed $450,000 based on the success of the 2018 Safe Parking Program and resolution. SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Honorable Mayor & City Council Subject: Safe Parking Program Date: December 4, 2023 Page 5 City Council December 4, 2023
Economic: As noted in the report, all funds identified are to provide services and safe space to the unsheltered population in Oakland. Environmental: The provision of a Safe Parking program is intended to address the environmental degradation caused by unsheltered families and individuals precariously housed or being homeless. Social Equity: The expenditure of these funds is targeted to the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in this City and provides essential and basic human services, housing, and support. ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL Councilmembers Kaplan, Fife, and Council President Fortunato Bas ADOPT A RESOLUTION AWARDING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF ALAMEDA COUNTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 TO PROVIDE A SAFE PARKING PROGRAM FOR PERSONS LIVING IN VEHICLES FOR A GRANT TERM COMMENCING ON JANUARY 1, 2024 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024, UTILIZING FUNDS FROM MEASURE Q FUND BALANCE (FUND 2244) AND MAKING CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS For questions regarding this report, please contact Kimberly Jones, Chief of Staff, at [email protected]. Respectfully submitted, Councilmember Kaplan At-Large District Council President Fortunato Bas District 2 Councilmember Fife District 3 Prepared by: Michael Alvarenga, Legislative Analyst Office of Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan Honorable Mayor & City Council Subject: Safe Parking Program Date: December 4, 2023 Page 6 City Council December 4, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City Council Subject: Safe Parking Program Date: December 4, 2023 Page 7 City Council December 4, 2023