SR-07082008-8Cc7~
~;tvaf City Council Report
Santa rlonica
City Council Meeting: July 8, 2008
Agenda Item: ~ ~~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Community and
Government Relations
Subject: Resolution advocating that the Veterans Administration expedite the use
of three buildings on the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration
Campus for Long Term Therapeutic Housing for Homeless Veterans
Recommended Action
Staff recommends:
A) Council adopt a resolution advocating that the Veterans Administration expedite
.the use of three buildings on the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration
Campus for Long Term Therapeutic Housing for Homeless Veterans
B) Direct staff to work with Senator Feinstein, Congressman Waxman, and
Supervisor Yaroslavsky to expedite the federal process and local VA process
and facilitate use of the buildings for long term therapeutic housing for
homeless veterans.
Executive Summary
In response to a request from Congressman Waxman, staff recommends adoption of a
resolution advocating that the Veterans Administratioh expedite the use of three
buildings on the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Campus using either
enhanced sharing agreement or the McKinney-Vento process for Long Term
Therapeutic Housing for Homeless Veterans.
Discussion
On August 21, 2007, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs designated
three buildings, 205, 208 and 209, on the. West Los Angeles Veterans Administration
campus for long-term therapeutic housing and services for homeless veterans. The
designation follows years of intensive bipartisan coalition building by Councilmember
Shriver and the City. It has now been nearly one year since the designation, and the
buildings are still not in use.
1
The City of Santa Monica shares the goal of using these three buildings for the
establishment of critically needed homeless veterans' therapeutic housing. Senator
Feinstein and Congressman Waxman secured Federal Legislation Public Law 110-161
which imposes restrictions on certain commercial uses and transfers of land and affirms
the terms of the original donation of land to keep the facility for veterans. This
legislation also eliminated use of "enhanced use leases". The City acknowledges and
appreciates the work of Senator Feinstein, Congressman Waxman and Supervisor
Yaroslavsky and will work in a concerted effort with them to achieve the critical mandate
to serve our homeless veterans. Staff has been told that enhanced sharing agreements
or disposition of buildings through the McKinney-Vento Act are both viable options that
are actively being pursued by the VA and our elected federal and county
representatives.
At a recent meeting on federal issues, Congressman Waxman requested that Council
adopt a resolution to dedicate our efforts and resources to advocate that the Veterans
Administration expeditiously move to use these three buildings on the West Los
Angeles Veterans Administration campus using enhanced sharing agreement or the
McKinney-Vento process.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
No budgetary impact is anticipated from adoption of this resolution.
Prepared by: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Community and
Government Relations
Attachment: Resolution
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Assistant to the City Manager for
Community and Government Relations
Reference Resolution No.
10320 (CCS).