Council debriefs community consensus-building sessions on homelessness; members push SROs into UDO

The council spent a 20‑minute segment debriefing two consensus-building sessions facilitated by the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM) that focused on homelessness and street homelessness. Council President said the sessions produced extensive notes and public input, and asked colleagues what worked and how the council should follow up.

Multiple council members said community engagement was valuable but raised concerns about representativeness and legislative follow-through. "What my group kind of narrowed in on was that legalizing, or incorporating single room occupancy into our UDO ... would be a lot more productive," Council member Zulek said. Council members and staff discussed drafting UDO amendments to allow SROs in a wider set of zones and working with planning staff and the planning commission to turn the proposals into ordinance language.

Members urged the council to fund and staff future deliberative sessions rather than relying on council volunteers, and to assign a council committee or staff to guide topic selection. Several members emphasized the need for clear next steps so community participants see follow-through; one member said the council must coordinate with the executive branch for incentives and financing to make SRO development viable.

Next steps: council members discussed asking planning staff to draft SRO-related UDO amendments, identifying funding/staffing for future public deliberations, and scheduling follow-ups with the planning commission and mayoral administration.