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Committee moves $2 million to site shelter project; councilor raises questions about deployment pace and site approvals
Summary
The Finance Committee approved a $2 million budget amendment to fund site planning, development and purchase of pallet-style non-congregate shelter units and supporting infrastructure; Councilor Lee Garcia voted no, citing concerns about deployment sequencing and community engagement.
The Finance Committee on Jan. 13 approved a budget amendment resolution moving $2,000,000 from prior general fund balance into the current fiscal year to advance non-congregate shelter planning and procurement.
City staff described the funds as intended for site feasibility, site preparation, project management and purchase of additional pallet-style non-congregate shelter units (so-called micro-community or pallet shelters) to expand the citys existing micro-community pilot. The administration said the pallet contract already exists and allows purchase of up to 100 units; the budget amendment provides the funding to buy more units and develop sites.
Director Henry Hammond Paul and staff said the city already has 40 pallet units in inventory, 10 of which are currently deployed at Christ Lutheran Churchs micro-community; staff said the goal is to reach 90 total units (which could provide about 150 bed spaces, because some units accommodate more than one person) across up to three sites, with no single site exceeding 30 units. Staff also said the initial pallet purchases were funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
Officials cautioned that the units are only 1 component of a complete site: additional bathroom units, laundry, electrical hookups, grading, stormwater management and wraparound service contracts are required. The city has run a competitive RFP process for operator and host organizations; staff said some RFPs are in the final stages and that agreement details cannot be disclosed until procurement is finalized.
Councilor Lee Garcia voted no on the motion and asked for more detail on why the city had not yet deployed 30 additional units already in inventory and how sites would be selected and approved. Mayor Romero Wirth and other councilors said the procurement and site-selection process includes community engagement and that some site approvals and operator agreements will return to the governing body as part of contract and procurement requirements. The motion passed on a roll call with three yes votes and one no.
