Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Central Waterfront Navigation Center Mou topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Port Commission reviews proposed five-year MOU to continue Central Waterfront Navigation Center operations
Summary
Port staff presented a proposed five-year memorandum of understanding to keep the Central Waterfront Navigation Center open through April 2030, outlining site terms, operator responsibilities, rent and a street vacation; commissioners asked about facility condition, prioritization for District 10, and advisory committee notice.
The San Francisco Port Commission on April 8 received an informational presentation on a proposed five-year memorandum of understanding that would allow continued operation of the Central Waterfront Navigation Center through April 2030.
Assistant Deputy Director Kimberly Beal and Emily Cohen of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) told commissioners the navigation center is a low-barrier shelter serving 64 guests that opened in May 2017 and that HSH recently contracted 5 Keys Schools and Programs to operate the site. Beal said the proposed MOU would cover roughly 13,400 square feet of paved street area under a temporary street vacation, carry a five-year term with no holdover, and set rent "a little under $7,400 per month," escalated annually; she said 6.5% of revenues over the term (about $29,000 as stated) would go to the Southern Waterfront Fund.
"This site is receiving regular upkeep," Emily Cohen said, describing the program as a low-barrier model that allows guests to bring pets and possessions and that provides 24/7 staffing, case management, two meals a day and on-site nursing twice weekly. Cohen said monitoring found the site met or exceeded contract service objectives and reported strong satisfaction survey results.
Commissioners pressed staff on several operational points. One commissioner asked about the facility's physical condition after eight years; HSH said it does not anticipate significant capital needs in the next five years because routine maintenance is provided by the department's facilities team. When asked how the site performs on outcomes, Cohen said HSH tracks many measures systemwide and that site-level monitoring showed objectives met or exceeded; she also said average length of stay across the adult shelter system has risen and is currently approximately six months.
Vice President Gail Gilman asked whether placements would continue to prioritize people from District 10; Cohen said outreach and placement efforts do prioritize District 10 residents when possible. On why the MOU term is five years rather than longer or automatically renewable, Beal said the site was intended to be temporary and noted a six-month vacate notice clause if the property is needed for a public trust purpose or if equivalent permanent shelter capacity is provided elsewhere.
Several commissioners raised process questions about community input. Beal said an announcement had been made to the Southern Waterfront Advisory Committee (SAC) but calendar timing prevented a full SAC meeting before the MOU's sunset; staff committed to re-notify SAC and to bring substantive comments back to the commission.
Because this presentation was informational, the commission did not take formal action at the meeting. Port staff indicated the director has delegated authority to sign the MOU but that staff wanted the commission to hear community and departmental perspectives before final steps.
What happens next: staff will re-notify the SAC for comment and report back; if substantive changes or comments arise, the MOU and related materials will be reported in future commission communications.
