RULES COMMITTEE AGENDA: 05.15.2024
ITEM:
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Vice Mayor Kamei,
Councilmember Jimenez
Councilmember Ortiz
Councilmember Candelas
SUBJECT: Bringing Equity to San José DATE: May 8, 2024
APPROVED:
RECOMMENDATION
Direct the City Manager to prepare Manager’s Budget Addenda on the following items for consideration in the June Budget Message:
1. As directed by Councilmember Candelas and approved by the City Council on October 24, 2023, establish needed resources to engage health care providers such as Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, or other public and private partners to create onsite preventive care solutions at our Emergency Interim Housing (EIH) locations to reduce emergency service calls.
2. Analyze the cost of adding Joseph George Elementary school as a pilot location to the recently approved Encampment Management Program’s school setback policy.
3. Analyze adding Thompson Creek to the Encampment Management Abatement and instituting “no return zone” in an effort to maintain waterways clean and free of pollutants, biohazards, and protect riparian habitat.
4. Analyze the eligibility of using CDBG Funds to support, enhance, and expand the work of Project Hope in the Cadillac-Winchester area by:
a. Creating a clear Asset Map of resources—including facilities and programs— available for residents and businesses.
b. Funding a new Needs Assessment; and
c. Completing a Gap Analysis to determine what needs remain unmet.
5. Analyze the eligibility of using CDBG Funds for the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) as a possible Community Development Investment (CDI) Project for FY 2025/2026.
BACKGROUND
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 15, 2024
Bringing Equity to San José
2 On Site Preventive Care Solutions at Emergency Interim Housing As mentioned in the Mayor’s March Budget, “homelessness in San José is a humanitarian, fiscal, and environmental crisis that requires bold action.” We have made progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness though the establishment of EIH communities. However, we know that providing a safe place to stay is only the first step in supporting an individual’s path to selfsufficiency. The lack of on-site medical support for preventive health and basic first aid at San Jose’s EIH communities has led to a disproportionate number of calls for emergency services at these locations. These calls significantly burden emergency responders; heavily strain relationships between EIH staff, residents and responders; negatively impact response times to other emergency calls; and are extremely costly to the city. Residents living in our EIH communities have no other option but to call 911 when they are experiencing symptoms associated with chronic conditions and non-emergency health concerns. Providing onsite medical exams, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, wound care, general health maintenance, immunizations, and mental health evaluations will undoubtedly reduce calls for emergency services and support the health and safety of residents. Several other cities and counties provide comprehensive health care services at homeless encampments through mobile clinics. There are many good models nationwide that can be replicated in San José.
Additional School for Encampment Management Program’s School Setback Pilot On April 9th, the City Council unanimously passed ordinances amending the Municipal Code to authorize the removal of vehicles parked in violation of zones restricting large vehicle parking and No Overnight Parking Zones. While this is one step forward in the right direction toward finding a solution to establishing safe passageways to schools for our students in these severely impacted areas, there is an additional school that is facing the same hardships as those schools included in the pilot programs. Joseph George Middle school has been facing oversized/large vehicle parking along its campus since 2017, prompting school administration, parents, and neighbors to contact the city for help (SEE ATTACHMENT A). Therefore, we would like staff to bring forward a cost analysis to include Joseph George Middle School as a pilot school.
Instituting Thompson Creek as a No-Return Zone
Thompson Creek currently has well over 30 encampments. This has created major environmental concerns, by contributing to the accumulation of trash, pollutants, and biohazards in the waterway (Attachment B). This will lead to more pollutants directly discharging into San Francisco Bay feeders including Coyote Creek and Guadalupe River; given the stormwater permit requirements for the city with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, this creek should rise as a priority. We believe these preventive measures that discourage the establishment of homeless encampments in proximity of Thompson Creek will benefit the surrounding neighborhoods. By prioritizing Thompson Creek and implementing proactive measures to support individuals experiencing homelessness, we can work towards safeguarding the health and integrity of our natural environments while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. The focus should be the stretch of Thompson Creek from Tully Road/Capitol Expressway to Aborn Road.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 15, 2024
Bringing Equity to San José
3 CDBG Funds for the Cadillac-Winchester area
Separately, but relatedly, undergirding and expanding the support systems we have already created in the city will help prevent distinct communities from falling into homelessness, and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources—especially in historically underserved neighborhoods of San Jose. The Cadillac-Winchester neighborhood is one such part of our city.
The current work of Project Hope in this area is a signature effort in creating greater opportunity and resolving longstanding inequities. In order for this area to fully realize its potential and to bring to life the principles embodied in the Children and Youth Services Master Plan, a clear understanding of present needs and resources is necessary. We believe that understanding is best obtained through a Needs Assessment, the development of an Asset Map, and the conduct of relevant Gap Analysis. We ask that the City bring forward relevant cost analysis, including the potential for using Community Development Block Grant Funds for this purpose. We would also welcome exploring partnerships with San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, or other nonprofit partners to fund a fellowship for this purpose.
CDBG Funds for the Mexican American Community Service Agency In its hay day, the Mexican American Community Services Agency was a shining example of unwavering support for students and their families. Its web of interconnected social services, community education, cultural events, recreational activities, parenting workshops, and participation in special events made it a beacon of hope for the youth of our community. This comprehensive approach was a testament to its commitment to the youth of our community.
MACSA played an instrumental role in the development of Latino youth, leaving an indelible mark on many leaders in the city and County. Its revitalization has the potential to positively impact even more generations to come, just as it did before.
Similar to how the African American Community Center was an MBA that later was funded as a Community Development Investment (CDI) through Public Works for FY 2024/2025, we would like an MBA to analyze the eligibility of using CDBG Funds for MACSA as a possible CDI Project for FY 2025/2026, as the next consideration for CDI Projects for FY 2025/2026 will be in December 2024.
We strongly believe that supporting the community's vision of revitalizing the MACSA building and offering services to the families of San José is the best path the city could take. By doing so, the city will not only preserve a key part of the community's heritage but also provide a valuable resource for generations to come.
The signers of this memorandum have not had, and will not have, any private conversation with any other member of the City Council, or that member’s staff, concerning any action discussed in the memorandum, and that each signer’s staff members have not had, and have been instructed not to have, any such conversation with any other member of the City Council or that member's staff.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 15, 2024
Bringing Equity to San José
4 ATTACHMENT A: Photo of Oversized Vehicles Parked Alongside Joseph George Middle School Campus.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 15, 2024
Bringing Equity to San José
5 ATTACHMENT B: Photo of Thompson Creek Encampments, trash and biohazards in the Waterway.