Recommendation to Provide Direction on Constructing or Installing Temporary Shelters, Transitional Housing, and/or Permanent Supportive Housing in the City of Alameda; and Provide Direction on the Type of Homeless Housing Project to Pursue. (Community Development 10061833)
considering. We were also attempting to provide options sprinkled throughout the city of Alameda in order to be equitable. Possible sites described in our staff reporting. The Alameda point and its courts. The bottled parcel grant pavilion. Parking lot. Alameda Point Campgrounds. Parking lot. The Marina village. And then the locations of future potential homes. Staff is taking direction from Councilor Knight in the following ways regarding the type of homeless housing that City Council prefers that we further investigate if staff should pursue one type of homeless housing in the short run or another, and another type in the long run locations that the Council prefers of this housing be located or located because the Council prefers that we not further investigate. We wish to stress that this staff report is very preliminary and only offers a high level look at some of these options. We anticipate that this conversation with council that we're beginning tonight will be the first of a number of conversations related to this very important topic, and it will take significant effort to house our unhoused neighbors. So we will be talking with you further about this as we develop additional facts. But what we wanted. To be sure that prior to investing the city's resources, whether those be monetary or staff time, that we come forward to have this initial conversation and seek your direction about which type of housing seems the most preferable to you, whether it's two types. Like I said, that we can pursue one currently and one subsequently knowing that it's a bigger left and will take more money with council direction. Following that follow and receiving that tonight, we'll do a deeper dove into a particular housing type. For instance, will then consider the cost to construct the project or repair or remodel a project. The operating budget for the Park Project funding and finance opportunities whether those the ARPA project ROOMKEY grants, tax credit deals, loans, vouchers, etc. a project schedule development partner and operating partner. The population to be served the best site for the particular project and various other factors that I'm sure we'll discover as we continue down this journey. We anticipate returning to council to provide more specificity on the project as we develop those facts that for Council's consideration, staff currently recommends that we pursue, in the short run, a community cabin project that would offer approximately 20 cabins, including 88 cabins and and staff space and community space. We represent we recommend providing a higher quality cabin such as the group Delphi or the Pallet Option. We could provide bathrooms depending on council's preference and we would also provide community spaces for queer folks can gather and get to know one another, enjoy meals, potentially gardened or potentially have pets so they can exercise. So at this point, I welcome I'll open this up to your questions and your comments, and I look forward to hearing more. So we will thank you, miss back. So we will entertain any questions about the staff report itself. We will hold our comments until we have heard from our public speakers and we have at least a few public speakers. So any clarifying questions about the staff report counts from a desk. In terms of the pallet approach, how does. How does that affect system. Work? I mean, you know, it can get cold out at Alameda Point at nighttime. I mean, how does. The heaters. Work? I mean, so it's like any other house. Yes. So the pallet this is lots butler. For the record, the pallet option would have heating and air conditioning as part of the unit and it would need to get connected to the utility systems. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any other clarifying questions? Counsel for her, Spencer. Thank you, Mary. I'd like you to discuss the funding sources for these different projects. And why didn't you bring back a bigger discussion of where you're going to get so much money or have access to so much for ARPA, so much for this homekey and what are the different projects? As well as working with the Alameda Housing Authority, which had presented some ideas back in March and I don't see any of their is being considered. So the funding sources, we still need to do further investigation. And some of the responses that I would wish I could provide to at this point, such as ARPA funds that we have available and potential project HOMEKEY funds where available are that that information isn't determined yet. You're you as a councilor discussing ARPA this evening and maybe you'll choose to allocate some of the funds in this direction. Project Homekey is still also a developing topic. We understand we won't even have the opportunity to submit an application into the fall. We estimate we could potentially be eligible for $10 million for a larger project, but that is our best guess. And the rules related to those that that particular fund aren't even finalized yet. But like I mentioned, otherwise we'll explore all sources. You know, if we can apply for grants, if there's loan opportunities, tax credit deals, we will definitely turn over all the stones. But we'll need to return back to you to discuss the package of options that we're considering and get your input on those in the future. We'd also be talking to the housing authority in particular. We are interested in seeing if there's some sort of an arrangement to be made with respect to affordable housing vouchers. Hey. Anything further? Okay. So Councilmember Knox Slate. All right. I'm wonder if you could speak really quickly about how you're thinking about locations and what makes a successful location. And one of the reasons I'm asked, you know, often there is let's just put it out at the end of the base, but the base doesn't have transit services. A lot of a lot of things sometimes depend where it goes. So as we're thinking through, you know, sites and whatnot, how is staff thinking about that? Which sites would be what would make a successful site? You're correct. There's a variety of elements and items that we need to consider with respect to each site. But yes, access to services such as grocery or other sorts of local amenities are important and transit line access. This is a consideration. We certainly are going to need to have a robust conversation with the community and the neighbors and, you know, make sure that we can have a and a comfortable relationship among the various uses, for instance, that with respect to bottled water. So we would be having conversations with the local residents as well as the College of Alameda, since we would have adjacency there and there would be a constant consideration because we need to be able to successfully implement this project. There would be operating costs, long term cost that we would need to come up with year after year to consider utilities. It's a very multifaceted consideration of considerations that we'll be discussing with you as we put the pros and cons of each site together in more detail to the extent you direct us to look at a particular site. Also, as I mentioned, equity, like trying not to place all particular services such as homeless provision services on Alameda Point where they are currently and just trying to look at a little more broadly than that. Thank you, Miss Factor. Thank you. Thank you, counselor. Next week. Okay, good questions, everyone. So I'm not seeing any more council questions. So, Madam Clerk, I think we have public speech. Is that correct? Yes, we do. We have eight. Oh, there's more reason there. We have nine public speakers, so the chime automatically lowers to 2 minutes. And so our first public speaker is Nancy Schmidt. Thank you. Good evening. Speaker Simek. Good evening. Thank you all for your service. Very much appreciated. And also, I wanted to thank Lisa and Lois, if you were the ones developing the spending plan, perhaps along with a city manager. The proposals are really clear, and I appreciate all the information you're sharing with the public. I did want to ask a couple of questions and hopefully they'll get answered in more discussion. And one is what role does the city of Alameda have in the larger regional approach to homelessness? This is not an approach that just is within our city boundaries. And as we know it is as people are pushed from one location, they move to another. And this is something that we need to look at much more broadly than just our city issues. I wanted to know what kinds of involvement there is there. The second is my concern, particularly looking at the hotel acquisition and the hotel operation in, I believe, close to $28 million till 2026, recognizing that the homeless unhoused issue will continue way beyond that. And I appreciate Lisa's comments about what can we do beyond that. My big concern is the costs, particularly for hotel operation, is very costly and it won't be reduced. And it looks like from then on, that general fund would be required to pitch in. So I'm just curious about kind of beyond the 2026. We're kind of almost in 2022. So I'm feeling like, you know, four short years from now, we'll be kind of hanging. And I just keep in mind that the Marina Village and residents were cut off on January 31st and without much ramp down. So thank you very much. Thank you for your comments. Our next. Speaker, Sherry Johansen. Good evening. Speaker Johansen. Good evening, Madam Mayor. And council and staff. I am actually speaking tonight with the voice of the Alameda progressives. We commend the city staff for the proposals and success. However, we believe the marina in transformation is the most viable. It is a logical. Extension of its use during the COVID. Crisis. We urge Council to approve the necessary expenditures to convert the marina and to a permanent facility. We strongly recommend that this facility or the approved facilities include a resiliency center, a sort of batsman of services and information, a resiliency center where both residents and members of the Alameda Public have access to counseling for transitioning from the streets or from the crisis to continue as viable members of the Alameda Committee. It's suggested resources would include in the center would be financial assistance, as well as banking and financial. Management behavior. And physical health services, transportation, legal services, nutrition and food access. The center would provide showers and laundry facilities. The Senate, without to avail itself of resources and volunteers. In the Alameda community. The faith based business and public. And we hope that the council will provide space for community gardens at all the suggested locations. In this time of crisis, thousands of our neighbors are about one disaster. Paycheck. Away from losing their home. Many of these are single mothers with children. Many are elderly. The heart of Alameda on both sides of grand has always been compassion. The Alameda Progressive urged you at this moment in time and opportunity to take this step towards eliminating homelessness in our community. Thank you. Speaker Johansen our next speaker. Grover Wyman Brown. Good evening. Speaker Women Brown. Good evening, council members. Thanks to the city staff for putting together these off these options, they are you know, they give many options to the community and they're well considered as a long time advocate for affordable housing. Who myself was unhoused as a young person. I, I, I wish that we actually could just do all these things because that's actually what's needed to address the scale of the problem. But given these options and the resources we have in Alameda and the resources that are available from the state government for a very rare opportunity, I'm I'm calling to support the Marina Village in project project Roomkey. As the previous speaker mentioned, was the short term project. And unfortunately, people were asked to leave that that hotel lodging quickly. My hope was that the city would have been selected to leverage it to project Homekey, which is a really unique opportunity to take that that building that already exists, that's already connected to plumbing and water, and let it be a temporary and transitional home for people as they get on their feet. And our need to end homelessness is both urgent and long term. It's going to keep going. And so I hope that the city uses these funds, pairs it with ARPA, project, homekey and the things that are available to invest in something durable, not something short term that could easily catch fire, that needs to be connected to water and sewage. And that isn't a place that people can feel like they really belong in community. Marina Village is close to grocery stores and transit, and it's in the center of the island, allowing people to more easily integrate, find jobs, connect with friends and family. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker. Marilyn Rothman. Good evening, Speaker Rothman. Hello. Oops. Hello. I just want to second what the last speaker has said. I feel like it would be very valuable to use the Marina Village Insight as it's, you know, pretty much ready to go as far as starting. Ah, are ending a homelessness for people. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker. Austin Austintown. Good evening, speaker tam. Good evening. Mayor and City Council. I just want. To. Urge you to support the marine band inside. And they second what my colleagues, Jerry and Grover have said. And the speaker. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker. Denise Anderson. Good evening, Speaker Anderson. Good evening. I just wanted to call in and support item six a. I really look forward to our city making more of an effort to assist some of our more vulnerable neighbors. I think all of these are a step in the right direction, but feel more in a village in May be the best way to get people into sheltering the most expediently. I saw a lot of concerns from people about an increase in crime in the correspondence, but this is a lot of the same NIMBY argument that we hear on so many issues in the city. We need to invest in everyone's safety, not just some people's. And that means getting them into housing and helping them with the services to find and maintain more permanent housing in their. Thank you. Our next. Speaker, Lauren, myself. Good evening. Speaker Eisele. But welcome back, Chi Chi. Good evening. Marion. City Council Members. Thank you for my comments. As a member of the village community, we have worked with Project in the past, in the past to make their residents at the Marina Village in a win win situation when they were here during COVID. And we welcome a positive opportunity for housing the homeless in Alameda in the future. However, I would really, really recommend that whatever reuse that happens, whether it's at the Marina Village in other places in the city that we consider all of the other auxiliary issues that come along with housing, unhoused people related to their health and security and safety and in particular fire hazards. We all know that there have been lots of fire hazards in our community and and making sure that we are all safe from fires. Their number one concern and in our in our community so just considering. That and the. Safety and the welfare of all the residents, this is something that we would be very much interested in considering and also taking into consideration other issues related to safety and security of the nearby residents as well as residents that we're considering. Housing is something that we also need to consider. So before the city decides to authorize. And your time is up. Thank you so much. Our next speaker. Josh Guyer. Good evening. Speaker Guyer Good evening, American Living Vice Mayor and other City Council members. So I am a member of Renewed Hope here in Alameda. I think the best project like other folks have said, the best individual project is the acquisition of Marina Village. That's doubtlessly the fastest way to get the most units online as possible. It's a great site. It's near a lot of different commercial activities, job opportunities and transit it all over and a lot of other amenities. It's a great site. My druthers would be as to just echo Grover Wayman Brown. All of the above. There can never be enough new housing in Alameda. We need it desperately, desperately, both for people who are here and people who are here already. People have been forced out and other people who would like to join us in our community. I the only other thing I would say is I'm looking at housing type one here from the pallet shelter, something that kind of jumped out at me as a red flag is that the shelters intentionally do not have restrooms. It's a part of the company's philosophy, and they believe that helps give residents a reason to leave their cabin and socialize. I think having an inn unit bathroom is like really about human dignity in a lot of instances, especially to people. For people who have not had privacy in some amount of time. I think it's a it's a it's a huge deal. And I think it's pretty paternalistic to for this company to to assert that that they know best and they should be depriving people of having a private bathroom in order to to, like, coerce them into meeting . I'm sure they will get out. The weather's beautiful here. I'm sure there will be a service realizing as much as they need to. Thank you very much. Thank you. Our next speaker. Margaret Thatcher. Welcomes speaker question. Thank you. Hi, can you hear me? We can hear you. Welcome. Yes. Do you want to tell us who you're with, by the way? Yes. Thank you. Mayor and council members. I guess I'm an echo. We hear you sound defined from our side, Marguerite, but I know that can be annoying. And we're not going to time you till you start talking. Oh, and you're muted now. Okay. I'm so sorry. I wanted to thank the staff for putting this together. I think it's really great to start the conversation. This is definitely a moment in time that we can take advantage of the opportunities of the statewide funding. We were up. I'm from Operation Dignity and we do that. So we do the transitional housing for veterans on the base, and we also do mobile outreach for the city of Alameda. We know that the long term unhoused residents of Alameda really deserve to have a safe and secure place to live. And when looking at all these options, I would really encourage you to consider thinking about not only the marina village in, but also either modular or prefab. Those are all eligible under Project HOMEKEY And you want to think about if you're inheriting a lot of problems potentially with a with an existing facility that hasn't been updated or upgraded in a long time as opposed to modular housing, which can be built offsite. It's not expensive, but you can bring in plumbing. It's all put together somewhere else and then it comes in. You have plummeted electrical and you can stack it so you could really house the folks that you need to house. So I would encourage you to really look at all the opportunities to think about what makes sense for the city of Alameda. Thank you. Thank you so much. And I'm just going to put in a little plug in addition to being a very hardworking staff person at director at Operation Dignity and as Rashan has been a member of my mayor's vaccine task force doing amazing work. So thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker, Madam Clerk. Laura Thomas. Evening, Speaker Thomas. Now you can hear me right? There you go. Yes. Yes. Right. Well, thanks. Thanks for letting me speak. Good evening, everybody. I don't want to. I'm from Renewed Hope housing advocates. And I don't want to take up too much time because the other people have spoken of I pretty much second what most of the speakers have said. I do want to say that the the motel the motel purchase is a good idea because the idea of supporting permanent housing as opposed to transitional housing, I think is something the city has to take very seriously, because basically a lot of people that are out there that are unhoused, as we call them now, are people who once had homes and the result of rising rents and other problems of forced move out of their homes onto the street. And so transitional housing works, I guess, primarily for people who may have been long term homeless. And I'm sure there's plenty of those people we wish to help and they need the services and everything. But transitional homeless transitional projects always mean that you're trying to get somebody into permanent housing. And permanent housing is really the challenge is trying to give people where they have stable housing. And so I think the motel is the best option. And has Sherrie Johanson pointed out, people are one step away from a paycheck. So again, people who have had homes have been forced out. They know how to take care of themselves if they have a roof over their head that's stable. And I think that's what the city is to start to focus on, is how do we create permanent housing for the people we need, the people we actually rely upon. Often people who are low wage workers are the most vulnerable and the people we need to really provide this housing for. So I thank you for this for this option, and I hope you go forward with it. Thanks. Thank you. And our next speaker. Friend, Pauline. Good evening. Speaker Pauline. Are you able to admit there? Monica. There you are. We can hear you. Hi. Sorry, I'm. I'm also speaking in support of purchasing the marina village and for transitional housing. Actually, let me say again. Hello, Mayor. Council and your hard working staff. Once again, I want to thank you for recognizing and acting on the need for affordable housing. That is a situation further worsened by COVID. I think the decision to have a more permanent transitional housing location is smart. I think stabilizing people earlier in the crisis is far more effective than watching a very predictable downward spiral. Additionally, as a senior on fixed income and facing my own stress and housing insecurity, I truly appreciate your plan for a mental health center at Alameda Hospital for respite and resources before someone needs police intervention or hospitalization along the same line. I'd like to speak on the need for a resiliency hub located in Central Alameda as a member of our. I've spoken to too many renters who did not learn the relevant information and resources early enough to use it. Online listings alone are not really working. People are being displaced without being counted, without receiving aid that would have been available to them. I believe strongly that a staffed One-Stop Center would make a real difference. Finally, I wish to encourage consideration of land trust purchases of rental complexes that tenants could ultimately own and truly stabilize their housing . Again, thank you for not just acknowledging me, but acting to find and put in place solutions. And thank you. Our next speaker. Zack BOLLING. And then we have one more speaker after that. All right. Good evening, Speaker BOLLING. And I just wanted to quickly throw my support in also for the Marina Village and project. And I'm not going to take up too much time since everybody else has already made a lot of great points that I was going to hopefully make. But thankfully, everyone else has done it. So just trying my. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker. Linda Fortuna. Good evening, speaker fortuna. Hello. I wasn't planning on speaking tonight, but after hearing all of these comments, I. I think I need to say something to protect the citizens of Alameda and to sort of give my opinion of being a property owner for many years in rehabbing and rehabilitating old buildings. The marina village in is not new. We all know that the cost of retrofitting it will probably not make sense for this project. I think that the modular housing is is the best solution because you can use solar technology for each modular house or cabin and you'll be you have no gas, no grid. No. It'll be a more efficient way of housing these homeless individuals. And I think that the homeless need more social help. They need rehab. And that is the most important thing that we can offer them also. So a combination of that and modular housing, I think would be a good solution. And I oppose the marina village in as a homeless center right on the waterfront, which is and should be used for the public. And and that way it's shared by all. Alameda. Thank you. Thank you, speaker, for today. And our next speaker. One more speaker. Kristen van gumble. Good evening. Speaker Fun. Van Gumble. Well, good evening. Thank you, everyone. We just my husband and I, we just wanted to second everything that Rosalind just said. And we agree the cost is going to be too much for the Marina Village and strongly urge you to consider the modular housing. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker. That was our final speaker. Okay. With that, I am closing public comment on item six A and we will return to the council. I'd like to start. Well, I'll start. Okay. Thank you, Councilmember Kazak. Well, thank you very much. You know, having reviewed the staff packet and analyzed the situation, I'm of the opinion that in the marina village in we have a rare opportunity to do something fantastic. And let me say why. Above all, who are trying to serve our families, particularly single woman headed families with children who are coming out of homelessness in a variety of crisis situations. When you look at the Marina Village in and its proximity to the west, to the Shoreline Park, its proximity to the east of Wind River Park and to the south in a straight line down triumph drive to the Jean Sweeney Park, as well as the breadth of shoreline around the area. You find an environment that I believe will be conducive to families who are transitioning out of area, a place of crises so that the children can hopefully not only recover but achieve the full capacity that we expect of any children, whether they're children of homeless families or children of families in the foreign side or in the west end of Alameda. So this is a rare opportunity. There is no doubt that it will cost more. But I think in the long run it would be a better facility than a modular house or it would be a better facility than pallets. So I think that we should not miss this opportunity to do something bold. So I think, you know, the environment is definitely conducive to that, to families and helping them make a recovery. But as indicated, there are other elements that also make this location really ideal. It's proximity to the job. Rich Marina, Village Business Park. You know, as a as a city council, I would encourage our city staff to figure out ways to work with businesses there to to get families and individuals into jobs there. It's proximity to Lucky is proximity to a CVS pharmacy and above all, its proximity to a range of transits. There's the marina village shell shuttle. I don't know if it's still running right now, pandemic time, but there's the marina village shuttle, which is free and it goes directly to downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland, stopping at the BART station. There's the city of Alameda is when it's up and running again. Our own internal shuttle, by the way, which goes right by there. And finally, there's the AC Transit bus that we had rerouted to go through that area. So I do think that the wealth of natural and social amenities makes the marina village in an ideal place to to to have this facility. Yes, it will cost money. And yes, we as a city council, we will have to do our due diligence. And if it's going to come in as too expensive, then, you know, then we'll have to think about, you know, what to do. And when that when we're asked to cross that bridge. But if you're asking me if staff is asking me, looking at all the things that's kind of laid out for us, you know, what? What we should do. I'm of the opinion that that we should move forward with with the marina village in. I just want to say on a final note, you know, so much of our community have always come to the attention of trying to help out families in need. I know for many years ago it started out with the United Filipinos of Alameda, then transitioned to the Filipino, the Alameda Community Service Agency fixer, where we ran a shelter for for homeless women coming out coming out of a crisis. So so, you know, it's part of our DNA to be helpful. And I think that that if we're going to do something, let's do it in a place that's really going to help transition people to to to to going can help transition people out of crises. And I think in the marina village and that's what I see. Thank you, Counselor de Desert. Wow. Thank you. Who wants to go next? I am happy to go next. Councilmember De Saag. I see you and I see eye to eye. I was really moved by your comments. One of the things that I have learned from working on housing issues and in, you know, statewide and in the Greater Bay Area is that there is a serious shortage of housing that is appropriate and eligible for families because there are restrictions. For instance, when staff and I took a field trip down to San Jose a couple months ago and saw some really exciting modular development that the city of San Jose is doing. Those were for adults who could have either one adult or maximum two in a unit with it in a bedroom with its own bathroom. And. Josh Guyer. I second everything you said about pallet homes, rather flimsy argument for no bathrooms. I'll get to that in a minute. But one of the things San Jose was excited about as they were building the first ever family shelter or family transitional housing, it wasn't done yet, so we couldn't go visit it. But here in Alameda and we certainly don't have something like that, we have, you know, Midway Shelter. It's emergency housing. But I do think that the marina village in Prevent presents so many opportunities. Is there a cost to rehabbing it? Yes, there is. What value do you place on giving children and families a good place, a safe, healthy place to grow up? I appreciate the residents of Marina Village, the neighbors who spoke I spoke earlier in the evening yesterday. I had a conversation with one of them. And they you know, we talked about when Marina Village in was used as a project roomkey home for women and children who were homeless and needed to be have a safe place to stay during COVID. And there you know, there were some bumps in the road at first. There always was with changes. But I really applaud the neighbors. I applaud city staff who worked with the county staff, folks from building futures, who who all work together to make sure that it was a living environment that was respectful of everyone, the folks who lived there, but also the neighbors. And it was very moving to attend a town hall organized by our supervisor, Wilma Chan, to hear from the neighbors who by then had been working and getting to know the situation and better. And they were so supportive, wanted to know what can we do? Making donations, collecting supplies, wanted to host a holiday party. Did the kids need tutoring? And just really heartwarming response. But it is also true that we need to, you know, will need to do communication and make sure that everyone is is on board. But I do think for all the reasons that have been stated, that this is something the city should definitely pursue, look into, and there are as mismatched. So know that there are multiple funding sources coming down the pike right now. So we really do need to seize this opportunity. It doesn't come around very often, and I think we can really make a difference in people's lives as far as housing types. I am partial to the model that was presented by Delphi, in part because it is a local company out at Alameda Point, which I think is great . And the. I also will say that I was not a fan of the argument by pallet homes that that said need to find it in my know my notes here that they because pallets model does happen to be just a small structure with no bathroom community bathrooms. I will tell you that the community bathroom model is a just favored model now even before COVID, but especially during COVID for health reasons, but even before that, that it just leads to unnecessary conflicts. And is Mr. Geier, one of our speakers, very eloquently stated this is about human dignity. And when we visited and walk through these two different sites in San Jose, people were so just pleased and relaxed to be there, to have a place where they could sleep inside. Not sleep with one eye open because they were worried about what would happen, not had to get up and leave, go walk someplace to use the bathroom, walk outdoors to use the bathroom, but, you know, do the things that you and I do. We don't have to go out unless we're camping. We don't have to be going outside to find the facilities. And so there are better places to socialize than than a restroom. And, in fact, these developments would be set up to have a place to do laundry, to access services like the the the counseling and the resources and whatnot, to have a garden, a community garden, even a dog run, because pets are generally allowed. And as far as locations, I, I think that the well again Marina village and I think we can do more than one thing I think the marina village in is definitely an attractive option but also I think the bottle parcel over near the College of Alameda is close to amenities and would be a good location. And I to second what Miss Maxwell said earlier about equity. We are not just saying, okay, let's put all of our homeless resources at Alameda Point. So again, staff, I want to thank you for bringing all these options to us, really doing a great survey and bringing them to us. I'm really excited to see these funding opportunities that are coming. Let's seize the moment. We came really close. We were on the short list to get funding to transition the marina village in from a Project Roomkey to Project Homekey. But we just didn't get off the waitlist before those funds ran out. So I know that the county certainly thought it was a good project. Anyway, that's all from me. And who wants to go next? Vice Mayor. That's mayor of L.A.. I'm going to try to keep my comments really brief. I cosign what has been said by my two colleagues. I really think that the guiding principles here. Well, first of all, we know that there is a significant need. We also know that this need is not going to go away any time soon. I'm very much interested in finding opportunities for permanent a permanent, affordable and permanent transitional housing. Just because folks are in a state of transition does not mean that the units themselves need to be transitional. And I really want to second the comments that were made by Councilmember de SOG and Mayor Ashcroft. I think when we talk about housing, we really need to lead with the value of empathy. We need to lead with the value of making sure that we are addressing the human dignity aspect of things and providing and providing a home. And that is to say, I do not like the pallet suggestion. I think that there are options. I think that there are a number of issues that have been addressed by my colleagues that I also find to be of concern. I think, you know, I very much support pursuing Marina Village, and I think that there's a huge opportunity for us there. But I also want to just say that I think that this is a yes and conversation. I think this is yes, we need to do Marina Village. And we also need to find and be looking for opportunities. We know what the numbers are. We we've heard the reports. We know that there is a significant need for transitional housing. So this is not going to be enough. We know. We know that. So I think we always need to be on the lookout for other opportunities for sites where we can either build permanent affordable housing or build permanent transitional housing. And that's really what I want to see, because these needs are not going to go away. In terms of who's going to administer it and how that's going to be going, I'll be looking forward to the staff report. I think that there are a number of different options out there. I think we need to look at that. I do think that there is a difference between permanent affordable housing and providing the services needed to operate a temporary or transitional housing site. And so I want to see that fleshed out a little more in terms of what that will look like. But I'm very much supportive of moving forward with Marina Village in and as well as other options. I did like. I do like the idea of modular. I think that there are some limitations with it. And as the mayor noted. Thank you Vice Mayor Vella and I did also under when we talk about homeless families who are experiencing homelessness. I heard recently from someone with us that there are at least 57 children in the Unified School District who are from homeless families. So we're thinking of them to council members. Spencer Herrera, Spencer, let's hear from you there. So I appreciate the comments of the callers as well as my fellow council members. I am concerned that back in March, the Housing Authority came up with some suggestions of using stimulus funds that would also. Make it so that the. Housing was available quickly. For instance, they could purchase 18 very low and low income homes for very low and low income families. They could bid competitively on a purchased land disposition from a U.S. that could house 30 affordable family apartments they had on this list. They could use 8 million to expedite the first two phases of federal funding for the housing authorities. North Housing Development, which includes units of mixed supportive housing for homeless senior and family housing. They could buy existing units or restrict them to at least 80% of the area median income. They could also they said that for every $10 million, they could generate nearly 30 units of the rent restricted apartments. So I think it's important that staff, city staff work with the housing authority and see what are the viable options. The comments that the Bring a village in is so important that we need to just disregard the cost. I'm very concerned about I think the focus has to be that we do in fact have limited funds. And what is the best way to spend this money to meet the needs of the unsheltered? I do prefer permanent housing rather than the temporary relief. She made the comments of not supporting not having bathrooms in housing units. I don't think that that is appropriate in regards to the other sites that some of these proposed sites, for instance, the marina village in as well as the Grand Pavilion, have brought revenue to the city over the years. When this comes back, I'd like to see what is the tax, for instance, the transit occupancy tax, any revenues that the city has made in the last five years, pre-COVID, so that we can have the analysis of what revenue stream we would then be using if we're converting these to housing. And then any estimate of the upgrading the facilities. I think that we really do have to look at the total cost as well as what the cost would be to purchase. But I think we should really keep our options open broader at this time to acquire, get more information working with the Housing Authority. Another issue I'm concerned about is that this covenant, 55 year covenant. What that really means and I would like that language to be more specific when it comes back to the public understands is that the people that end up operating it then after 55 years could actually end up owning the property and then they flip it to market rates. So it's not long term affordable housing. So I think it's real important that recraft these documents so that they end up being owned by the city or the housing authority long term for the benefit of sheltering those with low income and that they do not eventually become market rate. I'm very concerned about that happening. That's a real serious issue. So I would like those all of this to be better vetted. But I really want the city staff to work more collaboratively with the housing authority and to make sure that we're getting the most housing for the dollars and not be so narrow in our focus at this time. And then I also want to look at other uses of this money, because there have been suggestions that the universal basic income, for instance, and I would like to be able to see how. It comes out. Piecemeal with these monies. I would like to continue. Please. Thank you. That's the next item that. I can speak in regards to the money on this that I'm concerned with any any other uses of the money to make sure that we're not eliminating our narrowing our options probably at this time, ARPA monies could be used for multiple things. So I do want to look at our other all of our options. Some people had suggested the support services and locations and all of that and distance. That's critical. So for instance, this auto parcel is near the college and that's a lot of benefit for services that's already there and to Maxima and also close to James Rainey Park. And they will be having community gardens and that's one of the common areas of public comment. I spoke about that. So when we're looking at sites, I think it is important then member Knox. So I have brought up and I agree some of the sites out at the base, public transportation is really hard, is not there at all. So I'm not sure that those are really viable locations. Thank you. Thank you. And in my conversations with staff, I understand that they certainly have reached out to the housing authority and they are just waiting for a little more concrete proposals. But there is nothing that stops the housing authority from using their funds, certainly to purchase buildings to address our housing needs. Councilmember Knox, why did you want to wait? I don't have much more to add, I think. Yeah, it sounds like we're heading pretty strongly toward some form of. Yes. And I guess my one concern is, you know, well, I think arguments for both the marina village in and the battle parcel are very good. I also want us to maybe double down in thinking about where else we can be. Look for sites. You know, I will throw out my perennial solo shot of we have a large building across the street from city hall that has been vacant for the 20 years I have lived in this city. We continue to wait to find something to do with it. And I do think that housing and homelessness are two of our biggest priorities. And I do think that we should consider whether the Carnegie has a role to play in this at this point in time, especially with this much money. I, you know, I would like that at least on the table. It may be too expensive. It may not work because of. Etc.. But, you know, we keep trying and we keep not finding a use for it at certain point in time. We've got to do something. But but I definitely agree that we need to go big. I want to make sure that before we go too far down the road with Marina Village in that there is public engagement very early because I know that it is causing a lot of stress from folks who have inhabit that area. But I also think that a lot of the folks I'm talking to also understand that it doesn't matter what neighborhood you're going to suggest for, for this type of housing, that that neighborhood is going to raise concerns. And I've heard from a lot of very open, reasonable people who just want to hear that the city is considering their concerns and working with them to to address them. And so I think, you know, we're out there early. We can do that, you know. But again, I think that when that when these items come back, what I would I would like is I know that the county has done a lot of work thinking about who we need to help, where we need to help, etc.. I'd like to hear a little bit about where that where the needs that the county is identifying for for our not just city but region as well. So that, you know, we are making sure that we're moving forward with services and housing for the folks who are kind of at the at the greatest need as well, and not unintentionally picking and choosing winners and losers based on, you know. Characteristics that might not be where the greatest need is. So I think thinking about how we're feeling in the cities kind of spectrum of services and housing options, I think will be very helpful in just understanding how we're how we're moving forward. But I definitely think that the more that we can do some form of both transitional and looking at a larger permanent project like the Marina Village and or something else of that, if that's not the one that works, I would be fully supportive of. Thank you. Exploring next week, Councilor RIDDIFORD. Oh. I just want to make sure to say that. Just. Just a form of a correction. I, I did not say, quote, that we will disregard cost. What I did say was that, Marina, whatever we do at Marina Village will probably be expensive. But that, you know, we will have to analyze, you know, the data and the cost information that the staff make brings forward. I think I said something to that effect and determine if that makes sense. But I did not say that we will disregard cost. So I just want to make sure to clarify that. Thank you for that. And good points raised by all of you. But Councilmember, not quite to your last point. We did hear from San Jose City staff when we did the walkthroughs of these two developments in San Jose that it took a lot of outreach with the neighbors and and it's a combination of their security provided there . But there has to be that constant outreach and communication and ahead of time. And but again, I think the groundwork was laid when Marina Village in was a Project Roomkey Hotel. So hopefully we can build on if this ends up being a site, we could build on that so well. All right. So let's see. Just going back, we're looking for providing direction on constructing or installing temporary shelters, transitional housing and or permanent supportive housing, provide direction on the types of projects to pursue and location staff. Do you feel that you have enough direction from? Is this maximum as Butler looks? Counter weight care counselor Harry Spencer has a handout. Sorry. Say that. Thank you, Mary. I wanted to follow up with regards to a number not quite common in regards to the Carnegie. I, too, would be interested in looking at that, that if that's at all a viable option, it is absolutely centrally located. And so I think it's a great idea to consider that also. Thank you. Okay. Back to staff. Would you need more from us and city manager Levitt? Feel free if you want to chime in. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you before the shake of the head. Okay. Miss Maxwell. Miss Butler. If I understand correctly, it sounds as though we should be sort of better assessing the group Delphi opportunity for some transitional housing that could be done in the potential shorter term, but then also do some further financial analysis around the Marina Village in the battle parcel and if there's any other particular sites that lend themselves to something comparable. Yes. We will need to know by far what we're going to apply for through the county. So we'll have to be cognizant of our timing. I sense that we're ready for you to bring it back to us as soon as you can. I really miss. But did you want to add anything? No, I was going to summarize similar to what Maxwell summarized. All right. Well, I think I speak on behalf of the entire city council to thank you profusely for all your hard work on this very important topic. So is this a real opportunity, I think, for us in Alameda to to take action on helping solve a big problem. So thank you so much. Okay. At this point Council, we are going to take a ten minute break. We've been at this for more than 2 hours. So it is almost 925. We will come back at 935. So everybody take a break. Rest your eyes, get a snack, what have you, and we'll see you at 935. Thanks. The club. Girl. So I need to talk to. You treat. It's silly. Okay. I'm doing my nose count. Sean's there. There's Tony. So I just don't know if familiar. Yeah. Who've you got? Can you tell. Laura? There's. There's Chris. Okay, so we're just. Seeing. If Melissa. There's some ask to start video features that I've asked a couple of people, so hopefully they're getting the notice. We're already in the chambers, we're live, so we're good at any point. Okay. Thank you. Let's see. I'll send a quick. Quick text. I will wait one more minute and then we're going to get started. To try and just know. He just. I never know why that is that people. Relocate to another. Location on the screen. Keeps me guessing. Okay. Well, tell you what, it is just about 940, it's 939. And we did say there is Councilmember Vela. Vice mayor. Vice Mayor. Hi. Okay. We've got everyone. Are you. But we've got staff. I'm glad everybody took snacking seriously. It's. It's important. So, Miss Speller, is this are you doing this presentation or are we also waiting for Miss Maxwell? No, I think it's nice. Butler. Yes, ma'am. Oh, okay. Okay, great. Would you like me to read the title? Just. There she is. Okay. You ready to go, Miss Butler? Yes. All right. Yes, Madam Clerk, would you. So welcome back, everyone. And we are moving on to our next item, native clerk. 60 is a recommendation received direction from the City Council regarding uses for a potential homeless housing assistance and prevention grant towards. All right. And all right. Good evening, Mayor and members of city council. For the record, I'm Lois Butler, Economic Development and Community Services Manager. The county shared information with the city regarding a potential award of homeless housing assistance and prevention grant funds. Each HAP funds in the amount of $285,767. In order to prepare to receive this grant, award, staff is requesting direction from City Council. Once the grant funds are available, we will return to City Council with a recommendation that reflects your direction. There are several potential uses of the funds, including providing emergency funds for shelter to shelter. The UN has provided mental health emergency support for the unhoused, providing one time emergency assistance to those on the verge of becoming house, supporting community cabins and providing direct assistance to the unhoused who have located housing and have no means to pay for but can't afford rent. So they can't afford to pay for the initial move in costs. Staff is recommending the following allocations 125,000 to provide overnight shelter to the day center. This would allow up to ten persons to stay overnight. Customers would be able to use the facilities throughout the day and night, and this would allow the city to house a small number of the city's homeless population until we have longer term shelters for them, and then 75,000 to augment existing street outreach with mental health. This would enhance street outreach and street based case management with mental health support. These funds would be targeted to the unhoused that need the most, it seems, with that need moderate to extreme mental health services and then finally allocate roughly 86,000 for flexible funds. This would provide one time assistance for homeless prevention. The funds would be used for car repair, back rent, utility payments for previously homeless, or those on the verge of becoming homeless. The funds would also support homeless individuals with emergency expenses, such as car repair for those living in vehicles, emergency help motel stays working with the unhoused to clear up credit or other related records, such as driving records. If the funding is sufficient to address the mental health needs of the city. If other funding is sufficient, staff recommends that the proposed mental health funding go to the other remaining categories. Increasing the overall. Amount for overnight shelter to 186,000 and the flexible funds to 100,000. Alternatively, the funds could be used to support traditional transitional housing, such as those that were mentioned in the previous report. Based on the City Council's direction, staff will return with a contract for award of the funds after the county has received its funding from the state of California. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Butler. It's always nice to get fans we weren't anticipating. And that's what we have here. And thank you for your report. And Madam Kirk, do we have public speakers on this item?