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Resolution No. 2017-006RESOLUTION NO. 2017-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON IN SUPPORT OF THE PASSAGE OF MEASURE H, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PLAN TO PREVENT AND COMBAT HOMELESSNESS WHEREAS, the City of Vernon (the "City") is a municipal corporation and a chartered city of the State of California organized and existing under its Charter and the Constitution of the State of California; and WHEREAS, homelessness is a pervasive social problem, enormously destructive to individuals and families who experience it, and damaging to the social fabric of communities; and WHEREAS, homelessness is a regional issue, and regional solutions are necessary to prevent and end homelessness; and WHEREAS, Measure H is a "special" 1�,4 cent sales tax that will be imposed for a period of ten (10) years and can only be used for the specific purposes of funding homeless services and housing; and WHEREAS, Measure H could impact Vernon and its surrounding areas from a public safety standpoint by providing essential social services and housing assistance to individuals and families who might otherwise turn to unlawful activities to acquire resources, and by encouraging safer environments to potentially emerge; and WHEREAS, this funding is necessary to support Los Angeles County's Homeless Initiative, which was developed through a collaborative process that included the City of Vernon, and is critical to fund targeted efforts to prevent and end homelessness, both regionally and locally; and WHEREAS, the strategies advanced through the Homeless Initiative include homeless prevention, street outreach, permanent and affordable housing, and support to increase income, and these strategies are vital in the regional and local fight against homelessness; and WHEREAS, the City will benefit from funds generated by Measure H through competitive funding opportunities and from the regional impact of this effort; and WHEREAS, by memorandum dated February 21, 2017, the City Administrator has recommended that the City support Measure H, the Los Angeles County plan to prevent and combat homelessness. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby finds and determines that the above recitals are true and correct. SECTION 2: The City Council of the City of Vernon finds that this action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), review, because it is a general policy and procedure making activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a "project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378. SECTION 3: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby states its support of Measure H and hereby directs the City Clerk, or the Deputy City Clerk to send a copy of this Resolution to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. - 2 - SECTION 4: The City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, of the City of Vernon shall certify to the passage, approval and adoption of this resolution, and the City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, of the City of Vernon shall cause this resolution and the City Clerk's, or Deputy City Clerk's, certification to be entered in the File of Resolutions of the Council of this City. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of February, 2017. Name: Wil iam J. Davis ST :�� Maria E. yala City Jerk / Dop„*•= r� r�r r� Pr'_�3 APPROVED AS TO FORM: Bria un, Deputy City Attorney Title: Mayor / +4Ee--�.�'C� - 3 - STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ) ss COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) I, Maria E. Ayala City Clerk /-beputT-ei-t-y-ti- of the City of Vernon, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No. 2017-06, was duly passed, approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Vernon at a regular meeting of the City Council duly held on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, and thereafter was duly signed by the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Vernon. Executed this Z?j day of February, 2017, at Vernon, California. (SEAL) - 4 - aria E. ala City Clerk / TRANSMITTAL COMMUNICATION VU01 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California 90058 Telephone (323) 583-8811 February 23, 2017 Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angeles Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration 500 West Temple Street, Room 383 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Re: Resolution No. 2017-06 — A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Vernon in Support of the Passage of Measure H, the Los Angeles County Plan to Prevent and Combat Homelessness Dear Sir or Madam: Transmitted herewith is a copy of Resolution No. 2017-06 that was approved by City Council on February 21, 2017. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Diana Figueroa at (323) 583-8811 ext. 570. Very truly yours, Deborah R. Juarez Records Management Assistant Enclosure c: Resolution No. 2017-06 EXclusiveC Industrial STAFF REPORT AECEIVED A' d r cam: a CITY CLERK'S OFFICE STAFF REPORT CITY ADMINISTRATION DATE: February 21, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Carlos R. Fandino, Jr., City Administrator ��' �� ✓ �� Originator: Diana Figueroa, Administrative Analyst RE: A Resolution Declaring Support for the Passage of Measure H, the Los Angeles County Plan to Prevent and Combat Homelessness Recommendations A. Find that approval of the attached resolution in this staff report is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") review, because it is a general policy and procedure making activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a "project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and B. Adopt the attached resolution supporting the passage of Measure H, the "Los Angeles County Plan to Prevent and Combat Homelessness", which is a March 7 ballot initiative to raise the sales tax across the County of Los Angeles, and allocate new revenues to fund homeless services. Background Measure H, the "Los Angeles County Plan to Prevent and Combat Homelessness", is the March 7 ballot measure that proposes to end homelessness for 45,000 people across Los Angeles County, including women and children, veterans, seniors, foster youth, and the disabled. The average consumer would pay a little more than a dollar a month to help end homelessness in Los Angeles County. On February 9, 2016 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the `Board") unanimously approved the Homeless Initiative's Strategies to Combat Homelessness. This landmark plan is the most comprehensive homelessness effort ever undertaken by the County. It includes 47 strategies aimed to attack the root causes of homelessness and lift thousands of families and individuals out of homelessness and into better lives. Page 1 of 3 This plan comes at a time when the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County has been worsening and demands an urgent, coordinated response from the state, county, cities and community partners. The Board approved an initial $100 million to begin implementation of the strategies in the Homeless Initiatives report, and the plan strategically targets those strategies, which can have the most impact immediately. This funding is on top of the nearly $1 billion a year that County officials estimated they currently spend on health and welfare services and law enforcement involving the homeless. The County estimates that an additional $450 million in ongoing funding is needed in order to implement all of the strategies outlined in the Homeless Initiatives report, and to address the current gap in homeless housing and services, excluding any costs associated with housing construction. On December 6, 2016, the Board approved a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley -Thomas to place Measure H on the March 7 ballot. If approved by two-thirds of the voters, it is estimated that the measure would generate approximately $350 million per year in additional revenues to address homelessness in Los Angeles County. Measure H is a "special" 1/4 cent sales tax that will be imposed over a 10 year period, which means it can only be used for the specific purposes of funding homeless services and housing. The County will begin receiving funding in July 2017 and moneys will be allocated equitably across the entire County of Los Angeles. The County will establish a citizens' advisory committee to ensure that the funding is effectively spent. There will be specific performance standards for each strategy funded through this measure, and an independent evaluation every year by an outside expert. Measure H proposes funding that will greatly benefit the City of Vernon. While the City does not have a large homeless population, it is not entirely without homeless residents. It is also apparent that homelessness has increased in Vernon's neighboring cities. Historically, the City has responded to homelessness issues; and now, it recognizes the growing need for services as homelessness rates increase in Los Angeles County. The City, through its Vernon CommUNITY Fund, has awarded grants to a number of nonprofit organizations serving the needs of the homeless population in the Vernon Area. Additionally, the Vernon Village Park residential development has, in part, addressed a regional need for affordable housing. Measure H will offer solutions to target the needs of the homeless through funding of services and housing, and the measure is aligned with the City's attention on this significant issue. Furthermore, the proposed county homeless services funds generated by Measure H could impact Vernon and its surrounding areas from a public safety standpoint. By providing essential social services and housing assistance to individuals and families who might otherwise turn to unlawful activities to acquire resources, safer environments will potentially emerge. Measure H intends to target resolutions that have been proven to prevent and end homelessness by offering comprehensive support services, job training, and permanent housing to the homeless population. The City looks forward to a partnership with the Board of Supervisors, key Los Angeles County departments and other community partners to aid in efforts related to the Homeless Initiative recommendations. Measure H has been endorsed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Page 2of3 Solis, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Central City Association, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The proposed resolution reiterates the City's commitment to providing necessary services to our community members and participating in regional efforts to battle homelessness. For the aforementioned reasons, staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution in support of Measure H and urge city voters to cast ballots on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in the countywide election. In City Council's adoption of this resolution, the City will be declaring support for the County's program and become official partners in combating homelessness. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact related to the adoption of the resolution. The amount of funds to be allocated to Vernon as a result of Measure H (assuming its passage) will be determined at a later date. Attachment(s) 1. Resolution in Support of Measure H Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON IN SUPPORT OF THE PASSAGE OF MEASURE H, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PLAN TO PREVENT AND COMBAT HOMELESSNESS WHEREAS, the City of Vernon (the "City") is a municipal corporation and a chartered city of the State of California organized and existing under its Charter and the Constitution of the State of California; and WHEREAS, homelessness is a pervasive social problem, enormously destructive to individuals and families who experience it, and damaging to the social fabric of communities; and WHEREAS, homelessness is a regional issue, and regional solutions are necessary to prevent and end homelessness; and WHEREAS, Measure H is a "special" 4 cent sales tax that will be imposed for a period of ten (10) years and can only be used for the specific purposes of funding homeless services and housing; and WHEREAS, Measure H could impact Vernon and its surrounding areas from a public safety standpoint by providing essential social services and housing assistance to individuals and families who might otherwise turn to unlawful activities to acquire resources, and by encouraging safer environments to potentially emerge; and WHEREAS, this funding is necessary to support Los Angeles County's Homeless Initiative, which was developed through a collaborative process that included the City of Vernon, and is critical to fund targeted efforts to prevent and end homelessness, both regionally and locally; and WHEREAS, the strategies advanced through the Homeless Initiative include homeless prevention, street outreach, permanent and affordable housing, and support to increase income, and these strategies are vital in the regional and local fight against homelessness; and WHEREAS, the City will benefit from funds generated by Measure H through competitive funding opportunities and from the regional impact of this effort; and WHEREAS, by memorandum dated February 21, 2017, the City Administrator has recommended that the City support Measure H, the Los Angeles County plan to prevent and combat homelessness. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby finds and determines that the above recitals are true and correct. SECTION 2: The City Council of the City of Vernon finds that this action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), review, because it is a general policy and procedure making activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a "project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378. SECTION 3: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby states its support of Measure H and hereby directs the City Clerk, or the Deputy City Clerk to send a copy of this Resolution to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. - 2 - SECTION 4: The City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, of the City of Vernon shall certify to the passage, approval and adoption of this resolution, and the City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, of the City of Vernon shall cause this resolution and the City Clerk's, or Deputy City Clerk's, certification to be entered in the File of Resolutions of the Council of this City. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of February, 2017. ATTEST: City Clerk / Deputy City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: P � Bria n, Deputy City Attorney Name: Title: Mayor / Mayor Pro-Tem - 3 - STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ) ss COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) I, , City Clerk / Deputy City Clerk of the City of Vernon, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No. , was duly passed, approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Vernon at a regular meeting of the City Council duly held on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, and thereafter was duly signed by the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Vernon. Executed this day of February, 2017, at Vernon, California. (SEAL) City Clerk / Deputy City Clerk - 4 -