TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Justin Clifton, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Rosa Vega, Director of Executive Services
SUBJECT:
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Amendment No. 3 to Agreement with Care Solace, Inc. for Mental Health and Social Service Coordination Services
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ABSTRACT
The City Council will consider Amendment No. 3 to the agreement with Care Solace, Inc. to continue mental health and social service coordination services for City of Murrieta residents for an additional one-year term, from August 15, 2026, through August 14, 2027, at an annual cost of $125,000.
RECOMMENDATION
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Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 Operating Budget as detailed in the fiscal impact statement;
Approve Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement between the City of Murrieta and Care Solace, Inc. for mental health and social service coordination services, extending the agreement through August 14, 2027; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 on behalf of the City.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On August 15, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Care Solace, Inc. to coordinate access to mental health services for City residents and authorized funding for the agreement. The agreement has subsequently been amended twice.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
This item aligns with the City Council goal to coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services.
DISCUSSION
Background
On August 15, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Care Solace, Inc. to provide mental health coordination services for City of Murrieta residents. Care Solace connects individuals seeking mental health services with qualified providers and helps individuals navigate the process of identifying appropriate care.
Care Solace provides access through an online platform, email, text message, phone, and video chat. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and in approximately 200 languages. The service also includes a “warm handoff” process to help connect individuals directly with providers and can support referrals initiated by first responders.
The City’s agreement with Care Solace has been amended twice since its original approval. The current agreement terminates on August 15, 2026. Amendment No. 3 would exercise a third one-year extension, continuing services from August 15, 2026, through August 14, 2027. All other conditions of the agreement remain in full force and effect.
Amendment No. 3 continues the existing scope of mental health and social service coordination services provided by Care Solace. The amendment adds Paragraph 3.1.1 to exercise the third one-year extension and amends Paragraph 4.1 to establish compensation for the extension period.
For the August 15, 2026 through August 14, 2027, extension period, the amendment reflects annual compensation of $125,000. Approval of the amendment will allow the City to continue providing residents with access to Care Solace’s coordination services without interruption.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for the third one-year extension, from August 15, 2026, through August 14, 2027, is $125,000. Amendment No. 3 also updates the agreement’s total not-to-exceed compensation.
If the City Council approves the third amendment with Care Solace, Inc., staff recommends an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 Operating Budget to adjust the revenue budget to $108,000 and an expenditure budget to $125,000 in the Opioid Settlement Fund (338) to cover the cost for this service.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement between the City of Murrieta and Care Solace, Inc.