TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a Consent Letter and a Project Specific Maintenance Agreement, and any other necessary documents required including subsequent amendments, with the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for access to Caltrans property to offer and provide social services, targeted maintenance, and relocation assistance to people experiencing homelessness, consistent with the business operations of the entity, for a one-year period, June 15, 2021 through June 14, 2022, with the option to renew for three additional one-year terms, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), Homeless Services Division (Division), provides outreach services to people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. Outreach services include disseminating health education materials, providing and assisting clients with community referrals, resources, and linkages to services, and assessing encampments for safety. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need to increase the Division’s outreach efforts.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has requested to formalize its current partnership with the Health Department by entering into an agreement for accessing encampments on Caltrans property. The goal of the partnership is to ensure the Division can provide outreach services to all people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. Services to be disseminated may include connection to shelters, relocation assistance, COVID-19 screening and testing, and may also include trash pickup, portable restroom and handwashing stations, and other necessary maintenance services at specific locations agreed upon with Caltrans. Access to Caltrans property will expand the ongoing work of the Division and the Department of Public Works, and will allow for continued partnership across jurisdictions. Staff have identified specific locations within the Caltrans rights-of-way that City staff and/or its contracted partners will be able to safely access and maintain (Attachment). By assisting with cleanups at specific locations during these challenging times, staff expect that Caltrans will be better able to focus their own resources at other challenging, yet still highly visible, locations. Working collaboratively with Caltrans offers the best opportunity to improve the cleanliness of Long Beach within Caltrans rights-of-way.
The Consent Letter and Project Specific Maintenance Agreement will be for the term of one-year with the option to extend beyond the initial term upon determination by the City of Long Beach (City) that Caltrans has fully complied with the terms and conditions of the agreement and is otherwise in good standing with the City.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Sarah E. Green on May 18, 2021 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on May 2, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on June 15, 2021, to execute the agreements in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
The agreements will allow the City to access Caltrans property to provide social services, maintenance services, and relocation assistance to people experiencing homelessness. Access will be granted at no fee or charge to the City. The additional costs associated with this action are anticipated to be fully covered by external funding; however, if this is not the case, staff will report back to the City Council with options and recommendations. This recommendation has 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
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Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER