Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Council approves acquisition of 816 Cacique Street to preserve 100‑bed low‑barrier shelter
Loading...
Summary
The council unanimously approved staff recommendations to acquire 816 Cacique Street to preserve an existing low‑barrier emergency shelter and maintain service continuity; staff identified immediate repair needs and recommended Mercy House as interim operator.
The Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved the staff recommendation on Dec. 16 to authorize acquisition of 816 Cacique Street, a property used as a low‑barrier emergency shelter. Staff presented details of the site and operations and identified immediate repairs before long‑term improvements.
Barbara Anderson, interim manager of Housing & Human Services, described the site as approximately 4,423 square feet of usable building area on a roughly 23,682‑square‑foot lot; the facility currently provides up to 100 low‑barrier shelter beds and includes second‑floor showers and a commercial kitchen installed during earlier renovations. Anderson said Mercy House will serve as the interim operator to ensure continuity of services through the transition.
The staff‑reported purchase price in the transcript is 3,750,000 (transcript currency units). Staff also identified immediate health and safety items — e.g., electrical work, kitchen equipment replacements, alarm and sprinkler testing — and estimated preliminary inspection and repair costs in the transcript at roughly 300,000. Additional inspections related to accessibility and roof work were scheduled to occur during the following two weeks.
Council moved the items (motion language recorded by the clerk) as part of the consent actions and voted to approve by electronic/voice vote. Council directed that all documents be subject to city approval as to form by the city attorney and that required amendments to existing covenants and agreements be completed (including obtaining county approvals where required) before closing.
A staff project team will develop a full project management plan and a schedule for repairs and a scope for longer‑term upgrades. Funding sources mentioned in the staff report included local housing trust funds and other measure-aligned monies; the council did not adopt a final financing resolution on Dec. 16 and directed staff to return with related documents if needed.
The council’s approval preserves an existing shelter capacity in the near term and directs staff to coordinate operational, legal and funding steps to support the acquisition and facility improvements.
