HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-01 HT Regular Meeting Agenda PacketCity of Palm Desert Page 1
HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
AGENDA
City Hall, North Wing Conference Room
73-510 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting and
there will be in-person access to this location.
•To participate via Zoom, use the following link: https://palmdesert.zoom.us/j/87071479783 or
call (213) 338-8477, Zoom Meeting ID: 870 7147 9783
•Written public comment may also be submitted to mnance@palmdesert.gov. Emails received
by 8:00 a.m. prior to the meeting will be distributed to the Taskforce. Any correspondence
received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the Taskforce as soon as
practicable and retained for the official record. Emails will not be read aloud except as an
ADA accommodation.
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.ROLL CALL
3.NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: This time has been set aside for the public to address
the Homelessness Taskforce on issues that are not on the agenda for up to three minutes.
Because the Brown Act does not allow the Taskforce to act on items not listed on the agenda,
members may briefly respond or refer the matter to staff for a report and recommendation at
a future meeting.
4.PRESENTATIONS
A.HARC, INC.
5.ACTION CALENDAR
A.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Homelessness Taskforce Regular Meeting minutes
of March 6, 2023.
Monday
May 1, 2023 9:00 a.m.
Regular Meeting
Homelessness Taskforce Agenda May 1, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 2
B.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE BYLAW AMENDMENT
RECOMMENDATION: Provide staff direction on amending the current Homelessness
Taskforce Bylaws.
C.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE JULY & SEPTEMBER MEETINGS
RECOMMENDATION: Provide staff direction on amending the current Homelessness
Taskforce schedule for July and September 2023.
6.INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE MEMBER REPORTS & REMARKS
B.CITY COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS & REMARKS
C.COMMUNITY PARTNER REPORTS
1.CVAG Update Report
D.STAFF REPORTS & REMARKS
1.Code Compliance Activity Report
2.Update from Social Services Coordinator, Jason Austin
E.ATTENDANCE REPORT
7.ADJOURNMENT: The next Regular Meeting will be held on July 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the
foregoing agenda for the Homelessness Taskforce was posted on the City Hall bulletin board
and City website not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting.
/s/ Michelle Nance
Recording Secretary
PUBLIC NOTICES
Agenda Related Materials: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5(b)(2) the designated
office for inspection of records in connection with this meeting is the City Manager’s Office,
City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Staff reports for all agenda items and
documents provided to a majority of the legislative bodies are available for public inspection
at City Hall and on the City’s website at www.palmdesert.gov.
Americans with Disabilities Act: It is the intention of the City of Palm Desert to comply with
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at
this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what
is normally provided, the city will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner.
Please contact the Office of the City Clerk, (760) 346-0611, at least 48 hours prior to the
meeting to inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible.
Item 4A-1
Item 4A-2
Item 4A-3
Item 4A-4
Item 4A-5
Item 4A-6
Item 4A-7
Item 4A-8
Item 4A-9
Item 4A-10
Item 4A-11
Item 4A-12
City of Palm Desert Page 1
HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
1.CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Homelessness Taskforce was called to order by Chair Vines on
Monday, March 6, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
2.ROLL CALL
Present: Taskforce members Cindy Burreson, Dennis Guinaw, Joseph Butts, Matthew
Johnson, Scott Marks and Chair Diane Vines. *Taskforce member Marks arrived
at 9:07am
Absent: Taskforce member Davis Meyer.
Liaison(s)
Present: Mayor Kathleen Kelly & Mayor Pro Tem Karina Quintanilla, City Council Liaisons
Staff
Present: Chris Escobedo, Assistant City Manager; Jason Austin, Social Services
Coordinator, Michelle Nance, Recording Secretary, were present at Roll Call.
Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in
the minutes.
3.NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: None
City Clerk Anthony Mejia provided information regarding Assembly Bill (AB) 2449, detailing
new conditions for remote participation in public meetings.
HARC CEO, Jenna Lecomte-Hinley introduced herself and gave brief summary of HARC, Inc
(Health Assessment and Research for Communities). Dr. Lecomte-Hinley looks forward to
presenting HARC’s recent report findings at a future meeting.
4.ACTION CALENDAR
A.FILL VICE-CHAIR VACANCY
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MARKS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON,
CARRIED 6-0, (ABSENT: MEYER) to appoint Cindy Burreson as Vice-Chair.
Monday,
March 6, 2023 9:00 a.m.
Regular Meeting
Item 5A-1
Homelessness Taskforce Minutes March 6, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 2
ALL ACTIONS ARE DRAFT, PENDING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
B.APPROVAL OF THE HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF JANUARY 9, 2023
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, SECOND BY VICE-CHAIR BURRESON,
CARRIED 6-0, (ABSENT: MEYER) to approve the Homelessness Taskforce regular
meeting minutes of January 9, 2023.
5.INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A.HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE MEMBER REPORTS & REMARKS
Chair Vines alerted the Taskforce of a meeting she will be attending with other local
agencies on March 7, 2023, and her intent to provide an full update in May.
B.CITY COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS & REMARKS
Mayor Kelly introduced new City Staff: Jason Austin, Social Services Coordinator. Jason
introduced himself and gave a summary of his career background.
Mayor Pro Tem Quintanilla, expressed appreciation for Jason joining the team and
provided an update on their meeting with UCR School of Medicine.
C.COMMUNITY PARTNER REPORTS
a.CVAG Annual Report provided– no presentation or action taken on this item.
b.Homelessness Taskforce Rolling Attendance January 2023 provided– no
presentation or action taken on this item.
D.STAFF REPORTS & REMARKS
a.Introduction of Social Services Coordinator, Jason Austin – Introduction
completed during City Council Liaison Reports and Remarks.
b.Luis Moctezuma provided an update on the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count.
c.Jason Austin and Chris Escobedo provided an update of 2023 Work Plan.
6.ADJOURNMENT
The Homelessness Taskforce adjourned at 9:57 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Nance, Deputy City Clerk I
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Chris Escobedo, Assistant City Manager
Secretary
APPROVED BY THE HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE: __/__/2023
Item 5A-2
Page 1 of 1
CITY OF PALM DESERT – HOMELESSNESS TASKFORCE
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 1, 2023
PREPARED BY: Jason Austin, Social Services Coordinator
REQUEST: PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION ON UPDATING HOMELESSNESS
TASKFORCE MEMBER BYLAWS
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide staff direction on updating Homelessness Taskforce membership bylaws.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
At the March 2023 Homelessness Taskforce meeting, it was discussed to potentially amend
the Taskforce membership bylaws to include a member with lived experience.
Current Membership Bylaws:
•7 Members + 2 Council Liaisons:
o 2 - Business Community
o 2 – Community Members
o 1 – At Large
o 1 – Housing Commission Chair or designee
o 1 – Public Safety Committee Chair or designee
Amended Membership Bylaws:
•7 Members + 2 Council Liasions
o 2 – Business Community
o 2 – Community Members (one of which will have lived experience)
o 1 – At Large
o 1 – Housing Commission Chair or designee
o 1 – Public Safety Committee Chair or designee
Item 5B-1
ITEM 7D
Coachella Valley Association of Governments
Executive Committee
April 24, 2023
STAFF REPORT
Subject: CV Housing First: First Quarter Report for 2023
Contact: Ivan Tenorio, Management Analyst (itenorio@cvag.org)
Recommendation: Receive and file the quarterly report for the CV Housing First program,
representing clients served in the first quarter of 2023
Homelessness Committee: Concurs (Meeting of April 19)
Background: CVAG is now in its third year of operating the CV Housing First program with staff. The
program is focused on the CV 200, a by-name list of chronically homeless individuals residing in desert
cities that have frequent contacts with law enforcement and who are likely to be shelter resistant or who
have already fallen out of housing. The list was developed in partnership with CVAG’s member
jurisdictions and local law enforcement.
CVAG staff has committed to adjusting CV Housing First programming based on the data, and provides
quarterly updates to its members about the program. The CV Housing First team uses two primary
methods to get clients to housing solutions: rapid resolution and crisis stabilization units. CVAG staff will
continue to provide quarterly reports as it provides services in 2023.
CV Housing First Clients – By the Numbers through March 31, 2023
CV 200 as of 3/31/2023 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL
Clients housed in Crisis Stabilization Units
(CSH) 25 25
Clients being helped through Rapid Resolution
(RR) 0 0
Clients returned to the street (failures) 7 7
Clients moved into permanent housing from
CSH (successes) 18 18
Clients moved into permanent housing through
RR (successes) 0 0
Clients moved into permanent housing through
Outreach grant (successes)* 6 6
TOTAL HOUSED FROM LIST OF 200 24 24
Item 6C1-1
NON-CV 200 as of 3/31/2023 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TOTAL
Households Housed in CSH Units 0 0
Households being helped through RR 0 0
Households returned to the street (failures) 0 0
Households moved into permanent housing
from CSH (successes) 0 0
Households moved into permanent housing
from RR (successes) 0 0
TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS HOUSED 0 0
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS HOUSED 0 0
CVAG continues to refine its data metrics in order to be transparent about how many and how quickly
individuals are housed. With this report, and as noted by the asterisk, there is now a row to account for
CV 200 clients who are being permanently housed by the CV Housing First program via outreach efforts,
and not case management based in the crisis stabilization units. This group may include CV 200 clients
who timed out of a CVAG unit but still were open to case management, and were eventually housed by
the team.
During this quarter, the CV Housing First team also learned that three CV 200 clients were housed by
other agencies. These three individuals will be noted in CVAG’s records as housed and are not counted
in CVAG’s totals.
CVAG staff continues to track program metrics, such as the length of stay in the units. For the first quarter,
the CV 200 clients who successfully exited the program into permanent housing stayed in a crisis
stabilization unit for 56 days. Those CV 200 clients who exited the program unsuccessfully stayed on 31
days. These averages come in much lower in comparison to previous staff reports due to some
successful exits resulting in program stays as low as under 30 days. This is caused by some clients
having pending move-in dates prior to coming into CVAG units. As the outreach team engages with the
CV 200, staff is identifying ways to quickly gather vital documents to obtain vouchers.
Of the 24 permanent housing resolutions in the first quarter, the breakdown of clients’ Exit Destination is
as follows:
Item 6C1-2
•Family/Friends – 2
•Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) – 13
•Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (Low Income Senior Housing) – 0
•Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (VASH Voucher) – 2
•Rental With Ongoing Subsidy (Housing Choice Voucher) – 7
•Rental with No Ongoing Subsidy - 0
•Rapid Rehousing - 0
•Shared Housing – 0
•Long-term care facility or nursing home – 0
It should be noted that CVAG saw a higher number of successful exits this quarter, one that has not been
seen since the program went in-house in the beginning of 2021. A large part of CVAG’s success this
quarter was the availability of units at St. Michael’s in the City of Riverside, and the site-specific vouchers
that Riverside County provided CVAG’s clients to move there. While welcome news, the availability of
doors remains a challenge. There were clients this quarter who did encounter some longer-than-usual
program stays due to lack of a properties wanting to accept the voucher’s value. In some of these cases,
CVAG is working with Riverside County’s Homeless Housing Opportunities, Partnership & Education
Program (HHOPE) Team to identify bridge emergency shelter options, such as a hotel voucher.
Fiscal Analysis: The CV Housing First program, including the staffing and CV 200 program, is
incorporated into the CV Housing First budget, which has been funded by contributions from cities,
Riverside County, the Desert Healthcare District/Foundation, and grants.
Item 6C1-3
CITY OF PALM DESERT
CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION
ACTIVITY REPORT
Pedro Rodriguez
Code Compliance Supervisor
prodriguez@cityofpalmdesert.org
760-776-6442
Item 6D1-1
CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION
ACTIVITY REPORT
This reporting period is for the months of March and April 2023. This report will
reflect all the current activity regarding unlawful storage of personal property and
unlawful encampments and assist the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.
Code Compliance Officers responded to 33 complaints of unlawful camping and storage
of personal property on private and public property. During this reporting period, there
were no abatements of personal property. Code Compliance Officers responded to 6 calls
to assist the Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies in removing and storing personal
property.
Code Compliance Activity – March and April 2023
Code Compliance Cases for Unlawful Camping/Storage of Property 33
Violation by Case Type
Unlawful Camping on Private Property 12
Unlawful Camping on Public Property 3
Storage of Personal Property on Private Property 5
Storage of Personal Property on Public
Property 6
Panhandling Complaints 0
Assist Riverside County Sheriff Dept with removal/storage of
property 6
Assist with 602 Penal Code Letter for
Business 1
Abatements of Unlawful Campsites or Storage of Personal Property
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Item 6D1-2
Code Compliance Division YTD 2023
Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YTD
Assist RSO 2 1 2 4 9
Pan Handling
Storage of Personal
Property on Private
Property
1 4 2 3 10
Storage of Personal
Property on Public
Property
1 6 3 3 13
Unlawful Camping on
Private Property
3 5 10 2 20
Unlawful Camping on
Public Property
4 3 2 1 10
PC 602 letter 1 1 2
Storage of Shopping
cart with personal
property
1 7 8 It
e
m
6D
1
-
3
Homeless Task Force
Update
Jason Austin, MA, LMFT
Social Services Coordinator
Item 6D2-1
Overview
Homeless Strategy
Strategic Priorities Review
Budget Review
Homeless Assessment and Recommendations
City Homelessness Web Site and Resource Guide
Opioid Settlement Agreement Funding
CVRM Partnership
CARE TEAMS
5/1/23 HTF Update 2Item 6D2-2
Homeless Task Force
Strategic Priorities
1.Mental Health, Substance Use and
Medical Services
2.Housing
3.Non-Elective Housing and Services
7/29/20XX HTF Update 3Item 6D2-3
Homeless Services Budget
FY 2023-24
Program Revenue Expenditure
Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)$266,263
Opioid Settlement Funding $55,424
CDBG $10,000
County HHOPE Program/Street Outreach Provider RFP*$50,687
CVAG Outreach and Housing Program $100,000
CVAG Bus Pass Program $3,000
CDBG TAY Services-Operation Safe House $10,000
City of Palm Desert Social Services Coordinator $168,000
Totals $331,687 $331,687
*Opioid Funding dedicated to Street Outreach
7/29/20XX Employee orientation 4Item 6D2-4
Homeless Assessment &
Recommendations
1.Meetings and Tours (County, CVAG, Telecare, Marthas Village, CVRM,
IEHP, El Paseo, County CoC, City Depts, Sheriff and Code Dept Ride
Alongs)
2.Develop City Online Resource Hub Web Site on Homelessness
3.Develop dedicated shelter bed access for the city
4.Increase street outreach and engagement efforts
5.Develop an interfaith collaborative to coordinate faith-based
homeless activities and services
6.Consider a resource coordination event to bring city-focused service
providers together
7.Consider fund-raising coordination to impact unsafe panhandling
activities on medians and increase services
8.Create monthly City Housing Department coordination meeting with
Social Services Coordinator
5/1/23 HTF Update 5Item 6D2-5
City Homeless and Health Web Site
Supportive Services
and Resources
Business and
Resident Information
Learning About
Homelessness
Public Safety
5/1/23 HTF Update 6Item 6D2-6
Opioid Settlement Funding Opt-In
Distributors & Manufacturers
•First opt-in with Amerisource Bergen, Cardinal Health,
McKesson and Janssen (owned by Johnson & Johnson) last
year
•Second opt-in on 4/18/23 with Walgreens, Walmart, CVS
Health and Pharmacy, Teva, and Allergan Distributors
Funding Amount
•Max of $1,054,000.00 over 15 years
•The City allocated .083% of the 1.8 Billion Statewide
Use of Funds
•Must be used for future opioid remediation or abatement
•Includes supporting people in treatment/recovery,
connecting people to care and preventing overdose deaths
•Eligible uses include development of treatment programs
and addressing the needs of the homeless population
struggling with substance use disorders
•Can also include distribution of Naloxone or other FDA
Approved drug to reverse opioid overdose
Recommendations
•Pursue increased Street Outreach in the City
•Procure additional outreach provider to conduct daily
engagement services
•Include increased linkages to substance use outpatient and
inpatient services, SUD Recovery Support and distribution of
Nalaxone to individuals experiencing homelessness on the
streets as part of the street outreach program
5/1/23 HTF Update 7Item 6D2-7
Access to Shelter Beds
•There are two main shelter providers in the area (CVRM and Martha’s
Village)
•Sites tend to be full making beds difficult to access;
•Procuring dedicated shelter beds has multiple positives:
(1) Shelter/Housing people in the moment when they need it is a best
practice;
(2)Gives City Law Enforcement/Code Enforcement/Service
Providers capacity to provide a next step when engaging vulnerable
people on the streets; and
(3)Helps to avoid future lawsuits for the city (ie. OC Riverbeds, Martin
v. Boise, etc. )
•CV Rescue Mission Partnership Agreement for (5) Beds at $25/bed night
-$45,000 annually
5/1/23 HTF Update 8Item 6D2-8
CARE TEAMS
*Coordinated Outreach with multiple providers
Includes City Social Services Coordinator, Sheriff’s Department,
Code Compliance, County HHOPE Team, CVAG Outreach Team, CV
Rescue Mission
*First CARE TEAM Engagement successfully engaged 20
individuals at El Paseo, Businesses along Hwy 111, and the Tree
Line along the railroad tracks
*Next engagement this week
Item 6D2-9
Questions?Jason Austin, MA, LMFT
Social Services Coordinator
Jaustin@palmdesert.gov
5/1/23 HTF Update 10Item 6D2-10
CITY OF PALM DESERT
ATTENDANCE REPORT
Advisory Body:
Prepared By:
Year 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023
Month Jan Mar May Jul Sep Oct Dec
Date 1/9/2023 3/6/2023
Burreson, Cindy P P 0 0
Butts, Joseph P P 0 0
Guinaw, Dennis P P 0 0
Johnson, Matthew P P 0 0
Marks, Scott P P 0 0
Meyer, Davis P A 1 1
Vines, Diane P P 0 0
Palm Desert Municipal Code 2.34.010:
P Present
A Absent
E Excused
-No meeting
Total
Absences
Total
Unexcused
Absences
Bimonthly: Two unexcused absences from regular meetings in any twelve-month period shall constitute an automatic
resignation of members holding office on boards that meet bimonthly.
Homelessness Taskforce
Michelle Nance
Item 6E-1