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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2019 0717 REG CCSA ITEM 10ICITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of July 17, 2019 ACTION A pproved Staff Recommendation. BY B.Garza I. Consider Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Ventura and Other Ventura County Cities Regarding Ventura Countywide Homelessness. Staff Recommendation: Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Ventura and Other Ventura County Cities Regarding Ventura Countywide Homelessness, subject to final language approval of the City Manager and City Attorney. (Staff: Brian Chong) Item: 10.I. MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Brian Chong, Assistant to the City Manager DATE: 07/17/2019 Regular Meeting SUBJECT: Consider Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Ventura and Other Ventura County Cities Regarding Ventura Countywide Homelessness SUMMARY It is recommended that the City Council approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Ventura and Other Ventura County Cities Regarding Ventura Countywide Homelessness, subject to final language approval of the City Manager and City Attorney. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Homelessness is generally considered to be a regional problem, as people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless will seek options across city limits. Recognizing this, the County of Ventura is seeking regional solutions to address homelessness throughout Ventura County. The County is asking all cities in Ventura County, along with the County itself, to become signatories on a Countywide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) addressing homelessness on a Countywide level. The County of Ventura and the Cities of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Oxnard, and Fillmore have already become signatories to the MOU, and County staff indicates that they are currently in active discussions with the Cities of Ojai, Camarillo, Santa Paula, and Port Hueneme to become signatories as well. Item: 10.I. 357 Honorable City Council 7/17/2019 Regular Meeting Page 2 Homelessness in Ventura County The County of Ventura and the Ventura County Continuum of Care (VC CoC) spearhead an annual census of homeless individuals across the County. Unfortunately, homelessness in Ventura County is increasing year-over-year: The County and VCC CoC ascribe these increases to several factors, including: • Rising rents and low housing vacancy rates • Impacts from local disasters and wildfires • Insufficient supply of homeless prevention efforts • Improved coverage and thorough counting of the homeless census To address regional homelessness, the County of Ventura serves as the lead agency for the VC CoC, which includes public agencies, social service providers, non-profit organizations, city leadership, and other regional stakeholders to work together across the County, with the goal of ending homelessness in Ventura County. The VC CoC has developed a coordinated entry system, called Pathways to Home, to coordinate services provided to homeless individuals, reduce duplication of effort, and identify the most effective and efficient services to move homeless individuals out of a state of homelessness as quickly possible. With more than 60% of the homeless population in the County currently living in Oxnard or Ventura, the County of Ventura and those two cities are also currently actively working together to open year-round emergency shelter facilities in each city for 1,152 1,299 1,669 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2017 2018 2019 Homeless Population - Ventura County 358 Honorable City Council 7/17/2019 Regular Meeting Page 3 homeless individuals or, until such facilities can be built, opening a foul-weather shelter during inclement weather. Homelessness in Moorpark The homeless population in Moorpark has historically been the lowest, or nearly the lowest, of any Ventura County City, with two homeless individuals counted in 2019, down from three homeless individuals counted in 2018. By comparison, the next-lowest homeless populations in the County are Fillmore (10 people) and Camarillo (33 people). However, this is not to suggest that there is not demand for homeless services within Moorpark. According to 2018 Ventura County 2-1-1 data, 28 people in Moorpark called 2-1-1 for homeless services, and 47 people in Moorpark called 2-1-1 for services because they were at risk of homelessness, ranking second and third-lowest among Ventura County cities. While Moorpark accounted for approximately one tenth of one percent of the County’s homeless population, Moorpark accounted for approximately two percent of the 2-1-1 calls for service. While taking care to note that the goal of ending homeless in Moorpark has not been achieved, the data suggests that the current efforts to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Moorpark are working effectively. However, continued low levels of homelessness in Moorpark will require continued regional efforts to prevent and address homelessness. Memorandum of Understanding The MOU (Attachment 1) proposed by the County of Ventura requires signatory cities to do five substantive items: 1) Require homeless service providers to sign on to the MOU between the Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance. Due to the low homeless population in Moorpark, there are currently no homeless service providers located within Moorpark. If a service provider was to open within Moorpark, the City would be required under the MOU to join the VC CoC. This would be a best practice for any service provider, regardless if the City signs onto the MOU or not. 2) Develop a crisis response system. Currently, if an individual presents as homeless to the City and seeks services, City staff will refer the individual to 2-1-1 for screening into Pathways to home and connection to social services, including VC CoC service providers. The City contributes $5,000 per year to the 2-1-1 system, to fund these (and other) services. Staff discussions with County staff have confirmed that this is an 359 Honorable City Council 7/17/2019 Regular Meeting Page 4 appropriate crisis response system under the MOU, based on the homelessness profile of Moorpark. 3) Pursue permanent housing units across the continuum of care range of housing needs (including transitional, permanent supportive, and extremely affordable) as enumerated in their jurisdiction’s Housing Element of their respective General Plan to serve the most vulnerable in their jurisdiction. The City already recognizes and actively works to address the community’s need for affordable housing units across all income levels in the City. Further, state law already requires the City to address the issue of affordable housing in its Housing Element. 4) Require that all entities receiving funding for homeless or housing services from their city/county to commit to the Pathways to Home program by conditioning funding to participation in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The City currently does not provide funding to any third parties for homeless or housing services. However, if the City were to do so, then best practices would dictate that any service provider receiving City funds participate in the regional effort to solve the regional problem of homelessness, which in this case is by participating in Pathways to Home and using the Homeless Management Information System. 5) Commit to consult with the Continuum of Care as the city/county considers recommendations for programs and funding related to homelessness. The City would be remiss if it did not consult with the regional Continuum of Care in any of its future homelessness initiatives and programs. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact with becoming a signatory to the MOU. Existing annual contributions to the Countywide 2-1-1 system of $5,000 per year would be expected to continue. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Ventura and Other Ventura County Cities Regarding Ventura Countywide Homelessness, subject to final language approval of the City Manager and City Attorney. Attachment – Memorandum of Understanding 360 ATTACHMENT Memorandum of Understanding Ventura Countywide Homelessness This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is by and among the following parties: City of Camarillo, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Fillmore, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Moorpark, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Ojai, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Oxnard, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Port Hueneme, a California Charter law municipal corporation; City of San Buenaventura, a California Charter law municipal corporation; City of Santa Paula, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Simi Valley, a California general law municipal corporation; City of Thousand Oaks, a California general law municipal corporation; and the County of Ventura, a political subdivision of the State of California and is effective as to any of the above on the date that party executes this MOU. WHEREAS, Homelessness is an issue that transcends the borders of each city in the county; and, WHEREAS, Reducing and eliminating the problems associated with homelessness in Ventura County will take the efforts of each city and the county working cooperatively; and, WHEREAS, It is the purpose and intent of this MOU to commit the efforts of each city and the county to the common good of all to help address homelessness in this county. NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this MOU, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged and agreed, do hereby agree as follows: Each city and the county will: 1. Commit to actively participate in the Continuum of Care (COC) by requiring service providers in each community to sign on to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance and the organization. 361 2. Develop a crisis response system which includes emergency housing resources for those who present as homeless in their jurisdiction; this housing will include access to case management to support the transition to permanent housing. 3. Pursue permanent housing units across the continuum of care range of housing needs (including transitional, permanent supportive, and extremely affordable) as enumerated in their jurisdiction’s Housing Element of their respective General Plan to serve the most vulnerable in their jurisdiction. 4. Require that all entities receiving funding for homeless or housing services from their city/county to commit to the Pathways to Home program by conditioning funding to participation in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). 5. Commit to consult with the COC as the city/county considers recommendations for programs and funding related to homelessness. 6. Miscellaneous Provisions. 6.1 Notice. All notices required by this MOU will be deemed given when in writing and delivered personally or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed to the other party at the address set forth below or at such other address as the party may designate in writing: To City of Camarillo ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Fillmore ______________ 2 362 ______________ ______________ To City of Moorpark ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Ojai ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Oxnard ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Port Hueneme ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of San Buenaventura ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Santa Paula ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Simi Valley ______________ ______________ ______________ To City of Thousand Oaks ______________ 3 363 ______________ ______________ To County of Ventura ______________ ______________ ______________ The address to which any notice, demand, or other writing may be given or made or sent to any Party as above provided may be changed by written notice given by that Party as above provided. 6.2 Governing Law . This MOU has been made in State of California and shall be construed under California Law. Any legal action regarding the MOU shall be in the venue of Superior Court in the County of Ventura, California. 6.3 Assignment. The parties may not assign this MOU or the rights and obligations hereunder without the specific written consent of the others. 6.4 Entire Agreement. This document represents the MOU between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. All prior negotiations and written and/or oral agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this MOU are merged into this MOU. 6.5 Amendments. This MOU may be modified in writing only, signed by the Parties in interest at the time of the modification. 6.6 Counterparts. This MOU may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 4 364 6.7 Survival. The obligations of this MOU, which by their nature would continue beyond the termination of the MOU shall survive termination of this MOU. 6.8 Severability. If any provision of this MOU is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void, invalid or unenforceable, the same will either be reformed to comply with applicable law or stricken if not so conformable, so as not to affect the validity or enforceability of this MOU. 6.9 Waiver. No delay or failure to require performance of any provision of this MOU shall constitute a waiver of that provision as to that or any other instance. Any waiver granted by a party must be in writing and shall apply to the specific instance expressly stated. 6.10 Authority to Execute. Each party hereto expressly warrants and represents that he/she/they has/have the authority to execute this Agreement on behalf of his/her/their corporation, partnership, business entity, or governmental entity and warrants and represents that he/she/they has/have the authority to bind his/her/their entity to the performance of its obligations hereunder. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this MOU to be executed by their respective governing officials duly authorized by their respective legislative bodies. 5 365