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Vol 65 Min- CC062323 Special Meeting
MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
June 23, 2023
City of Watsonville
City Council Chambers
275 Main Street, Top Floor
4:30 p.m.
NOTE: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b) Council Member Clark participated via telephone from: 407 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501
NOTE: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b) Council Member Orozco participated via telephone from: Lake Nacimiento Resort at 10625 Nacimiento Lake Drive, Bradley, CA 93426
1. ROLL CALL
Mayor Montesino, Mayor Pro Tempore Quiroz-Carter and Council Members Clark, Dutra, Orozco (left at 6:05 p.m.), Parker, and Salcido were present.
Staff members present were City Manager Mendez, City Attorney Zutler, City Clerk Ortiz, Assistant City Manager and Interim Public Works & Utilities Director Vides, Police Chief Zamora, Administrative Services Director Duran, Community Development Director Merriam, IT Director Gill, and Deputy City Manager Manning.
2. CLOSED SESSION CORRESPONDENCE
3. CLOSED SESSION
(a) Public Comments
Eli, Community Health Trust of Pájaro Valley Culture and Diversity Committee Member, spoke in support of City Manager Mendez’s efforts to collaborate with various community members and organizations and stated she looked forward to continuing to work with him. (b) Closed Session Announcement:
The City Council recessed to Closed Session to discuss the matters that follow:
3.a. PERSONNEL MATTERS
(Government Code Section 54957)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager and City Attorney
4. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Montesino stated no reportable action was taken on the Closed Session item.
5. NEW BUSINESS
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5.a. DISCUSSION ON THE UNHOUSED/HOMELESS STRATEGY & POTENTIAL HOMELESS SERVICES HOUSING SITE “HOMELESS VILLAGE” (Requested by Council Members Clark, Dutra, and Parker)
1) Oral Report by City Manager Mendez
2) City Council Clarifying & Technical Questions
At Member Parker’s request, City Manager Mendez gave an overview on Monterey County’s potential tiny homes project and efforts by the City and surrounding jurisdictions to address homelessness.
City Manager Mendez, in answering Member Salcido, stated Monterey and Santa Cruz County officials would attend the next Council meeting to provide further details on the project.
Member Dutra stated his concerns with information regarding the project being published by Monterey County and the challenges faced by Councilmembers who were unaware.
In answering Member Dutra, City Manager Mendez stated the grant funding was applied for solely by Monterey County without any involvement from the City and spoke about various scenarios involving funding and resources that required Council approval.
Member Dutra expressed concerns regarding the placement of the housing site in Watsonville, possible strain on Police and Fire services, and sustainability of the project.
City Manager Mendez and Community Development Director Merriam, in answering Member Dutra, spoke about Council’s role in project approvals and the zoning of the site that had been identified for the project.
In answering Member Parker, Community Development Director Merriam spoke about the City’s Emergency Shelters ordinance.
Member Salcido requested information regarding other cities that had built similar projects.
In answering Member Dutra, Community Development Director Merriam spoke about provisions in the Emergency Shelters ordinance regarding permitted length of stay.
City Manager Mendez, in answering Member Dutra, spoke about the wraparound services that were planned as part of the project.
Mayor Pro Tempore Quiroz-Carter spoke about the importance of helping homeless community members find permanent housing.
In answering Member Parker, City Manager Mendez spoke about the efforts made by Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties to secure funding and address homelessness, including the grant awarded to Monterey County for the possible housing site.
City Manager Mendez answered Member Salcido and Member Dutra’s questions regarding the timeline for Monterey County to spend the grant funding and administrative costs associated with the tiny homes project.
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In answering Member Dutra, City Manager Mendez spoke about Monterey County’s outreach efforts with community members that were residing along the Pájaro River.
City Manager Mendez, in answering Member Clark, spoke about possible uses for the housing site beyond relocating those residing along the Pájaro River, the timeline for improvements on the levee, responsibility for maintaining the site, and the permitting process for the project.
3) Public Input
Alyssa Sanchez, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County (CAB) Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Program Coordinator, spoke in support of increasing housing options for homeless members of the community. She stated CAB was willing to collaborate with those efforts and spoke in favor of City Manager Mendez’s work with various organizations.
Sandra Varela, CAB Watsonville Works Program Coordinator, spoke about their programs and challenges faced by the homeless population. She spoke in favor of the tiny homes project.
Tony Nuñez, District 6 and Pájaro Valley Healthcare District Board Member, expressed his belief that the special meeting was scheduled because the item was relating to homelessness. He spoke about the importance of taking action to address homelessness.
Monike Tone, Pájaro/Watsonville Homeless Union President, stated residents of the Pájaro River did not want to leave the area to be placed in temporary housing and requested exploring options for permanent housing.
Eli, District 7, thanked City Manager Mendez for being willing to collaborate with Monterey County and expressed frustration with comments made by some Council members regarding the potential project. She spoke about the high cost of living and the need to explore additional solutions for homelessness.
Yesenia, District 7, spoke about the importance of addressing homelessness and requested Council ask for funding from Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, if needed, to assist with sustainability of the project.
Ilia Bulaich, District 1, spoke about the lack of civic engagement during Council meetings.
He stated the City should have responded to the article by the Register Pajaronian regarding the project and thanked Council Members Dutra and Parker for bringing the issue forward for discussion.
Steve Trujillo, Cabrillo College Governing Board Area VII Trustee, stated collaboration among various jurisdictions was necessary to effectively address homelessness.
Javi spoke in support of the grant funding received by Monterey County and stated it should be given directly to residents of the Pájaro River.
May requested the grant funding awarded to Monterey County be given directly to those it was meant to aid.
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Mayor Montesino spoke about the importance of being open to exploring all solutions for homelessness and wraparound services for the homeless population.
Member Clark expressed his concerns with temporary solutions to homelessness and stated collaboration between the City, Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, and the State of California was needed to find permanent solutions.
In answering Member Dutra, City Attorney Zutler spoke about Brown Act regulations regarding Council discussing future agenda items outside of Council meetings. 4) Motion – None
5) City Council Deliberation on Motion – None
6. EMERGENCY ITEMS ADDED TO AGENDA – None
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
______________________________ __
Eduardo Montesino, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________ _________
Irwin I. Ortiz, City Clerk
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