June 7, 2022
City Council
DATE: June 7, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Vice Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Subject:
Expand The Terms of Appropriated ARPA Flex Funds for
Rydin Road Residents
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No further financial impact to the City. These funds were appropriated on December 21, 2021.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 7, 2021 (Item M-4)
December 21, 2021 (Item K-4)
January 25, 2022 (Item U-5)
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
To assist in relocation efforts, the unhoused communities at Rydin Road were allocated $50,000 in City funds for
vehicle repair and other vehicle-related expenditures.
After consultation with City staff, service providers, and unhoused residents, it is clear that the terms of this
monetary distribution must be made more flexible. By
way of approving this item, the City Council is expanding the terms by which these funds can be allocated by the
City to unhoused residents at Rydin Road.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
AMEND direction provided by City Council on December
21, 2021, which appropriated $50,000 for flex funds for vehicle repair and servicing, to expand the terms under which these funds can be spent, to be overseen by the
Community Development Department - Vice
Mayor Eduardo Martinez (510-620-6593).
AGENDA
REPORT
June 7, 2022
DISCUSSION:
In accordance with the needs of unhoused residents at Rydin Road, community wishes, and prior direction from City Council, the encampment at Rydin Road should have a clear and timely path toward relocation.
Meanwhile, the critical needs of our unhoused community must be addressed.
Councilmember McLaughlin brought forward an item (Item K-4) to the City Council on December 21, 2021, to allocate some basic resources to the communities at Rydin Road without anyone forced out until and unless a viable relocation has been offered.
In addition, City Council approved a motion from Councilmember McLaughlin after receiving a presentation from City Staff on January 25, 2022, (Item U-5) to authorize staff to consider cash for cars.
City staff has explored multiple avenues for using these funds as previously directed by Council, ultimately finding that one strategy cannot apply wholesale for these funds.
In expanding the scope of these ARPA funds, the City can more directly and efficiently address vehicular, safety, and other basic amenity needs, in service of relocating Rydin Road residents in a timely and humane fashion.
Next steps will include a thorough needs assessment of each resident at Rydin Road, in service of providing relocation needs in a targeted and long-lasting fashion.
This item also reemphasizes that no residents at Rydin Road will be evicted until viable relocation sites are available.
This amended endows the City Community Development Department discretion in the allocation of previously allocated funds to Rydin Road unhoused residents, acknowledging the numerous efforts made by City Staff to secure a cohesive plan for vehicle servicing at Rydin Road.
Extract from the 12/21/21 City Council Meeting Minutes:
K-4. The matter to adopt a resolution in support of an independent Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of housed and unhoused residents, along with community leaders; and approve and appropriate $50,000 of flex funds for repair, preparation for transfer or removal, registration, storage and towing for Recreational Vehicles and vehicles, and for temporary storage of personal belongings, to assist in relocation at Rydin and Castro was presented by Councilmembers McLaughlin and Martinez. Discussion ensued. Interim City Manager Shasa Curl suggested that a fiscal sponsor City assist with the allocation of funds. Staff would proceed with the initial direction and return to a City Council meeting in January to present a report on the process of the distribution of funds. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Terry Dunn, Jessi Turan, Lea Murray, Brenda Hector, Maeve Bergman, Linda, Deborah, Ramon Quintana, Naomi Williams,
June 7, 2022
Darin Lounds, Payton Silket, and Amanda Jenkins. Further discussion ensued. A motion was made by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember McLaughlin to allow time for a study and homeless road map plan and that the committee that was created at the last City Council meeting included the unhoused residents in the discussions as part of the decision-making body. Councilmember McLaughlin offered a friendly amendment to include the $50,000 for vehicle needs. The friendly amendment was accepted. Councilmember Martinez offered a friendly amendment that an audit of HCEB was performed by city staff. The friendly amendment was accepted.
Councilmember McLaughlin offered another friendly amendment that the mayor’s new ad-hoc committee work with city staff and the City Attorney’s Office to clarify the roles of the two different ad-hoc committees. The friendly amendment was accepted. The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, and Willis. Noes: Councilmember Bates and Mayor Butt. Absent: Vice Mayor Johnson III. Abstain: None.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None.