Resident urges council to finalize encampment policy before pursuing related grant

During the public-comment portion of the July 21 meeting, Paso Robles resident Linda George urged the council to finalize an encampment policy before advancing a state-related grant and said the proposed site near 32nd and Park was inappropriate for the program.

"One of the problems with the grant request is that we don't have one, and that was one of the requirements," Linda George told the council, saying she had reviewed the grant materials and spoken with neighbors who are "very concerned about the seniors and the children" in the nearby area. George said she opposed the grant as currently proposed but did not want to "squash the project" if the city revised site selection and policy requirements.

George said she spoke with local representatives and recommended developing the policy first and then reapplying for grant funds. She also recommended the city review the ECHO program as a possible reference.

In the same comment period George described a community-run hydration station in front of the water-treatment plant that she said the fire department agreed to support with water donations; she said volunteers will staff the effort and will develop plans for winter.

Why it matters: public comments highlight community concern about siting and procedural completeness for homelessness-related grants. Council members and staff did not take immediate formal action on her requests during the meeting; staff previously said the city requests 90 days, if granted, to adopt required policy language for certain programs.

Next step: Staff may follow up with the speaker and with council as grant and policy work continues; the council did not take a formal vote on the issues raised during public comment.