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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02141995 - 1.78 1.78 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on February 14,1995, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Bishop NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE Item No. 1.78 LETTER dated January 30, 1995, from Mayor, City of Concord, 1950 Parkside Drive, MS/01, Concord 94519, relative to check cashing services at two Concord stores. "REFERRED TO ACTING DIRECTOR, SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT i nenroy . r;;ry . ::A tn,j 13 a truo and correct copy of an action taken and ontored on tho minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: I L4 I IaR C:� PHIL BATCHELOR, clerk of the Board of Supervisors � and County Administrator By 'v AA01'11"- RlAd:&-UlDeputy CC : Correspondent Acting Director, Social Service Department I- -7K CITY OF CONCORD CITY COUNCIL 1950 Parkside Drive,MS/01 Helen M.Allen,Mayor Concord,California 94519-2578 Lou Rosas,Vice Mayor Fnx: (510) 798-0636 Colleen Coll Billgal Michaelael A.A.Pastrick OFFICE OF THE MAYOR ® ®� Lynnet Kelhl,City Clerk _® � Telephone: (510) 671-3158 �4�/ Thomas Wending, City Treasurer Edward R.James,City Manager January 30, 1995 RECEIVED Honorable Gayle Bishop, Chair 1995 and Members of the Board of Supervisors JAN 3 Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street, Room 106 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Martinez, CA 94553 CONTRA COSTA CO. Dear Chair Bishop and Members of the Board of Supervisors: A January 1995 article which appeared in the Contra Costa Times entitled "Time to Move (After Crime Climbs, Cops Roust Homeless Lured by Easy Welfare)" recently came to the attention of our City Council. Upon reading this article several citizens inquired about the City's procedures for allowing check cashing facilities and to ascertain whether the requisite approvals were obtained. To respond to citizen concerns, the City scheduled this matter as a discussion item before the Planning Commission on January 18, 1995. During that meeting the operator of these check cashing businesses, Mr. Jonathan Eager, indicated he had a signed contract with the County to facilitate check disbursements at two of his Concord stores. It was very disturbing to learn that Concord was the only City in which this was taking place. As you may now be aware, the City was surprised by this arrangement and several of our residents were extremely upset. Since the new Board of Supervisors has expressed a keen interest in working with cities on matters of joint concern, this seems like a good place to start. Many businesses in Concord, particularly those located in the downtown area, are required to obtain formal City approval before they can initiate or change their business operations. Concord's Municipal Code establishes the acceptable locations for various business activities and also provides for public hearing input in situations where special types of permits (e.g. occupancy application, use permits, etc.) are required. This seems to be a reasonable approach, especially for uses that are potentially controversial. For future County businesses or County operations planned to be located in Concord, the City would appreciate receiving advance notification of these so we have an opportunity to provide input if there are issues. The City Council looks forward to working with the Board of Supervisors on future projects of mutual City and County interest. Your cooperation in this regard is sincerely appreciated. SiCnce�rely, l Helen Allen Mayor cc: City Council Phil Batchelor, County Adminstrator The Board of Supervisors Contra ClerkofftBoard Costa and County Administration Building County Administrator 651 Pine Street, Room 106 (5to)646-2371 Martinez,California 94553-1293 County Jim Rogers,1st District Jeff Smtth,2nd District Gayle Bishop,3rd District ' Mark DeSaulnler,4th District Tom Torlakson,5th District a< March 14, 1995 •. rrA.cbii�T' Mayor Helen Allen City of Concord 1950 Parkside Drive MS/01 Concord, CA 94519-2578 Dear Mayor Allen: This is written in response to your letter of January 30, 1995 and to reaffirm the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors ' commitment in working cooperatively with cities on matters of joint concern. I want to provide you with some background with respect to the General Assistance program. Contra Costa County's General Assistance total caseload is approximately 4500. The caseload of General Assistance recipients in the Martinez central district office is approximately 1529 . The number of General Assistance recipients served by the Martinez district office who allege to be homeless is approximately 485 . General Assistance recipients who are homeless are asked to provide an alternate mailing address for receipt of checks, Food Stamps, and other Social Service mail . If the recipient is unable to provide such an address, she or he may choose an address provided by the Social Services Department. Contracts with check-cashing agencies located in cities throughout the County had been established to provide these services to homeless persons . The only Social Service district office without a check-cashing site for pick up of General Assistance checks and Social Service mail was the Martinez office. Homeless General Assistance recipients who could not provide an alternate mailing address had been permitted to pick up their checks and other Social Service mail at the Department's Martinez district office located at 40 Muir Road. . For some time, the Social Service Department had been working to standardize the check distribution process for homeless recipients by developing a contract with check-cashing agencies in central county. The Social Service Department was finally able to secure a contract with Jonathan Eager of California Check Cashing, to provide central county homeless recipient pick up of checks and other mail, effective January 1, 1995 . Mayor Helen Allen March 14, 1995 Page 2 The January 1995 Contra Costa Times article referred to in your letter seemed to imply that the Social Service Department had contracted with the Concord check-cashing agencies in response to complaints from the Martinez citizens, when in fact, plans to standardize our check distribution process had begun many months before and similar contracts with check-cashing agencies in other cities throughout the county have existed for some time. As you may know, Mr. Eager has indicated he no longer is interested in providing check distribution services for homeless recipients and ceased to do so effective February 24, 1995 . The Social Service Department Martinez district office resumed homeless recipient check distribution on February 25, 1995 . The Department will also be investigating alternative methods for homeless check distribution, including the possibility of using non-profit agencies in central county. The Social Service Department did not intend to surprise the City of Concord with its plans for standardizing homeless recipient check distribution and will certainly apprise you of future developments and plans having mutual City and County interest. The Social Service Department will provide you with advance notification of any changes in procedure which may impact the City of Concord and solicit your input if there are issues . The Board reaffirms its desire to work with cities on matters of common interest and looks forward to a cooperative and productive relationship with the City of Concord. Sincerely, Gayle Bishop Chair cc: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Supervisor Jim Rogers Supervisor Jeff Smith Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier Supervisor Tom Torlakson