Housing and Human Services Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Housing and Human Services Commission Wednesday, October 23, 2024 7:00 PM Online and City Hall, Bay Conference Room, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Duncan called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Bay Conference Room. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Duncan led the salute to the United States flag. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Chair Scott Duncan Vice Chair Carol Weiss Commissioner Morgan Friedlander Commissioner Ken Hiremath Commissioner Elizabeth Steward Absent: 2 - Commissioner Jim Davis Commissioner Leesa Riviere Commissioner Davis' and Commissioner Riviere's absence is unexcused. Council Liaison Sell (present) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chair Duncan announced the recruitment for the Charter Review Committee. Chair Duncan asked if anyone wished to discuss non-agenda items under Oral Communications. Community Member, Shaunn C., gave public comment on Sunnyvale shelter services. Commissioner Steward asked the member of the public how they are made aware of the problems unhoused residents face. City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission Shaunn C. confirmed it is first or second-hand information. Chair Duncan closed Oral Communications. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A 24-1087 Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting Minutes of September, 17, 2024 Chair Duncan asked if anyone wished to discuss the item on the Consent Calendar. No members of the public wished to speak. Chair Duncan asked for a motion or any additional discussion on the Consent Calendar. MOTION: Vice Chair Weiss moved and Commissioner Steward seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Duncan Vice Chair Weiss Commissioner Friedlander Commissioner Steward No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Davis Commissioner Riviere Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Hiremath PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 24-0985 Biennial Review of Priority Needs for Human Services and Supplemental Human Services Funding Recommendations. Housing Program Analyst, Matt Hazel, provided the staff report. Housing Officer Jenny Carloni and Matt H. answered questions from commissioners. After some clarifying questions of staff, Chair Duncan opened the public hearing at 7:25 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission Upwards Community Impact Manager, Melanie F. spoke on behalf of in-home daycare facilities in Sunnyvale. Melanie offered to collaborate with Sunnyvale staff to continue the prioritization of economic development and childcare in Sunnyvale. Chair Duncan asked Melanie if the organization is receiving funding from the City. Melanie stated that the organization is not currently partnered with the City and that the organization hopes to in the future. Chief Community Resources Officer Pilar F. with Bill Wilson Center spoke in support of continuing to prioritize low income and special needs residents. Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) Executive Director Marie B. shared information on how SCS supports residents in the community. Marie B. shared current statistics on the population that SCS serves and noted that many of the families need food and housing assistance. Chair Duncan asked and Marie B. clarified the SCS unduplicated clients statistics. Erika Laguna, Director of Program Operations for Downtown Streets Teams shared information on the WorkFirst Sunnyvale Program. Commissioner Friedlander asked if the program tracks the employment retention rates and Erika confirmed the program does. Commissioner Steward asked and Erika clarified what barriers have been removed for clients who are in the program. David H. with SCS shared information on a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded program and spoke in support of the agenda item. Rose G. with Helping Hands spoke about her experience with the unhoused in the Sunnyvale community. Commissioner Steward asked Rose how she receives information from the unhoused. Rose confirmed that she speaks directly with the unhoused by phone. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission Shaunn C. spoke in favor of new funding for the unhoused community support. Shaunn recommended the continued support from the City for SCS. Michelle S. attorney with Senior Adults Living Assistance (SALA) shared information about how the organization assists seniors within the community. She also spoke in support of the supplemental human services funding recommendations. Samantha P. Grant Manager of Child Advocates of Silicon Valley shared information about the program and how they support and serve the youth in the community. Samantha P. spoke in favor of the supplemental human services funding. Chair Duncan closed the public hearing at 8:02 p.m. After a lengthy discussion and additional questions of staff, Chair Duncan asked for a motion. MOTION: Commissioner Weiss moved and Commissioner Steward seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1 and Alternative 3 with modification of Alternative 1 to direct staff to adjust the General Fund appropriation for human services grants to $150,000 for FY 2025/26 and FY 2026/27 to be included in the FY 2025/26 Recommended Budget; and increase the General Fund supplemental grant based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) every two years starting in FY 2027/28 from the base of $150,000. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Duncan Vice Chair Weiss Commissioner Friedlander Commissioner Hiremath Commissioner Steward No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Davis Commissioner Riviere 3 24-1089 Proposed Project: Introduce an Ordinance to: Amend Article 5 (Special Housing Issues) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code to Allow Safe Parking as a City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission Primary or Ancillary Use at Specified Sites, other related Zoning Code Amendments, and related Amendments to the Peery Park Specific Plan Land Use Table and Direct Staff to Pursue Implementing a Safe Parking Pilot Program on Public Land. Location: Citywide File #: PLNG-2024-0645 Zoning: C-4, MP-02, M-S, M-3, PPSP-IE, and PPSP-MIC and Place of Assembly - Community Serving us sites Environmental Review: Class 1 (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] Guidelines Section 15301), Class 4 (Section 15304), and Class 11 (Section 15311) Categorical Exemptions and Section 16061(b)(3) Project Manager: Amanda Sztoltz, (408) 730-7451, asztoltz@sunnyvale.ca.gov Homeless Services Manager Amanda Sztoltz provided the staff report and answered questions from commissioners. Chair Duncan opened public hearing at 8:35 p.m. Sunnyvale Community Services Executive Director, Marie B. shared information on the challenges the community faces and spoke in overall support of the RV safe parking program. Rose G. with Helping Hands asked if the RV safe parking program would serve families and Amanda S. responded that the program operator would make that determination. Community member, Shaunn C. shared information on the challenges the unhoused community faces and offered suggestions for the RV safe parking program. Chair Duncan closed the public hearing at 8:55 p.m. Chair Duncan asked for discussion or a motion from the commissioners. MOTION: Commissioner Hiremath moved and Vice Chair Weiss seconded the motion to approve alternatives 1, 2, and 3. Recommend to City Council: City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission Alternatives 1, 2 and 3: 1) Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Article 5 (Special Housing Issues) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code to Allow Safe Parking as a Primary or Ancillary Use at Specified Sites, other related Zoning Code Amendments, and related Amendments to the Peery Park Specific Plan Land Use Table (Attachment 2 to the report) and Find that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the Class 1, Class 4, and Class 11 Categorical Exemptions and Section 16061(b)(3); 2) Direct Staff to Pursue Implementing a Safe Parking Pilot Program on Public Land; and, 3) Direct staff to include an option in the FY 2025-2026 Budget for a General Fund grant for a nonprofit or faith-based organization to provide a Safe Parking program on private land. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Duncan Vice Chair Weiss Commissioner Friedlander Commissioner Hiremath Commissioner Steward No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Davis Commissioner Riviere STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES 4 24-1092 Proposed Study Issue for 2025: Affordable Educator Housing Housing Officer, Jenny Carloni, provided the staff report and after, Vice Chair Weiss spoke on the proposal of the study issue. Chair Duncan opened the public hearing at 9:15 p.m. Sunnyvale Community Services Executive Director Marie B. shared information on SCS challenge of hiring staff because of unaffordable housing in the bay area. She spoke in overall support of the study issue. Member of the public, Leesa R., on behalf of Santa Clara University colleagues, asked what the prioritization would be for staff and teachers and what the program would look like. Lisa R. spoke in overall support of the potential study issue. City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission Chair Duncan closed the public hearing at 9:23 p.m. After a lengthy discussion from the commissioners, Chair Duncan asked for a motion. Vice Chair Weiss accepted Commissioner Hiremath’s revision to update the title of this study issue to Affordable Housing for Sunnyvale Educators. Sunnyvale Educators are to include teachers and other Sunnyvale educators staff. MOTION: Vice Chair Weiss moved and Commissioner Hiremath seconded the motion to sponsor the study issue. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Duncan Vice Chair Weiss Commissioner Friedlander Commissioner Hiremath Commissioner Steward No: 0 Absent: 2 - Commissioner Davis Commissioner Riviere 5 24-1090 Proposed Study Issue for 2025: Homeless Encampment Service for Hygiene and Safety of Homeless Citizens and the Surrounding Public, to include Toilets, Sinks, Fresh Water, and Trash Pick-up Homeless Services Manager Amanda S. gave a brief staff report and noted that based on conversation with Commissioner Steward, it was identified that the scope of this study issue is covered under the existing Study Issue 24-03. Therefore, Commissioner Steward requested the Commissioners not sponsor the proposed Study Issue. Chair Duncan opened and closed the public hearing at 9:35 p.m., upon confirming that no members of the public wished to speak. After discussion and clarifying questions, Chair Duncan asked for a motion. MOTION: Commissioner Steward motion and Commissioner Hiremath seconded the City of Sunnyvale Page 7 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission motion to not sponsor the study issue because the scope of the study issue will be incorporated to the existing study issue. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Chair Duncan Vice Chair Weiss Commissioner Friedlander Commissioner Hiremath No: 1 - Commissioner Steward Absent: 2 - Commissioner Davis Commissioner Riviere NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Councilmember Sell thanked staff and commissioners for their service to Sunnyvale. Commissioner Hiremath and Chair Duncan thanked Edith for her help and support with the commission throughout the years. -Staff Comments Housing Officer Jenny Carloni made the following announcmenets: • Study issues that are proposed after tonight’s meeting would be considered for the following FY. • The next Housing and Human Services Commission meeting is a special meeting on November 19 • Homeless Services Manager, Amanda Sztoltz, will be the staff liaison for the Nov. 19 meeting and Jenny will attend the City Council meeting • Housing Programs Technician, Janelle Resuello, is the new Recording Officer for Housing and Human Services Commission • Housing Programs Technician, Edith Alanis, is retiring and thanked her for her 17 years serving the commission INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS None. 24-1088 Housing and Human Services Commission Proposed Study Issues, Calendar Year: 2025 City of Sunnyvale Page 8 Housing and Human Services Meeting Minutes October 23, 2024 Commission None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Duncan adjourned the meeting at 9:40 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 9