Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homeless Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes staff to pursue Couch Building plan to keep Grey Street shelter operating under fire-marshal deadlines
Summary
Staff told council they will engage an architect and seek up to $214,000 to modify the adjacent Couch Building so the Grey Street shelter can continue operating and meet a July 15 state fire marshal drawing-submittal deadline; staff said the retrofit would preserve roughly 52–55 beds while the permanent Reed Street shelter remains 18–24 months away.
City staff briefed the council on an accelerated plan to keep the Grey Street homeless shelter operational after the state fire marshal required construction drawings by July 15.
Staff explained the existing shelter comprises multiple adjoined buildings without adequate firewalls or a complete sprinkler system. "We're in three buildings right now. We have no set firewalls," staff (Speaker 10) said, describing why bringing the adjacent Couch Building into service would be faster and more cost-effective than retrofitting the current footprint. The Couch Building plan would allow about 54 beds, replicate current services, and keep the existing shelter open during the transition.
Staff asked the council for authority to engage an architect (staff cited an architect fee of about $38,000) and requested a not-to-exceed amount of $214,000 to fund design and immediate upgrades, including a sprinkler riser (staff estimated roughly $75,000 for that element). "We'd like permission for us to basically have $214,000 and do not exceed amount," staff (Speaker 9) said, asking for a budget path and a short-term adjustment to the capital project fund.
Council members raised recoverability concerns because the Couch Building upgrades would not be recoverable once the permanent Reed Street shelter opens, but several members supported the interim investment to avoid displacing roughly 54 people. One council member said, "We're spending the money either way ... if there is even a slim chance that we could reuse this in some way, and I am all for, painting it, keeping it," (Speaker 12) supporting preserving services during the delay.
Staff said the sprinkler procurement is a long-lead item likely to push construction completion into September–October; however, meeting the July 15 design-submittal deadline is critical to avoid a potential lock placed by the state fire marshal that could displace shelter residents. Staff committed to engaging the architect immediately and returning progress updates to council.
No formal vote was recorded; staff proceeded to engage the architect and will present budget adjustments and incremental progress to the full council.
