HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/22/22 HOMELESSNESS AD HOCd oft
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BAKERSFIELD
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tS aff: 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
Regular Meeting of the
Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee
of the City Council - City of Bakersfield
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
12:00 p.m.
City Hall North, First Floor, Conference Room A
1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Meeting called to order at 12:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Committee Members present: Councilmember Ken Weir, Chair
Councilmember Patty Gray
Committee Members absent: Councilmember Eric Arias
City Staff: Christian Clegg, City Manager
Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager
Juan Heredia, Administrative Analyst
Josh Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney
Nina Carter, Homeless Services Principal
John Frando, Bakersfield Fire Department Chief
Andrae Gonzales, Bakersfield City Councilmember
Paul Saldana, Economic Development Director
Jenny Buyers, Assistant Director ECD
Karen Goh, Bakersfield City Mayor
Zachary Meyer, Assistant Public Works Director
Carla Reyes, Clerk Typist
Additional Attendees: Members of the Public
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
b. Non -Agenda Item Public Statements
None.
3. ADOPTION OF THE SEPTEMBER 27, 2022, AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Councilmember Gray motioned to approve the September 27, 2022 Agenda
Summary Report as submitted. Motion approved with Councilmember Adas
absent.
4. STAFF REPORT
a. Staff update on the City's efforts to address homelessness - Valdez
Assistant to the City Manager Anthony Valdez provided the committee with
an overview of past topics discussed and an update on city partnership
data.
The process for the point -in -time count was reviewed. The date is set for
January 25, 2023, from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m.
A report was given on the recent meeting with Governor Newsom and city
mayors regarding homelessness funding recently withheld by the Governor.
Mayor Goh advocated for the restoration of the funds by emphasizing the
City's progress in addressing homelessness to the Governor.
The Committee was informed on staff's efforts through participating on a
steering committee to develop a regional action plan that will have
quantifiable outcomes, be accessible to everyone, address the needs of
the homeless sub populations, identify needed programs and possible
funding resources. It's anticipated the plan should be ready in a few
months.
Report to Committee. No action taken.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Discussion of homeless sub populations.
Joyme Stuart, Kern County Network for Children, The Dream Center,
provided information about the types of challenges facing youth (ages 18-
24) who are at risk of becoming homeless, as well as a summary on the
types of resources and services available for youth at the Dream Center.
Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council - City of Bakersfield
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 12:00 p.m. - Page 2
Lauren Skidmore CEO, Open Door Network, explained that her organization
serves individuals and families who are fleeing intimate partner violence,
sexual assault, child abuse, or human trafficking, and that they work closely
with Department of Human Services (DHS) and Bakersfield Police
Department (BPD). She summarized the various programs that are available
and noted the programs are aimed at preventing homelessness by keeping
families from becoming homeless. The shelters operated by the Open Door
Network are the first shelters to offer childcare. Construction on a new
shelter of approximately 380 beds for families will break ground next week.
Jeremy Oliver, Kern County Interim Director of Aging and Adult Services
spoke on the Home Safe Program which is funded by a grant from
California Department of Social Services to Adult Protective Services
programs to address adults who are homeless or at imminent risk of
homelessness due to abuse or neglect. He described the challenges in
finding acceptable housing if an individual has additional needs and the
reason some refuse to accept services even when needed.
Stacy Kuwahara, Behavioral Health Recovery Services spoke on the reasons
homelessness occurs and the types of services that are needed/offered
and the available resources. She explained the different types of housing
that are needed and the difficulties That come with each. Housing needs
must be available to everyone no matter the needs.
There was discussion on how to eliminate the red tape and state mandates
for housing as well as the different Types of housing needed and the
obstacles that must be navigated to get it started.
Discussion only item. No action taken.
6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Councilmember Gray expressed her appreciation to The committee for their
commitment on fixing the homelessness "crisis". She said that the committee
needs to be better at letting the public know about what is being done to address
this issue.
Chair Weir agreed that Bakersfield residents need to be kept informed of the
efforts being made To address homelessness.
Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council -City of Bakersfield
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 12:00 p.m. - Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
KEN WEIR, CHAIR
HOMELESSNESS AD HOC COMMITTEE
ATTEST:
ILIE DRIMAKIS, MMC
ITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
The Council of the City of Bakersfield
Meeting of the Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council -City of Bakersfield
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 12:00 p.m. - Page 4