Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Agreement to Contribute Funding for Pacifica Safe Parking Permit Program to be Operated by Pacifica Resource Center
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute an agreement with Pacifica Resource Center to contribute funding for its Pacifica Safe Parking Permit Program for a total obligation amount not to exceed $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and for a term of January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.
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BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated our local housing crisis. In October 2021, the Department of Housing (“DOH”) released a Request for Proposals for the inaugural round of the Equity Innovation Fund (“EIF”). Of the fourteen (14) applications submitted, ten (10) applications were recommended for funding, including one from Pacifica Resource Center (“PRC”) for the Pacifica Safe Parking Permit (“PSPP”) Program to assist vehicularly-housed individuals at risk of homelessness who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
On January 25, 2022, the Board, by Resolution No. 078663, approved the 10 recommended awardees pursuant to the EIF and authorized an award of $150,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds to PRC to operate its PSPP Program.
On February 8, 2022, the Board, by Resolution No. 078666, adopted a resolution allocating the remaining $10,000,000 in the first tranche of San Mateo County’s ARPA funds to various San Mateo County Pandemic Recovery Initiatives. The allocation plan approved by the Board included a $400,000 contribution to the PSPP Program operated by PRC and directed staff to return to the Board for final approval of the agreement governing the use of these funds.
Then on February 28, 2022, the Pacifica City Council adopted a resolution approving the PSPP Program (also referred to as “Temporary Safe Parking Program”) within the City of Pacifica (“Pacifica”) to be run by PRC pursuant to an operations agreement with the City and a three-year funding plan for the PSPP Program.
The PSPP Program provides temporary housing in the form of designated safe parking sites on public Pacifica streets to unhoused families and individuals living in motor homes, and other oversized vehicles. The families and individuals also receive housing-focused case management to help them find permanent housing.
The PSPP Program provides 13 designated safe parking sites for residents of operational recreational vehicles, trailers and/or motorhomes. The parking sites are located throughout Pacifica and to be eligible to park in one of the permitted spaces, a vehicularly-housed resident must apply to and be screened by PRC. Approved participants must abide by a code of conduct, work with PRC on moving toward permanent housing and sign a release of liability.
Approved participants receive a parking permit for one of the designated spaces good for a term of 29 days. The permits may be renewed for additional terms of 29 days at the discretion of PRC, but the vehicle must move to a different parking site when permits are renewed. Safe parking permits may be revoked by PRC when a PSPP Program participant no longer meets the permit criteria, which could include, but not be limited to, violation of the code of conduct.
Pacifica’s operations agreement with PRC obligates Pacifica to stripe the 13 parking spaces, have the police regularly patrol the sites, co-host a mobile dumping station, provide dumpsters or drop-off service for garbage disposal, and make annual payments to PRC toward the PSPP Program cost of $120,000 for three years. The estimated annual cost of the mobile dumping service is $30,000, for a total annual contribution from Pacifica to the PSPP Program of $150,000.
DISCUSSION
The PSPP Program budget and available funding is summarized in the chart below.
|
Funding Source |
Use |
Year 1 (FY 22/23) |
Year 2 (FY 23/24) |
Year 3 (FY 24/25) |
Totals |
|
Pacifica |
Dumping |
30,000 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
90,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacifica |
Program |
150,000 |
150,000 |
150,000 |
450,000 |
|
County |
Program |
160,000 |
193,000 |
47,000 |
400,000 |
|
PRC |
Program |
50,000 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
150,000 |
|
TOTAL |
|
330,000 |
363,000 |
217,000 |
1,090,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Budget |
|
330,000 |
363,000 |
363,000 |
|
|
Deficit |
|
0 |
0 |
146,000 |
|
As noted above, Pacifica has committed $450,00 to the PSPP Program and PRC is expected to contribute $150,000 through grant funds or other sources. With a $400,000 contribution from the County, the PSPP Program would be fully funded in years one and two. In year three, there is a projected deficit of $146,000, which could be covered by Pacifica, additional philanthropic contributions, possibly County funds or a combination of one or more sources of funding.
Pacifica and PRC will provide the County with quarterly updates on PSPP Program operations and outcomes. If the PSPP Program successfully moves vehicularly housed residents into permanent homes, the Board could consider additional ARPA funding in Fiscal Year 2023-24 to be allocated in Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Staff requests authorization from the Board for the County Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute an agreement with PRC to contribute a total amount not to exceed $400,000 in funding towards its operation of the PSPP Program for a term of January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025. County Counsel has reviewed and approved this resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT
The allocation of $400,000 in ARPA funds is included within the $10,000,000 of first tranche ARPA funding that was accounted for in the FY 2021-22 budget and approved by this Board. This amount is inclusive of the $150,000 in ARPA funds previously approved by the Board for allocation to the PSPP Program pursuant to the EIF administered by DOH. There is no further impact on the County General Fund associated with approving this agreement and ARPA expenditure for the PSPP Program.
In addition, staff is seeking authorization for the County Manager, or designee to apply state and/or federal funds, to include those appropriated by the American Rescue Plan Act, that may be made available for all or a portion of the monies expended on the agreement.