en R p rt
January 18, 2023
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Public Health Department
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT TRANSFERRING $75,000
FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE PUBLIC HEAL TH
DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2023 OPERATING BUDGET TO
PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Find that the recomo,ended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b )(3), the "common sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and 2) Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Operating Budget by transferring $75,000 from the General Fund to the Public Health Department to provide supplemental emergency shelter services to people experiencing homelessness.
BACKGROUND:
On October 24, 2022, Council approved the interdepartmental transfers of $150,000 Emergency Solutions Grant funding authorized by the CARES Act ("ESG-CV") from the Department of Housing's Emergency Solutions Grant Fund (224) to the Public Health Department Fund (203). These funds have supported the provision of emergency shelter with motel stays ("motel vouchers") through existing Public Health Department programs including the Pasadena Outreach Response Team ("PORT'), Geriatric Empowerment Model ("GEM") Link, and Transitional Age Youth ("TAY") Link. The Public Health Department ("Department") has also utilized the ESG-CV funds to provide short-term motel stays during inclement weather in the 2022-2023 winter season.
PORT, GEM Link, and TAY Link maintain a caseload of program clients who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness. Due to excessive rain and cold temperatures this cold weather season, the Department has expended approximately half of the available MEETING OF -----'--0-'--l_/_18 ____ / ........ 2_0_2 ____ 3~ AGENDA ITEM NO. ____ 3_ ~- Budget Transfer to Public Health for Emergency Shelter Services January 18, 2023
funding to provide program clients temporary shelter in local motels. The Department is requesting supplemental funding proactively to ensure short-term shelter continues to be provided to clients in case extreme weather continues through the end of the cold weather season. If approved, the funding will support the continued provision of emergency shelter through motel stays, including weather-activated motel stays, to program clients experiencing homelessness.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Approval of the recommended action has the potential to provide temporary emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Pasadena so that they can stabilize and prepare for permanent housing. Approval of the proposed budget transfer is in accordance with the Pasadena Continuum of Care system, General Plan Housing Element, Five-Year Consolidated Plan, and Five-Year Public Housing Authority Plan.
ENVIRONMENT AL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "common sense" provision of CEQA which applies to projects which may have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The proposed transfer of funds from the Department of Housing to the Pasadena Public Health Department will not have a significant effect on the environment and, hence, is not subject to CEQA.
Budget Transfer to Public Health for Emergency Shelter Services January 18, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will transfer $75,000 from unappropriated fund balance of the General Fund to the Public Health Department's FY 2023 Operating Budget (Fund 203) in order to provide emergency shelter services for people experiencing homelessness.
Prepared by:
Whitney Harrison, MPA
Social & Mental Health Services
Division Manager
Approved by:
fiir•-1 ~
MIG7: MARQUEZ
City Manager
Respectfully submitted,
MANUELCARMONA,MPA
Acting Director
Public Health Department