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Resident urges council to revisit camping ordinance and questions emergency shelter permit decisions
Summary
A resident urged the council to reopen discussion of the camping ordinance and asked why Lifeboat was denied a temporary emergency shelter permit while the city contracted CCA for emergency shelter services; the speaker said the city should explain permit and contracting decisions to the public.
During public comment Feb. 2, Teresa Barnes of 875 Franklin Avenue urged the council to revisit the city’s camping ordinance and raised concerns about recent emergency-shelter arrangements. Barnes said she and others have repeatedly asked for council action and told officials she was puzzled why Lifeboat — a community group — was denied a permit for a temporary emergency shelter while the city contracted Community Correctional Alternatives (CCA) and budgeted up to $27,000 for emergency shelter services.
"I would like to ask the city why lifeboat was refused a permit for a temporary emergency shelter," Barnes said, and added that she objected to the city paying CCA "for something that another organization was willing to do at no additional cost to us." Her remarks asked the council to clarify shelter permitting and the city’s decision-making process.
Council acknowledged the comment and later entered an executive session; the public meeting then reconvened and adjourned. Councilors had earlier discussed scheduling a work session to more broadly address homelessness response, and staff were asked to explore timing and materials for a council-led discussion.
