Title
Amendments to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Gainesville and Alachua County for the Provision of Emergency Supplemental Shelter and Services (B)
This agenda item requests the City Commission to approve amendments to the Interlocal Agreement for the provision of emergency shelter and services for homeless persons and families. The proposed amendments involve additional program expenditures and reporting, and extending the term of the Agreement by one year, from September 30, 2014 to September 30, 2015.
Explanation
Since December 2005, the City of Gainesville has provided funding for the provision of emergency supplemental shelter and services to address shelter gaps for homeless persons and families during the cold winter months of November through March. This program is also known as Cold Night Shelter (CNS). Since 2008, Interlocal Agreements between the City and Alachua County have been in effect for the funding and operation of this program.
Through the current Interlocal Agreement, both the City and the County agreed to appropriate $25,000 (a total of $50,000) for Emergency Shelter and Services for homeless persons this past winter. Due to the greater than expected number and severity of cold nights, the program's expenditures exceeded the original budget by $7,466.75. This agenda item seeks approval of an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement to increase the City and County funding contributions to pay for that expenditure. The additional contribution by the City is $3,733.38 and the additional contribution by the County is $3,733.37.
This agenda item also addresses the length of time the CNS Program will remain in effect. The current Interlocal Agreement, which the City Commission approved on September 15, 2011, expires on September 30, 2014. This agenda item seeks approval of an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement to allow the City of Gainesville and Alachua County to continue funding and providing emergency supplemental shelter and services, under the same terms and conditions, from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.
If the City Commission approves the amendment extension, the upcoming winter 2014 will likely be the final Cold Night Shelter Program implemented as it is currently structured. City and County staff anticipate that in the future, the Cold Night Shelter Program probably will transition into the homeless services provided at the Empowerment Center.
Fiscal Note
For FY 2013-2014, the additional contribution from the City Commission will be $3,733.38; and the additional contribution from the Board of County Commissioners will be $3,733.37. For FY 2014-2015, the City Commission and the Board of County Commissioners shall each contribute $25,000 pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Interlocal Agreement, as amended. This item is not a commitment of future appropriations beyond FY 2014-2015. This funding is included in the City's current proposed budget for FY 2014-2015.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) approve the amendments to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Gainesville and Alachua County to continue supporting emergency shelter and services for homeless persons and families; and 2) authorize the Mayor to execute the agreements on behalf of the City, subject to review by the City Attorney as to form and legality.