Councilmembers unsure if $200,000 will get results
CITY HALL — The idea of a popular leader to tackle the homeless problem in Santa Monica might be falling on deaf ears among some elected officials.
Some members of the Santa Monica City Council questioned the effectiveness of hiring a high-profile, regional liaison to address the problem of homelessness during a May 25 budget study session. Meanwhile, Councilman Bobby Shriver, who suggested the idea, attempted to assuage concerns and remained steadfast in the need for the position.
The regional homeless liaison would be hired on a contractual basis, and the position’s effectiveness will be reviewed after a year, Shriver said. The person would likely be hired for one year, paid as much as $200,000 and report his or her results directly to City Manager Susan McCarthy. The regional homeless liaison would be responsible for advancing programs such as the sobering center, a mental health and drug court, year-round housing through the Veterans Administration, and chronic homeless outreach, to affect Santa Monica and neighboring communities.
After a year, city staff would prepare a report for the council to determine the effectiveness of the position.
The City Council directed staff to refine the job description and research the recruitment process for the position at an April 26 meeting. The council is expected to hear a staff report on June 14 about the feasibility of the position during a public hearing on next year’s budget. The position might then be approved and adopted with next year’s budget, expected to occur on June 21.
The regional homeless leader position has been earmarked as a priority in next year’s budget plan, although no funds have yet been earmarked for the actual position, a point noted by Shriver during the May 25 budget study session.
“I’m glad this is the first year (the homeless issue) has been a budget priority,” Shriver said. “That’s great. If it’s also backed by the checkbook, that’s better.”
City staff said one person deals with homeless service issues for Santa Monica on a full-time basis, while at least two staff members work part-time on it.
Shriver and some other councilmem-bers feel this is not enough. They discussed at the May 25 budget study session what they said would be the better use of additional resources.
“We need someone who can expedite,” Shriver said. “We need someone who will be opportunistic, a bulldog that will make things happen.
“This might be the person who can get the guy sleeping in your carport out of your carport.”
City Manager Susan McCarthy said councilmembers could help staff develop a work plan for the regional homeless position by coming to concurrence on what the work plan would be.
“What we hope to bring to you with the budget decision is a more fully fleshed out work plan,” McCarthy said. “A great deal will depend on whether or how we marshal the point person as to how that person will operate externally and pursue options to staffing.”
Councilman Ken Genser said he supported the idea of a leader to tackle the homeless issue, while wanting to make sure the money for such a position would not be better spent in other ways.
“I’m with Bobby that there should be personnel on board to take advantage of opportunities, anything that will allow us to get ahead on this issue,” Genser said. “But we have to make best use of the $200,000.”
Genser suggested City Hall might be able to provide some seed money instead that would be used to hire a liaison for the region through some regional channel, such as Los Angeles County or the Westside Council of Governments.
“It may be better to strategically shift the idea somewhat and use resources locally,” Genser said. “Staff may have some ideas on the best way we can still get a regional coordinator.”
Councilman Herb Katz shared Genser’s concerns. Councilman Bob Holbrook, who previously voted in favor of the position, was not at the May 25 study session to comment.
Councilman Richard Bloom said all ideas to address homelessness — not just a Santa Monica-appointed homeless liaison — needed to be included to help solve the problem. Bloom said a comprehensive plan to reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent in 2 1/2 years is expected to be rolled out in September by Bring LA Home, an association of municipalities committed to help the down and out.
“It’s extremely important we look at the full array of options, as we should as policy makers, on what will be a limited amount of money,” Bloom said.
Mayor Pam O’Connor said she would wait to see the upcoming staff report to see if staff felt they needed to tweak their homeless policy before she made her decision.
Councilman Kevin McKeown said he favored an approach that would not require Santa Monica to wait for other cities to tackle the homeless problem.
“We’re talking about a one-time, one-year timetable for someone to work on this issue,” McKeown said. “I’d hate to buy our ticket when the train has already left the station.
“You think our process works slowly, try other cities.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 6, 2005. Read the original PDF.