TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the Citywide Strategic Plan on Veterans. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach (City) took the first step towards recognizing its rich military history, spanning more than a century, and its vibrant Veterans’ community, comprised of nearly 17,000 Veterans, when the City Council signed an Ordinance officially establishing a citywide Veterans Affairs Commission (Commission), on February 9, 2016. The Commission began holding monthly meetings in January 2017, and on November 7, 2017, the City Council directed the City Manager to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Commission to develop a Veterans Strategic Plan (Plan).
The Commission engaged in a strategic planning process from September 2018 through March 2020. As part of this process, the Commission carried out extensive research on the challenges and opportunities Veterans face and reviewed and analyzed demographic data on the City’s Veteran population. It also conducted interviews with 46 Veterans’ community stakeholders, engaging 180 Veterans in five separate community input sessions. Stakeholders included leaders of local Veteran-serving organizations and elected officials. Sessions were held at places where Veterans gather to determine and refine the goals, objectives, and strategies identified in the Plan. The four core goals are as follows:
1. Long Beach recognizes Veterans for their strengths and as valued members of our community, and regularly celebrates and honors them.
2. Veteran-serving organizations and agencies coordinate well to ensure that Veterans successfully transition from military service to civilian life.
3. Veterans, including traditionally underserved Veteran populations such as women, seniors, low-income, LGBTQ, and Veterans with disabilities, readily access the resources and services they need in the areas of housing, education, employment, and mental and physical health and well-being throughout their lifetimes.
4. Veterans who are precariously housed or who are experiencing homelessness have access to affordable housing, and the supportive services they need to remain housed. 5. An Office of Veterans Support is established in the Health and Human Services Department to serve as the infrastructure to carry out the goals, objectives, and strategies outlined in the strategic plan.
The Veterans Affairs Commission is pleased to present the Veterans Strategic Plan, which represents the most comprehensive portrait of the vibrant Long Beach Veterans’ community published to date. The Plan serves as a visionary document and does not include any direct funding.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on December 15, 2021 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on January 3, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 15, 2022, to receive and file the Strategic Plan on Veterans, which serves as a guiding document to coordinate the City’s efforts to serve those who have served our country well into the future. The Plan is intended to be an ongoing effort over the next two to three years with the understanding that the Plan will be regularly reviewed, evaluated, and reported on over the same timeframe.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommendation. The Strategic Plan on Veterans provides a blueprint for the two to three-year effort to serve veterans who have provided service to the country. The plan is a visionary document with no direct funding to implement the recommended strategies. If the City moves forward with some of the Plan’s recommendations, funding will be identified, and cost estimates will be developed as part of the implementation. The Plan was developed using existing staff time currently budgeted in General Fund in the Health and Human Services Department. This recommendation has minimal staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with the existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER