Agenda Item #12.3
For Council Meeting of: March 29, 2022
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: kelli kuykendall, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER – HOMELESS SERVICES SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER GRANT AGREEMENT – WARMING CENTER AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve a First Amendment to Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa CFDA #14.218, increasing the contract by $45,000 for a total amount of $247,000, for the activation of a Warming Center at the Homeless Services Center in response to extreme weather conditions; and 2) appropriate $45,000 from the Homeless Fund reserves necessary to fund the amendment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff seeks approval of a First Amendment to Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa CFDA #14.218 (First Amendment), increasing the contract by $45,000, for the activation of a Warming Center at the Homeless Services Center in response to extreme weather conditions. Costs to operate the Warming Center exceed the Fiscal Year 2021/2022 budget for the Homeless Services Center ($202,000), necessitating an amendment to the existing agreement. The First Amendment provides an additional $45,000, a combined total of $247,000, for two recent activations of the Warming Center plus a contingency in the event of another activation during the current Fiscal Year 2021/2022.
BACKGROUND
In response to extreme cold weather conditions in December 2021 and again in February 2022, staff facilitated the activation of a Warming Center at the Homeless Services Center, operated by Catholic Charities. The Warming Center, located outdoors, operated from 8 p.m. to 7a.m. and was outfitted with pop-up tents warmed by low-profile radiant heaters.
Information on recent Warming Center activations is provided below.
December 30, 2021 to January 1, 2022 – 3 nights
Total Served: 101
Cost: $14,693
February 22, 2022 to February 24, 2022 – 3 nights
Total Served: 82
Cost: Pending
In December 2021 and February 2022, the City Manager directed the establishment of a Warming Center during an Extreme Weather Event based on weather confirmation by the Fire Department. In response, City staff has developed and the City manager has approved a staff-level policy to ensure operational efficiency and consistency related to the opening of warming centers going forward in response to Extreme Weather Events involving low temperatures. The City’s approach to the staff-level warming center policy is based on the City’s existing “Cooling Center” and “Extreme Cold Public Safety Power (PSPS) Shutoff Community Support Center” policies, which have proven effective in coordinating staffs’ rapid responses to heat and PSPS events.
For instance, per the staff-level operational policy, defines an Extreme Weather Event for Extreme Weather Warming Centers as follows:
Anytime the National Weather Service (“NWS”) forecasts:
Three (3) consecutive days with overnight lows below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Three (3) consecutive nights of rainfall with major or extreme risk levels as determined by the NWS.
The staff-level policy also sets forth key procedural information to guide future warming center openings, including persons authorized to open the warming centers, coordination and key contacts amongst City departments and partner agencies and basic rules associated with warming center operations.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On April 27, 2021, Council authorized submission of the Fiscal Year 2021/2022 Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and approved grant agreements for Public Services, Fair Housing, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. This included a grant agreement with Catholic Charities for the Homeless Services Center in the amount of $202,000 ($102,000 Community Development Block Grant funding plus $100,000 General Fund).
ANALYSIS
Staff is seeking Council’s approval of the First Amendment to rant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa CFDA #14.218, which will provide $45,000 to cover Warming Center operations for Fiscal Year 2021/2022, approximately $15,000 per activation. This covers the two recent activations in December 2021 and February 2022. The First Amendment also provides a contingency in the event another activation is needed during the current fiscal year. Any future activation of a warming center would be consistent with City policy, as is the City’s approach for cooling centers and PSPS Community Support centers.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted from Homeless Fund 1209 reserves for this purpose and will not require an additional appropriation of City General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution/Exhibit A – First Amendment to Grant Agreement for Public Service Providers Program Funds Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa CFDA #14.218
CONTACT
Kelli Kuykendall, Housing and Community Services Manager (Homeless Services), [email protected] AMENDMENT TO HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER GRANT AGREEMENT – WARMING CENTER PAGE 3 OF 3