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Home My WebLink About04/26/2022 Staff: Committee Members: Christian Clegg, City Manager Councilmember, Ken Weir – Chair Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager Councilmember, Patty Gray Crystal Rubio, Administrative Analyst III Councilmember, Eric Arias Regular Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council – City of Bakersfield Tuesday, April 26, 2022 12:00 p.m. City Hall North, First Floor, Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301 A G E N D A 1. ROLL CALL 2. PUBLIC STATEMENT 3. ADOPTION OF THE MARCH 22, 2022 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT 4. STAFF REPORTS 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Overview of the City of Bakersfield’s enforcement efforts related to homelessness. -Valdez B. Roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials regarding the region’s enforcement efforts related to homelessness. -Valdez 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 7. ADJOURNMENT /S/ Christian Clegg Staff: Committee Members: Christian Clegg, City Manager Councilmember, Ken Weir – Chair Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager Councilmember, Patty Gray Crystal Rubio, Administrative Analyst III Councilmember, Eric Arias Regular Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council – City of Bakersfield Tuesday, March 22, 2022 12:00 p.m. City Hall North, First Floor, Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301 Agenda Summary Report The meeting was convened at 12:04 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL Committee Members: Councilmember, Ken Weir, Chair Councilmember, Eric Arias City Staff: Christian Clegg, City Manager Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager Joseph Conroy, Public Information Officer Crystal Rubio, Administrative Analyst Josh Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney Brent Stratton, Bakersfield Police, Assistant Chief Jeff Burdick, Bakersfield Police, Lieutenant John Frando, Bakersfield Fire Department, Chief Nina Carter, Homeless Services Principal Additional Attendees: Members of the public 2. PUBLIC STATEMENT There were no public statements. 3. ADOPTION OF THE FEBRUARY 22, 2022 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The report was adopted as submitted. DRAFT Ad Hoc on Homelessness Committee March 22, 2022 Agenda Summary Report Page 2 4. STAFF REPORTS Assistant to the City Manager Valdez reviewed monthly staff reports from the three largest contractors in homeless services - Flood Ministries, Mercy House and the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Flood Ministries averaged 85 weekly contacts in the field, 43 turn aways per week, primarily due to dorm capacity or pet capacity. The Brundage Lane Navigation Center has been at capacity at 146. Mr. Valdez noted that 4 beds are kept available for Bakersfield Police Department to bring in individuals as needed. It was also noted that 7 individuals placed into permanent housing in the month of February and 2 additional individuals were reunited with family. Mr. Valdez also reported that the Bakersfield Homeless Center Jobs Program assisted in the successful job placement of an individual the City Recreation and Parks department. Mr. Valdez shared the Brundage Lane Navigation Center expansion is underway, noting that demolition has begun, and plans are being finalized with collaborating departments. Committee member Arias indicated an interested in further discussing the topic of job programs and what can be done to better support that program and build on the number of successful placements. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Presentation by Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) regarding programs serving homeless individuals – Presenter: BHRS Director of Behavioral Health Services Stacy Kuwahara BRHS Director Stacy Kuwahara provided a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview of topics requested by committee members at the previous meeting, primarily the Homeless Adult Team, the Mobile Evaluation Team, and services that currently being provided to support the Brundage Lane Navigation Center, LPS (Lanterman-Petris Short Act) Reform and Director Kuwahara added content on the Care Court Proposals. City Manager Christian Clegg asked Assistant Chief of Police Brent Stratton to speak on the number of calls that were diverted to a mental health professional through the partnership thereby avoiding the need to dispatch patrol officers. Assistant Chief Stratton noted the BHRS partnership in the communications center has diverted 63% of the calls to services provided by the Mobile Evaluation Team and eliminating the need to dispatch a patrol officer that would not be best equipped to handle such calls. Assistant Chief Stratton also noted the partnership has been a tremendous benefit and looks forward to being able to expand the program. City Manager Clegg went on to comment on program expansion, noting that through the budget process there is a plan to bring to council the opportunity to expand DRAFT Ad Hoc on Homelessness Committee March 22, 2022 Agenda Summary Report Page 3 the program to have those resources available 24-7 and see further reduction in the need for police dispatch. BRHS Director Stacy Kuwahara concluded her presentation and opened to conversation with the group. Committee member Arias commented on overwhelming amount information and programs available, as it is such new realm of work and collaborations. He spoke to identifying the gaps in the services to best find a solution that services that need. Committee member Arias asked, where are the greatest needs when breaking it down by issue between in the field and in housing? City Manager Clegg also responded to Council member Arias directly to housing, noting that for certain types of patients there are no beds available to meet their needs. Clarifying the difference between affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing and acknowledging the lack of availability to service mental health needs due to lack of available beds. City Manager Clegg posed a question on the need for additional beds for those individuals in evaluation period. BRHS Director Stacy Kuwahara stated there is a need for more capacity at the psychiatric evaluation center which was built for a capacity of 500 and is currently pushing 1000 a month which is not conducive for a recovery environment. Committee member Arias added that we are wonderful job in investing into our collaboration with the MET team and Bakersfield Police department and reducing the need for patrol dispatch by 25 percent. Committee member Arias also acknowledges that an unfunded mandate coming from the state may be a great issue and it is recommended that we start having conversations with our lobbyist to get the adequate support. Committee Chair Ken Weir discussed the need for additional staffing for Project ROEM, increasing response time for individuals in need of psychiatrist and that there is a greater need for MET services to 5150 calls for service to free up patrol officers. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS No committee comments 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:21 p.m. DRAFT Monthly Report for Bakersfield City Council Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee March 2022 The City of Bakersfield contracts with Flood Ministries for street outreach services to unsheltered individuals. March Report Weekly Average Contacts with homeless individuals in the field 76 City’s Brundage Lane Navigation Center (BLNC) turn-aways due to lack of dorm or pet capacity (includes field contacts, walk-in, and call-ins) 74 BLNC turn-aways due to lack of dorm capacity 69 • Male 33 • Male with pet 1 • Female 11 • Female with pet 2 • Couple (# of individuals) 18 • Couple with pet (# of individuals) 4 BLNC turn-aways due to lack of pet capacity 5 • Male 1 • Female 4 • Couple (# of individuals) 0 The City of Bakersfield contracts with Mercy House to operate all aspects of the City’s Brundage Lane Navigation Center (BLNC). March Report Weekly Average Maximum Capacity % Of Capacity Filled Weekly City’s Brundage Lane Navigation Center beds filled 147 150* 98% • Male 74 76 97% • Female 53 54 98% • Couple (# of individuals) 20 20 100% Housing Placements March Total Calendar YTD • Placed in permanent housing 4 53 • Guest/Family reunifications 1 6 * BLNC’s maximum capacity is 150 beds. Each night four (4) beds are held open for the Bakersfield Police Department to utilize which brings the functional capacity to 146. The City of Bakersfield contracts with the Bakersfield Homeless Center (BHC) for a jobs program serving multiple City functions, including but not limited to downtown ambassadors, green solid waste, high-way clean-up, animal shelter, and sump cleaning. A new City-funded BHC Jobs Center building was completed in December. March Report March Total Calendar YTD Maximum Capacity % Filled Newly hired employees 7 21 -- -- Current employees 106 -- 109 97% • Male 62 -- -- -- • Female 44 -- -- -- Program participants placed in permanent jobs 0 2 -- --