City Council Meeting - Special Meeting re Homelessness

8109 ACTION MINUTES OF TULARE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF TULARE January 16, 2020 A special session of the City Council, City of Tulare was held on Thursday, January 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., in the Tulare Public Library & Council Chambers, 491 North “M” Street. COUNCIL PRESENT: Jose Sigala, Dennis A. Mederos, Terry A. Sayre, Carlton Jones, Greg Nunley6:02 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: Rob Hunt, Josh McDonnell, Mario Zamora, Wes Hensley, Luis Nevarez, Janice Avila, Michael Miller, Traci Myers, Darlene Thompson, Trisha Whitfield, Craig Miller, Roxanne Yoder I. CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL SESSION Mayor Sigala called the special session to order at 6:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Sigala led the Pledge of Allegiance. III. INVOCATION An invocation was given by Council Member Sayre. IV. CITIZEN COMMENTS Comments from the public are limited to items listed on the agenda (GC 54954.3a). Speakers will be allowed three minutes. Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residence. The following audience members addressed the City Council with their concerns and suggestions for addressing homelessness in the community: Trish Hitlin, Marmie Fidler, Carolyn Wong, Bill Sherman, Ricardo Florez, Sarah Rodriguez, Julian Grijalva, Teresa and Brianne Navarro, Dora Salazar, Ms. Leyvas, Miranda Santos, Ms. Lorenzo, Aaron Talbert, Michelle Smith of the Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance, Samantha Perry, Kenneth Ingle, Emilio Meha, Tim Hall, Chuck Miguel, Nathaniel & Christopher Woomavovah, Barbara Miller, Claire Bernardo, John Harman, Tulare Downtown Association, Daniel Castro and Lino Pimentel  8110 V. GENERAL BUSINESS Comments related to General Business Items are limited to three minutes per speaker, for a maximum of 30 minutes per item, unless otherwise extended by the Council. (1) Council discussion and consideration for the formation of a City Council appointed Social Services Commission or Jurisdictional Strategic Action Committee per the County of Tulare’s Pathway Home Strategic Plan. In the alternative, discussion and consideration of the formation of a Homeless Working Group consisting of Council members and City staff. Council Member Sayre moved to direct staff to draft an item to adopt a resolution to establish a Jurisdictional Strategic Action Committee on Homelessness for the February 4, 2020, City Council agenda. It was seconded by Mayor Sigala and unanimously carried to direct staff as noted. a. Application process b. Selection process; and c. Commission/Committee outcomes (2) Council discussion and consideration of funding opportunities. Questions related to housing funds were addressed by Community & Economic Development Director Traci Myers through a brief PowerPoint. Mayor Sigala moved to direct staff to place the NOFA/RFP on the February 4, 2020, City Council Agenda, for consideration as stated by staff on the record. It was seconded by Vice Mayor Mederos and unanimously carried to direct staff as noted. a. Federal b. State c. County d. Local e. Private sector (3) Council discussion regarding potential partnerships to assist with homelessness issues. Chaz Felix of Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency addressed the Council regarding County/City partnerships.  8111 Adrianne Hillman of Salt & Light addressed the Council regarding issues related to chronically homeless. Comments by Council. (4) Council discussion and consideration of next steps to address Tulare- specific homelessness issues. Donna Ortiz, Tulare County Behavioral Health Director and Tim Lutz, Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency Director addressed the Council regarding County’s efforts. Mayor Sigala moved to authorize the City Manager and Public Works Director to place dumpsters in or around homeless encampments around the City for 30 days with weekly pick up. The motion failed for lack of a second. Michelle Smith addressed the Council regarding homeless that sleep in cars indicating that it is not something they see a lot of. a. Immediate – Encampments along railroad, parks, safe harbor parking, waiver of citations, landlord mitigation. Comments made by Council. Chief Hensley addressed the clean-up efforts scheduled along the railroad property around March 1, 2020. b. Future – Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing with services. Further discussion regarding the ability to enforce current laws once transitional temporary housing is available for a percentage of homeless as identified in the Point in Time count. VI. ADJOURN SPECIAL SESSION Mayor Sigala adjourned the special session at 9:04 p.m. President of the Council and Ex-Officio Mayor of the City of Tulare ATTEST: _________________________________ Chief Deputy City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the City of Tulare