Riverbank speakers urge more transparency, raise safety and fiscal concerns over proposed tiny‑home supportive housing

Dozens of residents and community representatives used the meeting's public-comment period to press the City Council for more information and outreach about a proposed permanent supportive-housing—often referred to in the meeting as a “tiny home” project—referenced for a site at the corner variously transcribed in the record as Morel/Morrill/Memorial and Oakdale Road.

Speakers said the public had not been adequately notified of the project's location and timeline and expressed concerns about safety, long-term costs and whether the nonprofit proposer has the operational and financial track record to operate the site and provide necessary supportive services.

Roselyn Chandra told the council she opposed placing permanent supportive housing on Morrill Road and Oakdale Drive and said “the details and perhaps even the plan itself have been withheld from us, the community,” adding that withholding information “breeds distrust.” Physician Udbal Inamdar said the proposed location, which he described as adjacent to the community sports complex and within minutes of an elementary school, posed “an unacceptable risk” if the population served includes people with complex behavioral-health or substance‑use needs. Several other speakers echoed concerns about proximity to children’s recreation areas.

Multiple speakers questioned the nonprofit organization leading the project, which the record identifies with variants of the acronym CVCR/CBCR. Commenters raised financial concerns—several said the nonprofit showed operating deficits in recent years—and asked whether the organization has confirmed partner agencies and a documented track record for the scope of services proposed. One commenter noted that a former District 4 council member now serves as CEO of the nonprofit and said that raised potential conflict-of-interest concerns.

Other residents, including Kathleen Heinzinger, told the council they support affordable housing generally and urged the city and the nonprofit to provide stronger oversight and clear planning so the project can meet regulations and succeed.

Written comments read into the record reiterated public-safety and property-value worries and urged the council to reconsider the proposed location. Several comment letters also said that the Homekey Plus grant program—identified by commenters as a likely funding source—targets specific populations (veterans and people with behavioral-health needs, as cited by speakers), and asked whether the proposed project population (for example, young adults aging out of foster care, which commenters said is the nonprofit’s stated focus) aligns with grant eligibility and with local needs.

Council members acknowledged the volume of public comment and said they were meeting with law enforcement, city staff and the nonprofit to review safety, services and outreach. No formal action was taken at the meeting; council members indicated staff follow-up and further meetings are planned.

Speakers who addressed the council by name included Sammy Martinez (representing Love Riverbank, a local volunteer nonprofit), Olivia Rambula (broker and Riverbank Chamber of Commerce director of community events), Roselyn Chandra (resident), Udbal Inamdar (physician), Mary Chris (resident and organizer of a petition cited by speakers), Lisa Potter (resident), Manuel Rivera (resident), and others who submitted written comments that the council read into the record. The nonprofit leading the proposal was referred to in the meeting transcript with the acronyms CVCR and CBCR; council members said they are continuing conversations with the organization and with public-safety officials.

No vote or direction to approve the project occurred during the meeting; the public-comment record will remain part of the council file as staff and council review next steps.