Tulare council reviews Lighthouse operator agreement and a roughly $1.8–2 million operating gap for new emergency shelter

City Manager Mark and staff walked Tulare City Council through an operator agreement and preliminary operating budgets for the new emergency shelter being built with Lighthouse Rescue Mission, outlining a phased opening, oversight provisions and a projected general-fund shortfall.

Mark told the council that the shelter is being built to support up to 400 people in a worst-case capacity but will open with a maximum of 180 beds because of current bathroom and occupancy limits. He said construction was expected to finish by March but opening could come later—“sometime in April,” depending on contractor progress and operator mobilization. He also described a “Tulare first” admissions policy that prioritizes people with local ties to limit inflow from outside the city.

Manny, a city staff member who reviewed key contract terms, said the proposed operator agreement would run three years, include a 30-day notice-and-cure provision, give the city audit and inspection rights and require insurance and routine reporting. He described services the operator would…