The three local governments have cooperated for years to provide funding and in-kind staff contributions to the homeless.  The first written agreement to provide these services, through the Community Assistance Center, was approved in September 2008.

On May 2, 2016 the Concurrent Meeting of the Sparks and Reno City Councils with the Board of Washoe County Commissioners included an “update and discussion on the Community Assistance Center (CAC), selected vendor for FY 17, and direction to staff on the Interlocal Agreement”.  The update included notifying the City Councils and the County Commission that following a competitive process, the Transitional Governing Board (TGB) recommended that the City of Reno award a contract to Volunteers of America (VOA) to continue operating the CAC for the next three fiscal years (FY 17, 18 and 19).

VOA’s proposal for FY 17 included operating a year-around overflow shelter as well as enhanced services and programming, including the addition of housing and employment specialists. Adding the cost of operating the overflow shelter (funded separately in current and previous years), as well as additional services, increases VOA’s proposed budget for operating the CAC from approximately $1.9 million during the current year to $2.66 million in FY 17.  This latter amount is substantially more than the funding provided for CAC operations per the current “Interlocal Cooperative Agreement”, which would provide for approximately $2.04 million in FY 17 based on Reno and Sparks each contributing the property tax equivalent of a half cent and Washoe County providing the property tax equivalent of one cent.

The TGB reviewed VOA’s FY 17 proposal on April 29, 2016 and endorsed their proposed budget.  The TGB has also recommended that Reno, Sparks and Washoe County increase their contributions for CAC operations so that VOA can more effectively address the needs of our homeless population as well as to ensure the year-around operation of the overflow shelter, once a replacement shelter is found and without which it is legally difficult for Reno and Sparks to enforce their respective prohibitions on camping along the Truckee River.  Specifically, the TGB endorsed a funding formula that would increase the cities’ contributions to the property tax equivalent of one cent and Washoe County’s to the property tax equivalent of one and a half cent.  The formula would generate approximately $3.02 million, an amount sufficient to cover CAC operations and begin addressing other related needs.

On May 23, 2016 the City Council considered the funding formula recommended by the TGB and provided direction to staff to proceed with an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement that consistent with the recommended funding.

City staff has worked with our counterparts to develop an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement that outlines each partner agency’s roles and responsibilities.  They are detailed in Appendix A of the attached document.  Appendix B provides the specific funding and in-kind contribution details.

The agreement identifies the City of Reno as the lead entity and a Reno staff member as the CAC Manager with authority to make any necessary decisions regarding the daily operations of the CAC and responsibility to ensure the expenditures and activities comply with the ICA.  It further outlines that each partner “shall be solely responsible for any and all liabilities, damages, losses, claims, causes of action, suits at law or in equity, or any other obligation whatsoever arising out of or attributed to any action taken against that party in connection with its placement, storage and/or use of conex boxes or similar storage holding containers located at the Community Assistance Center on 335 Record Street, Reno, Nevada, to store personal property of homeless individuals. Furthermore, the City of Reno is not responsible for lost or stolen personal property or other related items at 335 Record Street, Reno, Nevada.”

The City Council may choose to not approve the ICA and provide alternate direction to staff.

“I move to approve the ICA for Operation of the Community Assistance Center and Other Homeless Services in FY17.”