TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents and contracts necessary, including but not limited to amendments and requests for reimbursements of City costs, with the Long Beach Convention Center, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and/or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist HHS and FEMA in the establishment and operation of an Emergency Intake Site to provide temporary shelter to unaccompanied migrant children; and
Exempt the establishment of such Emergency Intake Site from the provisions of Resolution No. RES-18-0032, the “Long Beach Values Act of 2018,” and direct the City Manager to exempt this specific project from the provisions of Administrative Regulation No. AR8-33, “Procedures Regarding the Requesting, Collecting, and Maintaining of Sensitive Information and the Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law,” in accordance with any applicable laws. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach (City) was contacted by the federal government to assist in supporting the response to the influx of unaccompanied migrant children crossing the United States southwest border. Working with FEMA, City staff identified the Convention Center as the optimum temporary shelter site because of its size, accommodations, and security.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and California Office of Emergency Services, will utilize the Long Beach Convention Center to house approximately 1,000 children for a period of up to 120 days. Once operational, the shelter will provide the children with three meals a day, medical and health evaluations, recreational opportunities, and educational services. The shelter will be used as temporary housing while the children are reconnected with a family member or sponsor in the United States. The federal government would be responsible for both funding and providing the major services needed to care for the children, with Long Beach playing a supporting role, providing the facility, and making connections to other appropriate nonprofit and government services. With the activation of the temporary shelter site there is anticipated to be minimal impact to the COVID-19 vaccination services currently operating at the Convention Center.
Currently, there are several emergency shelters operating across the states, including Texas, Colorado, Washington, and California.
In order for the City to establish a shelter site for migrant children, consideration is required for City Council Resolution No. RES-18-0032, the “Long Beach Values Act of 2018” (LBVA), adopted on March 13, 2018, which includes direction to the City Manager to implement Administrative Regulation No. AR8-33, “Procedures Regarding the Requesting, Collecting, and Maintaining of Sensitive Information and the Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law.” AR8-33 sets certain Citywide prohibitions on assisting with federal immigration law, including prohibiting use of City funds, resources, facilities, property, equipment, and personnel in certain activities, except where expressly permitted therein. As such, this recommended action further includes exempting the establishment of the Emergency Intake Site from the provisions of the LBVA and AR8-33. This action will not invalidate the LBVA and/or AR8-33 in their entirety. Therefore, the LBVA and AR8-33 will remain in effect for any and all other purposes not specified herein.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Monica J. Kilaita and Interim Finance Director John Gross on April 5, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 6, 2021, to ensure the Convention Center can begin working with HHS to modify the facility to make it appropriate for housing unaccompanied migrant children and ensuring their safety.
FISCAL IMPACT
HHS will contract for essential services and partner with state and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations to establish and operate the temporary shelter at the Convention Center. The federal government would be responsible for both funding and providing the major services needed to care for the children, with Long Beach playing a supporting role, providing the facility, and making connections to other appropriate nonprofit and government services. This recommendation is expected to have moderate staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
REGINALD I. HARRISON
DIRECTOR, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER