Notwithstanding any other law, the board is authorized to enter into an agreement for the use of the Cal Expo Lot Z property with the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento for a term of five years, provided, however, that in no event shall the California Exposition and State Fair or the State of California be liable for any damages or losses arising directly or indirectly as a result of the use of Cal Expo Lot Z by the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall authorize the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento to provide on the Cal Expo Lot Z property emergency shelter and other services described in subdivision (b) to individuals experiencing homelessness. The city and the county may contract with a service provider for this purpose.

(b) Emergency shelter and services provided on the Cal Expo Lot Z property may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Full-service, interdisciplinary resources, including mental health and substance abuse programs.

(2) Emergency and interim housing solutions, such as tiny homes, noncongregate shelters, or dormitory style housing, subject to the requirements of § 8698.4 of the Government Code.

(c) Any agreement for the use of the Cal Expo Lot Z property shall be approved at an open meeting by the City Council of the City of Sacramento and the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sacramento.

(d) (1) ? The City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento County shall prioritize the emergency shelter and services provided pursuant to this section in accordance with the following:

(A) First priority shall be given to persons illegally camping in areas of the American River Parkway that have a high risk of fire.

(B) Second priority shall be given to persons illegally camping within sensitive habitat areas of the American River Parkway.

(C) Third priority shall be given to persons illegally camping within other areas of or on lands that are adjacent to the American River Parkway.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “adjacent to” has the same meaning as subdivision (a) of § 5845.2 of the Public Resources Code.

(e) Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the Bushy Lake Preservation Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 5830) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code) and the Urban American River Parkway Preservation Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 5840) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code). When establishing emergency shelter and other services on the Cal Expo Lot Z property, the city and the county shall take the following actions in accordance with the intent of the Bushy Lake Preservation Act and the Urban American River Parkway Preservation Act:

(1) Locating shelter facilities on the portion of the Cal Expo Lot Z property that is as far away as practicable from the sensitive habitat portions of Bushy Lake and is designed to minimize the facility’s footprint within the American River Parkway Plan.

(2) Incorporating fencing to discourage, to the extent practical, residents from entering or going to the sensitive Bushy Lake habitat areas.

(3) Incorporating measures to prevent trespassing or unlawful entry into the developed portions of Cal Expo or any other area not associated with Parking Lot Z.

(f) For purposes of this section “Cal Expo Lot Z” means a portion of the real property located at 500 Ethan Way, in the City of Sacramento, consisting of approximately 8.89 acres and commonly known as Cal Expo Lot Z.

(g) Nothing in this section reduces or waives any requirements to comply with the requirements necessary to qualify for state homelessness funding.

(h) For purposes of this section, any agreement is restricted to Lot Z, and not to interfere with the operations taking place within the state’s fairgrounds.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 255, Sec. 3. (AB 175) Effective September 23, 2021.)