Resolution 2019-30811 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30811
•
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS
COMMITTEE AND AUTHORIZING. A) THE ALLOCATION OF $500,000
OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL FINE COLLECTIONS IN TWO EQUAL
ANNUAL AMOUNTS OF $250,000 FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE CITY, AND B) THE ALLOCATION OF_A
PORTION OF THE CITY'S INCREASED RESORT TAX-COLLECTIONS,
STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 2021/22, UP TO THE CITY'S PER CAPITA
SHARE OF $1,976,215, AS AMENDED FOR POPULATION CHANGES
AND CHANGES IN COLLECTIONS OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE
TAX BY THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST, TO FURTHER
SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESS SERVICES IN OUR
CITY, WITH FUNDS TO BE APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE ANNUAL
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS EACH YEAR.
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Commission referred to the April 19, 2019 meeting of
the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) a discussion on a variety of
items associated with homeless and domestic violence services including:
1. The need to monitor the State Legislative session for,possible preemption
issues;
2. Approving a resolution urging the State to include additional funds in the State
budget to address homelessness; and
3. Looking for other funding sources to support homeless and domestic violence
efforts such as the one-time short-term rental fines collected by the City; and
WHEREAS, as reported at the FCWPC meeting on April 19, 2019, the
Administration has directed staff and the City's lobbying team to monitor the State
Legislative session for possible preemption issues as well as the exploration of
additional funds for homeless. and domestic violence issues within the State budget
process; and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust (Homeless Trust) receives
approximately $57,762,000 from Miami-Dade County Food and Beverage Tax
collections that support domestic violence and homeless services countywide; and
WHEREAS, based on a countywide population of 2,743,095 (Source: 2017 MDC
CAFR), Homeless Trust collections amount to approximately $2.1.50 per capita; and
WHEREAS, while the bulk of funds collected by the Homeless Trust are
expended to support efforts to address homelessness, a portionof funds are committed
to supporting the efforts of the Domestic Violence Oversight Board. Fifteen percent
(15%) of the current Food and Beverage Tax collections are earmarked for domestic
violence services;:and
WHEREAS, the City and Trust agree that homelessness and domestic violence
are not compatible with the community we wish to have; and
WHEREAS, based on current Homeless Trust per capita collections, the City's
equitable share would be based on itspopulation of 91,917 residents multiplied by the
$21.50 per capita cost; this amounts to a contribution of $1,976,215 to support
homeless and domestic violence services and dedicating 15% of this amount to
domestic violence yields a value of $3.23 per capita or an equivalent amount of
$296,432; and.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach FY 2018/19 budget reflects expenditures of
$3,351,940 for Homeless and Domestic Violence Services; and
WHEREAS, despite the fact that these amounts are in excess of an equivalent
funding percapita by the rest of Miami-Dade County, the Administration recommends
providing additional funding for the Homeless Trust and, in particular, for domestic
violence services; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 201.6-29684, which was passed and adopted by the
City Commission on December 14, 2016, accepted a recommendation of the FCWPC to
direct the :Administration to create one or more funds for homeless services and
afrordableiworkforce housing initiatives to be funded from collected short-term rental
vio!ation fines; and
WHEREAS, the.Administration thereafter implemented a formula wherebythe
initial $200,000 in collected.short-term rental fines was to be used to fund homeless
services and all funds collected thereafter would be distributed with .twenty percent
(20%) set.. .aside for homeless services and eighty percent (80%) to address
affordable/workforce housing needs; and
WHEREAS, the City has, thus far, collected $512,750 in Short Term Rental
Fines since FY 16/17; and
WHEREAS, the FCWPC is supportive of dedicating funds to supporting these
needed services; and
WHEREAS,' at its meeting on. April 19, 2019, the FCWPC discussed that the
balance, ofneededper capita funds can be achieved through continued growth in
existing Resort Tax funds (especially when both the Convention Center and Convention
Center Hotel are fully operational); and _ , .
WHEREAS, the FCWPC also recommended utilizing $500,000 from the existing
short-term rental=fine collections' to make two annual commitments of $250,000 to
support enhanced domestic violence and homeless services in our City; and
WHEREAS; the FCWPC further recommended that the City dedicate a portion of
its increased Resort Tax collections, up to the City'sper capita share of $1,976,215, as
amended for. population changes and changes in collections of Tourist Development
Tax by the. Homeless Trust, to further support domestic violence and homeless services
in our City; and
WHEREAS, the FCWPC requested that funding for homeless services and
domestic violence be discussed as part of the Commission budget retreat.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby accept the recommendations of the Finance and Citywide Projects
Committee and authorize a) the allocation of $500,000 of short-term rental fine
collections in two equal annual amounts of $250,000 for domestic violence and
homeless services in the City's FY 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 budgets, and b) the
allocation of a portion of the City's increased Resort Tax collections,, starting in Fiscal
Year. 2021/2022, up to the. City's per capita share of $1,976,215, as amended for
population changes and changes in collections of the Food and Beverage Tax by the
Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust to further support domestic violence and homeless
servicesin our City, with funds to be appropriated through the annual Budget
development process each year.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 8th day of May, 2019.
ATTEST: : -
______ZI_,,Tigs ill
/, .. Dan Gelber, Mayor.
Rafael E. Cfranado, City Clerk
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Resolutions -C7 D
MIAMI BEAH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM •
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: May 8, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE. FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE THAT $500,000
OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL FINES COLLECTIONS FUNDS BE ALLOCATED
IN TWO ANNUAL AMOUNTS OF $250,000 FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE;
AND DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE CITY'S INCREASED RESORT TAX
COLLECTIONS, STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 2021/22, UP TO THE CITY'S
PER CAPITA SHARE OF $1,976,215, AS AMENDED FOR POPULATION
CHANGES AND CHANGES IN COLLECTIONS OF THE FOOD AND
BEVERAGE TAX BY THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST, TO
FURTHER SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESS SERVICES
IN OUR CITY, WITH FUNDS TO BE APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE
ANNUAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS EACH YEAR.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
ANALYSIS
At its March 13, 2019 meeting, the Mayor and Commission had a discussion on and considered
a resolution urging the Florida Legislature to amend Section 212.0306 of the Florida Statutes,
to allow the collection of a one percent homeless and domestic violence tax within the City of
Miami Beach to assist homeless persons, and those at risk of homelessness, and victims of
domestic violence.
During the discussion, members of the Commission as well as the community expressed
concerns between the difference in sales / food and beverage taxes paid in Miami Beach
restaurants (which would increase to 10%)versus the 7% paid in the rest of the County.
In the resulting discussions, the Mayor and Commission referred to the April 19, 2019 Finance
and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) a discussion on a variety of items associated with
homeless and domestic violence services including:
1. The need to monitor the State Legislative session for possible preemption issues;
2. Approving a resolution urging the State to include additional funds in the State budget to
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address homelessness; and
3. Looking for other funding sources to support homeless and domestic violence efforts such as
the one-time short-term rental fines collected by the City.
As reported at the FCWPC meeting on April 19, 2019, the Administration has directed staff and
the City's lobbying team to monitor the State Legislative session for possible preemption issues
as well as the exploration of additional funds for homeless and domestic violence issues within
the State budget process.
The Mayor and Commission also referred discussion of a referendum on the question of
whether or not to urge the legislature to authorize a 1% Homeless and Domestic Violence Tax in
Miami Beach, which was the subject of a separate FCWPC agenda item.
BACKGROUND
The City conducts a Daily Morning Count that mirrors the concentration locations identified in
the bi-annual Point-in-Time Census as well as the areas surrounding the homeless congregation
points. The countywide Point-in-Time Census is conducted bi-annually by the Homeless
Trust.
The Daily Morning Count provides a solid trend indicator of the number of homeless in
the City at any given point in time throughout the year and is provided weekly to the City's
Administrative Team (including the City Manager, Police Chief, Homeless Resource Officers,
and the Homeless Outreach Team) as well as citizens who have requested to receive this
information weekly. This data has been collected since 2015.
While the City collects Daily Morning Count data in addition to the bi-annual Point-in-Time
Census data, neither of these is an accurate representation of actual homelessness in
our City. Homelessness is present in our City 365 days a year and is far a greater number than
the census count when factoring the total number of homeless visiting the City throughout the
year.
The City relies on self-certifying data that validates a person's homelessness to quantify its
homeless population. In fact, the City collects the identity of each self-identifying homeless
person encountered in the following ways:
• Street outreach
• Homeless walk-in center
• Police encounters
Individuals encountered more than once by any of these methods is only entered once into the
system to provide a database of non-duplicated individuals encountered in the City. The
following chart displays side-by-side data of the City's various homeless counts over the past
three fiscal years excluding FY 18/19 which has not closed:
Homeless Encountered in City1 1,998 1,571 1,377
Average Daily Morning Count2 115.51 90.82 95.15
Official City Census3 156 133 124
Served by HOT4 1,370 1,456 1,202
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HOT Shelter Placements5 676 570 547
Relocations6 88 118 122
-The number of unduplicated,self-identified homeless contacted by Hot and PD as tracked by CIMS
2—The morning count factors the population concentrated areas identified for the annual Point-in-Time Census
3—The Point-in-Time Survey,January 2016 and 2017,respectively
4—People contacted in the walk-in center and field offered services by the Homeless Outreach Team(HOT)
5—Police were provided placement privileges in February 2017
6—Relocations are provided once in a lifetime per client with verification of destination
As noted above, the City data indicates that the City has experienced a true net reduction of
homeless individuals encountered year after year since FY 15/16. More so, the net reduction
in homeless individuals encountered annually in Miami Beach from FY 15/16 to FY
17/18 was 31 percent. Please note that the City's homeless population, much like the County's
homeless population, is known to rise and fall and has done so consistently since the beginning
of the Point-in-Time street counts in 1997.
Origins of Our Homeless Population
The City has worked tirelessly through its Service Collaborative (Success University) and
community networking to ensure that residents have a "no wrong door" experience when
seeking vital services such as emergency rent, food and utility assistance. The City leverages
funds from several sources (Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Food and
Shelter Program, The Children's Trust and the General Fund) to provide cash assistance for
residents facing eviction and homelessness.
When possible, the City seeks to divert households facing homelessness through its rent
assistance program to enable these households to rapidly rehouse themselves in private
housing that can be sustained independently. However, despite these efforts, some households
still experience homelessness. For these, the City is prepared to provide emergency shelter
(whether through shelter or hotel placement). More so, if shelter beds are occupied and the
household includes children, the City will approve overflow beds or place the family in a local
hotel providing case management services immediately. The Homeless Trust eliminated
funding for hotel placements by the City in 2018.
For the vast majority of clients seeking shelter services, their homeless experience began in a
city other than our own. The City collects information from clients regarding their length,
frequency and origin of homelessness. We also complete a national background check that
verifies several data points including:
• Date of birth
• Social Security number and place/date of issuance
• Previous known addresses (including last known address)
• Arrest history and open warrants
As our data collection efforts improved, City staff began seeing an escalating rate of homeless
clients reporting that their homelessness began in another City. While the City collected this
data from 2017 forward (and generated the FY 17/18 number of 95 percent non-native
homeless), the City reviewed all of its homeless client files from 2003 through 2016 to
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better understand if this prevalence of non-native homelessness was in fact reflective of a short-
term trend or representative of the City's overall population.
Once all client files were reviewed, representing 5,745 unique individuals, the City noted that
20.1 percent of all clients (1,201 individual, non-duplicated people) served through the City's
Homeless Program actually resided in our City immediately prior to their homelessness.
(Please note that when prior residence could not be ascertained, the client was
presumed to be a resident.) This means that at least 79.9 percent of all clients served
before 2017 did in fact become homeless elsewhere and then migrated to our City. This
data set validated the City's understanding of its "migratory" homeless population as reflected in
its most current data analyses.
Consistent with the overall population encountered in Miami Beach, less than 12
percent of all homeless persons placed in City-purchased shelter beds had been
residents of the City prior to their placement. Please note that the City made a total of 397
placement authorizations into City-purchased beds in FY 17/18. However, the data below
represents unduplicated persons as some clients were placed in shelter multiple times during
the fiscal year:
Homeless Persons Placed in
City-Purchased Beds
�.7 r.Miami Beach
Residents
AU Others
•
The origin of a person's homelessness — especially those who became homeless elsewhere
and then migrated to our City-- impacts outcome for a variety of reasons:
• Lack of natural supports
• Lack of familiarity with area norms, values and assets
• Lack of investment, cohesion and allegiance to area and the community
More so, the data shows that clients who successfully transition to housing benefit from slightly
longer stays in shelter in order to secure their own housing:
Shelter Average Length of Average Length of
Stay Stay for Housing
Transition
Camillus House 52 days 69 days
Miami Rescue Mission 50 days 137 days
The Salvation Army 67 days 103 days
The City's in-house employment program, fully funded by the General Fund, provides homeless
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clients who have accepted shelter with transitional employment. This short-term employment
provides clients with employment experience (many times after years of unemployment), work
and interview clothes, recommendation letters and peer supports to encourage clients in their
quest for permanent employment. The program provides 32 hours of paid, supervised work
conducting outreach to the homeless in our City. The City gains their experience and knowledge
of helping those who live in the streets and clients get a chance to ease into the workforce. In
FY 17/18, 22 of the 44 clients served obtained permanent employment either before or
upon completion of the program.
Domestic Violence Services
The City employs six victim advocates (one funded by the General Fund and five fully funded by
the Victims of Crime Act grant funds) in its Police Department. Victim advocates provide
navigation, support and intervention services for victims of domestic violence as well as other
crimes including sexual assault and stalking, among others. Advocates are available at Police
Headquarters Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 9:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am to
6:00pm. However, advocates are on call 24 hours per day.
Advocates provide services for victims and survivors (including children) of all violent crimes
handled by our Department. Domestic violence cases are assigned to our advocates for follow
up and all other cases are assigned to our advocates on a need basis. Services include:
• Crisis intervention, in-person and by phone.
• Assistance to officers maintaining crime scene integrity.
• Liaison between detectives investigating cases and victims.
• Follow up contacts by phone and by certified mail.
• Information on services available in the community.
• Referrals to community resources, in-person, by phone and mail.
• Assistance with filing and following through with Victim Compensation Claims.
• Emergency financial assistance (when funds are available).
• Court procedures support and advocacy.
• Assistance with completion of U Visa Certification of Cooperation Form.
• Safety planning for victims.
• Information on victims' rights and community resources.
The following chart provides an overview of clients served by the City's Victim Advocates as
reported to the Florida Office of the Attorney General:
— — — 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 1st Quarter
(January—March (April—June 2018) (July—September (October—
2018) 2018) December 2018)
# Receiving Services 377 397 407 439
Domestic Violence 102 191 149 165
Victims1
1—Individuals who received seneces by types of victimization.
Analysis
The City and Trust agree that homelessness and domestic violence are not compatible
with the community we wish to have. We also agree that collaboration is essential among all
stakeholders — including municipalities, faith groups, businesses, residents and those we seek
to help. Our mutual efforts have made a difference and will continue to do so as long as we
remain focused on the mutual goal: serve all of our residents and help them achieve the home
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and lives they choose for themselves.
We know that more needs to be done — especially with regards to domestic violence services.
The City currently does not adequately fund its fair share of these lifesaving services.
Funds for Homeless and Domestic Violence Services
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust receives its funds from a variety of sources including:
Food and Beverage Tax, and State and Federal funds:
FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget
Expenditures by Activity Revenues by Source
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While the bulk of funds collected by the Homeless Trust are expended to support efforts to
address homelessness, a portion of funds are committed to supporting the efforts of the
Domestic Violence Oversight Board. Fifteen (15) percent of the current Food and Beverage
Tax collections are earmarked for domestic violence services.
The Homeless Trust receives about $57,762,000 from Miami-Dade County collections. Based
on a countywide population of 2,743,095 (Source: 2017 MDC CAFR), Homeless Trust
collections amount to about$21.50 per capita.
Based on current Homeless Trust per capita collections, the City's equitable share would be
based on its population of 91,917 residents multiplied by the $21.50 per capita cost. This
amounts to a contribution of $1,976,215 to support homeless and domestic violence services.
Dedicating 15% of this amount to domestic violence yields a value of $3.23 per capita or an
equivalent amount of$296,432.
City of Miami Beach Expenditures
The City of Miami Beach FY 2018/29 budget reflects the following amounts for Homeless and
Domestic Violence Services (excluding any grants received:
Housing and Community Services Homeless Services $1,900,000
Police Department Homeless Outreach Team $1,300,000
Domestic ViolenceNictims'Advocates Service $ 151,940
Total $3,351,940
Despite the fact that these amounts are in excess of an equivalent funding per capita
by the rest of Miami-Dade County, the Administration recommends providing funding
for the Homeless Trust, and in particular for domestic violence services.
Potential Funding Approach
The Commission discussed the need to explore alternate funding sources to support homeless
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efforts. One potential funding source mentioned at the March 13th Commission meeting was the
monies collected through Short Term Rental Violations. While the Short-Term Rental Fines
provide a limited amount of funds, these monies can be earmarked to fund homeless and
domestic violence services by amending Resolution 2016-29684 to allow for their use in this
way.
The following depicts the Short-Term Rental Fines funds collected through February 2019:
Fiscal Year 2015-2106 $ 20,000
Fiscal Year 2016-2017 $117,350
Fiscal Year 2017-2018 $290,150
Fiscal Year 2018-2019 $ 85.250
Total $512,750
Resolution 2016-29684, approved December 14, 2016, states that the initial $200,000 in
collected short-term rental fines was to be used to fund homeless services and all funds
collected thereafter would be distributed with 20% set aside for homeless services and 80% to
address affordable/workforce housing needs.
The following depicts the fund distribution as currently stipulated by Resolution 2016-29684:
Homeless Workforce Housing Total
Initial Amount $200,000 - $200,000
20/80 Split $62,550 $250,200 $312,750
Total Revenues $262,550 $250,200 $512,750
The Administration is supportive of dedicating funds to supporting these needed services.
Further, the Administration feels that the balance of needed per capita funds can be achieved
through continued growth in existing Resort Tax funds (especially when both the Convention
Center and Convention Center Hotel are fully operational). In other words, we can make an
immediate contribution to support these services by earmarking collections of Short Term
Rental fines and dedicate a portion of future growth in Resort Tax collections up to the City's per
capita share of $1,976,215, as amended for population changes and changes in collections of
Tourist Development Tax by the Homeless Trust. This would allow for the funding of these
needed services without the need of raising the Food and Beverage Tax, which is already the
highest in the County.
At the FCWP Committee meeting, Commissioners Mark Samuelian and Michael Gongora
moved and seconded the recommendation that the City allocate existing Short-Term Rental
fines collections to address domestic violence services with the understanding that the City
would eventually commit the City's per capita share for such services through funds raised by
Resort Tax collections from the newly-renovated Convention Center and the convention center
hotel being built.
During the Committee discussion, Commissioner Joy Malakoff advised that she will be
presenting an item at a future Commission meeting to recommend following the State of
California in taxing sugary drinks as a means of raising funds for homeless services, domestic
violence services, and youth health services.
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As part of a separate agenda item discussion, the FCWPC requested that funding for
homeless services and domestic violence be discussed as part of the Commission budget
retreat.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends utilizing $500,000 from the existing short term rental fine
collections to make two annual commitments of $250,000 to support enhanced domestic
violence and homeless services in our City. Further, the Administration recommends that the
City dedicate a portion of its increased Resort Tax collections up to the City's per capita share
of $1,976,215, as amended for population changes and changes in collections of Tourist
Development Tax by the Homeless Trust, to further support domestic violence and homeless
services in our City.
KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Ensure Expenditure Trends Are Sustainable Over The Long Term
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The proposed actions would commit $500,000 in existing Short Term Rental fines collections
for two annual allocations of $250,000 for enhanced domestic violence and homeless services
in the City for fiscal years 19/20 and 20/21. These funds have been collected and are
uncommitted.
By FY 21/22, it is expected that Resort Tax Collections will yield an increase due to the full
operation of the Convention Center and the opening of the new convention center hotel. It is
proposed that this increase in collections be earmarked, up to the City's per capita share, to
about $1,976,215 (or as amended by population changes or changes in Food and Beverage
Tax collections by the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.
Legislative Tracking
Housing and Community Services
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