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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1984/11/15 Item (2) COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item Meeting Date 11/15/84 ITEM TITLE: Resolution A6'--1 Approving participation with the County of San Diego in the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program SUBMITTED BY: Community Development Director the Vote: Yes No X ) REVIEWED BY: City Manager The San Diego region is receiving $574,815 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to supplement and extend emergency food and shelter programs through private voluntary organizations and seven cities in the couunty. Of these funds, $26,991 has been allocated to the City of Chula Vista. Alternatives exist for the disposition of those funds. RECOMMENDATION: That the Council approve utilizing the City's program funds in participation with San Diego County. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Due to the short time period available for this decision, it was not possible to consult with the Human Relations Commission. The Commission would be informed at its next meeting and would be called upon for a recommendation prior to next year's action. DISCUSSION: As a result of the economic problems related to the 1982 recession, legislation was approved in 1983 which allocated federal funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the provision of emergency food and shelter to individuals in need. Those funds are allocated by FEMA to local jurisdictions for distribution to emergency food and shelter programs. Funds may be used for mass sheltering, mass feeding, supplemental food and food/shelter vouchers. The County and the City of San Diego were the only regional jurisdictions to receive funds in 1983. However, this year funds have been allocated to Chula Vista and other local cities (National City, La Mesa, El Cajon, Escondido, and Oceanside). The allocation for Chula Vista is $26,991 . The City faces a decision regarding the disposition of these funds, a decision which unfortunately must be made quickly. The City may accept these funds directly, thereby becoming responsible for their allocation to social service agencies and becoming responsible for administration/accountability of the funds. Or the City may choose to take a more regional approach, granting authority for disposition of the funds, and for the attendant administrative and fiduciary responsibility, to the Local Board which oversees the distribution of the City and County of San Diego funds. The Local Board is comprised of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Community Services, Ecumenical Council , Salvation Army, United Way, United Jewish Federation, Neighborhood House Association, AFL-CIO Central Labor Council , and Page 2, Item Meeting Date 11/15/84 the Emergency Resources Group (ERG). The decision as to which option the City might choose must be made by Friday, November 16, the date on which the Local Board must know if other entitlement cities will participate in a regional program. That is a short period for a decision, given the fact that the City was first made aware of the availability of the funds on November 2nd. The recommendation to participate with the County program is based on the following considerations: 1 . Emergency social services are most efficiently provided on a regional basis. Duplicative, overlapping client service can be avoided; the transient nature of the clientele makes jurisdictional boundaries less significant; and many of the service providers are organized regionally or sub-regionally, rather than locally, having South Bay offices rather than specifically Chula Vista offices. Historically, the City of San Diego has chosen the regional approach, authorizing the County to disperse the San Diego City allocation. To our knowledge at this time, most of the other entitlement cities have indicated that they will choose the regional approach for this funding cycle. San Diego and El Cajon have made definite commitments to pool their funds in the County program. 2. The County program has a higher level of experience and expertise in this social service field. Program regulations require that the funds be distributed according to a Local Board plan. The Local Board has the obvious capacity to direct the program funds most efficiently and effectively. The City, however, has little experience in the provision of such emergency services. The City may have to create its own Local Board or may be able to work with the present Local Board. In either case, the City would have to adopt a plan for utilization of the funds. 3. The timing for Local Board Plan-submission to FEMA does not allow appropriate, deliberate planning of a local program. Local Board Plans must be submitted to the National Board advising FEMA by December 10. The City, therefore, would have to certify potential fund-recipient agencies and generate a local plan by that date. The plan would have to include the percentage of funds to allocate to each activity (i .e. , mass feeding, supplemental food) , and the number of meals, vouchers, nights of shelter, etc. that can be provided. Complying with program regulations in pursuit of that process makes it unlikely that the deadline could be met while keeping the process deliberate and equitable to all potential providers. 4. Although the County program cannot assure the City that Chula Vista would receive exactly $26,991 of the funded services during the year, it is their stated objective to provide Chula Vistans with benefit at approximately that level. The members of the Local Board operate in Chula Vista and are aware of our community needs as well as regional needs. Last year, recipients which operated in the South Bay were the Salvation Army, MAAC Project, Lutheran Social Services, and Del Rey High School. Page 3, Item Meeting Date 11/151&34 In the near future, the Council should select one of its Councilmembers to sit on the Local Board or else direct the City Manager to select a staff person to represent the City. 5. The City can observe the degree of benefit to Chula Vista from the upcoming year's regional approach, and, if dissatisfied, undertake a carefully planned local program for the following year, if FEMA funds are made available. Chula Vista would not give up future entitlement rights as a result of this year's decision. Chula Vista should be concerned that it gets its fair share of benefit from such a program, even if program services are provided within a regional structure. The recommended approach draws on established experience and expertise, while affording the City a period for analysis and possible local program-building. FISCAL IMPACT: If the City decides to participate in the County-wide program, the only costs would be the staff time involved in attending the ERG and Local Board meetings. If the City chooses to operate its own program, only $337 would be available from the allocation to cover administrative expenses. All administrative costs over this amount and any other costs would have to be paid from the General Fund. WPC 1307H 45-1-ffr- �J` UNANIMOUS CONSENT FORM IT IS HEREBY REQUESTED by the undersigned that the following item, with the unanimous consent of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, be considered and acted upon by the Council pursuant to the provisions of Sec.2. 04 .090 of the Chula Vista City Code . RESOLUTION - Approving participation with the County of San Diego in the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program 77)7,a )(Id) (Signature) Unanimous Consent of the City Council, as indicated by the following signat es : 14r; G4 12414111- f CA-301