Title
Amend the Agreement with the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry for Homeless Services, and Allocate Additional Funding for the Transitional Campground at the Empowerment Center (B)
This item requests the City Commission to amend an agreement and to allocate additional funding in FY 21 for Transitional Campground Services.
Explanation
On September 26, 2019, the City Commission approved entering into a Service Agreement for the Provision of Homeless Services with the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry (ACCHH). The Term of that agreement, which was executed on November 26, 2019, is from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024 (Fiscal Years 2020 through 2024).
That service agreement includes funding a plan to close Dignity Village. An important component of that plan is the establishment of a Transitional Campground on the GRACE Marketplace Campus. The Transitional Campground Plan proposed funding for up to two fiscal years (FY20 and FY21)-ending on September 30, 2021. In addition to being an important part of the plan to close Dignity Village, the Transitional Campground remains a key part of continuing to serve approximately 11 former Dignity Village residents.
In 2020, the ACCHH submitted a budget of $299,136.00 to operate the second year (FY21) of the Transitional Campground. The ACCHH understood that both the City and County would equally fund these costs in FY21, if appropriated. On November 10, 2020, the County voted not to fund Transitional Campground services in FY21.
On December 3, 2020, City staff reported to the City Commission that staff had identified additional funds to replace a portion of the previously anticipated County funds. With those additional funds, $219,602.41 of the $299,136.00 ACCHH requested for the second year of services had been identified. As instructed by the City Commission on December 3, 2020, staff has continued to work to identify the remaining $79,533.59 requested by ACCHH for Transitional Campground services in FY21.
Since that meeting, City staff have again identified additional funds. The total funds identified will allow the campground to continue to provide current service levels through the end of July 2021. Staff does not anticipate finding any more funding for the Transitional Campground.
In addition to specifying FY21 funding for the Transitional Campground, the amendment proposes three other minor changes. Those changes update the City’s Contact Person, and the City’s Custodian of Public Records, and the submittal date of the ACCHH’s Annual Audited Financial Statements (changed from December 31st to March 31st to reflect the ACCHH’s switch to Fiscal Years that end on September 30).
Fiscal Note
City staff have identified $259,384.00 of the $299,136.00 ACCHH requested for the second year of Transitional Campground services.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Commission: 1) Allocate the $259,384.00 that staff has identified for the second year of Transitional Campground services; 2) Approve the proposed amendment; and 3) Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the proposed amendment, subject to the City Attorney’s approval for legality and form.