Committee to Request Report on Sober‑living Regulations; Public Speakers Urge Capacity, Not Cuts

The committee opened public comment on consent items and signaled it would direct staff to prepare an informational report on regulations governing sober‑living residences. The presiding member said appellants and applicants will have three minutes to speak when their items are called and recommended that the department of building, together with the city attorney, report back on existing rules and options for regulating sober‑living homes.

Residents who addressed item 3 urged caution about any reductions. Paul Damau, who said he has operated sober‑living homes in multiple districts, asked staff to consider the historical intent of earlier council motions and ordinances and to work with stakeholders to understand the program before proposing regulations. “Tengo mucha información sobre la historia de esas ordenanzas y creo que nos podamos ahorrar tiempo al trabajar juntos para averiguar qué es el programa real y qué queremos regular,” Damau said.

Another speaker, Adolvina Van, said narrowing the number of sober‑living sites would displace vulnerable people and increase homelessness. “Yo siento que al reducir sitios de vida sobria, eso va a desalojar a más gente vulnerable que quede en las calles,” she said, adding that such programs helped her recovery and should be rebuilt rather than reduced.

The chair closed public comment on consent items and announced that items 1–7 were adopted by consensus, including the recommendation to request the report on sober‑living regulation and to include the amendment raised by Councilmember Roman. The committee did not record a formal roll‑call vote for the report referral in the transcript; the record shows the chair announced the items as approved as recommended.