Administrative
Report
H.11., File # 26-1035 Meeting Date: 9/1/2026
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOY A. FORD, CITY ATTORNEY
STEPHANIE JOHNSON, QUALITY OF LIFE PROSECUTOR
TITLE
APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH
CLEAR RECOVERY CENTER, LLC FOR AN ALTERNATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM TO
RESPOND TO PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO EXTEND THE TERM FROM SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 TO DECEMBER 31, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On December 18, 2023, the Mayor and City Council entered into a Grant Agreement with Health Net to receive funding totaling $1,338,753 for the expansion of the pallet shelter and creation of the Alternative Crisis Response pilot program (“ACR”). This grant has been extended twice and is set to expire on December 31, 2026. On September 9, 2025, the Mayor and City Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City and Clear Recovery Center (“CLEAR”) to create an ACR team from September 10, 2025, to September 9, 2026. The total Health Net grant funding allocated for CLEAR is $379,000, of which the program has expended $245,022.82 to date.
This leaves a remaining balance of $133,977.18 to sustain program operations through the end of the calendar year. Staff recommends extending the term of the MOU with CLEAR to December 31, 2026, to utilize available funding from the Health Net grant.
BACKGROUND
The Redondo Beach ACR team is a mobile, community-based program that responds lo emergency calls involving behavioral health, substance use, or homelessness without an immediate police presence. The team deploys a mental health therapist and substance use counselor to assess psychiatric symptoms and provide crisis de-escalation and emotional stabilization, as well as on-site behavioral health and substance use assessments and supportive counseling. The team provides transportation to behavioral health services, direct connection to ongoing care through "warm handoffs" and follow-up care to ensure continuity of care. The Redondo Beach ACR team addresses a well-documented gap in crisis response and provides health-oriented responses to non-violent behavioral health calls. By embedding trained behavioral health professionals into the response system, the City has created a model that improves care, reduces system strain and enhances community well-being. Through its emphasis on de-escalation, trust-building, and active service linkage, the ACR team connects people who need help at a community level.
During the cumulative reporting period from November 11, 2025, to July 31, 2026, the ACR program documented 108 responded encounters. The most frequent encounter type remains Clinical Assessment and Triage. The ACR program also addresses other critical community needs, including
H.11., File # 26-1035 Meeting Date: 9/1/2026
Assessment and Triage. The ACR program also addresses other critical community needs, including overdose and self-harm concerns, family and hospital coordination, housing navigation, connections to Beach Cities Health District for healthcare management, Adult Protective Services reporting, treatment linkage, and follow-up outreach. Additionally, during the weekend reporting window from April 19, 2026, to July 26, 2026, the program logged 21 weekend encounters across both field responses and telephone support. These weekend interventions primarily addressed intoxication or withdrawal concerns, behavioral health presentations, high-utilizer contacts, unsheltered medical aid, family support, and functional-safety risks for older or medically vulnerable adults.
Demonstrating the program's impact, ACR successfully engaged a Housing Initiative Court participant, guiding her through enrollment, a 30-day detox, and transition into sober living, which serves as a pivotal step toward the dismissal of her pending felony with the District Attorney’s Office and Redondo Beach misdemeanor charges. Furthermore, ACR successfully re-engaged with a client who frequently relies on emergency services by coordinating with a friend and treatment provider to arrange transportation to the MLK detox facility, effectively substituting a cycle of emergency responses with direct substance-use treatment.
Staff recommends utilizing the balance of the Health Grant by extending the MOU with Clear to December 31, 2026, while the City Attorney’s Office continues to seek alternative funding sources.
The City Attorney’s Office is currently awaiting results from a grant application submitted to the Innovation Partnership Fund seeking additional funding for this program. It has also submitted a Technical Assistance request to the Department of Health Care Services Opioid Settlement Funds (“OSF”). The City is allowed to use funding from opioid settlements to continue this program and will work closely with City Staff to prioritize eligible projects.
COORDINATION
The City Attorney's Office coordinated with Clear in connection with the preparation of this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding is available from the Health Net grant.
Submitted by:
Joy A. Ford, City Attorney
ATTACHMENTS
· First Amendment to the MOU