FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD
Good evening Mayor and Councilmembers. Ken Dickinson, San Rafael Meadows.
Earlier this evening, Council met in closed session regarding litigation involving the SAFE Team's service provider. Separately, the City is also involved in litigation related to a sidewalk injury in the Merrydale area. I appreciate the Assistant City Attorney's clarification that such cases are not unusual, that responsibility may rest with adjacent property owners, and that the City has mechanisms to mitigate liability.
Even so, these situations highlight a broader issue: as the City expands homelessness-related services and facilities, it is also expanding its operational footprint, infrastructure demands, and exposure to risk, all of which carry real costs in staff time, legal resources, and long-term planning.
The SAFE Team staff report reflects a similar concern on the funding side. The program is effective and valued, but it relies heavily on temporary and declining revenue sources, with no identified ongoing funding beyond fiscal year 2026-27 and a potential General Fund impact thereafter. At the same time, the scope and geographic reach of these services are likely to grow, particularly with the development of the 350 Merrydale interim shelter.
My request to the City Council is that the City take a more integrated and transparent approach—one that connects service expansion with sustainable funding, infrastructure readiness, and proactive risk management, so the public can better understand how these pieces fit together over time.
Compassionate services and sound governance are not in conflict, but they do require careful alignment.
Thank you for your time.