ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: D1
Prepared by: Jonathan Lung, Homeless Services Program Mgr Meeting Date: February 20, 2025
Imelda Huerta, Assistant City Manager
John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion
SUBJECT: DISCUSS DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONAL OPTIONS TO CONTINUE THE STANDING
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and discuss different organizational options for continuing the Standing Committee on Homelessness and provide a recommendation to City Council at a future date.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: (1) Homelessness & Housing.
PRIOR ACTION: On January 14, 2025, directed staff to provide options for a community centered group to advise on the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness (Vote: 5-0)
On January 23, 2024, created a Brown Act Standing Committee made up of Mayor Franklin and Deputy Mayor Melendez with remaining councilmembers as ex-officio members (Vote: 4-0-1, Green Abstained).
STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: On January 23, 2024, the Standing Committee on Homelessness (SCOH) was created by the City Council to meet on the third Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. The purpose of the SCOH was to dedicate additional time to receive thorough updates from staff regarding the implementation of the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness (Strategic Plan) and allow more in-depth discussion between the Committee Members to report back to the City Council.
The first SCOH meeting was called to order on February 15, 2024, and five more SCOH meetings were held in March, April, May, June, and August of that year, with the June 20, 2024 meeting hosting a Strategic Plan Update. SCOH meetings were cancelled from September 2024 until this February 20, 2025 meeting.
On January 14, 2025, the City Council directed staff to provide options for a community centered group to advise on the Strategic Plan, and this item proposes different options for the SCOH to consider and bring a recommendation back to the City Council at a later date. The options below are presented in no particular order.
Option 1:
Continue the Standing Committee on Homelessness in its current format, with Deputy Mayor Melendez and Mayor Franklin rotating as Chair and Vice Chair, and the remaining councilmembers as ex-officio members.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 11, 2025 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR APPLICATION TO PURCHASE TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY
FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Option 2:
Appoint community members to serve on the SCOH with voting authority equal to the Chair and Vice Chair. There is no limit to how many committee members may be appointed.
Option 3:
Establish a Homelessness Commission, which would be comprised entirely of appointed community members and exclude councilmembers, to replace the SCOH. This would be a staff-led body with Commission recommendations brought to City Council by City staff.
Option 4:
Eliminate the SCOH and hold quarterly workshops with updates on the Implementation of the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness. Currently, updates on the Implementation of the Strategic Plan are brought to City Council on a semi-annual basis. Updates would be received by the entire City Council, which would allow adoption of Resolutions in support of the Strategic Plan, relieving the twice-monthly City Council meetings of Strategic Plan items, and allow community member and stakeholder presentations and feedback.
Different venues may be considered with each of these options, including the City Council Chambers, Marris B. Vance Community Room, and a virtual meeting room. Live streaming, recording, and virtual participation are available with each of these options
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
EXHIBITS:
1. None