HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-2012 ac ash baugh clr hard copy:
o COUNCIL
q CITY MGR
o ASST CM
o ATTORNE Y
q CLERKJORI G
o PIB
a TRIBUNE
o NEW TIME S
q SLO CITY NEWS
email :
o CDD DIRoFIT DIR
o FIRE CHIEF
o PWDIR
0 POLICE CHIE F
o PARKS &REC DIR
o UITLDI R
o HR DIR
o COUNCIL
o CITY MG R
o CLERK
SUBJECT :
CAPSLO Board Meeting 2/16 and Safe Parking Proposa l
AGEND A
DATE :
February 21, 2012 CORRESPONDENC E
Date °1il ~Item#C-l-g -TO :
Mayor and City ounci l
FROM :
John Ashbaugh, Vice Mayor
~`.council liaison REp o
city of san Luis oBispo, office of the city council
RECEIVE D
R -EB 21 201 2
SLO CITY CLER K
The subject of a "Safe Parking Area" proposal came up at the February 16 meeting of th e
Community Action Partnership Board (CAPSLO). The Homeless Services staff for CAPSLO ar e
very concerned that homeless persons with vehicles are using the Prado Road frontage near ou r
Corporate Yard (and the Prado Day Center) as an "ad hoc" overnight parking area . Thi s
occupancy pattern has resulted in several problems due to the lack of sanitary facilities, and othe r
factors associated with a concentration of homeless individuals . In many cases, these ar e
individuals who are turned away from the Maxine Lewis Shelter or its overflow facilities due t o
capacity limitations or other issues . It was reported that 30 or more cars, vans, and RV's wer e
parked, often bumper-to-bumpter, on Prado Road .
It should be noted that as of last Friday, February 17, the City put into effect a renewe d
enforcement effort to have these vehicles removed from the Prado Road frontage, preventin g
overnight parking . It is not known yet whether the problem will resume at Prado Road in the nea r
future, and only a few more days will reveal whether these individuals and their vehicles hav e
merely dispersed to nearby neighborhoods or to rural areas where they will continue to attempt
to park illegally, but with a reduced risk of detection .
It should also be noted that there is a continued interest in establishing a "Safe Parking" facilit y
(or several such facilities) that would, it is hoped, alleviate the Prado Road parking problem .
Such a Safe Parking Area would be sited and managed to accommodate homeless persons wh o
are either unable to utilize the regular shelter/overflow, and who can locate their vehicle in a
safe, secure area that is designed and managed for overnight use . The County's Homeless
Services Oversight Committee has been conducting research on this need for over a year now ,
and it has been reported that negotiations are underway to establish a small "Safe Parking" are a
for up to three vehicles in a church parking lot in Arroyo Grande . Until recently, no other "Safe
Parking" proposal has come forward .
Last month, however, CAPSLO Homeless Services staff brought forward a proposal to City staff
to accommodate a "safe parking area" somewhere at or adjacent to the Prado Day Center . Thi s
proposal is being actively considered by City staff as well as County staff involved in homeles s
services . Some of the issues being discussed at staff level are outlined in a memo from Michae l
Codron, Assistant City Manager, to the Council dated February 2 . According to that memo, thes e
issues include : Consistency with the SLO Countywide 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness ;
consistency with the CUP ; Municipal Code changes that may be required ; increased demands o n
law enforcement resources ; possible need for a new or revised contract with CAPSLO for Prado ;
Document/
Council Liaison Repor t
February 21, 201 2
Page 2
consideration of alternative sites ; and regional implications . This proposal has been put forwar d
as a "pilot" for a few months, after which changes or termination would be considered .
The Council might, ultimately, have a role in decision-making on such a Safe Parking Are a
facility . If desired, we could agendize it for early Council consideration . Alternatively, we coul d
continue as we now do, to direct staff to continue processing the application as outlined in th e
February 2 memo from Michael Codron, and rely upon the Council members individually t o
maintain our respective roles with respect to CAPSLO and the Homeless Services Oversight
Council for further reports .