TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Steve Powers, City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Intergovernmental Agreement with Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments Homelessness Program
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments to establish a regional homelessness program; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2017-47 to provide $45,000 of appropriation authority in the FY 2017-18 budget for Salem’s cost to support this program?
RECOMMENDATION:
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1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments to establish a regional homelessness program; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2017-47 to provide $45,000 of appropriation authority in the FY 2017-18 budget for Salem’s cost to support this program.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The cities of Salem, Keizer, Monmouth, and Independence, and the counties of Polk and Marion completed a Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative Taskforce to identify and launch proven strategies that will reduce homelessness in the Marion and Polk counties region. A 20-person taskforce, including local government, social services, housing, public safety, and business developed a plan that was approved by the taskforce on February 7, 2017, and presented to Council on February 13, 2017.
Since that time, discussions have been ongoing to move the plan into action. The Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments was identified as a trusted organization that could provide an administrative structure and regional focus.
On any given day, an estimated 1,660 people are homeless in Marion and Polk counties, with the Salem-Keizer School District reporting 1,397 homeless during the 2015-16 school year.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
On October 17, 2017, the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments board approved establishing the homelessness program. As of October 30, 2017, Marion County has pledged $45,000 and the cities of Keizer, Monmouth, and Independence have pledged $5,000 each. As Salem is the largest city in the region, with a preponderance of the homelessness, participation for the City of Salem is recommended at $45,000 annually.
The homelessness program will be a resource to work on issues, tasks, and projects that have a regional focus from the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Initiative. The program will not duplicate or dilute existing advisory boards or initiatives the City has started, such as the Homeless Rental Assistance Program. A specific regional project that would help Salem is an analysis of whether changing the continuum of care would be in Salem and the two-county region’s best interest.
As appropriation authority for this expense was not included in the FY 2017-18 budget, it is recommended City Council adopt Resolution 2017-47 to authorize the $45,000 transfer of appropriation from General Fund contingencies to General Fund materials and services.
Attachments:
1. IGA
2. Exhibit A to IGA - Homelessness Initiative Strategic Plan
3. Exhibit B to IGA - Program Coordinator Position Description
4. Exhibit C to IGA - Program Coordinator Scope of Work
5. Resolution 2017-47 with Exhibit A to Resolution