File #: 2023-0130   
Type: Motion / Motion Response Status: Passed
File created: 2/17/2023 In control: Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting
On agenda: 2/23/2023 Final action: 2/23/2023
Title: APPROVE Motion by Directors Hahn, Bass, Solis, and Dutra that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to engage the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), as well as the County of Los Angeles and City of Long Beach, in order to implement a new homeless service hub in Long Beach along the Metro Blue Line that can address issues associated with the End of Line policy. Further, we direct the CEO to provide an update on this effort in the April 2023 report back, including a public summary document that offers (a) a rationale for a selected service hub location, (b) a plan for operations, and (c) strategies for addressing anticipated challenges.
Sponsors: Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting
Indexes: Central Los Angeles subregion, City of Los Angeles, Division 11, Fernando Dutra, Gateway Cities (Southeast LA County) Service Sector, Gateway Cities subregion, Hilda Solis, Housing, Hubs, Janice Hahn, Karen Bass, Long Beach, Metro Rail A Line, Motion / Motion Response, Policy, San Fernando Valley subregion, South Bay Cities subregion, Westside Cities subregion, Willow Street Station
Related files: 2023-0214

Meeting_Body

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

 

Preamble

Motion by:

 

DIRECTORS HAHN, BASS, SOLIS, AND DUTRA

 

Blue Line Service Hub in Long Beach

 

In October 2022 (File No. 2022-0734) the Metro Board approved the “End of Line Policy and Unhoused Riders Motion.” Among other things, the motion sought recommendations from staff for what could be done differently to address challenges associated with Metro’s end of the line policy and its impact on communities with a station at the end of a Metro rail line. The motion also noted a letter from the Long Beach City Council that requested an evaluation of this policy.

 

The January 2022 (File No. 2022-0744) initial response to this motion found that in the City of Long Beach, an average of 39 unhoused riders total exited the last two trains taken out of service every night, at a time when housing and services are unavailable for these individuals. During Board discussion on that report back, staff indicated that it may be possible to keep trains in service on their route to the Metro Blue Line Division 11 in Long Beach, just north of Wardlow Street Station, in order to enforce the End of Line Policy at another location, where services could be located for unhoused riders.

 

Board discussion on a possible service hub along the Metro Blue Line has focused on Willow Street Station, because Metro owns land that could be leased out to provide services at that location; however, the primary objective is a location that best serves the population, where Metro can be a partner in providing space, with minimal disruption to operations requirements, while relying on the appropriate agencies to operate the hub. Therefore, staff, in coordination with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), County, and City of Long Beach, should make the determination for where best a service hub could be located to ensure that End of Line challenges noted above can be addressed.

 

The City of Long Beach, County of Los Angeles, and City of Los Angeles have all declared states of emergency around homelessness, and the need to provide services and housing on an expedited basis. These declarations allow for a more rapid response to a humanitarian crisis that demands creative thinking and coordination across several agencies and jurisdictions.

 

Subject

SUBJECT:                     BLUE LINE SERVICE HUB IN LONG BEACH MOTION

 

Heading

RECOMMENDATION

 

Title

APPROVE Motion by Directors Hahn, Bass, Solis, and Dutra that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to engage the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), as well as the County of Los Angeles and City of Long Beach, in order to implement a new homeless service hub in Long Beach along the Metro Blue Line that can address issues associated with the End of Line policy. Further, we direct the CEO to provide an update on this effort in the April 2023 report back, including a public summary document that offers (a) a rationale for a selected service hub location, (b) a plan for operations, and (c) strategies for addressing anticipated challenges.