Title
Recommendation to Accept the Social Service Human Relations Board Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-24. (Community Development 10021830)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) requires the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) to adopt an annual plan for the performance of its delineated functions “with advice and consent of the City Council.” At its April 27, 2023 meeting, SSHRB unanimously approved a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Work Plan (Work Plan) for City Council’s review. The Work Plan focuses on addressing human relations concerns relevant to creating a welcoming community for all residents, as well as continuing to oversee existing City of Alameda (City) initiatives.
Background
The AMC 2-9.4(f) states that one of the duties of SSHRB is to adopt a plan for the performance of its delineated functions “with advice and consent of the City Council.” The AMC further notes that, “[t]he City Council and SSHRB will meet at least once a year to review the plan.”
At its October 27, 2022 meeting, SSHRB initiated development of a Work Plan to determine SSHRB’s future agenda items, establish priorities, and create a timeline for its activities. These activities were based on SSHRB’s three ad hoc subcommittees, composed of two members each, and aligned with the following:
• Community Needs Assessment (CNA), which is conducted every four to five years.
• Human Relations/Alamedans Together Against Hate-to address human relations concerns to create a welcoming and beloved community for all residents.
• SSHRB’s infrastructure, including the creation of temporary ad hoc subcommittees or permanent work groups in compliance with the open government requirements (i.e., the State’s Brown Act and the City’s Sunshine Ordinance).
DISCUSSION
The three ad hoc subcommittees have been independently meeting periodically to develop their respective segments of the Work Plan (see Exhibit One: Draft FY 2023-24 Work Plan). In addition to SSHRB’s regular review and oversight of various City initiatives, the Work Plan identifies the following areas of primary focus for FY 2023-24:
1. Attention to creating a welcoming City for all residents-In 1997, the City passed a resolution declaring Alameda a hate-free city. In the early 2000’s, SSHRB sponsored a work group called Alamedans Together Against Hate (ATAH) in response to racially and other bias-motivated incidences and hate crimes in Alameda. Its activities include creating a speakers’ bureau and “No Room for Hate” posters. The current SSHRB recommends reinstituting this focus with a more assertive, proactive approach to community-building and human relations. Under the proposed Work Plan, some of SSHRB activities may include:
a. Consider changing the name of ATAH to a more affirmative or positive vision.
b. Research best practices from other comparable cities, such as the “Hate-Free Together Campaign” launched in November 2022 by UC Davis, City of Davis, and Yolo County.
c. Possibly coordinate with other City initiatives and convene major stakeholder groups to discuss what the City can do to promote positive human relations.
d. Interview community members for their perspectives on how to promote positive human relations.
e. Revise and recommit to an updated City Resolution.
2. Dissemination of the 2023 CNA-City Council received and accepted the 2023 CNA at its May 2, 2023 meeting. Under the proposed Work Plan, future SSHRB activities may include circulating and promoting the CNA to local community organizations. The data consolidated in the CNA may help local organizations with future grant proposals.
3. Monitoring and participating in community awareness of homelessness activities. As the work on the CNA nears completion, SSHRB proposes to replace the CNA ad hoc subcommittee with a new one to interact with or monitor The Road Home: A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness in Alameda (The Road Home). Under the proposed Work Plan, some of SSHRB activities may include:
a. Developing a plan to enhance reporting on progress made on The Road Home;
b. Reviewing metrics for each of the goals in The Road Home;
c. Reviewing The Road Home Strategy 3.1 and develop a plan to engage the community on the regional crisis of homelessness; and
d. Attending Collaboration Advancing Resources, Efforts, and Supports for Alameda’s Homeless (CARES) Team monthly meetings.
4. Leading and participating the City’s Quarterly Domestic Violence Task Force meetings-At its May 28, 2020 meeting, SSHRB incorporated the issue of domestic violence into its annual Work Plan. The goal of the Task Force is to coordinate domestic violence prevention and intervention services in the City and mobilize all members of our community to take a proactive role in building a domestic violence-free community. Future tasks may include:
a. Coordinating domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Alameda,
b. Executing outreach activities during domestic violence awareness month (October) and teen dating violence awareness month (February), and
c. Designing campaigns to build a domestic violence-free community.
Under the proposed Work Plan, SSHRB would continue its oversight of:
• The Road Home;
• Recommendations for CDBG funding levels; and
• Coordination of community events.
The draft Work Plan was also been reviewed and revised by SSHRB at its December, January, February, and March public meetings. At its April 27, 2023 meeting, SSHRB approved the Work Plan for City Council’s consideration.
Alternatives
• Provide feedback on the Social Service Human Relations Board Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
• Request additional information prior to providing feedback.
• Provide no feedback.
Financial Impact
Funds to support SSHRB are included in the proposed FY 2023-24 Human Services budget (Org 10021830).
Municipal Code/Policy Document Cross Reference
This action is consistent with Alameda Municipal Code 2-9.4(f):
Adopt a plan for the performance of the above listed functions with advice and consent of the City Council. It is the intent of this section that the City Council and Board will meet at least once a year to review the plan.
Environmental Review
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
Climate Impacts
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
Recommendation
Accept the Social Service Human Relations Board’s Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Maxwell, Community Development Director
By,
Eric Fonstein, Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret L. O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Draft SSHRB Work Plan for FY 2023-24
cc: SSHRB