Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/6/2023 Item 4a, Walker Wilbanks, Megan From:kathie walker <kathiewalkerslo@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, September 1, 2023 3:27 PM To:Advisory Bodies; Purrington, Teresa Subject:Planning Commission Meeting 9/6/2023 - Safe Parking Site Attachments:SAFE PARKING PROGRAM Santa Barbara County.pdf; Planning Commission 9.6.2023.pdf This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. Please find the attached correspondence and attachment for the Planning Commissioners. 1 1 September 1, 2023 Planning Commissioners, The safe parking program should be in a parking lot, consistent with the safe parking programs in other communities. The city has modeled the program after the Santa Barbara County program, managed by New Beginnings, which has numerous parking sites in secure parking lots, not on a public street. The proposed site on Palm Street is in an unprotected area, surrounded by a public sidewalk, the Veteran’s Hall, the Shell gas station with convenience store, and a motel. The site can be accessed by anyone throughout the night, and it is impossible to monitor who is coming and going from the site unless there is a full-time security guard on site. Residential homes are also very close to the site. The businesses and residents will be impacted based on the experiences of those around the safe parking site near the railroad up until the program ended on 8/28/2023. I. San Luis Obispo Zoning Regulations: C-T Commerical Tourist Zone The proposed location on Palm Street is located in the C-T (Commercial Tourist) zone, and the proposed use is not consistent with the Commercial Tourist Zoning Regulations in San Luis Obispo. The “Purpose and Application” of the C-T zone “is intended to provide accommodations and services for the traveling public and implement General Land Use Policies 3.6.1 and 3.6.21 to promote San Luis Obispo as an attractive place for short-term stays, as well as an attractive destination for long- term visitors, with conference and visitor-serving facilities that have a low impact upon the environment and upon the existing land forms and landscapes, and that provide low-impact visitor activities and low- impact means of transportation. Integration of visitor-serving uses with other types of uses is encouraged. Visitor-serving uses are especially appropriate where such uses have already concentrated.” Setting up an overnight site for homeless people to sleep in their vehicles and RVs on a public street, with portable toilets and a dumpster, does not promote our city as an attractive place or destination for visitors, does not have a low impact upon the environment or existing landscapes, and does not provide activities for visitor-tourists, as outlined in the Zoning Regulations. Tourists are encouraged to walk, and frequently do walk down Monterey Street at Grand Avenue, which intersects with the propose d parking site at Palm Street and Grand Avenue. The proposed site location is specifically in the area of upper 1 San Luis Obispo General Land Use Policies 3.6.1. Basis for Tourism The City shall promote San Luis Obispo as an attractive place for short-term stays, as well as an attractive destination for long-term visitors featuring its community character, natural qualities, historic resources, and its educational and cultural facilities. The City should emphasize conference and visitor-serving facilities which have a low impact upon the environment and upon existing land forms and landscapes, and which provide low-impact visitor activities and low-impact means of transportation. 3.6.2. Locations The City shall encourage integration of visitor-serving uses with other types of uses, including overnight accommodations Downtown, near the airport, and near the train station; small-scale facilities (such as hostels or bed-and-breakfast places) may be located in Medium-High Density Residential and High-Density Residential Districts, where compatible. Visitor-serving uses are especially appropriate where such uses have already concentrated: along upper Monterey Street; at the Madonna Road area; at certain freeway interchanges; and in the Downtown. 2 Monterey and Grand Avenue, which is outlined in the General Land Use Policy as an “already concentrated” area for visitors to the city, which makes the area even less appropriate for the proposed use. (See San Luis Obispo zoning map, attached) The PF (Public Facilities) zone would be more appropriate for the proposed site, such as the parking lot at Damon Garcia Sports Fields or Laguna Lake Park. There is a single entrance/exit at the lots which would make monitoring easier and support safety for the participants and the community. A secure parking lot is consistent with safe parking programs in many other areas, including those in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Fremont, and Mountain View, which the city has, at various times, mentioned are models for this program. None of those programs use public streets for safe overnight parking sites. II. California Vehicle Code Section 21101 Authorizes Temporary Closing of Streets The project proposes closing a city street for at least 13 hours (6 p.m. - 7 a.m.) within a 24-hour period over the course of 120 days, or about four months, on an annual basis2. The city cites California Vehicle Code 21101 and City Council Resolution No. 11152, which, the city claims “authorizes the Public Works Director to approve temporary closure of city streets when in the opinion of the Public Works Director the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing.” The Vehicle Code section 21101(e) provides that “Local authorities, for those highways under their jurisdiction, may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution . . . on the following m atters: (e) Temporary closing a portion of any street for celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of local authorities having jurisdiction or a public officer or employee that the local authority designates by resolution, the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing.” (emphasis added) (Note: The Vehicle Code uses the terms “street” and “highway” synonymously. (Vehicle Code §§ 360, 590).) In the Agenda Report, the city leaves out a pertinent portion of the text of Section 21101(e), which li sts the related activities that permit a local authority to temporarily close a portion of any street: “celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes.” The California 4th District Court of Appeals found that the “other purposes” outlined in Section 21101(e) must be “limited by the specific list of events preceding it” which are “celebrations, parades, and local special events”. (See Committee to Relocate Marilyn v. City of Palm Springs (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 607.) In the Palm Springs case, the Court rejected the city’s broad construction of the statutory phrase “other purposes” in California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) under the maxim ejusdem generis (of the same kind). It found “if a statute contains a list of specified items followed by more general words, the general 2 “Duration: The cumulative duration of safe parking as part of the CAPSLO Rotating Safe Parking Program at the subject location shall be limited to no more than 120 days annually, beginning within one year of the approval date of this Director’s Action Permit, and annually thereafter (Condition No. 3).” (Page 19 of 43 of Planning Commission Agenda Report for 9/6/2023.) 3 words are limited to those items that are similar to those specifically listed” . . . “the general phrase "other purposes” must be limited by the specific list of events preceding it.”3 The events listed in Section 21101, which allow temporary closure of a city street under this Section are “celebrations, parades, or local special events.” Closing a public street to create a site for homeless people to sleep in their vehicles and RVs does not equate to a celebration, parade or local special event, and is therefore not consistent with Section 21101(e), as alleged by the city in their Agenda Report. There is also considerable case law regarding Section 21101 overall, that limits the authorit y of city governments to close public streets for purposes outside of the “intended meaning” of California Vehicle Code 21101.4 A city’s authority over street travel is narrowly construed in favor of state legislation.5 “The use of highways for purposes of travel and transportation is not a mere privilege, but a common and fundamental right, of which the public and individuals cannot rightfully be deprived. (Rumford v. City of Berkeley (1982) 31 Cal.3d 545, 550) State courts consistently look to the preemption of the entire field of traffic control by the state and have concluded that the restricted nature of the delegation of power to prescribe traffic rules means that a city has only power expressly provided for in the Vehicle Code. (Rumford v. City of Berkeley, supra, at pp. 549-550.) The city of San Luis Obispo is overstepping its authority by claiming they have the right to temporarily close a public street for a purpose (overnight parking site for homeless to sleep) that is outside of the expressed language in Section 21101(e) (celebrations, parades, local special events or an event directly related to those). Additionally, California Vehicle Code 21101.6 says that despite Section 21101, 3 “Vehicle Code section 21101, subdivision (e), grants local authorities the power to “temporarily” close portions of streets, but only for limited reasons—for “celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes,” where the closure is necessary to safeguard and protect persons using the street. All of the proceedings warranting a temporary street closure share a common characteristic... Given that the word “temporarily” precedes a list of short-term events that are always relatively brief in duration, the most natural construction of “temporarily” is that it likewise indicates the street closures must be brief in duration... We reject the City’s broad construction of the statutory phrase “other purposes.” “Under the maxim ejusdem generis (of the same kind), ‘if a statute contains a list of specified items followed by more general words, the general words are limited to those items that are similar to those specifically listed.’” (Rincon Bandof Luiseño Mission Indians, etc. v. Flynt (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 1059, 1091–1092; see J. Arthur Properties, II, LLC v. City of San Jose (2018) 21 Cal.App.5th 480, 486 [“‘when a particular class of things modifies general words, those general words are construed as applying only to things of the same nature or class as those enumerated’”].) Applying that cannon of construction here, the general phrase "other purposes” must be limited by the specific list of events preceding it. (Committee to Relocate Marilyn v. City of Palm Springs (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th, 607.) Emphasis added. 4 “[W]e consider portions of a statute in the context of the entire statute and the statutory scheme of which it is a part, giving significance to every word, phrase, sentence, and part of an act in pursuance of the legislative purpose.” (Brennon B. v. Superior Court (2022) 13 Cal.5th 662, 673; see Kaanaana v. Barrett Bus. Servs., Inc.(2021) 11 Cal.5th 158, 169 [“words used in a statute are considered in context, not isolation”].) 5 Vehicle Code section 21 embodies the state’s preemption over the field of traffic control. It states, “Except as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this code are applicable and uniform throughout the state and in all counties and municipalities therein, and a local authority shall not enact or enforce any ordinance or resolution on the matters covered by this code...unless expressly authorized by this code.” (Veh. Code, §21, subd.(a).) 4 “local authorities may not place gates or other selective devices on any street which deny or restrict the access of certain members of the public to the street while permitting others unrestricted access to the street. This section is intended to codify the decision of the Court of Appeal in City of Lafayette v. County of Contra Costa (91 Cal.App.3d 749)”6 In the Agenda Report, the city of San Luis Obispo also cites City Council Regulation 11152 which allowed the city to temporarily close some streets for “Open SLO” during the COVID-19 pandemic, so that people could dine outside, such as outside of Guiseppe’s Restaurant. Again, the right to access the areas on closed public streets is open to everyone and not just a certain segment of the community. The current project proposes temporarily closing a public street and only allowing access to participants of the safe parking program, which is not consistent with the law. III. Safe Parking Programs in Santa Barbara Compared with Proposed Site in SLO The safe parking program in Santa Barbara (“SB”) is more regimented than the one proposed by CAPSLO. The city of SLO and CAPSLO’s program at the railroad station did not require case management. It’s not clear whether they are revamping the program again to require case management of all participants but as of 9/1/2023, their website still indicates “Case management is not required to participate in services.” There are several material differences between the SB program and CAPSLO’s proposed safe parking program. For example, SB clients are assigned a specific space in a specific lot which keeps the program organized and provides accountability, since the participants are required to use that space at least four 6 In City of Lafayette v. County of Contra Costa, the city voted to close Happy Valley Road (by way of an automatic gate) to through traffic except for drivers with an established need. The city sought a judicial declaration that it had the right to close the road and that it was entitled to do so by the installation of an automatic gate. The court held that the entire area covered by the Vehicle Code had been preempted by state law and that in the absence of express legislative authority, the city had no authority to restrict the right to travel on one of its streets. (Id., at pp. 754-757.) 5 times a week and must notify staff within 36 hours if they are going to be absent from their assigned space. CAPSLO does not assign specific spaces to participants, and participants are not required to use the space for any specific duration. SB provides outreach workers and lot monitors who conduct numerous nightly checks of each site to assess usage and maintain safety. CAPSLO does not have outreach workers or security conducting nightly checks of the site to maintain safety. SB follows strict rules and failure to follow rules results in removal from the program. CAPSLO’s program seems more lenient and instead of removal, issues a “Rule Notification” to participants that break the rules.7 SB specifies the lot is for sleeping only. CAPSLO allows participants to leave and come back, visit with other participants, and use the lot for other purposes, such as socializing, in addition to sleeping. SB does not allow clients to approach any lot owner, staff member, visitor or anyone else authorized to be in the lot. CAPSLO does not have any rules in this regard. CAPSLO allows up to 20 vehicles whereas the SB sites allow a more manageable number of 15 vehicles or less. I’ve attached information about the Santa Barbara program to this email so you can compare the two programs yourself. (SAFE PARKING PROGRAM Santa Barbara County, attached.) The less regimented approach by CAPSLO may be the reason for many of the problems encountered by those who live or work near the site by the railroad station. I drove by the lot on 8/27/2023 at 1:15 p.m. and in the three minutes I was there, I saw a seemingly homeless man go into an unlocked portable toilet onsite. I do not feel comfortable attaching photos of the incident to this email, in respect of the privacy of the individual, but will provide them to you privately if you feel they are needed. Obviously, there should be resources for homeless people to access bathrooms, and I’m not familiar with what’s available in San Luis Obispo. My observation is merely related to the safe parking site, which has been repeatedly represented by the city and CAPSLO as overnight-only, with port-a-potties and dumpster locked during the day. Neither was locked when I was there in the afternoon while the program was still operational. IV. The Findings in the Resolution Are Incorrect I’d like to address some of the Findings of the proposed Resolution which are not accurate: 7 CAPSLO – The City of San Luis Obispo Safe Parking Program . . . 12. Rule Violations & Paneling. For violations of any of the site rules and guidelines, CAPSLO will issue you a Rule Notification and record all incidents on site within the CAPSLO Database. CAPSLO may ask you to leave and submit a panel request for reentry into SLO-SPP services if any of the following occur: a. Repeatedly violating the guidelines and not taking corrective suggestions from staff. b. Violence or threats towards staff, volunteers, neighbors, or other guests. c. Breaking another guest's confidentiality. d. Theft or destruction of property on-site or in the surrounding neighborhood; Acts of vandalism, disruptive behavior, stealing, or violence to nearby businesses or residences. e. Conducting a business out of the program site, legal or illegal. f. Any other actions or behaviors have been deemed a threat to their safety and health or others. ( 6 Finding 1: “As conditioned, the program will not harm the general health, safety, and welfare of people living or working in the vicinity because conditions of approval have been included to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses and provide for the facilitation of participants’ transition to permanent housing.” On the contrary, the proposed use does harm those living and working in the vicinity. The reason the railroad site was discontinued is because businesses and residents around the site documented the detrimental effect and harm the site had on them and/or t heir businesses. According to multiple people near the railroad safe parking site, they have continued to be negatively affected by homeless participants at the railroad site up until it closed on 8/28/2023, through increased theft in their business and other criminal activity directly related to the homeless participants, fires lit by participants at the site, trespassing into their businesses to use their restrooms for extended periods, participants using the site outside of designated hours and disturbing visitors and customers, and other things as documented by recent statements of those affected. Finding 2. “The temporary closure of a portion of Palm Street is consistent with intent and provisions of California Vehicle Code Section 21101 that is authorized through City Council Resolution No. 11152 (2020 Series), and the County Board of Supervisors Ordinance No. 3459 (2021 Series) which establishes the Shelter Crisis within the County of San Luis Obispo, pursuant to Government Code Section 8698.2” The temporary closure of Palm Street is NOT consistent with the intent of the provisions of California Vehicle Code Section 21101 or City Council Resolution No. 11152. The city does not have the legal authority to temporarily close Palm Street, a public street, because state law takes precedence over city and county legislation, and California Appellate Court has ruled that “other purposes” enumerated in Section 21101(e) must directly relate to celebrations, parades, and special events. An overnight homeless parking site does not relate to a celebration, parade or special event, by any stretch of the imagination. There is significant caselaw related to Section 21101 overall, that narrowly construes a city’s ability to close a street for one group or segment of the community, based on the principle that city streets belong to the public, and cannot be closed to exclude some residents while allowing others. Finding 8. “As conditioned, the project complies with all applicable provisions of the Zoning Regulations as described within the property development standards for the C -T zone. The proposed safe parking use is compatible with the project site and other land uses in the vicinity because the program consists of temporary overnight parking on a public street where existing on-street parking is currently allowed.” It’s shocking that the city makes the assertion that the proposed project complies with the Zoning Regulations for the Tourist-Commercial (C-T) zone. It actually violates the Zoning Regulations for the C-T zone, and completely ignores the “premise and application” of the zone as defined in the Zoning Regulations which specifies that use in the C-T zone is intended to: • promote San Luis Obispo as an attractive place for short-term stays, as well as an attractive destination for long-term visitors, • with conference and visitor-serving facilities that have a l ow impact upon the environment and upon the existing land forms and landscapes, and that 7 • provides low-impact visitor activities and low-impact means of transportation (such as walking from hotels to restaurants and/or downtown). Additionally, the proposed overnight camping use is not compatible with the project site and other land uses in the area because overnight camping in a vehicle is not permitted on a public street in San Luis Obispo according to Ordinance 10.34.020.8 On-street parking is currently allowed on Palm Street, but sleeping or camping in your vehicle or RV is prohibited there, or on any city street, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Further, the vehicles at the proposed site are not parking in “existing on -street parking” because the site is being modified to allow 10 vehicles to park at a 45-degree angle, adjacent to the curb. Nevertheless, the most important aspect of the matter is that the proposed use is not consistent with the city’s own Zoning Regulations for the Tourist-Commercial zone. V. Planning Commission Must Deny the Project The proposed project must be denied based on inconsistency with the city’s Zoning Regulations, specifically with the “purpose and application” of the Commercial Tourist zone, where it is proposed to be located. (Finding 6 and Finding 8) Additionally, it is not legal to temporarily close a public street under California Vehicle Code Section 21101 for the proposed use of establishing a site for homeless to sleep in their vehicles overnight. (Finding 2) However, I urge you to support the program in an appropriate location consistent with the city’s Zoning Regulations, such as in a P-F Public Facilities zone or when there is an approved contract with a faith-based or other organization to operate in their parking lot, consistent with safe parking programs in other communities, especially Santa Barbara’s program. Thank you, Kathie Walker P.S. The overnight safe parking program in Santa Barbara offers a three-day training program and a Safe Parking Program Manual, which is described as a guide created for other communities seeking to begin their own program to assist the vehicular homeless. The manual outlines best practices, challenges, tips and “pearls of wisdom”. I’m curious about whether the city of San Luis Obispo participated in this program to learn how Santa Barbara’s program is so successful. 8 SLO City Ordinance 10.34.020: Overnight camping prohibited on city streets and city-owned parking areas. A. Prohibition. No occupied vehicle shall be parked for the purposes of allowing the occupants thereof to establish a temporary or permanent residential use, camp or sleep within the vehicle during the hours of ten p.m. to six a.m. For the purpose of this section, any occupied motor vehicle parked on the public streets or specified public areas during the times mentioned herein, which (1) contains a person or persons sleeping therein, or (2) contains bedding or camp paraphernalia arranged for the purpose of, or in such a way as will permit, the occupants thereof to remain overnight shall be deemed to be in violation of this section. B. Applicability. This section shall prohibit the parking of vehicles for purposes of overnight camping on any city public right-of-way, including all public streets, and any city-owned parking areas within the city of San Luis Obispo. Camping or sleeping in vehicles on private property or areas not within the public right-of-way, public streets, or any city-owned parking areas is subject to the requirements of Section 17.16.015. 8 San Luis Obispo Zoning Map SAFE PARKING PROGRAM® A PROGRAM OF NEW BEGINNINGS COUNSELING CENTER 324 East Carrillo Street, Suite C Santa Barbara, California 93101 Administrative Headquarters: (805) 963-7777 SafePark ing (805) 963-8135 (Fax) SafePark ing r A o G F A M" Safe ParkingTM Program Office: (805) 845-8492 r R a G A A M Coordinator Cell Phone: (805) 450-8476 SAFE PARKING PROGRAM® OVERVIEW New Beginnings Counseling Center currently operates a program to provide safe overnight parking for qualifying individuals and families who are living in their vehicles. Program participants must be currently living in -heir vehicle and be a resident of Santa Barbara County. Additionally, participants must have current criver's license, vehicle insurance, and registration. The program is a cooperative between New Beginnin-gs, local law enforcement, faith -based organizations and merchants, non -profits, the Cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara, and the County of Santa Barbara, where the participating institutions provide parking places for vehicle dwellers and/or collaborate with us in the successful implementation of the program The procram currently offers 136 spaces at 24 dispersed locations in the greater Santa Barbara area. Each lot offers free nightly parking for one to 15 vehicles, depending on location. The purpose of the program is to providty the level of stability needed for vehicle dwellers to effectively make positive changes in their lives and become re-employed and re -housed as quickly as possible. In addition to parking, New Beginnings offers social services and case management to help them achieve this end. HOW IT WORKS Faith -based organizations, non -profits and businesses interested in participating in the program sign a contract with New Beginnings and agree to a basic set of rules for the vehicle dwellers on their property, The participating institutions are currently free to augment or edit the rules as they see fit in accordance with County and/or City codes. Clients s=eking to participate in this program receive an intake assessment. Potential clients are screened via an in-depth interview designed to identify immediate crises and needs, and establish long-term goals. Typical issues include the following: ❖ Determine immediate crises, both personal and vehicle -related ❖ Verify identification or assist in obtaining identification ❖ Income verification if any — employment, government, food stamps, etc. ❖ Determine monthly expenses and bills ❖ Obtain pertinent info and ID regarding children and dependents ❖ Determine legal issues pending ❖ Determine medical issues/establish medical history PROGRAM OPERATIONS, RULES AND REGULATIONS: iO4'\; Eaci client at -.ends case management meetings to determine how they are progressing toward Si arking reeting their goals. In addition, lot monitors/outreach workers conduct nightly checks of the rROGRAM` part cipating lots to assess usage, identify potential problems, and maintain safety for all. Below is a list of rules and regLiations th 3t the client must agree to in order to be able to qualify for our services. PARKING RULES, RESTRICTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAFE PARKING PROGRAM: 1. Program participants must be currently living in their vehicles in the Santa Barbara or Goleta area and 0ey must have current license, registration, and insurance. 2. Giuns or firearms of any kind are strictly prohibited, and the use of alcohol and/or drugs will not be tolerated. Failure to abide by this rule will result in immediate removal from the assigned location. 3. Urinating, defecating, or disposing of such waste on the property is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Failure to abide by this rule will result in immediate removal from the assigned location. 4. Absolutely no violent acts, verbal or physical. If you have an issue with another client contact the office and we will handle it administratively. 5. Any concerns, complaints, or suggestions regarding the lot must be communicated with the Safe Parking office directly and handled administratively. Clients are NOT authorized to approach any lot owner, staff rrember, visitor, or anyone else authorized to be present in the lot. 6. G Tents must always maintain a working phone or email, in order to be in contact with case managers. 7. C ients must utilize the permitted space a minimum of 4 nights per week in order to retain a space in the program. Safe Parking Program staff must be notified within 36 hours of any absences from the lot, except in cases of emergency. 8. Camping tarps or camping equipment beyond the top of the vehicle are prohibited. 9. Cooking outside the vehicle is absolutely not allowed. 10. AN trash will be disposed of offsite and the area will be kept tidy. 11. Lcud music is not permitted. 12. Parking lot is for sleeping use only. 13. Overnight stays will be limited to the hours assigned. Adherence to in and out times is mandatory. 14. Users must keep (barking) dogs in their vehicle at all times. Animals must be kept on a leash at all times on the property. Animal waste must be must be picked up immediately and disposed of properly. 15. Under absolutely no conditions will the client(s) invite other vehicle dwellers to occupy the site or invite a■y visitors or any type of patrons into the parking lot. 16. If bathroom facilities are provided, showering or bathing is not permitted. 17. The owner of the parking lot cannot be held liable for damages caused by a third party to the parked vehicle or its occupants. 18. A:)solutely no more than one vehicle allowed per individual or family staying at the site. 19. A:)solutely no use of the facility services i.e., ELECTRICITY, water, trash or any of the hoses at the site. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate termination from our program. 20. Please respect the privacy of the surrounding neighbors and their property. 21. Cilldren will be watched and kept safe at All Times --- No ExceptionsHM 22. Do not park within 3 blocks of the lot you are assigned to at any time. 23. If you do not renew your permit within 7 days after the expiration date you will be suspended from the program and must make an appointment to discuss reinstatement. Mote: Please notify us immediately if you are leaving either for a week or permanently, and if you have been issued a M=y to a site please return it when you leave. We are not responsible to remind clients when to renew permits. We do rot automatically renew permits. Ack" C -ient Confidentiality and Privacy Policies SafeParking c'.afe Parking p-ogram staff will not divulge whether someone is or is not a participant in the program. Program ""0"""M staff will not di\.ulge any personal identifying information of any individual or family participant of the program without consent ffom the client/s. The Safe Parking program has incorporated into its policies and procedures a process that will ensure the =nf dentiality cf program participants' identifying information; records pertaining to any individual or family provided with assistance; and treatment services offered under any project associated with New Beginnings. Furthermore, the address or Imation of any participant assisted through the Safe Parking program will be anonymous except upon written authorization for the informatior to be made public from the client/program participant to the person or persons responsible for the operation of the program. 10 We, consent to participate in the shelter component of the Safe Parking Program, and Me Accept and agree to r_spect, acknowledge and adhere to the rules, policy, and procedure; guidelines and regulations that are stated above and will accept full responsibility of the consequences of the outcome if there is a violation to this contract. (signature of client) (date) ;�gnature of client) (date) 'signature of case manager) (date) addition to these rules, all clients sign a release of information and a waiver of liability towards our company and ,-our organiza-ion, indicating that neither party is responsible for damages to the vehicle, and allowing us to share ,� ert informaion. New Beginnings Counseling Center carries liability insurance for each Safe Parking lot location. ONCLUSION closing, we hope you will consider participating in this program. If you have any questions about this introductory _eceet, please call the Safe Parking Program Coordinator Cassie Roach at (805) 845-8492 or (805) 450-8476. ;so, if your organization would like to communicate with one of our local lots that are currently working with us we -a-)u.d be happy to connect you with those organizations. It is important to gain various perspectives on the program i-i order to mace a balanced decision that is in the best interest of your organization, while also thinking about the reeds of homeless individuals in our community who are forced to live in their vehicles. To reach New Beginnings Counseling Center to speak with the Executive Director, Kristine Schwarz, please call 1905) 963-7777 x144. If we do not hear from you, we will follow up in the next several weeks with a phone call to colFer further information and answer any questions you might have. Tlhank you for your interest in our program.