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HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 Supplemental - Revised Staff Report and Attachment ASTAFF REPORT CITY OF PALM DESERT CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE MEETING DATE: January 13, 2022 PREPARED BY: Heather Horning, Assistant to the City Manager REQUEST: Request for direction on how to proceed with the appointment of the Homelessness Taskforce Members. Recommendation By Minute Motion, provide City staff direction to: 1. Appoint the following to the Homelessness Taskforce for a term ending June 30, 2023: • Patricia Ann Munson, Community Member • Randy Florence, Business Member • Davis Meyer, Alternate And appoint the following to the Homelessness Taskforce for a term ending June 30, 2025: • Jeremy Wittie, Community Member • Diane Vines, Business Member • Cindy Burreson, Alternate OR 2. Appoint the following to the Homelessness Taskforce for a term ending June 30, 2023: • Patricia Ann Munson, Community Member • Randy Florence, Business Member • Davis Meyer, Member At Large And appoint the following to the Homelessness Taskforce for a term ending June 30, 2025: • Jeremy Wittie, Community Member • Diane Vines, Business Member • Cindy Burreson, Alternate Background The City Council has been committed to supporting a diversity of activities to mitigate homelessness locally in Palm Desert and regionally across the Coachella Valley. As such, January 13, 2022 Homelessness Taskforce Member Appointment Page 2 of 3 the City and partnering organizations provide various services and coordinated efforts, and meet on a monthly basis to discuss trends, specific clients, resources available and many other items. In order to increase the level of coordination and communication, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-25 on May 27, 2021, establishing a Homelessness Taskforce. On June 10, 2021, the City Council adopted draft bylaws to be further defined in future by the Taskforce, once established. On December 14, 2021, the City Council held a study session to conduct interviews for the members of the Taskforce. Staff received feedback to appoint the following members to the following positions: Name Position Term Expiration* Patricia Ann Munson Community Member 6/30/2023 Jeremy Wittie Community Member 6/30/2025 Randy Florence Business Member 6/30/2023 Diane Vines Business Member 6/30/2025 Davis Meyer Alternate 6/30/2023 Cindy Burreson Alternate 6/30/2025 *The initial term for these appointments is either two or four years, chosen at random, in order to stagger the expiration dates. Following the interviews, staff received feedback from the Taskforce subcommittee that there is a desire to have an odd number to members for quorum and voting purposes. The subcommittee recommends making one of the Alternate Members a Member At Large in order to make the Taskforce membership consist of nine Members and one Alternate. Below is a table with the subcommittee recommended appointments: Name Position Term Expiration* Patricia Ann Munson Community Member 6/30/2023 Jeremy Wittie Community Member 6/30/2025 Randy Florence Business Member 6/30/2023 Diane Vines Business Member 6/30/2025 Davis Meyer Member At Large 6/30/2023 Cindy Burreson Alternate 6/30/2025 A redline version of the subcommittee’s proposed changes to the Taskforce Bylaws is attached for reference as Attachment A. After the appointment of members, the next steps include staff setting up an initial meeting with the Taskforce and working with them to finalize the bylaws. All the recommended bylaw changes will be presented to the full Council for approval at a future meeting. ATTACHMENT A City of Palm Desert Homelessness Taskforce Bylaws Article I – Name. Homelessness Taskforce Article II – Purpose. The Homelessness Taskforce shall review various services and coordinated efforts to address homelessness and, when necessary, advise the City Council of the same. Additionally, the Taskforce shall discuss business and community needs and effects due to the impacts of homelessness and seek solutions, where appropriate. Article III – Members. The Homelessness Taskforce shall be composed of nine members and one alternate member. The members include two City Councilmembers appointed by the Mayor, two members of the business community, two community members, one member at large, the Chair of the Public Safety Commission and the Chair of the Housing Commission or their designees. Business and community members shall serve four-year terms. Business members may reside outside of Palm Desert, however their businesses must be located in Palm Desert. Any member may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a vote of the City Council. Article IV – Officers. The Homelessness Taskforce elects two officers: the chair and the vice-chair. The chair conducts all meetings. If the chair is absent, then the vice-chair acts as chair. If the chair and vice-chair are absent, then the Homelessness Taskforce appoints a member to act as the provisional chair. Article V – Meetings. Regularly scheduled meetings shall be held bi-monthly (every other month) and scheduled at a time and date approved by appointed members. The Homelessness Taskforce may meet more frequently by majority vote. The Homelessness Taskforce meetings are held at Palm Desert City Hall. A quorum is established if a simple majority of members are present. Article VI – Meeting Notice. Regular meetings are noticed by posting an agenda at least 72 hours (three business days) before meetings (Cal. Gov't Code section 54954.2(a)). Special meetings are noticed by posting an agenda at least 24 hours (one business day) before meetings (Cal. Gov't Code section 54956). Emergency meetings may be called if dire circumstances threaten public health or safety, as long as one-hour notice is given to media if requested (Cal. Gov't Code section 54956.5). Article VII – Voting. All member motions are approved by majority vote. If there is a tie vote with no abstentions, then the vote is recorded as a tie (no action). A subsequent motion may be offered and acted upon before finalizing the consideration of the item. Article VIII – Subcommittees. The City Council or the City Manager may direct the Homelessness Taskforce to create an ad hoc subcommittee to study an issue. The subcommittee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Homelessness Taskforce. Article IX – Record Keeping. Written records of actions taken or recommendations made by the Homelessness Taskforce shall be kept by an official recording secretary of the City department assigned to act as liaison to the Committee. Article X – Bylaws Amendment. The City Council can amend the Homelessness Taskforce bylaws by majority vote.