7.52.190 Homeless services panel of experts.
A. There shall be established the Homeless Services Panel of Experts to make recommendations on how and to what extent the City should establish and/or fund programs to end or prevent homelessness in Berkeley and provide humane services and support.
B. An officer or employee of the City designated by the City Manager shall serve as secretary of the Panel.
C. In accordance with Chapter 2.04, the Panel shall be composed of nine members appointed by the City Council.
D. Terms shall expire and vacancies shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04.030 through 2.04.145 of this Code.
E. Each member of the Panel must:
1. Have experience in the development, administration, provision and/or evaluation of homeless programs in a government or non-profit capacity; or
2. Have current or past lived experience with homelessness; or
3. Have experience in researching the causes, impacts and solutions to homelessness; or
4. Have experience with state and/or local homeless policy, funding or programs; or
5. Have experience with federal homeless policy and funding administration such as the Continuum of Care Program; or
6. Have experience in the development and financing of affordable housing for formerly homeless persons; or
7. Have experience in the provision of mental health and/or substance use programs for homeless persons.
F. In accordance with Section 3.02.040, members of the Panel may be reappointed but shall not serve more than eight consecutive years.
1. For purposes of determining term limits under Section 3.02.040, a commissioner’s service on the Homeless Commission shall be counted toward their service upon their appointment to the Homeless Services Panel of Experts.
G. The Panel shall, by majority vote, do each of the following:
1. Annually appoint one of its members as chair and one of its members as vice-chair;
2. Approve bylaws to facilitate the proper functioning of the Panel;
3. Establish a regular time and place of meeting. All meetings shall be noticed as required by law and shall be scheduled in a way to allow for maximum input from the public. Minutes for each meeting shall be recorded, kept, and maintained; and
4. Publish an annual report that includes the following:
(a) Recommendations on how to allocate the City’s general funds to fund homeless services programs in Berkeley;
(b) Information, if available, concerning the impact of funded programs on the residents of the City; and
(c) Any additional information that the Panel deems appropriate.
H. Within 15 days of receipt of the publication of the Panel’s annual report, the City Manager shall cause the report to be published on the City’s Internet website and to be transmitted to the City Council.
I. The revenue raised by the tax imposed by Section 7.52.040 is available to pay the usual and current expenses of conducting the municipal government of the City, as determined by the City Council. The City Council shall consider, but need not follow, the Panel’s recommendations on how and to what extent to use this revenue to establish and/or fund programs to pay for homeless services and shall annually inform the Panel as to the extent to which it has implemented the Panel’s recommendations.
J. The Homeless Services Panel of Experts shall also perform the following functions:
1. Continue the ongoing function previously performed by the Homeless Commission of monitoring and assisting in the City’s progress in implementing needed homeless services and facilities;
2. Invite service providers and other interested members of the community to attend its meetings;
3. Report its recommendations concerning homeless services and facilities to the City Council;
4. Perform the federally mandated role of advising Council in the development and implementation of the Continuum of Care Plan;
5. Continue making annual funding recommendations to Council regarding the disbursement of Measure O and other related funds; and
6. Operate for an indefinite period of time. (Ord. 7814-NS § 1, 2022; Ord. 7636-NS § 3, 2018)