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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-396RESOLUTION NO.21-396 A RESOLUTION OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA ESTABLISHING A ONE ST. LUCIE COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE; AND ADOPTING GOVERNING RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE TASK FORCE; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida ("Board"), has made the following determinations: 1. On June 2, 2020, the Board adopted the core elements of the FY 2021 — 2023 Strategic Plan framework. 2. Goal 4.4 of the Strategic Plan is to develop and implement a comprehensive housing program to meet the community needs, and Goal 5.3 is to address needs and provide options for our most vulnerable populations. 3. There is a need to implement a systemic response with actionable strategies to prevent, reduce and end chronic individual homelessness — specifically to develop a path forward to achieve a functional end to individual homelessness throughout St. Lucie County. 4. In furtherance of these goals, the Board has determined that it is in the public interest to establish a One St. Lucie Community Homelessness Task Force to explore and evaluate the issues and needs in St. Lucie County relative to homelessness and provide recommendations on ways to address the issue of homelessness in St. Lucie County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida: Ratification of the Recitals. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified and confirmed as true and correct and are hereby made a part of this Resolution. 2. Establishment of the Task Force. There is hereby created a Homelessness Task Force which shall be known as the "One St. Lucie Community Homelessness Task Force." Adoption of the Governing Rules and Procedures. The Board hereby adopts the One St. Lucie Community Homelessness Task Force Governing Rules and Procedures, attached hereto as Exhibit A, which sets forth the purpose, responsibilities, membership, and procedures for the task force. 4. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect on November 2, 2021. After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows: Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky, Chair AYE Commissioner Sean Mitchell, Vice Chair AYE Commissioner Linda Bartz AYE Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 2nd day of November 2021. ATTEST: DEPUTY CLERK rr, FIAT% BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND 2 Exhibit A ONE ST. LUCIE COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE GOVERNING RULES AND PROCEDURES 1. PURPOSE: The purpose of the One St. Lucie Community Homelessness Task Force is to develop actionable strategies to prevent, reduce and end chronic individual homelessness — specifically to develop a path forward to achieve a functional end to individual homelessness throughout St. Lucie County. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF TASK FORCE. The Task Force has been tasked with the following responsibilities: A. Explore and evaluate the issues and needs in St. Lucie County relative to homelessness. B. Understand the systems currently in place to address these issues and identify major gaps. C. Review and provided recommendations on the draft Home Together homelessness strategic plan. D. Review approaches to investment and sustain efforts to address homelessness in the County. E. Review and provide recommendations on transitional housing plans within St. Lucie County. F. Identify both short- and long-term proposals for community action —by nongovernmental service providers, county and city governments, other government agencies, the business community, residents, and others —acting individually or in partnership --to address the issue of homelessness in St. Lucie County. G. The Task Force shall forward a recommended community action plan to the Board of County Commissioners no later than June 1, 2022. H. The Task Force is not charged with conducting a public outreach process but may take public comment under advisement. I. The Task Force shall be disbanded following presentation of its report and recommendations to the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. 2. MEMBERSHIP. A. SIZE OF TASK FORCE. The Task Force shall consist of thirteen (13) Members drawn from among a diverse group of stakeholders in the County's residential, business, and nongovernmental sectors, and other community leaders appointed by the County Administrator through an application process and ratified by the Board of County Commissioners. Page 1 of 6 Version dated 10.21.21 B. MAKE UP OF THE COMMITTEE. The Task Force make-up shall consist of the following: 1. Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council representative 2. Representative with experience in job training, self-sufficiency, and workforce development 3. Representative from a medical provider that provides direct services to the homeless population 4. St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners Member 5. City of Port Saint Lucie City Council Member 6. City of Fort Pierce City Commission Member 7. Mental Health and Substance Abuse professional with experience working with homeless population 8. Member with life experience of homelessness 9. Representative from a non-profit agency with experience in assisting with homelessness issues 10. Representative from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office 11. Representative from the 19t" Judicial Circuit 12. Representative from the School Board of St. Lucie County 13. Representative from the Business Community C. ALTERNATES. Task Force Members shall not have alternates. D. RESIGNATION. Any Member of the Task Force may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the County Administrator. A resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered to the County Administrator unless the notice specifies a later date. E. DISMISSAL. Any Member of the Task Force who is absent for three (3) consecutive meetings or for three (3) meetings in six (6) months is considered to have resigned unless an excused absence is requested in writing by the member within thirty (30) days of the absence and approved by the Task Force Chair. F. APPOINTMENT OF REPLACEMENT MEMBER. Upon the dismissal, resignation or incapacity of a Member of the Task Force, the County Administrator may appoint a replacement through an application process with ratification by the Board of County Commissioners. G. APPOINTMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES. The Task Force may approve by majority vote, the creation of subcommittees to provide advice to the Task Force on specific issues within the scope of the Task Force's general responsibilities. The subcommittees may include interested stakeholders in the community to provide guidance and expertise on the subject matter. Subcommittees shall be governed by Page 2 of 6 Version dated 10.21.21 the same rules regarding meetings, voting, notice, waiver of notice and quorum as apply to the Task Force. H. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS. Task Force Members may be called on from time to time to comment about the activities of the Task Force or the subject matter under deliberation. In such communications, Task Force Members will take care to distinguish any official Task Force positions from individual Member positions. Task Force Members agree to refer inquiries from the press to the St. Lucie County Communication Division for response on behalf of the Task Force. 3. COMPENSATION. No compensation or reimbursement for expenditures shall be paid by the County for any service as a Member of the Task Force or as an officer of the Task Force. 4. CHAIR AND STEERING COMMITTEE. The Task Force will appoint a Chair and two Task Force members that will serve as a Steering Committee at the first meeting. The Steering Committee Members will have the duties set forth in Section 6. 5. MEETINGS OF THE TASK FORCE. A. REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS. The Task Force is expected to meet monthly. Regular meetings of the Task Force shall be held at established time and location approved by the Task Force and shall be publicly noticed. Special meetings can be held and shall be publicly noticed. B. CANCELLATION OR ADDITIONAL MEETINGS. The Task Force shall meet only when a quorum is expected to be present based on an inquiry of the County's staff liaison. If a quorum is not expected to be present based on responses to the staff liaison, the meeting will be cancelled. Special meetings of the Task Force may be held at any time and place, whenever called by the Task Force Chair. Members must attend in person to participate in a meeting. C. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of all scheduled meetings of the Task Force shall be publicly noticed. If a regularly scheduled meeting needs to be changed, County staff shall provide notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the date on which any regular meeting will be held. If a special meeting is required, not less than three (3) days' notice shall be given to the members of the Task Force by staff charged with supporting the Task Force, by electronic mail. Any notice shall specify the date, time, and place of the meeting. D. AGENDAS. Prior to each regularly scheduled meeting, the Task Force Steering Committee, working with staff support at a public meeting, shall establish an agenda for the meeting, based on discussion and direction from the Task Force at the previous Page 3 of 6 Version dated 10.21.21 Task Force meeting. The decision whether to add an item shall be made by the Meeting Chair. Agendas will be made available to the Task Force Members electronically (by email) at least 5 days prior to the meeting. Staff to the Task Force shall make best efforts to provide all meeting materials to the Task Force in advance of the meeting date. E. QUORUM. A physical quorum at any meeting shall consist of Task Force Members who represent a majority of all Members. Member attendance via phone or videoconference may not be counted toward establishment of a quorum. F. VOTING. The Task Force shall make decisions by a majority vote. Upon request of any Member, a vote will be taken, in which case each Task Force Member in attendance at the meeting shall be entitled to cast one vote. Votes may not be made by proxy. A routine matter will be approved by a simple majority of all votes cast (e.g., to adjourn, establish subcommittees, to approve the agenda, etc.). The minutes shall reflect the votes of each Member. G. RULES OF ORDER. All meetings of the Task Force shall be conducted in accordance with the latest edition or revision of Robert's Rules of Order. H. MEETINGS TO BE PUBLIC. The work of the Task Force will be subject to the Sunshine Law Act and members of the public may attend and observe the work of the Task Force and are encouraged to submit written comments to the Task Force for its consideration. I. TASK FORCE MATERIALS TO BE PUBLIC. The deliberations of the Task Force are subject to the Public Records Act. Unless exempt from disclosure requirements under state law, all meeting agendas, meeting summaries and meeting materials will be posted on a website by County staff. J. PUBLIC COMMENT. The Task Force will accept oral public comment at any of its meetings. The St. Lucie County Government will provide means for members of the public to provide written and email comments to the Task Force. The presiding Chair will decide the total time to be allotted for public comment at each meeting; no speaker may comment for longer than 3 minutes, and no more than 3 individuals may testify on the same side of any issue. K. MINUTES. Summary minutes shall be kept of Task Force meetings, recording attendance, general discussion items, follow-up items, decisions, and votes (where taken). Minutes shall be approved by the Task Force, and as approved shall be available to the public. Page 4 of 6 Version dated 10.21.21 L. ACTION PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS. Staff support will draft the Task Force's Action Plan Recommendations based on direction from the Task Force. The Task Force shall review and comment on the draft recommended action plan and shall approve the final recommended action plan by a majority vote. 6. CHAIR AND STEERING COMMITTEE. A. DUTIES OF THE CHAIR AND STEERING COMMITTEE. The Steering Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings, voting, notice, waiver of notice and quorum as apply to the Task Force. The Chair and Steering Committee Members shall have the following responsibilities: 1. Chair will preside over regular and special meetings; 2. The Chair will, as necessary, call regular and special meetings of the Task Force; 3. Work with staff support to confirm the agenda for all meetings; 4. Act as spokesperson[s] on behalf of the Task Force; 5. Transmit to the County Administrator the report and recommendations of the Task Force for presentation to the Board of County Commissioners; and 6. Such other duties as may be delegated from time to time by the Task Force. B. VACANCY. Any vacancy in the post of the Chair or Steering Committee Member of the Task Force may be filled by the majority approval of the Task Force Members. 7. STAFFING. A. The Task Force shall have staff support who will assisting in development of agendas and materials, facilitate Task Force meetings, support the Chair, draft the Task Force report and recommendations, and otherwise assisting the Task Force in procedural matters. B. Staff designated to provide support to the Task Force, the Steering Committee, and any subcommittees shall be responsible for the maintenance and circulation of the minutes and agendas of the meetings of the Task Force, and preparation and mailing or delivery of all meeting notices, agendas and materials to Task Force, the Steering Committee, and any subcommittee Members. C. The County Administrator shall provide for logistical and subject matter support to the Task Force from all County Departments as appropriate. Page 5 of 6 Version dated 10.21.21 D. Task Force members acknowledge that staff may have limited time and resources to respond to all questions, information requests and/or to do analysis that may be required to answer questions. Staff will make all reasonable efforts to address Task Force requests for information or analysis pertinent to the issues under consideration by the Task Force and to do so in a timely manner based on readily available data and analysis. The Task Force may need to prioritize information requests given limited staff time and resources. Page 6 of 6 Version dated 10.21.21