Title
Recommendation to Provide Advice and Consent on the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) Work Plan for the 2020 Calendar Year. (Community Development 267)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) requires the Social Service Human Relations Board (Board) to adopt an annual plan for the performance of its delineated functions “with advice and consent of the City Council.” At its October 24, 2019 meeting, the Board prepared a 2020 Work Plan for the City Council’s review, which includes a focus on: 1) promoting the 2020 census, 2) advising staff on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded public services and on homelessness programs and policies, 3) partnering with the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth, and their Families on Youth Mental Health, and 4) sponsoring community engagement events and initiatives.
BACKGROUND
The Board has developed a formal Work Plan for the 2020 calendar year for the City Council’s review. The Work Plan outlines the Board’s goals, proposed actions, and metrics to achieve those actions. This meets a requirement in AMC, which states that the Board is to adopt an annual plan for the performance of its delineated functions “with advice and consent of the City Council.”
DISCUSSION
AMC states that the Board is to adopt a plan for the performance of the Board’s functions listed in AMC. These include:
a. Encourage the formation of private social welfare organizations to meet needs already provided for and to foster all worthy philanthropic enterprises;
b. Foster mutual understanding, respect, equality and goodwill among community groups;
c. Facilitate the provision of social services in the community by informing private agencies of needs and of areas of duplication of efforts;
d. Disseminate information concerning the programs and functions of social service and regulatory agencies and to refer persons to the agencies which can best meet the needs of those persons; and
e. Assess and report to the City Council the social service needs of the people and the methods of meeting those needs.
The Board’s draft plan (Exhibit 1) outlines the following priorities and activities for calendar year 2020.
2020 Census
• Promote 2020 Census “Everybody Counts” Campaign, working with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and local businesses.
• Coordinate 2020 Census Steering Committee and Subcommittees to reach hard-to-count populations.
CDBG Public Services Funding Allocation
• Support preparation of CDBG Five-Year Strategic Plan and Annual Action Plan for City Council consideration.
• Participate in gathering input from stakeholders on the community’s needs for social services for the Five-Year Strategic Plan and Annual Action Plan.
Homelessness Programs
• Oversee the implementation of the City’s homelessness initiatives and Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) grant projects, including the HEAP Ambassador Program, 2-1-1 Homeless Hotline, Warming Shelter, Dine and Connect, and drop-in day center.
• Participate in the Collaboration Addressing Resources, Efforts, and Supports (CARES) for Alameda’s Homeless team. The Board will have representation on the CARES team and provide periodic reports to the Board on citywide efforts to address homelessness.
Youth Mental Health
• Partner with Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth, and their Families (ACCYF) and AUSD on a youth mental health awareness campaign.
Community Engagement Events and Initiatives
• Annual Season for Non-Violence (SNV)
• Annual Community Service Awards (CSA)
• A possible summer/fall 2020 community “unity” event
• Explore developing an on-line social service directory/dashboard
ALTERNATIVES
Staff recommends that the City Council provides advice and consent to the Board’s Work Plan for calendar year 2020.
• The City Council could provide feedback to the Board modifying the 2020 work plan or take no action at this time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds to support the Board are budgeted in Human Services Fund (267). There are no additional appropriations required from taking an action on this item.
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
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. This is not a project and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, sections 15378 and 15061(b)(3) (General Rule).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
Not applicable to this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide advice and consent to the Board’s Work Plan for the 2020 calendar year.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager concurs with the Community Development Director’s recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Department Director
By,
Eric Fonstein, Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Draft SSHRB Work Plan for Calendar Year 2020
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
SSHRB