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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-14 City Council (5)TO: City of Palo Alto City M ager’s Report FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES DATE: SUBJECT: JULY 14, 2003 CMR: 356:03 RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE UNITED WAY OF SILICON VALLEY’S 2-1-1 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL PROGRAM RESOLUTION RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council approve the adoption of a resolution in support of the United Way of Silicon Valley’s 2-1-1 Information and Referral program in Santa Clara County. BACKGROUND The United Way Silicon Valley has taken the lead to develop a 2-1-1 Information and Referral program in Santa Clara County. 2-1-1 will provide the citizens of Palo Alt0 and Santa Clara County a new phone number linking them to non-emergency social service agencies to address food, shelter and other service needs. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has authorized 2-1-1 statewide and is developing and defining rules for governing the statewide system. DISCUSSION The City of Palo Alto, along with fifteen other cities, has been asked to support the 2-1-1 program by adopting a resolution and providing advice and cooperation to the Steering Committee and to the United Way of Silicon Valley. The City of Palo Alto’s support will assist the United Way of Silicon Valley in securing and leveraging funding from foundations and the private sector. The 2-1-1 program will utilize the County of Santa Clara’s HelpSCC database, which includes data from Palo Alto’s Family Resources database. The 2-1-1 program will not duplicate the Family Resources database. There will be no City resources utilized for this project. RESOURCE IMPACT Approval of the 2-1-1 Resolution will not result in any financial commitment for the City. CMR:356:03 Page 1 of 2 POLICY IMPLICATIONS Adoption of the 2-1-1 Resolution will not represent any change to City policy. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This resolution is not subject to CEQA requirements. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: PREPARED BY: REVIEWED BY: Draft 2-1-1 Resolution PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: EMIL HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:~6:0~Page 2 of 2 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO IN SUPPORT OF CREATING A 2-1-1 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL PHONE NUMBER TO SERVE SANTA CLARA COUNTY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHEREAS, the Federal Communication Commission has designated 2-1-1 as the nationa! phone number for citizens wanting non-emergency information and referra! for social and welfare services, health and menta! health services, housing and shelter needs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week; and WHEREAS, 2-1-1 service as a critical link between the public and emergency food, shelter, and other critical needs following major disasters, such as acts of terrorism or war, earthquakes, f!oods, or fire; and WHEREAS, 2-1-1 provides a new vehicle for civic engagement, connecting people with agencies to which they can donate their time, money or goods; and WHEREAS, 55 centers in 19 U.S. states are already using 2-1-1 successfully and meeting over 50 million citizens’ information and referra! needs; and WHEREAS, 2-1-1 is projected population by year end 2005; and to reach 50% of the WHEREAS, the California Association of Information and Referral Systems (CAIRS) has petitioned the California Public Utilities commission (CPUC) to authorize 2-1-1 statewide and the define rules governing a system that is decentralized by county; and WHEREAS, under the leadership of United Silicon Valley, the citizens of Santa Clara County have organized a year !ong effort to plan and implement this program in Santa Clara county by Spring 2005; and WHEREAS, the advice, cooperation and support of Santa Clara County and al! fifteen cities within the county will be required for all residents of Santa Clara county to benefit from the 2-1-1 system NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: 030709 sm 0053287 ¯1 SECTION !.The Council agrees to Support this program in concept. SECTION 2.The Counci! agrees to offer advice and cooperation to the 2-1-1 Steering Committee and the United Way Silicon Valley in devising a plan to implement 2-1-1 !ocally in Spring 2005. SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: City Attorney City Manager Director of Community Services Director of Administrative Services 030709 sm 0053287 2