HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 169 CC RESO RESOLUTION NO. 2017-169
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF BALDWIN PARK IN SUPPORT OF THE BOARD
SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF A SPECIAL TAX
ELECTION ON A COUNTYWIDE TRANSACTIONS AND
USE (SALES) TAX TO PREVENT AND COMBAT
HOMELESSNESS TO BE HELD IN THE COUNTY OF
LOS ANGELES AND CONSOLIDATING THE SPECIAL
TAX ELECTION WITH OTHER ELECTIONS TO BE HELD
ON MARCH 7, 2017
WHEREAS, the County of Los Angeles ("County") is facing a pervasive and
deepening homeless crisis, which currently endangers the health and safety of tens of
thousands of residents, including veterans, women, children, LGBTQ youth, persons
with disabilities, and seniors; and
WHEREAS, the tremendous scale of homelessness in the County threatens the
economic stability of the region by burdening emergency medical services and the
social services infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2016 Homeless Count released by the Los Angeles
Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the number of homeless persons in the County
on any given night is roughly 47,000, including over 6,000 parents and their children;
and
WHEREAS, over 3,000 of the homeless in the County are veterans; and
WHEREAS, since 2013, the number of homeless women has risen 55 percent;
and
WHEREAS, the number of homeless persons living in encampments, tents and
vehicles increased by a staggering 123 percent from 2013 to 2016, from 5,153
persons to 11,472; and
WHEREAS, homelessness is also increasing in the suburbs of the County. The
homeless population has grown by 35 percent in the San Fernando Valley from 2015 to
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2016 , from 5,424 to 7,334, and in the South Bay, homelessness increased by 10
percent, from 5,351 to 5,913 during the same period; and
WHEREAS, many homeless people are facing severe threats to their health and
safety on a daily basis; recent research has demonstrated that homeless persons are 3
to 4 times more likely to die than members of the general population, and studies
indicate that premature death most often results from acute and chronic medical
conditions aggravated by homeless life; and
WHEREAS, on August 17, 2015, the County Board of Supervisors launched the
Homeless Initiative to combat the homeless crisis that pervades our communities; and
WHEREAS, the County Chief Executive Officer's ("CEO") Homeless Initiative
conducted an inclusive and comprehensive planning process, including 18 policy
summits on nine topics from October 1 to December 3, 2015, which brought together
25 County departments, 30 cities and other public agencies, and over 100 community
partners and stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, the Homeless Initiative generated a powerful set of 47 coordinated
and integrated strategies divided into the following six areas, which are each key to
combating homelessness:
• Prevent Homelessness;
• Subsidize Housing;
• Increase Income;
• Provide Case Management and Services;
• Create a Coordinated System; and
• Increase Affordable/Homeless Housing; and
WHEREAS, the recommended strategies of the Homeless Initiative reflect the
following key principles:
o Homelessness is an extraordinarily complex problem which necessitates
active, sustained countywide collaboration amongst the County, cities and
other public agencies, and a wide array of community partners;
o The web of established collaborative relationships in Los Angeles County
provides a very strong foundation for the implementation of these
strategies;
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o These recommended strategies must strengthen and build upon current
County efforts by:
• Directing more resources to proven strategies;
• Integrating existing programs and services more effectively;
• Enabling cities to jo in the County in combating homelessness; and
• Identifying opportunities to leverage mainstream criminal justice ,
health, and social services; and
WHEREAS, on February 9, 2016, after hearing the testimony of elected officials
and representatives from over 14 cities from throughout the County who pledged their
support and commitment to working collaboratively with the County, the Board of
Supervisors adopted the CEO's Homeless Initiative strategies; and
WHEREAS, for fiscal year 2016-17, the Board of Supervisors approved new,
one-time funding of $100 million to initiate the implementation of the strategies
developed by the Homeless initiative; however, this funding will not sustain the
recommended strategies through 2017. The Board will soon need to replenish the $100
million dollars in one-time funds allocated to fund the Homeless initiative strategies. The
community-based organizations that participated in crafting the Homeless Initiative
strategies strongly advocated that the Board of Supervisors needed to secure
additional, ongoing, annual funds to implement the Homeless Initiative strategies in the
years to come; and
WHEREAS, the best budget projections make it very clear that current County
resources are not sufficient to fund countywide initiatives and services to combat
homelessness on an ongoing basis at the levels required to address the current crisis
within Los Angeles County; and
WHEREAS, this past winter, both the County and the City of Los Angeles
declared local states of emergency as it relates to the lack of shelter for homeless
persons within the County and the City; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to seek a statewide
declaration of emergency for the State's homeless crisis. The County's petition to get
the Governor to declare a state of emergency on homelessness has garnered over
27,000 signatures. The State Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging the
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Governor to declare a state of emergency for homelessness. The City of Los Angeles,
City and County of San Francisco, and the City of Santa Rosa have also passed similar
resolutions urging the Governor to declare a state of emergency for homelessness; and
WHEREAS, thirty-two members of Congress have signed a joint letter urging the
Governor to augment annual funding to address the homeless crisis and Congress
members Hahn, Napolitano, Sanchez, and Lowenthal have all also urged the Governor
to declare a state of emergency for homelessness. The Governor has refused,
however, to declare such an emergency, and therefore, local governments, like the
County, must take immediate action to address the homeless crisis in their own
jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the. assa a of Proposition HHH in November 2016 will allow the
p g p
City of Los Angeles to leverage resources and finance about 8,000-10,000 units of
permanent supportive housing over the next 10 years. Furthermore, the State of
California's "No Place Like Home" bond would also leverage resources and finance
about 5,700 permanent supportive housing units over four funding cycles across all 88
cities and unincorporated areas of the County. Finally, in addition to other local, state
and federal grant solicitations, the County's Community Development Commission
(CDC) also provides capital development funds for construction of permanent housing
set aside for special needs and homeless populations. As a strong partner in the
regional strategy to address homelessness, the Board of Supervisors is committed to
securing annual, ongoing revenue to fund the essential support services that would
complement these permanent supportive housing units and associated rental subsidies.
To that end, on October 25, 2016, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a
motion to craft the framework for a proposed Memorandum of Understanding that would
facilitate a coordinated countywide strategy on construction of permanent housing,
allocation of rent subsidies and provision of supportive services. To ensure the success
of these permanent supportive housing units, and to fully implement the Homeless
Initiative and other promising practices, the County has an urgent need to provide
prevention, crisis, and support services, including healthcare, mental health services,
and substance abuse treatment for homeless children, families, foster youth, seniors,
battered women, disabled individuals, veterans, and other homeless adults; and
WHEREAS, LAHSA has estimated that $450 million a year (not counting
construction costs) in services funding is required to make serious strides to address
homelessness across the County. LAHSA calculates that over 15,000 units of
permanent supportive housing are needed to aid persons who are living with disabilities
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and have had long durations of homelessness; the $450 million estimate includes
supportive services and rental subsidies for these proposed permanent supportive
housing units; and
WHEREAS, while the key to ending homelessness is linking individuals and
families to permanent housing, not all persons experiencing homelessness need
permanent supportive housing. Many families and individuals can be linked to
permanent housing and services through rapid rehousing programs. Additionally, the
County's Homeless Initiative is implementing prevention, outreach, employment and
bridge housing and other critical strategies that will need to be sustained and expanded
in the coming years; and
WHEREAS, the County has diligently examined existing programs and
reallocated funds to high-performing, effective programs that have shown the best
outcomes. The County has also set aside general fund money to implement innovative
programs, such as C3 street engagement teams, rapid rehousing and landlord incentive
programs. The County has already taken steps through the Whole Person Care
application to secure $90 million in federal funding for the next five years, a portion of
which will help finance supportive service needs for homeless persons eligible for
Medicaid. However, an ongoing revenue measure is critical if the County is to fully
honor any long-term commitments to address the regional homeless crisis consistent
with the strategies for combating homelessness developed through the Homeless
Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Parts 1.6 and 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code, the County is authorized to impose a retail transactions and use tax at a
rate of 0.125% (or any multiple thereof) in the incorporated and unincorporated territory
of the County to generate revenue for specific purposes ("special sales tax"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XIII C, section 2(d) of the Constitution, and
California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.5, a special sales tax is subject to
approval by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Supervisors and by a two-thirds vote of the
qualified voters voting in an election on the issue; and
WHEREAS, pursuant Government Code section 53724(d), an election for the
approval of a special tax may be held at any election date otherwise permitted by law;
and
WHEREAS, the County desires to impose a special retail sales tax at a rate of
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one-quarter percent (0.25%) on the sale of tangible personal property and the storage,
use, or other consumption of such property to generate revenue for the specific purpose
of preventing and combating homelessness in Los Angeles County; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors deems it necessary and essential to
submit the question of the special sales tax to the qualified voters within the County at
the regular election to be held on March 7, 2017, and to consolidate such election with
the other elections to be held on that date; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Baldwin Park wishes to support the
Ballot Measure and the special sales tax is to generate ongoing funding to prevent and
combat homelessness within Los Angeles County, including funding mental health,
substance abuse treatment, health care, education, job training, rental subsidies,
emergency and affordable housing, transportation, outreach, prevention, and supportive
services for homeless children, families, foster youth, veterans, battered women,
seniors, disabled individuals, and other homeless adults, consistent with the strategies
developed through the Homeless Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors, and as
otherwise directed by the Board to address the causes and effects of homelessness, as
further described in the Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BALDWIN PARK THAT:
City Council hereby Endorses and Supports the Board of Supervisors of Los
Angeles County Calling and Giving Notice of a Special Tax Election on a County-Wide
Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax to Prevent and Combat Homelessness to be held in
the County of Los Angeles and Consolidating the Special Tax Election with Other
Elections to be held on March 7, 2017.
Approved and adopted the 15th day of February, 2017.
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I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution Number 2017-169
was duly adopted by the City Council following a roll call vote:
rrUEL LOZANO
MAYOR
ATTEST:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS.
CITY OF BALDWIN PARK )
I, ALEJANDRA AVILA, City Clerk of the City of Baldwin Park, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 2017-169 was duly and regularly approved and adopted by
the City Council of the City of Baldwin Park at a regular meeting of the City Council on
February 15, 2017, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Baca, Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco, Rubio
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN. COUNCIL MEMBE : None
it/
2t
ALEJAND' AVILA
CITY CLERK