PREPARED BY: SHAWN RAY DATE OF MEETING: 5/05/2025
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO, TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY TO PROVIDE CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AND HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES ON COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY, LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF FORDHAM STREET AND EL PORTAL DRIVE, COMMONLY IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL NO. 416-102-007
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Improve Public Safety is one of the top City Council priorities and is an adopted policy item under the FY 2025-27 City of San Pablo Council Priority Workplan, effective April 7, 2025.
BACKGROUND
The City of San Pablo has prioritized addressing homelessness in our community. In 2022, the San Pablo Police Department created the Priority Oriented Policing Unit (POP) to address homelessness and blight, and to improve community relations. The Crisis Response Team (CRT) was created within the POP unit to serve residents experiencing homelessness and/or mental health crises. CRT works in tandem with San Pablo Code Enforcement to address homelessness and blight. Through the efforts of CRT, homelessness in San Pablo has decreased by 30% for two consecutive years.
In 2018, the City of San Pablo partnered with Contra Costa County Health, Housing, and Homeless Services (H3), initiating contract services for the Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement (CORE) homeless outreach program. San Pablo’s success in addressing homelessness and ensuring public health and safety is based on the cohesive working relationships between the CRT, CORE, and Code Enforcement teams.
Contra Costa County owns a parcel of property located at the south curb line of El Portal Drive, just west of the intersection of Fordham Street and El Portal Drive (parcel #416-102-007). This property habitually has illegal encampments, large amounts of trash visible from the roadway, and fire hazards due to the presence of warming fires amongst heavy foliage.
Based on the success of our CRT unit and its partners in addressing homelessness, the city of San Pablo is better suited to address the homelessness and blight on this county parcel. Staff is proposing that the City enter into an agreement with Contra Costa County to assume code enforcement and homeless outreach services for this parcel of County-owned property. Contra Costa County will remain responsible for costs associated with the general maintenance of this property.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
STANDING COMMITTEE REVIEW
On April 17, 2025, staff presented the proposal to enter into an MOU with Contra Costa County to provide code enforcement and homeless services for this parcel of County-owned property (Parcel #416-102-007) to the Public Safety Standing Committee (Vice-Mayor Pabon-Alvarado & Council Member Xavier). Upon completion of the presentation, the committee recommended that this item be forwarded to the San Pablo City Council for formal approval.
ATTACHMENTS
Att. A - Resolution
Att. B - Memorandum of Understanding