TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Ingrid Hardy, Assistant City Manager
DATE:September 24, 2024
SUBJECT: Navigation Center Progress Update
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive report.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time required to prepare the report is included in the Adopted FY 2024-25 General Fund Budget.
Total construction costs are estimated at $8,011,418. This is partially offset by State Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) grant dollars in the amount of $4,112,158, and by the County of Ventura’s commitment of $1,822,130. Fee waivers from the Conejo Valley Recreation and Park District and Conejo Valley Unified School District have helped to offset some of the overall construction cost.
The General Fund is covering the balance of the construction costs.
First year operating costs are estimated at $1,171,373. This cost is partially offset by ERF funding in the amount of $835,229, and by the County of Ventura’s commitment of $168,072. The Operator is currently in conversations with American Water Charitable Foundation regarding a grant that would offset costs by an additional $25,000. The General Fund is covering the balance of the operating costs.
BACKGROUND:
On September 27, 2022, City Council authorized staff to issue a Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) for the construction and operation of a Navigation Center at 1205 Lawrence Drive. City staff issued the RFP/Q on October
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September 24, 2024
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7, 2022. On December 6, 2022, City Council unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to select Many Mansions, Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission (now Hope the Mission), and DignityMoves (Proposer) to develop, lease, and operate a Navigation Center and directed staff to develop an Exclusive Negotiations Agreement (ENA).
On February 28, 2023, City Council authorized the ENA, approved staff work with the County and the Proposer to submit a grant application to the State of California for the ERF grant program, and authorized the City Manager to execute a cost- sharing agreement with the County of Ventura to provide up to $2.0 million in funding towards construction and 50 percent of annual operating costs.
In August 2023, the City was awarded a $5.8 million ERF grant to support the construction and operations of the Navigation Center.
On October 23, 2023, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a Special Use Permit (SUP) (Attachment #1) for the construction and operation of a navigation center, support facilities, supportive services, and associated improvements. Planning Commission approval of the SUP was required for this proposed project as emergency shelters are not permitted by right in the City’s M-1 zone. The SUP outlines conditions of approval of this proposed use at this location within the M-1 zone. These conditions of approval provide the foundation for more detailed agreements between the City and Proposer.
On January 16, 2024, City Council approved definitive agreements between the City and the Proposer. These agreements consisted of a Ground Lease with Many Mansions, a Development Management Agreement with DignityMoves, and a Professional Services Agreement with Hope the Mission and Many Mansions jointly. City Council also approved specified expenditures and budget appropriations to support initial project implementation.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Progress Update
The Navigation Center has two phases. The first phase which is under construction will provide 30 beds. The second phase, if approved by City Council, will provide an additional 20 beds, for a total of 50. The project is approximately 26 percent complete. The anticipated construction completion date and occupancy has been revised from October 2024 to January 2025. The revised completion date reflects impacts of site-specific factors which required design modifications, obstacles that have slowed the process of obtaining critical approvals from external agencies, and lengthy approval times from external agencies.
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September 24, 2024
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Despite challenges, several important milestones have been achieved. Highlights of accomplishments to date include:
April 11: City and its partners hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which included elected and appointed officials across the region and attracted positive media attention.
May 28: Contractor team mobilized onsite.
June 28: Site grading commenced.
July 2: Modular unit design obtained state approval.
September 6: Building Permit issued.
Over the next couple of months, City staff will continue to work with its partners to obtain the remaining necessary permits including Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing permits as site preparation and improvements continue in anticipation of the arrival of the modular units. The modular units have been ordered and are expected to be completed and delivered to the site in December 2024. The final stage of the construction phase will be completed in January 2025.
In addition, City staff also continues to support Hope the Mission and Many Mansions as they prepare to assume site management and operational responsibilities. This includes facilitating communication with the County of Ventura, local law enforcement, other local service providers, and community stakeholders to support critical relationship development, inform operational procedures, and identify fundraising opportunities. City staff has also supported our partners in efforts to obtain additional grant funding to offset operations costs of the project.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
A. Create a more equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive government and community regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, language, education, and/or socio-economic status.
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
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C. Operate City government in a fiscally
and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
D. Maintain strong commitment to public safety (including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management) to ensure City remains one of the safest Cities in the United States with a population over 100,000.
PREPARED BY: Dusty Russell, Economic Development Analyst CMO:585-50\H:COMMON\Council Items\2024 Staff Reports\09 24 24\092424 Navigation Center Progress Update