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DISCUSSION
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: June 5, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Rochelle Clayton, Acting City Manager
Department: City Manager’s Office
Subject: Adopt Resolution Establishing the Homeless
Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee (All Wards)
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-141 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, establishing the Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee.
Executive Summary
The Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee would be a committee composed of less than a quorum of council members and would meet as needed between June 5, 2024, and May 31, 2025. The purpose of the ad hoc sub-committee will be to review and advise staff on policy, program, and project proposals specifically related to the City’s short-term and long-term homeless strategies. This will assist staff in developing future recommendations for addressing the City’s homeless crisis, helping to ensure they are fully vetted and better aligned with Council’s direction.
Background
Chapter 2.76 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code and Section 600 of the City Charter allow the Mayor and City Council to establish sub-committees. These sub- committees must be comprised of less than a majority of Council members, and the sub committees have the power to study, research, and make appropriate recommendations to the Mayor and City Council concerning any matter referred to such committee by the Mayor and City Council.
The power to appoint Council members to sub-committees is established in Section 303 of the City Charter, where it is a power and duty of the Mayor. Specifically, Section 303 (d) of the City Charter states:
Appoint the members and officers of Council committees
(committees made up wholly of less than a majority of City Council members), and perform other duties as specified by the Council. 2 1
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The Mayor’s appointment power to sub-committees is also affirmed in Section 2.76.040 of the San Bernardino Municipal Code, whereby the Mayor shall also have the responsibility to designate a chairperson of the sub-committee:
It shall be the responsibility and duty of the Mayor to assign City Council Members to all standing committees and ad hoc sub- committees of the City Council. It shall also be the responsibility and duty of the Mayor to designate chairpersons of all standing sub- committees and ad hoc sub-committees of the City Council.
Discussion
On April 10, 2024, staff presented the Mayor and City Council with an update on the City’s short-term and long-term strategies for addressing the City’s homeless crisis. To ensure that the policies, programs, and projects related to these strategies are properly aligned with Council direction, it is recommended that a Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee is established. The proposed Ad Hoc Sub-Committee will review the issues and proposals that are directly related to the implementation of the City’s short- term and long-term homeless strategies and will assist staff in developing recommendations that are to be brought forward for the full consideration of the entire Mayor and City Council. To function as a true “ad hoc” sub-committee, and not a standing committee subject to the Brown Act, the Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub- Committee would be comprised solely of less than a quorum of council members, have a limited purpose, and have a limited duration. Additionally, the proposed ad hoc sub- committee would be advisory only; the Mayor and City Council cannot delegate any decision-making authority to the sub-committee.
As proposed, the Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee would be composed of up to three (3) Council members. The Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee would be tasked with the limited purpose of reviewing and vetting policy, program, and project proposals related to the City’s short-term and long-term strategies for addressing the homeless crisis. This includes, but is not limited to, the implementation of the Motel Voucher Program and the development of emergency shelters such as the City’s Navigation Center. The establishment of the Homeless Ad Hoc Sub-Committee would have a set duration, where it would meet as needed between June 5, 2024, and May 31, 2025, at which time it will automatically dissolve. 2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Establishing the Homeless Ad Hoc Sub-Committee relates to Key Target No 1a:
Establish clear policy direction and predictable organization structures, and Key Target No 3: Improved Quality of Life.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with establishing the Homeless Ad Hoc Sub- Committee.
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Conclusion
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-141 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, establishing the Homeless Initiatives Ad Hoc Sub-Committee.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Resolution No. 2024-141
Attachment 2 – Section 303 of the City Charter
Attachment 3 – Section 600 of the City Charter
Attachment 4 – Chapter 2.76 of the Municipal Code
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A