City to explore alternatives for winter services
BY ALEX CANTATORE
Staff Reporter
With just five days left until September and three months until the Dec. 1 deadline once imposed by the city to open an Emergency Cold Weather Homeles Shelter, Turlock now has no idea what services will be offered to the homeless this winter. Time has, quite simply, run out, leaving the city with no real options despite a three to two majority support of the City Council to operate a shelter this winter.
Given the impracticality of bringing the 400 B Street facility, which once housed the shelter up to required health and safety codes, an operation that would cost between $1.5 and $1.7 million and last until March, the Council voted 3-2 to sell the facility with Councilwomen Beverly Hatcher and Mayor John Lazar dissenting. A sealed bid process will be conducted to accept the highest qualified bid, with a minimum bid of $300,000, received over a 15-day bid period.
In the wake of the decision to sell 400 B Street, the Council entered into a discussion of possible alternative sites.
“I’m hopeful this evening we can reach the understanding that this community needs a facility for this coming fall,” said Lazar. “I think we have a big enough heart here in Turlock to consider a shelter just for this year.”
Councilmen Ted Howze and Kurt Spycher have previously stated their unequivocal opposition to Turlock operating a shelter for various reasons. Both arguments, however, are focused around the potential liabilities of operating such a facility and the dangers of bringing transients to Turlock.
“The real issue that has to be addressed is that criminals are integrating themselves into homeless society and they’re taking advantage of the homeless and everyone else inside our community,” Howze said. “The bottom line is if we own it, lease it, or provide funding, it becomes a public facility and we cannot provide ground rules on who can be served.”
The fear of seedy elements inhabiting the shelter came to the forefront when Planning Commissioner and Modesto Parole Officer Grady Welch informed Police Chief Gary Hampton that the Modesto State Parole office had used 400 B Street as residency for, “a large number,” of convicted sex offenders. The State Parole office has since admitted to using B Street as a shelter, though they claim to have broken no laws in doing so and to have properly notified the police.
Despite assertions from all parties involved that better communication will take place regarding parolees in the future, Howze remained concerned that up to 50,000 prisoners will soon be released from state prisons, 15 percent of whom are considered transient. The only shelter in Stanislaus County that could legally house some sex offenders would have been the B Street location, due to its distance from parks and schools.
The other major concern hinged upon the potential liability of the City from providing shelter in a facility that did not meet all required health and safety codes. While 400 B Street had, in the past, not met standards, the lapses had managed to escape the notice of the City.
If the City is cognizant of the deficiencies in a building, they have the ability to declare a shelter emergency that would allow the building to be used regardless. However, the City would be found fully liable, with no insurance coverage, should something go wrong.
“This is not about not being compassionate or not caring about the homeless in the city,” Spycher said. “We truly do care.”
While Howze and Spycher were entirely opposed to a shelter, Vice Mayor Kurt Vander Weide endorsed operating a shelter this fall but joined them in his reluctance to assume the liability of operating a facility that did not meet codes. Vander Weide also cited his disdain with the behavior of some elements of the homeless community who commit crimes in the street.
“My heart breaks for the businesses and residents of this neighborhood who have had to put up with this for 10 years,” Vander Weide said. “We cannot in good conscience ask them to bear this burden any longer.”
With all three opposed to declaring a shelter emergency, and the council two votes short of reaching the four-fifths majority needed to bypass the bidding process for improvements that would bring a potential shelter site up to code in time, the council was left struggling for solutions.
“(Operating a homeless shelter) is not what I believe government should do, but if we’re the measure of last resort we need to follow through and help the homeless in our community,” Hatcher said. “It is an emergency, a one time only public emergency. I don’t plan on building a public shelter.”
At a stalemate with two members firmly in favor, two solidly opposed, and Vander Weide as the swing vote who endorsed a shelter yet stood opposed to doing things of questionable legality just to get a shelter open, the discussion seemed to be over.
“Any other thoughts before we send staff on their way and try to get a report and I guess not do anything in Turlock this year?” asked Lazar.
“I think we need to explore other options,” Howze said.
“What are the other options?” Lazar said.
Councilman Spycher expressed interest in pursuing hotel vouchers or a regional approach to addressing homelessness. Vander Weide suggested the idea of a tent city once again, though perhaps with larger, military-style temporary structures, and Mayor Lazar proposed one final site he had in mind, 437 S. Broadway.
The property, a 6,700 ft warehouse, could theoretically be ready for occupancy in six to eight weeks. However, before the City can move in, an architectural analysis must be done to see if the building meets codes.
“At this point in time, we’re really unsure what we’d have to do,” said City Engineer Mike Pitcock. “It’ll be 30 days before know what code tells us we need to do.”
City staff was unsure if 437 S. Broadway even featured fire sprinklers, and expressed uncertainty at the cost, time, and feasibility of getting the structure open this winter. Staff are expected to return to the council with an update on all alternatives at the next scheduled meeting, Sept. 9, though the assessment of the Broadway site is not expected until the Sept. 23 meeting.
“All I can say is that we’ll continue to try to work on it, and hopefully we’ll have something for the community this year,” Lazar said.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.
Originally published in the Turlock Journal 8/27/2008.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.