Standing Committee on Homelessness
September 19, 2024
Meeting Minutes
The September 19, 2024 Standing Committee on Homelessness was called to order by Chair Melendez at 8:37 am in City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, California.
Committee Members Present:
Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez, Chair
Mayor John Franklin, Vice Chair
Staff Present
John Conley, City Manager
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
Walter Chung, City Attorney
Bevely Roxas, Assistant City Attorney
Kathy Valdez, Assistant City Clerk
Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Manager
Daniel Sturman, Management Analyst
Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Melendez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Approved the August 22, 2024, meeting minutes.
D1. Overview and Implementation of SB43
Mike Phillips, Esq., Senior Director of Patient Advocacy and Housing Services and Mariel Horner, Patient Rights Advocate, Jewish Family Service, provided the presentation.
Committee members and staff discussed the following:
• SB43 and expanding the definition of grave disability; effective January 2025 • Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act
• Not all mental health beds are designated LPS; requested list of sites with bed count
• Need to provide mental health services in the community prior to crisis • Engagement is important, it takes multiple visits to build trust • Definition has expanded to include substance use disorder as well as neglect of necessary medical care
• Due process hearing required; currently only done in person downtown; advocate for remote (video call) hearings
• Need more facilities for conservatorship
Standing Commission on Homelessness
September 19, 2024
2 Chair Melendez asked for item D3 to be discussed prior to D2.
D2. Permanent Shelter
Management Analyst Daniel Sturman provided the staff report.
Committee members and staff discussed the following:
• Modular buildings are less expensive but have limitations on the number of floors and use of space
• Requested staff to look at construction costs for the modulars in the Victorville, CA program
• Need to look at the benefits and impact of adopting an emergency declaration and determine if the City should do so; discuss at a future City Council meeting o Mayor request for the Deputy Mayor to meet with the City Manager on this item prior to a City Council discussion
• Look at analysis of costs over 10 years and 30 years to determine if it is better for the City to own or rent a facility for a shelter
• Look at City property first
D3. General Homelessness Updates
Homeless Services Program Manager Jonathan Lung reviewed the dashboard from each of the programs; agency representatives were available to answer questions.
Councilmembers and staff discussed the following:
• Break out the Exodus dashboard to two pages so it is easier to read the information
• Concern about the amount of funding being spent and eligibility criteria for VEHAP; want funds to help those most in need
• Requesting income information for those funded through the VEHAP program • Need rapid rehousing program; look for funding options • Want to compare outcomes of the Safe Parking Program with other programs • Seniors tend to stay longer at Safe Parking than younger clients • Look at ability to require new affordable housing sites to take residents from Safe Parking and BCNC
• Would like to know more details about where people were previously living • Would like to see why, and how often, clients are not accepted
Adjournment
Chair Melendez adjourned the meeting at 11:54 am