DATE: September 22, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Retroactive Revenue Agreement with the City of Fresno for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Emergency Solutions Grant Funds
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive revenue Agreement with the City of Fresno for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Emergency Solutions Grant funds, effective June 11, 2020 through June 10, 2021, total not to exceed $1,998,335.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended agreement is necessary for the County to receive Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) funds to implement joint response services in coordination with the City of Fresno (City). The funding will increase support of the County’s ongoing prevention and containment efforts for those experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the County would forfeit $1,998,335 intended to protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness and reduce the spread of COVID-19. If the recommended action is not approved, the County will not have sufficient funding to support the previously executed agreements that are providing low-barrier emergency shelter during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement was approved by the Fresno City Council on June 18, 2020 and is retroactive to June 11, 2020 in alignment with the City Council’s verbal approval of ongoing joint COVID-19 response efforts between the City and County. The Department received the recommended agreement for review following City Council’s approval. Subsequent time for processing delayed this item.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The City’s ESG-CV funding ($1,998,335) includes an allowance of 5.3%, or $105,176, to be retained by the Department for administrative costs. There is no matching contribution required for these funds. The funds must be fully expended by June 11, 2021. To-date, no expenses have been designated for reimbursement through the recommended agreement. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s COVID-19 Emergency Homelessness Special Revenue Fund Org 1135 and the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 Adopted Budgets.
DISCUSSION:
The City was awarded $2,103,510 in ESG-CV funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the recent CARES Act. Through the recommended agreement, the County will receive $1,998,335 of the City’s ESG-CV funding to implement joint response services in coordination with the City to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19, among individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
On April 28, 2020, your Board approved Revenue Agreement No. 20-159 with the City for State COVID-19 Emergency Homelessness funds to implement joint response services in coordination with the City. Services provided through this agreement were intended to support COVID-19 prevention and containment efforts for those experiencing homelessness. The recommended agreement is a continuation of the COVID-19 homelessness response plan implemented in coordination with the City.
If approved, the recommended action will enable the Department to provide ongoing COVID-19 homelessness response services to include investment in COVID-19 prevention and containment efforts for temporary shelters, including, but not limited to, medically indicated services and supplies, such as testing and handwashing stations, and enhancements to existing shelter facilities. The recommended action would expand support for low-barrier emergency shelter services provided during the COVID-19 State of Emergency and help mitigate the risks of transmission among the unsheltered homeless population.
The City may terminate the recommended agreement without cause upon providing seven-day advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #40, April 28, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Revenue Agreement with the City of Fresno
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa