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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/23/2022 Staff: Committee Members: Christian Clegg, City Manager Vice-Mayor Ken Weir – Chair Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager Councilmember Patty Gray Juan Heredia, Administrative Analyst III Councilmember Eric Arias Special Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council – City of Bakersfield Tuesday, August 23, 2022 12:00 p.m. Open Door Network: Job Center 1420 Union Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93305 AGENDA Meeting called to order: 12:00 p.m. 1) ROLL CALL Committee Members: Councilmember Ken Weir, Chair Councilmember, Eric Arias Councilmember, Patty Gray City Staff: Christian Clegg, City Manager Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager Juan Heredia, Administrative Analyst III Josh Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney Joe Conroy, Public Information Officer Additional Attendees: Members of the public 2) PUBLIC STATEMENTS a. Agenda Item Public Statements – No public comment. Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee Special Meeting August 23, 2022 ASR Page 2 b. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements – No public comment. 3) ADOPTION OF THE JULY 26, 2022, AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Councilmember Eric Arias motioned to approve the adoption of the July 26, 2022 agenda summary report with the addition that aside from Chair expressing his gratitude, he also welcomed a conversation about affordable housing. Unanimous approval. Motion carried. 4) STAFF REPORT a. Staff update on the City’s efforts to address homelessness – Valdez Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager provided an overview of the Ad Hoc Homelessness Committee and provided an update on City partnership data. Committee Member Arias asked for information and clarification on the use of 2-1-1 for emergency services and how are tracking of services handled if at all. City staff provided general overview of the coordinated entry system that is run by CAPK and distributed to service providers. There was a recent analysis completed by BKRHC and was presented to executive board and data is being monitored. Committee Member Arias then requested data analysis be shared with the committee for review. Chair Weir requested that BKRHC information be provided monthly with staff reports if it was available. Committee Member Gray asked what the response was when individuals contact 2-1-1 for emergency housing, but beds are at capacity? Mr. Valdez shared that Flood Ministries has a waiting list for not only BLNC but other shelters available. Anna Laven, Executive Director of BKRHC shared Coordinated Entry System Standing Committee that meets monthly to review data. The committee meetings are Brown Act compliant and available to the public and will be happy to share access with the Ad Hoc Committee. 5) NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and tour of Open-Door Network’s Job Center Program – Valdez Assistant to the City Manager Anthony Valdez provided the committee a Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee Special Meeting August 23, 2022 ASR Page 3 general overview of the services provided through Open-Door Network and the partnership programs with the City funded positions to include Animal Care Center, Water Resources-Sump Clean-up; Freeway Litter, Clean City, Downtown Street Ambassadors and Green waste facilities. Open-Door Network CEO, Lauren Skidmore, shared more about the agency formally the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter and Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault and have merged and support three main divisions: homelessness, joblessness and survivors of trauma or abuse. They provide emergency shelter, therapy, case management and legal services. They are the first shelter to provide childcare and after school care for their clients. Ms. Skidmore introduced a Jessica Ponce Ramos to provide a testimonial. Ms. Ramos currently works with the CCI crew with is a City contracted program. She shared her story and spoke to what this collaboration provided her. Assisted her with finding a permanent home, a job, reunification with her children and stability. Committee had an opportunity to view equipment and vehicles being utilized to preform Clean Cities Initiative work. Many of those requests coming through the City App. 6) COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee Member Gray commented to reimagining a Bakersfield that did not include the help of these contracted employees and expressed her gratitude for their willingness to do the work. Committee Member Gray requested that in the future they be able to tour different programs and locations such as the Mission. Committee Chair Weir commented on the awesome results of these programs and as one of seven representatives of the City of Bakersfield, expressed how proud he felt about the investment into these programs. Chair Weir shared that he is glad about the opportunity to hold these meeting and highlight the work being done and the opportunity to learn. 7) ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.