| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00:00.03 | Unknown | Sausalito.org. |
| 00:00:15.96 | Unknown | We're about to start our broadcast. |
| 00:00:17.34 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you, Christine. |
| 00:00:21.09 | Heidi Scoble | And, I'll admit everybody in the waiting room. |
| 00:00:32.87 | Heidi Scoble | Good evening, Mayor Hoffman and Council Members. This meeting has been held pursuant to Section 3 of Executive Order N-29-20 issued by Governor Newsom on March 17, 2020. And all members are joining this meeting telephonically through Zoom and is broadcast live on City's website and on cable TV channel 27. |
| 00:00:57.95 | Jill Hoffman | good evening and welcome to the special city council meeting uh february 5th uh 2021. And, um, Um, uh, search, could you please take the role? |
| 00:01:13.12 | Heidi Scoble | Sure. Councilmember Savieski? here. Councilmember Blaustein. |
| 00:01:20.51 | Unknown | here. |
| 00:01:21.55 | Heidi Scoble | Council Member Clivet Knowles. |
| 00:01:23.70 | Unknown | here. |
| 00:01:24.83 | Heidi Scoble | Vice Mayor Kilman. |
| 00:01:26.60 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 00:01:28.29 | Heidi Scoble | and Mayor Hoffman. |
| 00:01:30.09 | Jill Hoffman | Here. And may I have a motion? |
| 00:01:34.18 | Heidi Scoble | All members are present in their subquorum. |
| 00:01:37.38 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. May I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda? |
| 00:01:40.98 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. So before we do that, Mayor Hoffman, could I just ask for the members of the public here and for myself, we had discussed having this topic on our regular meeting on Tuesday, and I was just wondering if we could discuss the nature of the special meeting and why it's today. |
| 00:01:59.89 | Jill Hoffman | The nature of the special meeting is as it says in the agenda that's listed on the website. And we're having it today because we need to take action on this matter as we Thank you. members City Council members were polled to see if they were available for a special meeting today and We had a quorum and so we set the meeting. In fact, I think all city council members said they were available for meeting. So I don't really think at this point it's appropriate to go into why we're having a meeting. If I could have a motion, Please, in a second, we'll proceed. |
| 00:02:39.37 | Janelle Kellman | I'll make a motion, I just wanted to understand why we were doing this today as opposed to Tuesday as we had previously discussed, but I will make a motion. |
| 00:02:45.98 | Jill Hoffman | I will make a motion. I think it was pretty apparent when you were called to see if you were available for the meeting, but if you'd like to make a motion, I'm- Happy to entertain it and to have a second. I made the motion. Could I have a second please? I'll second. Thank you. Serge, could you call the roll? |
| 00:03:06.33 | Heidi Scoble | or, Council member Sobieski. Yes. Council member Bluff thing. Council Member Clivelet-Knowles. |
| 00:03:15.59 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. |
| 00:03:16.79 | Heidi Scoble | Mayor Kilman. |
| 00:03:18.29 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. |
| 00:03:19.26 | Heidi Scoble | Mayor Hoffman. |
| 00:03:20.71 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, motion passes unanimously. And so we have our first item on the agenda. is And the only item on our agenda is one a report on homelessness in Sausalito and the dumpy park tent encampment. I understand we have a presentation. from our staff and staff, if you could please begin the presentation. |
| 00:03:56.31 | Mary Wagner | Thank you, Madam Mayor. It's Mary Wagner, your city attorney. The police chief is actually going to kick off this this presentation with some background and some additional information, then we'll hand it over to me. Can you guys confirm that you can see my screen? |
| 00:04:10.61 | Unknown | We can. |
| 00:04:11.54 | Mary Wagner | Great, so I'll turn it over to Chief Robacher. |
| 00:04:19.11 | Janelle Kellman | You are showing your notes, Mary. I don't know if that matters to you. Thank you. |
| 00:04:26.67 | Mary Wagner | Thank you. It's in the next screen. Switch that. |
| 00:04:57.42 | Mary Wagner | There we go. How's that? Good, Mary. Thank you. Great, thank you for your patience. |
| 00:05:03.95 | John Rohrbacher | Yes, good afternoon, Doug. Mayor, Vice Mayor and members of the City Council. My name is John Werbacher. I'm your Chief of Police. I'm going to provide some background information this afternoon but I'm also sharing this presentation with our City Attorney, Mary Wagner. And just to say it up front, we're sort of tag teaming on the slide. So I think Mary's going to advance the slides as we get to that point. for each slide. And so I'm hoping that doesn't look too clunky. Mary, if you would pick up the next slide would be great. So for background, I think it's important to note a broader picture about homelessness in California. their last best information that we have comes from 2019. There would be probably better information coming out now in 2021, the beginning of the year. I think gathering that information has been challenged by the pandemic. But regardless, you can see the numbers are huge. of over 150,000 people experiencing homelessness. As of two years ago, I can only imagine that numbers increased by the pandemic. The people impacted our entire families, veterans, |
| 00:06:08.39 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:06:21.49 | John Rohrbacher | by young adults, And clearly a full third of that population was people who are experiencing chronic homelessness. |
| 00:06:34.82 | John Rohrbacher | So bringing it local about our Dunphy Park encampment. So in Mid to late December, we had a tent appear in our outskirts of Dempy Park. Actually, it's in the old location of the police department. And it was just one tent and one individual occupant. But over a short amount of time, more tents were put up in the same area. And after the storms in January, the encampment grew And work through. Go ahead. Somebody's talking. Sorry. Sorry. and the number was 12 tents and nine individuals but i'm going to readily acknowledge that could be more or less today it's hard to count every single day how many tents and individuals i'm sure lots of people are looking down on the account and counting more tents but the population is really those who are sleeping there not so much how many people visit every single day and so it looks far more crowded, but regardless, it's an encampment. Bob. So, We also know that six of the people that are in our encampment were previously on occupied vessels in Richardson Bay under the jurisdiction of the Richardson Bay Regional Agency. But the it's okay about the slide just going to comment that the storms were pretty devastating, as you know, from our previous publications and announcements, we had 23 boats break loose. and come ashore in Sausalito. And as a result of that, the next week we have the atmospheric river, which also caused more concern. So that was the beginnings of our FMP Park encampment. |
| 00:08:38.84 | John Rohrbacher | So we looked at what are we gonna do about looking out for our new encampment occupants? And we asked for help from our service providers here in Marin. And through Health and Human Services, we were able to get help right away with the people who identified as veterans from the Ring County's Department of Veterans Services. We also through Health and Human Services have service providers, outreach providers from downtown streets who come to our encampment, and also people from our local faith-based leaders came and visited to help us determine who was here, what did they need, and how can we possibly help them with shelter. The police department's role in this to visit multiple times every single 24 hour period because we're concerned for the safety of the occupants and for the soft-suited community in general. |
| 00:09:43.08 | John Rohrbacher | And a couple of pictures just to give an idea about what that looks like. I believe these are from this morning. You could see that the camping turned into an encampment. Go back one, please, just for a sec. You can see that there's almost like a food service kitchen here in the foreground for feeding people. The tents are a wide variety of shape sizes and some with tarps on the top to keep them from leaking. Next slide, fine. And then another view from a different angle. Again, just showing the variety of tents and how they're spread out on the old police department watch. |
| 00:10:28.71 | John Rohrbacher | So those pose some challenges for us in our community and for the people in the encampment. There's a lack of access for restrooms, showers and other sanitary services. And those things present health, welfare, and safety risks to the people living in the encampment and to the environment in that area. |
| 00:10:53.21 | John Rohrbacher | And stepping back a little bit just to recap a little bit about what we've done so far as the city of Sausalito in our waterfront management and how we have, a good record of demonstrating our commitment to finding alternatives to people who are living on South Sea of waters. our waterfront management plan was a multiple year plan started back in 2017, working with the city council and our waterfront management group to start clearing the water of debris and unoccupied vessels and vessels that had people on them that were a danger to themselves. And then finally ending up with what we called our legacy anchor outs, people that were on our water, occupying vessels that were licensed, registered in a position of some type of a waste disposal contract. And our count of those is six legacy anchor outs AND I THINK I'M GOING TO Since 2017 our record is that we have reduced the vessels from 90 to nine and over 50 illegal morning balls and anchoring devices have been removed from the bank. |
| 00:12:12.96 | John Rohrbacher | At the same time that we've been doing all that, we have tried to find other ways to support people. who don't have homes and to find alternate housing. We have assisted those who live on the water all over Richardson Bay, not just in South Cedar Water. by first creating and then hosting every year the annual Richardson Bay Debris Collection event. where we would bring contractors with larger boats to go out and collect those large items on that might be |
| 00:12:45.78 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:12:46.07 | John Rohrbacher | into the water in the storms and create the environmental problems and hazardous navigation. the city of Sausalito, welcome to the downtown street scheme, mobile showers to Brent Shipp Park. and Saucedo is one of the other cities and the county and the that put together the money to help down south street team operate that shower program all over the county. but only frankly at the moment in the vital center foul in Sausalito. During the mobile shower visits, we supported the distribution of food. Some of it was grab-and-go groceries, some of it was prepared meals. But this came up as a really big hardship for people during the pandemic and wanted to make sure that people didn't go hungry. on. We also created our Safe Harbor program, and this is a really noteworthy thing for us. We worked on this starting in 2017, starting that program. It took a few years to get to the point where we were working with the county health and human services and Ritter Center as our wraparound service provider to get a grant. I'm, from the California Emergency Solutions and Housing, the cash funds, to pay for slips in local marinas for our legacy anchor outs. So that people have needed to have a sea-worthy vessel and it provided them a slip in the marina, it's safe and secure. And of course, once they're there, then they have access to sanitary facilities, make it easier to have jobs, they could go to work without having to roll back and forth on their boats. The other thing that we're very proud of is that for at least the 12 years I've been serving the city of Saucerito, We have hosted the annual homeless outreach event. There's a lot of pieces to that. Primarily it was a way to connect with people that have done the water, provide through a partnership with the county to get flu shots, other medical checks, dental service families here, and then provide a meal or a hot lunch, and then distribute clothing and shoes and other emergency needs. And we're disappointed, of course, that this last year we weren't able to do it because of the pandemic. So we're committed to doing it again in 2021. |
| 00:15:21.86 | John Rohrbacher | So moving on to now, so based on our encampment, we have a city council working group consisting of Mayor Hoffman and council member Blavstein We've been meeting and talking to our county regional partners. Frankly, more meetings than I can count that we've done over the last four or five weeks, looking for ways to identify housing for the people in the Dunphy Park tent encampment. Our primary goal, what do we do? Obviously, it's not easy, the amount of beds available is limited. The amount of money is limited, but we're not easily deterred and we've been working very hard to see what we can do for the people that need housing. One of the tools that the social services workers use is a... It's actually a product called VI ESPIDAT. It's the Vulnerability Index Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool. It's what people use, the trained people use to decide how many, you know, what's the level of need. Clearly somebody who might be older and not in very good health would certainly have a higher score than somebody who is younger and in better health and helps them determine who can get first option for housing. And also recognizing that there are some people who simply are resistant. They don't want any alternate shelter. And so it can't force them to take it. |
| 00:16:55.87 | John Rohrbacher | So what's next? And so you'll hear from our city attorney next about some of the legal challenges. But before we get there, one of the two resolutions in front of you today is one that that you, the city council, affirm its commitment to continue the work that I described, that we're gonna work with our regional and local partners, and we're gonna do everything we can to provide shelter and care to people without a home And we're committed to treat everybody with compassion and dignity. And I think our director, Joe, is that. This is not about criminality. This is about caring for people. And that's our mission. Mary? |
| 00:17:41.47 | Mary Wagner | Thank you, Chief. So as Chief Rohrabacher indicated I'm going to go through a few slides that talk about the legal framework with respect to the encampment. and then the proposed next steps that are in your packet tonight. So you've all heard of the Martin versus Boise decision case by now. It's a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, federal court that came out in 2019. The court ultimately held that the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits cities from criminalizing indigent people without homes for sleeping outdoors on public property. resulted from a legal challenge to two city ordinances from the city of boise the disorderly conduct ordinance and the camping ordinance that together were frequently used to prohibit people without homes from camping or sleeping overnight on any public property throughout the city. The Ninth Circuit is a large circuit, includes Boise, also includes California, obviously, and is binding on jurisdictions in California. The US Supreme Court was asked to take the decision up on appeal and they decided not to. So it stands. It's important to understand what Boise says and what it doesn't. The clear holding of Boise is that the protections of Martin apply only to persons who have no option of sleeping out indoors. and that cities still have the ability to regulate the location, essentially the time, place and manner of sleeping outdoors, as well as other reasonable regulations, so long as persons without homes with no option to sleep indoors, have some place where they can lawfully sleep outdoors. So given that framework, we've developed the resolution that you have in your packet tonight for your consideration. The resolution stems off of the provision in your municipal code that's on the screen here. that allows the council to adopt resolutions to control the use of publicly owned lands. |
| 00:19:48.47 | Mary Wagner | So the second resolution that you have in your packet tonight includes four basic provisions. One that no daytime camping or storing of camping equipment on public property is allowed. So from sunrise to sundown, there's no camping on any publicly owned property. It allows for overnight camping temporarily in Marin Ship Park. to overnight camping and storing of facilities, and those terms are defined in your resolution, again, are prohibited on any other city property from sundown to sunrise, except for those areas of Marinship Park designated by the interim city manager or her designee. by persons who have no option to sleep indoors. And then that includes that all persons camping overnight must remove their camping equipment, we call them camping facilities in the resolution, and their personal property from the designated area of Marinship Park 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset in order to give people an opportunity to set up and remove their belongings. attached to that second resolution in your packet tonight. standard operating procedures that would govern the clearing and cleaning of areas used for camping We've developed those looking at some of our partner agencies, in particular, Novato and San Rafael and other jurisdictions that have had some experience in this situation. And I've worked closely with both the Chief and with Kevin McGowan, your Director of Public Works. to ensure that those provisions are clear and easily understood. |
| 00:21:28.79 | Mary Wagner | So with that, the recommendation from staff tonight. Is one, that you adopt the resolution that the chief described expressing the commitment to continue the good work that the Sausalito has been doing? to look for every opportunity to provide shelter and to provide care to those without a home. and to continue to treat everyone experiencing homelessness with compassion and dignity. The second resolution is the resolution I just described. which deals with the closing of certain city property, except for that designated area of Marin Ship Park. then we're also suggesting that you direct staff to return to the council with a report and an update on the implementation of your enforcement actions or direction that we received from you in not less than 60 days. So that concludes staff's presentation. I am of course available for questions as is the Chief along with Kevin McGowan, the Director of Public Works and Marsha Raines. your interim city manager. And if you'd like me to, I can stop sharing screen or leave it up if it's helpful for you to have the recommendation slide available. |
| 00:22:31.09 | Jill Hoffman | Thanks, Mary. I think it would be helpful to have the recommendation slide available later when we get ready. make we get on to a decision point But I think, unless somebody feels differently. I think that works best. It's easier to navigate through Yes, I see Vice Mayor Killman has her hand up. Thank you. |
| 00:22:50.94 | Janelle Kellman | Mary, thank you for that. And Chief, thank you for outlining our approach in the background here as well. Mary, can you just for the benefit of the council explain how the process would work in terms of a 72 hour notice, you know, if we pass this resolution tonight, what happens and what does the timing look like? Can we... |
| 00:23:12.51 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:23:12.54 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:23:12.57 | Jill Hoffman | Oh. |
| 00:23:12.62 | Janelle Kellman | Oh. Thank you. |
| 00:23:12.96 | Jill Hoffman | Should we have that now or should we have that later, Mary? I mean, I guess that's now. I guess we'll have it now. |
| 00:23:20.15 | Janelle Kellman | Yeah, I'd really like to understand that too. |
| 00:23:20.88 | Jill Hoffman | understand. Thank you. |
| 00:23:22.68 | Janelle Kellman | Pardon me? So I'd like to understand that at this point too. Thank you. |
| 00:23:30.04 | Mary Wagner | Sure. So you're working in connection with the chief and the director of public works and the interim city manager. We've talked about that very question. So if the council were to take action tonight on the resolutions that you have in front of you, we would be prepared to start issuing a 72-hour notice for the cleaning and clearing of the Dunphy Park encampment. That notice could go out as early as tomorrow, if that's the Council's desire and direction. people would be encouraged to move immediately to Marin Ship Park due to the proximity to sanitation facilities. and the other benefits that the Marinship Park area provides if that's your direction tonight. So those notices would be posted again as early as tomorrow and then people would need to be removed as early as as Tuesday. I know that the director of public works was over in the Marinship Park area today. looking at the appropriate area. where people could relocate. |
| 00:24:33.35 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:24:33.37 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you, Mary. Sure. Yes, Susan, Council Member Clegane also has her hand up. |
| 00:24:39.17 | Janelle Kellman | Yeah, so just a follow up to that question. for I don't know who's the appropriate person, but has there been sufficient outreach and notice for that to start soon or is it more advice that that be done in a little more gradual way or what's the recommendation of staff at this point? |
| 00:25:05.06 | Mary Wagner | Well, I can let the chief or your interim city manager weigh in here too, but I think that we'd be looking for your direction on that if you felt that it was appropriate. to do a little more noticing than starting tomorrow. We could do that outreach. THE FAMILY. unless the chief or the interim city manager have something to add to that. |
| 00:25:26.05 | Melissa Blaustein | I think it might be helpful if one of the staff members could speak to the outreach that's been done by the county at this point. I'd like to just put it back to the public to know, you know, can someone speak to that? |
| 00:25:35.62 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 00:25:35.88 | Mary Wagner | Thank you. |
| 00:25:35.91 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:25:35.94 | Mary Wagner | Thank you. |
| 00:25:35.96 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:25:41.56 | Mary Wagner | Sure, or you and the mayor as the working group, I know I've had a lot of communications with the County Health and Human Services, as well as county officials and with state officials as well. I would need to look to the chief or to the interim city manager to help fill in that information. |
| 00:26:04.97 | Marsha Raines | I think Chief would be good if we can get him online here to address actually who's been on site. I believe that was the nature of the question. We've had a number of meetings as the city attorney has outlined, but as to who's actually been on site from the social services agencies and the veterans affairs, I think The Chief has some details on that. |
| 00:26:27.14 | John Rohrbacher | Yes. So in terms of who they are, individual people, there's several. But the agencies that have come down have been initially the County Office of Veteran Services has been there because in our early conversations when the officers are with the occupants is we learned one of them, maybe two of them were veterans and knowing that the, the county has a veteran services program. We ask them to come down first and look at you know, with the, with the, um, would campers be willing to talk to the better service provider provide information and see if there was something in their veteran services packages that they were not getting including housing And so that took place right away. And then after that, because we have already the downtown streets team running the mobile shower program in Saucedo on Tuesdays and Fridays. than people assigned to that. program here in Sausalito are also trained social outreach workers and are able to administer the VI-Espanat tool. And so we asked for them to start. doing that with anybody who would be willing to you know. to be assessed because obviously there's no way we can require someone to do that. So those are all run under the county health and human services department. So primarily it's the Better Services and Downtown Street's team being boots on the ground. In addition, I know that at least two uh, members of the clergy have been here on site in a in their role to talk to people and see what they need and just to look out for their welfare. |
| 00:28:26.13 | Marsha Raines | Chief, can I ask you to explain the term you use? |
| 00:28:26.35 | John Rohrbacher | Thank you. |
| 00:28:32.86 | John Rohrbacher | Sure. You know, I gave the words for the ISPEDAT in my slide. I couldn't say them again without looking at the slide. But it's an assessment tool that was put together by a company to help Just in situations like this, it's available across the nation. Not everybody uses it, but quite a few do. And the questions go through to help the outreach worker. determine you know a person's background and what might be need whether it's medical care housing, what are the challenges they might have, It's actually very thorough and It ends up with a a score or rating after it's all done. And it's not something like anybody from the police department could administer. You have to have a particular background and training to do it. And then the score, when it's assessed, then helps determine a person's place in line. or the available shelter or housing, and as most of us are aware of, generally too scarce. the money in the housing, and so Before that, BISBDAT was around, then I think it's even was quoted in one of the newspaper articles a few years ago by Health is sometimes it was just a matter of luck who got a room. and they wanted to do a better job and really look at who could be, who do we need to serve the most? And that's the most vulnerable among us Even when you're talking to a group of people who are largely vulnerable, then trying to pick out the most vulnerable is a significant challenge. And so that's the reason for the VISPADAT tool and wide use here in Marin County. Is that out your question? |
| 00:30:17.45 | Marsha Raines | Thank you. |
| 00:30:17.74 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:30:17.76 | Marsha Raines | Thank you. |
| 00:30:17.89 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:30:21.10 | Janelle Kellman | Yes, Susan. So, okay, thank you for that. I think that the purpose of the question and perhaps that council member Blasdine was asking too, is sort of who is in the best position to advise on the appropriate outreach. and you know, what folks should be consulted prior to giving a 72 hour notice. So I think at some point tonight, if we can understand that better, I would really appreciate that. I think it's important to do |
| 00:30:48.50 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:30:52.82 | Janelle Kellman | We will do this in a way that we will, if we go forward, that we will be the most successful. from a I WANT TO THINK THAT I WANT from everyone's perspective. So the other question I had is we got some public comment today asking about the sunrise to sunset, timeline and whether it be possible to have more of a time. you know, in less... that that was very early during the summer months. So the sunrise is quite early And could we have But. no later than 7 30 or something like that so i was wondering is that a possibility |
| 00:31:38.70 | John Rohrbacher | Can I take a stab at those first? Would that be all right? So, Regarding the time and the hours, Council Member Fiddle Knowles is that Several months ago with the opening of Dumpy Park, We have been working on the made an effort to uniformly apply park hours across the city so that we could post a dumpy park after it was finished being rebuilt. And we came up with the universal language of the park would be open sunrise to sunset, knowing that of course in the summertime people will enjoy it longer into the evening. But at sunset it would be closed. And then of course there's an exception in there for people who were there with a permit for an event of some kind. So when we were looking at the hour, the recommendation to you for hours for the operation of being able to sleep in Marinship Park, We didn't want it to collide with the use of the park by everyone else. So that not that it's going to be an exact, you know, daytime users out, nighttime users in, but it's close enough I think that for people who wanted to continue to use the public parks, in this case, friendship, you know, pass like in the summertime, passed eight or 8.30 into the right into sunset time. at the time it had been set earlier, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It could actually be depriving people of the public use of the park during those hours. So it seemed like it would just make more sense to do it that way. I do recognize it's not an exact science because people don't carry around a sunset and sunrise type book with them. But I think that if this is how you approved the recommendation that we would assure you that we would be very I'm not sure. understanding of that switch over time. I think this is just a better way to make that happen. So that's the I'm not sure. question about the time, but you had a previous question about social services |
| 00:33:52.15 | Janelle Kellman | No, I think maybe we can just |
| 00:33:54.21 | John Rohrbacher | Thank you. |
| 00:33:54.70 | Janelle Kellman | hear more over time tonight about the appropriate factors to consider in issuing a 72-hour notice. And then I just had one comment quickly on the staff report. It said that, you know, it tracks about Project Room Key and Project Home Key. And one of the things I'm hoping we'll talk about today is kind of long-term housing solutions. But, um, Thank you. We talked about Home Key and we do have two Home Key grants that were given in Marin. The report says that there were none. Cordo Madeira and San Rafael both got project Home Key funding. And Novato was granted the funds as well, but ended up declining. |
| 00:34:33.70 | Unknown | that need. Thank you. |
| 00:34:34.51 | Janelle Kellman | that grant, Sausalito also applied. for our Safe Harbor program. And unfortunately, we weren't able to do that. We were not accepted, but I think we will hopefully continue to apply. So I just wanted to, Note that some of those really great funds are coming to Marin and good projects in the rainforest. Thank you. |
| 00:34:56.51 | Janelle Kellman | Mayor Hoffman, I have another question for the city attorney. Sure. Okay, so may I understand that there's case law that explains that an ordinance, a city ordinance against storage of personal property on public property is in fact valid and that the city may enforce the ordinance. However, if the city removes unintended personal property, The city must provide the owners with a way to retrieve the property that was temporarily moved during enforcement. Can you, since I'm sure this question will come up from the public, can you speak to that and any preliminary plans that we have? And then maybe Chief, as part of that, I know Lieutenant Gregory and others do have training around working with homeless individuals, with social services, anything that you can add, I think would be very helpful for the public discourse. But maybe, Mary, we can start with you. Thank you. |
| 00:35:48.25 | Mary Wagner | Sure. So the standard operating procedures that are attached to the second resolution in your packet tonight do include the process for storage of personal belongings. And there will be a number provided that people can utilize to call to find out how to retrieve their belongings and where they're being kept. We're going to work to make it as easy as possible for people to to find their things and are hoping that people take the opportunity to move them themselves, you know, to Marinship Park. But if if need be, when we do, if in fact we do get the direction tonight to post the 72-hour notice in the Dunphy Park encampment we would work to ensure that those items you know, not items that are unsafe or unsanitary, but that items of personal belongings are kept and that there's an opportunity to retrieve them. |
| 00:36:44.83 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I think that's gonna be an important part of this program and to make it very clear and not create an onerous burden should we |
| 00:36:46.86 | Unknown | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 00:36:55.48 | Janelle Kellman | ask folks to move to partnership park. |
| 00:36:58.33 | John Rohrbacher | And Vice Mayor, did you want me to take the answer to your question about the training |
| 00:37:02.94 | Janelle Kellman | Yes, Chief, that would be helpful. Thank you. |
| 00:37:04.75 | John Rohrbacher | Sure. It's actually a very basic part of every the Salcido Police employees training from day one is the care of other people's property. We come across everything from lost keys and phones and wallets to property that we take out of people's cars. We have a quite a bit of depth when it comes to property and the safekeeping of property and all the different situations that determine whether it's 10 days, 30 days, 90 days or longer. And so we would apply all those very same things that we do now. to holding on to people's property if we take any of it in this particular case. Plus, as our city attorney said, there's some language already addressing that in the operating procedures for this. I think we have that very well covered actually but it's a great question but you know we recognize and take the responsibility seriously that when we have somebody else's property that now it's ours to safeguard. |
| 00:38:18.51 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:38:18.54 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:38:18.56 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:38:18.59 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:38:18.64 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 00:38:21.39 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, yes, Council Member Blaustein. |
| 00:38:24.26 | Melissa Blaustein | Could you just potentially speak a little bit more to the procedural, what would happen in terms of removing folks from the encampment? I mean, is this something that social services will be involved in? Is this something that the police force will be required to be responsible for? Do we have, a plan for continued outreach and conversation with these folks? Will we identify each of them? I just would really like to have an understanding of what the plan would be. from |
| 00:38:49.96 | Jill Hoffman | from. Can I jump in there real cheap? Chief, I know you have, you're part of the question, but Council Member Blalestein, I just wanna let you know, and everybody know actually, that I just finished a meeting with, a group of people that included Health and Human Services and I was asking them that exact question, who's been down here, who's been assessing from their department and I was told by their office that They've been down here three or four times, five times over the past couple of weeks, they believe they have a pretty good start assessment of who's in the camp and they're level of their level of assessment for services. So I just wanted to pass that on, that that's the information I just received probably 20 minutes ago, or well not 20 because we don't have this call, but right before this call. You know, but But that's only as good as the last time they were down here, right? So, but I think that there has been good touch points with the people in the camp to the extent that, you know, health and human services from Marine County can do that on the limited times that they've been down here. So anyway, I'm sorry to jump in chief. I know I jumped in front of you, but go ahead and finish the response to council member Blousteen's question. |
| 00:40:20.83 | John Rohrbacher | Okay, so if I understand your question correctly, you want to know a little bit more about the procedure we might use? So it's spelled out some in the operating procedure that you have in your packet. But whatever it is you decide tonight will trigger the timeline. So based on the council's decisions, we could issue our 72 hour warnings as early as tomorrow. and that would give people 72 hours to move. DURING THE 72 HOURS OR AT THE LAST HOUR on and And then of course, we would be there to assist with issues related to property. because there's some property that may not make the trip where it needs our help. But we're standing by ready to do that. We have already been working with Public Works Director McGowan and his crew to make that happen. And setting aside those spaces in Mrenship Park, But on the issue about social services, so I I sought some advice earlier today from the director of downtown street steam for the North Bay, Karen Strollius, she's well known to many of us. I just asked her, you know, what is it we could do, you know, that would be helpful for whoever might be doing our social outreach, including them, because they are to do some. And of course, you know, she has always been so helpful. She told us the the midship location has some advantages because that's where the small showers are already and that's where they are already present and people could get some and make their contact there. She felt that whoever it was that was going to be doing the work for us and we're working on that as we go forward. whether it's them or others, is that if the folks are in one spot like that, that makes it again easier to reach everybody and break everybody up into multiple locations. I don't know if that's really on point to what you wanted, but I'm happy to take more questions. |
| 00:42:51.92 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, unless there's more questions of staff based on the report that was just given, I think we'll move on to public comment. Serge, would you like to read the public comment guidelines? Thank you. |
| 00:43:09.67 | Heidi Scoble | Sure. |
| 00:43:11.44 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:43:12.59 | Heidi Scoble | At this time, members of the public may address the City Council regarding this agenda item. |
| 00:43:17.60 | Unknown | READY. |
| 00:43:17.74 | Heidi Scoble | radio or audio. Video or audio public comment participation is limited to three minutes per speaker. If you would like to make a comment, please raise your hand in the Zoom application, and you will be called upon when is your time to speak. To raise your hand from a phone, press star 9. each speaker will be notified when the time has lapsed. |
| 00:43:45.38 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you, Serge. I would request that people that are making public comments, of course, we like passionate discussion here in Sausalito, but if you could please work to make your comments respectful and and with empathy and treat each other with kindness. I think we would all appreciate that. So I'm gonna call on the speakers that I see with their hands up. And the first one I see on my, screen serves is, I'm just gonna call out the first three, which is Robbie Powelson, and Virginia and then Ava. |
| 00:44:31.80 | Heidi Scoble | And as Robbie Tootland-Yout. Thank you. |
| 00:44:35.19 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Can you hear us? |
| 00:44:36.66 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. |
| 00:44:37.54 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Okay, thank you. Yeah. First of all, I'd like to extend thanks to Janelle Killman for coming out and visiting. earlier today. I'm not sure. What I just want to just really drive through The recent, you know, recent study out of UC Berkeley showed that Sausalito, one of the most socially inequitable cities in the entire state. that the segregation of Sausalito, going back to the segregation of Marin City, going back to your council's decision to evict anchor people living anchored out in Sausalito waters and pushing the Richardson Bay. All these are part of a pattern of incredible systemic disregard for human dignity, for people's voices to be heard. |
| 00:45:28.60 | Unknown | you |
| 00:45:28.68 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | a desire to forward and to create an artificial bubble |
| 00:45:28.74 | Unknown | Thank you. and artificial. Let's go. |
| 00:45:33.65 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | while people are suffering. while people are just trying to get by, while a small few who have created an enclave You can just. disregard the dignity of others. And that now, because people have suddenly become organized and physical, suddenly they care. Suddenly they're writing you all kinds of emails. You know, I heard from a group of public somebody who did a public records act request that John Rohrbrocker called our community a disorderly mess. Sonny's kitchen. Janelle, you saw the kitchen, the fries. of the kitchen down here. And he just, he doesn't care. There's no regard. I mean, we just had, For the first 45 minutes of this meeting, we had two police officers mad dog in the and somebody else. I mean, this is This is Sasha Lido. And I think the world's watching because Sasha Lido's inequity is so deep, so pervasive. And that's why I just want to, you know, and I'm grateful. I'm grateful right now that we have retained legal representation with Anthony Prince of the California Homeless Union. who is ready to prevent any unlawful a decision that this council might make relating to evicting our campsite. People need to shelter in place. We have made significant investment for COVID safety, including buying KN95 masks. And today, one of many inaccurate things, John, but we do have a bathroom here. We actually have a bathroom at the campsite We'd like to thank many generous donors that have allowed that make that happen because your city refused. Your city actually snatched my tent when I tried to camp close to a bathroom downtown that's open |
| 00:47:10.27 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:47:12.11 | Virginia (Public Commenter) | Thank you. THE CITY. actually snatched the |
| 00:47:18.84 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | 24 sevens, refused to open up Dunphy park. But we have people, people here have to get them back. I mean, it's, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You guys, if this, if Sasha Lito is attempting to disregard people's dignity, if it just, |
| 00:47:19.81 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:47:37.04 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | to just treat people awfully, then it's been a very successful event. But in terms of a new way forward. and small craft harborage sustainable ways for affordable housing, affordable maritime, for live-o-born mariners. There's a way forward, but but Sausalito needs to contend. |
| 00:47:55.18 | Unknown | you |
| 00:47:55.92 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | with his racist and claseless history. I'd like to hand it off to my colleague, Jeff Chase. |
| 00:48:01.40 | Heidi Scoble | Your three minutes have elapsed. |
| 00:48:01.42 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:48:01.47 | Jill Hoffman | I'm not. |
| 00:48:01.51 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Yeah. |
| 00:48:01.54 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Hold on, Serge, hold on. |
| 00:48:05.44 | Heidi Scoble | . Thank you. |
| 00:48:06.01 | Jill Hoffman | I had a request earlier that some people are gonna have, only have access to one device and they pass it to each. So we're gonna, in light of that, I'm gonna allow a little bit of leeway here. |
| 00:48:12.20 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:48:12.24 | Heidi Scoble | Yeah. |
| 00:48:17.64 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:48:17.64 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. Should we restart the clock, Mayor Hoffman? |
| 00:48:21.16 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, but hang on just a second. Let me ask them how many people on their end they expected This is just... |
| 00:48:25.91 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Just- Thank you. It looks like we have five, five, five. Yeah. |
| 00:48:28.47 | SPEAKER_48 | We got a lot of people. |
| 00:48:28.78 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:48:28.98 | SPEAKER_48 | Five. |
| 00:48:30.39 | Unknown | Five. |
| 00:48:30.80 | SPEAKER_48 | Thank you. |
| 00:48:32.28 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Yeah, I'll be a few more. |
| 00:48:33.35 | SPEAKER_48 | Okay. You've got to wait your turn. I know. |
| 00:48:36.17 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Oh, Daniel. |
| 00:48:36.76 | Jeff Chase | I'm sorry. Daniel's thing. |
| 00:48:37.94 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Hey. |
| 00:48:38.29 | Jeff Chase | Ahoy! |
| 00:48:40.77 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 00:48:40.94 | Jeff Chase | Hello, Mayor. |
| 00:48:42.22 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, how are you? |
| 00:48:43.17 | Jeff Chase | I think I'm just thinking |
| 00:48:44.62 | Jill Hoffman | Hold on a second. OK, sir, we're just going to let them hand it off so they don't have to keep calling back in. So |
| 00:48:50.53 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | So... |
| 00:48:51.07 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:48:51.79 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, so go ahead and just start the clock. When each new person starts, you can restart. Okay. |
| 00:48:56.69 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:48:56.72 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:48:56.74 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Okay. |
| 00:48:56.97 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:48:57.26 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, go ahead. |
| 00:49:00.30 | Jeff Chase | Ahoy, my name is Jeff Jacob, I'm now at the camp in Ankara Park. This camp started around Christmas time. when our friend Daniel pitched his tent in the corner. This land has never been used in as long as I've been here. in Sausalito, 20 years except for once The police station was here. So rather ironic that there's another Policemen. that is reclaiming this area, not for anything, except for an absence of something and that absence would be of Not only the anchor outs as was promised and delivered halfway, by Harbor Master Curtis Havel, Half of this camp is consists of those people. Half of it are people that are passing through or people that want votes. We have sent now a small craft harbor district petition by law, Harbors and Navigation Code 700027030. And that means that we not only claim the land of rainbow bays, shores, which this consists of right here, never been used. Right next to it, of course, is a toxic landfill that is many acres larger than this camp and that I hear no next door complaints about. the waters that are being directed by RBRA and the Sausalito Police Department and the contiguous land areas, including this, which is now a Mariner Center. I am willing to be arrested here defending this land This land for all of the people of Sausalito, not for just some of them. This Smallcraft Harbor District petition has been sent to your email. So we are forming this and if you persist in interfering, With this legalities. then you will be subject to litigation. I have not filed any lawsuits against Sausalito. I have only stood for gardens for boats and for bicycles and all three of those before this plague happened were being stamped out with the cooperation of the police and the city council. We have three new city council people I want to end by giving you a little bit of Torah. We're now on Exodus 18, it's the Parsha for this week. Shabbat Shalom. And what it says is Moses could not deal with everything by himself. He called. Jethro, his father-in-law, and made up with his wife. And the rules for the people that administer under Moses, so he did not have to deal with everybody's problems, was number one, they must be men and women of worth. They must love truth and they must hate money. If Sausalito was run by money. Excuse me, Mr. Chase. I'm sorry, your three minutes is up. Well, thank you very much. Shabbat shalom. |
| 00:52:26.59 | Jill Hoffman | Well, thank you. |
| 00:52:29.21 | Jeff Chase | Love and peace. |
| 00:52:29.26 | Jill Hoffman | Now. |
| 00:52:29.34 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:52:29.72 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:52:30.51 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:52:31.32 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | If they want me, put it on me. Okay. |
| 00:52:33.88 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:52:34.04 | Unknown | Okay. |
| 00:52:37.90 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | Hello, can anybody see me? |
| 00:52:38.24 | Jill Hoffman | All right. |
| 00:52:42.49 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, yes sir. |
| 00:52:42.71 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | Yes, sir. Are we there? |
| 00:52:44.40 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, sir. |
| 00:52:44.48 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | All right. I just simply want to make a very short statement |
| 00:52:46.10 | Jill Hoffman | I'm sorry. |
| 00:52:50.42 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | The city of Sausalito and the county of Marin have a long history of corruption and crime under cover of law. The region that I am here praying. And on this holy ground that has definitely been proven to be Native American ground by the shell mounds, by the skull that Michael Haas found here, and many other things, this place right here does not and has never, ever belonged to the city of Sausalito, the county of Marin, or the criminal state of California. Yeah. This entire property has been acquired by seizing property without just compensation to the people that were already living here. And there is no clear title that anybody can prove here, and it's all up in the air. But we are not here for that reason. I am here to invite you to gather with us because this is now the court. According to the Constitution of the United States, you and I are now under strict judicial scrutiny because this is a religious assembly deliberately practicing freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion, which is absolutely caring for one another. On that basis, nobody, nobody under color of the law has a right to disrupt our meeting. And God bless you. Let the will of God be done. But you have, as a community, as a city council, have committed many crimes under color of law. And we can bill you for that, which we will do. We don't have to litigate. We can settle right here. You will get a bill for the damage you have done, but cooperate and nobody has to have any problem. We are the good news in the world today. Everyone else is just running on the same blindness. Right here, we have enough educated people. We can produce everything in the world right here in Marin County without polluting, and we don't need to import any more junk in any car load truck load boat load or trailer we have enough junk here now it's time to clean up this town and this county in jesus name god bless you |
| 00:54:10.11 | Unknown | Right. |
| 00:54:29.43 | Unknown | We can celebrate. |
| 00:55:03.33 | Jeff Chase | Amen, hallelujah, woo hoo. |
| 00:55:04.04 | Unknown | you |
| 00:55:04.19 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | I'm really up. |
| 00:55:05.98 | Jeff Chase | Oh, who's taking it? Do you want to go? All right. Yeah, I'll go. |
| 00:55:10.91 | Unknown | I want to talk after. |
| 00:55:12.14 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Yeah, yeah. So I'm Arthur Bruce. I've been anchored out here going on six years now. Oh, man. according to the alleged demographic 2019 survey of the sheriff's department i've only been i've only been anchored out here since after 2019 but when i offer harbormaster have proof and documentation he changes the subject and accuses me of being poor not properly managing my finances so every day i gotta go to work and i gotta wonder if my boat's gonna be here when i get back I'm going to have a place to sleep or charge my cell phone, it's just not right. And just so you guys know, our attorney. Anthony Pierce, if you don't know who he is, Prince, Google him. |
| 00:55:57.45 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:55:57.46 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:55:57.57 | Unknown | I'm not sure. |
| 00:56:00.05 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | He's a civil rights attorney. He said for us to let you guys know that if you take any action against us, knowing that we have retained legal counsel, It would be an action to circumvent the legal process. So any type of emergency action of removing any anchor out or this blessed camp, is wrong. And like Daniel said, you're going to get a bill and you might not get. |
| 00:56:29.83 | Daniel (Public Commenter) | Like Daniel said, you're going to get for crime under color and law. You might not get the bill in this life, but your morals and your ethics are paying the bills. |
| 00:56:36.07 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | You might not get the bill in this light. Your morals and your ethics are paying the price right now. |
| 00:56:42.11 | Jeff Chase | THE END OF THE END OF THE God speeds your decision. Hallelujah. Sonny. Okay, we have up next Ms. Sunny. Yeah, yeah. |
| 00:56:55.31 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | Hello, my legal name is Sunny Yao, and I'm proud to be an anchor out. And I want to say that I'm having the time of my life learning about sailing and boating and being a mariner since I was a child, really. And so as an adult, my choice to be out here and my choice also to partake in this encampment that's here, because really I, for two and a half years, I've struggled trying to find a place on land to do like art activities and work. And even right now I'm fiberglassing a paddle so I can row my own boat. |
| 00:57:28.51 | Unknown | AND I THINK THAT'S A |
| 00:57:35.68 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | So I just really, the thought of the terror Sometimes I shouldn't be afraid to walk my dog, that my boat's going to get taken while I'm on shore. And also the terror that I would lose this little tiny piece of land. Everyone has their favorite place to go. And everybody who's already got a home up on the hill, they have their own home and they have their own business to attend to. And I'm sorry if it offends them to look upon poor people or just people practicing their freedom in America to exist and to live outdoors, if that's what pleases them. Because I prefer, I mean, I love to be outdoors. And everyone, Recreation is a human need and camping is not. Uh, a crime! And anyone should be able to come down here. A lovely sunny Sausalito and throw up a tent and spend the night beside the ocean listening and wake up to hear the seabirds. It's a wonderful experience. So I just wanna thank you. I have experienced a lot of kindness from many neighbors. It just helps me. It soothes my soul. Thank you. |
| 00:58:57.37 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | That was great. |
| 00:58:57.98 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:58:58.72 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:58:58.74 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:58:58.77 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:58:58.85 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | It's great. Who's next? Anybody else? Here we go. |
| 00:58:58.87 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:58:58.97 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Great. Who's next? Fantastic. Anybody else? |
| 00:59:01.87 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:59:01.91 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Anybody else? |
| 00:59:02.75 | Unknown | We got Riley. |
| 00:59:04.29 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | You're on line with the city council. |
| 00:59:10.46 | Riley (Public Commenter) | I'm gonna cry. |
| 00:59:11.32 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Oh. |
| 00:59:11.97 | Riley (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:59:12.03 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | I know. |
| 00:59:12.10 | Riley (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 00:59:12.13 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Thank you. It's okay, darling. |
| 00:59:13.10 | Riley (Public Commenter) | I'm sorry. |
| 00:59:15.58 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Okay, the mayor's right here listening to you, so anything you wanna say. |
| 00:59:18.78 | Riley (Public Commenter) | It's okay, I'm 64 years old, I'm disabled. I'm a citizen of this country and I'm being treated like dirt. |
| 00:59:24.57 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 00:59:27.20 | Riley (Public Commenter) | We demand our rights for human basic needs and comfort. I'm 64 and I have arthritis. I can't sleep. I was left in a week. It's too cold. |
| 00:59:40.15 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | All right, all right, amen. I think that's all we got for the public. |
| 00:59:40.91 | Jeff Chase | Amen. |
| 00:59:43.96 | Arthur Bruce (Public Commenter) | Public comments section. |
| 00:59:46.90 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thank you very much. What about Melanie? Thank you. Can we move on, Serge, to the next? I was going to buy a white for my |
| 00:59:54.83 | Jeff Chase | And. |
| 00:59:55.03 | Heidi Scoble | Good shot. |
| 00:59:55.91 | Jeff Chase | Thank you. |
| 00:59:56.78 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. church. |
| 00:59:59.91 | Heidi Scoble | Go ahead, Mayor, I can hear you. |
| 01:00:01.46 | Jill Hoffman | here, Ma. We're ready to move on to the next group. Thank you. |
| 01:00:05.48 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. The next person I have, it's Virginia. |
| 01:00:09.34 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, that's fine. Virginia's not, yeah, you know what, Serge, I'm just gonna let you call out who's coming next. since you're, |
| 01:00:14.81 | Heidi Scoble | Sure. |
| 01:00:15.33 | Jill Hoffman | They kind of jump around on my screen, so. Go ahead. |
| 01:00:18.18 | Heidi Scoble | Okay, no problem. |
| 01:00:19.38 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, the one with Virginia with Jenny. |
| 01:00:22.11 | Heidi Scoble | Sure. I'll ask her to unmute and start her video. |
| 01:00:26.77 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thanks, sir. If you just call out who you're gonna unmute when you do it, that'd be fine. Thank you. |
| 01:00:30.55 | Heidi Scoble | Sure. |
| 01:00:30.89 | Virginia (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:00:31.63 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:00:31.84 | Unknown | you |
| 01:00:31.99 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:00:32.02 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:00:33.57 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:00:33.59 | Virginia (Public Commenter) | Hello? |
| 01:00:34.37 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:00:34.40 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | Oh, hi. It's Ginny and Emmett Yeazell over here at 21 Miller. And I'm sorry. |
| 01:00:41.03 | Unknown | And I'm... |
| 01:00:41.25 | Emmett Yeazell (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:00:41.28 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:00:41.32 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:00:41.71 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | it take over for a moment. |
| 01:00:43.14 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:00:43.16 | Sunny Yao (Public Commenter) | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:00:45.27 | Jill Hoffman | Go ahead, your time started. |
| 01:00:47.33 | Emmett Yeazell (Public Commenter) | Hi, I'm not Virginia, but my name is Emmett Yeazell. I think you know me. Uh, I think, I was impressed. I think the sensitivity that you guys are approaching this to be complicated. Uh, And I don't want to leave the campers out because I was just down there earlier in the day. |
| 01:01:08.49 | Unknown | We both went. |
| 01:01:09.65 | Emmett Yeazell (Public Commenter) | And I was listening to them. And He said, peaceful. Um, |
| 01:01:19.56 | Emmett Yeazell (Public Commenter) | I think there's a problem, not that you people, a little bit better. and the chief spoke very closely Now, look at me about this. I have a question. AND IT IS. if we to say to these peaceful thoughts. but we are going to move you to another area. Are we sanctioning? This new encampment And are we in every way memorializing Disapproved. by our sanctioning their movement. The city attorney can speak to this. I don't understand. But if you did nothing, would we still be in the same framework as if we said we think you should be somewhere else? Thank you. And I was impressed by the by all of you and I think that's a good question. continue to be in awe of how sensitive and the police chief and everyone involved. And I might have done it differently. I think you did it much better than I could have. Thank you. |
| 01:02:37.60 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:02:41.60 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, Serge, who's our next speaker? |
| 01:02:43.36 | Heidi Scoble | The next person I have is Melanie M. |
| 01:02:46.38 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Very good, Melanie, you're up. |
| 01:02:48.99 | Melanie M (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:02:54.55 | Melanie M (Public Commenter) | All right. Hi. Thank you so much for letting me speak. I'm an anchor out on Rainbow Bay also. And I wanted to speak on behalf of the encampment because for me, it's kind of a nice plan B. I happen to be of the demographic that tends to see the RBRA RBRA remove because I'm a single woman all by myself out there, but I have a little cabin cruiser that is licensed and runs and is in great shape. And, um, But it is daunting to have to worry about whether if you go to the store, you're gonna come back and your home is gone and crushed. And I just kind of also want to pose a question. It's like, how much is it going to take for Bay cities to realize that we can't sweep poor people under the carpet and ignore them, jail them, terrorize them, disenfranchise. And I'm not saying that's all you guys. That's been in several cases all across the Bay. And, um, I just. I'm just glad to have this encampment as my plan B. Some people might look upon it with disdain or disgust or lack of compassion. But I remind the housed residents of Sausalito and every other major city in this country that you're only one eviction or one failed business or one market crash from being us. And these are your brothers and fathers and mothers and daughters out here. And regardless of how easy it is for anyone to disconnect and distance themselves from us, That doesn't change the fact that we really are all connected. And I found a very interesting scripture in the Bible that I would like to share with you. It says, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted, then your light shall shine in the darkness and your darkness shall be as the noonday. Isaiah 58 10. And I challenge you to take advantage of that blessing. I think that. that it could happen if we take care of our porn, if we have compassion. Thank you very much. |
| 01:04:53.97 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:04:54.26 | Melanie M (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:04:56.06 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, Serge, who's up next? |
| 01:04:57.14 | Eva (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:04:57.95 | Heidi Scoble | The next person is Eva's iPhone. |
| 01:05:00.33 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:05:03.02 | Eva (Public Commenter) | Thanks so much. Can you hear me okay? Yes. I was really intrigued by Chief Rohrabacher's comments. It was very interesting to me that Chief Rohrabacher was so concerned about the environment. And I say that because it seems that our concerns about the environment stem mainly when it is poor people who seem to be offending the environment. I'd like to point out that the Anchor Outs and the Unhoused community have a very, very small carbon footprint. I've never heard Chief Rohrabacher complain about wealthy white property owners who have large, large homes in the hills of Sausalito and have additional properties in Hawaii and fly business class or first class to Hawaii to be second homes. I'd point out while I'm at it that the largest contingent of unhoused people in Hawaii are native Hawaiians. So these white property owners are essentially hoarding property They think it makes them great. The rest of us have some other ideas about that. But in the process, they're doing, incredible destruction to the environment. We can't afford to have people living at that level anymore. Meanwhile, we have a pandemic and we can't provide basic things because one of the things that made a lot of these people wealthy is the mass privatization of things like our public health infrastructure. and so in the financialization of housing. So we're on the cusp of yet another foreclosure crisis because of the pandemic. it's staggering to me. But I did want to point out that when we talk about why Chief Warbacher is concerned about the environmental hazard posed by the poor, it's really in line with what we've learned about law enforcement in Marin County. I did a Public Records Act request, and I got a breakdown of all the arrests referred to prosecution in Marin County from 1990 through 2020. That's a 31 year record. And what we find is that it is the communities that are the poorest that the every single law enforcement agency in Marin County arrests at mad multiples of their actual demographic presence in the county. Meanwhile, whites are always prosecuted, arrested and prosecuted at you know, a lower level than their demographic presence. That's really important. The county is courting yet another federal and or state civil rights investigation and law enforcement will unfortunately be the target of that. So I ask that we take a a more compassionate look. |
| 01:08:06.31 | Heidi Scoble | If a year of three minutes have elapsed. |
| 01:08:07.86 | Eva (Public Commenter) | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:08:13.42 | Jill Hoffman | Thanks, sir. |
| 01:08:14.72 | Heidi Scoble | The next speaker is. |
| 01:08:17.20 | Jill Hoffman | Good. |
| 01:08:17.65 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:08:17.79 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. |
| 01:08:18.04 | Heidi Scoble | Yeah, Anthony Prince. |
| 01:08:23.85 | SPEAKER_48 | Okay. So let me go ahead and start the video. Thank you. This is Infinite Prince as As some of the previous speakers indicated, And some of As some of the previous speakers indicated, Um... I am counsel for a number of individuals in in the encampment. and more I'm general counsel for the California Homeless Union. and as members of the union, The services of myself as general counsel are available too. Union members. I attached and I think made part of the record of tonight's proceedings a decision that was handed down on January 20th by federal magistrate in the Northern District of California federal court in which she imposed a federal injunction, preliminary injunction, preventing the city of Santa Cruz from breaking up an encampment in San Lorenzo Park where we have approximately 200 homeless people in camp. I would urge before you vote, to read that entire decision. It's, I think, a 14 or 15 page decision, which is available. I sent it to the clerk earlier. The everything I've heard in terms of what the resolution calls for. is a violation of the CDC guidelines. a violation of the COVID risk reduction orders. of October 27, 2020, it was issued by Dr. You're Matt Willis, the health officer of Marin County. I will tell you that The chief's report admitted, and these are important admissions from the standpoint of their legal significance, that people would be forced to move around the city of Sausalito. That contributes to the increase of community risk of the spread of the virus. Also, it separates people that are encamped from services that they're currently receiving. What you are proposing here, and if you pass this measure, is in direct contravention of state guidelines and orders, county orders and CDC and that is to refrain from breaking up homeless encampments. because it two separates the persons in the camp from services and increases community spread of the virus which is which is still with us. So I'm going to take action. We will take legal action, but I'm giving you forewarning and I'm advising that you carefully consider what you're about to do. We also had an order in Sacramento County Superior Court similarly ordering the city to cease and desist from breaking up encampments. What you're doing is highly problematic. You're in the Northern District. of the federal court system. And the decision of Judge Van Coolen is going to be persuasive, I believe. in the action that we bring. So I would advise you carefully consider the action you're going to take and refrain from passing any kind of motion tonight. |
| 01:11:32.80 | Heidi Scoble | The next person is Frank Soda. |
| 01:11:39.73 | Frank Soda (Public Commenter) | Yes, hi. Hi, I just had a quick question. Who and how will make the determination whether somebody has the option for indoor sleeping. I mean, how are we going to actually prevent from becoming a temporary campground during the summer months especially. Thanks. |
| 01:12:03.85 | Emmett Yeazell (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:12:03.96 | Heidi Scoble | The next person is Paul Murray. |
| 01:12:14.58 | Paul Mowry (Public Commenter) | Can you guys hear me? |
| 01:12:15.89 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. |
| 01:12:16.60 | Paul Mowry (Public Commenter) | Great, thanks. Um, I believe I'm half the faith-based community referenced in the staff report, and I'm concerned this proposal is hurried and short-sighted. I regret the council chose not to dispel the misinformation that's running rampant on next door. I visited the camp many times and several of the folks finding refuge there I know well. There has been no spike in crime, no violent arguments, no fights. This is a peaceful orderly and friendly community as the other couple attested to earlier. And they're very vulnerable. You saw the tents, they're in good shape. People need to eat their foods well organized. I've heard people in houses complaining that they can't use that part of the park, but there's a toxic dirt pile there. I worry why they would want to. It's not a desirable location. The staff reports that half the camp are people who've lost their boats. These people have nowhere else to go Compare that to some of us in Sausalito who have two homes. require these nine people to strike and pitch their tents every single day. Just really imagine in 45 degree weather When it's raining like a monsoon, trying twice a day to wrangle a tent in gusting winds, Not only that, but that every single day, they have to carry everything they own on their belts. They have to carry it up the steep hills to the Sausalito Presbyterian Church or the Sausalito Christian Fellowship for meals. They have to carry it on their backs when they walk through downtown or into the public restrooms or imagine down the crowded aisles of 7-Eleven. Every day, waking up at dawn, every day, carrying their whole life on their backs. I guess huddling under store awnings or covered porches to get out of the weather until someone calls the police to move them along. Your staff acknowledges that neither the city nor the county has shelters or housing available. This is a huge challenge. So what problem or challenge does this resolution really solve? it seems to me it only gets the poor out of our view I know you care. I'm talking to you, each of you. I know you, I don't know Ian as well, but I know you and I know you care. And I believe something compassionate, truly compassionate that meets real needs of the city and the landfill mine can be developed with collaboration and due process. But what's presented tonight is a rush job in the height of the pandemic, in the height of winter. No matter how often we say the word compassionate, this is not it. It solves no real problems. I think that There are many people who might just be hoping that the lives of these nine most vulnerable people in Sausalito will become a living hell and they'll move to Mill Valley. We can do better. There hasn't been even a start at bringing together the stakeholders to come up with a plan that meets the needs and really takes care of the people. I deeply urge you to give this More careful thoughts and planning We can do it. Unfortunately. |
| 01:15:19.12 | Heidi Scoble | The next person, it's Rebecca. |
| 01:15:25.92 | Unknown | Hello! My name is Rebecca. I live in Larkspur. I've lived in Mill Valley and Sausalito. I'm going to read my comments. because I'm not very good at this. Thank you. I'm not telegenic. Okay. Mm-hmm. I don't understand how the proposed resolution complies with the Eighth Amendment. it seems to me to directly violate it. The words are prohibits cities from criminalizing homeless people for sleeping outdoors. The resolution seems to be a paperwork legal maneuver to circumvent the intent of the law. It is in no way, excuse me, it in no way addresses their needs or helps to provide solutions for the cause. It seems to sweep them into an area that is visually out of sight. My questions are, Where do you see these citizens of Sausalito spending their time? unaccosted by local authorities during daytime hours. Where do you propose the homeless citizens of Sausalito store? There are few critical belongings related to basic survival. This was not addressed in this resolution and must be a consideration. I recommend that you do not pass this poorly crafted resolution. that does not address basic human rights or decency. and for so few people. I recommend the council focus their efforts on housing these very few citizens of Sausalito. within Marin County. one of the richest counties. in the fifth largest economy in the world. The few organizations you have engaged is not the extent of the organizations available within Marin. One example is the venerable Buckaloo programs. Where are they in this picture? They are Marin's premier foundation and NGO. that assists the mentally ill in living independent lives. Please write this number down. Buckaloo programs. Marin Assisted Independent Living Program, director. a deal. Amen. ordeal. Amen. 415 457-6966 extension 411. Please reach out to the wealthy members of your community to step up and do something. to donate funds or to volunteer. to come up with solutions that are humane and uplifting for the community. versus being divisive. |
| 01:18:35.99 | Heidi Scoble | being defined. |
| 01:18:38.47 | Unknown | versus being divisive and shameful. You're three minutes high. |
| 01:18:41.13 | Heidi Scoble | Your three minutes had elapsed. |
| 01:18:44.09 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:18:46.92 | Heidi Scoble | Next caller, it's a phone number. I'll unmute you now. |
| 01:18:56.73 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:18:56.74 | Peter Christian Romanowski (Public Commenter) | Can you hear? |
| 01:18:58.04 | Unknown | Yes. |
| 01:18:58.16 | Peter Christian Romanowski (Public Commenter) | Can you hear me now? |
| 01:18:59.48 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:18:59.90 | Peter Christian Romanowski (Public Commenter) | Hello. Reverend Peter Christian Romanowski, And I am... the longest surviving anchor out not only in Sausalito, but in San Francisco Bay, we're a small community. We know each other from one end of the bay to the other. I SAID IT WAS A LITTLE BIT social services have applied for me to get housing on land. through a HUD grant, I mean through a HUD voucher. I'm 71 years old. I'm disabled. I live on a fixed income of $1,100. A MONTH. And out of that money, I spend about $200 on food a month at our church services, which we have in front of. City Hall, Saucelito Library. in the picnic table area every Sunday. And we have a right to do this because |
| 01:19:48.45 | Unknown | Period. |
| 01:19:52.63 | Peter Christian Romanowski (Public Commenter) | I'm the CEO of the New Covenant Evangelistic Association, Incorporated. a 501 nonprofit religious organization And not only are we protected in the state of California to assemble, to have church outside, which we've been doing for six months. starting at noon with lunch and a pantry donated food, hot food, coffee. Been doing this six months and we leave the place clean. Sometimes we fill the garbage can, but we try to even take the garbage out to the back. NOW, THE TENT CITY IS A SPINOFF. of our church. Reverend Daniels. who spoke earlier. He's 84 years old. And he pitched the first 10. IT'S A SIX-PERSON TENT. And it's a home also. for people that need shelter. there's room, he'll take people in that need shelter. Now, people cannot break down these tents and put them up every morning, every evening. What happens when a storm comes in the daytime? I mean, this is preposterous. I don't think anybody would care about moving over to marineship. But this idea of breaking down their tents and carrying their possessions on their backs, which is impossible. And by the way, the city of South Dakota THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NO for all the tents. and personal belongings. And they have a history of destroying people's homes. AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE 90 out of 99. claiming the waters off Sausalito to the channel are there. AND IT'S NOT. WE DO NOT. recognize Sausalito's decision that this is PROPERTY. THEIR OWNERS. nine people left are official residents, and then they should be able to run for city council and change it. and, um, By the way, so the 10th city is also protected. Your time. Find a new covenant. |
| 01:21:58.84 | Heidi Scoble | Time has elapsed. Thank you. Okay. The next person I have is Roel Carlos. |
| 01:22:07.56 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:22:07.60 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | Hello. |
| 01:22:12.14 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | Hello. |
| 01:22:13.72 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, go ahead, Mr. Carlos. |
| 01:22:14.89 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | Yeah, yeah. So I just want to say, my name is Raul Carlos. I'm a ferber master. in Sausalito Marina Plaza Harbor. And I'd like to just first of all acknowledge what a super tough issue this is. My question is why the move? What's the benefit? |
| 01:22:29.92 | Melanie M (Public Commenter) | Cameron, Cameron. Cameron, Cameron. He's saying why. Oh, we've got to hear Cameron. He's saying why the move? Why move then? |
| 01:22:31.07 | Raul Carlos (Public Commenter) | He's saying what? Oh, we got to hear Cameron. Why the move? What's the rationale? What's the benefit? From what I can tell, it's basically just to get it off Bridgeway Boulevard. The site that we currently have or that's already there, it's easily contained. It's close to services from the fire department, from the police department. Having these people move their stuff down the street would be a hardship, certainly, but nothing compared to moving their equipment every single day and trying to store it. It's very, very very difficult so that's really my main thing is why they would do that moving tents next to our property of course unfortunately your committee or your council's in the job of picking winners and losers and by having I don't know if any of you have boats actually in the city itself but unfortunately as a harbor master today alone I deal with threatening comments and on my person I have videoed today alone and in the middle of the night this this meeting is all very nice and lovely, but I'll tell you, 12, 1 o'clock at night, having a ruckus come up and somebody enter your boat and or threaten you, it's very disconcerting. So we've had people actually go inside boats and what have you. so again I don't understand why these people just can't stay here for the short term and not have you. So again, I don't understand why these people just can't stay here for the short term and not have to be so disruptive. Breaking camp every day again seems like it'd be pretty cruel. Thank you. |
| 01:24:22.84 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:24:27.32 | Heidi Scoble | The next person is Chris Gallagher. |
| 01:24:40.25 | Chris Gallagher (Public Commenter) | Okay. I just want to, I just want to endorse, um, what father Paul Mowry said, um, I mean, it seems to me that this is sort of kicking the can down the road. Um, and we're just moving these folks to get them out of the way and so that they're not you know, ruining the view for the people on the Hill, or whatever. We've endorsed the shower program from the very beginning. Uh, downtown streets people before they ever met with anybody from the city of Sausalito Um, When Sausalito pulled out of our BRA, We you know, they no longer had the anchor outs, no longer had a place to meet. um, And so, the Bay Model stepped up. And prior to the pandemic for like three years, we're meeting here every week or every month. And they were very respectful of the property and cleaned up after themselves and things like that. And I just think we need to resolve the problem instead of just keep moving them around. that bringing them down to Marinship, I understand the showers are here, but other than that benefit, twice a week I don't see the need I don't see why we would move them. and Is it because it would be out of sight then? You know, out of sight, out of mind? That just doesn't seem very empathetic. and we need to solve the problem, not just keep moving them from one place to another and taking To think that they're going to get all their stuff out of there in the mornings at sunrise. That's ridiculous. It's not going to happen and it's just going to turn into a big mess. And I think Sausalito has an opportunity to really show how they can be kind and empathetic and help resolve the problem. So. I just want to say that. |
| 01:26:48.95 | Heidi Scoble | The next speaker, it's Alice Merrill. |
| 01:26:58.90 | Unknown | Hello. Hello. Um, I, you know, I'm not sure. I ditto. Paul Mowry and Chris. I don't understand. I didn't, in the actual agenda, it just says that this is a discussion about The encampment, it doesn't say it's a discussion about the encampment and we're taking legal action against these people. I just, What would you do if your vote had lost its anchor and gone on shore. in one of these storms and you didn't have a friend that you could go and stay with, what would we do if we didn't have a better place to stay. Not everybody does. Not everybody is as privileged as so many of us. And I... I'm, just I just don't really believe that it's, all that terrible. Even M. Yezel, as his innocent, he's a somewhat conservative fellow. And a friend. And so I really ditto what Paul Mowry and Chris said. We can't be doing this this way. We can't, there has to be. I'll come and try and help. get a little group together. I don't know, but that little kitchen looks pretty darn organized. and the people look like they're taking care of each other and helping each other. Let's try to remember that we're in the middle of a worldwide pandemic here and that we can't be just I just don't get it. Thank you. |
| 01:28:54.20 | Emmett Yeazell (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:28:54.51 | Heidi Scoble | The next person is Jennifer Green. |
| 01:29:04.73 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | Hi there, thank you. I guess I had a few questions and And I'm a paramedic in San Francisco and I've been the primary care provider for homeless people for the past 15 years in San Francisco County and I've watched the entire country sends their homeless population to San Francisco County. So this is something that, I know all too much about. And as a resident of Sausalito, I was surprised to see the tents, but it's understandable given our recent weather. experiences. Um, I believe that the proposal is pretty compassionate you And I also can see how it seems like a bandaid Um, because it doesn't actually address the needs of people. I believe that the proposal is quite compassionate. and an incredible response. and well organized and thought out by the city attorney and the police chief, thank you very much for that. and your presentation. I guess my question is, generally are What will happen if the people that are asked to move from that park to the next park. |
| 01:30:19.49 | Unknown | All right. |
| 01:30:19.91 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | And then, Chip. park, what if they refuse to do so? And Why is Sausalito being asked to answer the question of homelessness. The entire country should really be grappling with this. not just our own city council. Homelessness is so varied. in its needs and we need to not criminalize it of course but. You know, I've watched San Francisco through the whole pandemic decide to house all of its homeless people. or try to attempt to, we'll say. And then, you know, everybody is stuck in a hotel and now the hotels are in disarray and everybody inside of them that was once homeless now has COVID. So, as a paramedic responding to these places that used to be perfectly fine buildings and now are, |
| 01:31:13.74 | Unknown | now are |
| 01:31:14.65 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | in complete disarray, you know, |
| 01:31:15.72 | Marsha Raines | I'm going to go to the |
| 01:31:17.89 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | I don't know. I think that the response so far and what has been drawn up does seem like a band-aid, but I think that there needs to be more moves ultimately, but I'm impressed with what you guys have presented today. And I appreciate you all |
| 01:31:28.91 | Unknown | PRESENTED. |
| 01:31:31.93 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | taking the time and the day to discuss this with the community and the resident. I really appreciate it. Thank you. |
| 01:31:41.35 | Heidi Scoble | Next speaker is David Sudo. |
| 01:31:48.23 | David Sudo (Public Commenter) | Good afternoon. Thanks for having this conversation. I think I'd like to echo a lot of people with concerns about moving the camp. I understand that hopefully we're going to be getting rid of that dirt pile and we're going to need to not have people living in that area soon. but I wanna also caution the council to make sure that any rules or location that they pick for people isn't so onerous that it disperses people all over town into their own hiding places, which has been the practice in the past. I think it's probably better to have everybody in one location. where city staff can make sure that it's sanitary and safe. You know, I work in Oakland and I see encampments that are regulated, you know, well taken care of and ones that aren't. And I would rather have us have an encampment that's semi-permanent and well taken care of than people dispersed all over town and not have those areas well kept. Thank you. |
| 01:33:07.88 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker, David Schoenberg. |
| 01:33:17.01 | David Schoenbrun (Public Commenter) | Hi, I'm David Schoenbren 545 Bridgeway. I'm not happy with what's been proposed by the council. I voted for three female council members, and I did that with a very distinct intention that I wanted to see a very different quality of relating to the public. I have not seen that so far. And I have to say that your counsel is acting in a very harsh way. I really appreciated the comments of Father Paul I think that we're seeing the effect of uh, people who have been damaged by the store. and in fact also damaged by RBRA. And it seems to me that one thing that you could think about doing that hasn't come up yet. is to think about putting in a FEMA application. |
| 01:34:32.24 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:34:32.65 | David Schoenbrun (Public Commenter) | to look for funds to restore the boats that these people had been living on. That would be a very distinct way of resolving this problem. It doesn't resolve bigger problems, but it would be a real step in the right direction. I oppose all of the recommendations on the table tonight. I don't believe they make for a livable situation. I think they're very harsh. I think they're... been created by somebody who doesn't have the ability to put himself in somebody else's shoes. Who the hell could live like that? It's just unthinkable. Um, and so I think the city ought to pay for a porta potty and washing station there. Um, uh, and and insist that RBRA stop crushing boats when people have simply left them to go to shore for a few moments. That part, as I understand it, is really outrageous and a violation of the whole idea of abandonment. My next door neighbor is here and she'd like to make a few comments. |
| 01:36:00.38 | Jill Hoffman | Go ahead. Hold on to the touch and Serge, would you like to reset the clock? |
| 01:36:05.97 | Heidi Scoble | We'll do that right now. |
| 01:36:09.29 | Judy Canham (Public Commenter) | Thank you. My name is Judy Canham. And I am deeply concerned about the proposal that you have put forth to move this camp to another location and require them to strike camp every single day and carry the possessions around. it's quite the opposite of the word compassionate, in my opinion. And My question is why can't the camp be supported where it is. I can't be there permanently, but while these individuals are receiving help from social services and other places, why can't they be allowed to stay exactly where they are? I visited that camp this afternoon. I spoke with half a dozen or so people there who told me about the loss of their boats in the recent storm, and they have nowhere else to go. What I saw there was a community helping each other It was clean, it was organized, it was pretty upbeat in terms of friendly atmosphere, I asked permission before I walked onto the area where the tents were and They welcomed me to come in and chat and learn. Um, What I would suggest and hope that the city could do is allow them to stay there, help provide some basic services pay for the porta potty or maybe add another one, they're paying for that porta potty and they can't afford it. It's from donations that they're paying for it. Pay for the port-a-potty. put a hand washing station in Give them water, they need water, bottled water to drink. and just have that location Be the site that help is brought to, you know, the social services or any other sorts of help that might be available to them. Run the portable showers over there, you know, once or twice a week. Anything like that. moving them from that location is cruel and it's unworkable. It is never, ever going to work. to require people to strike camp when the sun comes up and put their tents back up when the sun goes down. It's just not workable and it's not It's not what I would like to see Sausalito known for doing. I think we can do better than that. I think we can pull up compassion, pull up resources, and get our brains working so we come up with a better solution. Thank you. |
| 01:39:03.59 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Carlo Berg. |
| 01:39:16.21 | Carlito Berg | Thank you, Sider. And thank you city council members for holding this really important discussion. I really agree with the previous speaker. I think we can marshal community resources. I'm willing to help out. Right here, right now, I'm going to go. Um, and I'll grab some water and food. and go bring it over and go talk with folks and see what's going on. As some of you know, we've been down here 20 years, it's imperative that we help as much as we can. In our family, we've experienced homelessness and drug addiction. and AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND. that. It is one of the most difficult things anyone can do. And it is extremely difficult to ask those people to move. I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE I'm not sure if you're and And frankly, if you look at the THEIR HISTORY. the administration and laws that have been already laid out in Maroonship Park. um, which I sent as public comment in before the 4 p.m. meeting, it seems like this in a way is an already decided item. And if that's the case, then why is the public spending their time on this item when Parks and Rec has already laid out and erected signs and other monuments that it tends to indicate with ordinance and law that this is something that's going to come to pass. THE END OF THE END OF THE And then if you look actually at those ordinance in law, you see that the fine for THE CITY IS A not leaving in the morning as this you know, intention would be. is $500 and there's no criminal or other penalty. Well, I can just tell you firsthand, that's kind of an unworkable solution. Nobody cares about being fine. THE END OF THE END OF THE So it just seems like It seems like to me, It's a compassionate thing to do. is to consider this in a way where we can marshal the community, figure out a real solution to this, problem. which I certainly am willing to help with monetarily in time and otherwise. THEIR HIGHER. and and figure it out together. But it seems very difficult to say, hey, we should just go ahead and do this unless that's the, intention all along and that's why the So. signage was posted, which I posted as public comment prior to 4 PM today. |
| 01:41:41.95 | Robbie Powelson (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:41:48.16 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker, it's Susan Ipad. |
| 01:42:05.28 | Unknown | Okay, it's not actually Susan. his iPad is actually Sonya Hanson speaking. And what I would just like to say is you have just heard from, Pastor Paul, Chris Gallagher, Alice Merrill, Carlos Berg, David Schoenbrum And I think there were a couple, Rebecca, there were a couple before that. that are all expressing the same concern. And the concern is, Is this really how we want to try to address this problem? And shouldn't we, it's not a problem, it's an issue for human beings in the world right now, and we have it. in our community. and we need to address it. and, um, doing it where we're breaking camp every day. would any of us, what the hell would we do if we had to break camp every day? That's like, it's just, it boggles my mind that we would ask people that are, struggling already. break camp every day and then their possessions will be confiscated because of course they have nowhere to put their possessions. And then I guess, I don't know, they call the police and hope the police will bring them back |
| 01:43:07.42 | Unknown | really. |
| 01:43:10.52 | Unknown | And they'll set up again and then break, I agree with as I just said, the previous speakers, We must have some empathy. We must have some sense of charity and community. So I'm asking you all to think about that. And thank you for doing this meeting. |
| 01:43:40.09 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker, it's Ike and Winnie. |
| 01:43:50.18 | Unknown | Good evening. My name is Winnie Conopath and I live up here in Sausalito. I see that tent encampment from my living room. I am not happy with it, but I fully understand why it's there. Also, I would like you to know that in chiefs, in the chiefs, entry there about the grab and go bag over at the showers. Pastor Paul in early April had mentioned to me that the County had started an impromptu pop-up pantry by the portable showers and that Liz Darby and her volunteers were gonna have to go back to the county offices, so they needed somebody to take over. So my husband and I and a girlfriend from church told Pastor Paul we'd be doing it for, we'd be happy to do it for two months. it's been may it was may when we started picking up food at ridder house for the tuesday food up a food pantry by the showers we're the ones that have actually been there every tuesday with the showers we see the kids the younger folks that go to the showers at about 7 30 in the morning because they have to go they're interested in going to work but they sleep in their cars And then we see the anchor outs come in later in the day. A lot of them get food from us via Ritter House, of course, but we are the ones that give out. But I'd just like you to know what it's... When my husband and I and my friend said we'd take over just for a few months, we didn't really realize the extent of what homelessness really means in this county. But now that we have, I was telling Pastor Paul a few weeks ago that I don't know how we can not not continue this food pantry by the showers. And now that I hear about breaking count, Folks, if you see some of the people that go to that shower, they cannot even manage bringing their own new clothes and their own towels. What more about asking them to break camp every day. So I'd just like you to think homeless They're really, it's so different from what we're experiencing, what I'm experiencing up here in my modest home. I'm comfortable, I'm warm. I just have difficulty endorsing your plan of moving them to Marineship. There has to be a better plan. Thank you. |
| 01:46:28.11 | Heidi Scoble | Mayor Hoffman, I see no other hands raised at the moment. |
| 01:46:31.82 | Janelle Kellman | Sorry, Mayor. Thank you. A community member has emailed me that she was unable to raise her hand. It may be one of the new Zoom issues. So I believe Meg Fawcett wanted to speak. Serge, do you see Meg? |
| 01:46:45.97 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:46:48.13 | Heidi Scoble | Um, I do not see her in our chat or |
| 01:46:52.99 | Jill Hoffman | as a particular |
| 01:46:53.58 | Heidi Scoble | as a participant. |
| 01:46:54.88 | Jill Hoffman | Meg, if you could do any reaction at all in your reaction, like maybe clapping hands or a smiley face or whatever you can find, we're looking for you. |
| 01:47:03.82 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 01:47:06.98 | Janelle Kellman | And Mayor Hoffman, while we're waiting, if I could just say something real quick. So we have 142 participants on this Zoom. I know some are staff. But there was a reason that we wanted to meet separately and not tackle this in a regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday. we really, really wanna hear from you. I know it might be intimidating. I know it might not like public speaking, but this is a real opportunity for the community to come together and we can't do that if we don't hear more voices. So please, if you're here tonight and you're passionate whatever your opinion is, we would love to hear from you. So I just, I wanna make a plug for that, |
| 01:47:44.81 | Heidi Scoble | And Mayor Hoffman, we have Peter Sapienza, screen now. I'll ask to unmute. |
| 01:47:50.66 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Okay, I see a couple more hands up. I still don't see Meg, but I haven't seen Meg. I can't find Meg anywhere, but okay. So we have three more speakers. Thank you. |
| 01:48:00.23 | Barbara Sapienza (Public Commenter) | Go ahead. |
| 01:48:00.28 | Jill Hoffman | Go ahead. |
| 01:48:01.09 | Barbara Sapienza (Public Commenter) | I'm using my trust in Peter's. Oh, go ahead. |
| 01:48:04.50 | Jill Hoffman | I'll go ahead. |
| 01:48:04.96 | Barbara Sapienza (Public Commenter) | and this And I wanted to just thank you for having this special meeting about this very important issue. I feel very strongly about us having an opportunity to do something different. to do something that is humane and kind and includes people in our community. We want to help, as many of us have just said, that the first step would be that before any draconian measure. I was very upset in the past about noble people living in their boats. and having them crushed. I went to many meetings and heard people say, that they were sick and they weren't in their boats. And when they came home, their boat was crushed and it was an accident and police didn't mean to do it. but it happened and I would like for us to take this as a new opportunity to show our kindness and our compassion for the people in our community. And I go by the library on Sundays and I see this beautiful feast and celebration of life with feud and music. And now I hear this woman talk about the showers and ridder house in the food. And I think we can be exemplary as a community and give to our people. These are our people. Some of these people have lived out there for a long time. Some are young, some are old, some are sick. And I think we have an opportunity to put our heads together with the churches and the council and see what we can come up with. as a first step. and then maybe some other steps we can follow later. Anyway, thank you for listening to me. Thank you for considering this, it's important. |
| 01:50:00.32 | Heidi Scoble | I see six more people have joined our public comment. And I will unmute Joe. |
| 01:50:33.12 | Heidi Scoble | It does not appear as Joe is responding to the commands. I'll move on to Joan Cox and then come back to Joe. |
| 01:50:50.15 | Unknown | Thank you. Mayor Hoffman, I see that you were speaking, but you're on mute, just so you know. Um. |
| 01:50:57.07 | Unknown | I'm not sure. |
| 01:50:58.16 | Unknown | I wanted to respond to Barbara Sapienza's comments because I've attended many of the same RBRA meetings as she has and it made me wonder, and I apologize, I wasn't able to join this meeting until about 10 minutes after it started, but it made me wonder If the city has reached out to RBRA, the city of Mill Valley, the city of Tiburon, the city of Belvedere and the County of Marin to seek their assistance in addressing these issues, because these are residents primarily of RBRA waters who have been adversely impacted Um, and not the Sausalito anchor outs. So I'm wondering, If there's an opportunity for these other municipalities to join in devising creative and compassionate solutions for their residents. Thank you. |
| 01:52:04.95 | Steven Allison (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 01:52:05.17 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Cindy. |
| 01:52:22.12 | Heidi Scoble | Cindy, you are muted. You need to unmute. |
| 01:52:26.62 | Cindy (Public Commenter) | Hi, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to speak. I've been a resident here for about 10 years in Sausalito. And When I first moved here, I started volunteering at the church up on the hill. I saw all these people coming in and how I befriended a lot of these homeless people and they're still my friends. And I just want to let you know that there Sorry, I'm getting emotional. They're human beings, they're kind, they're passionate They're not drug addicts, they're not stupid like people think they are. And You know, I hear from people around town, oh, but they're crackheads, they're filthy, they do this, they do that. There are people that are down and out. Like somebody said earlier, it could be anybody. You lose your job. We have COVID. anything could happen in life. And that could be your brother, your sister, could be anybody. So I just want you to have compassion and listen to what people are saying. and hopefully We can resolve this. |
| 01:53:30.34 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:53:30.36 | Heidi Scoble | all. |
| 01:53:30.61 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:53:32.25 | Cindy (Public Commenter) | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:53:35.45 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Kelly Adams. |
| 01:53:39.84 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:53:39.86 | Kelly Adams (Public Commenter) | Mute. |
| 01:53:40.53 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:53:44.03 | Kelly Adams (Public Commenter) | Hi everybody. I agree. I don't think that, um, I don't think it's a good solution what's being proposed. THE END OF THE END OF THE It's... I mean, I can't even imagine. It's so easy for us to say, we live in these nice homes, right? It's so easy for us to say, well, they have to pick up their things go away and then come back, I think that's That's... I don't know how you would do that. And I think that what's being proposed now should be an opportunity for all of us to... to bring as much compassion to this situation as we have. as we can possibly, it's an opportunity for us to open our hearts, open our wallets, and find a solution where we can start to have a rapport with our neighbors. And I think that it's been way too long of a rift between that. anchor out the homeless and it just is getting too wide of a gap and I think that Now we're presented with the opportunity where it's in our backyard. and we have to face it, and we have to We have to be We're all the same, we're all humans, we have to go. So. It could be me, it could be you, and you know what? I would want to help you. So thank you. |
| 01:55:11.81 | Heidi Scoble | Next speaker, it's Joe. |
| 01:55:21.67 | Joe Silverman (Public Commenter) | Hi, everybody. Can you hear me? Yes. |
| 01:55:26.56 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:55:26.68 | Joe Silverman (Public Commenter) | you. |
| 01:55:26.97 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 01:55:27.39 | Joe Silverman (Public Commenter) | Great. Hi, this is Joe Silverman. I'm calling from my car. I just wanted to add my voice. who on the side of compassion and humanity here I've been by the encampment and it's nothing but communal and supportive and peaceful AND I don't understand what moving them over to a new location It doesn't sound like there's anything over there that is more human or more compassionate. AND I THINK THAT'S A It sounds like This is of making them less visible and tending to what I imagine is pressure from our neighbors on city governments to not have AND I THINK THAT'S A be visible on Bridgeway. And you know what? Our country has a lot of things in it right now that don't look good. And we need solutions. We don't need any more weeping things under the rug. and so I'm in support of everybody who has spoken to coming together and including resource and effort into and we are actually making better. Thank you. |
| 01:57:04.82 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Karen Culligan. |
| 01:57:12.53 | Karen Culligan (Public Commenter) | Hi, good evening. I already wrote in a written comment. Just hearing what I've heard here and connecting a few dots, I thought I would speak again briefly. I definitely appreciate the pressure that I'm sure that city council is feeling to do something, given the crisis and given the many opinions they're hearing about. The current plan does feel pretty restrictive in terms of what it is going to put on and has thought hearing about. The current plan does feel pretty restrictive in terms of what it is going to put on the unhoused population that will be using the space. So there's elements about it that I like. And, you know, there are a few things that even popped up during the course of this call. I don't know if Carlito Berg is the same Carlo Berg whose family owns property at the Marinship, that there's actually a piece of property where the Matthew Turner was built. It's even better than Marinship Field's private property. But it's even better than marineship field. for putting a tent up. You could even truck in services. We could have a warming hut. We could add Wi-Fi to the bathroom there. We could have USB charging stations. I think there are positives to using that space. I'm actually, I use both Marin Chip Field and Dunphy Park all the time. I looked right down on the marine ship, so it's not like I don't want to see tents. I actually would see them or I don't see them now. But I think there are positives to that plan, but what's currently written feels a bit rushed, feels a bit punitive, and that there is some benefit in really planning out how we can make this beneficial and supportive instead of some of the negative comments that have been made here, which I think have some there. Thank you. |
| 01:58:56.40 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker, it's with initials. A. E. |
| 01:59:08.06 | AE (Public Commenter) | Hi, I just wanted to comment really quickly. And I've been a part of the Sausalito community for over five years now, and have started a young family here and then moved from San Francisco specifically And I think a lot of the comments that are made are not really realistic. people are saying we should be compassion, have compassion and build rapport and show humanity. But a lot of what the city of Sausalito the sheriff and you guys have already talked about. Nobody's actually listening to what you're you've said. There's been rants about the environment that actually aren't addressing what Sheriff was actually talking about and weren't relevant. And I'm opposed to the tent city that's happening on that piece of land. And many of the people in Sausalito who aren't speaking up oppose it as well. You know, I think what you guys don't, What many people don't understand is that this piece of property, if it's not if this isn't contained or really Um, made services available in a better area there's going to be more and more and more people that show up and then you're going to have an overpopulation of homelessness on that piece of property that overflows into dumphy park it's just the way that things are going to go i'm all for putting resources effort and making these people's lives better but many of them have refused those resources and refused to get housing. Let's provide them jobs. Let's provide them housing. But if they refuse to do that and then threaten to sue the city, this is a ridiculous statement by their lawyers. I just wanted to say again, as someone who has a young I am concerned about the overflow of homelessness that will eventually happen if we don't figure out something that works in a compassionate manner, absolutely, but a realistic manner as well, that isn't in a small piece of land with no facilities whatsoever. I support your guys' measures and there's many people all over Nextdoor, all throughout the community that support what you guys are proposing here. and are afraid to talk talk and happy to come in and say more. So thank you very much. You guys are doing a great job, by the way. This is not, you know, a problem that is an easy fixable issue. And I appreciate you guys listening to everybody in the community as well. |
| 02:02:01.98 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Sebo Boutilier. |
| 02:02:17.59 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Um, Good evening. We have a |
| 02:02:22.36 | Heidi Scoble | We can hear you, Sybil. |
| 02:02:25.58 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Good evening. Thank you. Sorry, I have a big echo. I'm going to have to hang up and call back. |
| 02:02:39.20 | Heidi Scoble | We'll move on to Timothy Logan. |
| 02:02:39.47 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:02:39.51 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:02:47.54 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 02:02:52.28 | Unknown | Yeah, this is a I'll find it good about when they say compassion and everything, but I haven't seen much compassion. Um, I see us pulling our resources together and I see us uh, trying to survive I see the city of Sausalito. writing tickets to cars that are parked Um, and parking lots. We're. for COVID reasons. We're not supposed to go anywhere. except to move our cars. So you guys are demanding us to go outside and Move vehicles. for tickets. that You're already discussing we're poor, we can't afford anyway. So you take our transportation, you take our vehicles, whatever you deem necessary, that way. If that's all legal, you guys got all that stuff legalized. That's great. Now you move over to the water and what Hubble is doing, And I have video proof of him just pulling up to a boat, tying off of a cutting the anchor line and taking it in and destroying it. It took a half an hour. from beginning to end. |
| 02:04:20.27 | Unknown | The guy just left that morning to go to the store. |
| 02:04:25.28 | Unknown | Anybody. Anywhere else. in the nation. would have had that man in jail for destroying another man's property. You go anywhere else. I don't care. You go out and you find somebody did something to your car and you're livid. You're gonna find out who it was, who did it. This man, Curtis Howell, is literally out here taking vessels, in people's homes and destroying them with a blink of an eye. And he can just say, oops. My bad. And be okay with that. |
| 02:05:10.59 | Unknown | THE END OF That's wrong. It's wrong on so many levels. That's terrorists. He is feeding off of all of our terrors. PICKING OUT. Okay, yeah, storm's coming. I'm going to go get that boat. Literally, I watched him, I have film of two different times where he's gone up and just removed the anchors from the boat and took off with the boat. and took it straight over and just pushed it straight up onto the ramp. Push it straight up onto the ramp, on the concrete ramp. |
| 02:05:48.30 | Unknown | I can't do that with anybody's boat. Let me pull a boat out of one of these marinas and do that. You're going to charge me. destruction of property, grand theft, You get cursed. |
| 02:06:01.28 | Heidi Scoble | Emity, your three minutes have elapsed. Our next speaker is Jacques iPad. |
| 02:06:14.24 | Jacques (Public Commenter) | Hello. Are we working? Thank you. |
| 02:06:17.89 | Heidi Scoble | We can hear you. |
| 02:06:19.37 | Jacques (Public Commenter) | Okay. Well, I just wanted to say that I really appreciate the bringing out of this problem and it's very complex and And it's clear that everyone wants to find a proper compassionate solution. And I don't know what that solution will be in the short term. but it's clear to me No one is mentioning that we really need a long-term solution the issues of people who are poor and who are homeless We need to do some thinking about permanent affordable housing, whether it be in the Marin ship or somewhere else on land or also maybe on the water. with mooring fields or areas that are Officially. It worked out. All of us who live on this planet, we have to live according to certain rules so that we get to get along as a community and we pay taxes and et cetera, et cetera. But, It needs to accommodate all levels of our society And I think even some of the people who I know who have been talking about compassion are also people who say, oh, no, no, no, housing in the Marin ship and affordable housing. No, no, no, no. Thank you. You know, so if we're going to really behave the way we're talking, we need to really rethink some very profound things about our zoning and our planning, and really how our community is structured. Thank you. |
| 02:08:01.68 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Sebo Boutilier. |
| 02:08:07.72 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | I hope. You can hear me now? It's much better. Thank you. |
| 02:08:10.95 | Heidi Scoble | Yes, we can hear you. |
| 02:08:12.57 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Great. Thanks, Serge. I want to commend not only the council, but all the people who've been calling in and offering positive suggestions and approaching this all with a sense of brotherhood and compassion. And I also wanna call out the people that are sort of warlike and making unnecessary accusations that have nothing to do with coming up with civility and comedy to come to an agreement that will help everybody and meet everybody's needs here. in the short term. And so I ask everybody to think of this as working together and not as working opposed to each other, because it isn't a duality. We're all in this together. as a community. And I think that's been clearly demonstrated Um, I agree that moving to the Marin ship actually offers a lot of benefits And I think the city was very thoughtful in coming up with that. It gives access to the showers. It gives access to. closer access to the grocery stores, to the grocery stores, other possible amenities, plus one of the best views in the world. But Um, I think that you know, the concept of having to strike camp every day, although I understand that is currently the law. Um, is um is too burdensome um there especially in you know winter situation that we're dealing with and if there's some way that the city can look at a um a way to Um, allow Um... at least in the short term. the encampment to be moved over to Marinship which also solves the problem for the people that don't support this compassionate approach, and will continue to make complaints if the encampment stays right next to Dumpy Park and also I might add where work is still going on they I know the city has a plan to deal with that pile of waste dirt there And So it's an inconvenient place from the perspective of causing conflict. and with both work and with the community, some members of the community. They've got some great offers tonight. Um, And it seems to me, if it were me, And I have not always been well housed in my life. I would definitely take it up and be so happy and grateful and follow up with the people. who made offers tonight to help make a a good solution in the short term. And also challenge the folks that are living in the tents to think about their own future. |
| 02:11:30.95 | Heidi Scoble | They will hear three minutes have elapsed. |
| 02:11:34.16 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 02:11:34.29 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. Our next speaker is, we have Steven Allison. |
| 02:11:48.80 | Steven Allison (Public Commenter) | Good evening. First, I want to honor that we're on the ancestral land and waters of the coast of Miwok. And I want to say the emergency isn't that we have an encampment now. The emergency started long before the COVID pandemic. surrounding cities have had encampments for years and we're just joining them. An unhoused community is here to stay in Sausalito for the time being. And frankly, the proposed intervention sounds more like an effort to move these individuals out of sight or to harass them into leaving Sausalito altogether. We shouldn't do that. These are our neighbors. our beloved houseboat community once disdained by landed interests here in Sausalito started out in a very similar way. These are historic times. The tidal wave of homelessness has hit the Bay Area in the context of rising house prices. There are no obvious solutions. Solutions will require federal, state, and county help but local solutions will require it. BCDC, RBRA, and the surrounding cities help. the city council could do more to reach out to BCDC and RVRA to stop crushing boats. even build new peers. The city council could take the lead and do more to build affordable housing into the city plan. And the council could do more to reach out to Mill Valley, Tiburon, and other cities to make sure they do the same. These individuals are our neighbors. They are asserting their personhood. their political power their right to be. Thank you. |
| 02:13:42.66 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Kyle. |
| 02:13:56.40 | Kyle (Public Commenter) | Can you hear me? We can hear you. All right, perfect. So yes, I totally understand the whole compassion about this. I myself lost my job. as part of COVID. but I still have a small family and live in, you know, not in the hills of Sausalito, but in the flats. And, I worked through it, I found a job. I just feel that like these people in this camp, like this was their solution, not the city's. And it's not their terms to make those decisions. I'm definitely sympathetic to him. And My point where I'm going to this is really a matter of public safety. Um, I go down to Duffy Park quite a bit. and the surrounding areas and I see them not wearing masks, during the middle of a pandemic, They're next to a lead dump. which is also not helpful, And if we're really being compassionate, are we really doing them a favor by putting them in those situations? Um, Now I'll go to local business. If you look at all the businesses that are in between Dumpy Park and the 7-Eleven, Uh, Baba Yaga, uh, talked to the owner yesterday. Uh, she's moving to Oakland. She's having a liquidation sale. The massage yoga place is also gone. The laundromat, I think that was gone before. um next to 7-eleven but like it's killing uh the and the caviar place Like these places are suffering because of the stuff in front of them. I totally feel the compassion for these people, but this is not the right place. I think the right place would be somewhere If... even near Cavala Point or in the Marin ship where they're not hurting local businesses. Again, I feel for these guys. I just feel that this is, not the right place. area for them to be and that they can get better services and to be able to help better in a better location. I feel like the silent majority here, based on what most people are talking to, I do have a heart. And, but this is, that's how I feel now. And I'll leave up the next 37 seconds of my time. Thank you. |
| 02:16:27.24 | Heidi Scoble | Thank you. |
| 02:16:27.34 | Kyle (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 02:16:27.38 | Heidi Scoble | Marnie Wilson |
| 02:16:27.51 | Kyle (Public Commenter) | THE END OF |
| 02:16:33.99 | Unknown | Hi there. I'm home with my young daughter here, so I'm going to keep this brief and I apologize if I get interrupted. My name is Marnie Wilson. I'm a nurse. I've lived in Sausalito for five years and before that I was in San Francisco for quite a while. Um, Through my work as a nurse in the last 10 years in San Francisco, I've become I'd say, you know, pretty intimate with the problems of homelessness. And I know quite a bit about it in my, from my own experience. And I've read through the city's proposal and I think it's compassionate and realistic. I do echo the question about what sort of consequences we have If we sanction a spot and what will that look like legally in the future? And I will leave it at that. |
| 02:17:23.35 | Heidi Scoble | Our next speaker is Mickey Ellison. |
| 02:17:28.45 | Mickey Ellison (Public Commenter) | Hi. I agree completely with my Reverend Pau Mowry, Chris Gallagher, and my son, Stephen Allison, who really got to the root of the problem. I was the manager of the open door clothing room in Sausalito. For many years, I found clothing, organized it, set it up, set up rules of fair distribution, and it was all free clothing. I helped make food for people. I can't do that anymore because of the COVID pandemic. I came to believe that Sausalito after I moved here in 2004 had a generous spirit. But I'm now deeply disturbed by the NIMBY responses I'm hearing. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is my core. It is not a religious only imperative. It is a local community, city, county, worldwide imperative that we get past our tribalism, our need for just always thinking about ourselves and thinking about things rather than people. If you were a family member were poor, Try to think about how displaced anchorouts might feel when their boats get taken, are crushed up, they can't get their clothing out, they can't get vital papers that they may have save their identity. These are all things you need to think about as you go forward. I please hope you will do the right thing and vote no. And by the way, I'm speaking for myself, but I am a member of Living Waldo Point Harbor. I volunteer with 10,000 Degrees and at the Sausalito Historical Society. And I'm also a member on the executive committee for Sierra Club Marine Group. I don't speak for themselves, but for myself. And please, I care about the environment. But the harbor could have done something better if they had just put out mooring posts for people. that actually had good votes and understanding because that is, if it was out of the eelgrass, it would have been fine, but you chose not to. And I think that's unfortunate. Thank you. |
| 02:19:46.87 | Heidi Scoble | The last speaker I have on the list is John DeRay. |
| 02:19:52.27 | Virginia (Public Commenter) | Hello. Thank you very much. First of all, I wanted to thank city council for taking this up and having this meeting. You guys are doing your best here and we really appreciate it for calling this meeting. Also, I wanted to mention that we all have compassion for these folks, obviously. How could you not? And there are some comments that I also agree with pretty strongly. Pastor Paul, Chris Gallagher, Alice Merrill, a few others made this comment. I'm a little concerned about moving people from one sort of toxic area where they are voluntarily to another potentially toxic area. that they are not voluntarily willing to go to. But in so far as this is a displaced anchor out problem. Let's remember that we do have a resource here. Um, We have a lot of boat workers in town And we have shipyards now sure they're extremely busy, But if we're talking about repairing boats, perhaps this is something that the city can take on. with the Matthew Turner 200,000 volunteer hours. were able to be used to create that vessel. So I think if some federal or state or county money could be found to repair boats, then I think the displaced anchor outs could potentially have some you know, that problem resolved. And I don't know, I don't know the details of how many people at the encampment are from the anchor outs or not. And then the other thing is, you know, bigger picture, we do need more water-based housing. I think, uh, this shows that these, these folks, um, are comfortable, um, water-based housing. And I think, um, It's an It's something that we could do. And also the idea, somebody mentioned providing jobs for these people, I think that's another issue, has jobs available for people and training programs and whatnot. So anyway, thank you very much for your time. |
| 02:22:23.08 | Heidi Scoble | Mayor Hoffman, I see no other participants wanting to speak at the moment. |
| 02:22:30.78 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Thank you, sir. At this point, I'm going to close public comment. and start the discussion up here. with the council. So I'm going to kick us off. because I want to update everybody on all the efforts that I and Council Member Blaustein have made as the working group on this issue. And by the way, we're not the only people that have, the only council members who have worked on this, it's just that she and I have been working together with county and state officials. bear with me it's it's it's going to be a short statement as short as I can get it anyway councilmember Blossie and I have been working on solution every day. Like hours every day. talking to people, talking with different people. So here's what we've been doing. The primary focus of every one of our conversations is to find shelter for those who are unsheltered. Like that is our primary motive on campus. every conversation we've had. Even though they may devolve into other areas, but we constantly bring it back to that theme. We've had multiple meetings with our state Senator Mike McGuire, with Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, with RBR at home. RBRA Harbor Master Curtis Havel and RBRA chair and Mill Valley Council member Jim Wickham Matt Heimel from Marin County, and our Marin County administrator. the Moraine County Director of Health and Human Services Benita McLaren, several meetings with health and human service staffers from Marin County. BCDC staff. San Rafael Mayor Kate Collin, All of these conversations, multiple conversations with most of these people on realistic options on crafting a regional response and developing creative ways to get people housed in the fastest way possible. It has been a tremendous effort, I will tell you. It has been a very steep, and many days a very discouraging effort. But I tell you we will not give up. We will not give up. um, Our, our consistent goal is to craft a solution that is unique to Sausalito and serves our people here in a way that is consistent with our values in Sausalito. So, Two paths are emerging. One is a short-term path that we have to react to with regard to environmental issues and sensitivity and facilities issues right now. We have a short term path and a longer term path, and we're working hard on both of these paths. So that's why the short term path was to find a location in Sausalito that was you know, I don't want to say the best, place, but it's the best that we have to to support people who are camped in tents. That location ended up being Marinship because of the permanent bathroom facilities that are there because the mobile homeless showers are there. twice a week. The mobile homeless showers, by the way, also come with health and human service workers. So the idea behind that we talked about when we two years ago when we decided to host the mobile homeless shower program, was that it was also, a conduit for people to have contact with health and human services and that they could start the process of being evaluated for services and hopefully on the path to being sheltered. And so that's the value of the homeless shower services and that's the value of the moving the people down to Marinship. And so, um, You know, that's the thought on the short term solution. This is a short term temporary solution. that to be clear. The long-term solution is that we find shelter for the people who want to be sheltered and need to be sheltered. So I, again, I am council member Blaustein working with Senator McGuire and supervise our Molten Peters with long-term solutions, but that takes a little bit of as as is stated in the Um, staff report. Obviously the pandemic has had a tremendous effect on the homeless services and capabilities of various shelters across the nation. Not just the state but the whole So shelters some shelters have actually had to close because of pandemic reasons other people obviously lost their jobs and so they are homes and so they become homeless so you have tremendous pressure on both ends so This is how we end up here in Sausalito today, trying to find shelter for these people who are here. We are looking at applications for government grants and government programs. There are a program called Roomkey. There's a program called called home key which is confusing because they are both very similar And then also developing and we are you know, housing and partnering regionally with Southern Marin, and further up in Marin with nonprofits and and and people who are well versed in serving this community. Because we want to also craft our program in a way for success and we want to craft it with people who are professionals and have a high level of experience in this area. So those are our two lines of effort. They are both equally weighted and we are moving forward with deliberate speed on both of those. I can assure you that that our Our resolutions that we are considering tonight are not rushed. There is something that we have put a tremendous amount of hours and effort into crafting what is the best solution for Sausalito and the people of Sausalito. for various reasons that the Chief talked about, the current location, Um, that although it sort of grew organically, it's not an ideal location for and for these people in Sausalito. That's why, again, why the Marine ship was chosen as the you know, the best solution that we could craft at this time. You know, what I've learned is that obviously I didn't learn this. We already knew this. It's a very, very complicated issue. with a lot of different moving parts that have to be cobbled together from a system that isn't particularly well streamlined. That's what we're working on. That is my initial statement and update. And I invite council member Blaustein, who's also been working with me on this, follow up if she wishes or |
| 02:29:34.07 | Melissa Blaustein | Thank you. Yeah, I would love to follow up, please. Thank you very much. And thank you so much for your hard work and to all the council members and staff for their extensive hard work. I do want to clear up just a little bit. I have been working hand in hand with Mayor Hoffman and we've been working really hard to coordinate with. County officials, state officials. But I think we have a different approach when it comes to what we should do immediately. I absolutely am on the same page in terms of a long-term solution. I think we all agree that Dunphy Park is not a long-term solution, but at the same time, I'm just deeply moved by the compassion we've heard from our community tonight, especially those who are without homes, who were brave enough to get on here on this Zoom call and speak up for themselves, which is not something that they should have to do. And in the staff report tonight, We have a secondary resolution which speaks to promising to address the issue of those without homes dignity and with compassion. And I think we all know that we're in the midst of a terrible pandemic. And this is not just a Sausalito problem. This is a Marin County problem. This is a California state problem. And this is something that we all need to grapple with. And, In my work, my day job, we often say, you know, the opposite of poverty is not wealth. The opposite of poverty is dignity. And I think that that's really critical here is that we treat these people with the best dignity that we possibly can. So I am asking for a continuance on this resolution I think that we have not explored every possible opportunity. I know that I think we have, but we need time. And I would like to see us move more slowly on this issue. And here's a couple of items I'd like to see addressed and considered. When meeting with the county, they let us know that on February 9th, there will be two new community outreach officers dedicated to Southern Marin who will be able to spend more time in the encampment and check on and provide for resources. In looking for additional solutions, I spoke with someone at San Francisco's Human Services Department who let me know and reminded me that FEMA is now providing a 100% payment for all room key services. And what's more, they've actually changed the requirements for room key in this new update, which means that it's not as difficult to qualify for room key programs as it was previously. And there is precedent for cities, for example, and counties to take on a room key program. So even if we're unable to qualify for the Marin County program, we've seen that Oakland has its own room key program and the county of Alameda also has its own room key program. Again, these are 100 percent reimbursable by the state and by FEMA. So there would be absolutely no cost on the city budget. |
| 02:31:54.93 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 02:32:05.59 | Melissa Blaustein | And I was disappointed because I had mentioned several times and I saw it in the staff report a commitment to a potentially hiring a social worker who would be dedicated to Sausalito. And again, in reaching out to try and get solutions, I spoke to a social worker in San Francisco who told me about their system. Yes, they do preliminary screenings, but there's a second step. There's a person called a problem solver, and the problem solver works with those who are unhoused continually to provide them with opportunities and to get them to appeal if they can't find housing. So I not only do I just really want to say thank you to everyone who got on and expressed compassion and thank you for the hours and hours of work we put into this, but I know that this is a challenging situation, that people are Some people are not speaking up, but we have received letters of people who are very unhappy about the situation. I know we will find a solution. We absolutely will find a solution. We're working extremely hard. Mayor Hoffman is working extremely hard to push for all of these resources. I just wanna say on the permanent solution side, she's doing everything possible to find housing for these people. It is unbelievable the number of meetings she's she stood up in for that purpose. But in terms of a temporary solution, I just think we need more time and I would like to see us address the county services and what that looks like after February 9th, the FEMA payment, Um, |
| 02:33:23.15 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:33:23.84 | Melissa Blaustein | and potentially having us consider a social worker or otherwise that's dedicated to these services. So that's all I have for you. |
| 02:33:34.98 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thank you. |
| 02:33:37.04 | Janelle Kellman | Yeah. |
| 02:33:37.54 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:33:37.61 | Janelle Kellman | Have any thoughts or |
| 02:33:39.79 | Jill Hoffman | Wanna go next? |
| 02:33:39.96 | Janelle Kellman | next or |
| 02:33:41.10 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:33:41.14 | Janelle Kellman | I have a question, Mayor Hoffman. So first of all, I just want to thank you and Council Member Blalstein. I know you've been working tirelessly and I'll just explain it to everybody as Mayor Hoffman said that because of the Brown Act, only two members, so you don't have a quorum, only two members can work on any single issue at one time. But believe me, you have the full council's attention |
| 02:33:41.16 | Jill Hoffman | I can weigh in. |
| 02:34:01.46 | Janelle Kellman | on this matter but but mayor hoffman and councilman blaustein have have really made us proud and taken the lead here I guess I just have a question for the both of you having worked on this so hard. Melissa, you were mentioning a continuance and some of the services coming down the pipe. Um, what timeframe have you been hearing around? We're talking about temporary versus permanent solutions. I'd like to understand a little bit around what that means. What timeframe is that? Is that two days from now? seven weeks from now, I just, any clarification would be helpful. |
| 02:34:36.34 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:34:36.35 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. So, |
| 02:34:36.98 | Jill Hoffman | What I understand is that from the many, many meetings that we've had is that These programs are being implemented service the most highest scoring people on the assessments. The people that are here in Sausalito, are being assessed right now by health and human services, at least they are trying to do the assessments. But it's going to be a while. if at all, if they're going to if they're going to qualify for any of these Um, program. it's incumbent upon us to try to figure out Um, Where's the best place for the short term solution. Right. And so it's, Every meeting that I have had. has indicated that it's going to be at least Um, you know. it looks like at least weeks if not months before before we can access some of these programs. Because every conversation I've had is that, what is available right now that we can get any of these people into and I was told It's not possible. So I mean, that's a conclusion I've had. So does that answer your question? |
| 02:35:57.20 | Janelle Kellman | Yeah, I was just trying to figure out what we're |
| 02:36:00.04 | Melissa Blaustein | about a timeframe. |
| 02:36:01.50 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:36:01.84 | Melissa Blaustein | I can tell you that the county let us know that as of February, so the county is voting again, I believe next week, on continuing the project Room Key, which is the hotel rooms, which is a temporary housing solution, but they are also supposed to provide to outreach workers for Southern Marin as of February 9th. So there will be more resources available that we don't have at the moment. Long-term solutions, that's gonna take a lot of, I mean, it will be the process to go through to find housing, obviously, as we all know, is not a simple one. So I think it's critical based on these conversations that we get those people on the ground to find out what we can do to help in the interim. |
| 02:36:39.02 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, so thank you for reminding me of that. So I talked to, my conversation today with Health and Human Services, Two things actually I want to follow up on was, you know, I've talked multiple times with RVRA, the RVRA Harbor Master and with RVRA, So, Anyway, today we had a meeting. Um, the health and human service people were on that call as well. And one thing that I did ask was that we need more support of the health and human service workers in Sauslio to help assessment with these people, right? Because the gateway to get into services is the assessment. And it's really hard to do the assessment. you know, and to, Um, to connect with these people, to get the assessment done, because it's not a simple thing. Um, we are looking at, South Dakota is looking at either contracting with or somehow with the downtown streets team to get more of their time right now. instead of, you know, twice a week or you know, so that they're here. Also, RBRA has... Um, contracted. and we'll be getting more assistance as well for out on the water. That's also kind of been a theme of ours is working with RBRA so that there are not negative impacts from the efforts that they're doing out in the water in Sausalito. So that's also been a lot of our focus in conversations. So. |
| 02:38:17.52 | Ian Sobieski | I would just say, Mayor, I would like to thank you for your efforts on this. |
| 02:38:22.95 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:38:25.48 | Ian Sobieski | We were faced with choosing the least bad options and trying to integrate many different demands. I was really affected by a lot of what I heard here tonight. the wide variety of different perspectives everything from jurisdictional questions to questions about what it means to be compassionate. From people that know a lot about the individuals that are there to people that don't know much about who is actually there. People who have a lot of experience with homeless issues, people who do not. It was a real, as always, a real education to hear so many different perspectives. Um, At the end of the day, We really, are here because the presence of the unhoused individuals in Dunphy Park um, triggered an engagement with the law. This issue of Martin B. Boise and the obligation that the city has to provide a place for people who have nowhere else to go. a place to sleep. at night and so the question for us really is where will that place be will it be anywhere in town on any public property Anywhere? or will be somewhere in particular in conjunction with built infrastructure, infrastructure we provide. And the other question for us is, Are we providing place for people to sleep. We don't have nowhere else to go. or are we providing a location for the construction of an encampment? for some indeterminate period of time. with that. in that location. I'm not sure. The resolutions that we put forward, I think, strike a balance between many competing interests. It is not a solution for homelessness. It's not perfect. not joyful. It is compassionate. I've lived in countries that actually have no compassion for people when they're down on their luck. I think we, all have in mind what that actually looks like. But the time that we've been spending here today, the time that you and council member Blaustein have spent the time that the many volunteers who have spoken public here spend on this issue demonstrates the compassion. We only have the choice of where We will allow people to spend the night. and whether we're going to have them actually build a permanent semi-permanent in camp. And I think that these resolutions strike a balance between the many competing interests. The permanent encampment actually removes that property, those public areas, from all the other members of the town who might be able to use that space. It places the interests of that group above the interests of everyone else. We need to strike a balance. And a lot of the competing interests here are not exclusive. We can work hard. on trying to find help for individuals who are in need, We cannot forget them just that's not going to be out of mind, out of sight, out of mind. Everyone here who expressed a concern can actually engage with this directly as individuals who care. we can do more. But we have to make a choice and we have to be mindful of the consequences of our choice. Establishing a location that is a de facto location. encampment. can actually exacerbate some of the very concerns around COVID transmission that were expressed by by many that were supporting the idea of that. I'm not sure. There's no way, given the Martin B. Boise. that the city has the authority to limit the size of such an 9 CAN TURN INTO 90. So if you look at the There literally is no legal mechanism to restrain that. We have to be mindful of the consequences of what we do and try to balance the various risks. So I would. encourage us to be persimmonous with our of. of how much we can control. We should make a decision that balances the many interests. I look favorably upon the resolutions that are on the table. But I think that THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE ENGAGEMENT AROUND THIS ISSUE. IT IS CLEARLY SHOWN THAT Sausalito, for better or worse, is going to have to engage with this. the and it will be exacerbated by the activity of other districts, autonomous districts. and we're gonna have to step up. So some of the proposals that council member Glousteen have suggested like hiring a social worker to deal with this task, actually coming up with a budget of resources that we can devote to this. are things I think we should take up and have on our agenda. But doing that is not a substitute for taking immediate action um, as proposed in the resolutions. So thank you. |
| 02:43:40.32 | Janelle Kellman | Claire, would you like to make a couple comments? So, you know, first of all, obviously, thank you to both you and Councilmember Blaustein for all of your hard work. I also want to thank the extraordinary number of people in the community. who have expressed their opinions to us in a number of different ways. We got a lot of public comment in writing. We heard from a lot of people last night and tonight orally, and I know just in other fora as well. So this is obviously something people feel passionate about on many sides. I just want to say I think we agree on the long-term solutions, you know, that this is an incredibly important issue not only here locally but countywide, regionally, statewide and nationally and the search for long-term |
| 02:44:36.87 | Unknown | long term. |
| 02:44:38.22 | Janelle Kellman | Housing Solutions has been something that California is just struggling mightily to do, even though we are quite wealthy state and we are in one of the most wealthy counties. So addressing those long-term solutions is the utmost important. I'm looking forward to next week getting started with the discussion of our housing element in the next. cycle for that and hopefully to putting our values to the test in that discussion. I also just want to say that I think this is an issue that other communities in Marin are directly addressing Nevada |
| 02:45:19.92 | Unknown | Nevada. |
| 02:45:21.32 | Janelle Kellman | Sandra fell ourselves. I think we have a lot to learn from other communities and that we will gain a lot of strength and good ideas in consulting with our with our counterparts and working collaboratively with them and with the county. So I hope that that will be part of our next steps. in the short term I think Councilmember Sobieski just very eloquently described some of the trade offs that we face. And Council Member Blasdine I think talked about the importance of dignity in our decision making. And I think they are both framed the issues very well for us. |
| 02:46:08.11 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:46:08.14 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:46:08.30 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:46:16.26 | Janelle Kellman | I, I think that this has been a little rushed. I was really dismayed that we got this request to meet tonight. just barely 24 hours notice. to kind of let our proposal sit with the community And I was also surprised that we that the solution that we are proposing did not have more kind of uh, buy-in from the community that we are addressing. the homeless community. So that I think has kind of put us in a defensive posture as opposed to the solution that we are developing collaboratively. That said, I continue to thank that errand ship park is a very good location. I understand the many comments that have been made about moving people and the issues that that arises, but for the reasons that have already been mentioned, Thank you. It's got running water. It has actual bathrooms, not porta potties, and the services brought by downtown streets team and their |
| 02:47:38.97 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:47:42.51 | Janelle Kellman | social workers and their compassionate care. and the dignity that they bring |
| 02:47:46.80 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:47:48.70 | Janelle Kellman | with the showers is exceedingly important along with the food and other songs. Those showers, what we learned when we were trying to locate them here in Sausalito, is they cannot go anywhere. Um, the trailer is very long. It is very hard to maneuver. We tried to set it up at City Hall. We were not able to continue to do that. And I think For a lot of reasons, Marinship Park is a good location. So for me, the two issues are The immediacy. I am concerned about the trigger of a 72 hour notice being pulled quickly. without more collaboration. for the impacted community. I would have liked to have done further outreach and perhaps discuss this next Tuesday. And the second thing is this issue of whether the requirement to decamp every day. And I think Councilmember Sobieski, you know, described his opinion. of that, but that is a choice that we have at this point. I'm on the fence about that issue. I actually felt like a lot of the comments made tonight and the impact of the pandemic overlaing with all of the other really troubling issues of living with homelessness and experiencing homelessness have convinced me that it may be better, at least during the pandemic, do not impose that requirement every day. I also think some of the practical aspects of moving that have been raised by members of the community are an issue and unless we're able to provide some kind of on-site storage or other type of facility, I just think that would end up being Um... hard for the community and maybe not. um the best solution. So I'd kind of be interested in hearing what other Council members think of that. I guess lastly, you know, just back to the 72 hour I am concerned that there was a thought of a issuing this notice. so quickly without kind of adequate conversations. which I had thought were going to be taking place. So I'm interested in what people think about that as well. |
| 02:50:27.07 | Jill Hoffman | So Vice Mayor Kellman hasn't spoken yet. I have some follow-up ideas from the comments that Council Member Cleveland Knowles and everybody's made. But anyway, Vice Mayor Kellman, you haven't spoken yet. Would you like to go ahead? |
| 02:50:40.17 | Janelle Kellman | Yeah, well, thank you, Mayor Hoffman. So I think the hard truth of it for our community and many others is that there's just not enough housing or shelter beds anywhere. literally anywhere. If you're going to San Francisco right now, dealing with the same issue Everywhere. And so as we discussed tonight, and this is the reason for the town hall last night, this is the reason 150 of you showed up tonight. trying to find a compassionate path forward together. And so as part of that, I did go down to meet with the community members in the encampment today. I spoke with Robbie. I wanted to see what was happening. It was quiet. It was peaceful. There were a lot of tents and everybody was very friendly. And what I learned is that These folks need housing. And these folks, NEED SERVICES AND THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED CARE. And I think what we're trying to do tonight is figure out the best way to provide that. while also being responsive to the 110 other people who didn't mention anything tonight and the other sort of community rhetoric that we're hearing. And so we are trying to work with the community by having these open forums and these open sessions. As Councilmember Sobieski said, this is really just the beginning. This is just a beginning of action, but by no means a complete solution. So we need resources. My understanding is the county social workers can head down to Marinship Park two to three times a week my understanding is that anchor outs are a priority for evaluation to be able to obtain the resources that Councilmember Blaustein was mentioning. And so for those reasons, I support the relocation. The thing I think we should have a little discussion about is the breakdown of the camps. And I think there's a way to sort through that that involves resources for example, do we have storage to make it easier so people aren't walking around with all their belongings? do we want to pass the resolutions, but then give a lead time either via the 72 hour notice or just through a resolution tonight in terms of when we begin to enforce that. I think we have options. but I know that we want to provide better services to the community in the encampment. I think we can do that. So I'd like to see us you know, get started on really coming together. Also point out, I am so impressed by the number of community members who offered to help. And I hope that as a part of this moving forward, we can see we really are all in this together. There's no way we can just handle it ourselves. So we really do wanna invite community members to help and to get involved. So I appreciate those comments tonight. So maybe, Mayor Hoffman, I know you have some comments you want to make in response Councilmember Cleveland Knowles. And then I think we should talk MS. Okay. |
| 02:53:32.02 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 02:53:32.23 | Janelle Kellman | Thanks. |
| 02:53:33.02 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, I think it's, um, you know, we're all trying to do the right thing up here, right? Like we're all working very hard to what measured, actions we can take. And so this is just the resolutions really just provide the framework for how we move forward and give us some... And we do have latitude on how we implement them. I would suggest perhaps that the way forward is to vote on the resolution |
| 02:54:01.93 | Jennifer Green (Public Commenter) | night. |
| 02:54:02.52 | Jill Hoffman | I don't disagree that Um, it would be probably nice for all of us, even the city, you know, the city, the departments in the city that are going to help do the move and then manage the move to maybe delay the 72 hours notice a few days. That part of it I think is reasonable and gives everybody a little bit of breathing room to figure out how what we want to do and how we want to move forward. Um, That part we can talk about and maybe if our public works is on the line or maybe if our police chief is still on the line, maybe get some input on what would be what his thought is. And I always like to defer to the guys that are actually doing the operations anyway and get their input on, on how to move forward operationally on things like this. So, I would suggest perhaps that. But to give it, give it some structure. as well, so the city has at the discretion of the police department, the discretion within issuing the 72 hours notice within the next five days or something like that. And, keeping in mind that if it's five days, then it's three days after that, that we would be actually talking a move up to five days, right? But I think it's really important to also you know, comments actually to do this in a measured way and with notice and with the process in place. That is why I think You know, maybe I don't have an objection to delaying a 72 hours notice. with regard to the the Camping versus encampment. discussion that we're having. You know, I, I tend to fall out, uh, on the side of Councilmember Sobieski's comments. for all the reasons that he laid out. And I know that it's, that is a little bit, I mean, obviously a little bit more, onerous on the people that are camping there. But on the other hand, it provides a structure as well. And it provides a clear expectation about this is a temporary solution and we're driving toward a permanent solution. And I think that's a really important thing. And that people in my neighborhood and people all over town actually, they use that park. I mean, that's a, a park that people go to. again, you know, to get outside, to get out with their, their, um, their families and it's an open space to use and it's used by people in our community. I think that is the middle ground, but also with the, we have to have storage containers down there, right? I mean, we just have to, and we have to, be able to secure those possessions of those people in a responsible way, which by the way, is a little bit more than what they have now. And so. So that they could leave their encampment and they don't have to worry about their things being stolen and whatever it is they're leaving there. So that's a piece of puzzle too that we need to get into place. I don't know what storage facilities we have down there are capability. Um, But so that's why I fall out on on the and then work with the implementation. So some of the things we are trying to figure out are things that we can figure out within the context of implementing these resolutions. So we can also work with the implementation. as opposed to delaying or not passing them at all. I don't think taking no action I don't think is really, an option. So. |
| 02:58:04.72 | Janelle Kellman | So, Ms. Hoffman, could I just ask, I mean, I am very reluctant |
| 02:58:04.76 | Jill Hoffman | No. |
| 02:58:09.47 | Janelle Kellman | when one of our two members of our working group is not comfortable. So I was hoping maybe council member Blavstein could Talk to us about what she might be comfortable with. And I mean, would like to have The folks that have been working the hardest on this have a voice and a Yeah. to understand more what we could do that might address your concerns. |
| 02:58:40.50 | Melissa Blaustein | Yeah, thank you for that, Councilmember Cleland-Nulls. I just am aware that there are more, we need a little, in my view it would be it would be smart to take a little more time to assess all of the available resources. time on the ground talking and seeing what what we can do before taking this type of action. I would like to be able to say that we've exhausted every possible available resource and spent the time communicating with these folks as necessary before we do something drastic like move them to a a temporary, I mean, I would just, as I said, I'd like to see a continuance, I'd like to see exploring FEMA funds now that we know that there's 100% reimbursement, that just that announcement was pretty much just made And I'd like to further explore that and I'd like to work more collaboratively with the county officials. We've had many meetings with them and they're willing to help starting February 9th to have the two workers in the community. I would like to have more time and a report back in the meeting either on Tuesday or two weeks from Tuesday. and, just to really exhaust every possible, we have an opportunity here to be the most innovative community and in Marin and Southern Marin and dealing with this issue. And I want to take our time and do it in a way that is with dignity and is with compassion and is collaboratively. And again, I've seen Mayor Hoffman be so dedicated to finding permanent housing. I cannot even tell you the number of hours she has spent fighting to find permanent housing for these people. And I believe that those solutions are going to come to fruition, which is part of why I am so I'm hesitant to rush to an immediate solution right now. |
| 03:00:18.09 | Jill Hoffman | So if I could just follow up on that. So I'm a little surprised by this tonight. We've been working on this for you know, weeks and Uh, Karen Hollweg, She respectfully Councilmember blasting knows as well as I do. none of these answers are going to change between now and Tuesday. of these answers that we've gotten from local and Um, leaders are going to change between now and Tuesday. And so. We started at 4, it's now 7, we're going at 3 hours now. And so we've had exhaustive, I think, it feels like public comment. the analysis that we've had from the last three to four weeks on the effort to find a solution is not going to change. And so between now and Tuesday, I hope it will change long term, but the short term solution is not going to change between now and Tuesday. And You know, I... we have to move forward. I mean, the longer we wait, the harder it's going to get to you know, to craft the harder it's going to get to craft the process of moving the camp from where it is now to Marinship Park. And so, I think... And like I said, we can, I have no opposition to an extension or a short extension of you know, the 72 hour notice, because that will push everything out three days. after we give the notice. to help outreach and to let people know how it's going to work and when it's going to work and very specifically. you know, it's going to be a struggle no matter when it is and delaying it is not going to health. So. That's my conclusion after. Exhausted talking. |
| 03:02:21.53 | Janelle Kellman | So here's a... I think some paths forward maybe for us. I think based on everything you've shared with us tonight, Uh, and what staff has informed us, it doesn't seem like there's gonna be a quick change that's gonna be meaningful for probably several weeks in terms of funding or resources, even though there's some good things coming down the pipeline. So I would say, you know, we need to take action. And if we have the votes to do that tonight, We should, but I would also, if we don't have those words, I would be open to a Tuesday night vote, but I really wouldn't want to see it go past Tuesday. Now, moving it to Tuesday, Uh, you know, we could achieve that same result by delaying the 72 hour notice in terms of, implementation. So I guess there's really kind of three options, right? I mean, there's probably more, but the three that I was in my head We vote on it tonight. We vote on it tonight with a delay, an articulated delay in the 72-hour which means nothing goes into action, or we have this discussion again on Tuesday. And I guess as I say that, maybe we've had a really good vetting this evening. Maybe I'm going towards the second option vote tonight and delay the 72 hours, but I'd love to hear what others think. |
| 03:03:41.58 | Sybil Boutilier (Public Commenter) | Well, I mean, |
| 03:03:42.34 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Yes, Councilmember Sobieski is leaning forward, but I tend to agree with you, Vice Mayor. Go ahead. Go ahead. |
| 03:03:49.89 | Ian Sobieski | Not for me to disagree with you too. I agree with you. I think that's a fine approach. I believe that maybe that approach gives an extra day or two to settle some of the questions around the storage issue that you brought up mayor hoffman that was a new twist um if the city were to provide a storage facility like say a half sized shipping container. for, um, campers to put their items in during the day. that would have to be opened and closed by a city staff member. That would take, that would be a partial solution to – the issue of of personal possessions, but that would, I imagine, require some coordination with city staff. and the acquisition of such a container, which we moved to. but there might be other storage solutions that you have in mind. uh, or that might come up. But, but yes, I think that, as I said, I think these are the least bad alternatives, but I want to just emphasize that everything that, has been discussed by here among us council members and as well by the public of the positive things we can do to address the acute issue of these particular individuals and the longer-term issue booth. in our town, in our region, and in our society, about. everything from homelessness to income inequality can be done if we continue to work on those issues. They are not in exclusion to attending to the particular issue of where these particular people will be spending the night and whether or not we will be endorsing the idea of a permanent encampment during the day. Those two questions have a broad impact on many other members of our community. And it's incumbent upon us, I believe, to be cognizant of the many that need to be synthesized. to a balanced approach. So I'm not at all happy. Let it all happen. about imposing any additional stress. on people. who have stress in their lives. And there's nothing about these resolutions that are going to be perceived as thank you from the people that are being most directly affected by them. in the current camping sites. But it is a path forward that balances many competing interests in our cautious, humane, thoughtful way. And I would encourage everyone who spoke here tonight and who cares about this issue to step up personally and try to help. |
| 03:06:34.58 | Janelle Kellman | COB, Jean Gatza, Can I just ask there this idea of storage has just come up for the first time today. COB, Jean Gatza, I'm not willing to require the D camping and that's currently in the resolution unless there's some that is in fact feasible, so if staff can't answer. that question tonight. then what I would suggest is that, you know, it's also the other issue along with the storage items is it's still the storm season, right? We're still in the middle of rainy weather and our usual locations like the library cafes and other places are closed due to COVID. So I would either recommend that we take that requirement out if we're gonna vote tonight and do more research about what including with advocates and individuals in the current encampment to see what might be a solution. And if staff can answer that question, if that's feasible to do something, that would be helpful for my decision making this evening. |
| 03:07:49.29 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, so I'm going to ask if Chief Roebacher is still on or if... Marsha Raines, our city manager might be able to weigh in. Oh, what? Look, it's Kevin. Okay. Yes. public works writer. |
| 03:08:03.25 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, members of City Council. I did want to weigh in on this one. I think that having a storage container and having staff, either from police department or public works, and manage that specific storage shed is not reasonable. We don't have the staff to cover something like that at this point. But I want to throw a suggestion out there just to consider since this is fairly new for me as well. What has worked in other communities is having a locker system. Some place where these folks can go and put their stuff in a locker and have that in a covered area. One of the key things here is I'm not sure if we have a covered area. So anyway, we might want to think of that a little bit of how can we provide at least some area for folks to put their things, a small locker system. It could even be inside a storage facility, storage container as well. But I'm like I said, I'm just shooting from the hip that late late night at Friday night here. So that's just my two cents. |
| 03:09:09.28 | Ian Sobieski | Can I ask Kevin a direct question just on this idea? MR. Is that okay, Mayor? |
| 03:09:15.05 | Jill Hoffman | Oh, sure. Yeah, go ahead. |
| 03:09:16.64 | Ian Sobieski | Just thanks, Kevin. of. acquiring a half-size shipping container or full-size shipping container. putting it in the parking lot. and having a lock on the door that's unlocked at the end of the day and open first thing in the morning. I'm not sure if you're not but all the items from the entire encampment are put in there. from the camp or can be put in there. I'm not sure. Why is that, and help spell them out why that's in peace. |
| 03:09:44.50 | Kevin McGowan | Well, I'm not saying that it's infeasible. I'm suggesting that I don't necessarily have public works staff dedicated specifically to that. I would have to discuss it with our city manager. And I'm sure PD would might want to step up there as well. The other things that have come up, at least in other jurisdictions, are privacy issues with people's things. So you want to be able to protect those items and possibly putting them under a locked system, like a locker system might be been privacy issues with people's things. So you want to be able to protect those items and possibly putting them under a locked system like a locker system might be beneficial. |
| 03:10:17.20 | Marsha Raines | So, Mayor Kaufman, one of the things that Public Works Director has researched and is commenting on is what other communities have seen work. So the system that he's proposing has been used in other municipalities, not to say that's where this council is going to land tonight, but you know, if you look at |
| 03:10:18.62 | Riley (Public Commenter) | Thank you. |
| 03:10:18.72 | Kevin McGowan | Thank you. |
| 03:10:18.82 | Riley (Public Commenter) | Bye. |
| 03:10:18.97 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 03:10:38.87 | Marsha Raines | For example, in the BART system, there are lockers that are provided at each BART station so that anybody that arrives with goods, in most cases in that scenario it's a bicycle, in this case it might be a tent, has their own key, locks their own belongings, goes away, and when they come back their belongings are there and cared for without the additional requirements of staff controlling, checking in and out, Um, working with the individuals on what they want. So if the individual comes after hours and the staff's not available, or if they want something out of their locker, and police services isn't available. There's more of a freedom and an independence that is created. So that's why the Public Works Director is suggesting there's an alternative way that you could do this if that's where you end up going tonight. |
| 03:11:29.65 | Jill Hoffman | So let me weigh in for a second. I'm fairly certain that I'm fairly certain that if the city council directs lockers or some sort of storage area at Friendship. for the people who are camping there to store their belongings during the day That's going to happen. So, Whether how we manage that or how we figure out storage of of materials for 15 people we're going to be able to figure that out. I am almost certain that that is part of our resolution. you're not that that will be um, taken care of. So, We will figure it out. Thank you. |
| 03:12:15.36 | Janelle Kellman | Yes, Vice Mayor Kallman. So sorry, I just keep trying to maybe find a consensus and common ground here for us. So what I'm hearing is that there's there's some votes for for the resolution in terms of relocation. There's some interest in delaying the 72 hour notice. And then there may be a need to have a similar delay on the breakdown of camp requirement so that we could research options for storage as well as the cost associated with it. Those sound like the three topics that we're revisiting. And if we do have you know, support for the for the motion that would be good to, or the resolution that would be good to know, and then to hear maybe people's perspective on how long a delay might make sense and whether we wanna have sort of a moratorium on the, on the breakdown until we have more information. You know, I welcome thoughts on that. That's just kind of what I'm hearing. I don't know if that resonates. So I think, oh, sorry, yes. Andrew. |
| 03:13:16.33 | Ian Sobieski | I don't want to dominate the discussion at all. I think I may, I just wanted to answer Vice Mayor Kelvin's question. I support the resolutions as written. They're not the greatest. The ideal situation, it's the best of bad options. The choice about breaking down the encampment is indeed that or having to strike camp every day. is so that this location is not an encampment. It is not a... permanent I'm not sure. dwelling system of dwellings that deprive that area from the rest of the community. It is not a good thing. Obviously it'd be better. more comfortable for the camp. those who have to camp to have a place to be all day. is of course a better way to live. I'm not proposing this as an as an attractive alternative of a way to live, this is about a balance of many different issues and many different concerns. What we're establishing is a safe, with access to bathrooms and showers for people to spend the night. and, The presumption there is that they won't have some of the things that are, for example, in the current encampment, large heavy wooden chairs, Weber grills or whatnot. that this is more of a place to spend the night. that doesn't absolve us of that's still the problem of all the things that people have brought up How did it? people that need food, people that need long-term shelter. It doesn't solve all these problems. It's a balance of many issues. I think the idea of having storage was It's a complicating factor. Having that would allow people to have a heavy wooden chair like it's currently at the encampment. If there was a container, you know, a 40 foot shipping container that has a lock on the door, people could have heavier things and a Weber grill and put those things into the shipping container. and in the communal environment as it currently exists, then that would seemingly be harmonious. But I think it would be easy to try to prove fall down the rabbit hole of looking for some perfect solution. or something that absolves us of the discomfort of having to make an uncomfortable decision because there isn't an ideal. and, So just to answer your question, I'm in favor of both resolutions as written. Lamentably. |
| 03:15:47.78 | Jill Hoffman | So I agree. So I think, I think we're ready for a motion if I'm doing my polling correctly. Okay. |
| 03:15:56.00 | Janelle Kellman | I would like to first just respond to Council of Vice Mayor Calvin's issue. I mean, if we were willing to if we do want to vote tonight, I would vote in favor if there is a delay. in the 72-hour implementation of at least another three to five days. to start that. which is what we had discussed if we acted next Tuesday. TAB, Giving more time for outreach and solution, you know, looking for solutions as Council Member blasting indicated. And if we were to suspend for at least 30 days, the decampment requirement while we look for viable solutions that we can afford or that we can find funding for. So with that, I would... be willing to make a motion. I don't know if Council Member Blasdene has any further ideas. I also think that we should consider I sponsored a I was working on the Blue Ribbon Committee last year on finding creative funding solutions to some of our thorniest issues during COVID. us sponsor a funding mechanism to allow so many of our concerned residents to Support. the city and some of our efforts on this. |
| 03:17:20.49 | Melissa Blaustein | If I'm hearing it correctly, you're saying that there would be a 30 day pause on the decampment requirement and there would be a uh we don't know how long pause on the 72 hour we would get because at this point since apparently no one is in favor of the continuance i'm just trying to find whatever ways forward to be able to continue to creatively seek solutions so if you made that motion then in order to be able to provide the resources as possible, then I could support you in that. assuming we know that we get, it's not like we're gonna post notice tomorrow. |
| 03:17:46.58 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 03:17:46.70 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:17:52.17 | Melissa Blaustein | I would like kind of clarity on what it means to have more time to post the notice. |
| 03:17:56.99 | Jill Hoffman | So here's what. I would be against that, a moratorium on the decampment. you know, we have to move forward and regrettably we have to move forward. So, but I do agree, as I said before, on direction to delay the 72 hours notice for until Tuesday or whatever day we want to say, We will give an update Tuesday night during our committees and working group updates and I would Also include with that, you know, if we give the 72 hours notice If we delay that, we can also include the direction, right? So we passed the two resolutions as written. And then direction is to delay notice. for three days. Hold on, Ian, I know you want to talk I'm just throwing it out there, right? |
| 03:18:54.11 | Riley (Public Commenter) | with us. |
| 03:18:54.54 | Jill Hoffman | Um, But then the other direction we give is that there's some sort of storage facility mechanism there at the new location, right? And so that means that if 72 hours notice is given Tuesday, that means you know you wouldn't start moving people over there until friday of course people can move before the notice of serve But. Um, but that the storage facility be in place at the time that the 72 hours of notice is implemented, right? So you give notice and then you implement the action that's listed in the notice, right? So that the storage, some sort of storage ability is there at the time that the action is implemented. So anyway, I'm sorry, Ian, go ahead. |
| 03:19:37.97 | Ian Sobieski | I thought I would just actually move to move that both resolutions be passed as written with the understanding that the 72-hour notice would not be issued until Tuesday. uh, and that the then that staff is directed to explore and come up with proposals at our Tuesday meeting, let's say. storage solutions for and I think that a reasonable amount of camping equipment. |
| 03:20:17.00 | Janelle Kellman | So can I make a friendly amendment? I would just ask that item two in our second resolution about unlawful daytime camping not go into effect until unless and until a solution for storage is developed and approved. by the city manager, perhaps. |
| 03:20:46.91 | Marsha Raines | Mayor, if I can weigh in on the discussion of the council, the chief is still on the line, as is Kevin McGowan, and I would like to hear both of them weigh in on some of the thoughts that you're coming up with in the actual feasibility of implementation. So let's do chief first. |
| 03:20:46.96 | Janelle Kellman | I'm not sure. |
| 03:21:03.50 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 03:21:10.13 | Marsha Raines | Oh, there he is. |
| 03:21:12.91 | John Rohrbacher | All right, so I'm unmuted. So there seems to be several uh, questions or issues on the board. Um, I want to just go backwards a little bit, um, really, uh, against any form of city staffing involved in storage. then because we assume then responsibility for those items, especially if they're all joined in the same container. They really don't want to be responsible for all the claims about lost or stolen property. I simply don't. And I'm sure that Public Works Director McGowan does not either. THE IDEA OF self storage lockers is far better than if we're going to have lockers because then people can be responsible for their own things. So that is one concern of mine. The other is I'd really like to think about the, or ask you to think about the practical effects of any kind of notice and then implementation of the notice. I really don't like I'm not sure. doing these kind of things on the weekend. I'd really like to conduct all this kind of business during the work week. If you could factor that into your deliberations, that'd be great. because that's when most of the DPW staff is working, my staff is frankly the same regardless weekend or weekday, It is far easier to take care of issues with other partners and such if it's done during the work week. |
| 03:22:40.83 | Jill Hoffman | So Chief, let me ask you, what's the, What day would you What day works? in that framework to issue the notice. |
| 03:22:49.12 | John Rohrbacher | Well, I think you'd have to do like a, Monday notice Thursday move man, Tuesday notice you know, Friday movement or flip it into the other part of the week. Friday notice movement. after the weekend kind of thing like that. just to skip having the imposition of trying to assist people with less staff or less outside help if we wanted to have people involved in any way, which I've heard suggested earlier, which I think is a great idea. |
| 03:23:21.58 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:23:21.64 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thanks. |
| 03:23:22.46 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:23:22.48 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:23:22.50 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. So given all of that, I guess, With the fact that we don't know about any storage, I would just say that we suspend the daytime unlawful daytime camping until a later action. That would be my proposal and we move forward with the other two. with the two resolutions. |
| 03:23:40.99 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. Mayor Hoffman, I'd like to present an alternative. I would like to support Council Member Sobieski's motion. And in light of Councilmember Cleveland Knowles' suggestion, direct. city manager. to report to us regarding and seek out solutions related to lockers for storage. and provide that specific direction It's within her discretionary authority to do so. And I think it addresses Councilman Cleveland-Nulls' concerns. And I think that's a good And then I think, Thank you. I'm not sure we want to launch this on the 72-hour notice on Tuesday or how folks feel about that, but I would be comfortable with the timeframe sometime next week. |
| 03:24:25.91 | Jill Hoffman | So... here's the problem though, is that If we don't pass both resolutions tonight, then we have to bring this back and figure out what we're gonna do with the encampment issue. So what I would propose is that We pass both resolutions as written. with the caveat that with the direction that, um, that, movement of the camp is conditioned on the existence of lockers at the new location. |
| 03:25:01.69 | Janelle Kellman | You said it much better than I did. So thank you. That was what I was trying to Okay. |
| 03:25:06.87 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:25:06.88 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:25:06.97 | Janelle Kellman | it. |
| 03:25:07.02 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:25:08.00 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:25:08.01 | Janelle Kellman | So- |
| 03:25:08.03 | Jill Hoffman | So- |
| 03:25:08.45 | Janelle Kellman | I think that's fine. |
| 03:25:11.02 | Jill Hoffman | Pardon me. I, you know, honestly, I think we're at our decision point. members who have indicated that they're willing to vote for the resolutions as they're before us. We have a path forward I think that is reasonable and that captures the considerations that have been voiced tonight and the considerations of the to council members. I'm ready to entertain a motion if someone would like to make one. Although it looks like council member |
| 03:25:39.27 | Janelle Kellman | Although, Oh, my God. |
| 03:25:41.61 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 03:25:42.31 | Janelle Kellman | But with all due respect, Mayor, the way that you phrase that assumes that we will be able to afford lockers. Otherwise, the resolution, the whole thing will never go into effect. |
| 03:25:54.77 | Jill Hoffman | So I'm certain we're going to be able to get some lockers for |
| 03:25:54.86 | Janelle Kellman | I want to. |
| 03:25:59.05 | Ian Sobieski | I think my own view is there are many things we need to do for these people. that we're going to have There are lots of other ways and councilman Boglastin working. as well as many other people on many other things to do. for this population. The idea of them striking being required to strike camp is because absent that, the entire park is inaccessible for others. And it creates a situation where that in permanent encampment can grow in scale that we have no ability to restrain. So I believe we should pass both resolutions as written period. with a notice on Tuesday. And separately, we should endeavor to. help this community in many ways, including providing them storage space for some of their items. That's a separate item against which we shouldn't delay. this other remedy. |
| 03:27:01.80 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:27:01.85 | Jill Hoffman | I'm sorry, Mayor Hoffman, did you make a motion? I did not. I can make that into a motion. Although I think there's a friendly amendment. I'm not really sure. I'm not sure procedurally that there was a motion on the table when Councilmember Cleveland rules the amendment. |
| 03:27:17.50 | Unknown | I'm also... |
| 03:27:17.85 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. it. |
| 03:27:20.58 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:27:20.60 | Ian Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 03:27:20.64 | Jill Hoffman | Council member Sobieski if you want to make the |
| 03:27:23.30 | Ian Sobieski | I guess it's my first time. So I was trying to make, well, I did one before, I think. I was trying to make a motion to approve resolutions as with notice on Tuesday. 72 hour notice starting on Tuesday. |
| 03:27:37.85 | Janelle Kellman | Does that include the mayor's amendment? |
| 03:27:41.12 | Ian Sobieski | in this. My motion doesn't, but the thought is that we need to work on this storage solution. separately in parallel path. |
| 03:27:51.95 | Janelle Kellman | The mayor's amendment was that there would not be the decampment requirement at Marinship Park um, until the city manager had found a solution for storage. |
| 03:28:05.64 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:28:05.71 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. |
| 03:28:05.84 | Jill Hoffman | Bye. |
| 03:28:05.86 | Janelle Kellman | Yeah. |
| 03:28:05.98 | Jill Hoffman | I'll make that amendment. I'll, I'll, I'll, uh, moved to amend, um, I think it's the second resolution |
| 03:28:16.22 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 03:28:17.12 | Jill Hoffman | the rest of the, I don't have them up in front of me, but I'm moving to amend the resolution with regard to The encampment that it not be, implemented until storage lockers for the individuals are in place. Thank you. |
| 03:28:35.86 | Janelle Kellman | I will second |
| 03:28:37.01 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:28:37.03 | Janelle Kellman | Thank you. Councilmember Sobiesi's motion with Mayor Hoffman's amendment. |
| 03:28:38.43 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:28:38.46 | Ian Sobieski | Yeah. |
| 03:28:38.61 | Jill Hoffman | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 03:28:42.19 | Ian Sobieski | Just one informational question about that, just, and we might need Mary's chiming in on that. It does raise a legal threshold question. And since the whole, and then the whole operating procedure of this resolution is dependent upon it, I want clarity. what does storage facilities, what's that defined at? Is it for everything that the individual owns or is it some reasonable amount of camping equipment or what? |
| 03:29:06.90 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, Mary, if we just reference storage facility, is that sufficient? |
| 03:29:13.26 | Mary Wagner | Um... I mean, it would be helpful I'm hoping to have a little more clarity around that. It may be useful for us to look at what other jurisdictions are providing so utilizing the same mechanism. |
| 03:29:25.70 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, so reasonable storage facility. That's the language. reasonable storage facility, that is legal. legally defensible, correct? Thank you. |
| 03:29:38.01 | Mary Wagner | Thank you. |
| 03:29:38.12 | Jill Hoffman | in the motions. |
| 03:29:38.27 | Mary Wagner | It's emotional. |
| 03:29:38.62 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 03:29:38.64 | Mary Wagner | Thank you. I believe it's legally defensible. We'll have to work with it. Practically. |
| 03:29:44.66 | Jill Hoffman | operationally it's different. There's a different operational level, but legally, Yes. That is acceptable. Correct. Yes. Thank you. |
| 03:29:54.30 | Ian Sobieski | Can I just ask Mary the follow-up question, which is just, As we know, there aren't some people, I mean, if someone has |
Jeff Chase — Against: Stated the camp started around Christmas and half are displaced anchor-outs. Referenced a Small Craft Harbor District petition and threatened litigation if the city interferes. Argued the land may not belong to the city and invoked religious assembly rights. ▶ 📄
Daniel — Against: Asserted the land is on Native American ground and does not belong to Sausalito, claiming the city has no clear title. Declared the encampment a religious assembly practicing free speech and religion, warning of crimes under color of law and potential billing for damages. ▶ 📄
Arthur Bruce — Against: An anchor-out of six years, expressed fear of losing his boat while at work. Noted they have legal counsel (Anthony Prince) and warned that any emergency removal would be wrongful and could lead to legal action. ▶ 📄
Sunny Yao — Against: An anchor-out who enjoys maritime life. Expressed terror that her boat could be taken and appreciation for the encampment as a place for outdoor living and community, criticizing housed residents for lack of compassion. ▶ 📄
Riley — Against: A 64-year-old disabled citizen, emotionally stated they are being treated poorly and demand basic human rights and comfort, highlighting the hardship of sleeping in the cold. ▶ 📄
Emmett Yeazell — Neutral: Praised the council's sensitivity but questioned if moving the encampment to Marinship Park would sanction and memorialize it, asking about the legal implications compared to taking no action. ▶ 📄
Melanie M — Against: An anchor-out who sees the encampment as a 'plan B.' Criticized cities for sweeping poor people under the rug and noted that housed residents are only one crisis away from homelessness, urging compassion. ▶ 📄
Eva — Against: Questioned the environmental concerns raised by the Chief, pointing out the small carbon footprint of the unhoused compared to wealthy residents. Cited arrest data showing racial disparities in Marin County and warned of potential civil rights investigations. ▶ 📄
Anthony Prince — Against: Attorney for the California Homeless Union, cited a federal injunction in Santa Cruz and warned that the proposed action violates CDC guidelines and county health orders by increasing COVID spread. Threatened legal action if the resolutions pass. ▶ 📄
Frank Soda — Neutral: Asked how it will be determined if someone has an option for indoor sleeping and how to prevent the area from becoming a temporary campground in summer. ▶ 📄
Paul Mowry — Against: A faith-based community member, called the proposal hurried and short-sighted. Described the camp as peaceful and orderly, and argued that requiring daily decampment is cruel and unworkable, especially in winter and pandemic conditions. Urged more collaborative planning. ▶ 📄
Rebecca — Against: Questioned if the resolution complies with the Eighth Amendment, calling it a paperwork maneuver to circumvent the law. Asked where people will go during the day and store belongings. Recommended focusing on housing and engaging organizations like Buckelew Programs. ▶ 📄
Peter Christian Romanowski — Against: A long-term anchor-out and reverend, stated the tent city is a spinoff of their church. Argued that daily tent breakdown is impossible, especially in storms, and criticized the police for destroying property. Claimed the city does not own the waters. ▶ 📄
Raul Carlos — Against: A harbor master, questioned the rationale for moving the camp, noting it's easily contained and close to services. Argued daily decampment is cruel and could disperse people, while also mentioning safety concerns from some individuals entering boats at night. ▶ 📄
Chris Gallagher — Against: Endorsed Paul Mowry's comments, calling the proposal 'kicking the can down the road.' Opposed moving the camp merely to get it out of sight and argued daily breakdown is ridiculous. Urged Sausalito to show kindness and solve the problem collaboratively. ▶ 📄
Alice Merrill — Against: Echoed Paul Mowry and Chris Gallagher, questioning why the agenda didn't specify legal action. Emphasized the camp's organization and the plight of those who lost anchors in storms, urging compassion and community help. ▶ 📄
Jennifer Green — In Favor: A paramedic with experience in homelessness, called the proposal compassionate and well-organized. Asked what happens if people refuse to move and noted the broader national challenge, but was impressed with the city's response. ▶ 📄
David Sudo — Neutral: Cautioned against rules that disperse people, advocating for a semi-permanent, well-regulated encampment that is sanitary and safe, rather than having people hidden all over town. ▶ 📄
David Schoenbrun — Against: Expressed disappointment in the council's harsh approach. Suggested applying for FEMA funds to repair boats of displaced anchor-outs and providing porta-potties and washing stations. Opposed the resolutions as unlivable. ▶ 📄
Judy Canham — Against: Deeply concerned about moving the camp and requiring daily decampment, calling it the opposite of compassionate. Visited the camp and found it clean, organized, and communal. Suggested supporting it with porta-potties, hand washing, water, and services onsite. ▶ 📄
Carlo Berg — Against: Agreed with previous speakers, offering to help marshal community resources. Noted that signage already at Marinship Park suggests a decided outcome, and fines for non-compliance are unworkable. Urged a compassionate, community-driven solution. ▶ 📄
Sonya Hanson — Against: Echoed concerns of previous speakers, emphasizing empathy and charity. Argued that daily decampment and confiscation of possessions is unreasonable and asked the council to reconsider. ▶ 📄
Winnie Conopath — Against: A neighbor who sees the encampment from her home, understood its necessity. Volunteered at the food pantry by the showers and highlighted the challenges faced by the unhoused, opposing the move to Marinship as unworkable and urging a better plan. ▶ 📄
Barbara Sapienza — Against: Thanked the council for the meeting and urged a humane, kind approach that includes people in the community. Recalled past issues with anchor-out boats being crushed and saw an opportunity for Sausalito to be exemplary in its compassion. ▶ 📄
Joan Cox — Neutral: Asked if the city has reached out to RBRA, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Belvedere, and Marin County for collaborative solutions, since many campers are from RBRA waters, not Sausalito anchor-outs. ▶ 📄
Cindy — Against: A 10-year resident and volunteer, defended the homeless as kind, passionate human beings, not drug addicts. Urged compassion and listening to the community, noting that homelessness could affect anyone. ▶ 📄
Kelly Adams — Against: Opposed the proposal, calling daily decampment unthinkable for those in nice homes. Saw an opportunity to open hearts and wallets, build rapport, and find a compassionate solution together. ▶ 📄
Joe Silverman — Against: Added voice for compassion and humanity, describing the encampment as communal and supportive. Argued moving them just makes them less visible and doesn't address solutions, urging community resource and effort. ▶ 📄
Karen Culligan — Neutral: Appreciated the pressure on the council but found the plan restrictive. Suggested positives of the Marinship location but felt the proposal was rushed and punitive, recommending more planning for supportive benefits. ▶ 📄
AE — In Favor: A resident with a young family, argued many comments were unrealistic and not listening to the city's efforts. Opposed the tent city, fearing overflow and impact on local businesses. Supported the measures as compassionate and realistic, noting many silent supporters. ▶ 📄
Sybil Boutilier — Neutral: Commended the council and community for positive suggestions. Saw benefits in moving to Marinship (access to showers, amenities) but agreed daily decampment is too burdensome in winter. Urged collaboration and short-term solutions. ▶ 📄
Steven Allison — Against: Honored ancestral land and stated the emergency predates COVID. Argued the proposal harasses people to leave Sausalito. Urged the council to work with BCDC and RBRA to stop crushing boats, build affordable housing, and collaborate regionally. ▶ 📄
Kyle — In Favor: Sympathetic but concerned about public safety, noting mask non-compliance and proximity to a lead dump. Cited negative impact on local businesses. Supported relocation to a less visible area like Marinship for better services, representing the 'silent majority.' ▶ 📄
Marnie Wilson — In Favor: A nurse with homelessness experience, found the proposal compassionate and realistic. Echoed questions about consequences of sanctioning a spot and future legal implications. ▶ 📄
Mickey Ellison — Against: Agreed with Paul Mowry, Chris Gallagher, and Steven Allison. Criticized NIMBY responses and urged thinking of others. Shared personal volunteer experience and called for voting no, suggesting mooring posts could have been a better solution. ▶ 📄
John DeRay — Neutral: Thanked the council and acknowledged compassion for the unhoused. Concerned about moving from one toxic area to another. Suggested using boat workers and shipyards to repair boats, exploring water-based housing, and providing jobs and training. ▶ 📄