Figure 1 - Richmond Parkway Camp

The City of Richmond is not alone in dealing with the intractable challenge of homelessness. This is a statewide problem with roots that go back decades, including the closing of the state’s mental institutions by Governor Ronald Reagan. Lack of sufficient public funding and facilities for treating mental health disorders and drug abuse continues to contribute, as periodic surveys of homeless populations typically identify drug abuse and mental illness as underlying causes for over half of people chronically homeless. The high cost and a shortage of housing in a NIMBY California also put housing out of affordable range for many homeless people, as does income inequality (While California’s economy outperforms the nation’s, its level of income inequality exceeds that of all but five states).

With a $30 billion state surplus, California has the means to dramatically reduce homelessness, but the pollical will is sadly lacking (Solving the Homeless Crisis – the 1 Percent Solution and Update on Solving the Homeless Crisis – the 1 Percent Solution).

Instead of using the economic power of the world’s 5th largest economy to address this problem, the state relies on underfunded local governments to use ineffective band aid solutions that rarely work. But for now, that’s all we have, and the City of Richmond and Contra Costa County are more ineffective than most.

There are a lot of reasons for this failure, but one is the lack of funding and organizational focus. Contra Costa County has funding and staff dedicated to serving the homeless, including addressing mental health, physical health and drug abuse issues, but it’s not enough. The County needs to do more to actually have an impact, and the County spreads its resources too thin. While Richmond hosts over half the shelters for homeless people in Contra Costa County, our city does not receive over half the County resources and is chronically underfunded compared to the County as a whole.

Figure 2 - Rydin Road Camp

A critical and continuing challenge is coordinating efforts between the City of Richmond and  Contra Costa County, where homeless services are located in the Contra Costa Health Services Healthy, Housing and Homeless (H3) Services. Contra Costa county has a Continuum of Care Council on Homelessness and receives millions of dollars from HUD, and the Council on Homelessness recommends how to spend it. At its October 2021 meeting, the Council on Homelessness reported over $17 million available for projects and program. The Council on Homelessness reports 19 members, but it is unclear whether any are from Richmond, which remains unrepresented or underrepresented.

Contra Costa Council on Homelessness. The Contra Costa Council on Homelessness, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, provides advice and input on the operations of homeless services, program operations, and program development efforts in Contra Costa County. Further, the Council on Homelessness establishes the local process for applying, reviewing and prioritizing project applications for funding in HUD Homeless Assistance Grant Competitions, including the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.

The Contra Costa Council on Homelessness provides a forum for the Continuum of Care to communicate about the implementation of strategies to prevent and end homelessness. The purpose of the forum is to educate the community on homeless issues, and advocate on federal, state, county and city policy issues that affect people who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

The Contra Costa Council on Homelessness provides a forum for communication and coordination about the implementation of the County's Strategic Plan to prevent and end homelessness. The Council provides advice and input on the operations of homeless services, program operations, and program development efforts in Contra Costa County. Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the Council. Please reach out to the Council on Homelessness at CChomelesscouncil@cchealth.org at least 72 hours before a meeting or deadline to request reasonable accommodation. For more information, please see Contra Costa County’s Reasonable Accommodations page. Meeting Link: https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclf-uspzovGdR7op72t5-X4nsGdqdpvL-X

Contra Costa county also operates the C.O.R.E. (Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement) teams for the entire county, including Richmond, but the County has pressured the City of Richmond into paying a significant part of the cost of the West County C.O.R.E. team. When COVID struck, Contra Costa County received federal funding to rent two hotels in Richmond for occupancy by homeless people. One is the Marriot at Hilltop, which is still in use, The other is SureStay in Point Richmond, which instead of housing Richmond’s homeless population, was used to house people from other parts of the County while a Pittsburg hotel was being renovated.

C.O.R.E posts monthly reports. The latest, from October 2021 for Richmond reported 98 unduplicated contacts, 7 of which were unaccompanied minors or transition aged youth. 46 reported chronic health conditions; 30 reported developmental disorders and 54 reported mental health problems.  74.49% reported they had lost housing in Richmond before becoming homeless.

Because Contra Costs County services are woefully inadequate to make a dent in Richmond’s homeless challenge, the City Council has adopted a number of initiatives since 2017 to augment County services. Instead if fixing the problem, it has, if anything, gotten worse. One problem the City is also organizational. There is no one person, or even department, in the City with overall responsibility for homeless programs. That responsibility is scattered among the Police Department, the Department of Public Works, Code Enforcement and Planning, not to mention multiple nonprofits, including GRIP, the Bay Area Rescue Mission, SOS, Housing Consortium of the East Bay and Rebuilding Together East Bay North. Even the Implementation Committee of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force believes it is now in charge of homeless programs because the City Council allocated some funding to homeless programs following the Task Force’s request. The City Council has authorized the “Homeless Task Force” and two ad hoc City Council committees to deal with homelessness, al of which have murky and overlapping responsibilities. On December 21, 2021, the City Council, to its credit, balked at establishing yet another committee – this time a committee of homeless camp residents.

The City of Richmond currently has two nonprofits, Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) and Rebuilding Together East Bay North (RTEBN), under contract for total of $1,543,975 to provide services to the homeless.

The former, dating from April 1, 2021, through February 12, 2022, was originally intended to provide basic services to the Rydin Road and Richmond Parkway (“Castro”) camps with the goal of relocating the occupants to shelters or housing by the end of 2021. It was a non-competitive contract largely drafted by Gayle McLaughlin without staff input. The contract significantly overcommitted what was possible for the available funds. Very little of the resources were used for the Richmond Parkway camp, and at the end of 2021, the Rydin Road camp remained largely intact.

Like the HCEB contract, the RTEBN contract, dating from July 20, 2021, through July 20, 2022, was also non-competitive, largely drafted without staff input by Gayle McLaughlin and Daniel Barth. Unlike the HCEB contract, its focus was not on transitioning homeless people to housing but instead to institutionalize and perpetuate camps. One of the principle objectives was to establish and service “scattered sites.” but at the beginning of 2022, only one scattered site application had been made, and it was withdrawn due to neighborhood pressure.

Critics of both contracts complain that there is no easily accessible accounting for expenditures, services provided and results obtained. Residents have been critical of the services they have received and the lack of accountability.

Over the last five years, the City Council has adopted numerous resolutions, made multiple directions to staff and approved two contracts intended to alleviate homelessness, but with few results. Following are descriptions of some of them:

On April 18, 2017, the City Council authorized a “Homeless Task Force:”

K-2. The matter to direct staff to convene a homeless taskforce to include two or three City Councilmembers, volunteers from the community, and at least one or two homeless people for the purpose of exploring and implementing strategies that address the needs of the homeless in Richmond was presented by Councilmember McLaughlin. Discussion ensued. The Council suggested that non-profit providers for the homeless also be part of the taskforce and requested an update on the possibility of having a Tiny Village in Richmond. Kathy Robinson and Jackie Thompson gave cc18Apr2017 Page 7 of 7 comments. A motion by Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approved the item by the unanimous vote of the City Council. Councilmembers McLaughlin, Myrick, and Willis volunteered to serve on the taskforce.

October 24, 2017, Report of the Homeless Task Force:

J-3. The matter to receive a report regarding the City of Richmond Homeless Taskforce was introduced by Councilmembers Willis, Choi, and Myrick. Richmond Crime Prevention Coordinator Michelle Milam presented a Powerpoint that highlighted the following: vision, mission, and establishment of the Homeless Taskforce; taskforce members and activities; homelessness in Richmond; “where can the homeless go?”; recipe for failure and urgency for the City of Richmond to address homelessness issues; numerous encampments on the public cc24Oct2017 Page 5 of 6 right-of-way in Richmond; 2017 Point in Time Count annual survey results; Mobile Homeless Coordinated Outreach Referral Engagement (CORE) teams; Contra Costa County Coordinated Entry Model; CORE data for Richmond; 2017 Taskforce Retreat; homeless data enhancement; priority #3: establish a “Safe Park” community; priority #2: create a City of Richmond homeless fund; and priority #1: support and augment mobile homeless services. Discussion ensued. The Council requested staff to provide all councilmembers with data and a map of Richmond homeless encampments. The following speakers gave comments: Cordell Hindler, Daniel Barth, Kathy Robinson, and Carole Johnson.

Homelessness a Public Health Crisis, June 19, 2018:

L-1. The matter to adopt a resolution declaring homelessness a public health crisis in Richmond was introduced by Councilmember Myrick and Vice Mayor Willis. Discussion ensued. The Council recommended amending the proposed resolution by replacing the word “crisis” with “emergency”, and renewing the declaration (resolution) every 30 days, to be consistent with government statute. The following speakers gave comments: Theresa Russell, Tavia Terry, Mark Wassberg, Jan Gilbrecht, and Carole Johnson. Further discussion ensued. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Willis, seconded by Councilmember Beckles, to adopt said resolution as written with no changes. A friendly amendment made by Councilmember Myrick to the change the word “crisis” to “emergency” in the proposed resolution and direct staff to further research this matter was accepted. The motion passed adopting Resolution 48-18, with amendment by the unanimous vote of the City Council.

A Shelter Crisis, October 2, 2018, the City Council declared a shelter crisis:

H-9. The matter to adopt a resolution declaring a shelter crisis in order to receive emergency funding support to expand and improve homelessness services both within Richmond and for individuals and families across the county was presented. The member of the public who removed the item from the consent calendar was not present. A motion by Councilmember Myrick, seconded by Vice Mayor Willis, adopted Resolution No. 79-18, by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Choi, Martinez, Myrick, Recinos, Vice Mayor Willis, and Mayor Butt. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Beckles. Abstain: None.

Planning Authorized for Transitional Village, February 25, 2020:

I-3. The matter authorizing the city manager and city staff to begin planning, seeking funding, and seeking an organization to provide management services for a potential managed transitional village located on a City-owned, 5.9 acre parcel bounded by Vernon Avenue, Castro Street and the Richmond Parkway. Collaborate with the Contra Costa County Health Services Health, Housing & Homeless Services, and the Richmond Homeless Task Force; and (2) Authorize the city manager, city attorney, and city staff to draft an ordinance consistent with the California Department of Housing and Community Development's Division of Codes and Standards approved "Emergency Housing: Permanent Adoption of Emergency Regulations" to enable permanent voluntary minimum standards by which local governments may develop emergency shelter ordinances to address homelessness. The ordinance would allow the use of state-compliant emergency sleeping cabins and emergency facilities as described in Information Bulletin 2018-05 (SHL, FBH, MH): Emergency Housing - Permanent Adoption of Emergency Regulations, which addresses the permanent adoption of emergency building standards amending the 2016 California Building Code (CBC) and the 2016 California Residential Code (CRC). These cc25Feb2020 Page 6 of 6 ud/prc regulations are part of California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 2 (CBC) and 2.5 (CRC) was presented by Mayor Butt. Discussion ensued. The following individuals gave comments: Pam Bilbo, Eleanor Thompson, Joseph Puleo, Rhonda Harris, and Kabir Kapur. A motion by Mayor Butt, seconded by Councilmember Willis, approved the item by the unanimous vote of the City Council.

Reconsider Civic Center Safe Parking Site:

I-4. Revisit the Council's February 23, 2021, action on the Safe Parking Pilot Program as described in this report, rescind that action and take action as appropriate including, but not limited to, site selection from any of the sites from the February 2 or 23, 2021, Council meetings, use of funds, direction to staff to implement the Safe Parking Pilot Program, authorization for sole Councilmembers Jimenez and Martinez gave an overview of the matter. Supervisor John Gioia and Contra Costa County Housing & Homeless Services Director Lavonna Martin provided a report regarding the matter. The report highlighted the following: The Civic Center location would be too small to accommodate the RV’s located on Rydin Road and Castro Street; the proposal would be to use the approximately $500,000 in funding and provide more intense services to persons located on Rydin Road to address health, sanitation, and safety issues; the plan was to work with a housing navigator to manage the site and work with the residents to identify more long-term, stable housing; the County shelters in North Richmond and the Bay Area Rescue Mission would reopen early this Summer; the lease with the Courtyard by Marriot was extended through June 30, 2022, and would accommodate 30 to 50 people each month; Contra Costa County also leased the hotel on Cutting and Canal Boulevard for homeless individuals who tested positive for COVID-19; and it was recommended to set up a working group with the City and County to develop a long-term strategy for housing. (11:00 p.m. – A motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, extended the meeting until 11:30 p.m., by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Bates, Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes: Mayor Butt. Absent: None. Abstain: None). The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Leisa Johnson, Ekongkar Singh, Alpa last name unknown, Venise Wagner, Tarnel Abbott, Rob Smith, Cesar Zepeda, Alyssa Smith, and Lorna Murdock. A motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Willis to approve the item, authorize the use of the $260,000 funding from the County and $300,000 from the City Affordable Housing fund to contract with Housing Consortium of East Bay; authorize the creation of an emergency ad hoc committee consisting of three City Council members. The ad hoc committee, with the support of City staff, and County Supervisor John Gioia and County staff would develop a long-term, sustainable, and well-funded plan for assisting unhoused residents of Richmond with County and City funds beyond the $560,000 obtained from the County and the Affordable Housing in lieu fund. The ad hoc committee was directed to work directly with the Homeless Task Force and engage the community in the process in determining long term solutions. A friendly amendment was offered by Councilmember McLaughlin to include the option to explore a safe parking program in a non-residential area. The friendly amendment was accepted. This motion cured and corrected the dispute regarding the action taken by the City Council at the February 23, 2021, meeting. The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Bates, Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes: Mayor Butt. Absent: None. Abstain: None.

Emergency Ad Hoc Committee, March 23, 2021:

C-1. The matter to appoint three members from the Richmond City Council to serve on the emergency ad hoc committee to address the homeless situation in the City of Richmond and develop the scope of the ad hoc committee’s authority was presented by Mayor Tom Butt. A motion by Councilmember Willis, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, appointed Councilmembers Jimenez, McLaughlin, and Mayor Butt to the ad hoc committee, by the unanimous vote of the City Council.

Below are the Minutes of the March 16, 2021 City Council meeting:

(Items I-2, I-3, and I-4 were discussed together) A motion made by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, to suspend the Council Rules of Procedure and Order, and to hear Items I-2, I-3, and I-4 together, passed by the unanimous vote of the City Council.

I-2. Reconsider, after a two-thirds vote to suspend the Council Rules of Procedure and Order, the direction the City Council gave on February 23, 2021, and direct the city manager to: (1) authorize use of the $260,000 funding from the County before its June 30, 2021, expiration date and $300,000 from the City Affordable Housing fund to contract with Housing Consortium of East Bay (HCBE); and (2) authorize the creation of an emergency ad hoc committee consisting of three City Council members. The ad hoc committee, with the support of City staff, and County Supervisor John Gioia and County staff would develop a longterm, sustainable, and well-funded plan for assisting unhoused residents of Richmond with County and City funds beyond the $560,000 obtained from the County and the Affordable Housing in lieu fund.

I-3. Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding the Safe Parking Program at the Civic Center parking lot on 25th Street and Barrett Avenue.

I-4. Revisit the Council's February 23, 2021, action on the Safe Parking Pilot Program as described in this report, rescind that action and take action as appropriate including, but not limited to, site selection from any of the sites from the February 2 or 23, 2021, Council meetings, use of funds, direction to staff to implement the Safe Parking Pilot Program, authorization for sole source contracts and execution of any contracts.

Note that Council's action on other agenda items at this meeting may essentially have the same effect. Councilmembers Jimenez and Martinez gave an overview of the matter. Supervisor John Gioia and Contra Costa County Housing & Homeless Services Director Lavonna Martin provided a report regarding the matter. The report highlighted the following: The Civic Center location would be too small to accommodate the RV’s located on Rydin Road and Castro Street; the proposal would be to use the approximately $500,000 in funding and provide more intense services to persons located on Rydin Road to address health, sanitation, and safety issues; the plan was to work with a housing navigator to manage the site and work with the residents to identify more long-term, stable housing; the County shelters in North Richmond and the Bay Area Rescue Mission would reopen early this Summer; the lease with the Courtyard by Marriot was extended through June 30, 2022, and would accommodate 30 to 50 people each month; Contra Costa County also leased the hotel on Cutting and Canal Boulevard for homeless individuals who tested positive for COVID-19; and it was recommended to set up a working group with the City and County to develop a long-term strategy for housing.

(11:00 p.m. – A motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, extended the meeting until 11:30 p.m., by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Bates, Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes: Mayor Butt. Absent: None. Abstain: None). The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Leisa Johnson, Ekongkar Singh, Alpa, Venise Wagner, Tarnel Abbott, Rob Smith, Cesar Zepeda, Alyssa Smith, and Lorna Murdock. A motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Willis to approve the item, authorize the use of the $260,000 funding from the County and $300,000 from the City Affordable Housing fund to contract with Housing Consortium of East Bay; authorize the creation of an emergency ad hoc committee consisting of three City Council members. The ad hoc committee, with the support of City staff, and County Supervisor John Gioia and County staff would develop a longterm, sustainable, and well-funded plan for assisting unhoused residents of Richmond with County and City funds beyond the $560,000 obtained from the County and the Affordable Housing in lieu fund. The ad hoc committee was directed to work directly with the Homeless Task Force and engage the community in the process in determining long term solutions. A friendly amendment was offered by Councilmember McLaughlin to include the option to explore a safe parking program in a non-residential area. The friendly amendment was accepted. This motion cured and corrected the dispute regarding the action taken by the City Council at the February 23, 2021, meeting. The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Bates, Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes: Mayor Butt. Absent: None. Abstain: None.

During the hearing, John Gioia and Lavonna Martin testified extensively, supporting the RPA plan for Rydin and Castro. Gioia clearly committed to 30-50 rooms a month opening up at Hilltop Marriott and SureStay. There was also a commitment to work with the City on what to do with SureStay, but that hasn’t happened. John Gioia has been defensive about this, stating on September 3, 2021, “I need to say that your statement that the County has not met its commitment for 50-60 placements per month is flat wrong and a total misstatement of fact.   You heard at last week’s Ad Hoc Committee meeting that EVERY resident at Rydin Rd. was offered a shelter bed and only 2 accepted this offer; and that 22 were offered a hotel room and all of them declined.   Let’s stick to facts.”

The following are transcribed from the video of the meeting:

3:28:33, Councilmember Martinez speaks. 

3:31:21, Supervisor Gioia starts to speak.

3:32:43, Supervisor Gioia continues to speak the comments going forward are verbatim, as best possible:

“We always see our role at the County to support your strategies and to support your goals on homelessness, to end homelessness. And so when, um, when we had discussions and were approached by Councilmembers Jimenez and Martinez about you know if, if…what is the best approach if we were not, if the City were not to move forward with a small RV safe park at Civic Center. What best advice could we give, working together with the City, to have a meaningful plan that will make a difference. 

And this acknowledges that the Council’s action to create a Safe RV Park at Civic Center does not, and I repeat that, does not remove all the RVS currently on Rydin Rd and currently on Castro Avenue. In fact, the Civic Center site, which some of you pointed out two weeks ago at the meeting, is relatively small, and would handle just a portion of the RVs that are at the other two sites. 

So in essence, the City would be having to address or deal with three RV encampments - the two unsanctioned ones on Castro Ave and Rydin Rd and then a sanctioned one at Civic Center. 

It would take, it would shift, it would move homeless residents who live, individuals who live in RVs, and shift them to another part of the City with not a real concrete funding plan to move them out of that location, and while still stretching the City’s resources thin, to provide the best environment for the existing unsanctioned encampments on Rydin Rd and Castro. 

So hearing all that, we thought with knowing the resources we have, what has changed over the last few months and weeks, and where can we work together. 

So basically, the Councilmembers and hearing our thoughts, and I have Lavonna Martin, our homeless services director on as well, who can add or answer any questions, she knows a lot of details, that you have this $260K in county funding from the state that needs to be spent by June 30th, and there’s the $300K from the City, and possibly more. And we don’t want to lose that money; it’s not a lot of money but it can make a difference. 

So the idea is to under the proposal that the councilmembers have brought with input from the county would lie to use the existing funding, which is over half a million dollars and possibly more that you’re able to obtain, and provide more intense services to start to wind down the site on Rydin Road. We all know there’s been a lot of issues with that site, so you would use the money to address the health, sanitation, safety and security issues at that site. And to work with a housing navigator to manage that site responsibly and work with the residents at that site to identify more longer-term, stable housing opportunities for them with some pathways.

A couple things have changed. 

One is that county's shelter in North Richmond will be reopening early summer and that’s because the county has been working now to vaccinate homeless residents with the new one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. So those who live in RVs, those who live in encampments, will have been vaccinated and the shelter will reopen. So those residents in RVs wishing to move temporarily to a shelter to get more assistance could avail themselves of that. So the funding is already there for the shelter. 

Second, the county has extended the lease, will be extending the lease, on the Hilltop Marriott for another year through June 30th of 2022. And because we’re extending the lease with different funding source than what we’ve received, we can be more flexible at who, at which homeless individuals can live at the Marriott. There will be between 30-50 new slots opening every month at that hotel because there is a turnover of residents there as they move on to other housing. So there’s an opportunity for those who live in an RV to move into basically a single room occupancy hotel room with supportive services where they will also be assisted in finding other housing opportunities. 

The County has leased the hotel on Cutting & Canal, the Sure Stay, which so far has been reserved for people who test positive, including homeless individuals who test positive. That means that those who are not positive have not been able to stay there. Later this summer, there will no longer be a need for a hotel for people who test positive. So working together, this is something we need to work on together, is identifying the funding to be able to extend that lease which has 100 rooms. Again, for more opportunity, instead of homeless people who test positive, it will be homeless people who are not positive in terms of their test. So there’s an opportunity there. 

There is an opportunity to use housing vouchers in the new… One of the things the new federal law that just passed increases funding for housing vouchers. And Lavonna Martin can talk how that works in helping assist people get to housing.

So the idea is to basically wind down the site at Rydin Rd. I did talk to today East Bay Parks Director Elizabeth Echols, who said that while the park district does not have a position on the issues before the council tonight, that the park district looks forward to working with the City and County in a cooperative way on whatever decision we make. So I found it a positive thing.

The other point that I didn’t mention, is that because of vaccinations, the Bay Area Rescue Mission will also be reopening their shelter some time this summer. So literally there will be substantially more opportunities available for those that live on the street or in RVs for housing. 

So that’s the short term. Handling Rydin Rd and then Castro with this strategy of using the funding to manage those sites, sunset them, rather than just move them to another location and the cost associated with that. To set up a working group with the City and County and others for the longer-term strategy of developing more housing. You talked at your last meeting about the City-owned site across from GRIP. A great opportunity to build some small housing. Can’t happen overnight, but with new funding how do we avail ourselves to do that together. 

Second, the county with 100% HUD funding is in the middle of working with the City of San Pablo to build about 60 SRO units in San Pablo on a site we’ve already identified with funding we already have in hand. That’s 60 units for previously homeless individuals.

So I think there’s a lot of opportunity to work together. It’s not going to be easy. But it seems putting our efforts towards those strategies as the Councilmembers Jimenez and Martinez have said, it’s about humanity and dealing with sort of the long-term, more permanent solution rather than shifting and moving people from place to place with no identified funding yet, to move beyond that.

I will say, just referring to what’s before you, is that part of the proposal is to also with the funding conduct a survey of those residents who are homeless to really fully document their needs, their capacities and their interests in helping support them with the housing navigation program to get them into housing. So this is not about turning Rydin Rd into a permanent RV Safe Park. It’s about working with those residents with the funding we have in an intense way to make their living situation healthier, safer, more secure and move them into housing directly. 

And Lavonna, I don’t know if you wanted to add anything further, but we’re committed to working with you in any way, whatever decision you make, but that this strategy is I think one way for us to have some tangible goals.  Lavonna."

3:42:45, Lavonna Martin spoke

"Thank you, Supervisor Gioia. And I really appreciate Mayor, Councilmembers you having me here today. You know just to echo what Supervisor Gioia was saying, the County really is committed to helping the City really help sunset the program, and really ensure that those residents over at Rydin Rd are moved safely into alternative housing. We want to make sure that we make all of our resources available as we begin to look and address all the residents currently over at Rydin Rd and also at Castro St to move out of those locations. We don’t want individuals who are in RVs and sleeping in tents are still unsheltered and that is not our goal. And that we really want to make sure that we invest the resources we do have as best we can. And at the moment the resources we have really can be applied aggressively to these sites to really support those individuals who are currently there to move into safer housing. So we are committed to working with the provider to ensure that we relocate everyone who wants to have housing and to move inside, we want to make sure that they get the opportunity to do that."

3:44:07, Supervisor Gioia says:

"And I’ll close with one final comment, and that’s that as I said, these possibly 40 rooms that may open up every month at the Marriott, you know as you know that hotel is already being used and is occupied by residents previously homeless. And the funding is there to extend that and it's more flexible funding to allow a broader variety of individuals. And then the hotel on Cutting & Canal already houses those who are homeless who test positive as well as those recently released from San Quentin who are transitioning back into this county into the community, or people under observation who had been tested. And by just shifting that use to people who are not testing positive but gives us more flexibility. That one we have to identify funding for. But I want to be clear that that site will also be run in a responsible way with security. It’s not an outdoor housing situation. It’s indoor with security and oversight with supportive services. And we have to work together to identify funding to be able to do that piece of it. But the Richmond Rescue Mission and the County shelter, those are already funded and have supportive services, and there will be hundreds of new individual beds that will be opening up. And then finally, for those who live in a RV that want to maintain their RV while they move into this other housing, I think the other piece of that would be for us to identify a location to store those RVs for those who wish to keep them. And of course, many of them may not be habitable or safe or healthy. But for those vehicles that are and where residents want to hold onto them, then identifying an appropriate location to store them while they seek other housing."

Solicit Proposals, May 18, 2021:

I-3. The matter to direct staff from the Planning Division to work with the Homeless Task Force on various proposals (which will eventually be reviewed by the Ad Hoc Committee) to assist our unhoused community was moved to the Consent Calendar for approval. On motion of Vice Mayor Johnson III, seconded by Councilmember Willis, approved said direction by the unanimous vote of the City Council.\

Authorize six-month Pilot Program, May 25, 2021:

The matter to authorize a six-month pilot project for a short-term, minimal scattered site pilot program to allow interested hosts (churches and private site owners) to host one to four vehicles in their parking lots or vacant lots. The purpose was to begin the process of thinning out the unsanctioned sites (with an emphasis on Castro Street) and allow for healthier conditions for all. This pilot project had the ability to morph into the larger scattered site program once established and put into effect by an enabling ordinance; or direct staff to come back to the City Council with an urgency ordinance in three weeks that addressed a similar approach to a scattered-site program, was introduced by Councilmember McLaughlin. Discussion ensued. A motion was made by Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember Willis, to direct staff to return to the council in three weeks with a draft urgency ordinance to set up a scattered site model. Further discussion ensued. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Katrinka Ruk, Naomi Williams, Mark Wassberg, and Savitri Khalsa. The motion passed by the unanimous vote of the City Council.

Enabling Ordinance for Scattered Site RV Parks, June 22, 2021:

J-1. The city clerk announced that it was time, pursuant to public notice, to adopt an urgency ordinance amending Sections 9.40.010 and 9.40.015 and adding a new Section 9.40.018 "Safe Parking Sites Pilot Program" to the Richmond Municipal Code to allow private property owners to host up to four vehicle households for a limited duration, was introduced by Community Development Director Lina Velasco. Planner Emily Carroll presented a Powerpoint that highlighted the following: proposed urgency ordinance; summary of the pilot program; and objective standards. Discussion ensued. The council recommended the inclusion of a funding allocation for the essential Streets Team work. Mayor Butt declared the public hearing opened. Mark Wassberg and Randy Joseph gave comments via teleconference. Mayor Butt closed the public hearing. Further discussion ensued. On motion of Councilmember Willis, seconded by Councilmember McLaughlin, adopted urgency Ordinance No. 10-21 N.S. by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, Vice Mayor Johnson III, and Mayor Butt.
Noes: None. Abstained: Councilmember Bates. Absent: None.

Approve Rebuilding Together East Bay North Contract, July 27, 2021:

I-19. The matter to approve a sole-source contract with Rebuilding Together East Bay-North, in an amount not to exceed $983,975, for a term ending on June 30, 2022, for SOS! Richmond to provide outreach and support services to unsheltered people who reside in encampments and safe parking sites in the City of Richmond was presented Councilmember McLaughlin. Mayor Butt expressed concern that this item did not appear to follow proper procurement procedures and was that the contract was not prepared in collaboration with staff. Discussion ensued. This item was continued from the cancelled July 20, 2021, meeting. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Mark Wassberg, Leisa Johnson, Deborah, and Tarnel Abbott. A motion was made by Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember Willis, to approve the contract, passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, Vice Mayor Johnson III, and Mayor Butt. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Bates. Abstain: None.

Castro Street Safe Park Proposal September 21, 2021:

K-4. The matter to authorize the city manager and city staff to implement a plan to transition the current RV encampment, that straddles the Richmond Parkway south of North Castro Street, to a managed Safe Park on North Castro Street, as shown in the Agenda Report; and direct funding for management would come from funds appropriated for the contract with East Bay Housing Services and Rebuilding Together East Bay North (some revisions to the draft agreement with Rebuilding Together East Bay North will be required) was presented by Mayor Tom Butt. Discussion ensued. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Mark Wassberg, Leisa Johnson, Norma, and Naomi Williams. A motion made by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember McLaughlin, to direct the Reimagining Public Safety Committee to discuss an alternative plan and site options if it was not located in a residential area. Councilmember McLaughlin stated that the ad hoc committee should be given authority to move forward with a site as long as the site was not located in a residential area. Mayor Butt made a substitute motion to approve the item as detailed in the agenda report. The motion died for lack of a second. A friendly amendment made by Councilmember McLaughlin to direct the ad hoc committee to explore sites at its next meeting, determine a site with the option of potentially using North Castro as a staging site temporarily and then be moved to a more suitable site after consultation with the community, The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Mark Wassberg, Leisa Johnson, Norma last name unknown, and Naomi Williams. Assistant City Attorney Heather McLaughlin stated that the selection of a site would need to return to the City Council for final approval. Councilmember McLaughlin made another friendly amendment that the matter could be discussed at a possible special meeting on October 12, 2021, or alternatively be discussed at the October 19, 2021, regular meeting, if more time was needed. Councilmember Jimenez accepted the amendment. The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes: Mayor Butt. Absent: Councilmember Bates. Abstain: None.

November 2, 2021:

I-16. Authorized the city manager or designee to enter into a collaboration agreement with AllHome to partner on the development of a Homelessness Strategic Plan and approved a contract with Homebase/The Center for Common Concerns, for up to $100,000, to prepare a Homelessness Strategic Plan to reduce and prevent homelessness in Richmond and strengthen the physical health, mental health, and social service supports for unhoused residents in Richmond, through December 31, 2022, to be paid for by American Rescue Plan Act funds and AllHome partnership
contribution.

Additional Contract for HCEB, December 7, 2021:

M-4. DIRECT staff to return with a contract amendment with Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) to allow additional time for unhoused vehicle dwellers at Rydin Road and at Castro Street to be relocated and provide on-site services (with month-to-month reports to the City Council on progress via the Reimagining Task Force's overall monthly updates); and APPROVE and APPROPRIATE $50,000 for flex funds for repair, preparation for transfer or removal, registration, storage and towing for RVs and vehicles and for temporary storage of personal belongings, to assist in relocation efforts - Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin (510-620-6636).

$50,000 for RV Repairs, December 21, 2021

K-4. ADOPT a resolution in support of an independent Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of housed and unhoused residents, along with community leaders; and APPROVE and APPROPRIATE $50,000 of flex funds for repair, preparation for transfer or removal, registration, storage and towing for Recreational Vehicles and vehicles, and for temporary storage of personal belongings, to assist in relocation at Rydin and Castro - Councilmembers Gayle McLaughlin (510-620-6636) and Eduardo Martinez (510-620-6593).

As we enter 2022, there is no attainable objective for either the City’s or the County’s efforts, except to continue throwing money at the problem. The Rydin Road and Richmond Parkway camps persist, largely unchanged. There are homeless tent camps scattered all over Richmond, along freeways, under bridges and along railroads and creeks, largely ignored because of the interest in the highly visible RV camps.

The City of Richmond policies have been driven largely by the RPA City Council members based on their concept of compassion rather than by the objective of transitioning homeless people out of camps and into shelters or housing. Credible sources report that every Rydin Road and Richmond Parkway camper has been offered shelter, but few have accepted. Much of this is due to the difficulty in taking untreated mental illness and drug addiction into shelters. The RPA City Council members are more swayed by the camp resident’s preferences than by the public’s interest in cleaning up the camps. The RPA City Council members have embraced an objective of building and maintaining permanent camps rather than solving a problem.