KEV PAB CUAM - Santa Clara Street Area Update

REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL August 20, 2020 FROM: LEE BRAND, Mayor Office of the Mayor & City Manager BY: H. SPEES, Director of Strategic Initiatives Office of the Mayor & City Manager SUBJECT ..Title WORKSHOP - Santa Clara Street Area Update ..Body RECOMMENDATION Mayor's Office to provide a briefing to City Council on the Plan for the Santa Clara Street Area. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Plans to address the challenges associated with the area bounded by Ventura, Santa Clara, G Street and E Street in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19. Due to the transient nature of the homeless population and greater potential to increase COVID-19 transmission posed by their relocation, the CDC issued guidance and/or considerations for encampments to allow unsheltered individuals to remain in place. Following the CDC's guidance, the City suspended the daily clean ups in the area bounded by Santa Clara Street, E Street, Ventura Street, and G Street. As a result of this suspension, the long-term encampment in the Santa Clara Street Area it has become larger, more entrenched, unhealthy, and dangerous. In order to address these challenges, a plan has been developed to improve the health of those experiencing homelessness in the area through 1.) reducing vehicular traffic, 2.) re-instituting daily clean ups, 3.) increasing outreach and navigation services, and 4.) establishing a good-neighbor district that reduces encampments in the area bounded by Fresno, Highway 41, G Street and Highway 99). ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because this item is not an award of a construction or services contract. FISCAL IMPACT N/A Attachment: Presentation