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Council debates interim shelter options after staff flags sprinkler, permitting and asbestos hurdles
Summary
City staff outlined two interim shelter options — a sprinkler retrofit across multiple storage buildings (cost estimates later ranging from $125k to $200k) or a smaller conversion to add roughly 30–35 beds (~$35k–$45k in house). Council debated safety, funding, legal limits on multiyear contracts and the need for RFI and case‑management resources.
City staff and councilors spent much of the May 19 study session debating interim shelter options for people experiencing homelessness while the city builds a permanent shelter.
Lance Harper, the city’s building superintendent, presented two short‑term options: (A) retrofit three adjacent storage/service buildings (109, 111, 113) with sprinkler systems, fire barriers and other upgrades; or (B) convert a smaller warehouse area (the “men’s dorm”) to provide roughly 30–35 additional beds. Harper estimated sprinkler engineering and installation costs in the neighborhood of $125,000 for work up to the riser and distribution, with separate monitoring costs (about $50/month), but cautioned that asbestos abatement, fire barrier work, permitting and third‑party code review could push the total toward $200,000.
“We’re gonna run into … $200,000 probably pretty easy,” Harper said when discussing the full set of requirements, adding that contractors and fire‑safety engineers are often booked months out. For the smaller conversion, Harper estimated $35,000–$45,000 if done largely in‑house, rising if outside contractors are needed; staff said the in‑house pathway could be faster but would compete with other city work.
Fire department staff urged a third‑party occupancy/code determination before permitting, because the buildings are in a legal gray area (not a hotel or apartment) and that classification affects required upgrades. The city attorney and staff explained the limits of long‑term contracts: municipalities generally cannot enter contracts longer than one fiscal year without appropriate legal mechanisms, so binding multiyear commitments to guarantee demolition or closure dates can be difficult; the attorney suggested a resolution or other council statement might provide reassurance to downtown stakeholders without overstepping legal limits.
Councilors pressed for options beyond building retrofits: several asked staff to pursue an RFI to solicit nonprofit or private partners and asked CityCare for operational cost estimates for additional beds. CityCare and other service providers told the council that while no solution will house every person experiencing homelessness, additional sheltered beds and case management improve outcomes for many clients.
Staff also addressed public concern about a recent death reported in social media: the city said it has asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to issue an official statement and that, pending OSBI’s findings, "we have no indication that a stabbing or homicide took place." Council directed staff to continue RFI work, draft ordinance language where appropriate and return with more cost and operational information before committing to expensive retrofit work.
