Committee backs restoring opioid-settlement funding to fully support proposed harm-reduction drop-in center

The Health and Human Needs Committee voted June 16 to restore opioid-settlement funding to $800,000 to support an RFP for a centralized harm-reduction and prevention drop-in center.

Supervisor Peterson, co-sponsor of the subcommittee recommendation, described the action as restoring the subcommittee's original funding level so the forthcoming RFP would attract operators to deliver services at scale. "We should increase the amount to the original recommendation of the subcommittee to $800,000 before we put this out to RFP," Peterson said, noting that some settlement dollars remain available for allocation.

Committee members said public health staff had recommended shifting some of the initial allocation to shore up immediate staffing in existing public-health harm-reduction services so those clinics could maintain hours. Janelle, public health director, had informed committee leaders that current staffing levels limited the hours those on-site harm-reduction services could operate, and that a delayed RFP process could leave gaps.

Supporters of restoring the full $800,000 said the higher amount would make the drop-in center RFP more attractive to potential operators and still allow existing clinic services to be staffed. Opponents or cautious members raised questions about long-term sustainability and space for a new center; one supervisor said they would vote no on the measure during the committee roll call but the motion ultimately passed. The transcript records at least one committee member indicating a planned "no" vote.

The committee moved the restored funding recommendation forward to the County Board so staff can finalize the RFP and proceed with procurement and contract negotiations.