To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: MICHAEL W. WEBB, CITY ATTORNEY
CHERYL PARK, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
ANASTASIA PAPADAKIS, SENIOR DEPUTY CITY PROSECUTOR
JOY ABAQUIN, QUALITY OF LIFE PROSECUTOR
TITLE
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APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS REGARDING USE OF SBCCOG’S ALLOCATED COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES INNOVATION GRANT FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE CITY’S ENHANCED RESPONSE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $245,287 FOR THE TERM OF JULY 1, 2020 UNTIL JUNE 30, 2021.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The South Bay Cities Council of Government awarded the City of Redondo Beach $245,287 for the implementation of the Enhanced Response Pilot Program. The City of Redondo Beach was the only city awarded funds for being innovative in addressing people experiencing homelessness. The recommended action will authorize the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Understanding accepting the grant on behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND
In November 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to allocate $739,685 to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to provide Innovation Funds for Homeless Services. The SBCCOG received ten proposals from El Segundo, Gardena, Inglewood, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Harbor Interfaith Services, PATH and SBCCOG. In February 2020, the SBCCOG Board awarded the City of Redondo Beach $245,287 to continue its truly innovative Enhanced Response Pilot Program for its second year. Of the ten proposals, Redondo Beach was the only jurisdiction awarded funds for being “innovative.”
The Enhanced Pilot Program consists of two prosecutors, contract attorneys as backfill, police department overtime, and special services such as psychiatrists, therapy, mental health treatment, prescribed medication, etc.
One prosecutor manages Homeless Court and files all prosecutions for violations committed by people experiencing homelessness. The other prosecutor attends mental health court and responds to members of the community about issues relating to people experiencing homelessness, including the faith-based organizations.
On August 4, 2020, the City Attorney’s Office gave a presentation to the Mayor and City Council of the next steps of the Enhanced Response to Homelessness Pilot Program. At that Council Meeting, the Mayor and Council unanimously voted to direct the City Attorney’s Office to prepare to host the Homeless Court program once a month for one year, as well as prepare and bring back for City Council approval an MOU for Clear Inc. operating as Clear Recovery Center to donate up to $5,000 of professional clinical services per month for a mental health treatment program to assist the homeless, with the option for the City to pay for additional services using funds from the SBCCOG grant. On September 1, the Mayor and Council unanimously voted to approve an MOU with Clear Inc. to provide such services.
In addition, the City Attorney’s office is working on getting a psychiatrist to evaluate people experiencing homelessness and prescribe the necessary medication to treat their mental illnesses. The grant would also fund the medication and a doctor who would administer the medication when necessary.
On September 9, 2020, Redondo Beach hosted the first outdoor Homeless Court in the entire county in the parking lot of the Police Annex. Due to COVID-19, criminal court was unable to hold Homeless Court for the months of March and April, and was only able to hold a limited Homeless Court in June and July. In order to protect the court staff and participants of Homeless Court, the Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court approved moving Homeless Court outdoors to Redondo Beach with the help of various departments of the City, the Sheriff’s Department, Public Defenders, and Alternative Public Defenders.
Fifteen participants attended Homeless Court in September, including two who “graduated,” meaning those individuals obtained permanent housing and their criminal cases were dismissed. Another individual reported to the judge that after over a decade of substance abuse, she was completely sober for almost a year. Four of the fifteen participants were ordered to remain at the Police Annex for mental health therapy and a group session with Clear Recovery Center, which were held immediately after Homeless Court.
COORDINATION
None.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding was approved in the FY 2020/21 budget from the SBCCOG Innovation Funds for Homeless Services grant awarded for the Enhanced Response to Homeless Pilot Program.
ATTACHMENTS
MOU Redondo Beach and South Bay Cities Council of Governments