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Council approves lead‑remediation work at proposed Cabin Village site; staff warns moving PSH to a new parcel would delay project and risk grant conditions
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Summary
Council approved a remedial soil‑excavation contract for the Lower Public Works Yard (the planned permanent supportive‑housing site) and received a feasibility briefing about an alternate 503 S. Ventura site; staff said relocating the project would trigger rezoning, HCD approval, re‑design, potential repayment of expended ERF funds and likely multi‑year delays.
The council on March 24 authorized remedial soil excavation work at the Lower Public Works Yard (611 South Montgomery Street) and heard a staff feasibility review of a proposed alternate permanent supportive‑housing site at 503 South Ventura Street.
City staff recommended awarding the soil‑removal contract to the lowest responsive bidder, Pacific Petroleum of California, to excavate and properly dispose of soil that exceeds residential lead‑cleanup thresholds found during extended borings. Staff also recommended executing a DTSC voluntary monitoring agreement for the cleanup.
Staff explained the soil‑testing history: an initial screening suggested levels near the residential threshold; follow‑up borings showed higher concentrations in some locations (staff noted borings with lead readings above 100–170 parts per million). Staff said the recommended scope targets excavation to residential cleanup standards and includes field testing and confirmation sampling on the resultant excavation walls and floors.
Council adopted the remedial contract by roll call (one abstention recorded) and authorized DTSC monitoring as part of the voluntary agreement. Staff stressed that remediating to residential standards preserves the city’s options for a residential supportive‑housing project on that parcel going forward.
Separately, staff presented a short feasibility analysis of 503 South Ventura Street as an alternate microsite. The presentation highlighted that the parcel is currently zoned R‑1 (single family) and under existing local code would support up to four units (single family + ADU/tiny‑home provisions). To reach the roughly 30+ unit count HCD suggested for the ERF grant the city would need rezoning (R‑3 or an SPL overlay), a general‑plan amendment and HCD concurrence to move grant obligations — steps that would require new design, additional environmental review and likely re‑start much of the entitlement process. Staff warned that changing sites at this stage could require repaying some previously expended ERF funds and add one to two years to the schedule.
Public commenters — including shelter staff, service providers and many residents — urged the council to proceed with the Lower Public Works Yard rather than restart a site search, arguing the encampment residents face urgent health and safety risks and that further delay could cost lives. Council heard these pleas and approved remediating the site so the project can proceed to final design and permitting while staff returns with any remaining procurement items.
