Oceanside Council approves move and extension of safe-parking program to senior center

The Oceanside City Council on Feb. 18 approved Amendment 1 to the city's safe-parking contract with Dreams for Change, expanding the program, extending services through Dec. 31, 2026, and relocating the lot to the Oceanside Country Club Senior Center at 455 Country Club Lane.

Tamika Tates, the city's homeless services manager, said the amendment raises the annual contract amount to $329,329 and noted a revised total contract ceiling of about $558,697. Staff requested a Measure X appropriation of $166,671 to cover program operations from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2026. Tates described the program's services as including overnight managed parking, case management, connections to housing and supportive services, on-site security and portable restroom and hand-washing stations.

The move from the Apple Street site to the senior center was presented as a way to increase stability, add capacity (staff said the program was planned to expand to 50 slots, with a monthly average of about 25–27 served) and provide a more secure, fenced location. Tates told the council that, in a cited timeframe, the program served 114 adults and 22 children and that monthly reports would be provided; she said staff can also pull data from HMIS.

Residents and stakeholders spoke during public comment. Max Disposi, representing the North County LGBT Center, said the Apple Street pilot had low incident rates under oversight and praised case management and overnight security. Senior-center patrons and residents, including Jimmy Knott and Sandra (last name not specified in the record), said they were not adequately notified of the move and expressed concerns about spillover parking, timing conflicts with senior programs and the proximity to the Boys & Girls Club.

Parks and Recreation Director Manny Gonzalez told the council the city had discussed logistics with the operator and the senior center and expected the program to improve security and offer flexibility to accommodate night events at the center. Deputy Mayor Eric Joyce said the fenced, secured lot and the partnership with the LGBT center had been central to making the new location viable and that monthly reporting and coordination with nearby organizations would continue.

Council members asked about eligibility, vehicle types and program hours; staff said vehicle-size limits would not change, participants are referred and screened for appropriateness, and case management and security are on-site overnight. Council voted to approve the amendment and relocation 5–0.

The council directed staff to ensure ongoing coordination with nearby groups (the Boys & Girls Club and Little League were specifically mentioned) and to keep the council updated with monthly reports from Dreams for Change. The program's expansion and the Measure X appropriation are effective immediately to support the transition and operations through June 30, 2026.

"This is a way for us to silently be able to provide that service," Tates said of outreach to older adults experiencing homelessness.

The council's action: approve Amendment 1 to the professional services agreement with Dreams for Change to provide safe-parking program services, increase the contract maximum, relocate the safe-parking lot to the Oceanside Country Club Senior Center and appropriate Measure X funds for the listed period.