Community Services Subcommittee

65 Civic Avenue

Pittsburg, CA 94565

P: (925) 252-6900

F: (925) 252-4814

pittsburgca.gov

AGENDA

COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE

February 27, 2023

4:00 PM

Please use the link below to join the webinar:

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Webinar ID: 863 7720 4301

Password: 055196

To join by telephone:

Dial: 1 (669) 900-6833

Webinar ID: 863 7720 4301

Password: 055196

Subcommittee Members

Shanelle Scales-Preston, Mayor

Angelica Lopez, Councilmember

1. Public Comment for Non-Agenda Items Please use the chat feature on the Zoom

App, or if joining by telephone please press *9 to raise your hand.

2. Contra Costa County Health, Housing & Homeless (H3) Coordinated Outreach Referral

Engagement (CORE) Team Contract

The County is funding the Pittsburg CORE Team for FYs 21-22 and 22-23. Staff will be

presenting the business terms and estimated cost should the City decide to fund a Pittsburg

CORE Team in the future.

3. Park Security Contract Request for Proposal

The City contracts with a security service provider to patrol the City’s parks and facilities. That

contract expires at the end of this fiscal year.

4. Proclamation of the Termination of the Local Emergency Regarding the Novel

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The County Board of Supervisors voted to end the local COVID-19 emergency on

February 28, 2023. The United States and State of California will be declaring the end

of the COVID-19 emergency on May 11, 2023, and February 28, 2023, respectively.

Ending the City’s local emergency is consistent with the United States, State of

California, and County actions.

5. Non-Agenda Items

6. Adjournment

Now when you're recording all right, this meeting has started and we are recording. Thank you. Megan, do we have any public on the line? We have two members from the public. Okay. Thank you. So please use the chat feature on the Zoom Zoom app. Or if you're joining by phone, please press nine to raise your hand if you'd like to make a public comment. So I will share with you quickly the agenda. Well, the word is agenda. I must have closed it. Bear with me now. So this is the agenda. Real quick, will we be going over and the Contra Costa County Health, Housing and Homeless H three Coordinated outreach referral engagement, which is the core. We will talk about the park security contract request for proposal and the proclamation of the termination of the local emergency regarding COVID. So I am going to share real quick and then now I will share the slides in the SAC. But. All right. Oops. Does everyone see this? The slides? Okay. So the first or the second item on the agenda is the core team contract. So in on March 16, 2020, the county ordered its residents to shelter in place and thereby closing down all offices and businesses. This included the congregate shelters because of the shelter in place order and the closure many industries suffered as a result. The tourism industry was one of the was one of the industries that severe was severely impacted by COVID and is still trying to recover. Public agencies have turned hotels into non congregate homeless shelters. So in our city, the county did just that with Motel six offering 174 rooms through the state's project Roomkey program. So homeless shelters set up is typically one large shared space with rows of beds. Under the project Homekey people were able to receive private spaces, thereby minimizing their exposure to COVID in 2022. The county acquired Motel six and turned it into permanent shelter named Delta Landing. Through the state's Project Homekey program. And this is what it looks like today. So what is the impact? What is the impact to our community? With Motel six being converted to a shelter? The answer is millions of dollars. This is what our transit occupancy tax look like for Motel six from 2015 through the first quarter of 2020 just before we closed. If you add all that up, we get a little over $18 million. So that is how much money we're no longer receiving as a result of that conversion from hotel to shelter. The county offered has offered in is paying for the core team for two years as a means to help subsidize the program. So what they would do is for fiscal year 2122, they estimate the estimated costs for CORE was about $230,000. At that time, the cities were paying about 100 8090 and the county would supplement the difference. That amount went up a little bit in 22 fiscal year 22, 23 to 240 $249,165. And I do have their budget for the current year and that's how I know that amount is the correct amount and not an estimate. So this is what that budget looks like. This budget pays for the two core team members earning just shy of $80,000, just shy of $90,000 collectively. And then some other staff that assist in the program, as well as the equipment and vehicle that they use to go from encampment to encampment. The total cost currently is 249,065. What does that get you? It gets you to a team of two people dedicated to Pittsburgh. An agreement for one year. We would be proposing additional two one year extensions and the hours of operations Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.. How would we pay for this program? Well, in 2021, the city applied for and received the permanent local housing allocation funds are placed. Currently, we received the tool at the 2019 or we can draw down on the 2019 2020 funds totaling up to $811,461. And because the county is sponsoring the court teams currently, we have not spent any of these funds. So what we would do is apply for or draw down the funds for the subsequent years because we have five years worth of funding available to us. Now, if you see here for the court team line item, we've anticipated the cost of $200,683.45. And the reason we have said is it's just because it's a percentage. We did reach out to CD who is funding this program and we notified them that the for the core the core program is now about $250,000 and we would need to draw additional funding and we would like to reduce the the line item that we have for acquisition and increase the court team item. So all we would have to do is do a plan amendment and we would be able to access those funds. So staff is proposing to use these funds to pay for the court team in order for us to continue the court team, since it's going to the county sponsorship expires at the end of this fiscal year. That concludes the presentation on the court team. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions. Thank you for the presentation, Maria. In terms of the county, given that and Delta landing is in our community, would they be willing to extend it any longer? Have you had a chance to speak with them about extending it a little longer? I ask every time we meet as a retiree and I have not been successful. The good news is we do have grant funding that we can use specifically for this. We did apply for these funds and for this because we knew that there's a sunset on their sponsorship. So we do have the funding and we would continue to use grant funding as long as it's available to us. Well, yeah, but I do ask. Yeah, no, because I know how funding runs out. So that's the only reason why I asked if you had a chance to act again. So thanks for faxing any type of funding they put towards our way. Yes, I would definitely love to keep the core team here and our community I think is important. And so I'm happy for the funds that we have right now. I just want to make sure, like there's funding moving forward. So I know that part is something that we have to continue to look at and apply for. And I will continue to ask the county every time I get them. Thank you. All right. That's the only question. And let's see, Megan, do we have any questions on this item from the public? We do not. Okay. I'm moving on to item number three, which is security contract. Okay. So when COVID started, we started noticing that there is an increased amount of encampments. A lot of the reason for that is because part of the guidelines restricted us from, you know, moving people around, just trying to keep everyone from getting COVID. So with COVID guidelines, limited access to shelters, and because shelter to congregate accommodations were prohibited only, you know, the homeless encampments grew. So only the unhoused meeting specific requirements were admitted to the project Roomkey program. And these guidelines also recommended that the that we have limited interaction with the encampments to minimize the spread of COVID. Although the city received complaints, there was little that staff could do at that time. However, as COVID subsided and the guidelines eased, staff began conducting cleanups of encampments because they raised other health issues. So to reduce any opportunities of that happens from reestablishing after we do a cleanup in our parks and our facilities. The city conducted an RFP to hire a security service who would go out to the parks and facilities after hours when our staff are our park staff and did their day. The security team would start their evening and would go from park to park facility facility just to ensure that people aren't reestablishing their encampments. If you recall, Mayor, a couple of years ago, we did a huge cleanup on Buchanan. We received a lot of complaints and there were a lot of, you know, debris waste going into our system. So we had to make sure that everything was cleaned up. Our water system was clean. So this help just helped to prevent that from from recurring. So with the RFP, there was a response. We received responses, I think from like 2 to 3 companies with North North Point security system being the selected provider. The initial term was from April 21 to June 30, 22, and we extended it for an additional year. So the total excuse me, the total cost for the last two years have been $430,000. And this program has been successful because we have seen that our parks have remained clean and very usable to the public. And our complaints have have been reduced dramatically. Northpoint currently patrols 15 parks and facilities. So this is a list of where they currently patrol. You have Buchanan Park, California, Citizens City Park, the Corp Yard, all the way down to the river where they do go to the boat ramps. The marina, the Mariner Park, Riverview Park and Woodland Hills and everywhere in between. Now, this list can be changed depending where the needed. We have changed it already, depending on whether where the needs are. But it's we're not, you know, limited to just these places. It's so that their duties, the security personnel duties include locking and securing the parks, bathrooms and facilities. If there are people who are at the parks who shouldn't be there or any people who look like they may start setting up camp, they are asked to vacate if there are any issues or abandoned cars that has contacted for assistance. So far. Like I said, it's been working really well. If there are, for example, like a lot of trash left behind. Public works is notified through a report, and I'll show you that report shortly. And so, you know, staff can go out there and address whatever issues do come up. And so I know the Prince Small, but this is a screenshot of what the report looks like. It identifies who went out there to to patrol the area and any issues that may have come up. So in anticipation of this contract expiring at the end of this fiscal year, staff has conducted another RFP for the same service going forward for fiscal year 2324. And Ishani is going to walk you through that RFP process. Thank you, Maria. Good evening, Mayor. On the screen is just a snapshot of the timeline of the Odyssey, the issue, the tower, February 3rd. And there were no questions on the RFP and all the proposals were received by the 23rd. And we received key proposal and we will be reviewing the proposals the middle of March. And if necessary, we will conduct interviews thereafter and then the staff will present the proposal for council consideration on April 17. And if approved, they will sign a contract for services to begin on the 1st of July of this year. For one year. And the responsibility both from a head position not by security services, who is currently provided the services and the patrol solution. These three submitted proposals, the initial time they had issued the RFP as well, and that concludes the presentation of the timeline and the Odyssey responses received. This is subcommittees have many questions. Do we anticipate that the cost is going to be in the same ballpark? We do anticipate the cost of in the same ballpark. Yes. All right. Well, I don't have any questions. I look forward to seeing what the cost is going to be like once you receive them. The responses back. I think it's important to continue to have the security patrol, our parks. We want to make sure our parks stay safe and for our community plain and so, which I know is a plus. And so I look forward to having that first discussion once you get them all back. Thank you. Megan, do we have any questions from the public? We do. Bruce, go ahead and meet yourself and you should be able to speak. Yes. Thank you. Bruce Olson, citizen going to Pittsburgh, Thorn in the side of staff everywhere. So my question is, do we know who owns North Point Security? What what company is the over the the umbrella company that owns that? We will, Mr. Olson. We'll look into that once once we start reviewing the the RFP. I know they have to be they have to have a business license. So we can look to see who. Who the owner is on their business license. All right. Thank you. That's my only question. You're welcome. If there are no other questions, I will move on to the fourth item on the agenda, which is regarding and ending the our emergency for regarding. Oh, there's another question. I see. I don't see. I don't know the other still, Mr. Olson. Okay. Yes. So I'm going to go on to the next item. So this the this fourth item is proclaiming the end of the local emergency regarding the novel coronavirus, though coronavirus was detected in 2019 and then in March, there were a whole host of activities happening nationwide. So on March 4th, 2020, the California state declared a state of emergency. The county declared a local emergency. On March ten, the United States declared an emergency on March 13, on March 16, 2020. That that's when the county health ordered the shut down in a shelter in place. On March 16th, our city council declared a local emergency and all city offices and facilities closed. I counted today and it's been 1084 days since our city declared a local emergency. Regarding COVID 19. I just couldn't believe it took I mean, I couldn't believe that that's how long it's been. Wow. Yeah. So on July 21st, 2021, the city offices and facilities reopened in compliance with the county and CDC guidelines. So what these guidelines included were, for example, installing barriers such as plexiglass to keep a barrier between the citizen and the staff in order to to minimize the chance the transmit a level of COVID as staff was also or not, staff. Everyone was required to wear a mask. We had signage. We had little markers on the floor. So people maintain social distancing. So as these guidelines evolved, so did our our guidelines, our city guidelines in order to always comply with what those guidelines are. The city offices and facility temporary closed in January 2022 for a week because there was an uptick in the number of cases. So we wanted to make sure that, you know, we try to keep everyone safe. So we closed for a week and then reopened again on January 18, 2022. So while city offices and facilities were closed to the public business, business and providing services continue, staff had to rethink how it was going to operate, providing services and communicating information to the public while social distancing. So like many cities, Zoom became the platform used to conduct public meetings. Software such as SLA and Yardi were purchased in order to provide a virtual and more efficient experience of conducting business with the city. In 2020, the city purchased the domain Pittsburgh, COVID 19 dot com and created a dedicated website specific to the pandemic. In 2022, we redirected it to a page on our website which has resource links. As the pandemic began to subside. So if you see the table, you look at how many views and visitors we received in 2020 as it compares to 2023, it's a reflection of where where COVID is and was at that at these times. It's amazing, isn't it, After after 1084 days and and so at the start of COVID, all departments were forced to pivot. For example, the recreation department had to reimagine its operation, understanding our use needs. Socialization Staff changed the format of the Pittsburgh Summer Youth program from a daily to a daily five week program to a half day Saturday program. Additionally, staff launched the Pittsburgh Youth Works Employment Program, providing employment for youth and young adults while supporting our local businesses who are struggling with hiring as a result of COVID. Also a public declaration was made to begin the process of becoming a certified community under the My Brother's Keeper Alliance to combat the disparities facing young men of color. Staff work with Contra Costa Food Bank on the outreach efforts for food distribution events. Finally, staff created a supplemental food delivery program to provide meals for seniors who are age 70 and older, which also allowed staff to conduct wellness checks and socialization all while social distancing. So while recreation couldn't do its normal, you know, program where people come to the park to play or the seniors get together, it had to read how to do something else in order to provide services to our community. So the city received grants to help address some of the impacts of the pandemic. For example, the Community Development BLOCK Grant program, or CDBG, received CDBG funding totaling $815,550. Almost 62,000 was allocated to Loaves and fishes to add to their food delivery program and to help meet the increased demand on food due to COVID. I have almost $225,000 was allocated for homeless encampment cleanups to prevent the spread of COVID and other diseases. The bulk of the CDBG money was provided was allocated to the mortgage, to the rent, mortgage, utility assistance, and the cost or the amount allocated was $537,368. Of that 406,779 going to rent. A little over 3700 went to mortgage. A little over 10,000 went to utilities. There's an administrative cost to Shelter Inc so we have about $6,000 left from those funds. But we were able to help 83 households, which amounted to 227 people. In addition to helping our residents. The city also established programs to help our businesses. For example, the city established temporary provisions that allow outdoor dining to encourage patrons to the business. Businesses such as IHOP, the Waterfront Grille, La Canada and the Yacht Club took advantage of this temporary provision. Another program was the Small business Resilient Resiliency Grant Program, providing assistance to qualified businesses impacted, impacted by COVID. They were able to receive grants up to $10,000 to help with their business. In addition to the city's programs, there were two other programs available to businesses the Paycheck Protection Program, or the PGP and the California Resiliency Grant. So if you look at the table, that is how much money that our businesses received through these three programs, the city program, 25 recipients, 194,360 3000 people was a little over 46 million. The California Resiliency grants are almost $2 million, so a total of almost 48 million was funded to our local businesses. So this slide shows all the pools of money that the city received. So the state provided the coronavirus relief fund. And this these funds went to the Small Business Business Resiliency Program. Citywide improvements such as installation of barriers, social distancing markers, signage, equipment such as iPads for registration related subscriptions, personal protective equipment, PPE, ease and sanitizers, the COVID 19 websites, subscription and staffing, the CARES Act money for the Housing Authority was used to purchase the kiosk and the YARDI software. The scanning of all its files to convert to electronic processing improvements again, such as the barriers, social distancing markers, signage, equipment to allow staff to work remotely. And then that also includes the the staffing. So in order for us to continue to process using Yardi and using the new software, we we converted not only the all the files electronically, but we had to have the equipment to be able to do that. So that included that. And then the CARES Act, CDBG, the CARES Act, CDBG funds. Those were explained in the previous slides, and the bulk of that money assisted our our rent, mortgage and utilities. Welcome, member Councilmember Lopez. And then the last item on this list is the ARPA funds, which have been discussed in prior city Council meetings and subcommittees because they are going to be spent on various projects and programs that have been discussed in those subcommittees. That concludes the presentation related to ending our local emergency. And I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. Well, first off, I just want to thank staff for being able to just pivot. And you know, help our constituents and the community and to run our day to day. Just seeing all the highlights and things that we were still able to accomplish during being an emergency in place and all the way up until now is pretty amazing. So hats off to you all. Also, just thankful that we did receive these funds from the state and the federal government to help us along the way as well. So when you put it out there and you get to see it on the screen, it just shows how much funding to keep us going. Yeah, I was I was amazed, actually, and I agree with you. That was amazing from top to bottom. Yeah. The wheels on the bus stayed on. That was on the last day on for the businesses that we still have. And they were able to use the funding to help them out to stay in our community. And I'm really happy for that. So I can't believe we also have $48 million us. That's a lot to pour into our army to help save businesses and jobs. Yeah, impressive. Councilmember Lopez I'd be more than happy to go over any of this with you at your convenience, so if you just let me know. Thank you. I think my. My camera was acting up. I looked funky today. It's light blue. Really blurry. No, thank you. I do have a question. How much freedom do we have in this subcommittee to try to get additional funding from private donors? Okay, so in this subcommittee, you know, what we would do is you'd make a recommendation and then that's would be good. Go to council. What you're asking for is something totally different. We can discuss it as a future subcommittee item. Okay. And then staff can come back with you with some ways in doing that. So I will put that in the in the non agenda items to be brought back as a discussion. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? No, thank you. Okay. Megan, do we have any questions from the public? I don't see any hands raised. Okay. Are there any non agenda items that the mayor or Councilmember Lopez would like to add? No, I don't have any. Just the add the agenda item for Councilmember Lopez. Okay. Added city managers or anything that you'd like to add? No, just want to thank you and the rest of the staff for putting all this together and look forward to the items coming to the council or further discussions at the subcommittee f surprise on today. When you see the COVID presentation because you'll see it again. Well, surprise. Have a good evening. Thank you. Have a good evening. Bye bye.