Davis County panel discusses Code Blue response after state rejects task-force plan

S2, a speaker identified only in the transcript as S2, said the state rejected the task-force plan and that "once the task force plan was rejected by the state, then the authority falls to the Office of Homeless Services to basically stand up something for Code Blue." The work session centered on whether Davis County will offer buildings, transportation and other support while the state leads the winter response.

Why it matters: The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) has statutory authority to act if a county plan is rejected. Commissioners and staff spent the meeting clarifying what the county can and should provide, how partners could contribute, and what would happen if the county does not submit an approved year‑round plan by Aug. 1, 2025.

County options and constraints were a central focus. S3 noted that, while the state will lead under the state code, county properties could be used only with appropriate written agreements: "we're going to have to enter into some type of MOU or a lease agreement" if the state wants to use county buildings. Commissioners agreed staff should continue identifying candidate county facilities and check existing contracts and calendars so the state knows which locations are available and when.

Budget and timing were discussed in practical terms. In the meeting S4 and S2 referenced available state funding "around the hundred hundred thousand" and S2 later clarified the state had made about $101,160 available; the task forceestimated the bus option would cost "about a hundred and 80 something thousand dollars," a gap the state said it would not fill. S2 summarized the consequence plainly: if the county declines to submit a plan or the plan is rejected, the OHS is "statutorily required to set up a winter overflow shelter that's operational from October 15 to April 30" for that winter.

Partners' capacity and program design: Staff said local providers who helped last winter (Open Doors, Safe Harbor, Davis Behavioral Health) lack capacity to operate an entire winter shelter again and could only offer limited help, such as hotel vouchers for families. The meeting also discussed rotating sites used by other counties and logistical challenges for people trying to find nightly locations. S2 described the task-force draft idea of using a bus to pick up people, take them to a site for the night and return them in the morning to limit congregating.

Long-term goal: Commissioners reiterated support for a year‑round comprehensive facility. S4 noted that Davis Behavioral Health is adding units and reported to the council of governments that "over 500 people are currently unhoused in our county," underscoring the scale of need that the county's year‑round plan would address.

Next steps: Staff were directed to continue refining the draft, compile a list of county buildings with availability constraints, coordinate individually with each commissioner to confirm what the county can offer, and submit the plan materials to the state for review. The meeting adjourned at 09:53.

The Office of Homeless Services and the OHS board will decide what state-run or county-supported measures to authorize next for Code Blue this winter; no formal motion or vote was recorded in the session.