REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 21, 2020
FROM: MICHAEL LIMA, Finance Director/City Controller
Finance Department
SUBJECT
Title
***Approve the 48th Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2019-133 to Appropriate $1,012,900 for the Purpose of Funding the Transfer of State of California COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Funding to the County of Fresno (Requires 5 Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council approve the 48th Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2019-133.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) has received $1,012,869.44 from the State of California for COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Funding. At its April 16, 2020 meeting, Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the County of Fresno (County) so that the combined City/County COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Funding could be administered on a regional basis. Approval of the proposed amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) will facilitate the transfer of funds between the City and the County that was envisioned in the MOU.
BACKGROUND
In response the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to minimize potential COVID-19 cases among the homeless population, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 89 on March 17, 2020. SB 89 authorized the distribution of monies to cities and counties for the purpose of obtaining emergency shelter to be used by the homeless population in those locales. The City received $1,012,869.44 on May 5, 2020.
Recognizing that homelessness is a regional problem that needs a regional solution, the Administration proposed that the City partner with the County to utilize these funds. The County had received a much smaller allocation of SB 89 funds from the State than the City had received. Thus, if the two agencies partnered their monies, the impact of those dollars would be more significant than it would be were they not partnered. The terms of this partnership were memorialized in an MOU, which was approved by Council on April 16, 2020. Under the MOU, the City agreed to transfer its share of SB 89 monies to the County in order to fund the MOU’s terms.
The proposed amendment to the AAR will provide the appropriation authority to transfer the City’s SB 89 funds to the County.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is not a project of the City of Fresno and as such, the California Environmental Quality Act requirements are not applicable.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed action will have no net effect on the General Fund or the City’s finances. The City has received its allocation of SB 89 funds, thereby fully offsetting the proposed expenditure.
Attachment: Resolution