Citing a "dramatically" increased need for mental health services in the Tri-Valley, the Pleasanton City Council will consider supporting and funding a regional mental health urgent care pilot program at their regular online meeting on Tuesday, starting 7 p.m.
If approved, Pleasanton along with the cities of Dublin and Livermore would "agree to pay Axis Community Health a sum not to exceed $321,495" to launch a pilot project providing urgent care services for Tri-Valley residents experiencing a mental health crisis, according to a staff report.
All community members, "regardless of income or insurance status," could access the program, which would be managed by Axis, the local nonprofit that approached local city leaders and other stakeholders about the idea in October.
Each city would pay a third of the program's total, though staff said a $250,000 grant expected from Alameda County Behavioral Health for project budget year one costs will "dramatically decrease the fair share contribution for each of the cities."
According to staff, the local need for mental health services "has increased dramatically in the last decade and has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic," but "there is not enough capacity to meet the demand."
"The systems are complex and difficult to maneuver, especially in a crisis," staff said, and patients -- especially those not already receiving care -- "frequently wait weeks for an appointment" with a mental health professional. Insured patients are often faced with "a confusing array of options for services," while uninsured patients have limited choices and experience delays in receiving care.
For individuals with urgent mental health needs, the pilot program would have same-day appointments available. During the pandemic, services will be provided via telehealth, though staff said long-term plans include a walk-in access point.
Eventually, the center would "serve as a central entry point for assessment, triage, treatment, and care coordination for anyone seeking mental health treatment."
"Like a medical urgent care setting, Axis Mental Health Urgent Care Center will provide assessment and timely connection to services in a setting that is less costly than an emergency department," staff added.
When patients arrive, they will be assessed to determine whether their condition is mild to moderate, moderate, or severe. Staff anticipate most patients that use the center "will be treatable at the site and/or via telehealth services," but a small percentage (about 5%) will require medication and be referred to higher levels of care.
Assessments for patients presenting with suicidal thinking will also be available, and staff will "de escalate and avert 5150s when possible." Staff also said Axis's behavioral health providers "are experienced at intervening when suicidal thoughts are presented, and most often, following careful assessment and development of a safety plan, a 5150 can be avoided."
In addition to potentially funding the mental health urgent care pilot program, the city is currently funding $70,000 for a two-year agreement with Axis to provide behavioral health services for local youths, ages 12 to 18.
In other business
* The council will hear updates on state initiatives during a public hearing on Tuesday night, before deciding whether to establish an official position on certain proposed state laws based on the city's legislative framework for this year.
Each year, the council legislative subcommittee reviews and discusses proposed state and federal legislation, then develops policy recommendations for the city council. Since 2016, the city has expanded its legislative advocacy efforts to include a legislative framework with annual legislative Focus Areas.
The city's Focus Areas for 2021 include COVID-19 response and recovery, housing, fostering economic prosperity, mental health, and the city's infrastructure including streets, water, sewage and telecommunications, among others.
Staff recommends supporting Senate Bill 5 and 15, which involve housing and development, and extending "conditional support" for Senate Bill 38, which relates to beverage containers. They also supported SCA 2, an item on public housing projects.
Most bills rejected by staff concerned housing development and planning and zoning, including Assembly Bill 115 and Senate Bill's 6, 9 and 10.
In a related item continued from their Feb. 16 meeting, the council will also consider adopting a resolution expressing the city's position on housing and preserving local control.
Originally scheduled for discussion last month until time ran out, a staff report said the city "supports legislation that provides, promotes and protects affordability in the housing stock,” and is also "context-sensitive, that does not take a one-size-fits-all approach and allows the city to exercise its local control developing locally appropriate plans that meet state objectives.”
At their Feb. 2 meeting, the council adopted a resolution on the consent agenda expressing the city's "support for actions to further strengthen local democracy, authority, and control as related to local zoning and housing issues," and for the California Cities For Local Control Coalition's (CCLC) state-level advocacy efforts.
The council will also review information on Tuesday concerning Governor Gavin Newsom's budget measure to add a Housing Accountability Unit to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and consider authorizing Mayor Karla Brown to send a letter of response to the measure.
* General fund revenues are projected to be $9 million less than originally anticipated, according to a mid-year budget report that staff will present on Tuesday.
Staff has recommended "allocating $1.2 million from the reserve established to provide additional funding to the Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department Workers Compensation Fund, decreasing net transfers by $2.1 million ($1 million from the CIPR and $1.1 million from the Rainy Day Fund), and decreasing expenditure estimates by approximately $5 million (including reducing Repair and Replacement Fund allocations by $1 million and reducing the General Fund contingency by $0.8 million)."
Staff anticipates that the general fund will be balanced at the end of the year as a result of these changes.
Overall, staff said property taxes continue to increase due to increased property value realized after the sale of a property, and newly constructed properties added to the property tax roll.
However, the revenue increases have been offset by expected major revenue decreases, all related to pandemic related restrictions, including $3.8 million each in transient occupancy taxes and recreation fees, as well as $0.9 million of development services fees, $0.8 million in sales tax, and $500,000 of planning reimbursements offset by reduced expenditures.
The pending federal COVID-19 package includes $65 billion for helping cities recover from revenue reductions experienced during the pandemic. If adopted, the city would receive approximately $7.9 million towards the end of the year that would help balance the current and next year's general fund budget. However, because the legislation has not been adopted, the city's midyear budget does not include the 7.9 million in federal COVID-19 funds.
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Pleasanton leaders to review proposed mental health urgent care program - Pleasanton Weekly
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