APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. _______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL FIFE
RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 89455 C.M.S, WHICH
AMONG OTHER ACTIONS, AUTHORIZED THE CITY
ADMINISTRATOR TO NEGOTIATE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(CALTRANS) TO ESTABLISH A NEW HOMELESS INTERVENTION
SITE ON CALTRANS RIGHT OF WAY PARCELS LOCATED NORTH
OF 34TH STREET ON MANDELA PARKWAY (PROPERTY), TO : (1)
SPECIFY THAT ANY INTERVENTION ESTABLISHED ON THE
PROPERTY SHOULD PRIORITIZE UNHOUSED RESIDENTS FROM
THE NEARBY ENCAMPMENTS IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 AND (2)
DIRECT THE CITY ADMINIS TRATOR TO IDENTIFY THE
NECESSARY FUNDS AND SEEK THE NECESSARY APPROVALS TO
ESTABLISH AN INTERVENTION COMPRISED OF RAPID RESPONSE
TRANSITIONAL SHELTER UNITS WITH APPROPRIATE FACILITIES
AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
WHEREAS, the City of Oakland continues to face an unprecedented homelessness crisis; and
WHEREAS, the number of encampments and tent communities around the City, particularly in Council District 3, continue to grow; and WHEREAS, in October 2022, in response to the closure of the Wood Street encampment, which was the largest encampment in the City and the region, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 89455 C.M.S, which directed the City Administrator to (1) expand access to the existing Beach Street homeless intervention site (Caltrans Lease Area 04-ALA-580- 38 & 39 ) for all vehicle types, including but not limited to, trucks and vans and identify the necessary funds to service the site; and (2) negotiate a lease agreement with th e California Department o f Transportation (Caltrans) to establish a new homeless intervention site on Caltrans right of way parcels located north of 34th Street o n Mandela Parkway (Property) and identify the necessary funds and service providers to service the new program; and
2 WHEREAS, the Council found that the emergency created by the Wood Street evictions and the overall growing crisis of homelessness in our City, particularly in District 3, requires expansion of existing interventions as well as exploration of new options; and WHEREAS, City Administration initially estimated that an intervention on the Property could accommodate 60-75 RVs and other vehicles and can serve up to 100 households and that the City must identify funds to enter into a new professional services agreement with a service provider to manage and provide security at the site at an estimated cost o f $650,000 for nine months; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of this Resolution, the A dministration has started discussions with Caltrans and there are plans to create a homeless intervention site to accommodate unhoused individuals from another Council District; and WHEREAS, Resolution No. 89455 needs to be amended and updated to provide City Administration with additional direction ; including clarifying that any intervention established on the Property should prioritize unhoused persons from surrounding encampments in District 3, which is the district with the disproportionate level of encampments in the City; and WHEREAS, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that District 3 has t he mo st encampments in the City and for t he safety of the participating individuals, interventions within District 3 need to prioritize the unhoused communities in the surrounding areas; and WHEREAS, the City Council further adds that the intervention on the P roperty should hold rapid response transitional shelter units with adequate onsite facilities and services included; and
WHEREAS, rapid response transitional shelter units can be more flexible and serve more groups, including families and if managed appropriately, can be more stable than other homeless intervention options; and
WHEREAS, City Administration is further directed to seek cost effective options that meets the needs of residents and the surrounding community; and
WHEREAS, the community surrounding the P roperty also wish to further engage with the City on the growing homelessness issue in the area and how the Property can be used effectively to improve quality of life for everyone; and
WHEREAS, as staff works to create an intervention on this Property per Council’s direction, including securing the necessary funds, it is critical that the City Council provide additional clarity, as described, to ensure a safe and effective intervention that meets the needs of the vulnerable members of our community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby amends Resolution 89455 C.M.S, to specify that any intervention established on the Property shall prioritize unhoused residents from the nearby encampments in Council District 3; and be it
3 FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council directs and authorizes the City Administrator to identify the necessary funds, vendor , and service provider to establish and service a new intervention comprised of rapid response transitional shelter units on the Property and to return to City Council for any necessary approvals; and to continue negotiations with Caltrans for a lease agreement for such a program.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California