HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-29 CC MINUTESWednesday, January 29, 2020
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the City Council
of the City of Palm Springs
CALL TO ORDER:
A Special Meeting of the Palm Springs City Council was called to order by Mayor Kors on
Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., at the Palm Springs Convention Center , Primrose
A, located at 277 N Avenida Caballeros , Palm Springs, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Kors led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilmembers Grace Elena Garner, Lisa Middleton, Dennis Woods; Mayor Pro
Tem Christy Holstege; and Mayor Geoff Kors
Absent: None.
City Staff
Present: David H. Ready, City Manager; Jeffrey Ballinger, City Attorney; Marcus Fuller,
Assistant City Manager; and Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk, were present at Roll
Call. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated
in the minutes.
PRESENTATIONS:
A. AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS STANDING COMMITTEE
COMMENTS
Mayor Kors and Mayor Pro Tem Holstege noted that the City was allocated a $10 million state
grant to address homelessness; stated that the City Council is seeking community input on the
highest and best use of the grant, noting that it is one-time funding and should be leveraged
with partnering agencies.
B. STAFF REPORT: IDEAS REGARDING HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM PLANNING
AND STRATEGIES – BARBARA POPPE AND ASSOCIATES
Barbara Poppe, Poppe and Associates, Consultant, narrated a PowerPoint presentation
summarizing her recommendations for “The Path Forward” approach to addressing
homelessness; responded to City Council inquires.
V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County Supervisor, spoke on the County’s efforts to address
homelessness; reported on his participation on the Governor’s Homeless Taskforce, noting the
importance of a collaborative approach and accountability for ending homelessness;
summarized the recommendations of the taskforce.
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Greg Wallis, on behalf of Assembly Member Mayes, thanked the City Council for its efforts
to improve people's lives and for its partnership to help end homelessness.
Dr. Conrado Barzaga, CEO, Desert Healthcare District, thanked the City Council and the
Desert Healthcare District Board for working to address the homeless crisis; spoke on the
importance of government and service providers working collaboratively to end homelessness.
Linda Evans, Mayor, City of La Quinta, Chief Strategy Officer for the Desert Care Network,
discussed the importance of taking a regional approach towards addressing homelessness and
building affordable housing.
Greg Rodriguez, representing the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, reported on
the Coachella Valley Homelessness Engagement and Action Response Team (CVHEART)
initiative; spoke on the need for a navigation center in the west valley.
In response to City Council inquiry, Ms. Poppe addressed best practices in terms of staffing
and management of a navigation center.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Arlene Rosenthal, representing the Well in the Desert, discussed her organization and their
need for more space; suggested that the land adjacent to the Boxing Club could be used for an
emergency shelter.
Shelley Somerville, spoke about her experience being homeless and the need to expand
services at the Well in the Desert and urged Council to use existing resources and service
providers.
James Gavin, invited the City Council to tour the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (CVRM)
and Martha's Village as they have operations in place that could be duplicated to help end
homelessness.
Maureen Ferriter, spoke about the need for immediate action to help people in crisis.
Mary Ann Estrella, spoke about her experience being homeless; asserted that CVRM is poorly
managing the overnight cooling/warming shelter at the former Boxing Club; spoke in support
of the services provided at the Well in the Desert.
Robert Silker, discussed his experience being homeless, opining that homelessness is caused
by a lack of viable jobs; spoke positively about the services offered at the Well in the Desert
and discussed challenges and problems related to CVRM’s management of the overnight
cooling/warming shelter.
Jase Grimm, opined that the State grant should be used to help create new businesses which
create reliable jobs and generate revenues for future programs; suggested that the funding
designated for youth services be invested in educational programs.
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Linda Barack, representing Martha’s Village and Kitchen, spoke on the growing need for
respite care for homeless individuals.
Darla Barkett, representing CVRM, spoke in support of a navigation center and motel
conversions; spoke on the positive impact of diversion funding to help prevent homelessness.
Cheryl Shannon, spoke about her experience being homeless and commented positively on the
services she received at the Well in the Desert.
Brandon Church, spoke about his experience being homeless; commented positively on the
services he received at the Well in the Desert and discussed concerns related to CVRM’s
management of the overnight cooling/warming center.
John Rickert, stressed the importance of funding educational programs for homeless persons.
Tim Sigle, noted that many homeless individuals may be “couch surfing” or have other
temporary housing solutions which results in them not being included in the Point In Time
Count; urged the City Council to visit the Transgender Health and Wellness Center to learn
more about their services and programs.
Thomi Clinton, representing the Transgender Health and Wellness Center, spoke on the needs
of the transgender community, noting that traditional homeless shelters may leave transgender
persons vulnerable to abuse.
Ed Murphy, voiced support for increasing the capacity to shelter the homeless, noting the
importance of stability, safety, security, and support.
Raghda Zacharia, urged the City Council to move forward with projects that can be
implemented quickly, effectively, and will have long-term impacts; suggested that the City
could purchase a failed housing development in north Palm Springs to shelter the homeless.
Dorothy King, expressed concern that persons are loitering in the field adjacent to the Boxing Club.
Phaedra Nicomede spoke about her experience in a shelter in Bakersfield; discussed the
importance of having a safe space for transgender people and commented positively on the
services offered by the Transgender Health and Wellness Center.
Kelsey Brooks spoke about the need for a safe space and resources for transgender people and
urged Council to take them into consideration.
Carole Rogers, Board Member, Desert Healthcare District, spoke about the urgent needs of the
homeless and the need to move forward with all the solutions presented this evening as well
as including a proposal for tiny homes.
Angelina Love, discussed the need for programs targeted for the transgender community;
opined that some service providers lack sensitivity and competency to help transgender
homeless.
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Wesley Ross, voiced support for using City-owned to develop housing for the homeless.
Christian Jelmberg, representing Street Life Project Homeless Outreach, spoke out their tiny
house campus initiative; suggested that the campus could be dispersed throughout Coachella
Valley to help reduce the burden on any particular city.
Isabel, spoke about the special needs of the transgender community; commented positively on
the services provided by the Transgender Health and Wellness Center.
Robert Yakas, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, College of the Desert, spoke about a school
project focusing on transitional housing; reported they will be developing rapid-deployment
bridge housing and suggested that it could serve as a prototype for the City.
Pam Hemmer, spoke on the need for bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and mental health
services for the homeless.
Jim Bodanza, discussed the need for benchmarks, accountability, work programs, and training
for those receiving services and suggested implementing an "Adopt-a-Family" program.
Edward Holzhauer, conveyed support for public/private partnerships to address homelessness
and then need for more housing, including tiny houses.
Carol Nelson, voiced support for motel and shopping center conversions, noting that they will
provide immediate, cost-effective housing.
Alisa Reyes, recommended that the City work to establish a rehabilitation community with
integrated services for the homeless.
Patrick Weiss spoke about challenges and flaws with the City’s Rent Control Ordinance and
suggested that the City Council review and expand the program to help stabilize the rental market.
Gina Chapo, discussed how the community has become impoverished over the years; opined
that the government needs to invest in its’ people.
Ginny Foat, pointed out that homelessness is an ongoing challenge and that a “one size fits all”
approach will not end homelessness.
Victor Beecham, representing Path of Life Ministries, spoke in support of making a
collaborative, team effort to help those in the community.
Maribel Nunez, pointed out that the lack of healthcare and housing as the biggest drivers of
poverty; voiced support for a regional approach towards addressing homelessness and the
development of tiny houses.
Joan Davis, spoke on her experience working with homeless persons; spoke on the importance
of addressing mental illness and behavioral problems.
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CJ Tobe, Director of Community Health at Desert AIDS Project, recommended that any future
shelters or navigation centers be located near a medical facility offering comprehensive,
compassionate, culturally-competent care.
George Wolf, suggested that the City Council should allocate funding to assist homeless
persons living in vehicles with car repairs and maintenance.
Danny Castillo, voiced support for an integrated management system which would help a
homeless person move from crisis to transitional to permanent housing; noted that
consideration needs to be given to homeless persons with pets and single fathers with children.
Ashley Boyd spoke about her experience being homeless; pointed out that most homeless
persons get sober once sheltered; suggested that buses could be converted to provide mobile
showers for the homeless.
There being no others desiring to speak, Mayor Kors closed the public comment period.
MEETING RECESS
The City Council recessed at 8:55 p.m. and reconvened at 9:10 p.m., with all members present.
D. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
In response to City Council inquiries, Ms. Poppe opined that motel conversions are preferable
to congregate shelters when considering people with special needs; explained that shallow
subsidies can be used to assist individuals who need gap funding to assist with monthly rent or
utilities as a means of preventing homelessness; recommended that the State grant should be
used to leverage funding from other resources and partners, noting that the funding is a
one-time grant and that restraint should be used for projects with ongoing operational costs;
recommended that the City utilize a majority of the funding to create permanent “doors” or
housing units and then proceed with crisis stabilization projects; pointed out that the homeless
have a high need for secure storage and emergency shelters which allow pets.
Mayor Pro Tem Holstege voiced support for creating permanent housing units, investing in
innovative housing solutions, and moving forward with projects that can be quickly deployed,
potentially using City-owned land or other vacant parcels; spoke on the importance of
partnering with other organizations and leveraging matching or other grant funds.
Councilmember Middleton agreed that the funding should be prioritized for permanent,
supportive housing units and leveraging it to make investments with other organizations that
can bring funding to the table.
Councilmember Garner spoke on the importance of ensuring that housing units are intermixed
throughout the community, noting that it helps to remove stigmas and integrates formerly
homeless persons into the community.
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Councilmember Woods spoke on his experience at the Point In Time Count and agreed with
the need for providing secure storage for the homeless.
Mayor Kors thanked Police Chief Reyes and the Police Department for its efforts to help
homeless persons; voiced support for continuing to explore a rental assistance program for
people on fixed incomes; noted that there is a need for establishing access points in neighboring
cities to help connect the homeless to service providers.
ADJOURNMENT:
The City Council adjourned at 9:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony J. Mejia, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL: 02/27/2020