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Council accepts state grant language for homelessness work; concerns raised about Pete’s Place repairs and plan clarity
Summary
Council approved a $400,000 legislative appropriation for the city’s homelessness work; staff said the language is broad and can fund repairs, feasibility or acquisition work tied to transitional and permanent supportive housing, while councilors pressed for clearer plans for sites such as Pete’s Place and Consuelo’s Place.
The governing body approved acceptance of a $400,000 legislative appropriation intended to support the city’s homelessness work, including possibilities such as repairs, feasibility planning and predevelopment for transitional or permanent supportive housing.
Regina Wheeler, Public Works, and Karen Gross, project manager, told councilors the appropriation language is intentionally broad and will allow the city to direct funding toward site repairs, feasibility and predevelopment work to support non‑congregate shelters or permanent supportive housing. Gross said staff may use the money for repairs at the building sometimes called Pete’s Place or to pay for feasibility and predevelopment work to identify and site non‑congregate or permanent supportive housing options.
Councilor Michael Garcia pressed staff on specifics: why repair a building that may be closed, whether site locations were already identified, and where the additional funding (roughly $700,000 appropriated separately in 2025) will come from. City Manager Scott told the council the appropriation will fund assessments and predevelopment work; he said Midtown and Consuelo’s Place are among high‑priority properties and stressed that site selection is iterative — program needs define the preferred site footprint and the site search follows.
Councilors emphasized the need for community engagement and transparency: multiple councilors asked that staff coordinate early with neighbors and the broader public before final site selection. Council approved the agreement by roll call. Council members also asked staff to return with clearer scope and benchmarks for use of the appropriation before larger commitments are made.
